Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.




 

News for Restaurants in Los Angeles
November 2010 Archive

Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive

Get news for restaurants in Los Angeles.  Learn more about what's going on in your dining community.  From chefs to new restaurants, you'll get the most out of Los Angeles restaurants when you know what's going on. 

LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT NEWS - NOVEMBER 2010 Archive


OPENINGS

Ricardo Zarate, chef/owner of Mo-Chica, is opening another restaurant: Picca. It will be located upstairs from Test Kitchen, where Zarate often consults with the guest chefs offering previews of their upcoming projects. Picca, 9575 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035, no phone yet.
 
Sushi Roku on Third Street has re-opened, featuring an updated menu and extensive design changes, such as the addition of a 3-D bonsai tree art installation by guitar maker Stephen McSwain. New dishes include salmon sashimi carpaccio with shaved black truffles; kanpachi wrapped mango "Vietnamese style" with lime soy sweet & sour sauce; and Kobe meatballs in lettuce cups with mustard soy truffle sauce. Sushi Roku, 8445 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323-655-6767.
 

NEWS BYTES

Koi Offers $50 Omakase at Sushi Bar
Koi has launched a new eight-course omakase menu priced at $50. Items include tuna tartare on a crispy wonton, salmon carpaccio, spicy seared albacore, baked crab hand roll, grilled lamb chops with an ichimi glaze, and hamachi with soy yuzu, jalapeño and truffle essence. The omakase menu is only available at the sushi bar. Koi, 730 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069, 310-659-9449.
 
Cecilia Fabulich serves her Inaugural Noodle-Off Names Champion
While Tsz Chan, a graphic designer, won the popular vote cast by a couple hundred local foodies, it was retired American Airlines manager Cecilia Fabulich with her "Fragrant Tinga Malaysia" who took first place at the inaugural annual Noodle-Off Championships for amateur cooks, sponsored by the House of An. The winner went home with a $1,000 gift certificate to use at the An family's restaurants and Fabulich's dish will be featured on these same restaurants' menus. Fabulich also took home a Jonathan Adler-designed Championship bowl. The panel of judges, presided over by house chef Helene An and assembled at Tiato, also selected a runner up: Namju Cho, a foodie-blogger. Cho's entry was a Korean-inspired "spicy noodles with fried egg, bacon and kimchi," which was the most refreshing, varied-textured and fun dish, not to mention easy to prepare, which was one of the criteria for judging, to our taste. That dish will also appear at Tiato, Crustacean and AnQi Gourmet Bistro by Crustacean. Of note: None of the amateur chefs presented a buckwheat option nor included the namesake tiato leaf in their preparation. Although Cho's dish included diced perilla leaves---an easy switch that Catherine, Elizabeth, Hannah and Helene will probably opt to make. The event was covered by Fox 11's own Jane Yamamoto. We'll be back next year. Tiato, MTV/Lions Gate, 2700 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404, 310-866-5228.
 
Voltaggio’s New Venture
Top Chef season 6 winner Michael Voltaggio has announced that he will open a restaurant called "Ink." The chef's new venture will reportedly debut by the end of February in the old Hamasaku space on Melrose Avenue. Read more in our blog.
 
Free Margarita at Border Grill Downtown LA
The new Border Grill Downtown LA is celebrating the holidays with some south of the border cheer. Now through December 30, mention the secret password "hot tamale" and get a free house margarita with the purchase of an appetizer or entrée. Good at the downtown location only. Border Grill Downtown LA, 445 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-486-5171.
 
"Lucky 7" Late Night Menu Debuts at Hotel Shangri-La
Executive chef Dakota Weiss has introduced a late night "Lucky 7" menu at The Dining Room at Hotel Shangri-La. Available from 9 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Saturday, the Lucky 7 menu features 7 cocktails items and 7 entrées all priced at $7 each. The Dining Room, Hotel Shangri-La, 1301 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-451-0717.
 
Getty Villa Launches Tea by the Sea
The Getty Villa has launched Tea By the Sea, inspired by the Mediterranean herbs, vegetables and fruits that grow at the Villa. The event is held every Thursday at 1 p.m. The menu blends quintessential elements of Mediterranean cuisine, with items such as quince paste, tarragon aioli and fig scones, all based on herbs or fruits that are found in the Villa's gardens, which are authentic recreations of the grounds of a first-century Roman villa. Diners at Tea by the Sea are invited to deepen their understanding of ancient Roman cuisine by signing up for the culinary-inspired garden tours offered to Villa visitors on Thursday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. Tea by the Sea is $36 per person. A free, advance ticket is required for Villa admission. Tickets for the Villa are available at www.getty.edu or by phone at (310) 440-7300.  Reservations for Tea by the Sea are available at www.getty.edu/visit/events/tea. Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, 310-440-7300.
 
Sublime Food Lounge Debuts Rotating Charcuterie Selections
Celebrating the change of the seasons, chef/owner Randall Rosa is offering a new, expanded charcuterie selection at his Sublime Food Lounge in Culver City. Three housemade selections are paired with cheese and housemade quince chutney for just $18. Among the charcuterie choices are lomo, Spanish cured pork loin, Italian bresaola, wild boar rillettes with cherry pistachio gelée and duck prosciutto, among others. They can be paired with cheeses such as Valdeón, Delice de Bourgogne, and a soft cow's milk cheese from Connecticut called Hooligan. Sublime Food Lounge, 8631 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, 310-287-2093.
 
