Rosti Tuscan Kitchen Contest: Win Free Pizza For A Year!

Posted on June 23, 2011 by toddrickallen

You can’t beat this.. According to Rosti Tuscan Kitchen’s (Santa Monica and Encino) Facebook page, you can win pizza for a year by submitting your favorite pizza recipe. You have to hurry though, contest ends tomorrow, June 24th.

“Tell us your favorite Pizza recipe before it’s too late! Post by Friday for your chance to win Free Pizza for a year..and have your pizza featured at our restaurants. Be creative and have fun! The winner will be announced July 1.”

Go to their Facebook page for complete info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosti-Tuscan-Kitchen/61344105305

The End Of Santa Monica’s Food Truck Tuesday Night?

Posted on June 21, 2011 by toddrickallen

As per The Santa Monica Mirror, Tuesday June 21st, the Santa Monica city council will be addressing the future of food truck lots, affecting the Tuesday night cavalcade of trucks that park in the lot at the corner of Ocean Park and Main, and possibly even ending the weekly event. The issue here appears to be that food trucks parked along city streets are one thing, but this congregation of trucks sits on private property and therefore constitutes a zoning concern. Apparently the city has been operating a trial period for the trucks while they conducted a study of the effects on the neighborhood. The results of the study are to be presented tonight after which the city council will decide the fate of the lots. Here’s the agenda for the meeting:

http://www01.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2011/20110621/a20110621.htm.

I’ll keep you posted as more unfolds…

California Monster Salads Now Open In Santa Monica

Posted on June 20, 2011 by toddrickallen

Well, it was a nail-biter, but it looks like they’ve pulled it off. After a protracted battle with the City of Santa Monica, California Monster Salads, the build-your-own salad shop, is now open at 411 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica.

Ferrarini, Beverly Hills Begins Construction

Posted on June 17, 2011 by toddrickallen

After months of sitting idle (since at least August of last year), construction has finally begun on what will be Italian import market and specialty store Ferrarini at 9622 Brighton Way in Bev Hills in what used to be the old Le Croissant coffee shop. What the delay has been is unclear, but the posters in the window of children cavorting through a bucolic Italian countryside chased by giant Parma hams have been replaced by particle board and scaffolding. I’ll keep my ear to the ground for a potential opening date, until then you can find some of their products (Parmigiano Reggiano) at Vicente Foods in Brentwood.

Before…

Construction has begun..

Pici Entoteca Beverly Hills Now Hiring

Posted on June 15, 2011 by toddrickallen

It looks like Pici Enoteca the new self-described “rustic NY-style Italian eatery” going into the old Bossa Nova space at 212 S. Beverly Drive is officially hiring. After an expected opening of late last year, things must finally be coming together for owner Jeff Vespa and chef Jason Harley at the small restaurant with an equally diminutive price range: all dishes are under $12! Check out more (but not much more…) at their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=152034411491316

Famous Cupcakes Closed In Beverly Hills

Posted on June 13, 2011 by toddrickallen

Open since October 2009, Famous Cupcakes on the corner of South Beverly and Charleville in Beverly Hills is now closed. The sign on the door suggests that they are putting their efforts behind two new locations in Long Beach and Hollywood instead. If you need your Famous Cupcake fix, the small chain still has stores in North Hollywood and Van Nuys and retails in various other locations or, as a consolation prize to Beverly Hills, they are offering a $5 delivery special to the bereft city. http://www.famouscupcakes.com/

Jamba Juice Coming Soon To Century City Shopping Center

Posted on June 10, 2011 by toddrickallen

As we gear up for summer, the Century City Shopping Center has been a flurry of activity: BJ’s opened this week, Vanilla Bake Shop and The Counter are coming soon, as are two newbies in the food court. And yet one more… It looks like Jamba Juice will be opening in the old Anat B. space on the second floor sometime this summer. http://www.jambajuice.com/

Update: Jamba mania continues! A tipster just informed me that JJ will be opening this summer in the Fox Hills Mall as well.

Street Special Offers A Free Glass Of Wine At Lunch

Posted on June 9, 2011 by toddrickallen

Touted as a way to… “get through your work day, the right way”, Susan Feniger’s Street is offering a special lunch deal starting today and ending next Wednesday, June 15th. When you order an entrée and eat at the bar, Street will give you a free glass of wine, or for the less inclined to imbibe at lunch, a free dessert.

SusanFeniger's STREET logo 323-203-0500

742 N. Highland Los Angeles, CA 90038
Phone: 323.203.0500

http://www.eatatstreet.com/

Veggie Grill Virgin Day At Farmer’s Market

Posted on June 8, 2011 by toddrickallen

Today, Wednesday June 8th, at the brand spanking new Veggie Grill in Farmer’s Market at Third and Fairfax is “Virgin Day”. If you bring in someone who has never been before (the virgin), Veggie Grill will comp their entrée. But they have to be accompanied by an “experienced” VGer (that’d be you, you tramp), no solos and only at this location. http://www.veggiegrill.com/

BJ’s Restaurant And Brewhouse Opens Today In Century City

Posted on June 6, 2011 by toddrickallen

After a training weekend, it looks like BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse officially opens at 11:00am today, June 6th at the back of the Westfield Century City Shopping Center. After a busy day of shopping at Tiffany and Louis Vuitton, who doesn’t need a pint of Nutty Brewnette ale and a Giant Stuffed Potato? http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/

Urban Fresh Taking Over The Mr. Kicco’s Coffee Space In Beverly Hills

Posted on June 3, 2011 by toddrickallen

It looks like short-lived Mr. Kicco’s Coffee is out at 9679 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, and construction is underway on a new salad and sandwich restaurant named Urban Fresh. The new restaurant will join the odd little strip of fast food and salad joints in otherwise glam BH on Wilshire between Bedford and Roxbury that services the quotidian needs of the big department store salespeople. Look for an opening some time in about three or four weeks.

