Los Angeles

Mette Williams has worked in the kitchens of some of Los Angeles’ most popular restaurants, including Postrio, Spago and CUT. In a testament to the (sad) world we live in today, it was not her stellar credentials, but a victory on season two of Food Network’s Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell that landed her the Executive Chef position at Culina, a modern Italian restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel. We caught up with the rising chef to discuss the new menu at her restaurant, the city’s food scene, and not looking like, well, an ass, on TV.

Los Angeles has the largest Mexican-American population of any city in the United States, so it should come as no surprise that Angelenos probably also have the widest variety of tacos north of the border. Of course, inventive L.A. chefs have added plenty of fun spins — some of which could hardly be called Mexican. We negotiated the two worlds to strike a balance with the 25 best.

Years ago when you thought about bakeries, you probably imagined white-haired old ladies with adorable aprons rushing around with sprinkle-laden butter cookies and rich fudge brownies. There's also a new crop of bakeries popping up in cities everywhere and they've got a different sort of pedigree. They're gastrobakeries, i.e. a bakery owned in whole or part by a chef, and I'm sure you've seen them, too. If not, here's one sweet gallery that'll have you thinking outside the brownie.