An ordinance issued by the City Council of Long Beach has shortened the life span of plastic bags in grocery, convenience, and drug stores in LBC.

By the end of the year, plastic bags will not be available in most Long Beach grocery and department stores.

The ordinance banning plastic bags was issued on May 24, 2011 and will prevent large stores from offering plastic bags to their customers starting on August 1, 2011.  The ban will go into effect for smaller stores in January 2012.

Shoppers that want to carry their groceries home will either have to bring their own bags or buy a recyclable paper bag of $0.10.

Los Angeles County has already implemented a similar ban on plastic bags in unincorporated areas which went into effect on July 1.

In a video posted to YouTube, Long Beach Vice Mayor Suja Lownthal shared that these bans are an effort to prevent plastic bags from contributing to the pollution of local environments.

“The purpose is to reduce litter in neighborhoods, reduce plastic debris in waterways and stormdrains, and reduce waste transported to landfills” Lowenthal stated.

Its my opinion that most people will go along with the ordinance and either:

1. Re-use plastic bags from a previous visit (this will be me; i have kitchen drawer full of them!)
2. Buy reusable bags and take those to the store (I’m stashing a few in my car right now)
3. Shell out the ten cents to get a paper bag when they forget to bring something from home (with the other taxes, I dout they will notice the difference!)

I’m sure that there will also be people that will take exception to their “right” to get a free bag from a store.

To those people I say this:  go shop somewhere else.  But before you do, swing by my place.  I’d be glad to sell you a plastic bag for a nickel!

In the end, I think we will all be better off.  Long Beach is taking the lead and setting a precedent for doing this the right way.  it might be a pain for a while, but we will all benefit in the long run.

For more information on the plastic bag ban — and opportunities to get free reusable bags — visit the Litter Free LB website.

On the corner of 3rd Street and Cedar Ave — just a few blocks east of well known Pine Street — the green awnings, scripted signage, and gilded plate glass windows give a clue to the classiness of this joint.

Inside, elegance mixes with whimsy in the two dining rooms.  In the smaller room next to the bar, tables covered with crisp white linens share space with antique chairs upholstered in leopard print.  In the rear dining room, leather booths and a huge painting are bathed in natural light from an adjacent courtyard.  Just sitting down here made me feel elegant!

Antique Chairs with Leopard Print Inside La Traviata.

The Stunning Main Dining Room in La Traviata Faces a Courtyard. The Main Feature is a Huge Painting of a Reclining Nude on the Far Wall.

OK, enough about the ambiance; let’s talk food.  I tasted a few items from the appetizer menu — tuna tartar, calamari fritti, and a crab cake — with the crab cake and its spicy serrano aioli being the stand out.

I sampled a few of their entrees as well.  Each one was a star in its own right, from the creamy lobster tortelli made in house to the fork tender filet mignon served with a balsamic reduction.  My favorite was the delicate and flavorful Chilean sea bass.

The Chilean Sea Bass on a Bed of Jasmine Rice.

Not to be outdone by the appetizers or entrees, the dessert selection unapologeticly stole the show.  Tiramisu was there — this is an Italian restaurant after all — but the overwhelming favorite was an amazing homemade fig gelato.  The gelato was a sweet, creamy blend of ripe figs and maple-syrup-flavored ice cream.  I honestly had never tasted anything like it.

La Traviata's Amazing Fig Gelato and Biscotti, Both Made On Site.

Aside from the food, the service is what really rounded out the experience of dining at La Traviata.  I have to salute the manager, Mario, for leading his staff in really taking care of their guests.  With a dedication to customer satisfaction, Mario is one of the main reasons Long Beach locals keep returning to La Traviata.

Mario, The Manager at La Traviata, Chats with Marian the Foodie, who was also a guest during my visit to La Traviata.

A bald, stocky man with a friendly smile, Mario speaks Farsi and Arabic but learned Italian before he learned English.  A conversation with him is like chatting with a favorite uncle that left home and returned, replacing his hometown accent for the ones he learned abroad.

