Latest news with #Flannery
Eater
5 days ago
- Business
- Eater
Kali's New Menu Recalls the ‘Mad Men' Era With Steaks and Martinis
The return to a la carte isn't without precedent. Kali didn't become a tasting menu restaurant until about two years in, and when it had already collected rave reviews from Garrett Snyder in LA Weekly, and the late Jonathan Gold in the Los Angeles Times. Meehan and partner Drew Langley eventually adjusted a la carte options to a tasting menu as Gold had recommended in his review, which helped it earn the coveted Michelin nod. But Meehan ushered in a full reset this year, temporarily closing the restaurant on January 20, to facilitate a remodel. The closure also allowed Meehan and his staff to focus on the January 29 opening of Koast, a polished seafood restaurant just a mile down Melrose Avenue. With the writers' and actors' strikes, January wildfires, and the economy in flux, Meehan acknowledged that the demand for tasting menus at Kali had fallen over the past few years. Inspired by what he liked to eat on off days — simple, well-cooked food that didn't require much thought — Meehan renewed the lease for 15 years with the idea of bringing a familiar, easy steakhouse with an energetic bar to this part of town. 'I want to take away the pretentiousness of fine dining, which I did for nine-and-a-half years and excelled at. We needed to pivot, and this is something I enjoy eating every day,' says Meehan. 'The menu will have the same quality ingredients, but it won't be esoteric.' The menu certainly offers dishes that Don Draper and Peggy Olson would recognize, like Parker House rolls, wedge salad, and jumbo shrimp cocktail washed down with strong martinis. Kali's mushroom risotto remains on the menu, while a mushroom Wellington layered with spinach and portabella mushrooms would look unfamiliar to Manhattan advertising executives in 1963. Meehan has always had a way with steak, using top-tier purveyors like Flannery. Cut options include rib-eye, New York strip, hangar, bone-in rib-eye, and a porterhouse served with Kali steak sauce, bearnaise, horseradish cream, brandied pepper, and chimichurri. After tasting through steaks from every major LA-area vendor, he landed on Creekstone Farms for its choice-plus meat, which allowed him to price the 16-ounce rib-eye at $75 versus $95 for something prime-grade. Kali has multiple dry-aging fridges on the premises to develop the flavor of the steaks. To accompany the steaks, there are six different potato preparations, including fries, pomme puree, and roasted fingerlings. Other sides include Brentwood corn, macaroni and cheese, and roasted mushrooms. The bar will also bring back Kali's burger using a dry-aged blend from Flannery beef, topped with black garlic, caramelized onions, and cheddar for a reasonable price. During Dodgers games, the bar will also feature a Japanese wagyu hot dog wrapped in pastry and topped with togarashi. The move to a mid-century steakhouse menu also comes with what Meehan says is the 'coldest martini we can craft,' while the sleek, minimalist environs give way to more lush velvet-lined booths and dim lighting. Given its Hollywood-adjacent location, it's no mystery that Kali recalls the timeless celebrity haunts of Musso & Frank and Dan Tana's, hoping to capture their elegance and decades-long success. And while the Michelin Guide might not see this throwback vision as something star-worthy, Meehan's is more than comfortable just feeding more folks with the kind of familiar and satisfying fare that has always worked. 'I don't think we'll get a Michelin star next year because it's not that kind of restaurant anymore. This pivot is crucial for my restaurant to endure and to take care of a huge team. I just want to make it easy for everyone,' says Meehan. Kali reopens July 18 and will be open from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, with reservations on OpenTable. It's located on 5722 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90038. Grilled porterhouse. Wonho Frank Lee Mushroom Wellington. Wonho Frank Lee Chilled martini and pickles with a sidecar at Kali. Wonho Frank Lee Eater LA All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Irish Post
15-07-2025
- Science
- Irish Post
Caviar sturgeon seen in Irish waters for the first time in decades
A FISH long thought to be extinct in Ireland has been found in Irish waters. A caviar-producing sturgeon - once dubbed the 'royal fish' for its association with British monarchs - was recently caught off Valencia Island in County Kerry, marking the first confirmed sighting in four decades. The six-foot-long fish was hauled up by Declan O'Sullivan, skipper of the Trinity, a trawler based out of Portmagee. O'Sullivan, suspecting he had found something unusual, sent photographs of the fish to Kevin Flannery, director of Dingle Oceanworld. Flannery, a veteran marine biologist, was stunned. 'I nearly fell over,' he told the Irish Independent. 