At this time of year, I like to say a heart-felt thank you to all who read and support Toddrickallen. You are my inspiration. As we look to the New Year, expect a few changes to this site, as well as to the capricious Westside food scene. In the mean time, here’s wishing you all a delicious 2016!
Located just to the left of upcoming Espresso Cielo at 1431 B 2nd St., signs are up in the window indicating that the new tenant will be an outpost of Belgian chocolate purveyor KC Chocolatier. With a flagship in Chicago, KC is an offshoot of Kim’s Chocolates from Tienen, Belgium. No word on an opening date, and it looks like they’ve a way to go, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
We’ve long known that the renovation of the erstwhile dusty old Laemmle Theater at 1332 Second Street in Santa Monica was going to bring us (possibly) two new restaurants. And now we know for sure what one of them will be. A recently posted ABC license application informs us, and the company website confirms that a branch of Arizona’s earthy eatery Flower Child is on the way to the sparkling new movie palace. Offering a menu that is organic, locally sourced, and additive free, Flower Child promises “healthy food for a happy world”. No word on an opening date, and construction is fast and furious, but I’ll keep watching…
Toddrickallen is grateful to all who visit this blog and wishes all readers a very Happy Christmas filled with laughter, joy, and of course, delicious food!
While it appears to have happened a while ago, I only just noticed that popular Indian restaurant Bombay Cafe, at 12021 W. Pico Blvd., has a little problem. A notice posted in the front window informs us that ABC has suspended their liquor licence for a violation. When exactly will you again be able to order an IPA with your makhni paneer? It might be a while. The notice says the suspension is “indefinite”.
Going a little bit farther afield, I recently noticed construction on some upcoming new eateries heading to the land of Post & Beam behind Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. According to signs, Michelle’s Country Diner is remodeling an existing building. And close by, a branch of the Cajun seafood chain The Kickin’ Crab is being built. No word on opening dates, but I’ll keep watching…
Snazzy upscale coffee purveyor Alfred Coffee has the perfect idea for your last-minute stocking stuffer. If you can’t make it into one of their stylish branches on Melrose, in Brentwood, or in Silverlake, just pop into the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. There, you’ll find The Alfred Coffee gift box, essentially a vending machine filled with bags of coffee, gift cards, and Alfred gear. You’ll find these little treasures near J.Crew.
The food scene around El Segundo has become quite a mercurial affair, with openings and closings almost daily. The latest change? LA’s only branch of the East Coast chain Salad Creations has permanently closed its doors in The Edge complex as of Friday. One employee told me that keeping it open was simply, “too much work”. No word on a replacement, but I’ll keep watching…
Swanky jazz club H.O.M.E. (House of Music & Entertainment) burst onto the scene back in 2012, taking over the cavernous old Camden House space at 430 N. Camden Dr. in Beverly Hills. Then, earlier this year, they hit a sour note. We never completely knew what the kerfuffle was, but the prominent notice posted in the window did provide a clue. Well, H.O.M.E. is back up and running with new owners and management according to a spokesperson. We wish them the best of luck.
With all of the changes coming to the Century City food scene, I’m keeping a close eye on all the developments. Back in August, I told you about the relocation of the Century City Shopping Center’s branch of beloved chocolatier See’s. Their previous address in the mall was completely torn down to make way for the upcoming expansion. Wasting no time whatsoever, See’s Candies is now open in its new location, near Breadbar, and just in time for Holiday shopping…
Who even knew that there was such a thing as National Brownie Day? But apparently there is and today (December 8th) is the day. And to celebrate, Native Foods is giving away brownies with the purchase of a Big Ol BBQ Burger. Find a branch of the expanding fast-casual vegan chain and check out their menu here.
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The Westfield Century City Shopping Center is a flurry of activity and construction lately. We’ve been promised 15 new eateries (including Eataly). The latest? Melrose’s specialty sandwich shop All About The Bread has opened a branch in the food court. The concept here is a focus on artisan, handcrafted bread that is baked fresh every 30 minutes delivering a product with a crunchy exterior and fluffy interior which is then used to make any one of a number of signature sandwiches. Check out the menu and read more here.
For many restaurateurs and businesspeople, opening a new food spot in Santa Monica can be a nightmare. Red tape and delays make the process a long, dragged out affair. (Am I right Lemonade, Creams & Dreams? And Caffe Primo… we feel your pain.) But for some magical reason known only to the god of multinational coffee chains, a new Starbucks can open in days in the notoriously challenging city. It was only back in mid-October that I told you about a new branch of the ubiquitous coffee purveyor being built on the ground floor of Santa Monica Place near Bloomingdale’s. One month and a half later, Starbucks is open and probably giving Ugo Café a run for its money.
I just noticed that one of the Downtown Santa Monica’s long-time residents has folded. Johnnie’s NY Pizzeria has closed its doors at 1444 Third St. Promenade. And it appears they don’t have a new tenant lined up yet, judging from the for lease signs but I’ll keep watching…
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