FREE FREE FREE. New Melrose Deli Doling Out Italian Sandwiches Gratis To First 100 Customers Tuesday.

When I first moved to LA from Boston I oft lamented the lack of "East Coast Italian delis." Every once in a while, no matter how perfect the weather, you just want a huge ass sandwich, on crusty fresh-baked Italian, stuffed to the brim with goddamn grandma's red sauce and mostly hot foodstuffs. Of course Bay Cities has their "hot section," but it still feels very much like a West Coast joint. Also, R.I.P. the highly underrated Soda Pop's, which teetered the east coast/west coast line.

The new'ish Uncle Paulie's on Beverly is probably the closest LA has to the east coast luminaries. Well, until now. Next week famed Miami chef Michael Pirolo of Macchialina will open a namesake sandwich spot, Pirolo's Panino on Melrose. The joint will very much sling East Coast-style "panino," including Italian Roast Beef, Meatball and Chicken Parm. And like any good East Coast deli, they're also doing hot entrees (Chicken Limone, Baked Mac) and sides. 

To celebrate their opening on Tuesday, April 24th, the first 100 customers who demonstrate proof of following @pirolos on Insta will receive a free sandwich. They open at 11 am on Melrose.

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Pirolo's Panino.

Opens Tuesday, 4/24/18.

7461 Melrose Avenue, LA.

The Best Doughnuts In LA News: Lots of News!

Courtesy Chef Brooke Williamson's Insta.

Sidecar's reign as the Southland's top doughnut is a no-brainer. Honestly, at this point if anyone says otherwise they've either never had Sidecar or are living in denial and you shouldn't be talking to that person. To mark Sidecar's fifth birthday (since launching their inaugural Costa Mesa location), they've announced a bevy of, well, announcements:

- Sidecar is launching a truck. Finally, local denizens won't have to brave the Santa Monica traffic and the Costa Mesa lines as the doughnuts will be coming to you. The fried dough slinger on wheels launches in April, with plans to make frequent stops and pop-ups all around Los Angeles and Orange County. For now, the first scheduled parking is set for Brooke Williamson's Playa Provisions on April 28th from 8am-11am. The truck will additionally be available for private events - LIKE MY BIRTHDAY PARTY.

- Speaking of Chef Brooke Williamson, starting in April, Sidecar will also be launching a so-called "Celebrity Chef Series." The April participant? Brooke Williamson. Good guess, dude. Brooke, a long-time Sidecar obsessive, is doing a special doughnut similar to the pictured above this post. That's actually from her Instagram during her R&D days and although the finalized fried critter pic hasn't been released just yet, it will be in this vein. Brooke's doughnut: Passion Fruit Matcha, a raised Tenzo-matcha infused ring, topped with a passionfruit and kumquat glaze and candied kumquats. A portion of the proceeds will go to No Kid Hungry. Also joining the Celeb Chef Series in the near future: Richard Blais and Jessica Scott. 

- Amidst swirling rumors of expansion, Sidecar has finally announced they are, in fact, opening a new location. In September (or so), they will be expanding to Del Mar (12925 El Camino Real). Lucky AF San Diegans. This amidst unconfirmed rumors they're staking out future restaurant space in Manhattan Beach and the Abbot Kinney area of Venice. I continue to hold out for the news they plan to open a location in my kitchen. Fingers crossed.

The Westside's Best Pizza Now Available At Home.

Pizzana is really good. For their first (almost) year though it's been a little too difficult to consume their lovely pizza pies because the restaurant has been so darn busy and the reservations hotter tickets than Paul Simon at the Bowl (is that a cool reference?). So many have either braved the brutal weekend waits amongst the Brentwood beauties or just not indulged at all. Which is a damn shame because they make the best non-Mozza pizza in town.

Our cries of desperation have finally been heard though as they recently hooked up with ChowNow to offer pick-up for all and delivery for the lucky proximal neighbors. You can order here.

My recommended order: start with the garlicky as heck Cesare, then order 2-3 pies (Messicana and Pepperoni for sure, maybe plus a Neo Margherita or the super spicy Oglio Olio) and finish with Candace Nelson's signature dessert, Chocolate Olive Oil Cake. I promise it'll be much better than my Paul Simon at the Bowl metaphor.