This Wednesday September 24th from 6pm to 8pm, Obika in the Century City Shopping Center is hosting a special dinner giving you a chance to rub elbows with those behind the scenes. The “Meet the Maker” event will include a mozzarella making and tasting, special menu, and chef demo. Guaranteed to fill up quickly, RSVP immediately to CenturyCity@westfield.com.
This Friday, September 19th you’ll have a chance to meet local food scene darlings Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb (Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry, Milo & Olive) as they present their brand-spanking new cookbook Huckleberry. They will be signing books and doing a cooking demo at the Santa Monica branch of Williams-Sonoma. W-S is at 1600 Montana Ave. and the event starts at 1:00pm, but you’ll def want to get there early…
And here again we find ourselves in the midst of “Closure Season”, when the end of Summer beach crowds begin to dwindle and restaurants disappear right in front of our eyes. There have already been a fair number of recent closings: Elaine’s, Daily Grill, and Manchu Wok. The latest to join their sad ranks? Chick ‘N’ Ribs is now closed in the troubled food court of Santa Monica Place.
Knowing all that goes into opening a restaurant, it is never happy news to report a closure. Sadly, it appears that after being open almost one year, Elaine’s Bakery & Café is now closed at 11677 San Vicente Blvd. Suites 315 & 317 at the top of Brentwood Gardens. And they wasted no time clearing out by the looks of things. This leaves two big empty spaces in the Brentwood Gardens, the other being the old Daily Grill space. (A reader informed me that rumor has it the Daily Grill space will be inhabited by a Mendocino Farms, but I cannot confirm this…)
Mosey on over to the Beach this Sunday, September 14th for the Taste of Venice from 3:00pm to 7:30pm. Benefiting P.S. Arts and art education, the event gives you an opportunity to rub elbows with various local chefs and sample their wares for a good cause. Check out the full list of participating chefs and restaurants on the flier below or head on over to the website for tix and more info…
Voted by Family Circle magazine as one of the World’s best, chocolate chip cookies baked by Jacqueline Kamin are apparently favored by Saudi Kings. And now you can get your hands on some of the sweet treats yourself: Jackie’s Cookie Connection has opened a kiosk on the first floor of the Century City Shopping Center. Check out their Facebook page here and read more about the fresh-baked-daily cookies as well as those Saudi Royals…
Interesting how, in Santa Monica, a restaurant can languish for sometimes years awaiting city approval, but a coffee shop opens in minutes… It was only in mid-July, when I first reported that a new Starbucks was landing on the corner of Main and Olympic in Santa Monica. The big news here was the new “Starbucks Evenings” concept: at night, there would be a menu of beer and wine with nibbles. Wasting no time whatsoever, the new Starbucks is already up and running. However, they are not serving beer and wine just yet. They are awaiting approval after the City review hearing last week. So you’ll just have to wait a bit longer for your flatbread and glass of Ferrari-Carano…
Looks like the local branch of Hong Kong-based Manchu Wok has closed up shop in the food court of Santa Monica Place. If life has now lost its meaning without their signature brand of “fast and fresh Chinese”, you can locate another branch here, although it appears that the nearest one is in Las Vegas. No word on what may replace it yet…
It’s official: According to the signs posted in the window over the weekend, LA’s very own Dunkin’ Donuts is set to open at 5:00am on Tuesday, September 2nd at 1132 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of 12th) in Santa Monica. This will be the first outpost of what appears to be a major expansion into the West Coast. Look for a menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, fetish-inducing coffee, and, well… donuts.
Updates:
By 8:00pm Monday evening a line began to form…
And by 7:00am Tuesday morning, panic breaks out…News cameras, traffic jams, lines around the block!
Back in April, I told you about an impending remodel of the tired and dated Food Hall in the Third Street Promenade between Arizona and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica (1315 3rd St. Promenade). Well, for those of you who have been losing sleep wondering what the hall will look like, wait no more! Here’s an artist’s rendering of the shiny new Hall taken from the recently posted design review application…
Just when I began to have hope that with all the development on Ocean Ave. and the new theater going into the cavernous space just a few feet away, The Market at Santa Monica Place was beginning to take off, I took this photo earlier in the week. Sadly, it appears that culinary gadget shop Cook by Venokado is gone, and organic delivery company Santa Monica Merchant has ostensibly been abandoned. Said one nearby employee, “I haven’t seen anybody in there for a long time.” (Sigh)
Looks like the sometimes-controversial purveyor of poultry sandwiches, Chick-fil-A is coming soon to Culver City. Construction is underway and signs are up on corner of Jefferson and Mesmer, just to the west of the 405. No word on an opening date yet…
Here’s a rare and golden opportunity: Three of LA’s most revered and legendary chefs will be coming together for one evening only, Monday September 15th. Jaochim Splichal (Patina) and Wolfgang Puck (Spago) will be at Josiah Citrin’s Melisse in Santa Monica for a harmonic convergence of greatness to celebrate Melisse’s 15 year anniversary. First seating is at 6:00pm and the cost for six courses is $185. You know this is going to book up quickly so don’t just sit there, reserve your space just as fast as your little fingers can dial (310) 395-0881 or follow the links here.
Looks like a New Zealand-themed restaurant/market concept is under construction at 12604 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, across from A-Frame. Named after the Maori god of the sea, Tangaroa Fish Market & Raw Bar will focus on a seafood-centric offering in its market and casual restaurant, but will also feature local farmers’ markets produce, artisan cheeses, breads, tapenades, New Zealand and local wines, beers, and sake according to their still-developing website. No word on an opening date, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
Looks like something called Oki Japan is setting up shop in the food court of Westside Pavilion. Not much information out there, but I think it’s a safe bet to say that food will be of Japanese derivation. I’ll keep my eye on it for you…
Looking for a cheap date location? Have dinner at Johnny Rockets in the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and you’ll be able to buy tickets to the AMC theater next door for $8 each. Not a bad deal…
SusieCakes at 11708 San Vicente in Brentwood has a special deal to celebrate “The Dog Days of Summer”. When you bring in a new dog toy, leash, bag of treats, or, well, pretty much anything dog related through the month of August, you will get 2 for 1 cupcakes. Read more here.
I’ve already reported that the Laemmle Theater at 1332 Second Street in Santa Monica is undergoing a major remodel and is planning on a new French lobby restaurant possibly named La Dolce Vita. But according to the use permit application posted on the construction site, not only will there by a 181 seat groundfloor restaurant, there will also be a 165 seat rooftop restaurant as well. Additionally, there will be beer and wine available in the 6 theaters. Look for a December re-opening.
Scotland aficionados, lovers of Scotch whiskey, and adventurous eaters will all be thrilled that West LA’s Upper West with Bruichladdich Islay Single Malt Whiskey is hosting a special dinner on August 14th. Starting at 7:00pm, the inventive 5 course meal will be paired with various Scotch Whiskeys and include at least one course of something called “Haggis Mousse” (hmmm…). Cost is $70 and you can score your rezzie by calling (310) 586-1111.
During the month of August, Chaya Venice is hosting its 19th annual Garlic Fair. Promising garlic-infused dishes and cocktails, their celebration of the pungent allium ends on August 31st. Check out their special menu here.
Toddrickallen 