Taste Temecula, Fun Roadtrip South of LA ! Bold flavor, Rich fruit, lingering finish: Leoness Cellars earns 6 90+ Point Wines from Wine Spectator
Temecula’s Leoness Cellars earns 6 90+ Point Wines from Wine Spectator
Leoness Cellars, a celebrated winery and restaurant in the picturesque Temecula Valley, has once again been honored for its exceptional winemaking prowess.
Leoness is a Temecula must-visit destination for wine lovers
In the latest review by Wine Enthusiast, six of its selections earned impressive 90+ point scores, further cementing Leoness as a must-visit destination for wine lovers.
In addition, Leoness Cellars’ restaurant was recently ranked in the top five best winery restaurants in the nation by USA Today, which has been praised for its stunning Temecula Valley setting and culinary team that masterfully fuses French cooking techniques with modern Californian cuisine to create a diverse menu designed to pair beautifully with its award-winning wines.
Temecula’s Leoness Cellars also ranks Top Five Best Winery Restaurants based on USA Today
These recognitions serve as a continued testament to Leoness’ unwavering commitment to producing wines of the highest caliber while delivering a fine dining experience for visitors from around the world.
Leoness Cellars’ six 90+ point wines include:
- 2021 VS Syrah Alessandro Vineyard, Summit Block (92 points) – This Syrah stands out with its intense flavors and remarkable aging potential. Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large, Matt Kettman notes, “Baked fruit and woodspice on the nose, with hickory smoke and rich berry flavors on the palate. Ideal for cellaring until 2039.”
- 2021 VS Syrah Alessandro Vineyard, Foundation Block (92 points) – Celebrated for its complexity, this wine offers a deep blend of rich fruit and earthy notes. Kettman describes it as featuring “roasted fig, black plum, and fig flavors, heavily spiced with nutmeg, clove and allspice.”
- 2021 VS Syrah Dragon’s Den Vineyard (92 points) – Known for its bold flavors and smooth, lingering finish, this Syrah boasts “Cabernet-like aromas of pepper, cocoa, and dried berry, with charred plum and berry flavors complemented by bay leaf and anise,” according to Kettman.
In addition to these standout selections, three other wines have also achieved critical acclaim but are currently sold out: The 2021 Signature Series Grande Mélange (91 points) captivated with its balanced ripe berries and subtle spice
The 2021 Signature Series Eloquent (90 points) showcased Leoness Cellars’ artistry with its rich, silky texture and refined barrel notes.
Finally, the 2021 Signature Series Syrah (94 points) was celebrated as a collector’s item, praised by Wine Enthusiast for its rugged, earthy aromas and complex flavors.
In addition to its success with Wine Enthusiast, Leoness has also earned the distinction of ranking number five in USA Today’s 2024 list of Best Winery Restaurants in the United States.
The Restaurant at Leoness Cellars has risen in prominence not only for its award-winning wines but also its “stunning views of both the vineyards and surrounding mountains, creating the perfect backdrop for dining and drinking.”
USA Today describes The Restaurant at Leoness Cellars as a culinary gem, where seasonal fare, such as wild mushroom risotto and grilled local yellowtail, are expertly paired with Leoness Cellars’ wine selections, creating an unparalleled dining experience. The accolade highlights the winery’s commitment to excellence in both winemaking and hospitality.
“We are honored to receive these prestigious accolades from both Wine Enthusiast and USA Today,”
Rebaux Steyn
CEO and co-founder of Temecula Valley Winery Management and owner of Leoness Cellars
“Crafting exceptional wines and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests is the cornerstone of what we do. We are proud to be recognized for our achievements in both areas.”
As Leoness Cellars continues to garner recognition for its exceptional wines and dining experiences, guests are invited to explore all that the winery has to offer.
Whether through guided wine tours, educational tastings, dining or weddings and special events, Leoness Cellars delivers the perfect wine experience in the heart of Temecula Valley.
To learn more, visit www.leonesscellars.com.
