Where To Find Dino Beef Ribs and a Farm Stand that Rivals the Hamptons

From Jamie’s Desk:

With everything going on in the world, taking a deep breath and actually enjoying summer can be hard. Some of you have already escaped and returned; some are still planning a late-summer trip. Either way, I’ve pulled together a few easy getaway ideas that are driving distance from LA (don’t worry New Yorkers, your time is coming in next week’s newsletter).

There are so many great spots surrounding LA, it was hard to narrow it down. But with the help of my trusted food crew, I landed on four standouts. I’ve also created an extended Malibu list because now more than ever, Malibu restaurants and shops need your help to survive post-fires. 

If you’re in LA or even just passing through, consider making the drive for a beach lunch or sunset dinner. The water advisories have been lifted, so you can safely surf, swim, and walk on the beach. 

And if you’re up early, come join me Friday mornings at the LA Tri Club swims at Tower 26. The fact that you can be in the ocean at 7 and at your desk by 8 never ceases to amaze me.

Discussed in this issue: Fareed Zakaria joining Lunch With Jamie next week, visiting a revitalized Malibu, where to go that’s driving distance from LA

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

Fareed Zakaria will be joining me on Tuesday, July 22 at 1 PT/4 ET. We'll be discussing the crisis in the Middle East, Trump’s role in international relations, and much more. Members can register to join. Be sure to send any questions you have for Fareed in advance. 

Members can also join our WhatsApp group where we discuss current events, recommendations, action plans, and vote on future guests and topics of conversation on Lunch With Jamie. 

📍Santa Ynez Valley: Full of Life Flatbread (128 miles from LA)

Cuisine: California Freestyle

Crew: Joseph Varet, Infatuation, Eater, LA Times

Good For: Groups (in main room or outside), Date (at the bar), Solo (in the bar room), Kids (can run around in the gardens)

Pro Tip: Walk in only; unique and exciting wine list

Notes: “Full of Life Flatbread is the OG of Los Alamos, a town that looks like a set from Westworld, located a couple blocks up the street from Michelin-starred Bell’s. FOL is informal, sprawling, chaotic, exciting, and always delicious. Behind an unassuming clapboard facade is a hangar-like space anchored by a 20-ton pizza oven, made of local rock and clay. From this oven comes phenomenal “flat bread” pizzas (most comparable to New Haven pizza), dressed with seasonal local ingredients. They are all great, but always order the weekly and daily specials (and ask for the off-menu “audible” specials), which have cross influences of Alice Waters and Anthony Bourdain. Recent examples include local sea bass with zucchini, basil cream, citrus salsa, fried leeks, and oven roasted local oysters with pork chorizo butter and heirloom tomatoes. Don’t miss out on the stellar wine selections. And if you have any room left, the “Beast” dessert is a crowd pleaser.” - Joseph Varet

📍San Diego: Addison (120 miles from LA)

Cuisine: California Gastronomy

Crew: Max Shapiro, Jordan Okun, Kate Burr, Brian McGinn, Andy Wang, Michelin Guide, Goop, Conde Nast Traveler

Good For: Special Occasion

Pro Tip: Pass on the caviar and Wagyu add-ons. They also offer a very strong (and expensive) wine pairing.

What to Order: Tasting Menu

Notes: “Addison feels like home to me. From my very first visit, William Bradley and Sean McGinness welcomed me with open arms, and over time, they've become more than just familiar faces, they've become friends. I communicate with Chef almost daily. That level of connection is rare, but so is a restaurant like Addison. Unlike most three-star establishments, which often plateau and settle into complacency, Addison refuses to stagnate. It is constantly improving, tweaking, and learning. In most aspects of life, never being satisfied can be a flaw, but at the highest levels of fine dining, it's a necessity. I've watched their signature eggs and rice dish evolve over the years, with small yet deliberate adjustments adding layers of texture and depth. Ingredient sourcing and technique are in a perpetual state of refinement. The service? Effortlessly warm yet executed with ninja-like precision. Stealthy, seamless, and always a step ahead. Three-star dining, as a whole, usually bores me or, worse, disappoints me. Addison does the opposite. It excites. It inspires. It sets the example, not just for Southern California but for the world.” -Max Shapiro

