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…
Buy an entrée, side, and drink at Native Foods today and tomorrow (Tuesday and Wednesday), and they’ll throw in a free dessert (including a limited edition mint chocolate whoopie pie). A portion of the profits goes to benefiting two charities, Farm Sanctuary and something called the Orange County Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology. Read more at: nativefoods.com.
By merely uttering the words, “Mondays suck”, custom-built burger restaurant The Counter will give you a complimentary shake of your choice. The offer is good only at the El Segundo Plaza location. I can’t think of a better way to stave off the beginning of the week blues…
For locations and other info, check out: thecounterburger.com
You could be forgiven for thinking that “The crack heard ’round the world” was a reference to your old, flatulent college roommate, but it isn’t. On Saturday, March 10th, in a promotional event, Whole Foods stores will simultaneously be cracking open over 300 wheels of authentic Parmigiano Reggiano. The “The crack heard ’round the world” occurs at 3:00pm eastern time and samples will be offered.
While we’re on the subject of businesses moving into Beverly Hills, I noticed this application posted at 9897 Santa Monica Blvd., the site of the former K Chocolatier. It looks like something called Om Organic Mixology is applying for a liquor license. I can’t find much on the web about them, except that they’re a new, environmentally conscious vodka company billing themselves as “the enlightened cocktail”. You can read their launch page here: omcocktails.com/om-cocktails-2. I’ll keep my eye on this one…
Although I can’t track down much more info than the name, according to the signs posted in the windows, the cavernous and empty Camden House space at 430 N. Camden Dr. in Beverly Hills will soon be an enterprise called Home Restaurant and Supper Club operated by House of Music and Entertainment and represented by Neil Brown. Not much activity to be noted at this point, except the transfer of liquor license and an “intent to file for an open air dining permit”, but I’ll keep you posted…
It looks like Rotisserie Works in the food court of the Century City Shopping Center is now closed. I’ll keep my eye on the space and let you know if anything moves in…
In other CC news, it’s being reported that Seasons 52, a new restaurant is moving into the Century City Shopping Center (la.eater.com). It apparently is going into the old Houston’s space because I noticed this little card taped the old front door. With locations across the US, Seasons 52 bills itself as a “fresh grill”. You can read more about it here: seasons52.com.
The old Rotisserie Works space…
The card taped to the front door of the old Houstons space…
The Broadway Ale House has put a bad patch behind them and is once again open for business at 129 Broadway in Santa Monica. In case you haven’t been following the scandalous affair, you can catch up here: toddrickallen.com/2012/02/07/the-skinny-on-the-closure-of-the-broadway-ale-house/.
Obika‘s snazzy new Italian pizza oven is now up and running and delivering amazingly crispy pies starting today in the Century City Shopping Center. Obika’s CEO, Raimondo Boggia was kind enough to give a personal tour of the pizza kitchen. While they’re still hard at work developing their pizza menu, look for beauties such as: Verdure Grigliate (grilled eggplant, zucchini, radicchio, smoked mozzarella di bufala, parsley), Formaggi Morbidi (gorgonzola, stracchino, ricotta, mozzarella de bufala), or perhaps the Salmone e Ricotta (wild Alaskan salmon, ricotta, mozzarella di bufala). Read more at obikala.com.
Tough week? Need a great place to unwind? Mr. C in Beverly Hills has recently added a Friday evening happy hour from 6pm to 8:30pm in the Lobby Bar that includes complimentary “cicchetti” with every round of drinks ordered. Cicchetti are Venetian tapas prepared and selected specially by chef David Perez. There’s also live music and a super cool glass pool table. Sounds like a great way to kick off the weekend. Read more at: mrchotels.com/beverly-hills/.
In the troubled space that used to be the home to LA’s only outpost of East coast hotdog staple, Nathan’s Famous, a new breezy eatery has arrived. Chinese Friends Fresh Szechuan Kitchen is now open at 5050 W. Rosecrans Ave. in Hawthorne (next to Starbucks). The restaurant is open from 10:30am to 3:00pm and then from 4:00pm to 9:30pm and offers an extensive menu of traditional dishes, friendly staff, and a bright dining room guarded over by the portrait of Chairman Mao on the front of a neon-lit Forbidden City. There are bold plans for expansion: I was assured by the manager that they intend on making this the flagship store for a future chain. You can read more and check out the menu here: chinesefriendsusa.com.
Wishing all readers a sublime Valentine’s Day. Don’t you just love the intimate connection generated by two people lingering over a decadent, well-prepared feast? As is tradition in my house, I’ll be making a gruyère cheese soufflé scented with star anise. Here’s to Love!
Formerly in Culver City, Choppe Choppe, is now open at 368 N. Camden (the old Vive Le Crepe! space) in Beverly Hills. The fresh lunch spot follows a concept of “5 proteins done 2 ways” in the forms of salad, sandwich, or wrap. Check out their menu board below, or read more at: choppechoppe.com.
Stop the presses! A big hats off to reader Evan, whose keen eye spotted the real story about why the Broadway Ale House was closed by ABC. Apparently, according to the Santa Monica Patch, there is an accusation of selling drugs (cocaine and marijuana) from behind the bar, which the holder of the licence, Eden Beloved Noe, blames on an employee. Due to the charge and a previous May charge of underage selling, as of December 6th, she can no longer retain the license and it must be transferred to a new owner, Mark Jason Marquez, which can take up to 100 days. Read the whole sordid story with further details here: http://santamonica.patch.com/articles/alehouse. Read where Ms. Noe defends herself here: http://santamonica.patch.com/articles/ale-house-owner-paints-herself-as-victim-in-drug-case.
Read my original post here: toddrickallen.com/2012/02/03/uh-oh-broadway-ale-house-closed-by-abc/.
Ok, so Cafe 360, the coffee shop at Jose Eber Salon at 360 Camden in Beverly Hills only just opened last month, right? Well I noticed this weekend that all signs were down and the door is closed. When I inquired at Jose Eber reception, I was told that they were closed for “renovation” and would re-open at some point. Upon closer inspection, it appears their “renovation” was not voluntary: note the small notice at the bottom of the door. Apparently, the state closed them down for a health and safety reason. Hopefully they’ll be up and running again soon…
Work is going on fast and furiously on the new BierBeisl going into the old short-lived Bottega Marino space at 9669 Little Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills. They didn’t make a mid-January opening as projected, but it shouldn’t be too long now. In the mean time, read more about the Austrian restaurant here: bierbeisl-la.com.
Only two weeks ago I told you about the demise of Vive Le Crepe! at 368 N. Camden in Beverly Hills. Wasting no time whatsoever, the ambitious Choppe Choppe soft opens (hopefully) today. Formerly in Culver City, the fresh sandwich shop follows a philosophy of “5 proteins done 2 ways” in the forms of salad, sandwich, or wrap. Read more at: choppechoppe.com.
Toddrickallen 