Mr. C in Beverly Hills has expanded its wine-by-the-glass menu considerably, with a variety of new California Pinot, Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc as well as an Italian Chianti, the Stellina di Notte 2009. You can sample some of their new fare on Wednesday evenings, when they offer a pre-fixe classic Venetian market menu for $44 per person and add a three course wine tasting pairing for $20. Check out the new menu here: mrchotels.info/winemenu.
M Café de Chaya, on Melrose and in Beverly Hills, has rolled out its new seasonal menu, bringing back some old favorites but adding a number of new items as well including: barley and green garbanzo bean salad, kale and shiitake ohitashi, raw almond rainbow roll, and grilled vegetable salad with avacado-lemon dressing. Check out the entire Spring menu here: mcafedechaya.com.
Construction is underway on Catalina Coffee & Café, going into the building housing the new and über-cool genre bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy at 2810 Artesia Blvd. in Redondo Beach. With one location already in Redondo Beach, the new restaurant will have a slightly different menu and serve beer and wine, but look for standard fare of sandwiches, salads, breakfasts, and baked treats. Billing itself as “The South Bay’s Neighborhood Gathering Place”, they expect to open in May, but it may be pushed back to June. Read more at: catalinacoffee.com.
Veggie Grill has recently added a number of new items to their standard all-vegan menu. Included on the list are a selection of “homestyle dinners” that consist of a main and two sides such as the gluten-free Urban Plate: blackened tempe, carmelized onion, and portobello mushroom stack with chipotle ranch, steamin’ kale and tomato salad. There are new sandwiches as well like the Buffalo Bomber (crispy chickin’ with buffalo sauce, ranch, tomato, and red onion) and the Crab Cake (“crab” cake with spiced tartar sauce, pickles, tomato lettuce, red onion). And don’t miss the new Chocolate Pudding Parfait. Find locations and read more at: veggiegrill.com.
Perhaps you’ve noticed the advertising push for the new development Three Sixty At South Bay. The massive project sits at the corner of Aviation and El Segundo. In an apparent attempt to create more buzz, the developers are launching a regular food truck event. Epicurean Row starts Saturday, April 21st from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
You may well know that the healthy concept restaurant Seasons 52 is going into the old Houston’s space in the Century City Shopping Center. Although there’s no official date for an opening, construction continues at a brisk pace with a projected opening of Fall 2012 (about the same time as the Santa Monica branch moving into the space at 120 Broadway). Recently, they posted their application to sell liquor… Read more here: seasons52.com.
Mr. C in Beverly Hills is offering an Easter brunch on Sunday, April 8th, that includes BOTTOMLESS BELLINIS! Of course the Cipriani name is famous for their classic concoction. Oh, by the way, there is a three-course menu as well including such items as: Chilled English Pea Soup, Roasted Baby Beetroot Salad, Spring White & Green Asparagus Quiche, as well as other choices. But did I mention BOTTOMLESS BELLINIS? Cost is $65 and the brunch runs from 11:00am to 3:00pm. View the menu and other info here: mrchotels.info/easter_brunch.
In more Street news, the plucky little restaurant devoted to the world’s street food has cooked up a menu for their second annual Seder event on Saturday, April 7th. The evening starts with a brief service and a glass of wine at 6:00pm, and follows with a choice of either a vegetarian or non-veg four course menu served family style that you can check out here: eatatstreet.com/streetevents. Make reservations by calling (323) 203-0500.
Susan Feniger’s Street, at 742 N. Highland, has rolled out a brand spankin’ new menu filled with Asian street food treats. With a strong emphasis on vegetarian and vegan dishes, you’ll see new items such as: JAPANESE MUSTARD SPINACH (komatsuna greens, spiced tofu, toasted rice broth), DATE + KAMUT FRITTERS (yogurt sauce, rose petals, almonds), and WARM HALLOUMI CHEESE (grilled treviso, citrus, honey thyme vinaigrette). And thankfully, they’ve kept the Kaya Toast. Read the menu here: eatatstreet.com/streetdinner.
Upper West is hosting a special dinner tonight (Thursday, March 29th) at 7:00pm in association with San Antonio Winery. The are calling the promotion Old School Eats because the selections are reminiscent of the Mad Men era. Included on the menu are potato-leek vichyssoise, waldorf salad, and apple brown betty, all paired with San Antonio wines presented by wine maker Arnaud Debons. Cost is $55. Read more at: theupperwest.com.
