Becoming Sudanese: 3 Years in Darfur

By Kelly K. Woolf — (*Note: Due to the sensitivity of the region, all names have been changed to protect identities.) So I’m standing in a village market in Darfur, Sudan. The sun splashes off the leaves of a giant acacia tree, canopy for the entire market. I glance from bundles of firewood and pyramids [...]

Sweetsalt: Gourmet Sandwich Shop

By Annie Suh If you recall season five of Top Chef, you’ve probably seen Alex Eusebio in the first four episodes. A number of ex Top Chef contestants have opened their own successful eateries, which seems to be a common, logical pattern, e.g, Grub in Hollywood, The Gorbals in downtown LA—and now, Sweetsalt in Toluca [...]

Put a Halt to your Middle Eastern Food Cravings

By Annie Suh Raffi’s Place is an Iranian-Armenian gourmet restaurant located in Glendale that is spot on when it comes to ambiance and Middle Eastern cuisine. Their outdoor/indoor seating area brings back memories of the Twin Palms restaurant in Pasadena (now closed) that catered to couples, friends and families celebrating a special occasion. If you [...]

Desserts from Around the World

10 international desserts worth trying: “More than meets the eye” Azerbaijani pakhlavas from Ganja–the second largest city in Azerbaijan (small country next to Armenia). Photo: Fuada/Wikimedia —– Spaghettieis is a German dessert that mimics a plate of spaghetti. Vanilla or a white colored ice cream is passed through a Spatzle press to make it look [...]

My Dating Life as an Eritrean-American

On the prowl—them, not me. By Semhar Debessai – Silly me. Single, and just days into my 27th year, you’d think that my biggest dating fears would have been overcome by now. I—at the very least—thought I was sure of how the story began: boy meets girl, girl likes boy, boy and girl attempt to [...]

Revisiting LA’s Chinatown

Things to do and places to eat in Chinatown, Los Angeles.

Ethiopia in Los Angeles

Hidden gems and good finds on the small strip along Fairfax Avenue. By Annie Suh – You’ve probably passed by Little Ethiopia (which they officially named in 2002) many times while driving en route to Culver City or The Grove. Maybe you’ve even dined at one of the tasty Ethiopian restaurants. But if that doesn’t [...]

Mongolia: Land of the Blue Skies

A snapshot of Mongolian culture and what to expect on your travels there. By Annie Suh – If Genghis Khan and Mongolian Beef are the only things you know about Mongolia, it’ll do you good to read on. Who knows, maybe you’ll be flying there one day in hopes of hitting a different vacation spot [...]

Japamerica: Hello Kitty, Ninjas and Katanas

By Mike Woodruff Someone famous and important once said, “If you want to know where you’re going, it helps to know where you’ve been.” I grew up in the soft rolling, monocultural hills of Kentucky. My parents were white. My grandparents were white. My great grandparents were white. Somewhere in there, my family says we’re [...]

A Buzz-Worthy Vietnamese Restaurant in LA

A magnet to the hipster crowd in Silver Lake, the eco-friendly Gingergrass serves well-groomed Vietnamese dishes with a Californian twist in a cute space that is

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