Monday:
Old Pasadena’s Happy Hour Week
It’s time for Happy Hour Week in Old Pasadena! Enjoy extended food and drink promos every day of the week and special tastings, flights, and food pairings. There’s also events including a Beer Crawl on March 10th, Ladies’ Night Out, Take a Walk for Whiskey, Foodies’ Delight, Wine Connoisseurs, and “Get Happy” Cocktails. Download the complete schedule! Monday through March 17th; Old Pasadena
Cherry Blossom Walks at Descanso Gardens
Stroll through the gardens and view seasonal flowering plants, including cherry blossoms, on these guided walks. Free with admission ($9); Monday though March 10th, 1 pm; 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011; 818.949.4200
MC Billy Harris’ “Hanging with Harris” Guest Chef Dinner Series
Culinary MC and fundraising auctioneer Billy Harris has a new dinner series Hanging with Harris, a lineup of eight intimate, multi-course dining events taking place throughout Los Angeles this. Each Monday night dinner will begin with a cocktail reception hosted by a mixologist from the leading Scotch whisky distiller, William Grant & Sons, followed by a four-course seated dinner with wine pairings from each distinguished chef and a charity auction. A portion of ticket sales and all proceeds from the auction items will benefit four charities that are close to Harris’ heart: James Beard Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, No Kid Hungry, and PIGGY BANK. This week, check out James Beard Foundation “Outstanding Chef” Suzanne Goin at Lucques! A graduate of Brown University, Suzanne’s background includes positions at some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the US, including Ma Maison, L’Orangerie in Los Angeles, Al Forno in Providence, Olives in Boston, Chez Panisse in Berkeley, and Alain Passard’s Arpège in Paris. Her work as Executive Chef at Campanile put her on the culinary map in Los Angeles and laid the groundwork for her first restaurant. In 1998, Suzanne opened Lucques in West Hollywood with her business partner Caroline Styne. The restaurant met with instant success and Suzanne was named one of Food and Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs” in 1999. Lucques received praise from Condé Nast Traveler, Gourmet, Bon Appétit and Saveur, including a prestigious 3 star review by the Los Angeles Times. A second restaurant, a.o.c. with the concept of inspired wines by the glass with a small plates menu, opened in 2002. $125; Monday; 8474 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Tuesday:
SOCA Opens
Restaurateur and Executive Chef-Owner Aaron Robins and General Manager-Partner Rory Snipes, are have opened a refined dining destination spotlighting globally-inspired steak and seafood offerings to Ventura Boulevard. Capturing worldly influences, focusing on Latin and Mediterranean cuisine with nods to Asia, the flavors are complemented by a gin-centric cocktail program and extensive wine list. SOCA’s menu features wood-fired dishes, seafood plates, and raw bar specials, as well as gravlax and caviar service in the coming weeks. The raw bar features a selection of oysters, plus cold seafood including towers, as well as creative plays on shrimp and ceviche. Stand out dishes include Half Shell Henderson Bay Oysters, with blood orange fennel mignonette and a two tomato Thai serrano salsa; Beef Tongue Salad, Basque-style pickled beef tongue, house-made grilled bread salad; Butt, Belly, & Bone, trio of char siu prepared Berkshire pork belly, butt, and chop, shishito peppers, for the table; as well as Chile de Arbol Spiced Chocolate Panna Cotta. The beverage program, designed by Snipes, includes cocktails such as Crisol made with Damoiseau Rhum Agricole, yuzu, mirin, and bay leaf simple syrup; Flowers in Florence made with Bols Barrel-Aged Genever, lavender infused Aperol, and Bonal Gentiane Quina; and Royal Rouge made with Hayman’s Royal Dock Gin, broVo Witty, coriander simple syrup, lime juice, and Peychaud’s Bitters. Available by the glass or bottle, the predominately French wine list includes single pours of Krug Grande Cuvée Brut, Clos des Rocs Pouilly‑Loché Monopole, white, Burgundy, and Domaine Le Mourre Châteauneuf-du-Pape that are meant to foster the coastal, European tranquility of the SOCA experience. 14015 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA; 818.301.4300
