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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
March 2010 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - MARCH 2010 Archive


OPENINGS

The newest location of Tender Greens has opened on Sunset Boulevard. Executive Chef Fermin Arias is especially inspired by the weekly Hollywood farmer's market, where he will shop on Sundays to offer Sunday Farmers' Market Specials for lunch and dinner, from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., with dishes ranging around $10.50 for entrees. On the regular menu, expect organic salads, soups, sandwiches, hot dishes and sweets. The casual-chic space is close to Hollywood's Arclight theater and other local attractions. Tender Greens Hollywood, 6290 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, 323-382-0380.
 
On April 1, a second branch of baker Sumi Chang's acclaimed EuroPane bakery and café debuted in Pasadena at 300 E. Colorado Boulevard, less than a mile from the original EuroPane. It offers a full coffee bar and a menu of salads and sandwiches, including the eatery's famous open-face egg salad, all in a sleek, modern setting across from Paseo Colorado, on the ground floor of the Montana residences. Open daily. EuroPane, 950 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106, 626-577-1828.
 
Chef Ludovic Lefebvre Chef Ludovic Lefebvre is hosting a fourth incarnation of his pop-up restaurant LudoBites, this time at Gram & Papas downtown. Diners can enjoy Lefebvre's modern and creative cuisine on Tuesday-Saturday nights from April 8-May 28. LudoBites has previously been held at Breadbar and Royal/T. For more information, visit www.ludolefebvre.com/ludo-bites. LudoBites, 227 E. 9th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015, no phone.
 
The World Fare "bustaurant"---a major advancement from the ubiquitous taco truck---has begun rolling through the streets of L.A. Proprietors Travis Schmidt and Jason Freeman purchased and modified a vintage double-decker bus, adding a third, open air (al fresco) level, and created this novel culinary concept. Heading up World Fare's full kitchen is executive chef Andi Van Willigan, previously a corporate executive sous chef with the Michael Mina Group. Her World Fare menu includes "bunny" sandwiches (e.g. Worcestershire-braised short ribs with horseradish crème fraîche, barbecue braised pork butt with sweet corn-jalapeño relish) with sides like mac-and-cheese or fries with rémoulade. More ambitious blackboard specialties range from tuna tartare to steak frites. To find the location of World Fare, check the website at http://worldfare.com, or find them on Facebook or Twitter. Also, check out Gayot's picks for the Top 5 Food Trucks in the U.S.
 
Chef Kerry Simon's (SIMON L.A.) LA Market has opened at the JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. Live. The menu includes salads featuring farmers market vegetables, pizzas, and comfort fare such as organic chicken with braised beet greens, but also touches on global flavors with dishes like wok-charred edamame with ginger sea salt. Hand-crafted cocktails range from The Hollywood Groove with gin, apricot and ginger to the Mandarin Thyme that combines Absolut Mandarin vodka, Aperol and thyme. LA Market, JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. Live, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-765-8930.
 
Wolfgang Puck's WP24 has opened on the 24th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles. The restaurant, the second from Puck at downtown's L.A. Live complex (joining Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill), features Asian cuisine. WP24, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-743-8824.
 
Patina Restaurant Group has opened the doors of its Market Café on the garden level of downtown LA's AT&T Center. Serving breakfast and lunch daily---with nothing priced over $10---the casual spot features seasonal, organic ingredients. For breakfast, look for the "Jojo burrito" (named after Joachim Splichal) of scrambled eggs, cherrywood-smoked bacon, salsa roja, herb-roasted potatoes and cheddar. Lunch entrees include buttermilk-fried chicken with maple-bacon country gravy and braised short rib Stroganoff; also expect gourmet sandwiches, salads, grilled panini, burgers and aguas frescas in flavors like honeydew-cucumber and Meyer lemonade. Breakfast & Lunch Mon.-Fri. Market Café, AT&T Center, 1150 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-536-4090.
 
Tiger Beverly Hills is home to the new "post-Asian" restaurant Tiger, designed by Lionel Ohayon from iCrave. Expect a mix of traditional sushi (including sustainably harvested bluefin tuna, golden eye snapper and house-smoked salmon) as well as robata items and creative signature dishes such as duck leg with kabocha ravioli. Also, look for fancy cocktails like the shiso-lavender mojito. Lunch Mon.-Sat., Dinner Nightly. Tiger, 340 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-274-3200.
 
Quadrupel Brasserie, a sophisticated gastropub, has opened on Union Street, amid a flurry of new restaurants in Old Pasadena. Chef Adam Levoe, who cooked under Claud Beltran at Madeleines Restaurant & Wine Bistro, integrates modern concepts into French brasserie favorites, and offers a variety of small plates that complement a list of more than 70 Belgian and American craft beers (a global wine list is also offered). The space, which formerly housed Siena, has been covered in rich mahogany, giving it a clubby, masculine feel. On the menu are deep-fried shallot rings with three dipping sauces, pork-and-pancetta meatballs, steamed mussels in lobster sauce, a generous sampling of sausages, gnocchi and steak frites. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Quadrupel Brasserie, 43 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA 91103, 626-844-2922.
 