'To see this fossil species, this dinosaur fish, back in our waters is incredible. They were thought to be extinct here.' Flannery confirmed the fish's identity and advised that it be released, which O'Sullivan did. The fisherman also reported seeing another sturgeon swimming just beyond the net. This rediscovery is the first of its kind since a sturgeon was landed near Kish Lighthouse off Dublin in 1987. Once common in Irish waters, sturgeon were driven to near-extinction by the 1970s due to overfishing, primarily for their highly prized caviar. Historically, sturgeon caught around Ireland were automatically considered property of the Crown and often presented to royalty. The species was so revered that past catches were served to figures such as Queen Victoria and, more recently, guests at White's on the Green in Dublin. Sturgeon are one of the oldest species of fish still around today, dating back over 100 million years. Known as 'dinosaur fish,' they can grow over two metres long and spend most of their lives at sea, returning to freshwater rivers to breed and spawn. Ireland's Shannon and Suir rivers have been identified as having ideal conditions for sturgeon, making the prospect of reintroduction feasible for wider conservation efforts. Following the rediscovery, the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) and Blue Marine Foundation have renewed calls for a national sturgeon restoration initiative. According to IWT's Pádraic Fogarty, 'We need to see a more concerted effort to reintroduce species to Ireland that have been driven to extinction. The sturgeon should be a priority. It's a magnificent animal, and restoring its habitat benefits many other species as well.' The recent publication of Britain's Sturgeon Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 2023 - 2033 has offered a pan-European plan to restore sturgeon populations. Conservation groups argue that Ireland must be part of this larger movement. 'Nature doesn't recognise borders,' said Adrian Gahan of the Blue Marine Foundation. 'And neither should our conservation efforts. This rediscovery is a reminder that with collaboration and commitment, lost species can return.'
RTÉ News
13-07-2025
- Science
- RTÉ News
Surge in exotic turtles being washed ashore Irish coast
There has been a surge in the number of exotic turtles being washed ashore on the Irish coast. Five critically endangered loggerhead turtles are currently being cared for and recovering at Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in Co Kerry. Experts believe a recent marine heatwave in the Atlantic may have caused the turtles to travel much further north than usual. The loggerhead turtle is normally found in the Gulf of Mexico and also near the Canary and Cape Verde islands. The five turtles at the aquarium in Daingean Uí Chúis were rescued by members of the public in the past week. They were found on beaches in Inch, Co Kerry, Lahinch and Kilkee in Co Clare, Conamara in Galway and Belmullet in Co Mayo. Marine biologist Dr Kevin Flannery said it is highly unusual to see so many turtle strandings on the Irish coast. "What's happened is there was a marine heatwave in the Atlantic in May and June and if these turtles were crossing the Atlantic with the rising water temperatures they would have wandered into our waters. "And then, all of a sudden, cold shock would take hold when the water temperature dropped again," he said. Dr Flannery added: "These are young and obviously they weren't able to swim south again, and they got washed in along our coastline in the last couple of weeks." The turtles were extremely weak when they arrived at Dingle Oceanworld, but marine biologist Maria Foley said veterinary intervention and care is greatly assisting their recovery. "When these guys come in, their biggest issue is they tend to be cold-stunned and dehydrated. A lot of the time they have buoyancy issues. Quite often they have inflammation in their lungs." "What we do is we treat them with antibiotics and we rehydrate them and get them eating again." When the turtles have recovered sufficiently, efforts will be made to have them flown to a turtle hospital in the Canary Islands. Turtle strandings have been a rare occurrence on the Irish coast, but this year has brought a significant increase in the number of reports. Earlier this year a young loggerhead turtle was found on a beach near Blacksod in Co Mayo, while a rare green turtle was washed up on a beach in Quilty, Co Clare last February. In May, Aer Lingus assisted in the transport the green turtle to the Canary Islands. Experts said the recovery of five loggerhead turtles in a single week is unprecedented. Dingle Oceanworld is calling for Government funding to assist it in its turtle rehabilitation programme. "With climate change and the increase in sea temperatures this is going to be an ongoing thing," Dr Flannery said. He added: "The cost of collection, the cost of veterinary services, medication, heating, the cost of all the paperwork and repatriating them back to their native waters, it's a huge cost. "We receive a certain amount of support from National Parks and Wildlife Service but we need much more." According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), cold-stunning occurs when sea turtles experience prolonged exposure to temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, causing them to become lethargic, unable to swim, and at the mercy of the tides. Gemma O'Connor of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said it is important to remove the turtles from the water as soon as they are spotted. "If you happen to find a turtle on a stranded beach you should not return it to the water. "And if a turtle is found swimming it should be removed from the water immediately and brought to a warm place where its core temperature can rise slowly." The IWDG is managing a sea turtle stranding recording scheme on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The group is asking the public to report any sightings of living turtles to the IWDG emergency hotline (097) 28118. Dingle Oceanworld will also respond to calls for recovery.
