News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
September 2010 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2010 Archive

OPENINGS

George Abou-Daoud's newest Sunset spot is the purple-hued Gelatovino, a sort of hybrid gelateria/dessert wine bar. A dozen dessert wines are categorized as "bubbly," "crisp and cool," "on the Port side" and "luscious." Two dozen gelato flavors bounce from haute concoctions of Meyer lemon, roasted almond fig and white chocolate lavender, to an intoxicating group of beverages that incorporates wines and spirits from Zinfandel to Sambuca, brown ale, bourbon, Campari and Fernet. Lunch & Dinner daily. Gelatovino, 5940 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-469-2100.

The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel has announced the opening of its new oceanfront sushi bar, Sushi at Sunset, inside its Ocean & Vine restaurant. Executive chef Keith Roberts' concept pairs the flavors and textures of the fish with specially created sauces instead of traditional soy sauce and wasabi. Expect salmon nigiri with soybean miso and fresh Thai basil, or snapper nigiri with a Japanese almond-lemon butter; the kitchen also offers seven house rolls, including the signature Santa Monica Fog served in a bamboo basket with liquid nitrogen to unleash a "fog" once the top is lifted. Happy Hour features select sushi rolls, wines by the glass and cocktails for $6 each from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. daily. Sushi at Sunset is offered nightly at 5 p.m. in the Papillon Lounge (the hotel's lobby bar) and from 6 p.m. in Ocean & Vine. Sushi at Sunset, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-458-6700.

The Cheese Store of Pasadena has opened at the Commons in Pasadena's South Lake shopping district. The establishment, in the spirit of The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills---but not affiliated---offers a wide variety of cheeses and imported gourmet products. It also promises to host regular cheese-tasting events. The Cheese Store of Pasadena, The Commons, 140 S. Lake Ave., Ste. 107, Pasadena, CA 91101, 626-405-0050.

Silver Lakers lamented the demise of their loungy local EatWell on Sunset Blvd., but Kokomo Café has stepped in to fill the gap opening K2 in the former space with a similar hipster diner concept. Upgraded to fit the zeitgeist's local and organic sensibility, expect a menu of omelets and egg dishes, pancakes, sandwiches, salads and some upscale dinner picks. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. K2, 3916 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029, 323-662-7698.

Salt's Cure is a new boutique butcher shop and restaurant offering sustainably raised cuts of meat, fish and charcuterie from small California ranches and local fishermen. Brunch, lunch and dinner features a small, daily changing menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, steaks and charcuterie plates, as well as a selection of California beers and wines. Dishes range from potted pork to lamb and mango salad and smoked black cod; retail items include Sonoma foie gras, American sturgeon caviar and dry-aged New York strip steaks. Brunch, Lunch and Dinner Wed.-Mon. Salt's Cure, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-850-7258 .

Chef David Féau of The Royce at The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa

The Dining Room at The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa has been undergoing renovations for the past few months and has re-opened as The Royce. The restaurant offers New American cuisine from chef de cuisine David Féau, a native of France who was most recently corporate executive chef of the Patina Restaurant Group's west coast operations. The new dining space features two wine rooms, a glass-enclosed veranda with views of the garden, and a chef's table where diners can enjoy a customized menu. The Royce, The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa Pasadena, 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106, 626-585-6218.

The Dining Room re-opening as The Royce.
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena has completed the renovation of its Dining Room, which will be rechristened as The Royce and is slated for an October 22 reopening. Turning out the restaurant's California fare with classic French influences will be new Chef de Cuisine David Féau, a Patina Group alum. The conservative-looking Dining Room has been transformed by The Johnson Studio into a more contemporary environment with two wine rooms, a glass-enclosed veranda and a chef's table. Dinner will be served Tuesday through Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations will be accepted beginning October 22 at 626-585-6218. Dinner Tues.-Sat.. The Royce, The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa Pasadena, 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106

Test Kitchen hosts a continuous series of pop-up restaurant concepts from chefs like Walter Manzke and Michael Voltaggio. Test Kitchen, 9575 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035, no phone.

Paul Shoemaker, former executive chef of Bastide, has opened his own fine-dining spot in Malibu called Savory. Driven by a seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, the menu will change frequently, but expect items like endive salad with peaches and blue cheese, steamed black mussels, pizza with burrata and tapenade, Jidori chicken and Prime dry-aged cote de boeuf for two. The wine list is comprised of a careful selection of boutique wines. Savory, 29169 Heathercliff Rd., Malibu, CA 90265, 310-589-8997.

Café Habana Malibu, the new West Coast outpost of the popular New York Cuban eatery, is nestled into the rustically chic Malibu Lumber Yard. Expect Cuban sandwiches, pulled pork, fish tacos, shrimp ceviche and signature roasted corn with cotija cheese and lime. There's a patio, star sightings and cool mojitos and caipirinhas for extra atmosphere. Café Habana Malibu, Malibu Lumber Yard, 3939 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, CCA 90265, 310-317-0300.

