If you’re that kind of Angeleno – or maybe even someone outside of the city limits that loves LA just as much – here’s an opportunity for you to get some of the recognition and A-list pampering you deserve.

The fabulously appointed Luxe Hotels of Los Angeles invite everyone with a heart for LA to participate in their “Let us Sweep You Off Your Feet” contest. From February 7 until April 7, fans can visit the Facebook page of the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard and share in 360 words or less how much they love LA.

Each month, a winner will be chosen to receive a two night stay at the Luxe Hotel of their choice – Sunset Blvd, Rodeo Drive, or City Center – and a 360° package for two. The package includes a room upgrade, daily breakfast, wine, comp use of an iPad2, and a limo ride from the airport if you’re coming from out of town.

I wouldn’t be telling you about this deal if it wasn’t a great opportunity to ball out of control. I visited the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard last week to get a tour of the place with some LA based travel writers.

The Spacious and Welcoming Lobby of the Luxe Hotel on Sunset Boulevard.

Even though the property is located just off the bustling and busy 405, the place was like an oasis. Just beyond the quiet and welcoming lobby, the lobby bar and restaurant were gently simmering to the sounds of live music and cocktails being poured.

Touring the place, I was pleased to find the rooms nicely oversized and decorated in soothing cream, tans, and chocolate tones. I could have checked in immediately!

A Suite in the Luxe Hotel on Sunset Boulevard.

So please, enter this contest and tell them South Bay Foodies sent you. If you win, let me know if I can meet you for the limo ride!

• “Let Us Sweep You Off Your Feet”, Sponsored by Luxe Hotels
  Go to http://www.facebook.com/LuxeSunsetHotel to enter
  

Knowing that you and your friends will be drawing straws to see who hosts the viewing party, plenty of South Bay and LA restaurants are offering specials deals to make sure you don’t end up being the one that has to clean up this year. Pick the right spot, and everyone can watch the game in style and get a great discount on food and drinks along with the best seat in town for watching the game…and the commercials!

• Lazy Dog Café, Del Amo – Lazy Dog is serving their happy hour menu all day long for the big game. Check out our review of their drinks and food for an inside look of the deals at this spacious yet cozy destination in Del Amo Mall

Super Bowl 46 Brings Happy Specials ALL NIGHT LONG to Lazy Dog Cafe in Torrance.

• Chipotle – The folks that made build-it-yourself burritos mainstream are offering their gargantuan wraps for half price. Get up to 100 burritos of your choice  and pay for only half of them! You gotta plan ahead though; put your order in at least 24 hours in advance to make sure you can score this deal on game day.

• Bo’s Cigar Lounge – if you want to get a little smoky with your game watch party, check out Bo’s in Old Town Torrance.

• Patrick Molloy’s Halftime Challenge – On the beach in Hermosa, Patrick Molly’s is calling all Giants and Patriots fans to watch the game and step up for their halftime challenge and stein holding contest. Even if you don’t win, you scan score discounts at the bar during the entire game. The winners have first rights to the dance floor for the after party which starts as soon as the game ends.

• Redondo Beach 10K/5K – not everyone likes to sit on their bucket all day watching the game on the boob tube. Some folks actually run instead! If that’s you then the Redondo Beach 10k/5k is the place to be. More than 10,000 runners and spectators convene for this event to build up an appetite for their Super Bowl snacks. Check out http://www.redondo10k.com for details. Don’t forget your costume!

Costumes are a must for the Redondo beach Super Bowl 10k.

• Public School 612 – If you need to get outside of the South Bay, Public School 612 in Downtown LA has a great Super Bowl deal on deck. They’re offering their happy hour menu all day along with an all you can eat special: $10 gets you AYCE chicken wings, chips+salsa, and hot dogs. Call for more details: 213—623-1172.

Known as the Buick Discovery Tour, the event was well attended by foodies and car lovers alike. There may have been some disagreement between the two camps on what the highlight of the event was – the superstar chefs or the cars – but everyone still enjoyed themselves.

For the car lovers, the draw was the chance to get behind the wheel of one of Buick’s latest creations. Among the stunning vehicles that looked like works of art next to the equally beautiful St. Regis were the LaCrosse, the Enclave, and – the one I got to drive – the Buick Regal.

