Mozza is offering a $50 discount to Food and Wine Magazine’s Taste of Beverly Hills over labor day weekend (Sept. 2-5).  Sounds like an exciting weekend with unlimited sampling of over 40 local restaurants, unlimited tastings of wine and beer, entertainment, Ludo, Voltaggio, Ted Allen, Evan Kleiman, and even Nancy Silverton.  But you only have until August 22nd to take advantage of Mozza’s offer.  Go to  www.thetasteofbeverlyhills.com and use promo code “Rest50”.

It looks as though the final flurry of activity may guarantee the promised August opening of Fitfood, the casual take-away and delivery place at 7998C Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood.  The website describes a menu of healthier choices; low sodium, sugar, gluten-free and dairy-free choices, no added oil.  The food looks to be Mediterranean and Asian inspired.  Expect such things as pastas, sandwiches, salads, spring rolls, curry, and brown rice pudding. 

Check out more at http://fitfoodla.com/

Check out the new ‘secret recipe’ waffle joint, Bru’s Wiffle currently renovating the space at 2408 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.  The website boasts a selection of breakfast and lunch items made with waffles including dessert waffles, savory pizza waffles, meatball marinara waffles, and chicken curry salad waffles! Sounds interesting…

Bru’s Wiffle

http://bruswiffle.com/

Brentwood Country Mart madness continues!  I noticed that the paper had been taken off the windows and things are looking complete at Yummy Cupcakes across from the Brentwood Country Mart on 26th in Brentwood.  And there’s a sign in the window announcing the Santa Monica bakery’s impending opening. 

With all the activity centered around the Brentwood Country Mart lately, it looks like one more contender is jumping into the mix.  What used to be Mimi’s at 246 26th Street is being transformed into a new eatery named Villetta.  It looks as though they have a way to go as the old building is essentially torn down. 

Before

After

I noticed this ‘change of ownership’ sign at the run-down and pufferfish-less restaurant space that was Luau restaurant at 369 N. Bedford in Beverly Hills.  The sign states that a new restaurant named Taberna will be taking over.  The sign describes it as an “on-sale general eating place”.  Can’t get much more descriptive than that.  I wish them well, that space has not been kind to many other previous inhabitants…

Toddrickallen got a glimpse inside the brand spanking new Bloomingdale’s inside the glitzy Santa Monica Place at their pre-opening event on Thursday night.  Needless to say the look of the store is ultra fab.  I was surprised to see a frozen yogurt/coffee shop on the top floor.  The name of the shop is Forty Carrots and, it was explained to me, is a house brand for Bloomie’s (just in case you’re stricken with a sweet tooth while shopping for David Yurman).  They were certainly doing a brisk business handing out samples…

Here’s the line-up…

Josiah Citrin’s Melisse has announced the last chef in their popular summer guest chef series.  The program concludes on Monday August 23rd with James Beard award-winning chef, David Kinch from the Michelin two-starred Manresa in Los Gatos, CA.  They also have Ray Garcia from Fig preparing the amuse bouche.  A portion of the $150 set menu will go toward Special Olympics.  

Call 310-395-0881 for reservations or go to www.opentable.com

Mélisse Restaurant

1104 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401
http://www.melisse.com

Adding to the plethora of restaurants to feed a hungry aerospace industry, construction is underway on the new Ittou Bento Japanese Bistro at 400A Sepulveda Blvd in El Segundo.  By ‘bistro’, we assume they mean sushi and bowls.   It’s opening still looks to be a way off…

In an effort to gain the upper hand in the Montana Ave. frozen yogurt wars, longtime local fave TCBY, has begun offering hand-crafted personalized shakes to its line-up.  Your move, Menchie’s…

TCBY

715 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 395-8388

 Scuola di Pizza has announced its August pizza class schedule for those dying to know how to make that incredible funghi misti with fontina, taleggio, and thyme.  Classes are on Mondays: August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th and are held from 7:00pm to 9:30pm.  Cost is $150 per class.  Call for rezzies and  info. 

Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323.297.0101

My carnivore friends are excited about the news that east coast hotdog chain, Nathan’s Famous has debuted its first LA restaurant.  Positioned in a shared space with Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips in an unremarkable strip mall in Hawthorne, the restaurant is wildly popular for inventing the Coney Island Hot Dog.  The chain’s closest stores are in Las Vegas, and San Diego, making this their first move into the LA area.  Nathan’s Famous has been open since July 18th. 

Nathan’s Famous

5050 W. Rosecrans Ave., Hawthorne, CA 90250

(310) 355-1048  www.nathansfamous.com

Toddrickallen got a glimpse of the future of Century City in Milan.  Obika Mozzarella Bar has 11 locations throughout Italy and the rest of the world including the Milan Malpensa airport.   While flying out of Milan, I got the chance to have a good look at what we can expect in the Century City Westfield Shopping Center, slated to open in September.  Obika is a casual concept restaurant with a menu of pastas, salads, “mozzarella tasting menu”, and sandwiches centering around Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP as well as other Italian specialties.  The idea appears to be an emphasis on regional Italian fare in an upbeat, breezy atmosphere.  How will this translate in Century City?  We’ll have to wait and see.  In the mean time, check out the website here http://www.obika.it/ for their menu. 

Century City                                                                                Milan

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!

Pizzeria Mozza

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

http://www.melisse.com

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.

Mozza2Go Scuola di Pizza

Italian Wine 101

 Reservations at (323) 297-1133

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