ABOUT LEONESS CELLARS: Founded in 2002, Leoness Cellars is a prestigious winery and restaurant situated in the scenic Temecula Valley of Southern California. Renowned for its exceptional wines and innovative approach, Leoness Cellars offers a rich array of experiences, including guided wine tastings, immersive vineyard tours, a vibrant wine club membership program and engaging wine education sessions.
Guests can savor a unique dining experience at the top-rated Restaurant at Leoness, which features a sophisticated blend of French cooking techniques and modern Californian cuisine curated to create a diverse menu that pairs beautifully with its wines. The estate also serves as an elegant venue for weddings and special events, providing an unparalleled setting for creating unforgettable memories.
Discover more about Leoness Cellars and its offerings by visitingwww.leonesscellars.com.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Why Everyone in L.A. Is Talking About This Bottle from On The Rocks Cocktails —And Dylan Efron’s Got One in Hand
Why Everyone in L.A. Is Talking About This Bottled Cocktail—And Dylan Efron’s Got One in Hand
From Beverly Hills rooftops to the American Music Awards in Vegas, On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails is becoming the drink of the moment for Los Angeles tastemakers.
If you’ve been to a dinner party in Silver Lake, a pool day in Venice, or a rooftop gathering in West Hollywood lately, chances are you’ve already seen them—sleek bottles, bold labels, and cocktails so good, they taste like they came from a $20-per-drink mixologist.
We’re talking about On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails, the bartender-crafted ready-to-drink cocktails that have officially made the leap from local favorite to full-blown red carpet royalty.
How big is this brand getting? It just returned for a second year as the official cocktail of the American Music Awards, serving drinks to celebrities, influencers, and VIPs live from the brand-new Fontainebleau Las Vegas. But make no mistake—this is still an L.A. story at heart.
From Westside to Worldwide
On The Rocks™ might be making waves in Vegas, but it was born for places like Los Angeles: where people love a great cocktail but hate waiting in line to get one.
At this year’s AMAs, while the music world’s biggest stars lit up the stage, On The Rocks™ was making headlines of its own. Guests were treated to their full line-up inside the lavish BleauLive Theater lobby, transforming the pre-show cocktail game into something more stylish, accessible, and yes—very L.A.
And backstage? Dylan Efron casually popped open a Margarita, toasted with an Old Fashioned, and showed America how to “Make it a Cocktail”—a moment that aired during the live broadcast and gave fans a peek into the effortless cool the brand is pushing.
You can check out his behind-the-scenes content on Instagram at @otrcocktails, and honestly, it looks more like an Echo Park house party than a backstage award show.
A Campaign Made for L.A. Life
Carol Robert, managing director of U.S. ready-to-drink at Suntory Global Spirits, summed it up perfectly:
“The American Music Awards are all about celebrating the moments that bring people together—and that’s exactly what On The Rocks™ is created to do.”
That idea is at the heart of their new “Make it a Cocktail” campaign, which made its primetime debut during the AMAs. The campaign flips the script on traditional drinking occasions—showing people ditching wine or beer in favor of a proper cocktail at times you’d never expect it. Think: an Espresso Martini at a backyard movie night, or a Cucumber & Lemongrass Mule at a Dodger game tailgate.
It’s all about elevating everyday moments, something Angelenos know a thing or two about.
The L.A. Factor: Convenience Meets Craft
Founded in 2015 by a group of industry vets who knew the pain of finding a decent cocktail outside of a high-end bar, On The Rocks™ delivers all the flavor and balance of a hand-mixed drink—minus the bartender, the mess, or the Uber ride home.
Their lineup reads like the menu at a trendy cocktail bar on La Brea:
The Aviation, Old Fashioned, Jalapeño Pineapple Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Mai Tai, and more. Limited editions like the Spiced Pear Whiskey Sour and Blue Hawaiian have become collector items for cocktail connoisseurs across town.
And now, with the launch of their sparkling canned line—Sparkling Lime Margarita, Mango & Mint Mojito, and Cucumber & Lemongrass Mule—On The Rocks™ is staking its claim on poolside coolers from Malibu to Marina del Rey.
Where to Sip in L.A.