Along with stretching the legs of a brand spanking new car on Pacific Coast Highway, the foodies were excited about tasting food prepared by celebrity chefs Ben Roche of Moto in Chicago and Josiah Citrin chef/owner of Mélisse in Santa Monica.

The big name on the ticket, though was celebrity chef, Ming Tsai. He headlined the event with a demonstration on his now classic east-meets-west recipes and techniques. You may know him from his various apperanaces on Food Network and his current show, Simply Ming on PBS.

First up from Chef Ming was chicken chow mein. It featured thick, hearty noodles with green peppers, carrots, and a blanched chicken.

Chef Min Tsai's Chicken Chow Mein.

Next up was a sweet and sour pork served over rice. The treat with this one was its exclusivity: only six servings were prepared by Chef Ming himself. Everyone got to try the chicken chow mein but only a few lucky folks from the audience would get a chance to try the pork. To get in, audience members had to answer a question with facts from the Buick test drive and cooking demonstrations earlier in the day.

I was so fortunate to get the chance to answer a question and got it right! I slooooowly answered the question – recite the six S’s of wine tasting – to make sure I got it right: See, Swirl, Smell, Sip, Savor, and Spit…or Swallow!

Having answered the question correctly, I scored a bowl of the prized sweet and sour pork from Chef Ming himself. Of course, I had to take a picture.

Chef Ming Tsai hands me a dish of his Sweet and Sour Pork.

Buick is continuing their Discovery test drive events and partnership with Food+Wine magazine. They’ll be coming to SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills this weekend (January 21-22). While the same chefs might not be cooking, I’m sure the food will be just as delicious. Oh, and the cars will be there to drive too!

* I was invited to this event by representatives of Buick. Buick Discovery Tour events are free and open to the public. However, registration via their website or at the event is required to attend and participate.

The Fire Hydrant Tap at Lazy Dog Cafe, Torrance

Lazy Dog calls their afternoon discount session “Happiest Hour“. Sipping on the beer and cocktails, and nomming on the food during that time, I find it hard to disagree. You’ll find these discounts on weekdays from 3 to 6 PM. For dogs that like to party late, an evening session takes place Sunday through Thursday from 9 PM until closing time. Happy hour specials are only available in the bar area and on the patio.

Earlier this month, I shared some of the beverage offerings on Lazy Dog’s new happy hour menu. Today we’re taking a look at the happy hour food!

A Mini Food Festival of Happy Hour Appetizers.

Happy hour versions of their appetizers are attractively priced between $3 and $6. I say “versions” because the happy hour portion is about half of the regular appetizer. It’s all the better though, because at that price a few small plates make for a mini food festival of delicious samples.

• Spicy Buffalo Chicken Nuggets ($4): These bite-sized gems of yard bird are fried and dipped in a deep, almost glowing red sauce. The spiciness comes through but is not over bearing. If you find yourself reaching to fan your lips, though, don’t worry; they’re served on a bed of cool, crispy cole slaw made with buttermilk and blue cheese.

Buffalo chicken nuggets on a bed of creamy cole slaw.

• Loaded Baked Potato Hush Puppies ($3): This cousin to the dough-balls that they get their name from are like baked potatoes in a crispy shell. These filling little orbs are creamy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. For a beer pairing, ask for a big glass of Firestone Velvet Merlin to sip on while you hush these puppies.

Loaded Baked Potato Hush Puppies.

• Hawaiian Ahi Poke ($4): Just what you would expect and a little bit more: a crispy wonton topped with moist, well seasoned tuna, drizzled with a creamy sauce. Sesame seeds and green onions rounds out the flavors and add a finishing touch.

Ahi Poke gets cozy, nestled on a crispy wonton.

• Sweet Potato Tater Tots ($4): Crispy tater tots with a combination of sweet and savory. The sweet comes from the sweet potato base while the savory comes from a cumin flavor that sneaks in and adds a pleasant surprise of flavor. The result is a bar-food treat that will have you reaching back for another handful. Served with a mildly spicy jalapeño aioli.

• Carrot Cake at Lazy Dog Cafe ($4.95): Have you ever wanted to finish up a happy hour with something sweet but are still in a happy hour price state of mind? OK, so this one isn’t on the happy hour menu but the price fits the bill. This dessert is a moist, dense cake served in a cute little skillet and comes packing plenty for two people for share. The shredded carrots and walnuts on top will give you backing to tell your mom that you ate your veggies. Don’t tell her about the Stone Porter though, that pairs perfectly with this cake.