During our meal, Mario commented on his style of making his guests feel at home.  “If you’re not at the door welcoming them, or asking them when they leave if they had a good time, what is the business for?”.

With many of the recent Yelp reviews giving accolades to Mario, it seems like the guests stopping by feel the same way.  Thank you, Mario and the staff at La Traviata for hosting me for this meal.  I’ll be back soon to enjoy the happy hour, and live entertainment, and most certainly for more fig gelato!

La Traviata Restaurant‎

latraviata301.com
301 North Cedar Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802-2818
(562) 432-8022

Running instead of passing, punt fakes, and quarterback sneaks are all part of the game.  How about moving your MNF game watch to Long Beach?

I came across a great review of MNF specials around The Rainbow Harbor and Shoreline Village areas of Long Beach on 562 City Life, a Long Beach social network.

Among the nicely manicured list was Yard House, on of my favorite places for happy hour.  With almost 200 beers on tap and great specials, this place rocks for watching games or just chilling out.

When considering their half-price appetizer menu, be sure to check out my favorites:

• Grilled jerk wings, served with rum barbecue sauce;
• Firecracker wings, tossed in a spicy sesame garlic plum glaze
• Chinese garlic noodles, tossed with butter, garlic and shiitake mushrooms.

The menu lists plenty more to choose from but I always find my way back to these three.  I try to manage the spice from the wings with the $4 well drinks and discounted beers.

The best part of the deal?  In addition to their normal happy hour, deals run from the first play until the end o the game. Sweet!

Getting to Yard House is easy (Take the 710 South to Long Beach, then follow the signs to Shoreline Drive).  Make sure you have some cash for parking, a bargain at $1 for two hours with validation.

For other spots in Long Beach for prime MNF viewing, check out this list on 562 City Life.

“Monday Night Football Specials at The Pike at Rainbow Harbor”

Yard House

http://www.yardhouse.com/CA/long_beach/
401 Shoreline Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 628-0455

Yard House is also in Pasadena and Downtown LA.  Check the website for additional locations!

On the one hand, I LOVED the pitter-patter sound of the rain on my window at night, a rarity in these parts. On the other hand I was dreading waking up to the slick roads and accidents caused by SoCal drivers. Yikes!

Love it or hate it, the rain has come and gone.  The end result is a weekend full of clear skies and foodie events all over LA county, ripe for the picking.  Enjoy!

Taste of the Pier, Redondo Beach

The Redondo Beach Pier is famous for its wide selection of seafood joints, from the high brow Kincaid’s to the bib-and-mallet action at Redondo Beach Crab House.  It might take forever to taste everything the Rebe Pier has to offer.

Think you can do it in a weekend!?

Friday and Saturday from Noon to 4 PM, you can “enjoy a variety of small bites, live music and strolling entertainers while you tour the pier”.   Bibs and mallets optional!

A book of tickets for 12 tastings is just $10.  Your purchase benefits local organizaions including  The Wellness Community, Meals on Wheels, and Surfrider Foundation.  Tickets will be available  at BriXton South Bay on the Pier.  For more info call 310-406-1931.

• Saturday, October 9 – Sunday, October 10, Noon – 4 PM
  http://www.redondopier.com
  Tweeting via @RBPier

Pasadena Wine Festival

Rejoice, vinophiles!  California Wine Month is over but you have yet another day to celebrate fermented grape juice.

The Pasadena Wine Festival takes place this Saturday in the lovely Los Angeles County Arboretum.  From 2 PM until 10 PM, you can sip wines from more than 120 wineries, chow down on grub from gourmet food trucks, and sing along with live music.  $28 gets you in the door with upgrade options available for Deluxe and VIP perks.

After sipping to capacity, make sure you take the tram ride around the gardens of the Arboretum.  For anecdotes on how to successfully work a wine festival, check out these tips from Finer Things LA.