Whether you’re hosting a movie night in Culver City, planning a beach day in Santa Monica, or pre-gaming for a night out in West Hollywood, On The Rocks™ is the go-to. You can find the full lineup at major retailers around Los Angeles, or just visit ontherockscocktails.com to stock up.
Follow @otrcocktails on Instagram for the latest drops, cocktail inspo, and behind-the-scenes celebrity moments.
Bottom line:
L.A. is a city that doesn’t wait—and now your drink doesn’t have to either. On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails is delivering mixology-level cocktails without the fuss, and everyone from Dylan Efron to your neighbor in Brentwood is pouring one.
Big Papi’s Ultra-Premium Ozama Rum Just Landed in L.A.—Here’s Why You’ll Want a Bottle
Big Papi’s Next Power Play: David Ortiz Uncorks a Dominican Rum With Soul, Swagger, and Serious Flavor
In a town that thrives on reinvention, where tequila tastings compete with mezcal masterclasses and everyone knows their Negroni from their Paper Plane, the arrival of Ozama Rum might just disrupt L.A.’s sipping scene in the most unexpected—and welcome—way. But this isn’t just another luxury bottle with a celebrity signature. It’s Dominican-born, baseball-bred, and brimming with heart.
Launched by none other than Hall-of-Famer David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Ozama Rum is a lush, premium spirit that pays homage to the rhythms, rituals, and resilience of the Dominican Republic. And while Ortiz may be best known for smashing home runs for the Boston Red Sox, his latest swing connects straight to his roots—and it’s a clean hit.
“To me, Ozama isn’t just about rum, it’s about identity, pride, and progress,” Ortiz says.
“I wanted to build something that celebrates the energy and soul of my people and shows the world what we’re made of. It’s always been important for me to do things the right way, which is why this labor of love has been one of the most rewarding projects of my career. I can’t wait for people to try it! They say that perfection doesn’t exist, but you can get close to it.”
Rum, Reimagined
Named after the Ozama River—the same one Ortiz grew up fishing, swimming, and crabbing along as a boy—Ozama Rum isn’t just Dominican in spirit. It’s 100% Dominican in production. From the locally grown sugarcane to the fermentation, distillation, and
Taraji P. Henson Brings Hollywood Flair to the High Seas with Seven Daughters Moscato and Princess Cruises
Taraji P. Henson Brings Hollywood Flair to the High Seas with Seven Daughters Moscato and Princess Cruises
The Academy Award-nominated actress, entrepreneur, and proud Angeleno has teamed up with Princess Cruises to bring her fan-favorite Seven Daughters Moscato to travelers worldwide. The wine, celebrated for its vibrant, lightly sweet notes of tropical fruit and honeysuckle, is the latest addition to the cruise line’s Love Lines Premium Liquors Collection.
And for L.A. locals who already know Taraji as more than just Cookie Lyon or Melinda Gayle, this new venture is pure Taraji: bold, inviting, and full of heart.
“Seven Daughters is more than just a bottle of wine; it’s a celebration in a glass,” said Henson. “Our Moscato is inviting, refreshing, and perfect for moments of connection which is what makes this partnership with Princess Cruises so amazing. Now we can experience this feeling with people from around the world, whether they’re toasting under the stars or relaxing on the open sea.”
Headquartered right in Santa Clarita, Princess Cruises has long been a part of Southern California’s luxury travel DNA. With its proximity to the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro—just a freeway ride away from Taraji’s hometown hustle—this partnership feels especially fitting. L.A. residents looking for a chic weekend escape can now sip on Seven Daughters while cruising down the Pacific Coast or setting out on a Mexican Riviera getaway, glass in hand and ocean breeze in hair.
“Princess Cruises is committed to curating distinctive, high-quality experiences for our guests, and Seven Daughters aligns seamlessly with that vision,” said Sami Kohen, Vice President of Food and Beverage at Princess Cruises. “Taraji’s Moscato reflects a bold yet approachable style that we know our guests will love.”
