Promoters of plant-based diet Veggie Grill is celebrating Earth Week with a special free food offer. The rapidly expanding chain will give you a card good for a free entrée on a subsequent visit if you present them with either a bicycle helmet or the actual bike. The “Ride in, Veg out” offer is good from now until April 24th. Read more at: veggiegrill.
After much confusion (and a brief stint selling bicycle parts), purveyor of raw foods to the stars, restaurateur, and cook book author Juliano Brotman’s Santa Monica palace of veganism Planet Raw is officially closed on the corner of Broadway and 6th Street. Rumor has it that he is looking to move the whole operation to Marina del Rey. No word of a replacement yet, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
You’ll soon be spoiled for choice if you live in Culver City near the intersection of Sepulveda and Washington Blvds. Chipotle and Pei Wei are now open in the Culver Crossroads shopping center. Under construction in the same shopping center is a new branch of “fast fire’d” gourmet pizza restaurant Blaze Pizza at 4114 Sepulveda. Look for an August opening but in the mean time, read more about them here: blazepizza.
You may have noticed that the plebian Albertsons grocery store at 3105 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica had closed and construction had begun on a new project at the site. Turns out, the market will soon be a brand spankin’ new branch of upscale grocer Bristol Farms, providing further evidence of the rapid gentrification of the formerly sleepy seaside town.
Well, it looks like Seasons 52 was able to do it… They opened their Santa Monica location on March 28th after only minimal delays (a veritable miracle in SM). With a cool Houston’s meets True Food Kitchen vibe, they are now serving lunch and dinner for the calorie-conscious crowd 7 days a week at 1501 Ocean Ave. (corner of Broadway) . Check out their menu here: seasons52.
Impossible to get a look inside yet, but there are signs of life at the upcoming Beverly Hills branch of Hakkasan at 245 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. With locations in London and at the choicest addresses throughout the world, the upscale Chinese restaurant known for its designer-clad waiters, ultra-swanky vibe, and astonishing prices has posted its application to sell alcohol, but not exactly at eye level… No word on an exact opening date yet, but their website announces a Summer opening. Check out the Miami Hakkasan’s menu here to get an idea of things to come, and read more at: hakkasan.com/beverlyhills.
Pizza Antica in Santa Monica Place as well as Northern CA, is celebrating the launch of its new proprietary beer Birra Antica, with a “release week” from April 15th to April 21st. For $6 you can sample the brew with a taralli (Italian pretzel) developed by Linden Street Brewery that is described as “rustic, country-style, and spiced with fennel, black pepper, and cumin”. Read more at: pizzaantica.
Here’s a glimpse of what Josiah Citrin has put together from the Farmer’s Market for the Spring menu at Mélisse:
English Pea Velouté
Porcini Mushrooms, Whipped Porcini Cream
Green Asparagus
Almond Panna Cotta, Blood Orange and Oxalis
Santa Barbara Spot Prawns
Sugar Snap Peas, Sea Vegetables, Curly Dock
White Asparagus “Cocotte”
Morel Mushrooms, Savagnin Wine Sauce
Read more at: melisse.com
If you’ve been wondering what happened to the little Italian restaurant Alejo’s on the corner of Washington and Lincoln in Marina Del Rey, it’s still there but with a new name: Eddie’s Italian Restaurant. It still has the same owner, and the same menu, just a new sign. Read more at their (not yet updated) website: alejosrestaurant.
Haven’t made up your mind yet about where to go for brunch on Easter? Here’s a sample of the special “All About Eggs” menu they’ve put together over at Susan Feniger’s Street: Zucchini Polenta Benedict (goat cheese stuffed squash blossom and roasted poblano hollandaise), Diablo Egg Salad Sandwich (spicy egg salad with watercress and spring radishes on whole grain bread), Turkish Baked Eggs (harissa, spinach with baked eggs and chickpeas topped with mint yogurt sauce), Sweet Potato Hash (piquillo peppers, kale, caramelized onion and fried egg), and of course the iconic Kaya Toast. There are many other offerings as well, call (323)203-0500 for reservations and check out the full menu here: eatatstreet
Have you been wondering what those banners announcing Stella Rosa wines (not to be confused with Stella Rossa Pizza Bar in Santa Monica) on the sides of the construction site on the corner of Lucille and Lincoln Blvd. in Venice are doing there? Well, according to an official associated with the winery, the construction site will be a future “cool, upscale, office building”. No word on what will be inhabiting the building quite yet… Look for a September unveiling. stellarosawines
Here’s a sample of the Easter treats that the good folks at Bouchon Bakery in Beverly Hills will be rolling out starting Monday March 25th: Egg Bon Bons, Religieuse, Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes, St. Honore, Easter Shortbread Cookies, Chocolate Easter Eggs, and Golden Egg Mini Macaroons. They’ll also have hot cross buns and Easter baskets by special request. bouchonbakery
