Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/18929
LONGBEACHMAGAZINE.COM 25 Nelson is the editor and technical guy. "Chris is the adventurist in the kitchen with cooking and such," Nelson said. "He's more up on the food stuff. I'm the taste tester. We work really well together." Running LB Food Review has become a bit of daily task, but the two hope it will grow and gain widespread attention. They are now adding video to the site, the first featuring footage from last month's LB Food Fest, which brought together a large group of gourmet food trucks to Rainbow Harbor. For now, it's just the two of them creating content, but they hope to have more writers eventually. Other cities could be considered down the road, but neither is in a hurry to look past the city. They're also working with Swoop's World Radio and EverythingLongBeach.com to bring more awareness to each other and to this city, feeding off each by linking to the others' sites and working on events together. "Long Beach is a great place to explore," Livingston said. n Finding restaurants isn't that hard. "We've been in town long enough to know places," Nelson said. Only positive reviews are posted. If they don't like a place or had a bad experience, they just don't write about it."We're not out to trash businesses here," Nelson added. Ask them what restaurants are their favorites and you'll get a "oh it's so hard to say" from both guys. They rattle off a few, including Sophy's, Chen's Chinese restaurant, famous dive The Prospector, Coffee Cup Cafe, Trattoria Limone and Babe's Kitchen. La Parolaccia on Broadway is one of the best Italian restaurants around, Livingston said. "They'll make anything you ask for, even if it's not on the menu," according to Livingston, an Italian food connoisseur. His grandmother, a first generation daughter born of Italian immigrants, served as his first food instructor. "She was a great cook," he said. "She taught me how to cook, she taught me about food. A lot of my interest and knowledge comes from her and that influence in my life." While Livingston is more the culinary arts guy, reviews in and around the city, bits on upcoming foodie events, some out-of-town restaurant critiques, a travel log and the guys' regular appearance on an online radio show, Swoops' World Radio. The duo have even held events, such as a Christmas pub crawl, and a big progressive dinner at a few Bixby Knolls' restaurants. It's all geared toward exposing what the city has to offer, Livingston said. "Long Beach definitely has very eclectic food," he noted. "Pretty much anything you want, you can find here." And they're not afraid to test their own palates with exotic dishes. Recently, they dined on frog legs at Sophy's Cambodian Thai Cuisine. "I'll try anything," Livingston said. "Except bugs. I haven't gotten into bugs. And I have refused to eat Salmon eggs because of the texture." Their "average diner" demographic keeps places they review relatively low-key. Most restaurants feature dishes in the $15-$20 range. Nelson and Livingston also run another business together, a personalized debt management company, which is their "day job." But they are super passionate about LBFoodReview.com, posting new reviews and articles each week. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by Long Beach City College off ers an entire network of Business Advisors who will provide you with free one-on-one business advising and aff ordable training. Whether you're starting a business or want to take your business to the next level, we can help you. The SBDC hosted by Long Beach City College is part of the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network, a nationwide program. More than 1.3 million businesses take advantage of the SBDC services nationally, and there's an SBDC Service Center near you. Visit www.longbeachsbdc.org or call (562) 938-5100 to make an appointment today. WE HAVE ANSWERS TO BUSINESS QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING. w w w . l o n g b e a c h s b d c . o r g ( 5 6 2 ) 9 3 8 - 5 1 0 0 The Lead Center for the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network is operated by Long Beach Community College District. The Small Business Development Centers are funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, center host institutions, state and local funds, and corporate partners. Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. All Federal and State funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Special arrangements for individuals with disability will be made if requested in advance. HOW DO WE FINISH THE CLIENT 'S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND THE GOVERNMENT RFP BY TOMORROW WHEN WE'RE SO SHORT STAFFED? HOW DO WE GET BIGGER ACCOUNTS? HOW DO WE GENERATE MORE PROFIT ON EXISTING BUSINESS? SHOULD WE HIRE A NEW EMPLOYEE OR UPGRADE OUR EQUIPMENT? D O W E G E T A L O A N , L AY PEOPLE OFF, OR C LO S E O U R D O O R S? DO WE LEASE OR BUY EQUIPMENT? HOW DO WE MARKET OUR P R O D U C T I N A B A D ECONOMY WHEN WE'RE BEING OVERSPENT? SHOULD WE KEEP OUR INTERNAL SALES FORCE OR WORK WITH INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTORS? THE CLIENT WANTS HIS ORDER BY 4 P.M. NEXT FRIDAY AND WE CAN'T GET ANYONE ON THE PHONE TO CONFIRM SHIPMENT. WHY DOES THE RECEPTIONIST ALWAYS C ALL IN SICK ON F R I DAY S A N D M O N DAY S ? SHOULD WE USE STATE FUNDS FOR WORKERS C O M P O R G O T O A N INDIVIDUAL C ARRIER? WHAT'S THE MINIMUM LIABILITY INSURANCE I C AN C ARRY? IS AN OFFICE SOUND S Y S T E M T T I B L E? HOW DO WE MOTIVATE OUR PEOPLE DURING A B A D E C O N O M Y? W H Y DOES THE PROJECTOR FA I L E V E R Y T I M E W E H AV E A N O F F S I T E M E E T I N G ? SHOULD I ATTEND MY CLIENT 'S FUNDRAISER AND GIVE UP MY SUNDAY A F T E R N O O N ? WHO'S GOING TO TRAIN THE NEW GUY A N D W H AT I F H E D O E S N ' T WORK OUT?