Eat In. The Mozza Cookbook.

Mozza is easily one of L.A.'s most quintessential restaurants: you can't sit a table without being able to reach out and touch any one of Hollywood's major leaguers (but please don't, because that would be weird), and the delicious cuisine there is the work of superstar restauranteurs Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich.

As such, it's not always easy to book a table at the establishment, and it probably isn't always easy on your wallet. But now you can bring Mozza right into your home. Silverton's own The Mozza Cookbook: Recipes from Los Angeles's Favorite Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria was just released yesterday, and features many of Mozza's most beloved dishes, from the fried squash blossoms with ricotta to fresh ricotta and egg ravioli with brown butter to fennel sausage, panna, and scallion pizza.

I'm salivating just thinking about it! So if you happen to master some of these amazing dishes, you know who to invite over (hint: me!). Happy cooking!

-- Chau Tu

Eat In. Garage Pizza.

Despite being the full-fledged party city that we are, Los Angeles actually closes shop pretty early. Once bars have their last calls for the night, you're reduced to only a handful of places to hang out, especially if you try and stick to nicer 'hoods.

Here's your new favorite option: Garage Pizza. All right, it's a pizza joint, which doesn't make anything super special, but the pies are huge and the place is open until 4am -- the perfect way to truly end your night (because it's basically morning). It's a little pricier than usual pizza places, but the food really is worth it -- pizzas are loaded with yummy, fresh ingredients, and surprisingly not that greasy. The crust is right there above thin. The above there is the Game Pie.

Best time to check out the goods is on Mondays, when all pizzas are $15 from open to close -- noon til 4am.

Garage Pizza is located at 4339 Sunset Blvd. in Silverlake. And they do deliver!

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Pitfire North Hollywood.

It's been almost a year since I wrote about Pitfire Pizza, so I say it's high time for round two.

This past weekend I went to the North Hollywood arts district location, before seeing a movie at the ArcLight. There's a nice outdoor patio complete orange chairs and a large fire pit. It was quite crowded on Saturday night, which made for a pleasantly lively alfresco experience. Inside the bustling would have been just annoying, really.

Although the "rustic fire singed pizzas" and baked white macaroni and cheese looked delicious, I stuck with my favorite, the Grilled Steak Salad. And I actually also ate 1/2 a Pepperoni Pizza.

The salad is so good that I couldn't stop thinking about it, and made the journey back for a take-away order of it for my dinner tonight (Monday)!

Do yourself a favor and try Pitfire if you haven't already.

Locations: Downtown, North Hollywood, Culver City, and West L.A. Info: pitfirepizza.com

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: LA Wad / flickr

Eat Out. Nicky D's Wood-Fired Pizza.

Nicky D's Wood-Fired Pizza is a cozy neighborhood pizza place in Los Feliz/Silver Lake that's truly delicious. It's along a stretch of Rowena Avenue that's also home to The Coffee Table, Blair's, Edendale Grill, and L.A. Fire Station #56. The structure used to be a house, but now is a multi-level restaurant and there's also patio dining out back.

My favorite menu item is the Blonde Bunny pizza--Ricotta, Goat Cheese, Romano, and Mozzarella, with a Roasted Garlic Olive Oil Base (pictured). This goes fabulously with the Hoegaarden beer they have on tap. The more classic pizzas, like pepperoni, or vegetable/meat combinations are really good too.

Once while picking up an order, I had the pleasure of meeting Nicky himself, and he was a really nice guy. He proudly chatted to me about the pizza oven, the history of the building, and was just genuinely pleasant. This just added another reason to keep going back!

Nicky D's is located at 2764 Rowena Avenue in Silver Lake. Open 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Info: nickydspizza.com, (323) 664-3333.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Two Boots.

Admittedly, when I first heard about NYC's pizza joint Two Boots moving into the hip corridor of Echo Park, I didn't think it was a big deal. But famished after a show at the neighboring Echo and enticed by its stained glass/crazy mural decor, the pizza called to me...and I'm so glad I answered.

Just like the rest of its neighborhood, Two Boots has an extra ounce of cool. The place is small, but has a pretty sweet covered patio, and is bright and wild with a (new?) jukebox and the aforementioned mural. And yet, you still can't distracted from the pizza. There are the usual varieties like BBQ chicken (above) and the Mr. Pink (chicken and tomatoes), but take a risk with the Bayou Beast (shrimp, crawfish, andouille and jalapenos) or the intimidating Slayer we came across last weekend (above, that spicy concoction with drizzles of pesto), and you won't be disappointed. The flavors are fresh and rich, and the crust is crispy and surprisingly not greasy.

Plus it's cheap--two slices and a drink comes to $9 even--and did I mention the jukebox? Perfect for late-night eats too: Two Boots stays open until midnight on weeknights and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Two Boots is located at 1818 W. Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: theBEAT

Eat Out. Pitfire Pizza Company.

Pitfire Pizza has become a reliably delicious lunch spot in downtown L.A. Affectionately known to us as "Pitfire", we're especially fond of their soups, salads, and more recently, a new addition to the menu--the House Mac & Cheese (crispy baked pasta, five cheeses, buttery bread crumbs).

A long line is the norm during the lunching hours, but calling in an order is an option and that saves some time. They also deliver (a $15 minimum order and $3 delivery fee) which can be nice if you're feeling lazy, or don't want to get drenched (this week). Honestly, even if Pitfire wasn't excellent, I'd probably patronize it occasionally anyway (note the Los Angeles Times building in the background of the photo) because it's convenient, but the quality of the food makes it a real treat. Their Grilled Steak Salad can really turn a day around. With its fresh lettuce (romaine and arugula), cherry tomatoes, Maytag blue cheese, grilled red onion, and candied walnuts it's a delightful salad experience. Vegetarian option--a Lauren Williams special--replace the grilled steak with avocado.

It's been a while since I've had a pizza from Pitfire, but they are just as good as everything else on the menu. Next time I go, if I can talk myself out of the Grilled Steak Salad, I'm going to try the Burrata Pie (Burrata cheese, tomato sauce, wild arugula, caramelized onions, hazelnut, pesto drizzle). The brick oven cooking lets the edges of the crust get a little burnt, in the best possible way. The Pitfire Sausage Pizza with sweet fennel sausage is memorable.

Speaking of sweet, they stock Auntie Em's Cupcakes. The Red Velvet is always tempting.

Pitfire currently has three locations (Downtown, North Hollywood, and West L.A.), and a new one opening ... tomorrow! Check out the Culver City Pitfire Pizza Co. news on laist.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.letsgola.com