OK kids, better move quickly on this one… With tv shows, numerous books, vineyards, and restaurants to her credit, Lidia Bastianich is the irrepressible and undisputed matriarch of the Bastianich empire. Once again, this Tuesday March 26th at 7:00pm at Mozza, she returns to LA to celebrate the release of not one, but two new books: Lidia’s Favorite Recipes, and her latest children’s book Lidia’s Family Kitchen: Nonna’s Birthday Surprise. As well as a book signing, included in the evening is a special four course dinner (complete with wine pairings) by Executive Chef Matt Molina with recipes from Lidia’s vast repertoire. Cost is $175 per, and space is extremely limited, but why not try your luck by calling Nicole White just as fast as your little fingers can dial at (323) 866-5290 or by email at nwhite@mozza-la.com to reserve. mozzarestaurantgroup
Huckleberry in Santa Monica is hosting a series of Thursday Night Dinners, each consisting of a three course prix fixe. On the menu tomorrow night (March 21st): Farmers’ Market Bitter Greens Salad with dates and parmesan, Crispy Anson Mills’ Polenta and slow cooked free range chicken confit with farm egg, roasted artichokes, and asparagus, and Fresh Strawberry Tart. They will do a vegetarian option as well. Cost is $30 (kids under 12 are half off, under 5 are free), no reservations, seating begins at 6pm and ends at 9pm. huckleberrycafe
Wow, that was fast… Kreation Juicery is now officially open in Beverly Hills at 9609 Little Santa Monica Blvd. (formerly Menchie’s) , just inches away from perpetually swamped Sprinkles cupcakes. And yes, the rumors are true, they do have a juice ATM. Read more about the rapidly expanding chain at: kreationjuice.
This Saturday, March 16th at the Beverly Hills branch of Williams-Sonoma, you can get an opportunity to check out gluten free done at the hands of a pro. Cookbook author, culinary expert, and food editor of Bon Appétit magazine for 20 years, Kristine Kidd will be demonstrating recipes and signing copies of her latest book, Weeknight Gluten Free: Simple, healthy meals for every night of the week. The event begins at 2:00pm and is bound to be crowded so come early. Note: only cookbooks purchased at W-S will be eligible for signing. Read more about Kristine Kidd at her blog: kristinekidd, and get more info about the event here: williams-sonoma.
After what seems like an unusually long time coming (otherwise known as normal in Santa Monica), the family owned Mexican Restaurant Casa Martin is officially open in the storefront that used to house the old Detelich Gallery space at 1654 Ocean Ave, unit B in Santa Monica, fortuitously positioned between Loew’s Hotel, The Lobster, and across the street from the upcoming Village at Santa Monica, the multi-million dollar residential and commercial complex currently in construction (SantaMonicaVillage). The cheery little eatery boasts an extensive menu of traditional Mexican fare including burritos, enchiladas, salads, and vegetarian entrees, as well as weeknight specials such as Nacho Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, and GNO (Girls Night Out) Fridays. Hours are: Mon-Thurs 9:30am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am to 11pm. casamartinsm
According to staff and the application posted in the window, it looks like newish Shore Hotel at 1515 Ocean Ave in Santa Monica is adding a “bar-lounge” just off the main lobby. No word on an opening date yet, but I’ll keep you posted. shorehotel
Downtown’s Border Grill is offering a rare opportunity to spend an afternoon with the Too Hot Tamales themselves, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. On Saturday, March 16th they will be offering a cooking class on doing brunch the Border Grill way. Included on the menu are Border Bloody Maria, Guava empanadas, and La Bomba Rice Pudding. But you had better move quickly, the 11am class is sold out but thankfully they’ve just added a 2pm class. Cost is $75 and includes brunch, cocktails, and recipe booklet. Call (213) 486-5171 just as fast as your little fingers can dial to secure your spot. bordergrill.com
To those of you who live in Santa Monica and have been up late at night worried that you just may have to walk more than one block to procure coffee comes this welcome news… With the recent spate of coffee houses opening across the city comes wind of one more. It looks like a brand-spanking new branch of Starbucks is looking to take over the prominent corner spot long-held by Farrah’s Florist at 11th and Wilshire. If you look carefully at the picture on the “notice of pending design review”, you can get an idea of what the new corner will look like. But not so fast… As you can see by the marquis, Farrah’s is fighting back. Looks like they’ve commenced a petition drive to hold on to the location. We’ll be following this one closely…
Update: I spoke with someone from Farrah’s who explained how frustrated the florist feels after inhabiting the choice spot across from Melisse for 25 years, hence the petition and community push-back. Some of the other shops on the block are losing their leases as well; This is going to be one big Starbucks! The battle will culminate in a March 18th hearing at City Council Chambers. But there’s a bigger concern here. With all the construction downtown (the new Miramar project, the proposed Frank Gehry tower on Ocean Ave. at SMB, and the upcoming Village at Santa Monica), local residents are increasingly worried about over-development and the loss of local character, turning this into a cause célèbre. Looks like Farrah’s could be the latest poster-child in the fight. We’ll see how this plays out…
Toddrickallen 