Is food media... dying? Eater's race to the bottom and the fight for local food journalism. Plus, hot people restaurants, Italian sandwich fatigue, and Top Chef’s biggest competitor.

This week on The LA Food Podcast, Luca and Sal dig into the biggest story in food media: the latest round of layoffs at Eater. With reporters like Jaya Saxena and Amy McCarthy let go and LA’s newsroom slimmed down, what does this mean for local food journalism, restaurant coverage, and the future of dining media in Los Angeles? We also debate whether influencer content and guides like The Infatuation can really replace in-depth reporting, and whether there’s a path forward for food journalism in LA. Plus: our signature Chef’s Kiss or Big Miss segment—covering everything from the rise of tableside carts and Florence’s iconic Pino’s Sandwiches opening in Los Feliz, to Anajak Thai’s renovations, Netflix’s new Next Gen Chef competition, and the return of the Gelato Festival World Masters. If you care about LA’s dining scene, the role of food critics and journalists, and the culture wars playing out in restaurants, this episode is for you. The LA Food Podcast is powered by Acquired Taste Media. Be sure to check out our sister shows: Taqueando with Bill Esparza and Let It Rip. And don’t forget to rate and review! – 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