These six destinations are going big for Día de Muertos. Plus:

• Craft beer: Is it cringe right now?
• 20-5-3: We could all benefit from this simple, yet powerful prescription.

But first, a look at Kato: A Michelin-starred gem in Downtown Los Angeles.

Omakase Menus Have Taken Over LA, but This One Offers Something Unique

A sudden influx of omakase menus in Los Angeles has whipped the city into something of a sushi frenzy. There’s the new 17-course tasting menu at the compact, eight-seat bar Udatsu, the restaurant-within-a-restaurant experience at Tokyo transplant Rokusho — both concepts are from Michelin-starred chef Udatsu Hisashi — that just opened on Sunset Blvd. There’s a brand new location of Sushi By Scratch’s beloved omakase menu popping up at the SLS Beverly Hills for the next three months (but rumor has it the pop-up will likely become permanent). And then there’s Oheya, part of the Uchi empire from chef Tyson Cole, which will open in West Hollywood sometime in the next few months. The list goes on.

Clearly, there’s a demand for refined, elegant tasting menus in the city right now, but what would something unique actually look like? To answer that, we set out to find a high-end tasting menu that felt special in the same way, challenged the American palate but brought a totally different tone and set of flavors to the table.

Oy Bar

“Worth planning for when traffic dies down to make the trek out to Sherman Oaks to hang out with the ‘Oy Boys.’ An elevated dive bar with great drinks, an even better bar crew and Japanese/Jewish food that aims to impress. Whatever you do, don't get the flaming 'Green Wray' shots if you want to drive home.” — Max Reis, beverage director of Mírate

Cafe Triste

"My go-to for wine in Los Angeles is always Cafe Triste! Their cellar is deep, diverse, always changing and fairly priced. It's become kind of an 'everybody knows your name' spot in a special way, but even more special is the food. I feel like we've all come to expect that our favorite restaurant menus are seasonally driven, but Triste's goes beyond that, with impeccable sourcing and a creative force behind their food program, Hannah Chumley. Wine wants food and vice versa, so I'm always excited when both the food and the wine check all the boxes.” — Kae Whalen, sommelier and owner of Barr Seco

Crawfords

“The best place for cheap beer, fried chicken and a potentially not-so-friendly game of pool. Everyone here is good at the sometimes ill-regarded game, yet not an a-hole about it, which makes the table that much harder. I found out about this spot through an old friend from Miami who knew I am an avid fan of both the sport and fried chicken. It’s a great place to get better at the game while enjoying their nice array of ever-rotating locally brewed beers or just a simple cold Budweiser and some deep-fried poultry goodness.” — Felix Campos, beverage director at Rokusho Los Angeles

Where to Celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico

There are countless reasons to visit Mexico, chief among them its varied beaches, vibrant cities and world-class food. But if you want to immerse yourself in the country’s most culturally significant holiday, then set your sights on Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This annual holiday occurs November 1 and 2, though celebrations may stretch over the course of several days, depending on where you are. Anyone who’s seen Pixar’s Coco has a rudimentary grasp of the holiday, but — probably unsurprisingly — there’s more to it than can be covered in a 100-minute animated film (great movie, though).

The practice stretches back at least 3,000 years to the Aztecs, who believed that life was a preparation for death and that death involved a journey to reach the soul’s final resting place. To assist loved ones along the way, family members would set out food, gifts and other items, a ritual still practiced symbolically today via ofrendas, shrines that feature photos, candles and offerings to honor the dead. The holiday is rooted in family, and most observances take place in the home, but today you’ll find larger celebrations featuring parades, costumes and other festivities in destinations all across Mexico. If you want to join in, these six cities are great places to start.

Barra Santos

“It’s in my neighborhood, and we usually ride our bikes there. It’s one of those places where it doesn’t matter what you eat — it’s just a casual, easy place to go that’s consistent every time. It’s a great place to hang out with friends, and the atmosphere and service is simple, straightforward and laid back.” — Brandon Boudet, executive chef and co-owner of Little Dom’s and Little Dom’s Seafood

Feng Mao Lamb Kebab

“Where I go for a fun night with foodie friends. Bring a nice bottle, order lots of the lamb skewers and ask for chili seasoning salt on the side. You get your own custom grill for the skewers at the table and lots of sides to accompany. That’s perfect." — Rob Gentile, executive chef at Stella West Hollywood

Otafuku

“My all-around favorite spot. Completely understated and low-key with amazing food, classic warm service and reservations available any night of the week. Japanese drinking food at its finest.” — Daniel Holzman, chef and owner of Danny Boy’s Famous Original Pizza

Is Craft Beer Cringe Right Now?

This article recently won an award for Best Commentary or Criticism by the North American Guild of Beer Writers. To celebrate, we wanted to reshare it.

Just a few years ago, we were still discussing line culture, that people were willing to wait hours on end to score limited craft beer releases. And wasn’t it only yesterday that the most persistent debate in beer was between hazy fanatics and brewers who wanted to make anything else, or between pastry stout lovers and purists who saw candy in beer as an abomination? Surely, it hasn’t been that long since craft beer was the hot new thing, and its followers were deemed too-cool-for-school hipsters for liking it, right?

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The “20-5-3 Rule” Will Give You a Better Life

According to an EPA analysis, the average American spends 97% of their life inside.

The overwhelming majority of that time is spent inside buildings, a little bit of it is spent in cars and whatever’s left is spent outdoors. That’s a crying shame, considering outdoor activity promotes mental health and creativity, works out the legs and lungs, and boosts our exposure to Vitamin D (great for bone health) and our production of melatonin (great for sleep).

It’s a wellness feast, basically, but too many of us are starving…by choice. Why? Well, we’re too comfortable. Following this rule could help.