• Pasadena Wine Festival
  http://pasadenawinefestival.com
  Tweeting via @PasWineFest

Long Beach Street Food Fest

Almost 30 trucks are rolling into the Rainbow Lagoon this weekend for the Long Beach Street Food Fest.  Among them will be at least three LA based trucks from the recent season of Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race including Crepes Bonaparte, Nom Nom Truck, and Nana Queens.

A $6 ticket gets you in the door but leave your pets, flasks, and carry-out at home!  No outside food or drinks will be permitted.  But bring the kids; if they’re 5 and under they get in free.  Admission proceeds go to benefit scholarships and programs at Long Beach City Schools and Long Beach City College.

To keep things moving — expect lines to be long! — trucks will be asking that purchases be made with cash only.  Hit the ATM early and go deep.

No one at this event will judge you for neglecting your rent to buy gourmet street food.  They might be doing the same thing too!

• Saturday, October 9, 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
  http://www.lbstreetfoodfest.com
  Tweeting via @LBStreetFood

Saturday: Red Bull Flugtag, Long Beach

http://www.redbullflugtagusa.com/LongBeach2010
Saturday, August 21, 11 AM – 4 PM
Rainbow Harbor,  Long Beach (Map)

Long Beach has been graced with being selected as a site for a 2010 Red Bull Flugtag (German for “flying day”).  Watch as teams of brave souls defy gravity — if only for a few seconds — in their man-powered flying machines.

Gates open at 11:00 am (free admission) with the first flight scheduled for 1 pm.  My money is on the Coast Guard team!  Watch the video below for details.

Saturday: SoCal Suds Presents Beer Fest, Redondo Beach

http://www.socal-suds.com
Saturday, August 21, Noon – 8 PM
Aviation Park, Redondo Beach (Map)

Starting a tradition is a great thing…especially when it involves beer!  This Saturday, SoCal Suds is presenting their inaugural Beer Fest, featuring tastes of more than 40 different beers ($40 admission). 

Check out our exclusive interview with one of the event coordinators for an inside look.  Buy tickets online ($40) before you go;  Tickets sales at the event may be limited or unavailable.

Sunday: Taste at the Beach, Hermosa Beach

http://www.tasteatthebeach.com
Sunday, August 22, 4 – 8 PM
Hermosa Beach Community Center, Hermosa Beach (Map)

After giving thanks for a great Saturday, spend Sunday evening breaking bread with the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis and more than 30 local restaurants at Taste of the Beach.

Along with great food and wines, this event features a silent auction and live music.  Proceeds go to support Hermosa Schools’ Libraries Programs so don’t feel guilty!  You’ll be eating for a cause.  Purchase tickets online via PayPal ($60…tax deductible!) before the event.

This Wednesday, Hotel Maya is hosting their signature “Mojitos and Mutts” happy hour.  Well trained and leashed canines — along with their respective humans — are invited to visit the waterfront hotel to mix and mingle for a barking good time.

While the two legged folks sample mojitos made with 10 Cane Rum, puppies will be pampered with complimentary goodie bags with doggy snacks.

Event sponsor i Love Dogs has partnered with Hotel Maya to theme the event and promote social awareness.  The theme for July is “L.A. for LA”, “benefiting dogs and their owners in Louisiana who have been affected by the [Gulf of Mexico] oil disaster”.  Future themes include a fashion show and a Halloween party.

Mojitos and Mutts at Hotel Maya
6:30 to 8:30 PM on the last Wednesday of the month from now until October.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/losangeles/maya

700 Queensway Dr.
Long Beach, CA, 90802
562.435.7676

i Love Dogs

http://www.ilovedogs.com

This event features a line up of trucks that looks like a who’s who of the popular meals-on-wheels scene. You’ll see Buttermilk Truck, Lomo Arigato, Cool Haus, Don Chow, and many more.  There will also be live music to entertain you as you enjoy your buttermilk biscuit, lomo saltado, and ice cream sammie!

