Photo Credit: The LA Times
Are you a paying subscriber of Jamie’s List? If not, SUBSCRIBE NOW :)
From Jamie’s Desk:
By now, you have seen the articles about the new David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, which opened to the public on Monday. Well let me tell you, until you go and experience it in person, you can’t fully understand how big of a deal this is for Los Angeles.
In the 20 years that I have been in LA, there have been very few things that have made as dramatic an impact on the city as this gallery will. That might sound hyperbolic, but what I couldn't really grasp was the magnitude of the space – the building itself is bigger than 6 football fields. Before witnessing that firsthand, it was hard for me to picture the radical change it would have on the campus of LACMA, which under Michael Govan’s leadership and some truly generous donors, has become a must see on the world’s cultural stages.
The area now includes LACMA, the Academy Museum, the Tar Pits, and of course, the most important addition – the new Erewhon Cafe. Add the upcoming theater into the mix, and it’s truly magical. What blew my mind was how this addition has transformed this institution, and ultimately the fabric of LA. There are so many great pieces of art in the gallery, but I suspect the most photographed spot will either be looking out west on Wilshire, or south to the Jeff Koons “Split-Rocker”. When you’re there, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open. Listen to the sound and watch the light, every aspect of this building is carefully created for the most unique experience.
Jeff Koons with his Split Rocker at LACMA // Photo Credit: The LA Times
Until something like this is built, you forget how big an impact a building has on a city. Sure, sometimes art can seem elitist, and don't get me started on the politics of galleries – but LACMA is different. It’s home to so many amazing pieces: Chris Burden’s “Urban Light,” Michael Heizer’s "Levitated Mass” boulder, and Jeff Koons’ aforementioned unique sculpture. Plus, if you mix in the free events that they offer every weekend, LACMA has become a must-hit destination in this city. And once the new D Line opens on the LA Metro tomorrow, it will truly be accessible to everyone living in Los Angeles. And let’s not forget that the museum is FREE for all Angelenos after 3 pm on weekdays.
Thank you Michael Govan, David Geffen, architect Peter Zumthor, and everyone else who had any part in this new addition to our amazing city. For those of you who don’t live here, please make sure to stop by on your next visit. Through July 26th, you can see the brilliant Inniartu exhibit, Sueno Perro, which I saw in Milan during the Olympics. Now that summer is almost here – don’t miss out on LACMA’s Jazz Nights. Bring a picnic blanket, get some food, and enjoy the music.
The next opening will be the Japanese pavilion in a few years, and equally as exciting is Michael Govan’s grand vision of LACMA campuses set in other places around the city. This is a bold new chapter of a beloved institution, and I encourage all of my LA subscribers to go check it out.
Have a friend who’s into food, culture, and politics?
Discussed in this issue: The exclusive ice cream list you need to get on, a must-see show in London’s West End, and the moment that kept AG Rob Bonta up at night.
Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]
You’re currently a free subscriber. Support Jamie’s List and unlock exclusive perks, from food guides to city lists and archives.
🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!
Paying subscribers get more: our latest 2025 Jamie’s List book plus access to the full newsletter and archive.
Photo Credit: Max Shapiro
📍New York City: Torrisi (reviewed by Max Shapiro for Mad Food World)
Cuisine: Italian
Crew: Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Ben Hundreds, Chris Rice, David Nathanson, Jamie Patricof, Jordan Okun, Kate Burr, Marc Rose, Matt Haimes, Shu Chowdhury, Eater, Goop, Michelin Guide, The Infatuation, The New York Times
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Good Cocktails
Pro Tip: Don’t skip the bread and butter – it’s actually good.
What to Order: Tortellini Pomodoro, American Ham with Zeppole, Cucumbers New Yorkese, Linguini and 15 Pink Manhattan Clams, Raviolini with Blue Prawns and Saffron, Chicken Alla Griglia, Affogato
Notes: This is Rich Torrisi, part of the Major Food Group machine. The same group behind Carbone and The Grill. I’m a huge fan of The Grill. Carbone…I don’t dislike it, I just don’t really need to go back. Torrisi sits somewhere else entirely. It’s more refined, more grown up, less theater. This is them flexing in a quieter, more serious way. The room is ridiculous, in a good way. It’s a sophisticated, adult restaurant – something I would personally like to see a little bit more of in LA. And of course, the food is worth writing about. Their tortellini pomodoro is the reason I go there. Egg rich dough, rolled thin. Ricotta filling that’s so creamy it has to be whipped. Clean, proper pomodoro. Fresh parm. It’s light. It’s precise. I could eat 100 of them. Overall, Torrisi checks every box. The food is thoughtful without making you think about it. You just eat and enjoy. That’s harder than it sounds.
To see the rest of Max’s review, as well as other hot LA dining picks, subscribe to Mad Food World.
Photo Credit: Time Out
📍Los Angeles: Maydan
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Crew: Anthony Jacobson, James Ponsoldt, Joseph Varet, Matt Karatz, Rachel Halilej, Eater, The Infatuation, The LA Times, Time Out
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Business Dinner
Pro Tip: Check out the tents Rose built on the patio of the space for special occasions, really unique and cool.