The Carrot Cake isn't on the happy hour menu, but the price might make you spring for it anyway.

Stone Porter pairs nicely with the carrot cake.

Late Comers Get a Deal All Their Own

If the prospect of getting to happy hour by 6 PM doesn’t work with your schedule on the vampire shift, don’t worry; Lazy Dog is serving the same deals happy hour from 9 PM to close Sunday through Thursday.

Along with the same deals mentioned above, lazy dogs get a deal all their own in the form of the Late Night Burger, a quarter pound fixing for $5 only served after 9PM.

Better late than never! Late Comers can get the big burger for Happy Hour.

• Lazy Dog Café, Del Amo Fashion Center
  http://www.lazydogcafe.com
  3525 West Carson Street
  Torrance CA 90503
  (310) 921-6080

* Prices and menu items are subject to change without notice. Some items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinions of the reviewers.

Smoothies to help your budget and your constitution!

Follow this link to get coupons for the following smoothies: (http://www.jambajuice.com/fruitfulcoupons)

• Fit ‘n Fruitful Smoothie, 16 oz ($2): These smoothies contain at “weight burner boost” and provide protein, fiber, and two or more servings of fruit. Available in three flavors: Berry Blend, Peach Mango, and Strawberry Raspberry Banana.

• Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blends, 12 oz ($1): Made with yogurt, soymilk, and a “probiotic boost” for supporting your immune system and digestive health. Flavors include Strawberries Alive, Vibrant Blueberry, and Thrivin Mango.

• The Coldbuster Smoothie, 16 oz ($2): Knock out your cold with a blend of orange juice, orange sherbet, peaches, bananas, ice, “immunity boost” and “antioxidant power boost”.

These deals are good until January 19. Tell ‘em South Bay Foodies sent ya!

Welcome to Islands Restaurant in Redondo Beach.

The South Bay Foodies were keen to check out the new spot so we stopped by for a taste of the burgers, beer, and cocktails that Islands is known for.*

From the outside, the restaurant looks to be on the smallish side but its not the case. Inside, there’s plenty of room a bar and a nice sized dining room. Multiple TVs hang from the walls for comfortable viewing from just about any locations.

On the inside, there's plenty of room and TVs that are easy to see from just about everywhere.

Starting off with beverages, we tried one of the signature drinks and a beer. The Big Island Iced Tea ($7.25) is a tropical take on the tea most people know to be from Long Island. They keep the vodka, gin, tequila, rum, and triple sec and then add pineapple juice and strawberry puree. The result is an easy-drinking blend of vacation in a glass.

Along with several beers on tap, Islands also has a line of beers made especially for their restaurants by the Firestone Brewing company: The Islands Golden Ale, IPA, and Brown Ale.

The Big Island Ice Tea and a 25 oz pour of the Islands Brown Ale.

Appetizers quickly followed the drinks and were devoured just as fast as they came. The spinach and artichoke dip was superb, sporting plenty of spinach and sizeable chunks of tender artichoke. The Buffalo wings were as you might expect. Our batch was not too hot spice-wise and included carrots, celery, and bleu cheese for dipping.

There are plenty of entrees to choose from on the menu at Islands: soups, salads, and even tacos stuffed with chicken or fish. But the burgers are the focus. With names like Pipeline, Kilauea, and Longboarder the burgers are all tied back to the theme of a burger shack on the beach in Hawaii.

I tackled the hefty Malibu, a thick beef patty topped with American cheese (I substituted pepper jack) and applewood smoked bacon and then rounded out with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and mustard.

The Malibu BUrger and Sweet Potato Fries.

I paired the Malibu burger with sweet potato fries which were outstanding. Fans of regular fries will want to consider getting the endless fries. As you finish your fries, they keep bringing wave upon wave of fresh cut, skin-on fries. I’m wondering though, with the burgers as big as they are if anyone really can make it through more than a helping or two of fries!

Whether you do or not, try to save room for dessert. There’s a complete line up of shakes, smoothies, and other delectables that are perfect for chasing a big burger and fries. The Chocolate Lava is first on the list and is plenty to share: a nicely portioned fudge brownie with ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, almonds, and a cherry.

There are plenty of great desserts on the menu but the Lava Sundae has "comfort food" written all over it...in chocolate syrup. See?

