Health

What’s the secret to great babka? It could be the kvetching, or the chocolate I love that babka translates to “little grandma” in Yiddish, because the sweet braided bread — with swirls of filling reminiscent of Bubbe’s pleated skirt — is always as comforting as one. My grandmother didn’t teach me to fill and braid … Read more

The Hollywood Palladium was the location of the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants event, where dozens of people reported feeling ill after eating oysters. (Google Street View) Health officials are investigating a possible norovirus outbreak after dozens of people became sick after eating raw oysters at the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants event. The Los … Read more

When I was 24, standing in the kitchen of the house where I grew up in San Diego, I got the only Christmas present my dad would ever give me. It reflected his very essence, and I carry it with me to this day: He taught me how to make an authentic Caesar salad. The … Read more

I’m a woman in my 40s. Why do I feel terrible every time I have a drink? This summer an old high school friend of mine decided to quit drinking entirely. She didn’t want to, but she felt she had no choice. “All of a sudden my body decided that alcohol is poison,” she told … Read more

Salty and fatty manufactured foods, along with sweet ones, have been engineered to encourage snacking and excessive eating. (Jeffrey Greenberg / Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Groundbreaking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have understandably generated a lot of excitement, bringing hope to the hundreds of millions of people grappling with obesity. When combined … Read more

Heads of lettuce varieties from Chino family farm, including Carlo, Dragoon and Chalupa. (Catherine Dzilenski / For The Times) Twenty years ago, when I first returned to my native California from New York City, I tapped out a letter to the Food editor of this newspaper instructing her in no uncertain terms what exactly was … Read more

While many workers hoped for tax-free tips, experts warn the proposal could disproportionately benefit higher earners and exacerbate inequalities in the service industry. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press) On a good night, Chris Lopez, a bartender and server in Southern California for eight years, can make $200 to $400 in tips. So when the 31-year-old, … Read more

(Elana Marie/For De Los; Photos by Natali Sanchez)

I covered my empty wine glass as the Italian waitress made her rounds, a bottle of Chianti in hand. “I’m not drinking right now,” I said, even though I was on my honeymoon in Tuscany. Earlier this year, I decided to take a break from alcohol, which also happened to be around the same time … Read more