📍San Juan Capistrano: Heritage BBQ (54 miles from LA)

Cuisine: BBQ

Crew: Jerrold Son, Jamie Patricof, Eli Meyer, Ben Hundreds, Anthony Jacobson, Kate Burr, Brian McGinn, David Nathanson, James Ponsoldt, Jerrold Son, Andy Wang, Goop, Eater, Infatuation, LA Times, Michelin Guide

Good For: Large groups, anybody who likes great food

Pro Tip: Get there early to avoid the lines. But if you’re stuck in line looking at their custom offset smokers go grab a beer from the bar and talk to your friends about what you’re gonna order. You’re gonna want it all. Save some room for the banana pudding. 

What to Order: Brisket, Burnt Ends, Dino Beef Ribs, Sausage, Brisket Beans, Jalapeño Cornbread, Elote, Chips & Queso, Mac N Cheese

Notes: “Nestled in the heart of downtown San Juan Capistrano across the street from the San Juan Mission sits one of the best BBQ restaurants in California. Heritage BBQ started out with pop ups at breweries in Orange County, and opened up their brick and mortar in 2020. The lines started forming shortly thereafter for their top notch smoked meats. Juicy pull apart brisket, tender pork ribs, dinosaur beef ribs and a rotating list of California, Mexican and Asian inspired specials. Don’t sleep on the sides. Some of the best sides you’ll ever have at a BBQ joint. Jalapeño cornbread, brisket beans, elote, chips with queso and their pickles.” - Jerrold Son

📍Malibu: Thorne Family Farm + Varsity Bakers (28.2 miles from LA)

Cuisine: Farm and Bakery

Crew: Jamie Patricof, Eli Meyer, Jon Shook, Aaron Michaelson, Goop

Good For: Kids Outing, Fridge Restock, Summer Lunch

Pro Tip: Pre-order bread and baked goods at Varsity Bakers. For Malibu locals, there is a knife sharpening stand I highly recommend. Get there before 10am for the widest selections. And if you’re looking for an adventure, do the Bonsall Hike just down the road before hitting the market. 

What to Order: Vegetables, Stone Fruit, Corn, Croissants, Brownies, Pies, Bread

Notes: “There are few things I look forward to more than stopping at Thorne Family Farm on Saturdays. They’ve been in business for 50 years, and their expertise shows. It’s a family affair. Everything is great, but the corn, stone fruit, and carrots always stand out to me. It's an iconic Malibu experience. One thing the Hamptons have on Malibu is farm stands, but Thorne stands up to the best of them.” - Jamie Patricof

You can access our Malibu list here.

This week’s Lunch With Jamie came just one day after Trump and Netanyahu’s long-awaited Oval Office meeting, and the guest was none other than Dan Senor, author and host of the Call Me Back podcast. As a foreign policy expert with a specific focus on Israel, Dan was able to provide insights and updates on the state of the war. 

We discussed the landscape in the region, why he thinks Israel is winning the wars, Iran’s role in all of this, and what he thinks Israel’s future looks like. I even asked him the question some dance around: is Netanyahu responsible for October 7th? 

You can watch the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast.

This conversation was just the first part of a two-part series on the Middle East that will continue next week with my guest Fareed Zakaria.

🗞️ Fareed Zakaria GPS: The best Sunday news show

🎶 Laufey: My favorite new artist that I discovered at Coachella. She’ll be performing at the Cyrpto Arena on September 26th and 27th, and MSG on October 15th and 16th

📺 Love Island: You either watched, caught it in the background, or heard someone talking about it. Congrats to Amaya and Bryan 

⚾️ Home Run Derby: Baseball is back, and my friend’s son, James Wood, was in the Derby and the game

🥪 Mr. Beef: If you’re a fan of The Bear then you know what this is. They’re popping up at Uncle Paulie’s this weekend from 11 to 3. The lines will probably be long, but the vibe should be great. Congrats to Chris, Courtney, Nick, Lionel and the whole Bear team on their Emmy nominations

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Condé Nast Traveler, David Geffen, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Gwyneth Paltrow, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Lawrence Longo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Sarah Meyer, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof, Michaela Sullivan and Lauren Malanga