Los Angeles is a city where film mingles with food. From healthful salads to sweet treats inspired by California’s agricultural bounty, the innovative fare mirrors L.A.’s rise from a sleepy western outpost to celluloid dream, where food has always played an award-winning role. The minds behind these delicious treasures include a pauper who reinvented himself as a prince, a penniless single mom who perfected a treasured recipe to create an empire and a guru who provided good vibes and scandal alongside cold-pressed juices. Bake up the Cocoanut Grove’s Coconut Strawberry Cream Tarts and sip a Zombie from the first-ever tiki bar to create a little Hollywood magic in your own kitchen, then join author Amy Bizzarri as she rolls out the red carpet in celebration of Tinseltown’s iconic cuisine.
Amy Bizzarri has written four books focused on Chicago history, but her experiences don’t stop there. She’s a teacher, tour guide and certified wine expert. Passionate about the Golden Age of Hollywood, if she could travel back in time she’d head straight to 1920s Los Angeles and dance the night away at the Cocoanut Grove. Oh, yes, she’s a mermaid, too, having trained with the celebrated sirens at Florida’s Weeki Wachee Springs. Follow Amy’s latest adventures at instagram.com/amybizzarri.