Dining Faces: Christopher Ennis

Could the Sunset Strip be getting (gasp) classy? The crowds have certainly mobbed the loungy, tasty One Sunset, whose chef arrived to our shore via a Florida education and a Colorado sojourn in which the slopes and the kitchen battled to be the focus of his talent. After modernizing the menu at Vibrato not long ago(but not too much for the, uh, classic clientele), Ennis seems to be having a ball serving high-end but shareable cuisine to a festive crowd who doesn't think quality food and quality DJs have to be mutually exclusive concepts. He talks about local establishments on his mind and tells us where he got his favorite knife for four bucks. —Lonny Pugh

Vibrato Grill Jazz...etc.

"I have not been back since leaving. I would love to go in for the jazz; I'm a huge fan of jazz. But oddly enough I did just have sushi right next door to that at SHU."

R23

"I like the fact that even though it's pretty traditional, they push a couple new elements. And the sushi is great."

Santa Monica Wednesday Farmer's Market

"My favorite of the Los Angeles markets is probably Santa Monica on Wednesdays. I will be down there this week!"

Table 8

"Govind [Armstrong] is a very talented chef. Last time I went there, my party of eight had eight first courses and eight second, and we all ate everything."

Lucques

"Anywhere I go, my table orders a bunch of appetizers and share it all. Lucques is a great example of that."

Sona

"I've loved this restaurant since the beginning. I met David Myers when I was the chef at Astra: He has a lot of ambition and a lot of passion, and he deserves all the accolades he's getting for that place."

Bel Age

"I haven't had many memorable meals in the Sunset Strip area, but I'm so excited about BLT to open and Gordon Ramsay going into the Bel Age hotel."

Melisse

"That's the closest thing in town you'll find to a true French-influenced style of California cuisine. Josiah is French but uses elements of growing up in Santa Monica. It's a truly refined dinner."

JiRaffe

"I went here the first weekend I moved to LA and became a big fan of Josiah Citrin when he was the chef there."

10.

The Cook's Library

"I've been going there since I moved here. I've probably spent several thousands of dollars there."

11.

Ross Cutlery

"I would also endorse Ross Cutlery, which is Downtown on Broadway and Third. This is the best and most extensive knife store in Los Angeles. The prices are extremely reasonable and they give discounts to anyone in the industry. I picked up a used Sabotier, a French boning knife, for $4! It would usually cost about $200 and it's my absolutely favorite knife."