Would-Be Robber Shot To Death By Taco Stand Worker In Green Meadows

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Friday night, minutes before midnight, a 19-year-old man armed with a gun was attempting to rob a taco stand at Century Boulevard and San Pedro Streets in Green Meadows when a an employee pulled gun of his own and shot him to death.

The preliminary investigation suggests the suspected robber accompanied by two other suspects were taken by surprise when one of two taco stand employees, a 40 year old man, fired multiple rounds, striking the 19-year-old in the chest. The wounded alleged robber was transported to Harbor UCLA Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. 

The two other robbery suspects ran off. 

The employee turned himself in at the LAPD's Southeast Division station. No further information was available at this time.  

Christine Larroucau, Pizzeria Mozza Manager, Becomes Youngest Person Ever Awarded Three Michelin Stars

On what just happens to be her 26th birthday, Christine Larroucau made restaurant history Thursday when the fabled Michelin Guide awarded her their treasured ”Three Star” rating making her the youngest person ever to be so honored in the revered guides 90-year existence..

The Michelin Guide, which only nine years ago began awarding stars to so-called “front of the house” restaurant owners and managers, said in a press release that Larroucau was honored because “she possess that rare quality of having a commanding presence on the floor, an incredible smile, a vast knowledge of food and wine and the ability to function smoothly with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.”

The previous record for youngest person to win the coveted three stars was Massimillano (Max) Alajmo, chef at Le Calandre in Sarmeola di Rubano near Padua, ItalyMax was 28 when he was so honored on Nov. 27, 2002 and continues to have the three stars.

Former co-workers of Larroucau, a former track star at USC,  were thrilled with the news and said it was a testament to her resolve to thrive.

“Under the tutelage of David Rosoff, Christine climbed the ladder from simple floor manager to GM of pizzeria and along the way she survived beating after beating,” said ex-Osteria Mozza server Pat Asanti, now a televisions star. “But, Rosoff could not knock her out. And now this. Congratulations, Christine.”

When news broke of the, honor  Larroucau was near the La Brea Tar Pits changing four flat tires on her SUV, three of which were being investigated as “of a suspicious origin,” according to auto theft detective Sal LaBarbera of the LAPD. “I heard she got some award that maybe someone else didn’t think she shoulda got,” said LaBarbera, a former homicide detective. “We are looking hard at a few individuals in that world. That restaurant world is bizarre. I miss the gang killings.”   

Across the nation in the heavily Chlean, French and Puerto Rican neighborhood of Coral Gables in Miami, Larroucau's parents, Marissa and Kiko, threw a lavish block party to celebrate heir daughter's prestigious honor. An estimated 250,000 people showed up including Michelle Bacehelet, the president of Chile, and Alejandro Garcia Padilla, governor of Puerto Rico who both flew in on a moment's notice for the festive occasion.

"Marissa and I are very proud of Christine and her award," Kiko Larroucau told the crowd.  "I only have one problem. Why the hell wasn't my daughter given four stars?"  

Back in Los Angeles, co-workers at Pizzeria as well as Osteria Mozza, Chi Spacca and Mozza2Go, the group that comprises “The Corner” at Highland and Melrose, celebrated Larroucau’s accomplishment with chocolate cupcakes and an off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday" led by chef/owner Nancy Silverton.

In her honor, they plan to hold a contest tonight in which anyone – employee or customer - who can properly pronounced her last name will get a free pizza.

Gang Member Gunned Down Monday Night at West Adams Blvd. and Halldale Ave.

 (NOTE- Because I am out of town, the details of the following shooting are very limited)

A 30-year-old black street gang member was assassinated Monday evening while he was standing near West Adams Boulevard and Halldale Avenue.

The word "assassination", not normally used for most gang-related killings, seems appropriate here as the attackers who approached in a gray or white pickup at 6:48 p.m., , were wearing some type of masks, indicating a planned hit. The victim, whose gang affiliation was not immediately known, was shot in the heart. He was pronounced dead at the scene moments later.

The killing was at least the 9th of year in LAPD's Southwest Division. Only the notorious 77th has more.

Sunday Daytime Shootings in Los Angeles Leave At least One Dead, Two Wounded

The drastic rise of homicides in the LAPD's Southwest Division continued in the early morning hours of Sunday when a man was shot to death near Coliseum Street and La Brea Avenue.

Shortly after 4:30 a.m., a 36-year-old black male was driving southbound on La Brea when a burgundy vehicle (no further information currently available) followed him and opened fire. 

The victim was struck in the back and was transported to Centinela Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

The killing was at least the 8th of the years in the Southwest Division. In 2015, there were no homicides in the division in the first two month of the year,

In the neighboring 77th Street Division, a man was shot four times near Western Avenue and 70th Street minutes after high noon. The victim, a male black age 37, had been involved in verbal altercation at Florence Avenue and Western with the suspect, a male black of unknown age. The suspect left the scene, but returned to the area of 70th St. and Western, approached the victim who was in a brown, 4-door sedan, and opened fired. . The victim sustained  four gunshot wounds to the upper torso. He was transported to California Hospital in a serious, yet stable condition. 

