3 Days in LA with Airbnb
"A sommelier-turned-YouTuber and wine lady about town, Whitney worked at acclaimed wine shop Domaine LA for six years and has done pop-ups with celebrity chefs like Ludo Lefebvre and Andrew Zimmern".
Whitney is a force to be reckoned with. It's the non-apologetic badass attitude. Tagging along with her is like being part of the gang, in a local celebrity status kind-of-way. We parade around the festive lake area of Echo Park - a hip Eastside LA neighborhood that has become her home turf. We pop into a few bars, make our introductions to the owners, and comb over the wine list - curated by her.To experience it, please see Whitney's "Raise a Glass' trip on Airbnb.
Button Mash - Arcade & Asian Fusion Restaurant
You heard me.
You get none of that snooty exclusive vibe from Whitney or her constitutents. One of her stops, Button Mash, was a vintage arcade/chinese fusion restaurant that also carried a full drink menu of wine and craft beer. You get this dichotomic vibe of old and new, light and dark. It was communal, high-spiritied, and electrifying to say the least.Pictured is the 'Sottise' Sparkling Rose, refreshing and fruity, a good pairing for the spicy and flavorful chinese dish combos.
WINSOME - Poppin' Bottles at the Brunch
The wine drinker's valium.
Whitney is a hearty advocate of natural wines. "The California natural wine scene [...] is making exciting wines and thinking outside the box" remarks Whitney. We tasted examples of what she was talking about. After a few (obviously), I was having way too much fun I temporarily forgot about my photograhpic commitments.
In beer terms, this concept hit home when she started talking about natural beer fermentation (imagine the Belgiums with their lambics). I vowed to bring back my learnings and hit up my local wine shop for recommedations. (Donkey & Goat Winery in Berkeley, CA is another standout). You taste, drink, and raise a glass to good times. LA has never tasted so bubbly.
