L.A. Plugs — Sarah Lewitinn
Food, drink, and leisure recs from the Jacaranda co-owner + LINKS
Plugs is The Angel’s recs column. On most Saturdays, you’ll get six picks—a restaurant, a bar, a shop, an ingredient, a person, and a treat—from someone in New York or Los Angeles who knows what they’re talking about, plus a selection of Angel-curated links. Plugs are for paid subscribers of The Angel only; upgrade your subscription to receive all six!
#96 (or #1 after Emily switched focus to NY and I stepped in here in L.A.) is Sarah Lewitinn, co-owner of Jacaranda, the highly anticipated fine-dining destination she oversees with her husband, acclaimed chef Daniel Patterson. Sarah and her fabulous homemade dresses are the first thing to greet you when you walk in, and she’s responsible for setting the warm, lived-in tone of the dining room—no small feat at a restaurant with a $295 price tag. But for a certain generation (ahem), Lewitinn’s name is forever synonymous with Ultragrrl, the wildly influential indie music blog she started in New York in the early aughts, and parlayed into a successful career as a music journalist, producer, label owner, and DJ, among other things. (Suffice it to say the playlists at Jacaranda are very much within her purview.) Although Jacaranda is her first official foray into the restaurant world, she’s a natural host, with an eye (and ear) for detail that dovetails beautifully with Patterson’s next-level kitchen skills. Here’s Sarah on where she (and Daniel) go when they’re off the clock.
Restaurant — Crossroads Kitchen
I was a vegetarian for many years, so when Daniel (Patterson, my husband and chef of our restaurant, Jacaranda) and I became friends with Chef Tal Ronnen (the chef and owner of Crossroads Kitchen), it became our new weekly date spot. The food is amazing, and the service is incredibly warm and inviting. From Miriam the host to Matthew the bartender, we love it there.