Seven Daughters isn’t just another celebrity wine—it’s a labor of love and creativity. As Strategic Advisor and Creative Collaborator, Henson has poured her personality into every bottle. For L.A. tastemakers and wine lovers, this means more than a quality drink; it’s a chance to connect with a star who has always stayed rooted in the community.
With her inclusion in the Love Lines Premium Liquors Collection, Henson joins a glamorous circle of fellow celebrity spirits makers including Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson (Meili Vodka), Camila and Matthew McConaughey (Pantalones Organic Tequila), Blake Lively (Betty Booze and Betty Buzz), Liev Schreiber (Sláinte Irish Whiskey), Jason Aldean (Melarosa Wines), Romero Britto (Love Prosecco), and Kylie Minogue (No Alcohol Sparkling Rosé).
For Angelenos used to spotting stars in Studio City or sipping cocktails in West Hollywood, the idea of toasting with a Taraji-crafted wine while watching the sunset over the Pacific feels just right. Whether you’re heading to Catalina for the weekend or sailing out to Alaska, Seven Daughters is now the perfect local-meets-luxury beverage choice.
The Love Lines Premium Liquors Collection, launched by Princess Cruises to spotlight exclusive, star-powered wines and spirits, is about more than just sipping—it’s about celebrating. And with Taraji P. Henson at the helm of her Moscato, there’s never been a better time to raise a glass to life, love, and L.A. style.
More details and sailing options available at www.princess.com.
You Might also like
-
Ready for a Romantic Valentine’s Day? Start with wines chosen by Sommelier Jaime Smith
Ready for a Romance Try a Valentine’s Day wine chosen by Sommelier Jaime Smith.
It’s that time of the year again and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.
How should should you celebrate this holiday with your partner?
There is always a ton of pushback on these kinds of consumer targeted holidays, a new gripe is thrown in every year but why not just embrace it? The news cycles are dire, the world is changing so quickly, why not just grab ahold of this silly tradition and go with it, have fun, the other 75% of the world is.
Let loose, grab a bottle and relax.
While we are at it, why not visit some of the country’s most dynamic wine spots and the fab people who run them and let them help you choose that bottle of wine this year?
Not only are these wine stores and bars dynamic but their philosophies of inclusion & acceptance should be something we all should be aligning with ourselves.
We all struggle sometimes to find that perfect bottle for ourselves, these pros can guide you to your sweet spot.
Cheerful, friendly and quite bad ass, these stores are female/minority/handi-capable run and offer terrific selections from well-priced bottles of sparkling/still or dessert wine along with some distilled choices and the non-alcoholic too.
Valentine’s Day Wine in New York City
NYC- big city of dreams and a place where everything is possible.
Beaupierre’s Yannick Benjamin
Yannick Benjamin and his wife Heidi Turzyn have recently opened Beaupierre in Hells Kitchen.
The store is a “…barrier-free wine store that supports social sustainability to enrich the quality of life for people living with disabilities as well as members of the BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and other marginalized communities…
…an ‘open-door’ establishment
where everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or disabilities,
is always welcome.”
Beaupierre’s Heidi Turzyn
Not only are they the most inspirational couple you will ever meet but they will help you pick that special bottle for Valentine’s Day.
If you are ever in Harlem, you should most definitely visit their restaurant Contento (it practices the same philosophies as the store).
2020 Maison Chantereves, Aligote, Les Chagniots, Bourgogne, France
A fave bottle these days: 2020 Maison Chantereves, Aligote, Les Chagniots, Bourgogne, France
Visit Beaupierre in Hells Kitchen
Visit their restaurant Contento
Valentine’s Day Wine in Las Vegas
Las Vegas- the city of lights and luck
Las Vegas is a terrific wine city and 2 places to visit for expert advice are Ada’s Wine bar and Lamaii.
First up Ada’s, run by the utterly fantastic human Ms. Kat Thomas and her infectious positivity. Ada’s has a global selection of well curated and socially conscious selections.