What to Order: If you want to make it easy, order the Tawle for the table. Personally, I like to curate my own meal — so I would recommend a couple of dips, crudité, halloumi, market squash, chicken shish kebab, ribeye, and then either the lamb shoulder or the sayyadiah (depending if your group wants fish or lamb). Then, the cauliflower. I also want to highlight the sweet potato and grilled oyster mushrooms, two of my favorite dishes there and honestly just perfect bites. Shoutout to the vegetarians, who I usually always ignore.
Notes: It’s always exciting when one of the best restaurants from another city makes its way to the City of Angels, so when Rose Previte of Rose’s Luxury and Maydan told me a few years ago she was bringing the latter to LA, I was beyond excited. I got an early preview of the space which I have to say left me speechless, mainly because of the scale and scope of the project. She walked me through this massive warehouse space in one of the coolest burgeoning areas in LA, West Adams, and explained how it was going to be a food hall, a market, and a full service restaurant with a massive open kitchen and fire. It all seemed like a dream and something that was next to impossible to pull off. Well, a couple of years later, this force of nature did it. This place is one of one in LA. Need a spot for lunch that is 20-30 mins from almost everywhere (besides the valley and Pasadena)? Check. Need something that has everything from Mexican to Thai to Middle Eastern? Check. Want something that is reasonably priced? And has both indoor and outdoor seating? Check. Need to pick up some za’atar for cooking at home this weekend? Check. Rose (and her partners) had this wild dream in her head — and she knocked it out of the park. The other thing she nailed was something that was truly missing from LA. If you want a fun spot that has great food, incredible drinks and an energetic atmosphere, where do you go? Maydan is the answer. I have now been for lunch and dinner, and I can’t wait to come back. Look out for more reviews on all the individual spots in the market to come, and when you have a chance to grab lunch, dinner or even a snack, check out this new one of a kind spot that LA has been missing.
To access the rest of the recommendations in this week’s newsletter curated by our trusted food crew, become a paying subscriber.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has a secret skill you’d never guess: he can juggle a soccer ball over 300 times. I guess it’s appropriate, given how much he has to juggle in his work as the people’s attorney in the most populated state. The AG’s office has over 6,000 employees – with 1,200 attorneys and a $1.3 billion annual budget, and from the outside, it looks like Bonta runs that seamlessly.
We spoke about the moment that kept him up at night: last summer, when Trump sent the National Guard to Los Angeles in the wake of anti-ICE protests. It was a test of the judicial system, as such militarization is prohibited under the Posse Comitatus Act – and with the help of other state Attorneys General, the courts were able to block further deployment. While it was a success overall, and showed Bonta that his team could handle a rogue federal government – the moment felt like trial by fire.
Of course, we had to discuss the mergers. Bonta’s team has taken action on the antitrust front, with the Nexstar and Tegna merger being blocked, and Ticketmaster and Live Nation being found liable for being monopolists who overcharged. These are wins for consumers, and something the AG is proud of. The Paramount and Warner Brothers merger is obviously of interest to myself and my audience – and while the AG couldn’t discuss specifics due to the litigation being ongoing, he assured me that this is an open investigation and it’s not over yet.
The California Governor’s race was another thing that’s top of mind, and when I asked him if he’s endorsing anyone – his answer might surprise you. I also took some time to get to know Attorney General Bonta on a personal level. He shared that once a year, he and his wife play “hooky”, turning off their phones and going to the movies. He’s a big NPR fan, and loves soccer (his daughter is a professional player). His team of choice is Manchester United, which he realizes might not be popular.
This was a great conversation with one of our state’s most important people. AG Bonta isn’t someone who’s constantly making headlines (which I’d argue is a good thing), but he’s always doing the work to fight for the people of California.
🍓 Head to Go Greek May 4-11 and get the Heidi D’Amelio bowl for Mother’s Day. It’s delicious, and 10% of proceeds go to Baby2Baby!
🎭 If you’re in London, our members have some theater recommendations for you. Riley Patricof says to go see Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo and directed by Kip Williams, which runs through May 30th. Jennifer Todd had rave reviews for Inter Alia, starring Rosamund Pike, which runs through June 20th.
👠 Most people I talk to have been recommending The Devil Wears Prada 2 – so be sure to catch that, in theaters now.
❤️ Want to see a life-changing play in LA? Come to the fundraiser to benefit GUAC and CTG on May 14th. Reserve your spot here!
💐 Happy Mother’s Day to Kelly and all of the amazing moms in the Jamie’s List community!
🎂 Happy birthday to Derek Iger, Willow Citrone, Steve Smith, and Ludovic Littee !!
Anything we should have on our radar? Just reply to this email with any upcoming releases, events, or something fun.
Baadmaash with Chris Bender, Ann Swenson, Stazy Mazo, Michaela Sullivan, and Anna DiCrisi; Max & Helen’s with Julia Wick, Julia Turner, Sarah Wick, and Michaela Sullivan; Cafe Telegrama with Ben Schwerin; Ceviche Project with Chris Bender; Kogi with the Oakwood 12th grade; SQIRL with Jordan Okun, Jeff Berman, and Mark Feuerstein; Mario’s Peruvian with Derek Cianfrance; and Anajak Thai with Matt Karatz
Know someone who’d love this newsletter? Forward Jamie’s List to a friend.
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, Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, 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, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, 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, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.
Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan
