A friend got a table at the last seating of the last night of the latest LudoBites, and after more than a dozen courses over three hours, all I could say was oh. my. god. (Here's a review of the 7.0 iteration by LA's own Jonathan Gold.)

Here, at Gram and Papas after regular business hours, are other (far more articulate than I'm being, I'm sure) diners.

And here's Krissy Lefebvre (with Chef Ludo, of course) leading the staff in an end-of-service toast. We already felt like voyeurs being there for this private ritual, so I shot quick and dirty, without a flash.

I'm terrible at writing about people I've met and admire so I'll just say the chef and his wife are as charming and funny and charismatic and focused as they are on Ludo Bites America which, if you get the Sundance Channel, you should check out.

And now, back to our regularly-scheduled sunrises, oak trees and, of course, Maisie the Teacup Lab®.