San Francisco Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Are you blaming Matt Williams for Giants' baserunning woes? Former coach won't have it
The thought was to discuss the art of coaching third base with a past master of that art. It is a relevant topic, with San Francisco Giants third-base coach Matt Williams in hot water with many fans and critics over several recent, ill-fated stay-or-go decisions. I should have known that seeking the wisdom of Tim Flannery would lead down a strange and mystical path, with a few side trips for laughs. Flannery was the Giants' third-base coach under manager Bruce Bochy from 2007 to '14. Flannery's rep: Fearless, but not reckless. Scientific, but soulful. His style? Enthusiastic. He would windmill a runner around third, then chase him home like the guy owed Flan money. Was he good? Three fat diamond rings don't lie. So, the right guy to talk to. But not easy to reach. When he's not on tour with his band, the Lunatic Fringe, Flannery and his wife Donna spend much of their time in a cabin overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in the rugged wilderness an hour's drive North of Santa Barbara. Power is by solar and propane, water is from a well, phone service is limited to texting. Flannery texts a video taken from his porch, of a friendly scuffle between a wildcat and a huge wild pig. Caption: 'Kids will be kids.' He says he is off the grid. 'We got guns and food and beans and surfboards.' I ask by text, Can we talk? His text: 'I can drive to the top of a mountain and call you at 3 o'clock, if that works.' It does, if you don't mind the wind whistling in the background. Or is it the sound of wandering souls? Flannery's cabin is in the wilds near Pt. Conception, the Western-most point in the continental U.S. 'The Chumash call this point the Gateway of the Souls, where all life enters and exits,' Flannery says. 'It's a sacred place. My favorite place in the world.' I look it up later. The Chumash name for Pt. Conception was 'Humqaq,' which means 'The raven comes.' In Chumash mythology, this point of land was the portal for dead souls to enter paradise, but in order for them to find their way, the souls had to discard their earthly eyes and receive their 'celestial eyes' from the ravens. Is it merely a wild coincidence that the most respectful denizen of this sacred place is a man who once directed lost souls towards their heavenly destination by being their celestial eyes? 'Hunter Pence would take off on a stolen base, he would never look, never know where the ball was,' says Flannery, sounding peeved. 'I would beg runners like him, 'Look, if you don't know where the ball is, you gotta promise me that as soon as you hear contact, you look at me, because you've brought me into the equation, let me try to get both of us out of this thing.' ' It was a tough job, coaching third for the Giants, as Flannery quickly learned. Halfway through his first spring training, the team attended a civic season-kickoff banquet. 'I had a couple glasses of wine and I had to go to the bathroom,' Flannery recalls. 'I went in and there was (then team owner) Peter Magowan, and he said, 'Well, you got another guy thrown out today.' And I kind of snapped on him, I said, 'Hey, if you wanted safety-first, you should have hired a school crossing guard.' ' When Flannery signed on with the Giants, he was already a seasoned third-base coach, but he studied hard under Giants legends Joey Amalfitano and Jim Davenport. He learned to play the Giants' quirky ballpark. 'Visiting players came in there, and they're dealing with the cold and the wind,' Flannery says, 'they're dealing with things they're not used to in places like Arizona and Houston, comfort areas, climate-controlled. You can sometimes take radical chances here, because you've done your homework.' Behind every green light or red light was a ton of that homework. If the Giants were in a heavy schedule with no days off and a short bullpen, Flannery would throw a couple extra ounces of caution to the wind to avoid extra innings, which would deplete the bullpen and compromise the team for days to come. Flannery watches the Giants on his solar-powered satellite TV, from his Lay-Z-Boy recliner, and he can feel the heat on Williams. It pisses him off, so recently, via social media, he engaged some of that infamous lunatic fringe of folks angry for the sake of being angry on those apps to join in the spirited debate over Matt Williams. 'I'd had enough, and I explained a few things to people, why you make decisions,' Flannery says. 'What I said to these people online was, 'For the last 15 years, this time of year, you all went on vacations, you all had picnics at the park. Matt Williams has been coaching third while you were going on your picnics, he's coached 15 years, he's probably got a pretty good idea why he sent the runner.' I can have conversation with people about this, but the only ones that really understand are former third-base coaches.' Remembering back, Flannery gets emotional, speaking loudly over the whistling wind. 'You line up nine coaches and you say, 'Who wants to coach third?' and eight guys are taking a step back. Unless you really dig it. There's times it's terrible, it's brutal. My daughter came up to San Francisco (from San Diego), it was her birthday, we were all going to go out to dinner. I couldn't go out, because I screwed up a game and I knew I screwed it up, and they were killing me on radio and TV. I told them, 'I just can't go, I can't go out in public and take this from people tonight. I'm not gonna discuss it with a plumber.' ' So Flannery sympathizes with Williams, who he says is a great third-base coach. He points out that the job is even harder now than when he coached, because pitchers don't hit, and because of the overwhelming presence of gambling, with big stakes riding on every run, even in a lopsided game. Last Sunday, heading to a music gig near Oracle Park, Flannery felt the old tension flooding back, in a good way. 'I loved it, I loved it,' he says. 'I still get, when guys make decisions, when they are in the right place to make the call, and they wait til the right moment, I get off on it. It is such an art.' For Flannery, it was also a physically-demanding job. He says he learned as a paperboy that you run faster when you're chased by an angry dog. So to make sure his baserunner knew the dog was angry, the old dog would chase him home, yelling. From his mountaintop perch on Hamqaq, Flannery screams into his phone: 'YOU'VE GOTTA F----G GOOOO!' I wonder if the crows circling nearby are listening to this strange being, and saying to one another, 'Well, that's one way to get 'em to heaven.'