Ada’s Wine Bar, Ms Kat Thomas
A fave bottle of sweets for the sweetie:
2018 Sauternes, Château Gilette ‘Les Justices’, Bordeaux, France
2018 Sauternes, Château Gilette ‘Les Justices’, Bordeaux, France
Lamaii’s Bank Atcharawan
Next up in the neon city is a Thai sommelier/chef named Bank Atcharawan and his growing empire of hot wine centric spots.
Lamaii has some of the best Thai food in the US (he is part of the Lotus of Siam alums, the wine brain behind them) and his wife Pimmie are the consummate hosts, go chat about Burgundy and Germany!
MV Rolland Champion , Champagne
A fave V-day bottle of bubbles:
MV Rolland Champion, Champagne
Shop Lamaii here
Valentine’s Day in Washington DC
Washington DC- The nations capital is a hot bed for natural wines and inclusivity.
Domestique Wine Shop’s Eric Moorer
Two spots to not miss are Domestique Wine Shop and Vitis Wines.
Domestique is hands down the best natural wine shop in the country and Eric Moorer is part of the reason, an encyclopedia of all things natty and a proponent for the culture.
2019 Domaine Dupasquier, Mondeuse, Savoie, France
Fave natty selection:
2019 Domaine Dupasquier, Mondeuse, Savoie, France
Shop Domestique Wine Shop
Vitis Wine Bar is located in Union market and run by one of its owners, Vanessa Phillips, a Kansas transplant and she-boss. The store has female & BIPOC centric choices with a great value all tightly wrapped in a small footprint.
Vitis Wine Bar’s Vanessa Phillips
Fave store pic:
2019 Beaujolais Villages, Jean Foillard
2019 Beaujolais Villages, Jean Foillard
Visit and shop Vitis Wine Bar
Valentine’s Day Wine in Charleston
Charleston, SC- The gem of a city along the Atlantic coast
Femi Oyediran, Graft Wine Shop
A simply amazing wine store called Graft and run by one of the owners Mr. Femi Oyediran. Femi is a well renowned Sommelier and probably one of the most affable folks in the wine biz. The store is a treasure trove of wines, from nerdy to classic.
Fave domestic red:
2021 Trousseau, Phelan Farms, Cambria, CA (a Rajat Parr production)
Visit and shop at Graft
About Sommelier Jaime Smith
Sommelier Jaime Smith
a drone in the Sommelier Brain Collective. Jaime Smith loves wine. He’s currently in DC causing havoc.
Post Views: 1,278 -
Texas Gin Breaks Through: Dietz Distillery’s Five Judges Gin Wins Silver at SFWSC with Dietz Fischer
Texas Gin Breaks Through: Dietz Distillery’s Five Judges Gin Wins Silver at SFWSC
In a year where agave, amaro, and Japanese whisky have dominated West Coast bar programs, one small-batch gin from the Texas Hill Country is making a name for itself—and turning heads far beyond state lines. Five Judges Gin, crafted by Dietz Distillery in Fredericksburg, Texas, just brought home a Silver Medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC)—a major moment for a young label quietly doing extraordinary things.
For gin lovers and bartenders in Los Angeles and San Diego, this kind of recognition matters. The SFWSC is the real deal: judged blind by some of the top palates in the industry, it’s where global brands and tiny upstarts go head-to-head—and only the best earn medals. That a relatively new distillery from Central Texas held its own against legacy houses and international heavyweights? That’s worth a closer look.
Dietz Distillery’s Five Judges Gin
At its core, Five Judges is a London dry-style gin, distilled using traditional European methods—but it’s also unmistakably Texan. It leans into citrus from the Rio Grande Valley to brighten up its herbaceous base, adding a warm, zesty lift that SoCal gin fans will recognize and appreciate.
“WE’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN HONORING TRADITION WHILE CAPTURING THE BOLD SPIRIT OF TEXAS,”
DIETZ FISCHER
OWNER AND DISTILLER, DIETZ DISTILLERY“To see our Five Judges Gin recognized on a global stage is a tremendous honor. This award affirms our commitment to slow, intentional distilling and to producing something truly special right here in Fredericksburg.”
The name Five Judges tells a uniquely local story—one rooted in family and legacy. It honors five members of the Wieser family who helped shape the civic and legal framework of the region, their legacy now bottled and distilled into a spirit that carries weight far beyond the farm.
