In the cooking of the three Roman-based countries of the Mediterranean — France, Italy and Spain — region or place matters more than country. For instance, there is no such thing as “Italian cuisine.” ...

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Cathy Chaplin is a former senior editor at Eater LA, a James Beard Award–nominated journalist, and the author of Food Lovers’ Guide to Los Angeles. While working as an aerospace engineer in the early ...