Newsletter: Counter: Lots of ice cream, lots of tacos
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Because it seems like all summer long we've either been in the middle of a crazy heat wave or between them, we spent a lot of time eating ice cream and gelato this week in order to make an ice cream map. Occupational hazards? Maybe so.
In other news, S. Irene Virbila checks in on a new bar from a pair of Campanile alums, and I stop by a swank new tea shop conveniently located just around the corner — both are in the southern quadrant of the arts district. There's also a Scouting Report on a North African taqueria and a roundup of great fish taco joints. Tacos being what to eat, I guess, when you're not eating gelato.
And be on the lookout for Wednesday's In the Kitchen newsletter, with cooking tips and news, including new recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen.
Your ice cream and gelato map
It's good for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we're happy to report — as if you didn't know that already. Our ice cream map includes a lot of well-known favorites (hi, Leo), as well as some out-of-the way places. And, yes, we'll add to it — if we missed the one near your house, let us know.
Campanile alums open a bar
What's Matt Molina, formerly exec chef at Osteria Mozza, been doing since he left that restaurant seven months ago? S. Irene Virbila visits him at E.R.B., their new bar in the downtown arts district, which he opened with Randy Clement of Silver Lake Wine. The two have been friends since they worked together at Campanile
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Tea vats, booze and butter tea
L.A. has become a pretty great coffee town in the last few years, but inexplicably it's difficult to find good tea shops. The folks behind American Tea Room want to change that, having just opened a shop in the arts district (yes, the place is booming). Interactive tea maps, sniffing vials, butter tea, fire pits and color-coded tea vats.
(Amy Scattergood / Los Angeles Times)
Why you need to head to La Puente
Because we had to eat something other than ice cream, we thought we'd report on five of our favorite fish taco joints. Yes, there's Jimmy Shaw's taqueria in the Original Farmers Market and a pretty great taco shack on Hillhurst, but it turns out that two of the best places are next door to each other in La Puente. Nice.
(Amy Scattergood / Los Angeles Times)
Falafel tacos. Yes, you heard that right
Speaking of tacos, Jenn Harris checks out Revolutionario, Farid Zadi's African-fusion taqueria in Exposition Park. Zadi, who is a classically trained chef from France with Algerian heritage, is making falafel tacos as well as chickpea tagine, shakshouka, pozole tagine and beef brisket barbacoa.
A quesadilla topped with charred vegetables at Revolutionario. 
(Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)
We'll miss you, Kerry Simon
Russ Parsons tells us that the chef died Sept. 11, after a long battle with degenerative neurological disorder, at the age of 60. After cooking for Jean-Georges Vongerichten for many years, Kerry Simon opened the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and Simon LA at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles, doing populist riffs on junk food even though his training was classical. He'll be missed.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Cirque du Solei)
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