M Cafe de Chaya has a special deal on for summer: dinner for two for under $20.  For $18.95 you get 2 Big Macro Burgers, 2 large M Fries, and 2 ice teas.  Not bad.  Offer available at both locations (Beverly Hills and Melrose).  Check out www.mcafedechaya.com for more info. 

Who knew there even was a National Margarita Day?  Well, apparently there is and today (Feb 22nd) is it!  To celebrate, and who doesn’t need to celebrate National Margarita Day, head on down to Susan Feniger’s Street.  They’ve put together a flight of make-your-own-margaritas featuring Seis Hermanes and Calor tequilas with a stuffed taco for $20.  Cheers!

Susan Feniger’s Street restaurant has created a special four course dinner for Valentine’s night with at least one vegetarian choice in each course including:  Japanese Mixed Tempura kabocha squash, asparagus and tofu fritters served with green tea salt and ponzu dipping sauce; Argentine Sweet Potato Gnocchi dumplings with aged pecorino, braised rainbow chard, pistachios and salsa verde; and a choice of either Trio of French Macarons yuzu lime, raspberry and purple yam or Chocolate Crêpe Cake layers of chocolate crêpes and green tea macha cream coated in dark chocolate ganache for dessert.  Cost is $40 per person.  If you haven’t made plans for dinner yet, you are dangerously close to ending up in the dog house.  Call  reservations at 323.203.0500 and see if they can squeeze you in…

www.eatatstreet.com
742 N. Highland Los Angeles, CA 90038
Phone: 323.203.0500

Pizza Antica, on top of Santa Monica Place, has announced a Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu for $50.  The menu includes two glasses of sparkling wine, a choice for the first course of Portobello Mushroom Fritti with
Smoked Paprika Romesco or Bruschetta with Roasted Golden Beets, Watercress, Gorgonzola Butter and Walnuts, a second course of any two small thin crust pizzas, and a dessert of Hazelnut Semifreddo with Dark Roast Mocha Drizzle.  If you can snag a table outside, you’d have the perfect romantic Valentine’s Day.

In other Pizza Antica news, they have introduced a new pizza: Broccoli Rabe and Buratta Pizza.  It features roasted broccoli rabe, roasted red onions, Cacciocavalo cheese, burrata, and Calabrian chili oil.  Sounds delicious. 

http://www.pizzaantica.com/  310.394.4080 

Attention multi-taskers!  M Café de Chaya is announcing a new express menu at both their Beverly Hills and Melrose locations.  The idea is a limited menu of 5 items so you can run in, grab, and be out the door in 5 minutes.  Included on the menu is the M Chopped Salad and the Madras Tempe Wrap with Kale Salad.  There is also a limited beverage menu.   And if you’re in such a hurry that you can’t manage 5 minutes, they have new curbside pick-up as well, which begs the question:  Will eating a macrobiotic tempe wrap while stuck in traffic on the 405 cancel out the effects of each?   Check out more at www.mcafedechaya.com

Susan Feniger’s Street has announced a new line of cocktails to put you in the holiday spirit after a wearying day of Christmas shopping.  Pop in for a little constitutional after you’ve braved the crowds at Bev Center to find the perfect tie for Uncle Vincent. 

Bru’s Wiffle, which you may remember reading about here http://wp.me/pIwAN-bQ, is now open at 2408 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.  Billing itself as a “Waffle Joint”, they serve both savory and sweet waffles made from a secret batter recipe.  Breakfast waffles are topped with scrambled eggs and a variety of other toppings such as the “Popeye” which includes tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, and onions.  Open for lunch and dinner as well, the simple savory waffle menu includes a pizza waffle and a chili cheese waffle.  They also have salads and sides, and a drink menu consisting of coffees, teas, lemonade, and banana milk.  Read more at bruswiffle.com. 

Good news for all you Black Friday shoppers!  Pizza Antica in Santa Monica is announcing a special breakfast menu for all you who hit the pavement early.  They will  be offering such things as Potato Pizza with Truffle Oil & Baked Egg, Roasted Pepper Potato & Mozzarella Frittata, and  Baked Eggs with Pain de Mie Toast and Hash Potatoes.  Doors open at 8:00am on Friday November 26th.  So now you have no excuse not to get out there and do your part for the economy! 

I’m continuing to write about restaurants offering fantastic vegetarian options for what may be an herbivore’s biggest challenge, Thanksgiving.  This week, Josiah Citrin’s Melisse in Santa Monica posted its Thanksgiving menu, which can be done traditionally, or completely vegetarian.  The three course menu offers two starter choices, a pumpkin soup or a fall green salad, a main course of Wild Mushroom, Sweet Onion and Burrata Torte Autumn Herb Jus with a choice of three of “Josiah’s Mom’s traditional” sides from a selection of seven, and a number of desserts including Chocolate Soufflé Cake Chocolate Sorbet, Praline Sauce, Pudwill Berries, and an apple, pecan, and pumpking pie. Price is a reasonable $89 for adults, $42 for kids and it is served from 3:00 to 7:30. 

1104 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401 (310) 395-0881
guestservices@melisse.com

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Susan Feniger’s Street has a fantastic take-away Thanksgiving menu available for those of you who are cooking-challenged.  The menu is mix and match and can be done vegetarian or vegan, as well as traditional.  Well, as traditional as Tandoori Oven Jackfruit will let you be.  Such sides as Carrot Salad with Harissa, Currants, and Feta Cheese, Pumpkin and Poblano Tamales, Indian Spiced Mashed Sweet Potatoes, or Sautéed Brussel Sprouts with Goat Cheese, Apple and Hazelnut would turn any Thanksgiving table into an international extravaganza.  You must order three days in advance of your pick-up.  Last day for pick-up is Wednesday, Nov. 24th.  Check out full menu and prices here http://www.eatatstreet.com/thanksgiving.pdf or call 323.203.0500 for more info or to place an order.

Good news for Westsiders!  Babycakes, which opened in downtown earlier this year is now selling cupcakes at M Café de Chaya.  Specializing in vegan and gluten-free goodies, the New York bakery is offering its line of brownies, muffins, cookies, and of course cupcakes at the various locations of the macrobiotic eatery (sadly, Culver City fans will have to drive to Beverly Hills after the recent closure of M Café there).  Think of the time and guilt saved as you skip the lines at Sprinkles and head instead just a few blocks distance for your sweet fix.  Read more at http://www.mcafedechaya.com/ or http://www.babycakesnyc.com/.