Category Archives: News

My Fit Foods Coming To West LA, West Hollywood

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Hailing from Texas, with locations in various states as well as Hermosa Beach and Torrance, My Fit Foods is moving into the West Side.  Going into a space that has seen many incarnations in the strip mall at 11701 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Barrington and Wilshire), MFF offers healthy, pre-packaged meals (many in three sizes: small, medium, or large) and snacks that are locally prepared and focus on lean protein, low glycemic carbohydrates and heart healthy fats.  They also have nutritional coaches to recommend meal planning and provide education.  My Fit Foods is planning on opening November 8th in West LA with a another location opening on the same day (barring complications) at 8601 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.  Read more at:  myfitfoods.com.

Nekter Juice Bar Coming Soon To Downtown Santa Monica

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Looks like the fresh juice craze continues unabated…  With a number of locations in the OC, Nekter Juice Bar is looking to make inroads north.  Construction is underway on their newest location at 1422C 2nd St. in Downtown Santa Monica.  Offering a menu of fresh, healthy, and raw juices, smoothies, and açaí bowls, Nekter is planning on a November opening, but this is Santa Monica after all so we’ll see.  nekterjuicebar.com

 

Ina Garten Book Signing At Williams-Sonoma, Santa Monica

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You know you can’t resist her… TV darling and prolific cookbook author Ina Garten will be signing copies of her latest book Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust on Thursday, November 15, 12:00pm at the Williams-Sonoma at 1600 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica.  Come early as lines usually stretch for blocks and the book must have been bought at W-S with proof of purchase.  Call (310) 586-1018 for more details.

Bouchon Bakery’s Halloween Specials

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Bouchon Bakery in Beverly Hills is getting into the spirit of the season with Halloween-themed baked treats.  From now until October 31st, you can take home their “scary good” specials including: Pumpkin Brioche, TKO Bat Cookies, Devils Food and Pumpkin Cupcakes, and more.  Perfect for your Halloween party.  bouchonbakery.com/beverly-hills

 

The Cheese Store Of Beverly Hills’ Holiday Spectacular

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Well-known fromagerie and LA institution, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is hosting its 12th annual Holiday Spectacular on Wednesday and Thursday, November 7th and 8th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at nearby Sharkey’s Mexican Grill at 435 N. Beverly Dr.  Cost for the coveted tickets is $100 and a credit card is required for the reservation.  No word on a menu, but I’m willing to guess it’ll heavily feature cheese…  Call (310) 278-2855 to secure your spot.  cheesestorebh.com

 

Spazio Caffè To Open Second Location In Venice

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Recently, I told you about the upcoming West Coast premier of a coffee shop by Italian specialty coffee brand Manuel, Spazio Caffè, under construction at 1511A Montana Ave. in Santa Monica.  Looks like they’re planning a second location as indicated by the signs in the window at 245 S. Main St., in Venice, between Exhale Yoga and Subway.  Based in San Vendemiano, Italy and with locations throughout the world and one US location on the East Coast, the artisan coffee purveyor will also likely offer its line of selective teas, chocolate, baked goods, and merchandise. No word on an opening date yet, but as always, I’ll keep you posted… Read more at: manuel.it/en/spaziocaffe.

 

Taste Of Italy This Weekend

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Looking for something to do this weekend?  The fourth annual Taste of Italy takes place tomorrow, Oct. 13th at 424 North Main St. in Downtown LA.  Benefitting the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, the culinary and cultural event will feature performances, wine, and food stalls including participation by such names as: Obika, Il Fornaio, Academia Barilla, San Antonio Winery, Toscanova, Laconda del Lago, and a whole lot more.  Tickets are $60 at the door and include 10 “tasting” tickets.  Check out more at: italianhall.org/tasteofitaly.

 

Spago Opens For Lunch October 16th

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The recently remodeled and svelte new Spago will commence lunch service on October 16th.  Long an LA institution, lunch on the famous patio is now guaranteed year-round with the new retractable, telescoping arched roof, controlled by a remote with which the Spago folks were kind enough to let us play, and that I tried to capture in the last, grainy photo.  In the mean time, here are a few samples of the new design details…

 

Venokado Kitchen Supply Coming Soon To The Market, SMP

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Since its opening over a year ago, The Market at Santa Monica Place, the ambitious Ferry Building-style space has undergone plenty of change.  For all its empty stalls, transformation continues and some businesses continue to expand; The Curious Palate now operates two other stalls, The Curious Baker and The Curious Cheese Shoppe. Now comes word of further expansion; Venokado, the wine bar and one-of-a-kind gift store at the rear of The Market is opening a kitchen supply and cookware store across 2 spaces including the kiosk and the stall directly behind it with the “Fall in love with your food” banner pictured below.  Carrying an eclectic assortment of cookware, bakeware, and other kitchen items, the new Venokado Kitchen Supply is planning on an opening in about one month.