Here’s another one that escaped my attention, but it seems Japanese cutie, Cal Shabu, has quietly slipped into the corner shop at 930 Broadway in Santa Monica. The chain, with restaurants in Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley, specializes in fresh ingredients that you cook yourself. The space is bright and airy, and filled with funky art. And yes, they actually offer a vegetarian shabu plate! Read more at: californiashabushabu.com.
Are you trying to eat healthier, but need a little fresh inspiration? M Café in Beverly Hills is hosting a “Sweet and Savory Spring Cooking Demo” this Tuesday, March 27th from 7:00pm to 8:30. Included on the menu are nut and mushroom , pâté, barley and green garbanzo salad, and flourless orange and almond cake. Cost is $35 and includes dinner, beverages, recipes, and a Q and A with Chef Lee Gross. Reserve a spot by emailing Sara@thechaya.com.
Boy, I sure missed this one, but it looks like an outpost of Hollywood chocolatier, John Kelly Chocolates, is now open at 1111 1/2 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. With one store already at 1506 N. Sierra Bonita in LA, the brand hand-produces award-winning fudge and chocolates using only the best, preservative-free ingredients. The results are spectacular, particularly the truffle fudge, that they will happily offer you as a free sample as soon as you walk in the door. Read more at: johnkellychocolates.com.
Jersey Mike’s Subs, the East Coast sandwich chain is continuing its inexorable march into the West Side. The latest location is under construction at The Shoppes at Del Rey at 4020A Lincoln Blvd in Marina Del Rey, near Free Bird and The Coffee Bean. You can acquaint yourself with the menu here: jerseymikes.com, before they open one in your backyard.
Been daydreaming about gondoliers, pasta, and canals? This Thursday, March 22nd, Mr. C in Beverly Hills is presenting a special dining event, “A Night in Venice”. The evening begins at 8:30pm and later, they move the celebration to The Beverly in West Hollywood. Make a reservation by contacting dleahy@mrchotels.com or 310-226-6245. Read more at: mrchotels.com.
Gone meatless but still missing the traditional cabbage and corned beef? Native Foods is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year by offering half off beer and wine and with a special sandwich: The Classic Reuben consisting of thin sliced, deli-style seitan piled on grilled rye with homemade sauerkraut, Native horseradish cheese, and Russian dressing served with lemon-dill potato salad. Cost is $9.95. What could be more Irish? And did I mention all beer and wine is half off?! Read more at: nativefoods.com.
Ever wondered how they do it? Want to recreate the ravioli with the egg in it? Well, now’s your chance. Tomorrow night (Thursday, March 15th), the folks down at Mozza are holding a class to demonstrate various recipes from their newest book The Mozza Cookbook. Class starts at 7:00pm and costs $150. Make a reservation by calling 323.297.1133.
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Ok, you knew it was too good to be true. It looks like Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet has closed up shop at 407 N. Bedford Dr. in Beverly Hills. No need to cry over spilled milk though, you can still get your hands on the calorie-crunching confections, if you must, in numerous locations including here: cookiediet.com.
There seems to be a load of restaurant activity going on in Beverly Hills lately… Here’s the latest: design-your-own-burrito restaurant Chipotle Mexican Grill is hard at work taking over the now closed Baja Fresh space at 475 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills (on the corner of Little Santa Monica). And yes, there already is a Chipotle down the street at 224 S. Beverly. Unfamiliar with the ubiquitous Mexican chain? Acquaint yourself here: chipotle.com.
Austrian theme restaurants are hot in BH right now. Recently came the opening of BierBeisl further up the street, and now it appears that construction is underway on the double space just to the right of Crumb’s Bake Shop on Little Santa Monica near Beverly in Beverly Hills on another Austrian themed eatery. My Vienna Gelato & Coffee is developing the spaces and has posted signs and applications in the window. According to their Facebook page that you can see here: facebook.com/pages/My-Vienna-Gelato-Coffee, they are billing themselves as, “Award winning gelato and authentic coffee tradition”. I’ll keep you posted as more develops…
Toddrickallen 