Monday, January 18:
Paul Martin’s American Grill Opens
Paul Martin’s Pasadena has an upscale casual style with a decor of wood, plush seating, a large bar area, and a charcuterie station. Chef Partner Mark Fitkowski, oversees the kitchen and uses the finest seasonal produce, seafood from sustainable fisheries, and free-range meats and poultry, with no item frozen or precut. The menu will include favorites like Salt & Pepper Shrimp; “Brick” Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Za’atar Croutons and Herb Jus; Cedar Plank Salmon with shallots, bacon, Bloomsdale spinach and crimini mushroom jus; and Devil’s Food Cake with Amarena Cherries and Whipped Cream. Additionally, a full bar menu of hand-crafted cocktails with house infused spirits, and a wine list of more than 100 labels, with 80 available by the glass. They will offer weekly specials, including daily happy hour from 3-7 pm, a Tuesday Fried Chicken special, Sunday brunch and Sunday’s Prime Rib dinner. Monday; 455 S Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
Federal Bar‘s Poutinerie
Every Monday and Tuesday night, the NoHo restaurant will become a poutinerie! This means you can build-your-own creations of Canada’s most popular dish. First, select French fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots. Then, choose a gravy and then toppings that include blue cheese, short rib, soyrizo, crispy onions, bacon, and crispy brussels sprouts. There are also pre-set menu items. Either way, you enjoy them with a live band karaoke on Mondays and jazz on Tuesdays. Monday & Tuesdays, 6 pm,
Esters Wine Shop & Bar‘s “Island Wines”
Esters is bringing a little sunshine and warmth with a tasting of “Island Wines.” You can try six wines from six different islands like Corsica, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Canary Islands. Co-Owner and Wine Director Kathryn Coker will be on hand to walk you through the indigenous grape varietals and the history of winemaking techniques particular to each region. A spread of cheese and charcuterie is also included, with all wines from the tasting available for purchase with a 10% discount that night. No reservations are required. $25; Monday, 6-8 pm; 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405; 310.899.6900
Dollar Days at Santa Anita Park
Enjoy the holiday Monday with Live Racing and $1 deals! Hot dogs, sodas and beer are only a buck throughout the track.* Get your week started off right! Monday, 10:30 am-5:30 pm; 285 W Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA 91007
10th Newport Beach Restaurant Week
Dine Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Restaurant Association, are behind the 10 anniversary of Newport Beach Restaurant Week. As the longest running restaurant week in the OC, the annual event provides special prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner at a wide variety of premier eateries such as The Ritz Prime Seafood, Sol Cocina, Slapfish, Muldoon’s Irish Pub,Provenance, Tackle Box, Fig & Olive, Sushi Roku and more. Prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus are available starting $10 for lunch and maxing out at $50 for dinner. Culinary roadmaps and guides can be found at here. Additionally, you can participate in a “Feed Your Curiosity” interactive quiz to determine your food personality. Whether you are looking to feed your inner “health nut,” “carnivore,” “sweet treat freak,” or “food critic,” you’ll be able to satisfy the appetites of your “inner circle” with the multitude of restaurants participating in restaurant week. Monday-January 31; OC
dineL.A. Restaurant Week
This is the best time to explore L.A.’s restaurants, and this winter, support a great local charity. The Midnight Mission is a non-profit organization that provides food, shelter and essential aid to those experiencing homelessness throughout the city. Together with OpenTable, dineL.A. will donate $1 for each seated reservation booked through discoverLosAngeles.
Tuesday, January 19th:
The Belvedere at The Peninsula Beverly Hills Opens
After an extensive four-month remodel, The Belvedere opens with a re-imagined menu from Executive Chef David Codney. Designed in partnership with leading San Francisco-based hospitality design firm EDG, the restaurant’s bright and spacious interior also has an art collection featuring some of the world’s most renowned contemporary artists. The menu has a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients – some of them harvested on the hotel’s rooftop garden. Breakfast includes Eggs Benedict; Buttermilk-Blueberry Pancakes; Shakshuka Baked Eggs and house-made Sujuk with confit tomatoes. Lunch dishes include a variety of house-made flatbreads and healthy salads. The dinner menu features shareable appetizers, Mediterranean-inspired entrees and fresh, house-made pasta. Highlights include: Taramasalata creamy cod roe dip with fresh-baked pita; Salt Cod Croquettes roasted piquillo; Grass-Fed Lamb Tagine golden raisin couscous and cucumber yogurt; and Whole Roasted Branzino. Executive Pastry Chef Stephanie Boswell creates desserts like Pear Flaugnarde and Inspired Baklava. Food & Beverage Director Michael Ploetz, The Belvedere’s beverage program features an extensive selection of limited production wines, craft beers and cocktails. 9882 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212; 310.975.2736
SOL Cocina Playa Vista Opens
