From TIME: Roy Choi first changed the world when he elevated the food-truck concept from "roach coach" to highly sought-after, ultra-hot-yet-democratic rolling restaurant, and has now been named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of the Year. He and his partners started with his groundbreaking Kogi Korean Taco trucks, and went on to found his restaurants Pot, Chego, Sunny Spot, A-Frame, and his latest venture LocoL, a healthy inexpensive fast food cafe started in Watts. As if that's not enough, he's just opened yet another restaurant, Kogi Taqueria, also in Los Angeles. For more insight, read his memoir and cookbook, L.A. Son. Foodservice Immersion™ visited both Chego and LocoL on our Brands 2020 program in Los Angeles last month, and met Chef Choi at LocoL. A warm, unassuming, and gracious man, Chef Choi posed for photos with our program attendees. In the photo above, he's with Chris LaJoie and Kevin Anderson, both from Schreiber Foods.  Learn more >

From Thrillist: And we know why! Sidecar Doughnuts in Santa Monica was one of our stops on the Brands 2020 tour last month. A three-unit regional chain, Sidecar has mastered the trifecta of the modern successful doughnut shop: Gourmet doughnuts with unique flavor combinations (Rosemary, Chocolate & Rye); Savory doughnuts (country ham and egg); and Branding, which includes innovative packaging. It was quite crowded when we were there, but that didn't stop us from trying as many doughnuts as we could, and fueling up on excellent coffee!  Learn more >  

From  The Los Angeles Times:  " Signs behind the counter list sandwiches, breakfasts and main dishes. There is a full juice bar--nut milk! kale smoothies!--and a marble coffee counter that is probably bigger than your first apartment. If this is your first time, or even your fifth, your reaction to the 5,000 square feet of excess and dozens of working cooks is likely to be first awe, then befuddlement. Gjelina is a restaurant. Gjusta is a Choose Your Own Adventure."--from Jonathan Gold's review in The Los Angeles Times . Food halls are a new Big Thing: We also visited Grand Central Market in Los Angeles, and there are at least three others in the greater Los Angeles area. Also, read about Anthony Bourdain's work-in-progress 155,000-square-foot food h all , Pier 5  here .    Learn more >

From Fast Company: F resh, healthy, chef-inspired, farmer's market sensible dishes at an affordable price in a relaxed environment? Yes, this IS one of the futures of fast casual. Tender Greens was our first stop on the Brands 2020 tour, and it was beautiful, delicious, and fast! Danny Meyer, of Union Square Hospitality Group (Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, and more) has seen the future and invested in Tender Greens. A few years ago, we would have said it was impossible to provide this kind of fresh, farmer's market food consistently and across multiple locations. But with over 20 restaurants, Tender Greens has proved us delightfully wrong.   Learn more >

From The Culture Trip: Snooze is a fun, fun, fast casual restaurant that does an amazing breakfast and brunch all seven days of the week. Just take a look at their Hollandaise specialties--Chilaquiles Benedict! The mood is energetic, the atmosphere mid-century modern, the food is fresh and affordable, and the staff simply can't do enough to make sure you are thoroughly satisfied.  With 14 locations across the Southwest, and three more planned, it seems people like it. We certainly did when we stopped in for breakfast on the Brands 2020 program.  Learn more >

From Nation's Restaurant News: Lemonade Restaurant Group has become one of the hottest restaurant chains in the country by resurrecting a service format long forgotten: the cafeteria-style concept. Lemonade was one of NRN's Breakout Brands for 2015, and the chain has expanded and remained hot.

 What makes it different? Lemonade's emphasis on seasonal items, global flavor combinations, a large selection of salads, sandwiches, braised meats, and desserts, all ready to be quickly served as you walk down the line. A stop on our Brands 2020 tour, we only wished we had more time to spend there!
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