4th Floor Vibrations

Soaking up vitamin D on sunny
beach days, luving my fabulous
job as city editor, and getting
outta control at Hollywood's
hottest nightlife destinations --
rocking La La Land was
intoxicating although on one
sun-drenched morning in August
The Golden State's act of nature
swept me off my feet: right in the
heart of Hollywood I experienced
stirring (e)motions...

Located nearby Johnny Depp's
legendary boite and popular
celeb hangout - The Viper Room -
is Citysearch's silvery shimmering
office building and headquarter of
City Grid Media. 8833 Sunset Blvd.
is it's glamorous address where
L.A.'s lifestyle gurus, in-the-know
city scouts and dyed-in-the-wool
Hollywood insiders come and go.
Did I already mention the sharp
tech staff filling third floor headed
by a handsome guy, or the beauty
queen conjuring up fabulous PR
on fifth floor, or the narcissistic
data analyst fraction? Anyhow, the
fourth floor was reserved for the
hipster coalition - aka the editorial
team - and I was in the thick of it,
routing out L.A.'s hot spots,
fiddling with weekly roundups,
reviewing of-the-moment eateries,
entering reviews from national
editors,updating and fact checking
older business profiles, and
interviewing in-demand artists.
This was when a jolt and thrust
followed by acute shaking of desk,
electronic equipment and floor
interrupted my editorial gush and
caused quite a stir all around the
rectangular five story building,
roof top terrace and garden
included.
The second the shaky affair took
it's course, my cubicle mate and
boss enlightened me about this
natural phenomenon aka
earthquake, and my cell and office
phone started ringing at once.
While trying to realize what's
happening around me, and praying
the joggle will cease soon, I got to
feel the longest and strongest
moments of my life. Five minutes
and 3.4 on the Richter scale to be
exact.
My roommate's ruffled voice
interrupted my prayers when I
answered her call. On my other ear
was my pal checking on me via cell
phone. The phone conversations
went on and on that day.

FYI: Being located on the plates of
the San Andreas Fault, slicing
California into two, and moving
along one another, earthquakes are
a common natural phenomena in
California and can occure quite often.

The Hollywood Diet

Welcome to the land of most

Sushi in Beverly Hills

fastidious palates, abundance of
lushly flourishing produce, oodles
flavors, and multicultural culinary
delights created by world's most
brilliant chefs -- the City of                        
Angels is a gourmand's Mecca,
providing a bill of fare that leaves
nothing to be desired to a hungry
epicure's heart. Although ridden
by a massive body cult, excellently
prepared, delectable foods are part
and parcel of an Angeleno's daily
route. L.A.'s dietary map marks
bazillions of different nutrition
styles, and new diets are being
invented with every bikini season -
which is basically all the year
round, btw.


Aside from being star-studded, L.A.  
is brimming with palate-spoiling
dining establishments casting a
blissful spell over Hollyglamour and
Hollyweird. Hence it's a foodie's
daily ritual to nosh and munch his
way through La La Lands
multi-faceted gastronomic scene.
Being up to speed on the ever-
changing, ever-reinventing itself,
and ever expanding culinary domain, 
aficionados and food lovers are 
always on their mission to rout out 
tasty grub for every occasion, diet, 
palate and budget - comfort food
that satisfies every whim.

L.A.'s gourmands and their ilk
fervently debate and philosophize
about their culinary adventures
and orgastronomic experiences
for hours on end. It’s a food
aficionado's way of life to track
down and indulge in all kinds of 
tasty fare at most coveted
eateries, to unveil hidden mouth-
watering secrets, or raise the cup
fizzing with a trendy brew. L.A.'s
scenesters have an itch for the
most elaborate, of-the-moment
culinary inventions. Eco freaks
and health-conscious go green
and dig local, organic fare. Yogis
and their likes skip the meat and 
indulge in L.A.'s wide-spread
vegetarian scene. Partypeople
and hipster hanger-ons culitivate
an unmatchable bar-hopping
ceremony living it up at stylish in-
demand bars or weird watering 
holes. Passionate hollybuzz takes
place in the thick of lovely cafes,
where sugar-infused Angelenos
while away, exchanging latest
gossip that is as delicious as the
sugar-sweet tidbits they nosh.
Meals on wheels are being served
by food trucks to hungry souls on
the run.

Beside the nutritional aspect -
which is fairly in second place -
eating (out) means socializing,
indulging, celebrating (life), and
last but not least watching people.
(Fame) hungry celebs seek for
creme-de-la-creme-kind restaurants
as much as they seek publicity and
love to hype up a dining
establishment even for the sake of
a beef stake.

Being home to the most sophisticated
palates, food wanders straight back
to where it came from - the kitchen -
if it doesn't satisfy entirelly heart's, 
stomach's and eye's desire. An
orgasmic dining experience -- this is
what it's all about, and there is nothing
worse than routine for Angelenos
taste bunds, as it's the mix that matters
most and entering new, unexplored
culinary grounds -- to keep the magical
Hollybuzz alive.


So what's cookin in La La Land?
Strong Latin American flavors
influence Californian's fare while
spicing it up with tangy touches.
Habaneros, Serranos and Jalapenos
add pizazz to the Californian pizzas.
The Golden States' multifaceted
cuisine praises itself with freshly
prepared, locally grown natural
ingredients, using the advantages
of a perfect climate to grow about
anything. "Farm-to-table" is the
present movement among L.A.'s
finest eateries, serving what's
indigenous to the fruitful area.
Mexican specialties are a common
sight on L.A.'s restaurant menus,
as are seafood dishes and light
coastal fare rich in fresh salads
and grilled veggies. Traditional
American faves like burgers, fries,
sandwiches, and hot dogs complete
L.A.'s culinary world. Bon Appetit!