Chicago coffee experts Bow Truss vied for the attention of fickle LA coffee drinkers back in 2015. Things may not have worked out as they had hoped… Two notices have been taped to the front door of their tiny boite at 340 N Camden Dr. One handwritten notice indicates that they are now “closed until further notice”. The other explains perhaps why: It is an official three day notice to pay rent or quit. I’m not sure if the closure is permanent, but things don’t look good. I’ll keep watching…
Ever since short-lived Aestus vacated their space at 507 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, I’ve been carefully watching to see what would move in. Well, now we know… The windows were recently papered over informing us that the good people of Santa Monica will soon be able to partake of “modern organic Mexican” at an upcoming branch of Tocaya Organica. With branches in West Hollywood, Venice, and Miami, it looks like in they will also be expanding to Westwood and Hollywood as well, according to their website.
I only just recently noticed that artisanal coffee experts Caffe Luxxe has boarded up its location at 11975 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. I think the closure wasn’t unexpected as the entire shopping complex that this branch anchored has also boarded up in anticipation of an upcoming project. But if you count yourself among the legions of devoted fans of the popular purveyor of caffeinated drinks, don’t worry that you’ll have to drive to Santa Monica to get your fix: According to their website, they are planning on moving just a little east to a new location at 11640 San Vicente. I’ll keep watching to see what develops.
I didn’t see this coming… It appears that Beverly Hills’ long-standing purveyor of Southeast Asian food has pulled up stakes. A for lease has gone up on the front of cleverly named 9021Pho indicating that they are vacating their location at 490 N. Beverly Dr. Yelp confirms that they are indeed closed. No word on what happened or what may be taking their place, but I’ll keep watching…
Just in time to get back on track for your New Year’s resolution… It was only back in early October that I noticed that a branch of Sweetgreen was soon to grace the corner space in the Brentwood Gardens at 11677 San Vicente. Wasting no time whatsoever, they are now dishing healthy bowls and salads to the grateful people of Brentwood.
To the great many of you who have been carefully tracking the progress of LA’s second branch of Paris’ cult macaron shop comes this welcome news: Ladurée threw open its doors at 311 N. Beverly Dr. on Saturday. While I haven’t seen the recently opened outpost at The Grove, this one has a different look and feel than the branches I’ve visited in Paris, London, or New York. The tiny jewel box space is bright and airy with large flowers and lattice on the walls, not paneled and heavily Gallic in theme like many of the others. A cursory glance at the menu shows many of my old favorites, including the Club Champs-Elysees (tomato, eggplant, zucchini, mozzarella, parmesan, and basil on wholemeal bread). And the pastries, cakes, and macarons are as gorgeous as always, and prettily displayed in glass cases, beckoning you to forget all about that New Year’s resolution you recently made…
Correction: I originally reported that the Club Champs-Elysees was on the menu. It is not. That sandwich is apparently only served in Paris and New York. Tofu sliders are this locations meat-free sandwich option.
Santa Monica is about to get its fourth Whole Foods. But this one has a difference… According to the notice of pending requested applications attached to the fencing at the front of the new Whole Foods Market complex being built on the corner of Cloverleaf and Pico, not only with they be selling alcohol, but they will also be having “instructional tasting”, and “beer and wine on premise consumption”. Organic shopping in Santa Monica is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Local institution J & T Gourmet Deli has apparently vacated their 1128 Wilshire Blvd. space. Long a favorite among the Polish and Eastern European communities, I had been hearing whispers that the quality had changed somewhat after a recent ownership change. Not sure what will replace the deli, but I’ll keep watching…
One of the last holdouts in the rapidly developing Westfield Century City Shopping Center, Vanilla Bake Shop has finally closed. Apparently, they may not be returning to the glitzy new mall once it opens sometime later this year. The website states that the upcoming Pasadena location is where they are relocating.
Culinary wonderland Penzeys Spices appears to have vacated their Santa Monica digs at 1347 4th St. Not sure what happened or what may be taking its place. I’m certain that home cooks across the Westside mourn the loss…
Icy treat specialists Yogurtland continue their inexorable march across LA. A new branch just popped up in the shopping center on the corner of Lincoln and Pico in Santa Monica. Because no one should have to walk more than a block for frozen yogurt…
The shop that replaced Santa Monica’s dubious branch of Joan’s on Third appears to have closed at 1705 Ocean Ave. While there are no obvious signs, the shelves have been stripped and there is no activity at H B Daisy, and I when I called their phone number, I received a message that the number is unassigned. Please let me know if you have any further information, but until then I’ll keep my eye on the troubled corner space at Ocean and Olympic…
At this time of year, I like to say a heart-felt thank you to all who read and support this blog. It looks like we can look forward to another year of LA food scene craziness. And I’ll be right there with you in 2017… Let’s see what happens next. Until then, wishing you all a Happy New Year! Cheers!
Look what I came across on a recent visit to The Landmark Theaters… You can now get your frozen treat fix at this handy gelato machine located on the ground floor. Flavors include tiramisu, banana cheesecake, and peanut butter cup, and will set you back $3.75.
It’s that time of year when popular vegan chain Veggie Grill unveils its Winter menu. Included on this year’s menu are: Turkey Dinner Sandwich, Koreatown Tacos, Pumpkin Spice Cake, and a new item from the Beyond Meat people that they’re referring to as a “game changer”, the VG Beyond Burger. Check out the entire menu of seasonal additions to their regular here.
I’m so very grateful to all who visit this blog and wish all readers a very Happy Holiday Season filled with laughter, joy, and of course, delicious food! (The diet can start Monday…)
Years ago, if you went to a movie in Westwood (yes, people used to do that), chances are you stopped by Jerry’s Deli beforehand. Unfortunately, Jerry’s went extinct in Westwood three years ago and the iconic, cavernous space at 10925 Weyburn Ave. has sat empty ever since. I’ve been watching to see who would finally take down the decrepid for lease sign and breathe new life into an old classic. Well, signs did come down recently, and sadly, according to the notice of public hearing posted on the front, the old Jerry’s will be a future “financial service center”.
Selling pizza to hungry students in Westwood is like shooting fish in a barrel, but competition is stiff. Back in 2014, the build-you-own concept Open Oven Pizza opened its doors to the hungry masses at 1131 Westwood Blvd. While there is no clear indication of closure, it has sat idle for a while and Yelp is declaring it closed, so I’m calling it closed as well.
When I popped into buzzy Erven, the eatery that inhabits the old RFD space at 514-516 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, to sample the much-lauded beer battered tofu sandwich, the staff that evening looked particularly chuffed. I assumed that was because of the recent attention being showered on the vegan restaurant, and a good review from Jonathon Gold. So when I congratulated them on their review, I got this response: “Which one?” While it’s not out in print yet, turns out that Erven has just been named #1 of Los Angeles’ Best New Restaurants of 2016 by Los Angeles Magazine. You can see for yourself here. Congratulations!
Ummm… I can’t entirely grasp the concept here, but if you’ve ever lamented the fact that you had to stop in two places to satisfy your pizza and macaron fix, you’re in luck! It appears that both will be the bill of fare at an upcoming new restaurant at 2029 Westwood Blvd. Apparently, the man associated with this venture, Aman Shekarchi, knows a thing or two about macarons. He’s the name behind a wholesale pastry site Monkey Macarons. Not sure when The Pizza Mac will open, but the world will be waiting with bated breath.
Toddrickallen 