Banners on the fencing surrounding the renovation of the Marina Marketplace at 13450 Maxella Avenue in Marina Del Rey announce that the following restaurants will be going into the development: Le Pain Quotidien, Yardhouse, and Tender Greens. The new AMC Dine-in Theater is now open. All others are projecting a Spring 2013 opening.
Can’t live without a traditional Bûche de Noël this Christmas? Looking to send a real fruitcake? Desperately in need of Star of David cookies? Look no further than Bouchon Bakery in Beverly Hills, who recently began churning out holiday cakes, cookies, and pastries just in time for the Holiday party season. And because they’re from Bouchon Bakery, you know they’ll elicit squeals of delight from guests… Check out their entire list here: BouchonBakery.
8 Espressos Coffee House has quietly taken over the old Tanner’s Coffee in the strip mall at 11901 Santa Monica Blvd in West LA. Fashioning themselves as a community meet-up, the coffee house has scheduled event nights including comedy, open mic, and yoga. Read more at 8espressos.com.
Expanding pizza chain Joe’s Pizza is now open in the food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. Read more at: joespizza.it.
You do realize that New Year’s Eve is less than a month away, right? So it’s not too early to begin planning. Susan Feniger’s Street is hosting a special event titled Getting Eve’n: A New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Dinner. Billed as an evening of FLAVOR, FRIENDS, AND FOUL PLAY, you can enjoy a special menu as you get clues and try to figure out who dunnit. Included on the menu, will be intriguing dishes such as Shot in Cairo, Drowned in Mumbai (shot of Egyptian dukkah spice and warm housemade paneer in ‘drowned’ naan), and Snakepit Poisoning (viper chile and ginseng laced mandarin oranges). Seating is all evening long, cost is $65 per person and guaranteed to sell out so dial 323-203-0500 just as fast as your fingers can dial to score your reservation if you feel up for the challenge. Read more at: eatatstreet.
When you buy an entrée, side, and drink at Native Foods today (Wednesday, Dec. 5th), you’ll get a free dessert (they’ve brought out cranberry orange cupcakes just for the occasion), plus you’ll be helping a good cause as they’re donating a portion of the day’s profits to the Coastal Conservation Network. In other Native news, this weekend only, they’re offering a special cashew quinoa burger with carmelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and herbed mayo served with chili garlic spiced fries. Read more at: nativefoods.com.
Even though the sign proclaiming long-gone Valen Dolce never changed, the most recent inhabitant of the space at 1426 Montana Ave. #5 in Santa Monica was coffee shop Via Dolce (confusing, isn’t it?), that had moved from further up the street when competition from Sweet Lady Jane became too stiff. Via Dolce recently closed and in its place, a new ambitious venture has just opened. The brand-spanking new Pulse Cafe offers a healthy menu of vegetarian sandwiches, salads, breakfasts, smoothies, and gluten-free baked goods as well as coffee and tea. And they’re working on that sign… Read more at: westsidepulse.com.
The fresh juice craze continues unabated… We now know the location of the planned Pressed Juicery in Beverly Hills. Signs went up recently announcing the chain’s latest outpost will be at 430 North Bedford. Read more at pressedjuicery.com.
Well, it looks like Seasons 52 was able to do it… They opened on their projected November 26th date in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center with a cool Houston’s meets True Food Kitchen vibe. As well we know, Santa Monica, however, is a whole other animal and the Seasons 52 that was scheduled to open in January is now delayed. Check out their menu here: seasons52. In other Century City news, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf that was built at the center of the mall opened on Friday.
Just in time for holiday shopping, Cook by Venokado (a.k.a. Venokado Kitchen Supply in previous posts and on signs throughout the mall) is now open in The Market at Santa Monica Place. Carrying a selection of specialty cookware, utensils, ingredients, and one-of-a-kind pieces, the plucky little offshoot of Venokado, the wine and gift shop at the far end of The Market as well as in West Hollywood officially debuted on Black Friday. venokado.com
My Fit Foods, the Texas-based purveyor of pre-packaged, healthy, low glycemic, lean protein meals is now open (just in the nick of time for the Holidays) at 11701 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Barrington and Wilshire). Read more about their innovative take-away here: toddrickallen.com/my-fit-foods, and here: myfitfoods.com.
Where’s the prettiest place you’ve never eaten? That would be Hideaway at the Oceana Beach Club Hotel, the secretive, sexy hotel nestled into a quiet residential neighborhood at 849 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Why is it the prettiest and why have you never eaten there? Originally opened with a “guest only” policy (later abandoned), this little charmer boasted an adventurous (if small) “coastal California cuisine” menu, a seaside clubhouse feel, and jaw-dropping views of Palisades Park and the ocean beyond through enormous picture windows. Well, all that is about to change. Hideaway at the Oceana is now closed for a major renovation. Gone will be the clubhouse feel, to be replaced with a sleek Deco design and a fireplace. The menu will be completely revamped as well. Sumptuous sunset views will stay. Look for a December opening…
With a troubled history of encounters with the law, ABC, and the Health Dept., the Broadway Ale House at 129 Broadway in Santa Monica was not destined for long. A new establishment with a new owner, a new lease on life, and a new name has taken its place. The Commons took the paper from its windows after a re-do and opened its doors this week. Sign changes are still to come. We wish them better luck…
Although various dates have been floating around, on Monday, a manager confirmed to me that the LA area’s first outpost of Seasons 52, the “fresh grill and wine bar” going into the old Houston’s space in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center will be opening November 26th. Santa Monica’s branch still has no definite date, but is listed on the website with a winter opening. In the mean time check out more here: seasons52.com.
Wow, that didn’t take long… Workmen could be seen Sunday gutting the interior of ambitious Austrian-themed gelateria My Vienna at 9481 S. (Little) Santa Monica in Beverly Hills. Sadly, the coffee shop had only been open since June. No word of a replacement, but I’ll keep you posted.
And while we’re on the subject of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center food court, another mystery solved… With four other locations around LA, Glendale-based purveyors of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, Massis Kabob will soon be inhabiting the space left by California Crisp. Check out their menu here: massiskabob.com.
Continuing its relentless march into the Westside, Jersey Mike’s Subs just posted banners announcing its place, along with Fresh Brothers and Starbucks , in the new development on the corner of Broadway and Lincoln in Santa Monica.
Well, I think we can all heave a sigh of relief… If you’ve been up late at night wondering what was going to take the place of the recently closed Baja Fresh in the mercurial food court of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, worry no more! Signs just went up indicating that the empty space will soon be inhabited by a branch of national burrito chain Chipotle.
Television darling and weight loss heroine Valerie Bertinelli will be signing copies of her cookbook One Dish at a Time at the Barnes & Noble at 210 Americana Way in Glendale on Saturday, November 3rd at 2:00pm. She will be sharing recipes from the book, described as “nutritious Italian”, and discussing her personal journey to stop overeating. Perfect for heading into the Holiday season…
Mélisse in Santa Monica, in keeping with its visiting chef series, is hosting a special event with Chef Sinichi Sato of Passage 53 in Paris. Sinichi, who hails from such luminaries as Gagnaire, L’Astrance and Aida, and is the first Japanese chef in France to receive 2 Michelin stars, will be presenting his modern French Ten Tasting Menu for two nights only: Tuesday, November 27th and Thursday, November 29th. To score a reservation, call 310.395.0881 just as fast as your little fingers can dial…
Toddrickallen 