Pasadena's La Grande Orange Expands with Adjoining Pizzeria
La Grande Orange Café in Pasadena, a restaurant occupying a former train station, has debuted a sidekick called The Luggage Room Pizzeria, a pizza joint ensconced in the former luggage room of said train station. The thin-crusted, wood-fired pizzas can be innovative---the "rocket man" (spicy Fresno chiles, broccolini, roasted garlic and oven-dried tomatoes) or the "roasted corn" (Laura Chenel goat cheese, corn, roasted tomatoes and basil)---as well as traditional, like the margherita. Appetizers and sandwiches are also offered, as well as cocktails in a smart-looking space with a crystal chandelier hanging above the bar. The pizzeria is open for dinner nightly. La Grande Orange Café, Del Mar Station, 260 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105, 626-356-4444.
 
Chef Ludo Lefebvre Brings His “Big Red Coq” to the Streets
Chef Ludo Lefebvre has hit the streets with his highly-anticipated LudoTruck, serving cult-fave fried chicken to the masses. Find Provencal pepitte (boneless chicken balls infused with rosemary and herbs de Provence), honey-glazed garlic wings, chicken strips, lavender-honey biscuits and Ludo's own slaw and fries. Locate him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ludotruck or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ludotruck.
 

CHEF SHUFFLE

Giselle Wellman has been named the new executive chef at Petrossian Boutique & Restaurant in West Hollywood. Wellman worked previously at Mario Batali's Del Posto and most recently hails from the kitchen at Bouchon in Beverly Hills. Her new menus, which highlight specialties of fresh pasta and seafood, will launch immediately. Petrossian Boutique & Restaurant, 321 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048, 310-271-0576.
 
Alex Moreno has been appointed executive chef of CASA downtown. His new menu items include Mulita de Carnitas, inspired by La Taquiza taqueria in Los Angeles. The dish is made with two corn tortillas stuffed "sandwich style" with braised pork, Farmer's Market peaches and manchego cheese. CASA, 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90013, 213-621-2249.
 
Petrossian Boutique & Restaurant's Ben Bailly has jumped to Fraiche in Culver City as the new executive chef. Bailly is overhauling the menu, with an emphasis on more French stylings, and it will include small plates, lower prices and a weekend brunch. Fraiche, 9411 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, 310-839-6800.
 
Sara Johannes is now chef de cuisine of Wolfgang Puck's WP24, taking over from David McIntyre who left to start his own restaurant. WP24, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, L.A. Live, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., 24th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213-743-8824.
 
Beverly Hills' Chaya Brasserie announces the arrival of new executive chef Harutaka Kishi. Born in Paris of Japanese descent, he will continue the restaurant's tradition of combining classic French recipes with influences from Japan and the Pacific Rim. Kishi honed his skills under renowned chefs Joël Robuchon and Gordon Ramsay in Europe and Japan. The new executive chef introduces his inaugural menu November 29, creating intriguing cross-cultural flavor combinations while continuing to offer some of the classic French dishes that regular customers have come to appreciate at Chaya Brasserie. Chaya Brasserie, 8741 Alden Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 310-859-8833.
 

CLOSINGS

Broadway Deli in Santa Monica closed its doors on November 30, 2010. Broadway Deli, 1457 Third St. Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401, 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!

Discover the best restaurants in LA

Current News View archived news: January 2024 | December 2023 | November 2023 | October 2023 | September 2023 | August 2023 | July 2023 | June 2023 | May 2023 | March 2023 | December 2022 | November 2022 | October 2022 | September 2022 | August 2022 | July 2022 | June 2022 | May 2022 | April 2022 | March 2022 | February 2022 | January 2022 | December 2021 | November 2021 | October 2021 | September 2021 | August 2021 | July 2021 | June 2021 | May 2021 | April 2021 | March 2021 | February 2021 | January 2021 | December 2020 | November 2020 | October 2020 | September 2020 | August 2020 | July 2020 | June 2020 | April 2020 | March 2020 | February 2020 | January 2020 | December 2019 | November 2019 | October 2019 | September 2019 | August 2019 | July 2019 | June 2019 | May 2019 | April 2019 | March 2019 | February 2019 | January 2019 | December 2018 | November 2018 | October 2018 | September 2018 | August 2018 | July 2018 | June 2018 | May 2018 | April 2018 | March 2018 | February 2018 | January 2018 | December 2017 | November 2017 | October 2017 | September 2017 | August 2017 | July 2017 | June 2017 | May 2017 | April 2017 | March 2017 | February 2017 | January 2017 | December 2016 | November 2016 | October 2016 | September 2016 | August 2016 | July 2016 | June 2016 | May 2016 | April 2016 | March 2016 | February 2016 | January 2016 | December 2015 | November 2015 | October 2015 | September 2015 | August 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 | April 2015 | March 2015 | February 2015 | January 2015 | December 2014 | November 2014 | October 2014 | September 2014 | August 2014 | July 2014 | June 2014 | May 2014 | April 2014 | March 2014 | February 2014 | January 2014 | December 2013 | November 2013 | October 2013 | September 2013 | August 2013 | July 2013 | June 2013 | May 2013 | April 2013 | March 2013 | February 2013 | January 2013 | December 2012 | November 2012 | October 2012 | September 2012 | August 2012 | July 2012 | June 2012 | May 2012 | April 2012 | March 2012 | February 2012 | January 2012 | December 2011 | November 2011 | October 2011 | September 2011 | August 2011 | July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011 | February 2011 | January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009 | September 2009 | August 2009 | July 2009 | June 2009 | May 2009 | April 2009 | March 2009 | February 2009 | January 2009 | December 2008 | November 2008 | October 2008 | September 2008 | August 2008 | July 2008 | June 2008 | May 2008 | April 2008 | January 2007 | March 2008



VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

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

Check the list.