Even getting the left overs wrapped up at Islands is a treat. The whole to-go box is like a kit with a piece of aluminum foil (to wrap the half of your burger), a paper bag, and a box to cart it all away for a snack later on.

Happy Hours and Playoff Specials

Along with their lunch and dinner service, Islands is also featuring a happy hour on weekdays from 4 to 7 PM in the bar area. Specials include appetizers and drinks for $5 or less.

During the football playoffs leading up the big game, they’re offering the best of best with a $10 burger and beer combo.

Happy hour and playoff specials for the big games.

• Islands Restaurants
  http://www.islandsrestaurants.com
• Three South Bay Locations
  • Redondo Beach @ 1609 Hawthorne Bvld.
  • South Torrance @ 2647 Pacific Coast Highway
  • Manhattan Beach @ 3200 North Sepulveda Blvd.

* Prices and menu items are subject to change without notice. Some items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinions of the reviewers.

** Shout out Kristi, Doug, and the rest of the staff at Islands, Redondo Beach!

Chefs Brooke Williamson and Nick Robert – the cute couple behind Redondo Beach’s Hudson House – are making serious cocktails a priority at the Tripel where the liquor license doesn’t allow for the hard stuff.

Bellying up to the bar at 333 Culver Blvd, also known as The Tripel.

With 14 craft beers on tap at any given time and an even longer list of beers in bottles and cans, they have plenty of ammo to get creative with beer-based cocktails. Seasonal ingredients inspire the creations so expect something different with each visit.

Here are a few of the beer cocktails* the South Bay Foodies tried during a visit to this cozy establishment that’s one part pub, one part wine bar.

• Holiday Spice Cake ($8): Scaldis Noel – a Belgian-style holiday ale – brings the taste of winter to this cocktail that adds ginger beer and bitters for a smooth, easy drinking finish. The orange peel garnish is like icing on the cake.

Holiday Spicce Cake, but drinkable.

• Sour Grapes ($10): If you’re a fan of sour beers, this is one to try. Those who are prone to pucker might want to steer clear of this blend of Madeira sour beer and Luxardo maraschino liquer.

Sour Grapes for the initiated.

• Bavarian Pear ($8): This cloudy, golden cocktail leans heavily on the pear side of its name for a crispy drink that’s perfect for winter. Hefeweizen, pear cider, and pear puree are the ingredients that bring this beverage to life. Imagine the foamy head is a blanket of wind driven snow and you might be reaching for your skis after the first sip.

Bavarian Pear, the golden child.

But the journey dosen’t end here. I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the lovely food that was paired with these beverages. You’ll find that by following this link to The Los Angeles Beat. I have to give a shout out to The Beat for putting me into the position to visit The Tripel and provide you with this review.

• The Tripel
  http://thetripel.com
  333 Culver Blvd, Playa Del Rey

* Prices and menu items are subject to change without notice. Some items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinions of the reviewers.

The South Bay has seen an increase in the frequency of food trucks coming this way to feed hungry truck chasers. Just about every day of the week there’s a truck stop going on somewhere on our side of town. The Automobile Driving Museum, located in El Segundo, is contributing to the South Bay food truck buzz with its biweekly Eat Fleet.

The Ludo Truck makes an appearance for ADM Eat Fleet.

At 11 AM every Wednesday and Friday, three to four trucks pull up at the Automobile Driving Museum – also known as the ADM – located at 610 Lairport Street. Their rotation of food trucks is deep so every day there is something different to choose from.

The Rebel Bite Truck draws crowds with each visit to the ADM.

One of the neat things about the ADM Eat Fleet gatherings is the layout. The ADM is nice enough to set out picnic tables so folks can get their grub and then eat al fresco. Along with the tables, they also put out one or two cars from their extensive collection of antique and classic cars.

There's plenty of room to enjoy food truck fare and fair weather at the ADM.

One of the many classic cars from the ADM's extensive collection of automobiles.

10-4 Good Buddy!

To help you track which trucks will be rolling into the Eat Fleet each week, we put together a calendar listing who will be heating up their grills. You can find it at the top of this page or in the sidebar to the left on Wednesdays and Fridays. You can also find the list of trucks for each day on the ADM website under events.

Happy food trucking!

Happy Hour Menu at Lazy Dog Cafe, Torrance

Known as Happiest Hour, Lazy Dog’s menu specials start at 3 PM Monday through Friday. Sunday through Thursday the party starts at 9 PM and goes until closing time. Happy hour specials are only available in the bar area and on the patio. While there’s plenty of room at the bar and on the heated patio, come early for the best seat selections if you’d like a view of the game on one of the TV’s mounted over the bar. Oh, and come thirsty!

