Salmon

Annie Bettelli GLENDALE -- On the assumption that everybody knows about Crocodile Cafe, I have avoided reviewing it all this time and almost forgot how really good this place is. So for all of you who have never experienced its original and eclectic cuisine, Crocodile Cafe should be on your list of one of the better restaurants in our area. The atmosphere is bright, colorful and casual with a whimsical sort of decor. The service is friendly and attentive, and the menu offers a delightful mishmash of flavors and entrees from pizza to pasta and chicken to seafood.

Tomo Sushi's Tom wants to give you the best sushi in town. He goes out of his way to find the freshest fish and says that "you can taste the difference!" Even though Tom's heritage is Chinese, he has a love of Japanese cuisine, having studied in Japan, as well as China. But Tomo Sushi has more than, well, sushi. The menu at Tomo Sushi includes other Japanese favorites like sashimi, tempura, yakitori, teriyaki, soups, noodles, and more, including vegetarian and luncheon specials.

CARLE' - BIDSTRUP Michelle Diane Carle' and Leo Viktor Bidstrup, both of Vista, were married in the courtyard of the Athenaeum at the California Institute of Technology. The Rev. Karl Knisely of Glendale presided. The matron of honor was the bride's siser, Paulette Carle'-Tablada. Bridesmaids were Danielle Outlaw, Debra Bowland, the groom's sister Alice Zrodlo and Yvette Nunez, candlelighter. Dirk Yarmie was the best man. Groomsmen were Mike Zrodlo, Brian Oshiro, Luis Tablada and junior groomsman Kyle Outlaw.

Tucked behind a tree on the north side of East Magnolia, just west of Glenoaks Boulevard, is a lovely little café that serves toothsome sandwiches, soups and salads to a loyal cadre of customers, many of whom no doubt, like me, stumbled upon the place quite by accident. I've driven by Lily's probably 100 times and never noticed it, even though it's been there nearly nine years. Open early to serve gourmet teas, coffees and pastries, Lily's is mainly a workday lunch location.

Lola'sHaving never visited Peru, I claim no frame of reference for how authentically Peruvian Lola's cuisine might actually be. But within my frame of reference for affordable and tasty, Lola's fits the bill. The décor is eclectic, with the focus on an open kitchen in back, where the "All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet" takes center stage Monday through Friday. Cheerful cooks man the buffet line to describe and serve the dishes available. At $7.99, this lunch buffet is a bargain, featuring several salads (mixed green, Caesar and Russian potato salad)

bacco trattoriaThe space last occupied by La Scala has been transformed into a warm, Italian-style trattoria that is part wine bar, part restaurant and part deli. And the sum of its parts is delicious. The pleasing ambience features dark woods, brick, white linens and a tile mosaic of Bacchus, the restaurant's namesake and the Roman god of wine. His influence begins with a robust wine list, extends to the wine sauces that grace several entrees, and ends at the beautiful wine bar where you can enjoy the fruit of the vine.

If you check out the new Moore's Delicatessen, at Third and Orange Grove in Burbank, in the space formerly occupied by Ben's Deli, don't plan to hang out long. You order at the counter, and they deliver your meal to your table. The day I was there, a group of four women in business attire ditched the place because they wanted full-table service. "I don't do self-serve," said one. It was their loss. The food is top quality. It arrives fast. And it doesn't disappoint. After all, what deli is really known for its fantastic service?

Vista Having just arrived direct from his native Venice, Italy, Angelo Ferialdi didn't expect much when he ordered his first Southern California pizza. It was at a little place in Burbank, called Bella Vista Restaurant and Pizzeria. The year was 1970. Ferialdi was in for a surprise: "I couldn't believe how good that pizza was," he remembers. "It was better than an Italian pizza." He was so impressed that he and his brother, Giovanni, ended up buying the restaurant in 1987.

I am a sucker for free food. And this past weekend was very tasty. I went to three places where the opportunity for free food presented itself. I sometimes joke that the only reason I go to the events I am invited to is because of the free food. The first event I photographed was the Ramadan potluck held at the La Cañada Community Center on Friday night hosted by the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge. The place was packed, and so was the food table. Everything from traditional dishes to In-N-Out burgers was served.