Authentic and sophisticated, the elevated Mexican restaurant brings the simple coastal cooking of Baja to the Westside of Los Angeles with traditional dishes crafted with local, seasonal ingredients, along with over 70 premium tequilas. The third SOL Cocina and fifth restaurant venture between Partners Rich Howland, Matt Baumayr and Executive Chef Deborah Schneider, SOL Cocina Playa Vista is serving up dishes like the Just Chillin’ which is stacked with oysters on the half shell, Gulf shrimp, crab and mussels; Hot & Raw Tropical Ceviche; Playa Broiled Oysters topped with cheese, chorizo, green onions and jalapeño; and Seafood Specials like the “Mariscos” like the Baja Blue Crab Stack prepared with mango salsa, cucumber, avocado, salted lemon cream and cilantro oil. There’s also Antojitos or “traditional Mexican snack foods,” like two variations of guacamole; street-style Grilled Sweet Corn; crispy Coconut Calamari; and the Peel & Eat Shrimp ‘Cucarachas.’ There are 14 specialty tacos like short rib, grilled chicken, as well as three vegetarian options. Surf and turf comes together in one tortilla with the Filet & Shrimp ‘El Jefe’ which includes grilled Angus filet, two agave-chile shrimp, melted cheese and sliced avocado and the ‘Canarditas’ Duck is a deep-fried duck leg confit served with corn tortillas and tequila-laced blackberry Serrano salsa Envinada, avocado, cilantro and onion. Desserts include Banana-Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding and the Pink Guava Crème Brûlée. Beverage Director Colin Pflugradt delivers libations and infused martinis using fresh, seasonal ingredients and over 70 artisan, premium and ultra premium tequilas to choose from. 12775 West Millennium Dr, Suite #160, Playa Vista, CA 90094; 424.289.0066
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles’ New Menu
DTLA’s only full-service luxury spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles, launches a redesigned menu this month featuring leading spa company ESPA’s line of synthetic-free products. The Spa’s new services include, but are not limited to: Ultimate Detox Treatment, beginning with a detoxifying salt scrub exfoliation applied with a combo of iced and warm mitts and paired with a deep massage to stimulate circulation; expanded massage options, including the Naturally Nurtured Massage, ideal for expectant mothers after the first trimester; Stress Relief Massage for reviving fatigued muscles; and the Men’s Massage, a facial massage followed by a full body massage with heated stones and finished with a soothing scalp massage; and Red Carpet Radiance Facial, comprised of a deep brush cleanse, skin radiance mask, age-defying crystal massage, professional lifting mask, and non-surgical sculpt and contour for immediate results. The Spa will continue to offer its classic signature treatments and a full suite of services including nails, hair, and make-up. 900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015; 213.763.4400
Wednesday, January 20th:
The Beverly Hills Hotel 9021-OM Yoga
Wind down from your busy workday at the pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Celebrated yoga instructor Amy Rose is conducting an hour-long vinyasa flow classes that are set to soul soothing music. Amy’s focus is on building endurance and strength, while at the same time connecting the body and the mind. The hotel provides fresh fruit, juice, water, yoga mats, so just bring yourself. $25; Wednesdays, 6-7 pm; 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA; RSVP: 310.887.2006
FLIXatFIG presents Zoolander
FIGat7th’s free movie screening series FLIXatFIG is back with “Zoolander”! Watch this classic comedy, featuring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Will Farrell, inside TASTE Food Hall. Live DJ and happy hour are before the film. No outside food or beverages. Free; Wednesday, Live DJ & Happy Hour: 6 pm, Film: 7 pm; FIGat7th, 735 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
The Super Serious Show
Catch a night full of laughs with host, Michael Kosta (The Comment Section, Late Night, Conan) and comedians: Byron Bowers (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Adam Devine’s House Party), Andres du Bouchet (Conan, The Tonight Show), Jay Larson (Conan, Best Bars In America), Drew Michael (JFL New Face, Gotham Comedy Live), and a Short film by Tony Ho. $7; Wednesday, 7 pm; The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Thursday, January 21:
Sriracha & Wine Tasting
Each element of our three-course tasting highlights a different aspect of the famed-sauce and pairs it elegantly with wine: chili heat, garlic, and sugar. You’ll appreciate Sriracha in a whole new light. Menu is as follows: Shrimp Sriracha Cerviche with Albariño: Eladio Pineiro, Rías Baixas, Spain, 2014; Sriracha-BBQ Pork Mac ‘n Cheese with Blaufrankisch: Glatzer, Carmuntum, Austria, 2013; and Cookie-Cheesecake Ice Cream Parfait with Sriracha Candy with La Morandina Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy, 2013. $40 (includes three half glasses of wine paired with three small plates); Thursday, 5 pm; 7554 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323.512.5278
Table8 and Andy Wang Launch The “Spectacle Circuit” Dinner Series with Spartina
App and web-based restaurant guide Table8 will debut Spectacle Circuit, a national series of dining events curated by travel and food writer, Andy Wang. Inspired by his popular column in Las Vegas Weekly, Spectacle Circuit will feature specially curated meals at the newest hot spots on both coasts, as well as collaborations with visiting chefs. First up on the Spectacle Circuit tour is Spartina and will feature a four-course feast at Chef Stephen Kalt’s new market-driven Italian restaurant on Melrose Avenue. The evening will include dishes from the original Spartina in NYC. Tickets must be purchased in advance. $70 ($55 for Table8 Dining Club Members); Thursday, 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm; 7505 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
