10/19/11 – It took lunch at The Oinkster to finally try the winning beer float from L.A. Beer Float Showdown 3. The championship float combined Eagle Rock Solidarity, caramelized cocoa nibs, pig candy and Jack Daniel’s chocolate ice cream.

October 19, 2011 – A return trip to LaOn Dining finally allowed me to try a signature dish from chef-owner Jenee Kim, galbi jim. This was no ordinary braised short rib dish. It also featured mashed sweet potatoes, jujubes, ginkgo nuts, daikon and crispy fried sweet potato strands.

October 19, 2011 – Ramen is all the rage in L.A. right now, and Ikemen is one of the latest contributions to the scene. The Hollywood home of nouveau “dip ramen,” aka tsukemen. Options include the Johnny Dip, with Italian basil and cherry tomatoes in the tonkotsu and torched pork.

October 20, 2011 – The Ultimate Flight Night at 38 Degrees lived up to its name. Kern River brought kegs of Pumpkin, Golden Trout Pale, Just Outstanding IPA Class V Imperial Oatmeal Stout and Citra Double India Pale Ale, which just won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival.

October 20, 2011 – Clay Harding (right) rounded up a bunch of beer luminaries for a group photo to commemorate Ultimate Flight Night, including Rebecca Giddens (Kern River Brewing), Tyler King (The Bruery), Jeremy Raub (Eagle Rock Brewery) and Mitch Steele (Stone Brewing Co.).

October 21, 2011 – Market driven bartender Matt Biancaniello made a rare Westside appearance for Dionicess IX, a charitable beer cocktail event co-hosted by Gev Kazanchyan, Dave Watrous and Randy Clemens. His cocktails included Lambic Pentameter, featuring white balsamic, basil, strawberries and 3 Fonteinen Spirit of Armand, a rare distilled Lambic from Belgium.

October 22, 2011 – Cuscatleca Bakery is a new Silver Lake spot named for a town in El Salvador. Their Torta de Frijoles features a slab of queso fresco, fresh-shucked avocado, jalapeños and pinto bean puree on a soft house-made bolillo. The cost: $2.50.