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MOST RECENT ARTICLES BY:

Lesley Balla

See all their articles from across New York Magazine
  1. L.A. Diet
    Sprinkles Founder Candace Nelson Balances Quinoa Salads With a Lot of Ice Cream“I was attempting a little bit of a detox day, but it wasn’t entirely successful. I always wake up with the best intentions.”
  2. L.A. Diet
    Grey’s Anatomy Actor Jesse Williams Has a Great Caterer on the Set“We were spoiled for lunch with lobster tail and steak on the grill, avocado salad, and watermelon for dessert.”
  3. L.A. Diet
    Food & Wine Best New Chef Bryant Ng Eats SPAM Musubi and Trades Food with“I’m not a hater, I eat SPAM.”
  4. Openings
    Simmzy’s Now Serving Lunch, Dinner and Beer in Belmont ShoreMore than 30 beers and 10 wines on tap, a wood-burning oven, nightly family-style specials and brunch.
  5. Pot Cookery
    In the WeedsAnother pot dinner, another costume for Starry Kitchen owner Nguyen Tran.
  6. Dairy Wars
    It’s Raw Milk, Man, Not MarijuanaHow dairy became the next big contraband.
  7. Coming Soon
    David Myers, Condo-izedThe Comme Ca chef expands his empire to Century City.
  8. The Other Critics
    S. Irene Virbila Big on BierBeisl; Gold’s Mutant Dumplings at Wang Xing JiThe two L.A. Times critics travel to Austria and Shanghai via two new restaurants.
  9. Noise
    If the Restaurant’s Too Loud, You’re Probably Too Old to Enjoy ItNoisy restaurants: Love ‘em or leave ‘em?
  10. Beer
    Beer MeTony’s Darts Away celebrates two years with a mini beer fest.
  11. Beef
    Meaty Protest Doesn’t Faze Anyone at MozzaWhat happens when a bikini-clad protester tries to make an anti-meat stand at Mozza?
  12. Bookshelf
    Voltaggio Cooking, Silverton Dishing This WeekendLocal and national culinary stars on stage at the country’s largest lit fest.
  13. Menus
    Mark Gold Serving up a Side of Spring at SadieThe Eva chef has a little fun, shows his mark at the Hollywood haunt.
  14. Earth Day
    Sweet, Sweet Earth DayWe all have our ways of saving the earth, and sometimes it’s with cake and icing.
  15. Empire Building
    Casey Lane’s Itri Hits Melrose This SummerTasting Kitchen’s young chef plans to open two new spots this summer.
  16. Foodievents
    Here Pig, Pig, Pig: Cochon 555 Returns in MayAll things pork will once again be celebrated with five chefs and five heritage breed pigs.
  17. Video Feed
    Watch the Country’s Best Chefs Pay Tribute to Thomas KellerYes, Thomas Keller makes his kitchen staff do double-duty as his caddies.
  18. L.A. Diet
    Walking Dead Producer Gale Anne Hurd Eats Truffle-Topped Sashimi,“Last year, we had dinner around the same time and no one recognized us. This time, at least five different groups walked up to say how much they loved the show.”
  19. L.A. Diet
    Rande Gerber Drinks Tequila at Cafe Habana, Eats Whatever He Wants on Weekends“I try to eat somewhat healthy during the week, but on the weekends I just eat what I want to eat, all day long.”
  20. L.A. Diet
    Actress Mayim Bialik Orders Chinese Takeout in L.A., ‘Veganizes’ Her“My husband joked that if Gordon Ramsay knew I veganized all of his food he probably wouldn’t want me eating there.”
  21. L.A. Diet
    Wolfgang Puck Preps for the Oscars During the Week, Cooks for MuhammedI never met Lenny Kravitz, so we talked a little bit. I said, ‘Aren’t you hungry? You just played this long show. Let’s go eat!’”
  22. L.A. Diet
    Singer Michelle Branch Roasts Bacon, Goes Out For Thai Instead of Watching The“I love roasting things. Any time I’m making dinner and not going out, I’m roasting things.”
  23. L.A. Diet
    Actress Melora Hardin Eats Burgers with Brian Austin Green, Cooks Bacon for Her“I had a little bit of jambalaya, but it was too spicy. I have a wimpy mouth.”
