The Tiki paradise that is Los Angeles

It’s no secret that Tiki culture continues to pulse in Los Angeles, from new openings like Pacific Seas inside Clifton’s Republic in Downtown, to old school joints like Tiki Ti on Sunset Boulevard. But what about all those sugary Tiki drinks you find at the back bars of some of the city’s most famous Chinese restaurants?

Writer Garrett Snyder hits the pages of Punch to talk about the intersection of Chinese-American cuisine and Tiki bar culture, hitting on places like Hop Louie in Chinatown as stalwarts of the mashup genre. Even Bryant Ng of the newer Cassia isn’t unfamiliar with the intersection of Tiki, Chinese food, and American nostalgia.

Pasta party at The Standard

Young chef Flynn McGarry is back in Los Angeles and cooking up at Alma at The Standard, working once again under chef Ari Taymor and his team. To celebrate McGarry’s arrival the pair are throwing a pasta party at the restaurant tomorrow night, with lots of noodles all night long. No special tickets or anything, just show up.

Welcome to the Mar Vista

Looks like The Mar Vista is officially open as of yesterday, ushering in a new era of dining to the Westside neighborhood. With it’s big space and beautiful plans, expect this restaurant to be one to watch in the new year.

Botanica beats the clock

Hooray for Botanica, the upcoming Silver Lake restaurant that successfully Kickstarted its way into some $60,000. The space is still under heavy construction though, so don’t expect to be dining there for a while still.

Bette Midler’s big dinner

Industry icon Bette Midler found time to dine out last night at Kali, according to the restaurant’s Instagram page. Apparently she made chef Kevin Meehan’s mother very happy.

Special guest @bettemidler came in last night. @kalichefkevin could not have made his Jewish mom from Long Island more happier. A photo posted by Kali Restaurant (@kalirestaurant) on Jan 5, 2017 at 10:04am PST

Verdugo West talks

Want more info on Verdugo West, the new Burbank-based brewery that popped up almost out of nowhere? Food GPS has the details, including their relationship with the city, and why they chose Burbank in the first place.

Puesto comes to OC

Modern Mexican option Puesto has come to Irvine, landing inside the Los Olivos Marketplace. With existing locations in La Jolla and San Diego, the move puts the newcomer on a bigger stage, with hopes for future expansion.

Mainland Poke is now open in Marina del Rey

It’s a beautiful new opening for Mainland Poke out near the water this week. The poke mainstay offers a beautiful space for all that fresh fish, as well as an open window into the kitchen so guests can see the whole fish being broken down on site. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, 4700 Admiralty Way.