Skip to main content

The Big Easy in Hollywood: Sassafras Saloon

Homesick Southerners have a boozy LA refuge: Sassafras Saloon. Located in an unassuming area of Hollywood, Sassafras is a genuine Southern home so meticulously recreated, you almost wonder where the humidity and mosquitoes are. Spanish moss hangs from the ceiling of the indoor “porch,” swaying above its brick and plaster walls, wicker furniture and potted ferns. The area is framed in by the outside of an elegantly aged aristocratic townhouse. Just inside the bar’s front door is the formal parlor: dark wood walls, fireplace, and plush armchairs. The causal living room is opposite the saloon-like bar, wallpapered and, bless its heart, full of enough quaint charm to make you feel right at home. A second floor stage hosts local bands who play everything from jazz to blues to swing, providing an appropriate soundtrack. It seems like we all wandered into someone’s (definitely haunted) house and are partying it up in their absence.

12
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s another win from the 1933 Group, responsible for other gorgeously themed bars tucked away across the city. Bigfoot Lodge, The Thirsty Crow, and Oldfield’s Liquor Room to name a few. Each bar has its own personality and each one its own devoted attendees.

Recommended Videos

Supernatural and alcoholic, Sassafras has spirits covered. Cocktails are their game and they play it well. The menu has a Southern bent and the drinks are artfully crafted in the mixologist way, but without the long wait times. The Saint is not to be missed: bourbon, Pamplemousse Rose, Lillet, ginger, and lemon juice. Or go for the Pimms, done the Sassafras way, with the addition of strawberry and cucumber. Beer drinkers, never fear– they have a selection for you as well.

No need to go hungry either. Following the trend, their food menu is all inspired by classic Southern cuisine, but with a Southern California twist. You’ve got your crab cakes, a Shrimp Po Boy, but the Short Rib Sliders really take the cake, smothered in a Coca-Cola glaze. The food is shockingly reasonably priced, but skews more to the size of appetizers than entrees. When available, the Fried Green Tomatoes are an absolute must.

13
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Between the live bands belting jaunty tunes and the inevitable throng of those seeking a bit of charm from their bar, it can be on the loud side. Sassafras is clearly invoking some form of witchcraft since parking is rarely too much of a hassle: they’ve got a reasonably-priced valet and street parking typically abounds.

Sassafras is absolutely perfect for anything from a night out with friends to a solo drink to celebrating something special. No matter the reason you go, y’all will definitely be back.

Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
A Michelin-starred chef guides us on pairing wine and pasta
pasta courses at Massara NYC

Enjoying a nice bowl of fresh pasta? While steak and wine are often touted as the perfect pairing, pasta is also a complex pairing for wine. But with so many pasta types, cooking styles, and sauces, pairing pasta with wine is a complex task. We decided to try out the new pasta-tasting menu at Massara, a Southern Italian restaurant in New York helmed by Chef Stefano Secchi of Rezdôra (a one Michelin-starred restaurant).

"Michael Duffy and the somm team has done well in the pairing," said Chef Stefano Secchi. "Luckily, the wines on our list pair well with the food eaten in the region…a strong ethos and throughline of our restaurants."  

Read more
I tried the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe—here’s how it handled real recipes
Even if you make mistakes you can create crowd-pleasing meals with Kamado Joe Konnected Joe
Pre-heating the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe guarded by with Happy.

I jumped at the chance to test the Kamado Joe's Konnected Joe Digital Grill and Smoker. Like most members of our extended family of avid cooks and eager eaters, I enjoy grilling year-round. Still, my experience has been limited to conventional charcoal grills and three-burner propane grills. I was curious about what it would be like to cook with a ceramic grill, and grew even more excited by the prospect of precise temperature control promised by the Konnected Joe.
Why cook with a kamado-style grill

Kamado-style ovens, stoves, and grills use heated stone or ceramic to provide radiant heat that cooks the food. The Kamado Joe brand of kamado grills cooks with radiant heat, with thick ceramic sections in the cooker. It can take some time to reach the desired temperature, but the grill's heavy insulation retains the heat for a long time.

Read more
How I upgraded my De’Longhi Rivelia to make incredible cold espresso drinks
How to unlock six new cold foam recipes
De'Longhi Rivelia

I first started using the De'Longhi Rivelia espresso machine, the brand's newest fully automatic, innovative, and touchscreen espresso maker for home use. I was instantly impressed with how easy this espresso maker was to use and how quickly it made it possible to prepare all my favorite espresso-based beverages.

Ironically, I was so caught up in learning how to use the machine to make hot coffee drinks that I forgot it could also make cold coffee drinks. Once I upgraded with the De'Longhi LatteCrema Cool kit, I unlocked a whole new world of possibilities for cold coffee drinks, from an iced white flat to an iced cappuccino. This tiny upgrade changed the game, solidifying just how much I love this espresso machine.
De'Longhi Rivelia LatteCrema Cool

Read more