Christine Chiao

Chocolate tart with caramel and Maldon sea salt at Proof Bakery

For all that our mothers do for us, we've designated just one day each year for them, which often amounts to a three-hour tea or brunch set that probably appeals more to the stereotype of mothers than anything else. It's easy to overlook the new normal of mother figures in a post-women's lib era that has seen networks trading portraits of mom as June Cleaver for that of Roseanne Connor -- or Claire Dunphy. These are moms often prefer a drink stronger than tea, and maybe with an accompaniment more substantial than mini crustless sandwiches.

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Flickr/djjewelz

Open kitchen.

While planning that super sweet gesture for mom this Mother's Day -- remember, it's coming up on Sunday -- think back to all the valuable nuggets she taught you over the years. Chances are a lot of them have to do with food, right? That's certainly the case for many chefs, some of whom might have wound up on very different career paths if it weren't for family matriarchs. We've asked some of L.A.'s best pros behind the stoves to share the most important lessons they learned from their moms and/or grandmothers about food and cooking. So turn the page to hear what 13 local chefs (listed in no particular order) have to say about some of their earliest in-home teachings that came via the first ladies in their lives.

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A. Scattergood

macarons at Bouchon Bakery

Mother's Day is this coming Sunday, and if you haven't gotten that one figured out yet, maybe it's time to start planning. Depending on your age and demographic, a crayoned card could work, or maybe your kid's card and a stiff drink. If you want something a bit more professional, turn the page for an alphabetized list of 22 local restaurants that might help you out some.

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Flickr/rabsteen

Jedi, Cupcake

Tomorrow is May the Fourth, which means it is Star Wars Day (say the date quickly if you don't get it, or go to the comic book store for Free Comic Book Day and say the line out loud. Surely someone will fill in the blanks (see also: Pee-Wee Herman in Texas)).

Of course, if you, like Disney, would prefer that nearly every day be Star Wars Day, you can easily celebrate with appropriately themed food: There's a cookbook for all your recipe needs, plus blogs like justJENN Recipes have quite an impressive array of Star Wars-related baked goods.

But if you don't feel like cooking or baking in 80-degree weather, celebrate instead by perusing a recent issue of Wired to read Alton Brown's take on the so-called blue milk that Luke Skywalker drinks in the beginning of Episode IV.

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Daina Beth Solomon

Cadillac Margarita at Yxta Cocina Mexicana

Cinco de Mayo is on this coming Sunday, but some restaurants around town are offering specials in food and drink leading up to the day Mexico gained victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. We highlighted a few events in town for you to check out what's in store over the next few days and mark your calendars accordingly. In alphabetical order:

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Anne Fishbein

Beer flight at Golden Road

BlueGreen Earth Party
Golden Road is debuting its Heal the Bay IPA at the BlueGreen Earth Day Party in honor of the non-profit organization. The IPA is described as bright and citrus-forward. It will be available for sale in 16-ounce cans at select retailers like Whole Foods Markets by mid-June.
WHAT: BlueGreen Earth Party
WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
WHERE: Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica.
COST: $10 for Golden Road mug and vouchers

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Minh Phan/Beachwood Cafe

Chai-ginger hot cross buns

If, like any good Episcopalian, you feel that you should enjoy hot cross buns but, like many of us, you nonetheless loathe the yeasty rolls with their bitter bits of candied citrus peel, chef Minh Phan of Hollywood's Beachwood Cafe may have a solution for you. She replaces the citrus bits (currants and raisins are also popularly used) with crystalized ginger infused with tawny port and flavors the dough with chai tea and extra cardamon. The essence of the spent tea is combined with confectioners sugar and heavy cream to create the icing. As a festive spring touch, Phan crowns each bun with a tiny edible flower.

Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten by Catholics on Good Friday and by Protestants on Easter. In folklore, the magical buns are said to heal rifts, protect against shipwrecks, prevent fire in the home and ensure that all your bread will turn out perfectly if you hang one in the kitchen. (The frosting cross on top is a symbol of the crucifixtion.) And since you can't get them for one ha'penny anymore, maybe consider making your own.

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Flickr/TBoard

Peeps

For many people, Easter means church services, maybe watching Judy Garland and Fred Astaire circa 1948 in Easter Parade, Sunday brunch, decorating eggs and orchestrating an egg hunt in the backyard. For others, the holiday is synonymous with those neon yellow duck-shaped marshmallows called Peeps.

Peeps, which were reportedly invented in the 1950s by a Russian immigrant candy-maker, are addictive little things -- and not because they taste good. They do not. People obsess over them because they come in many bright colors, and more importantly, they blow up when you put them in a microwave. Of course so do normal marshmallows, but what fun is that.

So, on the occasion of Easter Sunday, which is this weekend, we thought we'd assemble 10 of the best Peeps YouTube videos we could find. Because not only is blowing up little yellow ducks fun, but making videos of it is apparently pretty hilarious too. There are, unsurprisingly, many microwaves in these videos, but some creative stuff too. South Park. Australian rules football. The Birds. Turn the page.

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Amy Scattergood

Chicken and waffles at the Tasting Kitchen

Unlike some food holidays with questionable origins, International Waffle Day has some semblance of history, rooted in a narrative other than one constructed by a corporate brand. Celebrated in Sweden as Vårfrudagen, it coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation. In Los Angeles, waffles are less a snack than a meal; they're just as likely to pop up on breakfast or dinner menus as they are on brunch menus. And in both versions, the waffle often is joined by fried chicken. In honor of Vårfrudagen, we gathered some top spots around L.A. for traditional and not-so-conventional waffles.

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E. Dwass

Nothing says Passover like a bowl of homemade chicken soup with matzo balls. For the seder feasts, that's the way to go. But what about lunch on, say, day four of the week-long holiday? By that time, the idea of yet another matzo sandwich starts to get old. We wondered if some of the fresh spins on matzo ball soup -- including whole grain mixes -- might be a welcome addition.

By the way, if you're planning to stock up on kosher for Passover foods, now's the time to hit the stores. This year Passover begins on the evening of March 25 and, typically, shelves get pretty bare before the holiday even starts.

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