Another shooting in the 77th occurred at 10 a.m. on 84th Street and Broadway when a male black in his mid-20s, was wounded in the forearm.  The victim walked in to 77th Station suffering from the wound and stated that he was in the passenger seat of his friend's vehicle when a silver Infinity approached and stopped. The suspect, also a black male in his mid 20s, exited the passenger side of the Infinity and fired 5 shots at the victim. The victim was transported to California Hospital in stable condition.

1 Dead, 10 Injured During Sunday Shooting in Compton

At approximately 1:35 a.,m Sunday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the 900 Block of West Victoria Street in Compton, to investigate the circumstances surrounding a shooting with multiple reported injuries.

Upon their arrival on Victoria near Wilmington Avenue, deputies discovered there was a large party with numerous gunshot victims at the location.  One victim, a male black adult, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Eight other victims sustained gunshot wounds and were also transported to local hospitals where they are currently being treated. Two others were also injured, but apparently did not require hospitalization. 

The investigation is on-going. The homicide detective on the case, Det. Richard Tomlin, was unavailable for comment. 

Anyone with information can call the L.A. County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 895-5500 

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BREAKING - Apple Refuses Court Order To "Un-Encrypt" Reichl and Silverton IPhones To Get Secrets Of "Rucy" Chili Recipe

Technology mammoth Apple refused a federal court ruling Tuesday to provide technology that would enable the public - including chain restaurant owners - the ability to unlock the IPhone 6s of chef Nancy Silverton and writer Ruth Reichl to reveal secrets of a chili they made that was heralded as the best in recorded history. 

The chili, billed as "Rucy" - a term coined by using the first and last syllables of the two living legends first names - was serendipitously created for a gathering Sunday evening in Los Angeles to watch the Academy Awards.

So extraordinary was the Rucy, that internet speculation about its secrets went virile. The hashtags #SilvertonReichlChili and #Rucy recorded 1,7 million hits since Sunday night. The furor was exacerbated when Mario Batali tweeted the following

"There’s chili from texas and chili from the southwest and definitely chile verde and chile rojo from mexico, but i’d say the worlds best chili comes from the fertile and untamed minds of 2 jewish gals in los angeles, nancy silverton and ruth reichl"

Officials at Tweter deemed the Batali tweet so important that they temporarily suspended the 140 character limit rule allowed the 250 character Tweet.

The bison meat chili with an unspecified type of bean was made by Reichl and a version is available in her latest book, "My Kitchen Year". But the furor over it exploded when, by happenstance, it was turbocharged by topping it with a so called "P1" Pimento cheese dip made by Silverton.  The chili was rated an astounding 675. 

(To read the original story on the chili printed two hours ago check this link - http://www.krikorianwrites.com/blog/2016/2/28/ruth-reichl-and-nancy-silverton-stumble-onto-greatest-chili-in-history )

Meanwhile, Apple said that providing the technology unlock or 'un-encrypt" Silverton's and Reichl's phones could "severely compromise the secrets, private recipes, texts, affairs and other personal information of more than three billion individuals."

"Say you have a secret sauce for a burger and you texted it to your mistress. Do you want everyone to know that secret?", said Jason Asch, an Apple spokesperson. "In America, privacy is not a privilege. It's a right."

Authorities were said to be looking to interview Los Angeles-based writer Margy Rochlin who allegedly transported the P1 Pimento cheese dip from Silverton's residence to Reich's.

In a rare showing of unity, presidential candidates were in agreement on an issue. Apple, they agreed,  should unlock the phones 

"This is not an issue of national security, but it is an issue of national pleasure," said Republican front runner Donald Trump.  "There's a little document I like to call the Constitution. And it clearly states the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Rucy chili reeks of happiness."

Bernie Sanders, widely considered the anti-Trump, concurred. "Two Jews make a chili? That's America. C' mon, Apple. Do the right thing."

Chili by Ruth Reichl and Nancy Silverton Catapluts To #1 in World Ratings; Critics, Chefs Hail As "Greatest Chili in Recorded History"

The RNC. It wasn't planned. It was happenstance. It was as simple as this; "Put some of that on that."

The first "that" was a pimento cheese dip chef Nancy Silverton had painstakingly made Sunday afternoon and brought to an Oscar party at the temporary Los Angeles residence of writer Ruth Reichl. The second "that" was a bison chili made by Reichl.

So, as instructed, a spoonful of the dip, which, only an hour earlier, had been proclaimed the McLaren P1 of cheese dips, was upended onto the chili. 

One bite and that was it. There have been hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of bowls of chili devoured throughout history, but never has chili that scored more than 600. Never until yesterday when this concoction by Ruth and Nancy - already known in cyberspace as  "Rucy Chili"  - scored an astounding 714. 

Chefs around the country hailed the chili as Homeric.

Renowned San Francisco based chef Dominique Crenn simply said "Wow! I want some."

"Seven 1 4? Is that a typo?" Tweeted Briana "Breezy"Valdez, owner of East Hollywood's HomeState and a Texas native. 

