Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

11 Nov 2026

{plate-by-plate} Mocotó Restaurant – São Paulo

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Plate-by-plate of chef Rodrigo Oliveira’s Michelin-recognized (Bib Gourmand) contemporary northeastern Brazilian restaurant Mocotó in São Paulo, Brazil, on July 27, 2026.

Founded in 1973 by José de Almeida, Mocotó began as a shop selling goods from northeastern Brazil in the neighborhood of Vila Medeiros in São Paulo. Today, under the leadership of his son, chef Rodrigo Oliveira, it has grown into a globally recognized culinary destination.

Our lunch at Mocotó blew me away with its soulful cooking and dynamite flavors. The service was warm, and I never wanted to leave. Thank you to Bill Esparza for recommending this iconic spot.

CAIPIRINHA DA SEMANA (R$32.90).

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Restaurant Review

10 Nov 2026

{close friends} Mkutano House at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

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Mkutano House at San Diego Zoo Safari Park - San Diego

Welcome back to Close Friends: Unfiltered and irreverent restaurant reviews, copied and pasted straight from my DMs. Edited lightly for grammar and clarity.

Mkutano House — Swahili for “gathering with purpose” — is a full-service restaurant in the heart of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Elephant Valley. Opened in March 2026, the two-story lodge serves a “globally-inspired” menu with cocktails featuring spirits sourced from distilleries across Africa.

The best seats in the house are on the patio with unfettered views of elephants eating, ambling, and playing.

TLDR: 💯

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Restaurant Review

17 Oct 2026

{close friends} Lielle – Los Angeles

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Welcome to Close Friends: Unfiltered and irreverent restaurant reviews, copied and pasted straight from my DMs. Edited lightly for grammar and clarity.

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Chef Marcus Jernmark’s tasting menu ($150) at one-Michelin-starred Lielle in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

TLDR.

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