In today's LAT, reviewer Leslie Brenner absolutely savages Gladstone's Malibu, the Pacific Coast Highway goldmine where former mayor Richard Riordan is the largest shareholder. The food is "abominable" and the overall rating is "poor," Brenner writes. No surprise to lovers of good food and fair prices, who long ago gave up on Gladstone's, but it still packs in unbelievable crowds. Mark Lacter reacts to the piece at LABO.

Add Riordan: The mayor, ex-LAT veterans Bill Boyarsky and Henry Weinstein, and I talk about the state and future of the Times in a taped hour-long roundtable airing this month on LA Cityview 35. Channel 2 and 9's Dave Bryan put together the panel and moderates.

* Add food: Thomas Keller, the only American chef with two 3-star establishments, plans to open a Bouchon bistro in Beverly Hils by fall 2009. Russ Parsons at LATimes.com.