News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
May 2013 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - MAY 2013 Archive

OPENINGS

Knitting Factory Entertainment has opened a second location of The Federal Bar in Long Beach. The menu of gastropub fare offers options such as a signature hot dog topped with shallot rings, pickled jalapeños and mustard; IPA-braised short ribs; and red velvet chicken and waffles. The Federal Bar, 102 Pine Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802, 562-435-2000.

Providence's Michael Cimarusti will open his New England seafood shack Connie & Ted's (named after his Rhode Island grandparents) in June. The menu will feature chowders, lobster rolls, clam cakes, burgers and more. Connie & Ted’s, 8171 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-848-2722.

Carson House in Beverly Hills opens its doors to the public on June 4, 2013. The restaurant will feature American fare from chef Johnny Messina. Carson House, 8635 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 310-289-2800.

Restaurateur Bill Chait, chef Walter Manzke and Guillermo Campos Moreno have opened Petty Cash Taque

Restaurateur Bill Chait and chef Walter Manzke have collaborated with Guillermo Campos Moreno (Tacos Kokopelli, Baja) to open Petty Cash Taqueria in John Sedlar's former Playa space on Beverly Boulevard. Signature tacos include "The Kraken," with grilled octopus, charred chile de arbol and peanuts; duck gizzard; and beer-battered wild striped bass. Also expect pork belly pozole, an unconventional pork ceviche, and Manzke's famous fried pig ear nachos. Sophisticated Latin-tinged cocktails are created by Julian Cox. Petty Cash Taqueria, 7360 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, 323-933-5300.

Chef Neal Fraser will be opening Redbird, a much-awaited sequel to his former restaurant Grace, in the old rectory building at the historic St. Vibiana Cathedral in downtown L.A. Fraser, wife Amy Knoll Fraser and restaurateur Bill Chait currently operate Vibiana, a special events venue at the cathedral. Redbird, St. Vibiana Cathedral, 214 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, no phone.

Blue C Sushi, a Seattle-based Japanese sushi chain, will open its newest restaurant at the Dome in Hollywood this August. Inspired by the Tokyo subway system, the kaiten (sushi on a conveyor belt) spot will feature 12 feet of video walls, a musical playlist created by Gray V sound design, and culinary offerings from Jeffrey Lunak, former corporate chef for "Iron Chef" Morimoto. Blue C Sushi, 6374 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, no phone.

The owners of Monterey Park's Duck House have opened Tangerine, a Cantonese restaurant and tea house in Little Tokyo's Weller Court. Expect dishes like orange chicken, popcorn chicken and stir-fried beef, as well as an assortment of boba tea drinks. Lunch & Dinner Wed.-Mon. Tangerine, 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-620-0588.

Downtown Urbano Pizza Bar has morphed into the new Sixth St. Tavern, an American pub from ACME Bar Group (Laurel Tavern), featuring an airy patio and a casual menu from executive chef Greg Bernhardt (Church & State). Expect elegant signature craft cocktails, 24 rotating beers on tap, and dishes like chicken and waffles, clams with chorizo and chickpeas, steak frites, and a duck confit club sandwich. Lunch & Dinner daily. Sixth St. Tavern, 630 W. Sixth St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, 213-614-1900.

A hipstery Indian gastropub, Badmaash, has opened in downtown L.A., featuring Indian street food and fusion dishes like curry poutine, along with samosas, masala fries, tandoori wings and other savory fare that complements more than a dozen craft beers. Badmaash, 108 W. 2nd St., #104, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-221-7466.

In Santa Monica, the new Cafe Demitasse (a sister spot to the original Little Tokyo location) brews up its house-roasted beans for coffee geeks at a state-of-the-art siphon bar on a giant Alpha Dominche Steampunk machine. Find pastries from Farmshop and sipping chocolate as well. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Cafe Demitasse, 1149 3rd St., Santa Monica, CA 90403, 213-613-9200.

Osawa, a venture of Sayuri Tachibe, whose husband is the executive chef for the Chaya group of restaurants, has opened a Japanese restaurant in Old Pasadena. Occupying the former space of Shaab, a primarily shabu-shabu bar, Osawa continues the shabu-shabu tradition, as well as offering sushi and otsumami (snack specialties) such as wonton-wrapped seafood cigars, baked oysters in seaweed and soy-butter sauce, and black sesame panna cotta for dessert. Lunch & Dinner Tues.-Sun. Osawa, 77 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103, 626-683-1150.

NEWS BYTES

Hollywood Bowl Chefs Picnic Club Pairs Food and Music
The fifth annual Hollywood Bowl Chefs Picnic Club offers music fans an opportunity to prepare concert picnics comprised of recipes from famous L.A. chefs. Each week during the Bowl season, from mid-June to late September, a different chef will provide an appetizer, entrée and dessert recipe, delivered via email to club members. This year's chefs include José Andrés (The Bazaar by José Andrés), Suzanne Goin (Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern) and David Lentz (The Hungry Cat), Susan Feniger (Susan Feniger's STREET), John Sedlar (Rivera), Ludo Lefebvre (LudoBites, Trois Mec) and many more. For more information and to sign up for free recipes, visit www.hollywoodbowlpicnic.com

Stella Rossa is Now Stella Barra Pizzeria
Chef/partner Jeff Mahin and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises have officially changed the name of their Santa Monica restaurant Stella Rossa Pizza Bar to Stella Barra. The decision to change the name was made in an effort to streamline this expanding brand of restaurants, which includes the recent opening of Stella Barra Pizzeria in Hollywood. Stella Barra, 2000 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-396-9250.

