Puttin' The "Bar" In Barbecue

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Puttin' The "Bar" In Barbecue

I ain't no gambler, but I'd bet on this julep.

In honor of this Saturday's Kentucky Derby, hoof it over to Bludso's, Weho's new-ish bastion of BBQ, for the best julep outside Louisville. Here's why their version gets the gold cup. As co-owner Jason Bernstein (a self-taught cocktail connoisseur) explains, Evan Williams bourbon is steeped in mint for 24 hours, strained, then chilled on tap. Like the Foreigner tune, this bourbon is cold as ice, so that when poured over pebble ice, the booze doesn't get watered down.

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A Whole Lotta' Piggy In The Emerald City

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A Whole Lotta' Piggy In The Emerald City

There's something about Elizabeth Ray.

My sister noticed it first, observing how her brand-new daughter was, well, particularly porcine. Terms of endearment often take their cue from the animal kingdom; "Monkey" and "Bunny" are affectionate nicknames my friends dub their significant others. With babies, these pet names increase exponentially. Their newborn adorableness elicits even serious folk to coo "Lamb Chop" and "Chicken" in high-pitched sillyness.

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Silver Lake, Animal-style

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Silver Lake, Animal-style

Drop it like it's hot.

Chef Eric Park cherishes chilies like Snoop digs weed. Moroccan harissa, Japanese togarashi and Mexican serranos pack the menu with piquant punch; Black H-O-Double G is the International House of Hotness.

Like its namesake--a black hogg is actually a year-old sheep--Black Hogg is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Even after liquor-license hiccups and a scathing L.A. Weekly review (which destroyed my trust in B-Rod), this carnivorous charmer is better than ever. 

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Sweet Dreams Are Made Of Cream

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Sweet Dreams Are Made Of Cream

It's hot in here.

Bare legs, dry skin, chapped lips, blistering sunshine. The Santa Ana's are back. No amount of water can soothe throats parched from these warm winds. This calls for something stronger, something smoother...ice cream.

Since I was a tiny tot, ice cream has been my go-to remedy. The Steinman family freezer was always stocked with Breyers Mint Chip to soothe scraped knees. Good report cards merited trips to Friendly's for their ginormous Reese's Peanut Butter Cup sundae. As an adult, I've sought solace in a pint--no bowl needed-after bad days and worse dates. 

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