San Francisco Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: Medicaid supports my daughter's 24/7 care. What will happen if Congress cuts funding?
My 35-year-old daughter, Flannery, is severely disabled and receives primary care from a Federally Qualified Health Center in San Rafael. As a way of giving back for the incredible work it has done for Flannery, I have served on the board of Marin Community Clinics for the past seven years. I understand that under the Senate version of the tax and spending bill, Marin Community Clinics and 1,400 other health centers stand to lose 30% of their Medicaid and block grant funding. Millions of Americans will lose access to health care. People are going to die. It's that simple. Flannery was born with cerebral palsy, is nonverbal and quadriplegic. She requires round-the-clock assistance. She is also supported by the state Regional Centers system, which indirectly receives funding from Medicaid. I do not know what these cuts will mean for Flannery, but I know they will be disastrous. All to provide large tax cuts to the super wealthy. Martin Weil, Sonoma Pay too low Regarding 'S.F. gave these homeless nonprofits nearly $2 billion. The salaries of their execs might surprise you' (San Francisco, June 27): I found the story surprising, but not because of the shock promised. Rather, I noted the effort to put nonprofit leaders on blast with backward speculation, troubling. Capitalism creates homelessness. And our region's contributions to free enterprise have been particularly egregious, with wealth gaps enabling some of the highest rents in the country. Our tech industry flourishes by selling fitness apps, payroll software, cryptocurrency, and refrigerators with computer screens on the door. We venerate commodities, claiming innovation, judgment-free. But if you opt out of (or are not privileged to) a tech career, the assumption is that you should not have equal access to this economy. The story notes one nonprofit's wage differential between executives and workers. Had they been asked, I'm sure the organizations would have thoughtful responses about values and wage philosophies. Because nonprofits pay attention to wealth equity — and attitudes that conflate this work with self-sacrifice require us to bring the receipts. This story shows we need to reevaluate our collective values. Given the Bay Area's staggering homelessness crisis, if anything, our nonprofit leaders — and all workers in this industry — deserve higher pay. Kristin Hatch, development director, Homeless Prenatal Program, San Francisco Don't misuse CEQA Regarding 'This rich California city is losing its mind over a housing project — and it shows why new rules are needed' (Emily Hoeven, June 28): Emily Hoeven's column on Menlo Park highlights how the California Environmental Quality Act and local resistance can stall needed housing. But in South San Jose, we face the opposite: The law is being manipulated to fast-track dangerous sprawl. A developer is proposing 173 market-rate homes on a hillside previously zoned for 54 units at the end of Harry Road in an area with no sidewalks, narrow roads, high wildfire danger, and known landslide risk. This is not infill. It's speculative development disguised as a housing solution. Even worse, the developer is attempting to bypass a full environmental impact report, under 2019's SB330, despite the parcel bordering wildlife corridors that support biodiversity and provide natural buffers in an already climate-sensitive area. This is exactly the kind of CEQA misuse that reform should prevent — not enable. If California is serious about climate, safety and equity, then it must protect the public's right to question unsustainable projects — not gut the laws that give us a voice. Lisa Lubliner, San Jose Bicoastal emissions Regarding 'Bicoastal living isn't just for the ultra wealthy. Here's how creatives make it work' (Bay Area, June 24): The story struck me as remarkably tone deaf. Airline flights are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Ignoring this aspect in the reporting was a missed opportunity to discuss the repercussions of a bicoastal lifestyle. Liz Eva, Castro Valley
