12 Chefs, 12 Months, 12 Charities series

Posted on 02/22/2012 by Whitney

Head to Joe’s Restaurant on Thursday, February 23rd for the third night of their 12 Chefs, 12 Months, 12 Charities series, where Joe Miller will partner up with La Jolla’s Trey Foshee from George’s at the Cove and Jason Knibb of NINE-TEN Restaurant and Bar to take over the kitchen in honor of two deserving charities: the ECOLIFE Foundation and ALS Association!

Miller is preparing the Amuse Bouche and will start the evening with a Blood Clam Bloody Mary. Knibb is preparing the first course with a twist on Hamachi Sashimi, with Shoyu, charred jalapeno and yuzu, with hearts of palm and radish. Foshee is taking over the second course, sharing Quail Egg with pea tendrils, lemon, bacon, black truffles and pea purée, and then for the third course, Knibb will prepare his Maine Sea Scallops with Meyer-lemon glazed dates, cauliflower, cauliflower purée and Vadouvan “muesli”. Foshee’s fourth course hosts Poached Beef Tenderloin with winter vegetables, bone marrow persillade and dry-aged beef carrot broth. Miller is overseeing a dessert of Cara Cara Creamsicle, with Cara Cara orange and creamy vanilla, coconut, lime and white chocolate.

The evening will be benefitting two charities. The ECOLIFE Foundation (ecolifefoundation.org); a non-profit organization dedicated to providing ecologically sustainable water, food and shelter to communities through a series of education and applied programs and the ALS Association (alsa.org), the only non-profit dedicated to fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease through global research, coordinating care through clinical centers, fostering government partnerships and providing assistance to those suffering from the disease.

Joe’s Restaurant is now accepting reservations for their February 23rd 12 Chefs, 12 Months, 12 Charities Dinner with Trey Foshee and Jason Knibb. Although this is not for those on a budget, they are importnat causes to help and a great dinning experience. $95/person, plus $35 for an optional Wine Pairing paired by Joe’s Sommelier, Chris Keller, Resys: 310.399.5811, 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA  90291, joesrestaurant.com

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The 5 for 5 Clothing Swap for the East Side Lady

Posted on 02/22/2012 by Whitney

Cinema Speakeasy is teaming up with ATX to present The 5 for 5 Clothing Swap for the East Side Lady! Cinema Speakeasy is crossing over from films and hosting an inaugural clothing swap.

This Thursday, jump on a chance to exchange your boring old clothes for someone else’s more awesome and chic duds. Oh, and to drink and make new friends. ATX Restaurant will be providing $2 PBRs and wine.

Bring 5 items of clothing (no more, no less) and $5 bucks. The better your items, the better stuff you’ll be able to trade them for. Focus on things that may fit different sized people for maximum trade efficiency. All clothing must be laundered and accessories count as an item of clothing. It’s individual transactions, so browse and strike deals.

Surveyors, boyfriends, girlfriends all get in for free if they aren’t trading. Thursday February 23, 7 pm-9pm, ATX Restaurant, 3245 Casitas Ave., 90039, More info: atwatercrossing.com

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Lago’s “Bite of the Beast”

Posted on 02/22/2012 by Whitney

On Thursday, February 23 at 7 pm, Santa Monica’s Locanda del Lago wants you to enjoy Morso della Bestia, or “Bite of the Beast”, whole-animal dinner. February’s feast is featuring Muscovy duck as the centerpiece of a specially prepared menu, inspired by rustic Northern Italian favorites.

Sourced from the San Joaquin Valley’s Grimaud Farms, the hormone-free duck (known for its bold flavor and lean meat) will be showcased throughout a five-course menu, infused with tastes from Chef Minuz’s native Italy and accented by produce from the nearby Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. Local farms featured throughout the meal will include Tierra Miguel Farm, Tutti Frutti Farms, Weiser Family Farms, Thao Farms, and Santa Barbara Pistachio Company. The February Morso della Bestia menu will include:

Antipasto: Housemade Duck Pâté with Pink Lady apple-mustard compote
Primo: Duck and Farro Soup with fresh chervil
Piatto di Mezzo: Housemade Duck Ravioli with shallot confit reduction
Secondo: Roasted Duck Breast with espresso sauce and sautéed Swiss chard
Dolce: Almond Custard Brûlée

Upcoming Morso della Bestia dates and featured “beasts” include:
March 29: Virginia sea bass
April 26: Capon chicken

Morso della Bestia takes place the last Thursday of every month

$70/person, including unlimited litros of house red and white wine, $54/person, not including unlimited wine option, prices do not include tax and gratuity, 231 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401, resys are required: 310.451.3525, LagoSantaMonica.com

Photo Credit: Emanuela Cottu
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Skylight Gardens

Posted on 02/21/2012 by Whitney

Soft-opening today right by UCLA, Skylight Gardens (1139 Glendon; Westwood; 310.824.1818, skylightgardens.com) is a new Italian trattoria in the old Gardens on Glendon space. Decorated with it’s namesake, skylight, they added tons of foliage, rustic brick walls, and a chandelier made of antlers.