Chef Allyson Ames will open Wonderland Bakery at The Grove in October. Besides offering desserts like cakes, cookies and cupcakes, the bakery will also feature an "Enchanted Garden" for tea parties, cookie decorating and special events. Wonderland Bakery, The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90036, no phone available yet.

NEWS BYTES

Napa Valley Grille Launches New Fall Menu
Executive Chef Joseph Gillard is highlighting seasonal ingredients from local farms, free-range meats, and small-batch cheeses in rustic dishes to pair with Napa Valley's finest wines in new fall lunch, dinner, happy hour, and brunch menus at the Napa Valley Grille. Expect dishes such as Bear Republic clams and mussels with Andouille sausage; Tahitian squash tortelloni with pumpkin-seed pesto and ginger snap gremolata; and scallops with plantain spaetzle, wilted mustard greens, spiced walnuts and curry crème fraîche. Napa Valley Grille, Westwood Center, 1100 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024, 310-824-3322.

Bastide Launches Burger Night on Mondays
Off-the-menu burgers are now officially declared, as Bastide has launched Burgers at Bastide on Monday nights. The weekly burger special includes seasonal farmer's market-inspired burgers, shoestring fries or salad, and a glass of Grimbergen Belgian Blonde or Cellar Red wine for $28. The regular menu is also offered. Bastide, 8475 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069, 323-651-5950.

David Myers’ Next Move
Chef David Myers, of Comme Ca and now-shuttered Sona, and his restaurant group have bought space in the Equitable Building at Hollywood & Vine for an as-yet-unannounced dining concept. Comme Ca, 8479 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 323-782-1104.

Sampling wines at the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

Special Discount Code for San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Tickets
The seventh annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, the largest wine and food festival in Southern California, will take place November 17-21 in downtown San Diego. Participants can take part in wine tasting seminars, cooking classes, wine dinners, auctions, a celebrity chef luncheon, WineRave, a "Chef of the Fest" competition and Grand Tasting Event. Sophie Gayot agrees to participate as one of the Finalist Celebrity Judges for the Chef of the Fest competition on Saturday, November 20 at the Grand Tasting Event. Enter the code GAYOT10 when purchasing tickets online and receive 10% off tickets to the Grand Event, Reserve & New Release Tasting, WineRave, and cooking and wine tasting classes during the Festival. For event schedule and to purchase tickets, call 619-342-7337 or visit www.worldofwineevents.com. San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, Embarcadero Marina Park North, San Diego, CA 92101, 619-342-7337.

America’s First Kosher Taco Truck Hits the Streets of LA
The nation's first certified glatt kosher taco truck, Takosher, has hit the streets of Los Angeles. The Jewish-Mexican "Chosen Taco" comes in a variety that includes the "brisketaco," "carne la beef," and "Chosen chicken," which is seasoned with chipotle, citrus and pumpkin seeds. Vegetarian tacos feature the "latketaco" of deep-fried potatos, chipotle and panko; the "el fujitas" boasts baked tofu marinated in mesquite and garlic.
Find them at: http://takosher.com/ and http://twitter.com/takosher.

CHEF SHUFFLE

Executive chef David LeFevre is leaving downtown's Water Grill to open his own restaurant. A search for a successor is being conducted on a local and national level. Water Grill, 544 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-891-0900.

Chef Jeremy Berlin has taken the helm of the kitchen at downtown's Church & State. Berlin studied at the French Culinary Institute in New York and has worked with chef Philippe Bertineau at Payard Patisserie & Bistro, chef Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin and chef Cyril Renaud at Fleur de Sel. He was most recently part of the opening team of Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood. Church & State, Biscuit Company Lofts, 1850 Industrial St., Los Angeles, CA 90021, 213-405-1434.

Chef Walter Manzke, previously of Church & State, is back in the kitchen. Read GAYOT.com's blog to see where.

Steven Fretz has left Michael Mina's XIV and plans to open his own seafood restaurant in a yet-undisclosed L.A. location. XIV, 8117 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323-656-1414.

CLOSINGS

After two years of service, Anisette Brasserie has closed. However, chef Alain Giraud is already working on his next project, Maison Giraud, a bistro that will be located in the Dante Palisades Restaurant space in the Pacific Palisades. Anisette Brasserie, The Clock Tower, 225 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, no phone.

In West Hollywood, Larry Nicola's colorful Mexico Restaurante Y Barra is now closed. Mexico Restaurante y Barra , 8512 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-289-0088.

Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger have closed their downtown restaurant Ciudad, and re-opened it as Border Grill Downtown LA. Border Grill Downtown LA, 445 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-486-5171.

Popular Westside sushi spot Asakuma has closed. Asakuma, 11701 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025, no phone.

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 September 2010 Archive

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
September 2010 Archive