Even Nancy Silverton seemed surprised how delicious the "Rucy" was. "Now I know how the folks at Reese's felt when they mixed that peanut butter into the chocolate cup ."

The recipe of the chili only is available in Reichl's recently published book. "My Kitchen Year" on page 45. It needs to be noted, however, this "Rucy Chili" - a term coined by using the first and last syllables of the two living legends first names- was on the fly and several modifications were made by Ruth, including, reportedly, the addition of "chicken goo" from the leftover of a dinner at  Silverton's Chi Spacca and "I forgot the name" beans from the Sunday farmer's market in Hollywood. 

As for the recipe for pimento cheese dip - a dish once described by noted foodie Jeanine K Ash as "the bottom of the barrel" - it will be available in the fall when Silverton's "Mozza at Home" cookbook arrives in bookstores.  That too was modified to a degree, with a particular Gouda and Cheddar that Silverton could not remember.

Some objected to the seemingly "secretive" nature of the chili.  

"I find it difficult to believe Ruth conveniently forgot the name of the beans she bought at the farmer's market and Nancy can't recall exactly what brand of cheeses were used in a cheese dip," said Duke Feldmeier, a private investigator hired to get the chili's secrets. "I mean, if the chili is really that good, shouldn't everyone get a chance to enjoy it?".

The Rucy, along with La Brea Tar Pits chicken wings and burritos from Burritos La Palma on Peck Road in El Monte were savored at the home Ruth and her husband Michael Singer are renting. It is the former home of Wallace Berry who won an Oscar in 1932 at the 5th Academy Awards for "The Champ". 

 Eighty six years later, there's a new champ and it's called Rucy Chili.

The Rucy chili scored an unheard of 675

Man Killed Monday Afternoon at 57th Street and Denker Avenue While Sitting In His Car

A 25-year-old black man sitting in his car near 57th and Denker Avenue was shot and killed Monday afternoon, the latest in a string of shootings in South Los Angeles at people in their vehicles.

Around 2 p.m., two black male suspects drove up to the victim, a shooter exited and fired several rounds. The man was struck multiple times in the chest. He was transported to California Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Anyone with information can call the LAPD's Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (323) 786-5100

Last week at least four people were shot while in their vehicles.

Friday morning, just after midnight, a man and woman were shot as they drove in their car along Western Avenue near 42nd Place. They were transported to a local hospital where the man was pronounced dead.   

Friday evening, a male black, 36, was sitting in his car in front of 3443 8th Ave - south of Jefferson - when unknown suspects drove by in a black BMW and fired several rounds at him. The victim was struck once in the head and three times in the torso. He was transported to a local hospital in (luckily) serious condition. 

Last Tuesday, shortly before 4 p.m., at least two black males exited a vehicle nears Harvard Recreation Center on 62nd Street and Harvard Boulevard and approached Kenneth Burden, 50, as he sat in the driver's seat of his car. The suspects fired multiple rounds, striking Burden in the head and upper torso.  The shooters fled in their car, possibly a white Chrysler. 

The Burden was taken to California Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

Burden was a 6-Deuce Brim who went by the name of Kev Dog. At the site where he was shot, a makeshift memorial was set up with murder candles, a painted Brims hand sign and a near record amount of "Drank in his Honor" liquor bottles.

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Saturday Morning Shootings; 1 Dead South of Downtown L.A. at 14th Street and Long Beach Avenue, 1 Wounded 64th and Hoover

(Excuse the cold, impersonal tone of the following sad story. There were few details available and a trip to the crime scene produced next to nothing.)  

Savoy Niece Anderson was walking home 

Saturday, around 3:20 a.m., a man snatched a purse from a woman at the corner of 14th Street and Long Beach Avenue in a desolate area south of downtown Los Angeles. A man chased after the thief who turned around and shot him, perhaps with the aid of an accomplice. 

The man, whose name was not released pending the notification of his family, was described as black and 37-years-old, He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

By 10 a.m, at 14th and Long Beach Avenue, there was no sign of the violence. No murder candles, no obvious blood on the sidewalk or street. No crime tape. A half block away, on Long Beach near Newton Street at a small homeless encampment, no one claimed to know the victim or had even heard shots. A clerk at a 14th street marijuana dispensary was stunned to hear someone had been a homicide victim this morning. Same for a delivery driver. It was like it never happened.  

Anyone with information can call call LAPD's Newton Division detectives at (323) 846-6556

In a gang related incident,  shortly after 11 a.m., a 40-year-old black male was walking near 64th Street and Hoover Street when a man exited his vehicle and began shooting. The victim was hit in the thigh and transported to California Hospital. 

The suspect, who fled in a black Infinity with paper plates,  was described only as a black male somewhere between 20 to 25 years of age. 

Anyone with information can call call the LAPD's 77th Street Division at (213) 485-4164.

Friday, a man and woman were shot as they drove in their car along Western Avenue near 42nd Place. They were transported to a local hospital where the man was pronounced dead. 

Anyone with information can call LAPD's Southwest Division at (213) 485-2582