Monthly Archives: May 2013

Sasabune Now Open In New Space; Maru Restaurant Taking Over The Old Sasabune In West LA

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Sushi Sasabune, which quietly slipped out of their old space to inhabit the old Seed Bistro at 11917 Wilshire Blvd. is now officially open (but with no signs yet), according to their Facebook page here.  Replacing them in their old digs just blocks away at 12400 Wilshire will soon be Maru Restaurant.  With one location in Valencia, according to their website Maru offers a menu of seasonally inspired modern French, Japanese, and California influences using organic farmer’s market produce and fish flown in from Japan. Construction is currently underway with no news of an opening date, but I’ll keep you posted… Check out their website here: maruvalencia.com.

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Kreation Now Open In Venice

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Furthering its inexorable drive to make cold-pressed juice available to all, plucky and prolific organic juice chain Kreation’s latest outpost is now open at 1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice.  Inhabiting the old Jin Patisserie space with its lovely, sunny patio, the Venice location offers a full “kafe” menu as well as their proprietary line of juices, nut “mylks”, kombucha, smoothies, and detox drinks.  Read more at: kreationjuice.

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Obikà’s Sicilian Wine Dinner

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On Monday June 3rd at 7:00pm, Italian mozzarella specialist Obikà in the Century City Shopping Center will be hosting a special Sicilian wine dinner highlighting the flavors and wines of Sicily.  $40 will get you four traditional courses redolent of the Island’s flavors including citrus, pistachio, fennel, and capers paired with three Sicilian wines, a 30-year-old Marsala, and limoncello.  Make your reservation by calling (310) 556-2452 or click here: obikala.com.

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Street’s Memorial Weekend Bash

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This Memorial Day Sunday May 26th, Susan Feniger’s Street is hosting an über-cool event just dripping with hip… Starting and 12pm and running until 9pm, Street will be setting up a Korean BBQ and kimchi station on the patio, but there’s more: there’ll be a sake/soju lounge by Yoshi Murukami of Boutique Sake, and a pop-up shop by Giant Robot.  Now how cool is that?  Cost at the door is $45 and includes 3 drinks, but advance purchase is $35 and includes 4 drinks, so what are you waiting for?  Click here to find out more…

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Santa Monica Festival Food Scene Line-Up

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Festival season is off and running…  The 22nd Annual Santa Monica Festival takes place from 11am to 6pm on Saturday June 1st in Cloverfield Park at 2600 Ocean Park Blvd.  Scheduled events for the “zero waste” event include a variety of eclectic dance and music presentations, workshops, a marketplace, eco-zone, Juneteenth celebration, and a culinary stage with various Santa Monica chefs leading demos culminating in a Chef Challenge between Josie Le Balch (Josie, Next Door) and Nyesha Arrington of Wilshire Restaurant. The challenge?  Create an innovative vegetarian meal for four for $15. And what festival is complete without the de rigueur Food Trucks?  Here’s a partial list of the line-up:  Border Grill, Coolhaus, India Jones, Juice Crafters, Let’s be Frank, and many more…  Admission Free.  Check out their Facebook page here.

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Sbarro Pizza Coming To Santa Monica Place

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You could be forgiven for thinking that there already was a branch of ubiquitous mall pizza chain Sbarro in the food court of Santa Monica Place.  But there wasn’t… it was a branch of Stephano’s Pizza, the very same as is located on the corner of The Promenade and Arizona, just blocks away.  Well, Stephano’s has quit the food court and in its place will shortly be a brand-spanking new branch of the aforementioned Sbarro that you can read about, if you must, here.

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Taste Of Hawthorne Food And Music Festival This Sunday

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With all the big “Taste of…” festivals in SoCal, it’s easy to overlook some of the smaller ones, but they’re often not without their charms… This weekend affords you the opportunity to go off the beaten path and discover a different world.  Taste of Hawthorne is this Sunday, May 19th from 10am to 6pm at the Hawthorne Airport at 12101 S. Crenshaw in Hawthorne.  A rather remarkable 40 plus Hawthorne and South Bay restaurants are represented, as well as food trucks, Food Network and Travel Network stars (i.e. local son Chris Cognac, the Food Network’s Hungry Detective), artisan beer and wine gardens, and entertainment headlined by local fave band Ozomatli.  And with brand-spanking new Eureka! Tasting Kitchen on site, what more could you want?  Another bonus?  Admission free.  Check out more at: tasteofhawthorne

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LA Urban Fitness Cafe Coming Soon To Main St. SM

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Nutrition and supplement experts LA Urban Fitness at 3015 Main Street in Santa Monica (corner of Marine) is currently remodeling a portion of their store to install a brand-spanking new cafe to be called, surprisingly, LA Urban Fitness Cafe.  The new cafe will feature bar, table, and outdoor seating and offer a menu of smoothies, cold-pressed juices, coffee, and “snacks”.  They’re shooting for a June opening. laurbanfitness.com.

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Coast Beach Cafe, Santa Monica Hosts Monaco Grand Prix Party

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Dust off your seersucker sports coat…  On Sunday, May 26th, Coast Beach Cafe just steps from the beach in the swanky Shutters Hotel in Santa Monica is hosting a very civilized viewing party for the Monaco Grand Prix racing event.  Now here’s the genius part:  Due to the time difference in Monaco, Coast is opening their doors at 4:00AM and luring guests in with promises of a continental breakfast and unlimited champagne!  Quelle bonne idée!  Secure yourself a table here.

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White Asparagus From Provence Arrive At Melisse

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Those succulent little heralds of Spring, white asparagus, have arrived from Provence in all their plump, sweet glory and are currently featured as the stars of the menu at Josiah Citrin’s Melisse in Santa Monica.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to try them in their signature dish, White Asparagus “Cocotte” with Morel Mushrooms and Yellow Wine Sauce as well as other preparations.  Time is extremely limited so move fast… melisse.com

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Gluten-Free Cooking Class With Kristine Kidd May 7th

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With so many people doing gluten-free these days and restaurants increasingly accommodating them, gluten-free is becoming a national craze. Now is your chance to try it yourself.  Cookbook author, culinary expert, and food editor of Bon Appétit magazine for 20 years, Kristine Kidd, author of Weeknight Gluten Free: Simple, Healthy Meals For Every Night Of The Week, will be teaching a cooking class on Tuesday, May 7th at Let’s Get Cookin’ in Westlake Village.  Some of the recipes you’ll be learning: Soft Socca (Mediterranean chickpea crepes) with Summer Squash, Basil & Gruyère, Sautéed Scallops and Quinoa with Orange-Avocado Salsa, and Ginger-Cherry Oatmeal Cookies. Read more about the event here and check out Kristine Kidd’s blog and find out about more events here.

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Farmer Boys Coming Soon To El Segundo

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With 72 locations throughout California and Nevada (albeit mostly far east and south of Downtown LA), breakfast and burger chain Farmer Boys is making its first inroad into West LA.  Known for its generous portions, the new restaurant is taking over a repurposed fire department outpost at 2161 E. El Segundo Blvd. (corner of Nash) in El Segundo, a city quickly adapting to meet the noontime meal requirements of the aerospace industry.  Look for a May opening.  Until then, read more here: farmerboys.

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