Read Ranch & Coast Virtually Anywhere
Issue link: http://ranchandcoast.uberflip.com/i/1542316
still run by the Stavros family, which is why the sandwiches are just as good today as they were when I used to hang out there with my cute boyfriend in the late '80s. My son still goes to Chris' every time he's home, and last time he went, I had him bring me my old favorite, the Low Surf. Amazing, as always. ere are so many hip and trendy places in Little Italy, but one hidden gem I find myself returning to often — especially for a casual bite — is Nonna + Zucchero Bakery and Café. To be honest, I'm hooked on the arancini. Softball-sized fried rice balls filled with a meat-and-vegetable ragù are surrounded by marinara sauce. Break them open, let out the steam, and dip each bite in the gravy. is is classic comfort food, made just like your Nonna. I usually eat one at the café with a stick of soft Italian bread and then take a few home to stash in the freezer. I have a thing for burgers. I made a quick trip to Los Angeles last month to eat at a couple of spots, and I had to return to one of my favorite L.A. haunts, Petit Trois, for their famous burger. Not only is it something to marvel at, but you will also make a spectacle of yourself eating it — it's quite an undertaking and definitely not for le petit mangeur. A house-ground double cheeseburger drips with "special sauce" and is then drenched in a glossy, deeply enriched bordelaise. Frites ride shotgun. Drop the mic. Nothing else to say. I was recently in Palm Springs on a writing assignment (stay tuned), and I cannot recommend a relatively new spot enough: Bar Cecil. Located right in the middle of downtown, it's a short Uber ride from just about anywhere. It has a great French-inspired menu (which I'll talk about another time), but be sure to cozy up to the bar, even if only for an extra- briny martini. I'm not alone in my love for dirty martinis; it's reported that Hemingway, Churchill, and Richard Burton all liked theirs extra briny — kinda like their women, don't you think? @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE JANUARY 2026 63 Nonna + Zucchero Bakery and Café Bar Cecil Petit Trois