If you’ve spent time tasting through the shelves of places like Barkeeper in Silver Lake or Collins & Coupe in San Diego, you know how hard it is for a new name to break through. But Dietz Distillery isn’t just riding on narrative—there’s serious technique behind it. Fischer trained under Austrian master distiller Markus Wieser and draws on both European precision and Texas terroir. The result is a gin that respects structure but isn’t afraid to get wild with flavor.
Though the distillery only opened in 2021, it’s already earned a reputation among Texas spirits insiders for its small-batch approach. Alongside the gin, Dietz also produces fruit brandies made with farm-grown stone fruit—peaches, plums, and pears—that feel like a nod to California eaux-de-vie, but with a bold Hill Country edge.
For now, Five Judges Gin is only available at the tasting room in Fredericksburg. But if you’re the type who plans road trips around spirits destinations—or just loves discovering the next under-the-radar bottle before it hits a Venice Beach backbar—this one deserves a spot on your radar.
At a time when SoCal bartenders are increasingly looking beyond the coasts for fresh inspiration, Five Judges feels like the kind of gin that could quietly slip into a Martinez, shine in a Southside, or stand solo on a cube. It’s thoughtful, layered, and proudly off the beaten path.
Post Views: 29 -
East LA ‘ Birrieria Chalio ‘ Serves Big Flavor Birria from Raul Luis Family Secret
East LA ‘ Birrieria Chalio ‘ Serves Big Flavor Birria from Raul Luis Family Secret
One of East LA’s most popular restaurant serves Kings, Queens and Food Royalty. You can get a taste if it too.
Raul Luis brings Flavor with East LA’s birria
Today’s conversation has been edited for length and clarity. For the full, un-edited conversation, visit our YouTube channel here.
Joe Winger:
We have a really special treat today. We’re talking with Raul Luis from Birria the restaurant here in East LA. We’re going to talk about family. We’re going to talk about flavor. We’re going to talk about how he creates these amazing dishes. And then we’re going to talk more about how you can have a bite and taste his the food from his restaurants.
Raul Luis, thank you for joining us today.
Raul Luis:
Thank you for having me here. I’m very honored to be here speaking to you.
Joe Winger:
What’s the most important message you want the audience to hear today?
Raul Luis:
I think we can start talking about how Birria came to LA. How do we get it here? What caused that trigger to start selling the food here in LA?
My dad was given a certain skill set, handed down to him to make birria.
Birria is chivo goat meat. He used that skill set back in Mexico. He came to the U. S. when he came over during the Bracero program. He was talking to his buddies and he told them he’s a Barriario. He doesn’t know how to cook birria. So they would ask him if he would cook that dish from because that dish was only traditionally eaten during those special once in a lifetime events, baptisms, quinceañeras, weddings.
So the common denominator in all those events was the birria.
You went [to an important life event], you knew you were going to have birria. I tell people the story because I remember being small myself when I was young, that we wouldn’t eat meat too often because we were vegetarians, not by choice, but because of circumstance.
When someone was having a party, we said, “Wow, we’re going to eat birria today.” We knew we look forward to, we’re going to eat meat. It’s time. Let’s get ready to go eat some meat. Get ready, put on your Sunday clothes and go. When my father came to the U S People knew about him. They asked him to cook their dish for him.
When he cooked the meal for someone’s wedding, quinceanera, baptism, for their special occasion, he would cook extra.
So his friends would come over. When his friends would come over, he would serve whatever portion it was, usually like a whole carcass of lamb, 50 pounds. And then there was some leftover, so he would feed his friends.
And he would tell the stories when he would feed his friends. His friends wouldn’t leave. They would stay there for hours and they would be talking and my dad was, “I gotta go do my Sunday [errands], my day off. We gotta go to our family. They were there for hours and all their memories, all memories, special occasions.
Remember this? Remember that? And my dad said, “Man, what? Why are you talking? Why are you staying here so long?
It was the food.
He didn’t realize the time. It was the food that was triggering those special [memories], triggering their mind.