Brought to us by the Long Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation, proceeds from ticket sales will support the Adopt-a-Teacher program and Long Beach City College scholarships.

Advance tickets can be purchased online until 6 PM on Friday, July 23 for $6.  Tickets can be purchased at the gate the day of the event for $8, cash only.

LONG BEACH STREET FOOD FEST

http://www.lbstreetfoodfest.com

https://twitter.com/LBStreetfood

Saturday, July 24, 2010 10:30 – 5:00 PM

Rainbow Lagoon Park (map)
Long Beach, CA

Cook a Brunch Mom Would Be Proud Of

Many of our area grocery stores have deals going on. So you know where to go to get what you need, but will you know what you need when you get there?

Fresh & Easy has put together this handy Easter Brunch shopping list to keep you from missing anything. To make the prospect of cooking that much sweeter, it comes with a coupon for $10 off your purchase of $50 or more.

Of course, you can use the list anywhere but the coupon is only good at Fresh & Easy!

South Bay Fresh & Easy Locations » http://www.freshandeasy.com
ROSECRANS & AVIATION, 1700-C Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
PALOS VERDES & WESTERN, 26640 Western Avenue, Harbor City, CA 90710

Plenty of Options for Dining Out

If cooking isn’t part of your Easter plans, here are a few places that have special deals for brunch or dinner.

• Fuego at Hotel Maya » http://www.jdvhotels.com/dining/losangeles/fuego
  700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 481-3910

  They’re not technically in the South Bay but the venue alone makes Hotel Maya worth the drive. This Sunday they’re serving a Latin-inspired brunch with a ceviche bar, a taquito station, and plenty of authentic Mexican sweets. You can check out my review of their brunch for for info. Be sure to check out the big umbrella!

The Big Umbrella at The Maya Hotel in Long Beach.

• Ortega 120 » http://www.ortega120.com
  1814 Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, (310) 792-4120

  Here’s another option for doing Easter fiesta style. “Back by popular demand, for Easter, Mas y Mas Brunch! $25 for adults & $10 for kids 12 & under. Reservations are in two hour increments & strongly recommended. 9:30am-3pm”

• Chez Melange » http://www.chezmelange.com/
  1611 S. Catalina Avenue, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, (310) 540-1222

  In addition to a special A La Carte Easter Brunch & Dinner, Chez Melange is offering a gift for ladies who wear Easter bonnets. Put on your big hats!

• Samba Brazilian Steakhouse » http://www.sambaredondo.com/
  207 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA, (310) 374-3411

  If you’re really hungry — or want to see some dancers in feathers and not much else — head over to Samba. They’re offering “all-you-can-eat BBQ meats grilled on open fire, endless salad bar, glass of champagne or orange juice. $40 adults and $20 kids 4-12″.

• Admiral Risty » http://www.admiral-risty.com/
  31250 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes, California 90275, (310) 377-0050

  After a month of “fish on Friday”, seafood might not be your first option for Easter. If it is, check out Admiral Risty. Starting at 11 AM on Sunday, they’ll be serving Easter dinner all day. Oh, be sure to check out their menu online. I love their funky old-school website! Its Web 1.0 but totally gets the job done with complete menus and prices.

Photo credit: Fresh & Easy.

An explosion of Greek hospitality ignited Long Beach over the Labor Day weekend, September 5^th – 7^th with the annual Greek Festival hosted by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church on Colorado St.

Celebrating 60 years as host of the ”Festival by the Sea”, the Assumption Church opened its doors to the community to share food, drink, entertainment, and their rich Hellenic culture. Three days of food and fun; over 15,000 festival goers; and an invitation to be “Greek for a day” kept this festival hopping. Admission was just a $3 donation, free on Labor Day from noon to 4pm. One of the longest running Greek festivals in California, its no wonder it’s so popular.