 

 

Doma To Replace La Focacceria Tra Di Noi In Beverly Hills

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It was mid-July when I last told you that La Focacceria Tra Di Noi at 362 North Camden in Beverly Hills had suspended its dinner service and was only open for lunch as it underwent renovations.  Since then, I’ve been carefully watching as those announcement signs came down and the entire place closed for a major over-haul.  While the space is almost entirely gutted, a new ABC ownership change application went up in the window this week stating that an entirely new venture, Doma will be replacing La Focacceria.  The new restaurant will be Italian, and while this seems like a dramatic change, the parent company of Doma, Nika & Nick Inc., is still connected to Tarcisio Mosconi of Tra Di Noi.  I’ll keep you posted…

Native Food’s New Fall Menu

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Native Foods has unveiled its new fall menu this week with a number of innovative dishes including: Butternut Polenta Bites (pesto baked polenta topped with roasted butternut squash, caramelized onions and toasted pumpkin seeds in a balsamic drizzle over arugula), Bistro Steak Sandwich (Native seitan steak, thinly-sliced and seared, topped with homemade bleu cheese dressing, oven roasted tomatoes, crispy shallots and arugula on a warm grilled baguette), Native cobb salad, and a pumpking pie.  Read more at: nativefoods.com.

 

M.A.K.E. Opens October 1 In Santa Monica

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Located in the space previously occupied by Piero Selvaggio in The Market at Santa Monica Place, Matthew Kenney Culinary and its associated M.A.K.E. Restaurant are currently in “friends and family” mode and are planning on opening to the public on October 1st. With restaurants in Oklamhoma City and Chicago, raw guru and author Matthew Kenney has designed a vegan concept that includes a communal omakase-style bar, an “airy dining room accented with natural woods and fabrics”, and an outdoor patio all situated next to a culinary school.  Look for a menu that is local, seasonal, and of course, plant-based and raw.  Read more about the ambitious project here: matthewkenneycuisine.com.

Update:  A manager told me on Thursday afternoon that the opening date was Oct. 1st, however Eater is reporting a Saturday opening.  la.eater.com/archives/

Susan Feniger’s Street’s “Break The Fast”

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Susan Feniger’s Street has created a special a la carte “break the fast” menu for Yom Kippur on Wednesday, Sept. 26th.  Included on the menu are: Blueberry Crusted Noodle Kugel, White Cheddar and Chive Stuffed Latkes, Homemade Bagel Platter (with Smoked Fish Horseradish Spread, Broadbean Hummus with Roasted Lemons and Garlic, and Late Harvest Heirloom Tomatoes),  and an Artichoke and Feta Frittata with olive aioli.  Regular menu also available.  www.eatatstreet.com

Coffee Bean Coming To Century City Shopping Center

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OK, so I know I’ve been a little obsessed with the Westfield Century City Shopping Center lately, but so much is happening to the food scene there.  And just when you thought they couldn’t possibly squeeze in one more eating establishment comes this… The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is building a free-standing kiosk right smack dab in the middle of the mall, near Tourneau. 

True Food Kitchen’s Cookbook Release October 9th

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If you’re a fan of True Food Kitchen’s (Santa Monica and other locations) ethos of cooking that promotes “personal and emotional well-being”, you’re in luck.  Now you can create that kale salad at home. TFK has announced the release of their cookbook True Food: Seasonal, Sustainable, Simple, Pure on October 9th.  Authored by health guru Dr. Andrew Weil (with Sam Fox, CEO of Fox Restaurant Concepts, parent company of TFK and Michael Stebner, executive chef), the book will feature 125 recipes from “America’s healthiest restaurant”.  Get yours for $29.99. truefoodkitchen.com

 

Seasons 52 Tracker…

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With locations around the country, 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, has long been slated to open in autumn.  Signs recently went up promising a November opening.  Santa Monica’s branch is scheduled to open sometime in winter.  I’ll keep watch, in the mean time check out more here: seasons52.com.

 

More Changes To The Century City Shopping Center Food Scene…

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It’s been a wild ride over at the Westfield Century City Shopping Center with restaurants coming and going faster than I can keep track.  Here are a few more changes to the food court:  Baja Fresh is now closed with no word of a replacement, and customizable sandwich chain Which Wich is moving into the space to the left of the freshly opened Bibigo.  Check out more about Which Wich here: whichwich.com.

What used to be Baja Fresh…