  24. Health Concerns
    New Year, New Smoking Ban: It’s Butts Out in WeHo on SundayStaff and fellow patrons will have to enforce the ban.
  25. Menus
    What to Eat at Livello, Opening January 10 in Beverly HillsA look at Joseph Elevado’s opening menu.
  26. Let’s Do Brunch
    Where to Go Bottomless For BrunchAn endless supply of sparkling wine and juice is just what the doctor ordered.
  27. Openings
    800 Degrees Fired Up in WestwoodThe Umami-fied pizza joint opens in Westwood.
  28. Openings
    Little Bear Serves Waterzooi and Belgian Ales Downtown Next WeekAndre Guerrero’s new Belgian-inspired pub opening in the Arts District Downtown.
  29. Neighborhood Watch
    M.B. Post Does Brunch (Finally!); Delicieuse to Stop ScoopingCasa Azul officially open, Erewhon hoping to head points east.
  30. Quote of the Day
    What a Long Strange Trip for Evan KleimanSpecial moments for Evan Kleiman and Angeli Caffe.
  31. Coming Soon
    Wolfslair Biergarten Coming to Hollywood in JanuaryA new German-style beer-focused restaurant and lounge planned for Sunset + Vine.
  32. Openings
    Pho Citi Finally Serving DowntownThe 24/7 noodle chain’s flagship location debuts with new bakery.
  33. The Other Critics
    The Times Finds Persian Stews in the Valley; Gold’s Top 10 Dishes of the YearA look back at one delicious year.
  34. Closing
    After 27 Years on Melrose, Evan Kleiman to Close Angeli CaffeThe quintessential neighborhood restaurant shutters in January.
  35. Closing
    The Silver Spoon Shutters on SaturdayThe cafe will make its exit on New Year’s Eve.
  36. Lists
    Predict All You Want, L.A. Chefs Are Already Ahead of the CurveSetting the trends before they’re trends.
  37. TV Land
    What Does Portlandia Find in L.A.?The hilarious series heads south for new discoveries.
  38. Foodievents
    Your New Year’s Eve Pre-GameWhere to start celebrating early.
  39. Lists
    2011 Wasn’t All Pie and Pig RoastsNot the good, just the bad and the ugly in the year’s food news.
  40. Openings
    U-Sushi Brings Robotic Sushi to Beverly Hills TodayIt’s like Subway, but with sushi. And robots.
  41. Foodievents
    Party With Top Chef Chris CraryTop Chef Chris Crary cooks wild game menu at Whist. Live and in person!
  42. Lists
    Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Notable Openings and Closings of 2011The restaurants we loved to see come and go in 2011.
  43. Openings
    Vegans for LarchmontVegans can now flock to Larchmont for a taste of BabyCakes NYC.
  44. Menus
    Lentils For LuckGet your lucky New Year’s Italian meal in Santa Monica.
  45. Openings
    Ramen Jinya Expands to Miracle Mile, Opens Shop TodayRamen expansion comes to Miracle Mile: Ramen Jinya opens second location on Wilshire Boulevard.
  46. L.A. Diet
    Writer Joel Stein Eats Asian Sloppy Joes, Makes David Chang’s Brussels“I don’t particularly like fries, which makes me a freak. I’m not grossed out by them, I just don’t appreciate them the other way people do.”
  47. L.A. Diet
    Coolhaus Founder Natasha Case Eats Artisan Marshmallows in L.A. and Guacamole“The biggest thing for me is texture, making sure it’s right. I know the flavors are good, but you need to make sure it’s smooth and has that good mouthfeel.”
  48. L.A. Diet
    Wilshire Chef Nyesha Arrington Eats Lou Malnati’s Pizza and Drinks With Andy“What’s awesome is that two out of six are chefs, but we’re taking these ordinary ingredients and plating them. And then we all sat around and watched Top Chef, and they all laughed at me.”
  49. Neighborhood Watch
    Breabar on Third Street ‘Temporarily’ Closed; Villetta Chef ShufflesPlans for new Echo Park restaurant from the owners of Cookbook.
  50. Openings
    Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb Do Pizza: Milo and Olive Now OpenOne can never have too many restaurants in a two-mile radius, can one?
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