Restaurant Review #174: Maker Nights at Cube

Lamb shanks with port wine reduction and crispy pan-seared Wisconsin Sheep Dairy mona polenta

Cube is part gourmet shop and part restaurant. In addition to an extensive cheese collection, they also sell all sorts of gourmet honeys, crackers, olive oils, and other delicacies, as well as the full line of Divine Pasta Company products (which you may have seen at Whole Foods). Cube's mission is to

Writing More Professional Restaurant Reviews

I took a food writing class recently and picked up these tips from Brad Johnson, editor of Modern Luxury Magazines. I know that many of us are not aspiring professional restaurant reviewers and are perfectly happy with our blogs, but it doesn't hurt to at least know what kind of guidelines the professionals follow so that you have the option of using them.1. Restaurant reviews and ratings are

Restaurant Review #173: Punch Grill, Santa Monica - CLOSED

Filet mignon in pinot noir sauce

This review is a little different from my others in that I was invited to try Punch Grill by their PR firm and they paid for my meal. Despite this, you can still count on Foodie Universe to stand by our policy of providing unbiased reviews.

Punch Grill opened in June 2006 with the mission of offering "the finest American cuisine on the Westside." They bill

Restaurant Review #172: Lotous Boba & Tonic, Northridge - CLOSED

Ah, suburbia. Nothing but a bunch of big boxes to shop and eat at, and nothing better for a teenager to do than hang out at the local coffee or boba shop. Accordingly, Northridge's Lotous is filled with ebullient teens, a few of whom are studying but most of whom are flirting, laughing, shrieking, and mocking each other. If you're over 18 or so, you'll probably feel compelled grab your drink

The Artisan Cheese Gallery, Studio City

Going to a cheese store for the first time can be intimidating, but getting over your trepidation is worth the effort. Whole Foods wraps their cheeses in a plastic whose flavor seeps into the cheese, ruining all the outer edges of pretty much anything you purchase. Plus, their cheeses are expensive and you can't try before you buy, which results in lots of wasted money (and cheese!). Trader Joe's