NEWS BYTES

Guest Chef Debbie Lee's "SoulTown Tapas" extended at Breadbar.
Due to popular demand, Breadbar, on West Third Street, is extending its promotion of "SeoulTown Tapas" with guest chef Debbie Lee (The Next Food Network Star). Offered Tuesday-Saturday evenings through May 1, the concept is Lee's modern take on a traditional soot jeep (Korean pub) fare, featuring a menu of small plates (including some that will appear at her own forthcoming L.A. restaurant). Dishes include kimchee-citrus pork with roasted Fuji apples, grilled tofu with Japanese eggplant and pimento-scallion glaze, salmon with scallions and Korean miso-honey glaze, and Korean fried chicken. Reservations, which are recommended, can be made by calling 310-205-0124. Breakfast & Lunch daily, Dinner Tues.-Sat.. Breadbar, 8718 W. Third St., West Hollywood, CA 90048, 310-205-0124.
 
Cart For A Cause Brings LA’s Top Chefs Together Every Tuesday
Cart for a Cause is a unique food truck run by St. Vincent Meals on Wheels that donates $6.50 out of each $10 meal to provide hot meals for local seniors in need. Through November, rotating chefs from restaurants including Nobu Los Angeles, Susan Feniger's STREET,The Foundry on Melrose, Il Grano, La Cachette Bistro, Comme Ca, the Lazy Ox Canteen and Animal will be dashing around L.A. dishing up their lunch specialties. Find where they'll be each Tuesday from 12 p.m-2 p.m. via www.cartforacause.com, or on Twitter or Facebook. All meals include a healthy beverage and are served on compostable dinnerware. But don't be late---on the first day, Nobu sold out in 40 minutes, and lines may start 15 minutes before opening.
 
GAYOT.com is a proud sponsor of the Los Angeles Perfect Pairings (SM) Menu Campaign Perfect Pairings Menu Campaign Benefits Meals on Wheels
Throughout the month of April, diners can participate in the Los Angeles Perfect Pairings (SM) Menu Campaign, which GAYOT.com is proud to sponsor, benefiting local Meals on Wheels programs. Top-rated restaurants, including The Bazaar by José Andrés, XIV by Michael Mina and Nobu will feature special food-and-beverage pairings on their menus, flagged by the Perfect Pairings logo. Each time one of these pairings is ordered, a $1 donation is automatically made to local Meals-on-Wheels programs like St. Vincent Meals on Wheels that deliver food and other vital services to thousands of people in need every day. The full list of participating restaurants can be found at www.perfectpairings.org.
 
Cecconis Sunday Family Suppers at Cecconi's
Cecconi's has launched Sunday Family Suppers, a pasta and pizza meal for four people priced at $50 total. (Extra guests can be added for $12.50 a person.) Diners can also order a bottle of house red or white wine for an additional $25. The menu changes weekly but always offers two mix-and-match pastas and two pizzas. Cecconi's, 8764 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-432-2000.
 
A New Look For Tony's
Dive restaurant and bar Tony's Darts Away in Burbank is getting a makeover from a new "Tony," Tony Yanow, a beer enthusiast who plans to revamp the space and upgrade the beer selection and menu. Expect more than 30 California craft beers in addition to California wines, all on tap---no more bottled beers or wines. The new and decidedly un-divey Tony's will be unveiled in April 2010.

 
Lunch at Laurel Tavern
Laurel Tavern in Studio City is now serving lunch. On offer are burgers and grilled cheese and turkey club sandwiches as well as lighter options like burrata and beets and a goat cheese salad. Laurel Tavern's pub fare is also available to-go for lunch and dinner. Laurel Tavern, 11938 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-506-0777.
 
Palate Food + Wine Opens for Lunch Friday and Saturday
In Glendale, Palate Food + Wine is now serving lunch on Fridays and Saturdays only, from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Expect selections from the famous "porkfolio," as well as mason jars of potted goat, beet salad, duck confit sandwich, skate wing and honey panna cotta with citrus and Indonesian black pepper. Palate Food+Wine, 933 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204, 818-662-9463.
 
Chaya Pop-Up Benefits C-CAP During 5-Day Renovation in Venice
While Chaya Venice renovates its interior and menu, they're offering a pop-up dinner a few steps south at 245 Main St., for five days from March 27-31. Starting at 5 p.m., it's all-you-can-eat sushi, beer, wine and sake. Proceeds go to benefit C-CAP, the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program. Chaya Venice, 110 Navy St., Venice, CA 90291, 310-396-1179.
 
More Ways to Wine & Dine at Culina Modern Italian
Culina Modern Italian is offering two Italian traditions to its diners starting on June 20. Festa Del Vino (Sunday through Thursday 5 p.m.-7 p.m.) is a twist on the traditional happy hour, featuring complimentary antipasti and a weekly changing selection of $6 wines by the glass for guests at the bar and communal tables. Meanwhile, Tutti in Famiglia on Sunday evenings offers a three-course, family-style menu with options like basil pesto pasta and halibut with cherry tomatoes, black olives and capers. The cost is $30 per person, minimum two people in a party. Culina Modern Italian, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 300 S. Doheny Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 310-860-4000.
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

Chef Walter Manzke has left downtown's Church & State to open his own restaurant. Replacing him is Joshua Smith, who was previously chef de cuisine at Anisette Brasserie. Church & State, Biscuit Company Lofts, 1850 Industrial St., Los Angeles, CA 90021, 213-405-1434.
 

CLOSINGS

The Hump in Santa Monica closed on March 19, calling it a "self-imposed punishment" in light of the recent allegations against the restaurant for serving whale meat. The restaurant has also announced plans to make donations to organizations dedicated to the preservation of whales and other endangered species. The Hump, 3221 Donald Douglas Loop S., Third Fl., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-313-0977.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
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