Latte Art with Nicely Abel Alameda

Inside the world of latte art with one of the coffee community’s nicest baristas

A man who lives up to his nickname, Nicely Abel Alameda has dedicated himself to his career in coffee. So dedicated, in fact, that he sports coffee logo tattoos commemorating the three companies he has worked for. While working at Espresso Vivace in Seattle, Nicely’s competition-level latte art skills caught the attention of barista champion Kyle Glanville, resulting in Nicely heading south to Los Angeles …

Whitewash

The stark side of sunny LA in a book of contrasts

Back in 2002, photographer Nicholas Alan Cope picked up his camera and moved across the country from Maryland to Los Angeles, the city he documents in his new book “Whitewash.” Cope’s LA is one of stark geometric architecture rendered in black and white, a far cry from the colorful Hollywood glitz the city so often tries to project. By harnessing the bright, Southern California sun, …

Interview: Bryant Ng of The Spice Table

How one chef is preserving the culture of street food in his restaurant and on a global scale

In Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo neighborhood, the red brick building that houses The Spice Table has become known as the go-to spot for the soulful flavors of Southeast Asia. With a menu highlighting some of his favorite dishes inspired by travels to Singapore and Vietnam, Chef Bryant Ng has cooked his way into the hearts his customers, critics and influential magazine editors. For Ng translation …