A very LA Food Pod gift guide. Plus, the case for gatekeeping restaurants per TASTE, in defense of LA dining's "ebb" year, and solving the future of food media in one conversation.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Black Friday. Father Sal and I are coming through with a very LA Food Pod Gift Guide. But first, there’s a piece in Taste making the case in favor of gatekeeping your favorite restaurants, a podcast with the brand new editor of The Best American Food & Travel Writing that elicited some red hot takes on the future of food media, and a snarky Substack article on whether 2024 was a year of lows for LA restaurants.  Helpful links: Shaan Merchant for Taste on gatekeeping ⁠https://tastecooking.com/is-there-a-case-for-gatekeeping/⁠ This is Taste interview with Jaya Saxena ⁠https://tastecooking.com/this-is-taste-499-best-american-food-writing-with-jaya-saxena/⁠ Bangers and Jams article on LA’s highs and lows ⁠https://www.bangersandjams.com/p/the-highs-and-lows-of-las-quiet-restaurant⁠ Eater’s Mona Holmes on Somerville and Long Beach’s new jazz lounge ⁠https://la.eater.com/2024/11/25/24305531/breakers-long-beach-hotel-sky-room-restaurant-opening-jazz-lounge-long-beach-southern-california⁠ GIFT GUIDE Gift for the accomplished home cook  Sal’s pick: Vitamix 5200 Blender ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008H4SLV6?tag=seriouseats-onsite-prod-20&ascsubtag=8648475%7Cnfb598f95b40b4663a3a1de10248b91ba01%7CB008H4SLV6%7C1732671051584%7C%7C&th=1⁠ Luca’s pick: Corto olive oil ⁠https://www.amazon.com/TRULY%C2%AE-Extracted-Straight-Official-Producer/dp/B00YG1DWP4/ref=asc_df_B00YG1DWP4?mcid=664965199a223a9aa11521ed5c649c18&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693129827186&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2661308734640888339&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030967&hvtargid=pla-762159356592&psc=1⁠ Gift for the beginner home cook Sal’s pick: Foodist Kitchen.    ⁠https://foodistkitchen.com/⁠ Luca’s pick: Botanica Magic Spice ⁠https://www.botanicarestaurant.com/products/magic-spice⁠Gift for the friend who only eats out: Sal’s pick: Gym membership Luca’s pick: Red Dining Book ⁠https://www.reddiningbook.com/products/los-angeles-2025⁠ Gift for the insufferable LA foodie  Sal’s pick: How to Stop Being Toxic Luca’s pick: Subscription to LA Taco Gift for the insufferable fan of The Bear Sal’s pick: Gift card to Ever ⁠https://www.toasttab.com/ever-restaurant-1340-w-fulton-st/giftcards⁠ Luca’s pick: Carmy’s white shirt ⁠https://merzbschwanen.com/blog/press-8/the-viral-95-t-shirt-in-the-bear-came-from-a-san-francisco-store-125⁠ Gift for the cookbook collector Sal’s pick: Random Seattle bookshop ⁠https://booklarder.com/products/gift-card⁠ Luca’s pick: Way more relevant Long Beach bookshop ⁠https://squareup.com/gift/MLR9NPYWBWS6J/order⁠ Gift that says more about you than about the recipient (the virtue-signaling gift)  Sal’s pick: Anonymous gift to PETA Luca’s pick: VISIONS wine clup at Psychic Wines ⁠https://www.psychicwinesla.com/wine-club⁠ Food gift for your S/O For Emily: Dining in the Dark ⁠https://dininginthedarkexperience.com/los-angeles/⁠ For my wife: Mercado Famous meats ⁠https://mercadofamous.com/products/papa-noe⁠l Gift we’d get each other  Sal to Luca: Ooni he already has Luca to Sal: Masienda tortilla kit ⁠https://masienda.com/products/tortilla-starter-kit?variant=42499201597589&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=21317473580&utm_content=_m_&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgJa6BhCOARIsAMiL7V-PRF7prmdx2jB-JKO3G4yXJLsrtgLVU118bVONv3ba71lum7BYJeEaAg8mEALw_wcB⁠ Gift I wish people would get me Sal needs nothing Luca wants Cangshan Maya knives ⁠https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/cangshan-maya-block-set-12-piece-set/?clickid=wGBUu4Rh7xyKWHp1PfwtbQybUkCQcbzXI1PZQ40&irgwc=1&cm_cat=249354&cm_ven=afshoppromo&cm_ite=&cm_pla=ir&irpid=24935⁠ -- Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠ – Get 10% off at House of Macadamias using code "LAFOOD" https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods