Just released info from Mozza… If you act quickly you might make it.
Pizzeria Mozza is hosting a special lunch with
with Special Guest entitled, “Puglia – the heel of the boot”
with Winemaker Sebastiano de Corato from Rivera
Monday July 19th, 12:00 to 1:30
Three courses, $59
Call ASAP for a rezzie!
641 N. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323.297.0101
Well, it looks like longtime Montana Ave fixture in Santa Monica, Patty’s Pizza has closed up shop. But what’s curious is that it is being replaced by a Subway! If you don’t count any of the 85 or so coffee or yogurt shops, there are currently no fast food restaurants on swanky Montana. One wonders if the NoMa matrons will be lining up to get their footlongs…
625-D Montana Ave, Santa Monica
If you’re a fan of New York’s The Spotted Pig, Then Monday, July 26th is your lucky day. April Bloomfield, chef at the wildly-popular Michelin starred gastropub, will be the guest chef at Josiah Citrin’s Melisse in Santa Monica. The price is $150 with a portion of the profits benefiting Special Olympics. Rezzies can be made at Opentable.com or by calling (310) 395-0881.
Mélisse Restaurant, 1104 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401
Ph.:310.395.0881
For most of us, Italian wines are a whole other animal. Here I am in Italy and I still don’t know my Fiano from my Falanghina. And in case you haven’t noticed, Italian wines are the current darlings of many fine wine lists across town. So here’s a great opportunity to bone up on the confusing world of Italian wines. Mozza2Go has just announced a series of Saturday Italian wine classes titled Wine 101. Osteria Mozza’s wine director Jeffrey Porter, will take you through the world of Italian wines (with emphasis on the Bastianich family wines, of course) paired with Matt Molina’s fantastic food. Sounds like a great opportunity to not look like a philistine the next time the wine list is passed to you.
Get more information about Osteria Mozza
Do you ever dream about the bavette cacio e pepe at Osteria Mozza and wonder how they produce such perfection rivalled only in Italy? Well, now’s your chance if you hurry. This Thursday, July 1st, the Scuola di Pizza at Mozza2Go has just announced a pasta class. Unfortunately it’s only demonstration, no hands-on, but what a great chance to find out how to make the goat cheese ravioli with 5 lilies. Reception starts at 6:30 and class begins at 7:00. $150 per person. Class size is extremely limited so act fast. Call 323.297.1133 for reservations
742 N. Highland Los Angeles, CA 90038
Phone: 323.203.0500
After a delay of about a week for the opening, Millions of Milkshakes is set to foist its celebrity concoctions on unsuspecting Westfield Fox Hills Mall patrons starting tomorrow. Keeping fingers crossed, the grand opening is scheduled for Friday.
Layla Cafe at 11906 W. Wilshire, near Bundy in West LA is in its soft opening. Behind the coolest giant swinging door is a quiet oasis serving healthy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern salads, sandwiches, grilled items, and nibbles. Open from 10am to 12am daily.
Layla Cafe
11906 W. Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310) 310-2999
If you hurry, you just might be able to make the newly added pizza class at Scuola di Pizza. It’s this Thursday night, June 24th. There is a 6:30 reception with a 7:00 start. Cost is $150 and seating is very limited. Call 323.297.1133 for reservations.
Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323.297.0101
So what’s going on at the new Thai restaurant across the street from Urth on Main in Santa Monica? That sign in the window announcing the Thai trinkets store’s impending conversion to a vegan restaurant has been up for quite a while. Well, according to Latree the owner, the restaurant has been postponed due to a conflict with the city of Santa Monica. It appears that building is lacking a proper cover for its electrical panel. While this doesn’t sound like a giant problem, the only company that manufactured the covers is long out of business. A makeshift cover was installed and this is the reason the city won’t grant the permit. Latree has been very patient and has already done much of the conversion, but she doesn’t expect any action from the city until later this year. Her future menu lists a variety of noodles, curries, appetizers, and fried rice made with fresh, healthy ingredients.
Looks like they still have a way to go if they’re going to make it for a July/August opening, but check out the Freshii website for its menu of salads, wraps, soups, and breakfasts that calculates your calories as you make your choices. With restaurants throughout the US, Canada, and the world, they offer a concept menu of fresh foods that you customize to fit your lifestyle. Find Freshii on the corner of San Vicente and Gorham (under Chin Chin) in Brentwood. Find the menu here http://freshii.com/menu.php
The Westside sugar rush continues unabated…
With locations in the City of Commerce and Huntington Park, it appears that La Monarca Bakery is heading west. Signs have gone up at 1300 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica (formerly Frogo Yogurt) announcing its impending arrival. The menu lists an assortment of pan dulce, cakes, savory pastries, ice cream, and coffees. See it here at http://lamonarcabakery.com/en/pdf/MONARCA-MENU.pdf
It looks like a crepe chain, La Crepe Parisienne, that started in Mexico is going into the vacant storefront at 563 Camden in Beverly Hills, next to Teuscher. The only other location in the US is in New York on Spring St. The online menu lists a variety of sweet and savory crepes prepared upon demand, as well as Illy coffee and “healthy bottled beverages”. Check out the menu at vivelacrepe.fr/
Stop the presses! This just in from a very reliable source: You know that cavernous space in the Brentwood Country Mart that I referred to in a previous post as the “carcass of the City Bakery”? A very reliable source has informed Toddrickallen that work has begun on “Thomas Keller’s casual cafe/bakery and produce market.” Could this be the elusive Bouchon Bakery that Keller has been alluding to building in LA for some time now? I stopped by this afternoon and sure enough, there are signs up stating that you can no longer walk through the space and there was ample evidence that work had begun. If you listen carefully, you just may be able to hear westsiders exude a collective gasp of disbelief at their good fortune. You can glimpse what’s likely to be coming at Bouchonbakery.com.
With the original in West Hollywood, it looks like Millions of Milkshakes is getting ready to open next week in the Westfield Fox Hills Mall. Expect the usual designer milkshakes made with over 50 different toppings. I’ll think I’ll steer clear of the Linsay Lohan though…
A reader sent news of soba cooking classes in Santa Monica. Soba is my go-to noodle of choice. Whenever I return from 99 Ranch Market or the Japanese supermarkets on Sawtelle, inevitably I bring back a supply to last a few months. It’s earthiness stands up to heavily flavored sauces (such as a curry) and sparkles in lighter soy-bases sauces. Or try substituting it for the traditional pizzoccheri in an Italian pasta of cubed and sautéed potato, cavolo nero, butter, parmesan, red pepper flakes, and toasted bread crumbs. If you’ve every had the opportunity to have had fresh soba, then you know that these classes are a great opportunity. They even offer vegan soba cooking classes!
Soba and Japanese Home Cooking Workshops:
Beginner to expert soba noodle classes with gluten-free offerings, Japanese market tours, knife skills, vegan dining, and more.
Locations and tickets online at mazumizu.com.
After leaving Red O the other night, the doorman handed us a business card which states that they are “coming soon” to Santa Monica, although I’ve been unable to confirm this anywhere.
A reader excitedly spotted Border Grill Truck in Hawthorne. Unfortunately for them, they were not open for business but instead appeared to be undergoing a repair. Men working on the truck explained that it was undergoing a conversion to make it run on cooking oil. Hopefully a greener Border Grill Truck will be back up and running soon!
With an outposts in Santa Monica and Brentwood, Caffè Luxxe is under construction at the Brentwood Country Mart next to the new and ridiculously popular Sweet Rose Creamery. Favored by crazed coffee snobs, their lattes are probably the best in this part of town. Their artisanal baked goods and sandwiches are excellent. Too bad BCM can’t fill that cavernous hole left by City Bakery’s departure, it feels creepy walking through its carcass to get from one end to the other…
Another installment of Mozza’s ‘Festa Dello Sport” will take place this Thursday, June 3rd to watch the World Cup game. The menu includes a fantastic variety of finger foods including pizza, LaBrea pretzels, and brownies. Cost is $50 (without bevies) and is limited to 30 people. Doors open at 5:00.
Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323.297.0101
Toddrickallen 