Get ready fora large menu filled with traditional Italian food like risotto with tomato sauce, mussels, clams, shrimp & squid; sliced dry-aged rib eye with arugula, parmigiano, and balsamic reduction; and a breaded veal chop. You have your fair share of homemade pasta to chose from (spaghetti alla fongole, tagliatelle bolognese, etc). They also have pizzas like funghi misti and a shrimp-and-smoked mozzarella gamberi.

They have a wide range of Italian wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails.

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Deus Ex Machina

Posted on 02/21/2012 by Whitney

Where can you buy a T-shirt, a surfboard, a motorcycle, oh, and a cup of coffee? Enter Deus Ex Machina, (1001 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, 888.515.3387, website) a Venice spot full of full of all your beachy needs.

This company’s custom bikes are already pretty well known in Australia and this place is their first US spot. Housing Deus Ex Machina denim, chinos and big canvas bags they will surely add to your wardrobe. Maybe it’s the surfboards you came for. Well, they’ll shape, paint, glass and sand one just for you. You can get any style you want. They work on motorcycles too. Get custom, one-of-a-kind, retro motorcycles.

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National Margarita Day

Posted on 02/21/2012 by Whitney

Los Angeles is celebrating National Margarita Day on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. Here are some of the best spots around Los Angeles to grab the bevy!

Casa Azul Cantina
newly opened in Los Angeles and inspired by the original Casa Azul home of icons Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in Coyoacán, Mexico, will extend its weekly Monday Margarita Madness for National Margarita Day with drinks starting at $3.95. Various specialty margaritas offered include the Cadillac Margaritacreated with tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour, Grand Marnier, and fresh lime juice; Agave Margarita is made with Cuervo Tradicional, agave syrup, sweet & sour, triple sec, and fresh lime juice; Clasica Margarita with tequila, triple sec, sweet & sour, and fresh lime juice; and the Strawberry or Mango Margarita. casaazulcantina.com

Casa Vega
Los Angeles’ favorite 55-year-old Mexican restaurant will be offering margaritas at happy hour pricing ($5-$8) all-day long on National Margarita Day including Ray Vega’s award-winning Casa Vega Margarita, ($4.95) available Original or with Cranberry; Cadillac Margarita, ($8.41) made with Cuervo 1800, lime, triple sec, and Grand Marnier; and the Blood Orange Margarita, ($7.60) made with Patron Silver tequila, blood orange juice, agave nectar, and fresh lime. casavega.com

Red O
Enjoy a special margarita flight created by resident Mixologist and “Drink Slinger” Steve Calabro. The flight includes a Market Margarita (muddled fresh cucumber and honeydew melon, Espolon Blanco tequila, lemon and lime juices) La Dama Margarita (Tres Agaves Reposado tequila, serrano chile, mango grenadine, lime juice, and pomegranate liqueur, garnished with fresh pomegranate seeds) and the Alacran Margarita(Sauza Conmemorativo tequila, Veev Acai, Torres orange liqueur, fresh limonada, and serrano-infused syrup). $15/person, redorestaurant.com

El Carmen
Head to this spot that has hundreds of different types of tequila to chose from. Enjoy their ”Classic Margaritas” for just $5 from 7:pm-close. 8138 West 3rd Street, 323.852.1552.

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Michael’s Launches New “All Night” Happy Hour

Posted on 02/20/2012 by Whitney

Michael McCarty, known for his California cuisine and his personal connections to local growers of the best seasonal ingredients at the farmers’ market, introduces an “All Night” $6 Happy Hour starting tomorrow. Executive Chef John-Carlos Kuramoto has created the happy hour menu featuring the best seasonal ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market; and acclaimed mixologist Jason Robey complements the menu with his farm-to-glass cocktails featuring seasonal herbs and fruits grown on Michael’s new rooftop garden, along with fresh produce from the farmers’ market.

Michael’s “All Night” $6 happy hour menu is offered Monday-Friday from 5 pm to close. All of the happy hour menu items are $6 each, with the exception of fresh oysters on the half-shell for $3 each.

The happy hour menu includes one of Robey’s most refreshing specialty cocktails, The “Rickey” – Vodka or Gin, Fresh Lime, and Soda, along with a selection of imported beers and wines. Also try the Borracha Remolacha, made with Revolucion Reposado Tequila, Del Maguey Mezcal “Vida”, Lime, Agave Nectar, Beet Juice, and Orange Bitters; and the Wilbur’s Nemesis, featuring Maker’s Mark Bacon Reduction, Leopold Bros’ Apple Whiskey, Bulleit Rye, Dolin Rouge, Angostura Bitters, and a garnish of torched Applewood-Smoked Bacon. Ok, so you may have to come more than once.

