2022 goes down as my most “normal” year yet since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it came to dining out. The slew of brand-new restaurant openings throughout Los Angeles — from mom-and-pop establishments to big-name draws — kept me on my toes and as stoked as ever to be covering such a dynamic dining scene. Before marching forward to 2023, one last look back at my favorite features penned on Eater LA.
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I spent 48 hours exploring the fabulous Santa Ynez Valley back in September. In the decade since I first visited the area (Hello, Pea Soup Andersen’s and Saarloos & Sons), the region which includes six towns (Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Solvang, and Santa Ynez) has come into its own to become a tremendous food and wine destination.
The Valley’s breathtaking vistas, easy-going spirit, and community of passionate chefs and artisans make a visit here equal parts rejuvenating and delicious. Given its close proximity to Los Angeles, I make an effort to visit the area annually, along with my other favorite wine region the Valle de Guadelupe.
My whirlwind trip included visits to both new and familiar restaurants, along with a few stops at notable farms and vineyards. Early fall’s sunny skies and mild temperatures made for outstanding conditions. The plump grapes clustered on the vines were almost ready to be plucked, processed, and transformed into wine.
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Some of the most memorable meals this year were shared with my colleagues from Eater LA. While it’s hard to top the night we breathed the same air as Jay and Bey at Mother Wolf, our final feast of 2022 at Michelin-starred Kato gave it a run for its money.
It’s been a year since chef Jon Yao and his team moved from West LA to Downtown, and from the look of things Kato is settling in nicely to its new home at the Row. Elegant, thoughtful, and ambitious, the restaurant’s $275 tasting menu offered a dynamic ride through Yao’s take on contemporary Taiwanese cooking.
All great meals begin with a solid cocktail. The Old Fashioned ($23) made with Kavalan Distillery select whisky, hoshigaki, and Angostura bitters hit just right.
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