They’re time travelers, they’re going back to other special events.
I tell people, it’s those once in a lifetime events that are much more exponential, much more magnified because it was somebody’s wedding. It was somebody’s baptism.
That’s how it began, by cooking.
Joe Winger:
Your father was an amazing person. Back in the early 1960s, back in Mexico, he’s working in a tiny little five chair restaurant in the Mercado before migrating here to the US.
What have you learned from him taking this huge life journey?
Raul Luis:
I look back, how do the immigrants do this? How do they leave their country, leave everything behind?
He had a small spot, maybe five people to sit there. He would sell on the weekends. Business wasn’t that brisk.
They were opening up a new spot, but they required a down payment to secure it. So he had to come to the U.S. so he could save up some money.
They asked, does anyone know how to cook? Dad raises his hand. I’m a birriero.
So he began cooking birria for the farm workers. He was limited because now he was out of his comfort zone.
He was no longer in Mexico. He didn’t have access to all the spices that he used back home.
In the preparation of the different birrias, before they put the red adobe sauce, it’s white.
All the farm workers ate it up, but the people who were in charge wouldn’t eat it because it wasn’t easy on the eyes. People eat with their eyes.
[So he changed his process]
Why don’t you add the red before?
So, we marinated before we cook it,
[The second change]
There wasn’t all the spices we needed, so the chef that was there helped them get new spices or tweak the recipe a bit.
That’s what happened.
You have aspirations, and dreams, as many immigrants. They come to the U. S., make some money, go back.
He never went back.
Once you plant roots, then it’s hard to go back to your country of origin.
Joe Winger:
Fast forwarding to the present day. Your Birria in East LA is very popular.
What’s the most common dish at the restaurant?
Raul Luis:
We’re known for Birria. 9 out of 10 plates will be the Birria.
Sometimes we have new customers who want to try it but are hesitant. I explain our 10-hour cooking process [to get them excited.] Underground pits, cooking it with the mesquite wood to add that flavor.
The gaminess, the taste, our process, all that fun stuff, secrets.
Raul Luis ‘s East LA Birrieria Chalio most popular dish
Joe Winger:
Can you walk us through the flavor and process?
Raul Luis:
It’s a 2-day process. You get the [goat] carcass, cut it up into pieces.
The ribs, the neck bone, the French rack. There’s all these different cuts. Every single cut has a different taste profile and texture. So when you walk in, it depends on you. How dirty do you wanna get?
Do you wanna get down and dirty? You get the bones.
I tell people the neck is the best because it’s so tender, so soft, not too much fat on it.
If you’d like the nerve, then you get the ribs.
The flavor is amazing. In the bones, it’s amazing.
There’s people who don’t like to deal with the struggling or getting dirty. So they go with the all leg meat. That’s the drier part. It’s good, but it’s not. Not my first choice.
We cook it, we steam it, we marinate it, let it sit for about 24 hours and we put it into a our pressure cooker.
Part of the science is the way you stack it up, like a pyramid, and then they put firewood under it. If you don’t stack it correctly, part of it won’t cook.
You have to put it up a certain way to make sure that all the meat gets cooked properly.
We take it out. We’ve got to separate it so we can have all the different parts. Distinguish the leg from the neck bone from the ribs, put that aside. Then we put it in the oven so we can get like a slow roast, nice little crispy. Tender on the outside, real soft on the inside.
The most important thing is the consommé.
That’s the broth, we call it the “honey”. You can’t have it without the consomme. The birria isn’t birria without the consommé. That’s what gives it the flavor. That’s what takes it to the next level.
Some people say, “Oh, I had birria.” No you didn’t. That was a taco.
No, you’ve got to have it with the consommé.
The new movement with the birria, they dip the sauce. It’s the same concept, but I would like to think that our consommé is a little more intense, more flavorful, because we use the broth from the goat and from the mince that it distills.
So it’s really flavorful. You got to try it.
East LA Birrieria Chalio from Raul Luis – A Family Secret
Joe Winger:
You have a deep family history, you have a cultural history. Obviously food is part of that history. Can you talk a little bit about the cultural value and the meaning behind Birria and why it’s important to you?
