September is always a blur. The month marks the end of summer, with a swift return to school, work and routine--and then all of a sudden it's October. In case you missed them in the rush of it all, here are a few delicious highlights from the month.
• Angelenos are lucky: We can shop for farm-fresh, seasonal produce year-round. Four of L.A.'s top chefs--Neal Fraser, Josie Le Balch, Amy Sweeney and Simon Dolinky--tipped us off to some of their favorite farms and ingredients, and show you how to make the most of them in four great recipes.
• A good Pinot Noir doesn't have to break the bank. The Pali Wine Co. has solid Pinots for every budget, especially with their new "Cuvee" blends: four wines from four different appellations, all named for Pacific Palisades neighborhoods. And they're all priced under $20.
• With everything from Hungarian paprika to Pakistani ajwain seed and chile peppers of every ilk, shopping at Santa Monica's Penzeys is a global tour of scents, spices and flavors. And just in time for apple pie season, the store now has a new cinnamon blend that makes any dessert sing.
• Some foods just make sense together: baguette and butter, burger and fries, or warm cobbler and ice cream. Now you can add chili and donuts to that list. Boneyard Bistro's chili donuts, piping hot brioches oozing with Kobe beef chili, taste even better than they sound. Try them with half-price beers on Monday nights.
• Oysters are sponges of the sea, picking up every flavor and nuance of their surroundings (not unlike wine grapes). This is something oyster sommelier Christophe Happillon will tell you as he personally shucks your oysters at Saint Amour and Joe's in Venice.
