Los Angeles Cult Recipes

French restaurateur and photographer Astorino writes a sometimes bewildering, sometimes charming culinary love letter to Los Angeles, a city he lived in for two years. Astorino takes readers into his favorite spots, sharing mouthwatering recipes and his own terrific pictures of daily life in L.A. along the way. Some, like his recipes for California Pizza Kitchen’s Thai chicken pizza, a vanilla donut from Randy’s Donuts, and a double cheeseburger from In-N-Out Burger, need no introduction, but most of the options from more obscure restaurants do. And that’s the most frustrating part: Astorino offers page after page of classic fare such as Pann’s chicken wings and hash browns, a recipe for Pink’s guacamole and cheddar fries hot dog, and one-of-a-kind local favorites such as G.T.A.’s guanciale pizza, all accompanied by terrific photos of the dishes themselves and the neighborhoods they’re from, but gives barely any commentary. Readers aren’t told what the dishes taste like or what makes them stand out. Angelenos familiar with these restaurants will likely appreciate Astorino’s appreciation of their city’s cuisine, but for others it’s a disappointing miss for a concept that has so much potential. (Apr.)