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October 2010 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - OCTOBER 2010 Archive

OPENINGS

Jeff Cerciello, former culinary director of Thomas Keller's Bouchon, Bouchon Bakery and ad hoc, has opened FarmShop in the Brentwood Country Mart. The bakery is open daily and brunch is offered on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast (Mon.-Fri.) items range from maple scones to coddled eggs with smoked salmon and brioche toast. Lunch and family-style dinner service will follow, and a market inside FarmShop will debut early next year. FarmShop, 225 26th St., Ste. 25, Santa Monica, CA 90402, 310-566-2400.

Mani's Bakery Café has closed on Fairfax and moved to Maple Drive in Beverly Hills, becoming Mani's on Maple. The new Mani's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Under the direction of executive chef David Wolfe, new menu additions feature locally grown produce, grass-fed meats, organic and free-range poultry, as well as sustainable seafood. Diners will find new vegan and gluten-free dishes. A full bar features cocktails made from organic fruits and herbs, a selection of California beers, and biodynamic, organic wines. A take-out café and retail bakery retain favorites from the old location. Mani's on Maple, 345 N. Maple Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310-247-0009.

Chef Ludovic Lefebvre is hosting yet another incarnation of his popular pop-up restaurant LudoBites, this time in the former Max space in Sherman Oaks. Diners can enjoy Lefebvre's modern and creative cuisine on Monday-Friday nights from October 21-November 11, and from November 30-December 5. Reservations have already sold out, but walk-ins will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit www.ludolefebvre.com/ludo-bites. LudoBites, 13355 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, www.ludolefebvre.com.

NEWS BYTES

Bistro LQ Dishes Up Cassoulet "Toulousain" on Tuesdays
Every Tuesday through the end of the year, Bistro LQ is serving a Cassoulet "Toulousain" Dinner. The three-course meal is priced at $35 and features chef Laurent Quenoix's version of this hearty French dish, made with lamb shoulder, confit pork ribs, duck leg confit, "saucisse de Toulouse," "saucisson a l'ail," and Tarbais beans. Bistro LQ is also currently offering a game menu of dishes such as roasted partridge, hare saddle and wild boar loin. Bistro LQ, 8009 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323-951-1088.

Alcove Adds Chic Bar to Los Feliz Scene
In Los Feliz, the Alcove has added Big Bar, a vintage-feeling room that takes advantage of the restaurant's sprawling patio and lively neighborhood scene. Former Edison mixologist Juan Sevilla proffers a menu of sophisticated classic cocktails, including champagne punches, martinis and bourbon concoctions; a bar menu offers nibbles like bacon-wrapped dates and lamb sliders, but don't forget to check out the newly expanded dinner menu as well. Alcove, 1929 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, 323-644-0100.

Chi Dynasty Offers Post-season Bar Specials
With post-season baseball underway, fans can enjoy the games at Chi Dynasty, which has installed new flat-screen TVs at the bar. During the playoffs, an array of $5 finger foods is available, including Szechwan wontons, vegetable egg rolls, Dynasty chicken wings, Chinese chicken salad, foil-wrapped chicken, and deep-fried calamari seasoned with peppercorn-salt, garlic, scallions, and chopped jalapeño from chef Jonathan Chi. Paired with $4 beers, this is a winning combination. Chi Dynasty, 12229 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, 818-753-5300.

Pacific Dining Car Introduces New Late-night Menu
The Pacific Dining Car in Downtown L.A., one of the city's most venerable restaurants and a favorite hangout for local politicos, introduces its new late-night menu, served from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. On offer are some of the restaurant's all-time favorites, along with a cocktail list heavy on the classics. Among the dining options are eggs Sardou, a lamb burger, a duck salad, hanger steak, French toast and "midnight cowboy" steak. The menu is also offered at the Santa Monica location, 2700 Wilshire Blvd., 310-453-4000. Pacific Dining Car, 1310 W. Sixth St., Los Angeles, CA 90017, 213-483-6000.

Osteria La Buca Partners with Susan G Komen for the Cure
Osteria la Buca is going to great extremes to observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Partnering with Susan G Komen for the Cure, owner Graham Snyder has literally painted the restaurant pink, drawing attention to the cause and assisting the Komen organization to raise money for breast cancer research. This month, the restaurant is featuring a "pink" menu, which emphasizes healthy eating, paired with a selection of pink drinks. A portion of proceeds during October will benefit the Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation, and the restaurant will be made available to the charity for meeting space and fundraising events. In addition, La Buca is providing complimentary delivery service to breast cancer patients and their families at Cedars-Sinai hospital. Osteria La Buca , 5210 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-462-1900.

CHEF SHUFFLE

Executive chef Jason Niederkorn has left Café Del Rey in Marina del Rey. A replacement has not yet been named. Café Del Rey, 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, 310-823-6395.

Xiomara Ardolina has made some changes to her Latin-inspired contemporary restaurant, Xiomara on Melrose. She has brought in Michael Reed, formerly of Sona and Osteria Mozza, as her new executive chef. His new California menu, with much less emphasis on Ardolina's Cuban heritage, showcases a wide selection of small plates, such as truffle risotto with rock shrimp; crispy pork belly with roasted Jerusalem artichoke, smoky eggplant purée, crispy kale and pork jus; sweet potato croquettes with chile-coconut sauce; and duck confit with French lentils and celery-raisin relish. Some larger plates are also offered, but mostly priced less than $20. Despite the changes, the bar is still serving the restaurant's famous mojitos. Xiomara on Melrose, 6101 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-461-0601.

Venice restaurant Beechwood now spotlights former Top Chef contestant Jamie Lauren, who is currently reworking the menu. Beechwood, 822 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292, 310-448-8884.

Executive chef Kris Morningstar has left The Mercantile and District to pursue new projects; his top man Kevin Napier has taken the helm at both kitchens, where he will tweak the menus in the near future. The Mercantile, 6600 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-962-8202.

CLOSINGS

Check back soon for more news.

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.

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GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles October 2010 Archive

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
October 2010 Archive