The church grounds were lined with white shade tents housing merchants peddling their colorful wares. Everything from jewelry and crafts to traditional Greek icon art lined the walkways. The sounds of traditional Greek string instruments bellowed through the hot September air intermingling with the fragrances of fresh foods being prepared on open grills and fire pits. The parish proudly acknowledged that all the festival foods, sweet and savory, were lovingly prepared by members of their community, offering festival goers a taste of true traditional Greek cuisine.

We decided to get out of the sun and headed for the dining area where lamb and chicken dinners were being served up home style. The chicken had been marinated and roasted on a pit making it crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. Accompanied by fresh green beans tossed in marinara sauce and a delicate rice pilaf, this dish was a winner.

We added a colorful Greek salad with cucumber, tangy red onion, Greek olives, chunks of velvety smooth feta cheese, and of course, hummus and pita. The pita was more of a flatbread, which my family enjoys more then the traditional pita. The hummus was nice, but not overly flavorful. The yummy Greek olives atop the hummus added a good flavor. This bountiful array of food cost us $20, which I found to be a bargain. The portions were generous.

Then we were off to the dessert table. The sweets, I was told, were baked in the church kitchen.  Trays of six different dessert types lined the table in front of us, each for $2 a piece. Decisions, decisions!  I decided on the Baklava: layers of flaky filo dough with chopped walnuts for just the right amount of crunch, all smothered in butter and honey. Rich and sweet! My husband had the kourambiethes, a melt in your mouth butter cookie topped with snowy, white powered sugar…Mmmm.  My son opted for the diples, a delicate, fried dough drizzled with honey and dusted with cinnamon. No complaints there!

We ventured back into the sunshine and the swell of the crowd where Assumption Greek Dance & Cultural Arts School provided music for the party and folks enjoyed dancing and spirits. There was also a small carnival area for the kids that included rides and games. And, though it’s not Greek, Italian Brain Freeze offered a chance to cool off with their Italian water ice, with lots of flavors to choose from.  The name alone screams “Fun”!

Fun and food is what the Long Beach Greek Festival is all about. Assumption Church lived up to their reputation of good food and traditional Greek hospitality once again. I know my family is looking forward to 61 years in 2010.  Opa!

The brunch menu is definitely Mexican but traditional brunch diners will find the requisite eggs and pancakes…although the pancakes are made with blue corn and served with prickly pear syrup.

Accompanying each entree order is the small but impressive salad bar which is loaded with traditional Mexican pastries along with fresh fruits and veggies.  My faves from the bar were the corn salad (simple and flavorful) and the jicama + mango salad which was like eating a crunchy mojito.

The service was impeccable but a little slow after we ordered our three entrees: the cerveza carnitas, the fiesta breakfast (pancakes, eggs, and bacon), and the baja lobster.  I wondered if the lobster held up the other dishes which seemed like they should come out quickly.  Our water glasses and coffee cups were well attended to, however,  and dirty dishes were removed promptly.

All of the entrees were delicious with the blue corn pancakes and the lobster (and accompanying black beans) being the stand outs.  The carnitas needed a dash of salt and the eggs and bacon were good but par for the course.

We also had the prickly pear and orange mimosa as well as the sangria.  The mimosa was delicious with a slight kick from the prickly pear.  The sangria was flavorful but we requested an additional dose of simple syrup to make it sweeter; it was more on the dry, fruity side.

In all I highly recommend Fuego at The Maya Hotel.  The setting is absolutely gorgeous and the staff are on point.  The food is satisfying but perhaps slightly expensive for the casual diner ($17 for the pancakes, eggs, and bacon; $32 for the lobster).  But for a special occasion or a romantic Sunday brunch get away, there’s probably no place like it in LA.

Oh, another tip, roam the grounds after brunch.  Between building #2 (the hotel is broken up into 4 or five buildings over several acres) there is a cool lounge made out of a huge umbrella.  If you’re lucky (and we were on this summer day) there will be a a bar and a DJ there playing salsa music.  Altogether, it makes for the perfect spot to chill after breakfast and watch the boats sail by.