In this episode of Plateworthy, host Nyesha Arrington returns to her hometown for the third and final stop on her California food tour. Her time in Los Angeles kicks off with pastries at Santa Canela in Highland Park. Pastry chef Ellen Ramos shows Arrington how she makes champurrado doughnuts with fresh masa, burnt-vanilla cream-stuffed conchas, and LA-shaped churros, before Arrington sits down for her sweets-filled breakfast.
Next, Arrington takes her dog, Bleu Ginger, for a bike ride along Santa Monica’s Main Street as she makes her way to Augie’s on Main, a restaurant from her mentor, chef Josiah Citrin. She digs into a fried dirty chicken sandwich at the casual spot before heading to the beach. Then, she heads to South Central’s Somerville, where culinary director Geter Atienza shows Arrington how to make collard green lasagna with house-made spinach pasta sheets, which she sits down to enjoy with the co-founders of Somerville, Issa Rae, Ajay Relan, and Yonnie Hangos. They dig into fried chicken sandwiches topped with caviar and a short ribs dish as they discuss how the restaurant and jazz lounge has brought more Angelenos to explore the neighborhood.
Watch the latest episode of Plateworthy to see Arrington taste LA-shaped churros, flavorful fried chicken sandwiches, and a cheese-filled collard greens lasagna.
Freshly piped and fried LA-shaped churros put Santa Canela on the map, but the panadería and cafe from pastry chef Ellen Ramos — which opened in February 2025 — is so much more than this singular treat. Find a seasonal rotating menu that includes crunchy sugar-topped conchas (the fall flavor is pumpkin spice), flaky cinnamon-sugar coated churro croissants, and cleverly named fried “long Juans” — one with a chocolaty champurrado glaze and the other stuffed with sweet and spicy strawberry and morita chile filling. There are cakes too, and occasionally savory pastries like chorizo croissants; availability differs day to day. To get the full experience, order one of Santa Canela’s signature lattes. The burnt cinnamon latte balances bitter and sweet with warming cinnamon flavor, while the cafe de olla boasts the caramelized notes of raw brown sugar. Horchata is available as well, and can always be spruced up with a shot of espresso. The combination of freshly brewed coffees and handcrafted drinks alongside Mexican-inspired pastries in this elegantly designed space makes Santa Canela one of the most exciting bakery openings of the year. — Kat Thompson, audience editor
Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan didn’t plan to open three restaurants within six months. Along with their popular rooftop bar Lost and pizzeria Downtown Dough, the longtime restaurateurs have a serious hit on their hands with Somerville, a supper club-style restaurant with Southern influences. People dress for Somerville. There is no formal dress code, but Somerville is the type of place to dust off a cocktail dress or supper jacket for sitting at the bar, walking over the white oak flooring, sitting in custom banquettes, and listening to live jazz with a grand piano on the modestly sized stage. For Somerville, the partners collaborated with actor and producer Issa Rae and studied Los Angeles history. They focused on Historic South-Central’s vibrant scene from 1921 to 1956, which was centered around the Dunbar Hotel (originally named Hotel Somerville) and Central Avenue’s bustling jazz venues. The area developed due to traveling Black musicians who were prohibited from entering Los Angeles’s white-owned bars and clubs. Somerville is pure Art Deco, accompanied by chef Geter Atienza’s (previously at Bouchon Bakery in New York and Broken Spanish) menu. His Parker house rolls, oysters, braised lamb shank, Black Angus burger, and wagyu strip loin with classic steak sauce options are popular. They’ve shied away from standard soul food, but some dishes hint at the cuisine, like the macaroni and cheese or the fried chicken and caviar sliders. Order a vodka-based Love Supreme cocktail, dedicated to John Coltrane, with Midori, Cointreau, and lemon while taking in the vibes. 4437 W. Slauson Avenue, View Park, CA, 90043. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