RivaBella Launches Rustic Sunday Brunch
Chef Gino Angelini is offering a rustic, Italian-style Sunday brunch on the sprawling patio at RivaBella from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The buffet ($44 per person) features dishes including an entire porchetta, whole salmon cooked in the restaurant's wood-burning oven, specialty charcuterie and cheeses, custom egg dishes and more. Signature brunch cocktails include the Sunday Summer (Atlantico Reserva Rum, fresh lime juice and shiso, topped with champagne.) Also expect live music by guitarist Dan Sistos and friends. RivaBella, 9201 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-278-2060.

One Pico's New Farmers' Market-Inspired Menu
Managing chef Sven Mede is introducing new farmers' market-inspired menus at One Pico. Dishes include red Russian kale salad, English pea soup with shaved fennel, cornmeal-crusted local rock fish with panzanella salad, steamed shellfish hot pot, and braised oxtail maltagliati. One Pico, Shutters on the Beach, One Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-458-0030.

Sunday Champagne Brunch on the Rooftop at Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel
Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel has launched a Sunday Champagne Brunch. It takes place weekly from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. through the summer on the penthouse and rooftop facing Rodeo Drive. The buffet features food stations for sushi, carved meats, omelets, Belgian waffles, desserts and more, plus a Bloody Mary bar. There is also live music. The cost is $55.95 per adult, $29.95 per child (12 years and under). Reservations are required. For reservations, call 310-691-7619 or e-mail [email protected]. Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel, 360 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-273-0300.

Select Omakase Bar Comes to SUGARFISH in Beverly Hills
Kazunomi Nozawa's latest SUGARFISH location in Beverly Hills has just opened a 10-seat counter space called Nozawa Bar that serves a 20-course omakase lunch and dinner. Master chef Osamu Fujita prepares sophisticated sushi and sashimi, and reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance; lunch is $130 and dinner $150. Nozawa Bar, 212 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310 276-6900.

Unlimited Small Plates Brunch at Susan Feniger's STREET
Susan Feniger's STREET now offers an unlimited small plates brunch for $25 on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dishes include kaya toast bites served open face with fried egg and dark soy; Indian spiced sweet potato pancakes with Greek yogurt and chutney; jackfruit banh mi sliders; and an asparagus egg white frittata with Peruvian tomato and aji salsas. Bottomless sparkling cocktails can be added for an extra $15. Susan Feniger's STREET, 742 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-203-0500.

CHEF SHUFFLE

Chef David Nayfeld, former senior sous chef of Eleven Madison Park in New York, will helm a new dining concept from Cardiff Giant (The Churchill, The Hudson). The name has yet to be announced, but the downtown restaurant is slated for an opening in late summer or early fall. Get a preview of his culinary talents at ink. on June 4, 2013. For more information, visit the Los Angeles Food Events calendar.

Buddha's Belly has named Kevin Luzande (Playa) as its new executive chef. Some of his new dishes include a whole red snapper with a Thai dipping sauce (limited quantity available on Friday nights only), Asian paella (Saturday nights only), spicy Korean ramen with duck confit, and Korean rib-eye with kimchi, gochujang, seaweed salad and steamed rice buns. The Beverly location will also soon welcome the new Buddha Lounge space with small plates, craft cocktails and beer. Buddha's Belly, 205 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-458-2500.

Chef Evan Gotanda has left Celestino Drago's Osteria Drago on the Sunset Strip. He is moving to San Francisco. Osteria Drago, 8741 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-657-1182.

Alex Stratta has moved on from Scarpetta in Beverly Hills. Freddy Vargas has returned to the restaurant as executive chef. Scarpetta, Montage Beverly Hills, 225 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-860-7970.

CLOSINGS

Piero Selvaggio is looking for a buyer for his iconic Italian restaurant Valentino

After 41 years in business and countless accolades, 67-year-old owner Piero Selvaggio is looking for a buyer for his iconic Italian restaurant, Valentino. The Santa Monica real estate, building and everything in it (all but the name and the 100,000-bottle wine cellar) is for sale. But Selvaggio is not leaving the restaurant business, and would likely take the proceeds to open a new restaurant, smaller and simpler, at another Westside location. "I don't need a 200-seat restaurant with 10,000 square feet anymore," he's reported to have said. Valentino, 3115 W. Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-829-4313.

The West Hollywood location of Jerry's Famous Deli has closed. Branches remain open in Studio City, Westwood, Marina del Rey and Woodland Hills. Jerry's Famous Deli, 8701 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048, no phone.

Eric Greenspan's restaurant The Foundry on Melrose closed May 19 for renovations. It will open again later this summer with a revamped patio and interior. A new bar program will also be introduced. The Foundry on Melrose, 7465 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323-651-0915.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Los Angeles

Discover the top restaurants in Los Angeles for various cuisines and categories like sushi, steakhouses, pizza, happy hours, romantic dining and even gourmet food trucks. Find the best restaurants in LA here!

BEYONCE INSPIRED LIBATIONS

Try these whiskey cocktails inspired by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Check the recipes.

BOURBON IN YOUR AIOLI

This cashew aioli recipe gets a kick with bourbon.

Get the recipe.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles May 2013 Archive

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
May 2013 Archive