Why Doesn't L.A. Have a Little Italy? (Los Angeles, San Francisco: violent crime, unemployment)

[fastfilm]

Gotta give you a rep exalt for that one, traveller! One potential problem: buffalo mozzarella is not allowed in the U.S. due to some USDA processing snafu. I'll take you to see Watts Towers, which Tony T. admirably reminded us all was the pinnacle of Italian folk art achitecture for L.A. (or even the whole United States.)

[The traveller]

I was kidding Fastfilm, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. Anyway even the ricotta (kind of cheese) is not allowed? It would be a shame. I'd rather open a sicilian cannoli shop

[PureHapa]

I know of small "artisanal" dairies in Michigan that have imported Buffalo to make mozzarella. Probably others doing it too - most likely here in Cali somewhere. Yum.

FWIW - downtown L.A.'s Chinatown is pretty Vietnamese now. The Chinese are in Monterey Park and environs now. Just as Koreatown is a mixture of Vietnamese, Korean, Russians, El Salvadorans and more. Little Tokyo is not much anymore. The New Otani hotel hosts a nice orchid show though.

[abstrak_tokatl]

Originally Posted by The traveller

Well, i decided to come to L.A and open an italian restaurant just for City-Data members. The first meal is for free. Greetings from Italy

ever the one's that only know your culture from sopranos, the simpsons, the mafia and hair?

[The traveller]

of course they can, there's always time to learn something new, we aren't all like sopranos after all.

[longbeachhomes]

There is however an area in Long Beach called Naples. This little area was the dream of one man who paired up with Huntington as his financier. The area is like a bit of Naples with the canals and homes facing the canals. There are two gondolier companies that you can hire for romantic gondola rides through these canals. Or you can simply stroll through the walkways beside the canals. There are some Italian and other ethnic restaurants a walk away from this area to enjoy.

[CLQ]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Hmm, maybe LA's proximity to Asia has something to do with having a Koreatown, Chinatown, Little India, Little Tokyo, Little Saigon, etc. Little Italys exist on the east coast because that's where Italian immigrants settled 100 years ago. By they time they migrated to the west coast, they had assimilated into American culture and didn't need to all live in one little section of town anymore.

Well said. That's true...every Italian American I know here on the west coast is definitely Americanized.

I would love a Little Italy in LA though for the food. I had the best carbonara in Little Italy in NY.

I don't really go to the other cultural town's here. Chinatown in LA is nothing compared to NY. Little Saigon has good pho of course. Koreatown has really good soju drinks. Little India is good for threading eyebrows. I wish all these cultural areas were more diverse and at the minimum have English writing for potential non-native speaking customers. They would make so much more money. But maybe that's not what they want or they don't speak English or care too Which brings up another point....I have a lot of stores with only Korean writing in my community. It would be really be nice if a local resident who can't read Korean make use of the local shops or at least be able to read the signs in their neighborhood don't you think???

[CamaroGuy]

I do agree with the English thing. As far as Italian food goes Los Angeles is not the place. A good Italian restaurant here is like a needle in a haystack, hard to find!.lol

San Francisco has the best Italian food west of the rockies.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by PureHapa

I know of small "artisanal" dairies in Michigan that have imported Buffalo to make mozzarella. Probably others doing it too - most likely here in Cali somewhere. Yum.

You can buy it at Bay Cities, most likely also at Whole Foods and other places few Angelenos can afford as well.

FWIW - downtown L.A.'s Chinatown is pretty Vietnamese now. The Chinese are in Monterey Park and environs now. Just as Koreatown is a mixture of Vietnamese, Korean, Russians, El Salvadorans and more. Little Tokyo is not much anymore. The New Otani hotel hosts a nice orchid show though.[/quote]

Not too many people live in Little Tokyo anymore.

However, the Japanese presence on the Westside is still very much in evidence (which goes back as far as the white presence on the Westside).

[NJ Chutzpah]

The italians' most significant contributions to LA include but not limited to:

Robert DeNiro
Al Pacino
Brian Depalma
Francis Ford Coppola
Frank Capra
Martin Scorsese
Antonio Sabato Jr.
Kelly Ripa (assuming soap operas are filmed in LA)
Kelly Monaco (see above)
Ralph Macchio
Danny DeVito
Joe Pesce

These contributions have greatly aided in the economic well-being of LA

What am I doing in this forum?

There seems to be a pattern. Chinatowns and Little Italy's seem to always be next to each other, and they all seem to merge and become chinatowns. It is happening in NY as well.