It’s official!  In an announcement on Wednesday, the projected date for the opening of The Market At Santa Monica Place, the “Ferry Building-style” marketplace atop the new mall, is scheduled for May 20th, 2011.  According to the announcement: “The Market at Santa Monica Place will be a collection of independently owned purveyors of high-quality, artisan, organic, sustainable and gourmet food offerings and will include “foundational foods,” such as meats, olive oil, cheeses, breads, fruits and vegetables, in addition to gourmet ingredients, prepared foods and related merchandise, such as fresh flowers and one-of-a-kind gifts.”  Read more details here:  http://www.macerich.com/experience/news/article.aspx?id=97875&utm_campaign=new_stores&utm_medium=email&utm_source=smp&utm_content=market_go_announcement

Tim and Liza Goodell’s newest, Public Kitchen And Bar opened last night (Monday) in the Roosevelt Hotel at 7000 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood.  Expect a menu of casual American in a relaxed bright and airy space.  The concierge at the hotel showed me the menu, but insisted that it wasn’t yet finalized and asked me not to photograph it.  But all of the items previously listed on EaterLA were verbatim on the menu.  Read more at http://la.eater.com/archives/2011/02/15/public_kitchen_bar_launches_within_the_roosevelt_feb_28.php or at http://www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/la/hollywood-roosevelt/eat/public-kitchen-and-bar.

Well, looks like it’s official.  I told you a few weeks ago that a ‘for lease’ sign had appeared in the then seldom open L’Epicerie de Paris at 310 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills.  As you can see from the photo, they have completely cleared out.  No word on where they may have moved to, if at all.  Sorry LA, no more Fauchon madeleines and marrons glacés. 

I noticed a new restaurant going in at 1551 #2 Santa Monica Blvd. (near Federal) in West LA, so I had to check it out.  I met the owner Nory, who is putting the finishing touches on his venture, Naan Hut.  The menu will be classic Persian, but the star of the show will  be the house-made naans (breads), which will be baked in the large oven behind him in the photo.  Look for an opening by the end of February. 

Owner Mory in front of naan oven

I took a stroll through downtown Santa Monica this weekend.  Here’s a few of the things I noticed…

Sign and outside dining railing have gone up at the new Thai Dishes between 2nd and Ocean on Broadway.

Concrete poured for a new dining patio at the (slowly) upcoming True Food Kitchen, the new healthy concept restaurant developed with health guru  Andrew Weil, on the ground floor of Santa Monica Place.

Black mesh recently went up hiding the entrance to the anticipated The Market at Santa Monica Place, keeping out nosey bloggers.

Nosey Bloggers have their ways.  Progress continues inside The Market on top of Santa Monica Place.

Handsome new sign that went up last week at The Misfit going into the old Anisette space at 225 Santa Monica Blvd.  Read more at https://toddrickallen.com/2011/01/27/the-misfit-restaurant-santa-monica/

What a great deal!  Pizzeria Mozza is running a $20 special:  any Mozza pizza, dessert, and a glass of Bastianich Friulano or La Mozza Morellino di Scansano on Monday through Thursday from 12pm to 5pm, and then again from 11pm until 12am.  Sounds like a perfect afternoon to me…

http://www.pizzeriamozza.com/

Looking for a way to impress your macrobiotic lover this Valentine’s Day?  Then look no further than M Café de Chaya in Beverly Hills.  (My Valentine’s menu is always centered around a decidedly un-macro star anise-infused gruyère soufflé.)  Next Thursday Feb 10th,  executive chef Shigefumi Tachibe will be leading a cooking demonstration of a romantic dinner to impress that special someone.  Included on the menu are green tea truffles and something rather suggestively referred to as “lover’s hotpot”.  The demo runs from 6:30pm-8:30pm and the cost is $35.   Grab your spot by emailing amy@mcafedechaya.com.

On Wednesday night, I was admiring the newly posted liquor license application outside the forthcoming The Misfit restaurant, the newest from the people who brought you La Grande Orange, LGO Hospitality, going into the old Anisette space at 225 Santa Monica Blvd in SM, when I ran into the chef Bruce Kalman, (formerly of Chelsea’s Kitchen in Arizona, another LGO eatery) who kindly let me snap a photo.    Look for an opening in “a coupla months.”  Notice the $200 cabinet for sale in front…  http://www.themisfitrestaurant.com/

Bruce Kalman, Chef

During the month of January, Susan Feniger’s Street has made everything on their lunch menu a very reasonable $11.  So there’s only one week left to take advantage of this deal.  Chances are you’ll get an opportunity to chat with workhorse Susan herself, who’s a champion palm-presser and seems to be there, well, always.  (Once I asked her for the recipe for the amazing kaya toast, and she promptly emailed it to me!) 

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

Looking to create more family time in 2011?  Then head down to the Santa Monica Williams-Sonoma this Saturday January 22nd, where Laurie David and Kirstin Uhrenholdt will be signing copies of their book The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time.  The signing will start at 12:00 noon and you must have purchased your book from W-S. 

While we’re on the subject of out with the old, in with the new, it looks like Leonidas, the Belgian chocolatier at the corner of Santa Monica and 4th in Santa Monica has called it a day and it didn’t take long for the store to be stripped to the bones.  There is a sign on the door stating that Jamba Juice is renovating the space.  As confirmed by an employee at the Jamba Juice almost across the street on Santa Monica Blvd, they will be moving into the new location sometime around the end of February. 

It looks like Malibu’s old-school Italian staple, Tra di Noi is expanding into Beverly Hills.  It didn’t take long for another old-school Italian, Prego at 362 N. Camden to clear out and make way for Tra di Noi’s spinoff La Focacceria, as per the sign on the door.  No word on the menu yet, but I’m going to take a big leap here and guess old-school Italian.  I’ll keep you posted… In the mean time, here’s Tra di Noi’s menu: http://www.tradinoimalibu.com/MENU.htm.

I snapped a photo of the progress on the Market At Santa Monica Place, the Ferry Building style fresh marketplace atop the new mall in Santa Monica.  Still boarded up and wrapped in plastic, it’s difficult to get a glimpse inside.  It looks like they still have a way to go, but you can get a sense of the individual stalls from the photo.  I’ll keep you posted…  Read more at https://toddrickallen.com/2010/10/04/the-market-santa-monica-place/