Patch Tastemaker: Cookbook Author Amelia Saltsman

Amelia Saltsman has always had a deep appreciation for the bold flavors and diverse cuisine she enjoyed during her upbringing. And her passion has served her well: Her Romanian and Iraqi heritage paired with an expertise in seasonal foods have made her the award-winning author of "The Seasonal Jewish Kitchen" and "The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook."

Her innovative "six seasons approach" has made Saltsman a valuable resource to those who want to eat sustainably. By dividing the year into two-month micro-seasons, Saltsman teaches mindful cooks exactly what produce is at its seasonal peak and how to prepare it.

Whether the busy author is enjoying a cocktail at Accomplice Bar in Mar Vista or taking in the spectacular city views from the Griffith Observatory, Saltsman's native Los Angeles provides her with endless inspiration, and she can't help but marvel at "the magnitude of its historically rich diversity, often hidden in plain sight."

From elegant restaurants to cultural establishments, check out her favorite spots around Los Angeles:

What neighborhood do you live in? A secret pocket between Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades that even many locals don’t know exists.

What’s your occupation? I write and teach about food and culture through a seasonal lens.

Describe Los Angeles in three words: Surprising, multicultural, crazy quilt (patchwork).

What’s your favorite overall Los Angeles restaurant? Lucques Restaurant for its 20-year masterful blend of food, wine and service. It's elegant enough for special occasions, understated enough for more casual moments.

Best sushi: Echigo. Nothing but Tokyo-style sushi (warm rice, cool fish) — no California rolls, no edamame. Hitoshi-san’s rice is exceptional.

Best Italian food: Angelini Osteria. There are so many Italian restaurants in Los Angeles, but Angelini makes me feel I’m in Italy.

Best pizza: The mushroom pizza at Milo & Olive

Best spot for a quick lunch: ROC on Sawtelle for soup dumplings.

Best food truck: Border Grill

Best spot for a romantic date: The bar at Providence. Intimate, quiet, unparalleled service, and of course, the beautiful food.

Best glass of wine: Esters Wine Shop and Bar, Everson-Royce

Best Sunday brunch: Typically, my patio. If I’m not cooking, we pick up Wexler’s Deli lox, smoked fish, bagels and cream cheese for that brunch on our patio.

Best cup of coffee: Caffe Luxxe or Funnel Mill

Best steak: Jar or Chi Spacca

Best craft cocktail: Accomplice Bar in Mar Vista. I love Gaby Mlynarczyk’s creative genius.

Best bread: Lodge Bread Company or Friends & Family

Best new food trend in LA: Israeli cuisine! My family’s from Israel, so I know firsthand the exciting flavors and many cultural influences that make up Israeli food. Ori Menashe has Bavel now, but there have always been Israeli notes peeking through at Bestia. Think: Madcapra, Kismet, Jaffa, Crossroads, The Exchange. LA even has an exceptional artisanal halvah maker: Hebel & Co. Halva!

Best vegetables: Rustic Canyon Seasonal Kitchen and Wine Bar. Chef Jeremy Fox is a genius with fruits and vegetables at this non-vegetarian restaurant. I am constantly inspired and delighted by his delicious innovations.

Favorite shopping venue or boutique: Santa Monica Farmers Market

Best gym or fitness studio: Santa Monica Yoga or Exhale

Best spa: Olympic Spa in Koreatown.

Favorite charity event or organization: Planned Parenthood Food Fare, but also TreePeople, Food Forward, and LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade.

Favorite cultural event: Independent Shakespeare Company’s Free Griffith Park Summer Shakespeare Festival

Favorite cultural institution: The Broad Stage for its eclectic repertoire practically in my backyard.

What’s the best museum or current exhibit in Los Angeles? Made in LA 2018 at The Hammer Museum — it bends my mind. Or The Jim Henson Exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center. My favorite museums are LACMA and both The Gettys.

Best historic or iconic Los Angeles landmark to see or explore: Griffith Observatory. Or any of LA Conservancy’s DTLA walking tours.

What’s your all-time favorite spot in Los Angeles? Any peak or rooftop where I can have a nearly 360-degree view from San Gabriel mountains to San Fernando Valley to Catalina Island — preferably at sunset so I can watch city lights come on.

The best aspect of Los Angeles is: The magnitude of its historically rich diversity, often hidden in plain sight: cultures (all senses of the word), food, architecture (early adobes, 1880s Eastlake Victorians, early 20th-century craftsman bungalows, mid-century modern), arts, cityscapes, landscapes, farmscapes, microclimates, topography, geology. What other major city has Pleistocene-era tar bubbling up mid-city and a mountain range slicing through the metropolis?

Image Credit: Patricia Williams