Tender Greens Finally Begins Construction In Santa Monica

Posted on June 1, 2011 by toddrickallen

OK, we all know that Tender Greens is going into the old Lighthouse seafood buffet building on the corner of 2nd and Arizona in Santa Monica. The sign has been up in the window for an incredibly long time. But absolutely nothing was happening and the building has sat empty. Well, it looks like construction has finally begun and they’re kicking it off with a big critter removal. I noticed the tenting and construction materials while at Farmer’s Market on Saturday. Looks like they’re still planning on a July opening. I’ll keep you posted…

http://www.tendergreensfood.com/locations/santa-monica/

The Blue Daisy Cafe, Santa Monica

Posted on May 31, 2011 by toddrickallen

Driving by the Whole Foods at Wilshire and 23rd in Santa Monica, I noticed a new cafe near the corner at 2393 Wilshire. Run by two adorable sisters, The Blue Daisy has been open for about a week now. Although they are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the extensive menu has a “brunchy” feel to it and focuses on crepes, sandwiches, and egg dishes. With outside tables, this little charmer would be the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely breakfast on a Sunday morning…

Lemonade Brentwood Now Open

Posted on May 29, 2011 by toddrickallen

Lemonade, the hip, sunny, and self-declared “souped-up” lemonade stand is now open in the old Clay Pit space at 145 S. Barrington in Brentwood. The new location joins five others across LA in bringing its signature cheery drinks and eclectic and inspired menu of soups, sandwiches, and baked goods to the masses. Open daily from 11:00am to 9:05pm.

http://www.lemonadela.com/locations/lemonade-brentwood

California Monster Salads Opening Tomorrow?

Posted on May 26, 2011 by toddrickallen

California Monster Salads, a build-your-own salad shop going into the old Three Dog Bakery space at 411 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica is working furiously around the clock to try to meet their projected goal of a Friday (as in tomorrow!) opening. They let me have a peek in on Wednesday night and as you can see, there’s still a lot of work to be done. There may also be some problems with city permits (imagine… permit problems in Santa Monica!?) so there’s a good chance the opening will get pushed back, but they’re still holding out hope, bless their little hearts… I’ll keep you posted.

Update: CMS did not make the Friday projected opening as hoped. But I was told that their last permit inspection would be next Wednesday and they will open, finger crossed, sometime after that.

Changes Coming To Toddrickallen

Posted on May 25, 2011 by toddrickallen

After about a year and a half, and increasing interest, we have come to the conclusion that it is high time that we commence an upgrade here at Toddrickallen. We will be working to make it easier for you to navigate as well as interact with us. Look for changes over the next few days and of course, I’ll keep you posted on the kick-off. In the mean time, continue to expect the same news and reviews you grown accustomed to. As always, thanks for reading…

Century City Shopping Center’s New Restaurants

Posted on May 23, 2011 by toddrickallen

Last week, I told you about Santa Monica’s Vanilla Bake Shop going into the ground floor of Westfield’s Century City Shopping Center. With a flurry of activity, at least four other restaurants are currently under construction and are slated to open sometime this year. BJ’s Brewhouse(http://www.bjsbrewhouse.com/) has (extremely slowly) been moving into the old French 75 space at the back of the mall and is now hiring. I hope they have better luck than every other incarnation to use this space. On the ground floor near Rocksugar, look for a summer opening for the “build-your-own-burger” chain The Counter (http://www.thecounterburger.com/). Finally, upstairs in the food court plywood signs are hiding construction on two new restaurants. You can probably guess what’s on the menu at the graphically named The Juicy Bird going into the old Tacone space, and right around the corner work is underway on a branch of the chain Charley’s Grilled Subs (http://www.charleys.com/). Both are slated to open July 1st.

The Market At Santa Monica Place The Day Before…

Posted on May 19, 2011 by toddrickallen

I went by The Market At Santa Monica Place today to see if I could sneak in and nose around. Unfortunately, they have it locked up tighter than Fort Knox with security guards and large men blocking my entrance. If you’re like me and looked at my photos from Monday evening, you probably wondered how in the hell they were going to open by Friday. Well, looking at the flurry of activity that I could glimpse through the ever-opening door, I’m convinced they’ll make it. 10:00am tomorrow, that’s what the man at the door promised me…

Vanilla Bake Shop Coming To Century City

Posted on May 19, 2011 by toddrickallen

With all eyes on tomorrow’s opening of The Market at Santa Monica Place, we mustn’t forget about the goings-on in the Century City Shopping Center. I noticed yesterday that Amy and Jeremy Berman’s Santa Monica cutie, Vanilla Bake Shop is going in on the ground floor underneath the food court. You’ll be able to get your cupcake babies sometime this summer. http://vanillabakeshop.com/

The Market At Santa Monica Place Racing Toward The May 20th Deadline…

Posted on May 17, 2011 by toddrickallen

Can they do it? As we approach the May 20th opening, there still appears to be so much work yet to be done. With only three days left, they’re still working on the fixtures! Here are the latest photos, most of these were taken at 9:00pm on Monday night. Notice the construction and electrical workers busy at that hour. I’ll keep you posted…