In the Spotlight
The people.
The restaurants.
The stories.
Interviews, opening stories and restaurant coverage connected to Jesse’s work. Publication dates are included where verified, with the kind of story labeled.
21 stories
Conversations with Jesse
Jesse Duron · Interview with Jesse
Jesse on sake, service and Hamasaku
A conversation about the sake program and helping guests find their way into it.
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Umi by Hamasaku · Interview with Jesse
Jesse on creating Umi in El Segundo
A Q&A on the location, design and sushi izakaya concept, with Jesse identified as partner and general manager.
Read the story ↗Restaurant coverage
Tokyo Noir · Television conversation
Tokyo Noir on Saturday Morning Dish
Kevin Lee and Jesse Duron introduce the bar.
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Tokyo Noir · Opening feature
Inside Tokyo Noir’s Long Beach opening
The bar, the team and its Japanese cocktail direction.
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El Barrio Cantina · Opening feature
El Barrio Cantina opens in Alamitos Beach
The menu, room and partnership behind the Cantina.
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Umi by Hamasaku · Opening feature
Inside Umi by Hamasaku in El Segundo
Sushi and izakaya dishes at The Point.
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Phorage · Restaurant feature
Dinner Out at Phorage in Palms
FOX 11’s restaurant feature. Article link.
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Phorage · Opening feature
Phorage’s first bowls in Palms
The opening menu and founding partners.
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El Barrio Neighborhood Tacos · Expansion news
Neighborhood Tacos expands to Palms
Historical coverage of the brand’s Palms location.
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Tokyo Noir · Bar feature
Tokyo Noir in the Los Angeles Times
Coverage of the cocktail bar in Long Beach.
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Phorage · Food feature
Phorage’s bánh mì
The restaurant appears in the paper’s bánh mì feature.
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Phorage · Event food coverage
Phorage in the 2015 Coachella food lineup
Historical coverage of the festival’s 2015 food lineup.
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Tokyo Noir · Feature with Jesse & Kevin Lee
An intimate Tokyo Noir cocktail experience
Karen Palmer talks with Jesse Duron and Kevin Lee about the room and cocktails.
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Tokyo Noir · Bar feature with Jesse
Carved ice and handcrafted cocktails
Jacob Sisneros explores the Japanese ice, room and team behind Tokyo Noir.
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El Barrio Cantina · Restaurant feature with Jesse
The ideas and food behind El Barrio Cantina
Brian Addison on the Cantina’s food, space and partners.
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Hamasaku · Jesse’s cocktail featured
Jesse’s Cha-Sen at Hamasaku
Caroline Pardilla’s matcha-cocktail feature credits Jesse and his Cha-Sen drink.
Read the story ↗Phorage · Second-location opening
ASAP Phorage opens in Playa del Rey
The second location and the Perry Cheung, Eric Cho and Jesse Duron partnership.
Read the story ↗Phorage · Restaurant review
A visit to the original Phorage
Michael Aushenker reviews the Palms restaurant and describes its opening team.
Read the story ↗Tokyo Noir · Menu & technique feature
Tokyo Noir’s winter menu
Brian Addison on Kevin Lee’s cocktail work and the people behind the bar.
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El Barrio Neighborhood Tacos · Opening coverage
El Barrio opens
Jesse and Ulises introduce the taqueria.
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Umi by Hamasaku · Restaurant review
A visit to Umi in El Segundo
Andy Wang reviews chef Yoya Takahashi’s Japanese dishes, sushi and raw bar.
Read the story ↗Coverage concerns the people and restaurants named. It is not an endorsement of Tokyo Dining Group consulting.
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