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Archive for the ‘Dining in LA’ Category
Head to Ye Olde King’s Head
Needing a taste of Jolly Old England but find yourself up to your knickers in Los Angeles tour plans then head over to Ye Olde King’s Head in Santa Monica to share a pint of ale with folks who know a lorry from a truck and a lift from an elevator. You can also seek respite with a cuppa (next door at Tudor House) or dive into a serving of shephard’s pie. For over 35 years Ye Olde King’s Head has been a haven for wandering Brits and ex-patriots or just those wanting to sit down and drink beer and watch soccer. Darts, anyone?
Ye Olde King’s Head
116 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica
(310) 451-1402
yeoldekingshead.com
Tudor House
1403 Second St., Santa Monica
(310) 451-4107
thetudorhouse.com
Umami – A Fifth Dimension
Los Angeles can easily claim to be the Hamburger Capital of the World because is has beautiful year round weather and a hamburger stand or restaurant on just about every corner. Take a walk, grab a burger. Meet a friend, grab a burger. Waiting for the light to change, grab a burger. Los Angeles can also claim bragging rights to inventing new hamburgers, presentations, and franchises all the time. Of late — Umami. It’s a hamburger stand for grown-ups. Just hamburgers. Meaty, beaty, big and bouncy. And, that indescribable fifth taste, umami. Don’t want a fancy restaurant or a plasticky fast food counter with pimples asking you what you want or a joint where you feel compelled to wipe the seat before you sit? Want a fancy, flavor filled adult food at street prices? Then check out Umami. Of all the things to do in Los Angeles you have to eat. Eat well. Umami. Yo mama!
850 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles
323-931-3000
umamiburger.com
Catch Some Rye with Brunch at Caulfield’s
Saturdays and Sundays. Brunch service is available now every weekend at Caulfield’s, the Thompson Beverly Hills’ new literary-inspired American bistro, headed by chef Cody Diegel. Start with homemade coffee cake (it’s a must) and continue savoring your weekend over dishes such as the Caulfield’s Benedict (jumbo crab, poached eggs, hollandaise on toasted brioche with avocado); blueberry pancakes layered with maple-vanilla bean butter; and brioche French toast with apple compote. Wash it all down with signature cocktails like a bourbon milk shake, Pimm’s Cup, Ram os Gin Fizz and more. Make your Los Angeles tour plans and get to the restaurant from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for a tasty and fun midday meal.
Thompson Beverly Hills
9360 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills
310.388.6860
caulfieldsbeverlyhills.com
Live It Up at Livello
Livello
Italian and Asian meet in a free-form inspiration at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills’ newest dining concept from Executive Chef Joseph Elevado. Dine on entrees such as grilled veal porterhouse with pickled cherry peppers and veal reduction; garlic oil-seared imperial wagyu with sun-dried tomato, ginger, garlic chips and sudachi soy; Prince Edward Island mussel saffron risotto with fennel and shimeji mushrooms; and free-form oxtail ravioli with edamame and veal reduction. Complementing the menu are handcrafted cocktails with Italian and Asian influences. You just flew over Beverly Hills during a Los Angeles helicopter tour and deserve a fine dining experience to top off your day.
L’Ermitage Beverly Hills
9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills
310.385.5302
www.livellorestaurant.com
Believe it or not – Cheeseburger Week in Pasadena
Pasadena will be hosting a “Cheeseburger Week” starting on January 15th and going until the 20th. It will feature various renditions of the cheesy meat sandwich by a handful of popular places, even a sushi restaurant.
Invented in Pasadena, CA
According to the press release (and Wikipedia), the cheeseburger was actually invented in the good ‘ol North East L.A. community at “The Rite Spot,” a popular sandwich shop in the mid 1920′s.
Pasadena Cheeseburger Week is sponsored by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce with support from the City of Pasadena and is a California Restaurant Month event.
Other eateries in town that will offer deals and assorted specials include the recently opened Kings Row Gastropub, Vertical Wine Bistro, and possibly a Yucatan rendition by El Portal. Also, Noir Food and Wine, CREPEstudio, Lovebirds Cafe and Magnolia Lounge.
Cheeseburger eaters are encouraged to go eat them all and vote for their favorite ones on the event’s website. For a complete list of places featured and their accompanying menu’s, check out the Pasadena Restaurant Week website.
Pasadena is part of the Los Angeles scene and a perfect place to eat during or after an amazing Los Angeles sightseeing tour.
Bid Adieu to Drago Santa Monica
As much as Los Angeles diners are mourning the impending loss of Drago Santa Monica—Chef Celestino Drago’s 21-year-old modern Italian institution—at the end of January, Drago softens the blow by offering “throwback” dishes from the original 1991 menu, in addition to their featured winter menu items. Dine on seven dishes from the original Drago Santa Monica menu, which includes polenta sandwich, wild mushrooms, fontina cheese, truffle fondue; sautéed duck liver, aged balsamic glace, grilled Belgium endive; baked ziti, meat and cheese sauce, wrapped with eggplant; spaghetti with pressed dried tuna caviar, garlic and chile; Sausage-filled quail, grilled polenta, saltimbocca sauce; and Pan roasted lamb loin, potato tart, grilled mushrooms, sweet & sour. The amazing dishes are only going to be found here while taking a tour of Los Angeles.
You can also bid adieu with an array of creative Itialian comfort food by Chef de Cucina Evan Gotanda on Drago’s winter menu, which we recently had the pleasure of experiencing:
Ricotta e pere: Ricotta, pear, red wine, arugula, hazelnut salt:
Agnolotti di zucca: Butternut squash, ricotta, butter glaze:
Risotto alla barbabietola: Beet risotto, shaved candy beets, puffed risotto:
Pappardelle al fagiano: Pappardelle, roasted pheasant, morel mushrooms (Photographed with hand rolled cecaluccoli instead of pappardelle):
Trota salmonata: Arctic char, carrot, rapini, oregano, balsamic:
Costata di manzo: New York steak, soft polenta, bacon, Brussels sprouts, red wine (Photographed as a duo of beef with braised short rib):
Brioche al mirtillo: Orange espuma, orange dust, cranberry granola:
Crostata al cioccolato: Dates, brown sugar gelato, walnuts:
Drago Santa Monica, 2628 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, 310.828.1585.
Hyde Lounge Reopens in Hollywood
In L.A., it seems as though a new nightclub opens up once a week, instantly becoming the hottest spot in town, and fizzling out not long after. Hyde, a nightlife institution that garnered celebrity and media attention in its heyday in 2006, is getting a rare second chance as entertainment aficionado SBE reopens the spot. Tableside mixology is a prominent feature of the redesigned venue, featuring fresh cocktails created at the sunken bar in the back of the narrow space. DJs spin alternative tracks instead of the usual Top 40, helping the venue further distance itself from more cookie-cutter clubs. Always the best places to be while taking a private tour of LA. SBE selected lauded chef Daniel Elmaleh, of Katsuya Hollywood and the Redbury hotel’s Cleo, to create a menu of small bites with a global influence. Look for additional Hyde nightclubs in South Beach, Florida and in Las Vegas’ Bellagio hotel, opening soon.
8029 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.525.2444. www.sbe.com/hyde