Industry Night at The Church Key
Revel in complimentary libations while snacking on the restaurant’s tasty salt and vinegar popcorn from 5-7 pm. After 7 pm, The Church Key will feature signature craft cocktails by Tito’s Vodka and Bushmills for $10, and the restaurant’s Tuesday Fried Chicken menu items for purchase. CK Fried Chicken menu highlights include: “CKFC” Buttermilk Fried Chicken with cheddar jalapeño biscuits, and two chef sides; Ososky’s Potato Pierogis with heirloom apple butter, 5 year aged gouda, sour cream, and chives; Crispy Pork Belly with a Korean chili glaze, escarole, kim-chi, fried egg, and cilantro; and The “Stuffed” Avocado with tuna tartare, Japanese cucumber, radish, tempura, and ponzu aioli. Every first Tuesday, 5 pm; 8730 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069; 424.249.3700
Michael’s On Naples debuts Aperitivo
Raise a glass and exclaim saluti as Michael’s On Naples debuts its new Aperitivo. The award-winning restaurant brings Italy to Naples Island in Long Beach with its new Italian-style happy hour taking place on the restaurant’s popular Rooftop Lounge. In Italy aperitivo is the time of day in which Italians congregate with friends at a local bar or ristorante and enjoy small plates of crostini, bruschetta, salumi, pecorino and other cheeses, nuts, pasta and crudité while sipping an aperitif, such as prosecco, Campari, Negroni, Aperol, wine and beer. While it may sound like an American happy hour, the aperitivo is a prelude to dinner with a focus on food. Aperitivo at Michael’s On Naples will celebrate the tradition with Italian cocktails and wines, offered at regular price, paired with complimentary small plates. Monday–Thursday from 5-7 pm; 5620 E. 2nd St, Long Beach, CA; 562.439.7080
Wednesday:
Woman’s Day Movie Night: Thelma & Louise
The Wiltern’s hosting a screening of this classic that has Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon heading west. There will also be a panel on women & diversity in entertainment. Plus, enjoy music, food, and more. $10.50; Wednesday, 6 pm; 3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010; 213.388.1400
The All-Star Chef Classic
The All-Star Chef Classic is a four-day culinary experience showcasing some of the world’s best chefs. All-Star Chef Classic returns to L.A. LIVE! Tickets; Wednesday through March 11th; LA Live, 800 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015; 866.548.3452
Esters Wine Shop & Bar‘s New Lunch Menu
Grab a leisurely lunch with friends, a quick, solo meal at the bar, or to-go sandwiches and salads (along with a bottle of wine for later). New Chef de Cuisine Chris Ono and Jeremy Fox have crafted a full menu for lunch available every day starting at noon. Dinner favorites like the Corned Brisket and Grilled Cheese are being carried over to the daytime, along with new sandwiches such as The Esters Vedge with carrots, cucumber, radish, goat cheese, pesto, fennel pollen, pickled sunchokes, and benne seeds on Milo & Olive country bread. Salads include the Esters Chop with kale, radicchio, Bayley Blue cheese, winter fruit, pecans, and cider vinaigrette or the Market Lettuce Salad with buttermilk dressing, carrots, radish, cucumber, and dill can now be made heartier for a full meal by adding chicken. A series of “Happy Lunch” specials have also been added, such as a $15 Half Sandwich and Half Salad Combo. For $25, power lunchers can take a cue from the Europeans and enjoy a glass of wine during the day with a salad, cheese, and wine combo. 1314 Seventh St, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 310.899.6900
Thursday:
Tower 12 Opens
The new South Bay spot has a laid back surf, music and beach scene with Consulting Chef Brendan Collins’ California-inspired spins on American classics. Alongside Executive Chef Alex Granados, Collins created a menu including starters like Woodfired Garlic Blue Shrimp with garlic butter and charred sourdough; Cheese Steak Poppers with ribeye, peppers, onion and cheese sauce; and Chicken Lollipop Wings with green apple and bourbon chipotle hot sauce. Signature salads include Roasted Heirloom Beets with Caña de Cabre Goat Cheese, baby greens, cherry tomato, and Banyuls vinaigrette; and Smoked Chicken Waldorf with candied walnuts, green apple, bleu cheese, baby gem and cranberry balsamic vinaigrette. Hand-tossed pizzas baked in