• Sangria Sampler ($8.25): This one is a heck of an idea and a great deal for indecisive sangria lovers. Packaged in cute little mason jars, the sampler features three four-ounce pours of Pomegranate Red, Black Currant Rose, and White Peach sangrias. The rack even has tags to help you keep the different flavors sorted out. If you’re using the wine tasting method to go from the sweetest to the boldest of the bunch, I’d suggest starting with the peach, rounding the bend with the black currant, and finishing up with the pomegranate.
  

Sangria Sampler: Don't settle for one, try all three!

• Cucumber Martini ($6): This heady concoction was a crowd pleaser among the South Bay Foodies enlisted to give it a taste (thanks, Margaret!). The beverage combines Rain Organics Cucumber Lime Vodka, fresh cucumbers and mint, agave syrup, and a dash of sweet and sour. Martini purists might frown on the last two ingredients but a sip or two will have them changing their minds quickly. The layers of flavors in this cocktail give it a sophistication that will make you wonder why you aren’t wearing a tux or an evening gown…well, unless, you just roll like that.
  

The Well Appointed Cucumber Martini.

• Seasonal Mason Jar: This cocktail is served in a do-it-your-self shaker. In a full-sized jar, Veev acai spirits are mixed with seasonal ingredients – in our case it was basil, lemon, and cucumber – and shaken with ice until chilled. The result for this blend was an instant recollection of lazy summer days spent sipping lemonade. This cocktail changes with the seasons so options may differ. At the time we were sampling the basil-lemonade, a cranberry-limeade was in the works for winter featuring Veev, cranberry, lime, mint, and agave. I’ll be back for that one!

Seasonal Mason Jar Festuring Basil Lemonade with Vee Acai Spirits.

• The Craft Beer Sampler ($6): Fear not, beer lovers! Lazy Dog hasn’t forgotten about you. They’re still featuring their beer sampler that gives you four-ounce pours from six of the fifteen or more craft beers they have on tap. The only thing that makes this deal difficult is figuring out which beers to pick! I say bring along a friend, order up 12 different beers and have a mini-beer fest.
  

Craft Beer Sampler: Which ones will you choose!?

With a nice selection of cocktails and beers to choose from, it only makes sense to have an equally balance selection of happy hour eats as well. Stay tuned for a review of the grub that we paired with the drinks!

* Prices and menu items are subject to change without notice. Some items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinions of the reviewers.

Whatever you were cooking, that recipe could give you a shot at a cut of $15,000 in cash and prizes from the Challenge Butter ‘Real Heritage Recipe Contest’.*

The homepage for the Challenge Butter Real Heritage Recipe Contest.

The key to this contest is sharing family recipes and the story behind them. To enter, you just need to have a recipe that includes Challenge Butter and describe how that dish became a family favorite. It can be an appetizer, main dish, side dish, or dessert.

Your opportunity to enter is closing soon though! Entries are being accepted until 11:59 PM ET, January 3, 2012. You can enter multiple times in each category. Just remember that each submission must include the usage of one or more Challenge Butter® products.

What’s at stake? Challenge is offering these prizes:

• Four grand prize winners in each of the four categories will receive $2,500 cash plus Good Cook® Cookware items valued at approximately $500.
• Twelve runners up will receive Good Cook® Cookware valued at approximately $250.

Just think of how proud Grandma will be if her shortbread cookie recipe takes the grand prize!

If you have questions, follow this link for the FAQ. If you want all the fine print and nitty-gritty details, follow this link for the official rules.

If you don’t want to enter but just want to see a collection of original recipes featuring butter – or maybe you want to check out the competition! – follow this link to see all of the recipes that have been submitted so far.

*I was introduced to this competition by representatives of Challenge Butter. When they told me about it I responded, “That’s the butter with the deer on it, right? I use that already!” None the less, they gave me a baking pan, a spoon, and a spatula from the Good Cook Cookware line and some Challenge Butter coupons in return for sharing this contest with you. If you submit a recipe, please let me know!

• Challenge Butter ‘Real Heritage Recipe Contest’
  Enter your recipes until Midnight, January 3, 2012
  http://heritage.challengedairy.com