Raul Luis:
I tell people it’s made to feed kings and queens. How?
Because in our region, Central Mexico, the birria is eaten by most of the population in Mexico. About 85-90% are Catholic.
So one of the first steps when a child is born, they take them to the church and that’s where he becomes a king.
They baptize them. They have a festivity. There’s a party going on.
Then the second phase is they feed the Quinceaneras.
That’s a rite of passage where you go from childhood to adulthood for the girls. So now you feed the princesses.
The next step is when the lady gets married, she’s the queen.
All three of those things, traditionally, was birria.
That’s the only thing that was in common. That helped people look back to those special occasions. When people eat the birria, they go back to that once in a lifetime event.
It’s time traveling for them.
It’s the memories.
Fast forward to when we came to LA, the parents would bring their kids, [and now their kids say] ”I used to come here 20 years ago. My dad used to bring me when I was a kid.”
So that’s what it does. It brings the family together.
Raul Luis Battles Fast Food Giants …and Wins (kinda)
Joe Winger:
You mentioned some fast food places now working within the same cuisine. Rubbing you the wrong way.
Raul Luis:
Yeah, it’s fascinating how many people called me [about it].
Del Taco and a few other places that were selling birria, but they’re not selling it the way it’s supposed to be. That’s wrong. At first I was a little worked up explaining that they’re missing the point here. What it means to the people from back in Mexico.
But there’s always a silver lining. Now the dish is mainstream.
I would have never been able to do that. These guys with these big budgets are able to cross over and speak to different generations, different ethnic groups.
Before, when we first opened up our restaurant. [Everyone would ask] “What’s it called? What is that? I don’t know what that is.”
Now people know when before they didn’t.
So I give them credit for being able to make people aware and bringing attention to this dish.
I see myself as the missing link. I’m the one that’s going to fill in the gaps to tell what the dish really means, what significance it has, what historical cultural value it has. That’s what I’m doing with our YouTube channel at Birria World.
East LA Birrieria Chalio leads the Birria Movement
Joe Winger:
Let’s talk about the Birria movement. Everyone says you are the leader. What does the future of Birria look like in East LA and in the country itself?
Raul Luis:
In a perfect world, everybody would switch over from beef to goat, which is actually one of the most eaten meats across the world.
If you go to the Middle East or China, they eat that dish. Here in the U. S., it’s not as popular.
Introducing them to the dish so they can try out the different textures, different profiles. They can see that there’s another option.
I source from a vendor in Texas.
The meat we use is paleo certified. It’s halal, all this special stuff. Probably a little more nutritional than beef.
There’s more taste, more flavors in the meat.
My job is to go out there and have people be aware that [this] exists.
There’s potential growth across the US to be provided for different ethnic groups and different generations of people.
Joe Winger:
You’ve had world-famous food stars visit you.
Raul Luis:
Anthony Bourdain came to our LA location. I guess he saw something before everybody else did and realized it was a special dish.
The second person was Jonathan Gold. He was a writer for the LA times. He wrote beautiful articles on us. He also saw what the dish meant to our community.
They gave it a little approval. Come on, try it. Take your turn. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. I’m sure you’ll be back
Joe Winger:
Raul Luis with his Birria restaurant in East LA. Tell us all the ways that our audience can find you and learn more about you.
Raul Luis:
They did a documentary, “Mexi Papa: Chronicles of Birria” on YouTube. That’s just the basic history of how Birria got to LA and the US.
Then you can go to Birria World on YouTube. We do a birria tour, going to different restaurants, we showcase how they cook it, why it tastes different, how it’s served differently in certain regions.
On Instagram, you can go to Chalios Birria for my Texas location and East LA Chalios Birria Instagram.
Then on Facebook, it’s a Chalios Seminary.
Post Views: 1,738
One comment on “Taste Temecula, Fun Roadtrip South of LA ! Bold flavor, Rich fruit, lingering finish: Leoness Cellars earns 6 90+ Point Wines from Wine Spectator ”