Tower 12’s wood fired oven include the Banzai Pipeline Hawaiian Pizza with parma cotto ham, pineapple, Fresno chilis, mint and tomato sauce; and Magic Mushroom Pizza with forest mushrooms, truffle gremolata, crème fraiche and arugula. Among the “between the bread” offerings are a House-Smoked Pastrami Sandwich with Emmental cheese, coleslaw and house Russian dressing on grilled marble rye; and Ahi Tuna Banh Mi Burger with cucumber, Vietnamese mint, nam sauce, roasted peanuts, cilantro, hoisin, pickled carrots and cucumbers on a sesame seed bun. Entrees include a 12-Hour Braised Short Rib with brown butter mashed potatoes and grilled broccolini; and Organic Salmon on Cedar with a miso glaze, grilled broccolini and chile marmalade. Tower 12 houses two full-service bars specializing in handcrafted cocktails, wine and 30 local brews on tap. Created by Mixologist John Fox of Palmilla, signature drinks include Gleaming the Cube with Dewar’s 12 Scotch, St. Germain, mint, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice; Por Qué No Margarita with Cazadores Anejo, mezcal, peach liqueur, chipotle, fresh lime and pineapple juice on the rocks with a chipotle powder rim; and 16th Street Spiked Rum Smash with Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, muddled pineapple and mint, fresh lime juice, Myer’s Dark Rum float, Luxardo Maraschino Cherry, served in a branded souvenir glass that guests may take home. Tower 12 also offers “Socialbowls” for sharing such as a 90 oz. Mavericks Mai Mule with Stoli Vodka, fresh lime juice, ginger beer, orange curacao and Giffard Orgeat and a flaming 48 oz. Southbay Swizzle with Pyrat Rum, Citronge, Luxardo Cherry Liqueur and fresh lime juice. 53 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA; 310.379.6400
Baltaire‘s Two Year Anniversary
Brentwood’s classic-meets-contemporary steakhouse, Baltaire, has officially met their two-year mark! They’re celebrating the milestone with a specialty cocktail, the Baltaire Club ($10), made with gin, apricot liqueur, Peychaud bitters, and lime juice, only available on their anniversary. Thursday; 11647 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049; 424.273.1660
Bar Lubitsch‘s Pop-Up
The West Hollywood bar has been quietly hosting a run of Thursday night pop-ups from chef Billy Walsh. Walsh was a longtime chef around town at places like Lazy Ox Canteen and Craft, but had a terrible motorcycle accident that landed him in a monthlong coma. Now he’s cooking on the front patio at Bar Lubitsch. Walsh is doing Balsh Cakes, a global take on pancakes and other griddled treats from around the globe. You will find American pancakes done as a pork roll, a veggie burger arepa, and more. Every Thursday, 8:30 pm; 7702 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046; 323.654.1234
NHMLA Partners with Angel City Brewery for Spring Discussion Series “Citizen Science + Suds”
Can citizen science make Los Angeles a better city? Make California a better state? Can it help us save the world? Or at least craft the best community-sourced suds? This spring, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLA) investigates the effects of community participation in civic projects in a new discussion series: Citizen Science + Suds. Marcus Benigno (American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California), Fraser Shilling (Road Ecology Center), and Alison Young (California Academy of Sciences) will share stories, data, and the real-world impacts that happen when harnessing the power of the people. This three-event series will demonstrate this fresh perspective on where and how science can happen — not just in a lab, but in our everyday lives. Each month will feature projects that rely on community involvement for success, with interactive and lively conversation. After all, crowd participation is what citizen science is all about. In the spirit of citizen science, NHMLA and Angel City are creating L.A.’s first-ever crowd-sourced beer. You can cast your vote for both the beer’s ingredients and name by attending the events, or by participating on social media, via@NatureinLA on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can taste the beer you helped create at the series finale on April 13. Free; Thursday, 6 pm; Angel City Brewery, 216 Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; RSVP at here.
