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News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
May 2011 Archive

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LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - MAY 2011 Archive


OPENINGS

The top floor of Long Beach's Parkers' Lighthouse has been converted to Queensview Steakhouse, a supper club-like venue offering steaks and chops with panoramic harbor views. Appetizers include New England clam chowder and crab cakes with chipotle aïoli, followed by filet mignon, rib-eye or an Amish-raised veal tomahawk chop, as well as some seafood dishes. Queensview is open Friday and Saturday nights. Queensview Steakhouse, 435 Shoreline Dr., Long Beach, CA 90802, 562-432-6500.
 
Virginia-based burger joint Five Guys, a favorite of President Obama and many other D.C.-area residents, has been compared to In-N-Out for its quality, made-from-scratch burgers and cult-like following. The chain has already debuted in Culver City, and will open in Westwood in June. A USC-area store is coming soon, as are Five Guys in Northridge, Long Beach and many San Fernando Valley and Orange County locations. The Inland Empire has already been invaded by the East Coast's hottest burger chain. For new locations and information, visit www.fiveguys.com.
 
Los Feliz welcomes the Danish-style ice cream spot Paradis in the former Pinkberry on Vermont. Part of a successful chain from Denmark, the store's dense, creamy ice cream is made with fresh farmer's market fruits and high-end ingredients. Flavors include lime, pistachio and Dutch chocolate, while vegan sorbets also abound. Paradis, 1726 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, 818-248-1004.
 
Culver City's newest gastropub City Tavern offers 22 California microbrews on tap, as well as three "Table Tap" booths where patrons can draft their own beer from tableside handles while a computer screen displays how much is poured. Small plates by chef de cuisine Jessica Christensen (Studio at Montage Laguna Beach/Tracht's) include oysters, tomato tarte tatin, pan-seared scallops, pork belly, arctic char, burgers and steak. City Tavern, 9739 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, 310-838-9739.
 
"Top Chef" season 6 winner Michael Voltaggio will open ink. in the old Hamasaku space on Melrose Avenue. There will be a bar, main dining room (offering an à la carte menu) and an adjacent area featuring an omakase-style dining experience with two seatings per night. ink., 8360 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90069, 323-651-5866.
 
Chef/owner Joe Kim, whose food truck the Flying Pig is among the city's favorites, opened his brick-and-mortar restaurant, the Flying Pig Café, in Little Tokyo on July 16. The eatery features many of the truck's signature dishes (pork belly on steamed bun with cucumber, red onion and "death sauce"), but greatly expanded. Flying Pig Café, 141 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90013, 213-621-0300.
 

NEWS BYTES

Catch Launches Gluten-free Menu
As part of its "Live Well Again" program, Casa del Mar has launched a new gluten-free menu at Catch. Appetizers include cauliflower soup with local mussels and curry and pork belly with yams, roasted apples and cider jus. Main dishes range from striped bass with sunchokes, fennel, roasted tomatoes and olives to red wine braised short rib with root vegetables and black garlic gremolata. Catch, Hotel Casa Del Mar, 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-581-7714.
 
Starry Kitchen Features Laurent Quenioux as Guest Chef
Chef Laurent Quenioux is now a guest chef at Starry Kitchen every other week from Sunday through Tuesday at least through August, if not longer. For LQ@SK, he offers a seasonal five-course prix-fixe menu for $45, and he also has a dish on the lunch menu. Starry Kitchen, 350 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-617-3474.
 
Noé Restaurant at Omni Hotel Revamped
Executive Chef Glen Ishii has revamped the menu at Noé for spring, with new small plates and shareable dishes, including calamari with yuzu crème fraiche, a smoked pancetta tart crowned with poached quail eggs, chicken katsu sliders, and Fuji-apple and fennel shrimp with kumquat preserves. Noé, Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, 251 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-356-4100.
 
Bar Pintxo Now Open Weekdays for Lunch
In Santa Monica, Joe Miller's Bar Pintxo is now open weekdays for lunch from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. A three-course, prix-fixe menu features items like chicken and jamon Serrano croquettes, crispy calamari sandwich, and honey-lavender flan. Bar Pintxo, 109 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-458-2012.
 
L.A. Chefs Share Recipes for Hollywood Bowl Picnics
The fourth annual Hollywood Bowl Chefs Picnic Club, sponsored by Performances magazine, offers music fans an opportunity to prepare concert picnics comprised of recipes from famous L.A. chefs. Each week during the Bowl season, from early 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), Rick Bayless (Red O), Pascal Lorange (Fig & Olive), Suzanne Goin (Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern), Scott Conant (Scarpetta), John Sedlar (Rivera, Playa) and many more. For more information and to sign up for free recipes, visit www.hollywoodbowlpicnic.com.
 
Tiato Brings Back Sunday Brunch Service
Tiato has brought back Sunday brunch service. Menu items include poached eggs over warm spinach salad and french toast bananas Foster with bourbon vanilla maple syrup. There's also a $35 three-course prix-fixe brunch menu that comes with Mimosas. Tiato, MTV/Lions Gate, 2700 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404, 310-866-5228.
 
Cliff's Edge Restaurant in Silverlake Introduces Late-Night Bar
In Silver Lake the dining room at Cliff's Edge has been revamped with vintage reclaimed wood, antique mirrors and 1920's Moroccan lamps. It's also been renamed The Bar at Cliff's. Expect updated classic cocktails and a new bar menu that features forest mushroom crostini, duck foie gras parfait and french fries with gorgonzola sauce. The regular restaurant kitchen closes at 10 p.m., but the bar is now open until 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The Bar at Cliff's, 3626 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 323-666-6116.
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

Chef Jason Neroni is now helming the stoves at the popular Osteria la Buca in Hollywood, and has added new menu items and dishes incorporating house-made salumi, terrines and porchettas. Osteria La Buca, 5210 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-462-1900.
 
Big changes in the kitchen are afoot at Xiomara on Melrose. Executive chef Michael Reed and chef de cuisine Brandon Furlow are no longer associated with the restaurant. Xiomara on Melrose, 6101 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-461-0601.
 

CLOSINGS

Joe Pytka has shuttered his West Hollywood restaurant Bastide. The restaurant had changed to a more casual bistro format upon its last re-opening, but in its earlier fine dining days was helmed by notable chefs such as Alain Giraud, Ludovic Lefebvre, Walter Manzke and Paul Shoemaker. Bastide, 8475 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069, no phone.
 
LA Food Show Grill & Bar in Beverly Hills has closed. The Manhattan Beach location of LA Food Show remains open. LA Food Show Grill & Bar, 252 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
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