“ALL NIGHT” HAPPY HOUR MENU

DRINKS
*The “Rickey” (Vodka or Gin, Fresh Lime, Soda)

*Featured “Cocktail of the Month”

Beer
Amstel Light, Stella Artois, Bass Ale

Red
Campos de Luz, Garnacha, Spain 2009

White
*Chateau d’Eau, Sauvignon Blanc, VdP d’Oc, 2009 

* Cocktails Created and Executed by Jason Robey

* Sommelier/GM Andrew Turner scours the world of wine for excellent, interesting, ever-changing red and white offerings.  

BITES

Oysters ($3 each) with Seasonal Mignonette

Truffle-Thyme Frites

Burrata on Crostini,

Bacon, Endive, Caramelized Onions

Weiser Farms Radish Salad

Cucumber, Crispy Shallots, Yogurt Vinaigrette

Roasted d’Anjou Pear, Serrano, Mint, Saba

Jidori “Chicken and Waffle” Wings,

Bourbon-Aged Maple Syrup, Chili Salt

Crispy Sweetbread “Poppers”

Whole-Grain Mustard Aioli

 Duck Confit Rillettes, Saba, Watercress

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A Fe-brew-ary Feast at Mezze

Posted on 02/20/2012 by Whitney

Ben Weiss of The Bruery and Chef Micah Wexler of Mezze have been friends since childhood, and now they are coming together to create a special four course dinner pairing Wexler’s Eastern Mediterranean small plates with some of The Bruery’s most exclusive beers. It’s time for wine to move over so you can see how gourmet beers from hoppy reds to sour blondes compliment the flavors in dishes like soujak sausage and pomegranate braised brisket. Only 50 tickets are being sold! Don’t miss out!

Wednesday, February 22nd, 7-10 pm, 401 North La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles CA, 90048,

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Mardi Gras Madness

Posted on 02/20/2012 by Whitney

Mardi Gras is here! Here are some spots around town to get the party goin!

Amoeba Records
Bring your own instrument to this party at LA’s most well known music market. Start preparing yourself for ”When The Saints Go Marching In”. Tuesday 3-5 pm, Parade at 4:30 pm, 6400 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, 323.245.6400

The Grove: The Farmers Market
The annual Farmer’s Market Mardi Gras Party is here with eight strolling zydeco bands. It all goes down Tuesday with Mutti Gras Pet Parade and Costume Contest. Tuesday, 6333 W. Third S., Mid-City West, 323.933.9211

The Churchill
The Churchill will be throwing a massive indoor-outdoor party with beads, masks and $11 bourbon-and-beer combos. Girls, keep your shirts on in the photo booth. Tuesday, 8384 W. 3rd St., 323.655.8384

Dominick’s and Little Dom’s
NOLA native and Chef Brandon Boudet offers a Cajun-inspired dinner menu at these Italian spots. Scarf down gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish pie, each for $8 or less. Saturday-Tuesday March 5-8, 6 pm-close. 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.652.2335 & 2128 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, 323.661.0055

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Bottomless Brunches

Posted on 02/19/2012 by Whitney

I cannot stress how much I love to Brunch. It’s the best! I love soaking up the sun with a group of great friends and the bottomless booze makes it all the more merrier. Here are some great spots around the city to gather and order up your endless mimosas and bloody marys.

Zengo
Head to Santa Monica Place that overlooks the 3rd St. Promenade. Chef-owner Richard Sandoval’s Latin-Asian fusion restaurant has one of the best brunch offerings ever. For $35 and 2 hours, you can eat up unlimited small plates like beef tenderloin benedict, peking duck hash (my fav), and sea bass ceviche. And trust me, these aren’t that small of plates. Also included are bacon bloody marys, mango mimosas and lychee bellinis. (395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, 90401)

The Backyard at the W Hotel
Dine al fresco by the pool at this upscale brunch. Executive Chef (and ‘Top Chef’ alum) Dakota Weiss’ serves up farm-to-table creations. For this entire year, you can enjoy a two course brunch on the weekends for $20.12 and add bottomless mimosas for an additional $20.12. (930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, 90024)

La Poubelle
This French bistro is in the heart of Franklin Village serves fresh local ingredients and wines from eco-friendly vineyards. With a New York-y feel, La Poubelle’s brunch offers bottomless Mimosas, Kir Royales and Bellinis for $15 to go with your French brunch.  (5907 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, 90028)

Overland Cafe
This West LA hipster favorite serves up bottomless champagne during brunch for only $5 with each entree purchase (8 am-4 pm on the weekends). Enjoy good food, an unfussy neighborhood vibe and endless champagne. Sounds good to me! (3601 Overland Ave.)

Rush Street
Rush Street is a hip spot inspired by the famous Chicago strip of the same name.  They serve up their “ultimate hangover brunch” on the weekends. Order endless mimosas or bottomless bloody marys for $20. Bask in the sun on their large sidewalk patio or on their roof top patio.  (9546 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 90232)

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