Monday:
Incidentally Coffee Cafe Tour
Incidentally Coffee takes you on a walking tour of three LA-area coffee houses to learn about the history of coffee and the shops’ individual roasting or brewing techniques. These tours will also give you a unique way to explore LA’s neighborhoods. Three drinks will be provided and they suggest you eat something before you arrive. $45; Monday, 10:30 am-12 pm; Dinosaur Coffee, 4334 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Wine Dinner at WBK with Ray Coursen of Elyse Winery of Napa
Treat mom to an early Mother’s Day with a celebratory Winemaker Dinner at Taste WBK. After moving to Napa Valley in 1983, Ray and his wife Nancy first worked as innkeepers at a bed and breakfast while learning all there was to learn about winemaking. Ray spent nine years at Whitehall Lane Winery in the Rutherford appellation working his way up from the tasting room to head winemaker honing his blending skills alongside owner Art Finkelstein. In 1987, Ron and Nancy started their own label, and Elyse Winery (named after their daughter) began with 286 cases of Zinfandel from the Morisoli Vineyard – which remains a cornerstone source for the winery. A decade later the couple purchased a small winery and vineyard on Hoffman Lane, and they’ve been producing wine from this location ever since. The five-course, farm-to-fork pairing menu, created by Executive Chef Brad Neumann includes Peaches & Pig, made with grilled peaches, crispy prosciutto, arugula, and sweet chili-lime dressing paired with 2013 L’ingenue White Wine Blend; Salmon Tartare with wild Pacific salmon, mango puree, shiso, Fresno chilies, and grilled scallions paired with 2014 Chardonnay; Lamb Tagine with Moroccan Spices, dried plums, pistachios, olives, and Israeli couscous paired with 2013 C’est Si Bon Red Wine Blend; Taste Steak Bites made with black pepper crusted flat iron beer, pommes dauphine, and wilted spinach paired with 2012 Zinfindel; and Sweet Grogonzola Cheesecake with a crushed walnut crust and dried fig compote paired with 2014 Forte Dessert Wine. $85; Monday, 6:30 pm; 3506 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA 562.433.1000
MC Billy Harris’ “Hanging with Harris” Guest Chef Dinner Series
Culinary MC and fundraising auctioneer Billy Harris has a new dinner series that’s a lineup of eight intimate, multi-course dining events taking place throughout Los Angeles. Each 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, experience James Beard Award-winning Los Angeles chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo who are the owners of animal, Son of a Gun, Trois Mec, Petit Trois, Jon & Vinny’s, and Trois Familia. They have been credited with changing the dining scene in Los Angeles through their critically acclaimed restaurants. Shook and Dotolo have received numerous nominations and awards including Food & Wine’s 2009 Best New Chef, StarChefs’ 2008 Rising Star Chef, and eight James Beard nominations including 2009’s “Best New Restaurant” for animal, 2011’s “Best Chef Pacific”, 2015’s “Best New Restaurant” for Petit Trois, 2016’s “Outstanding Restaurant Design” for Jon & Vinny’s, and “Best Chef West” in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. The duo took home their first jointly won James Beard Award this May for “Best Chef West”. In 2013, Shook and Dotolo formed a culinary partnership with Lexus and were named Culinary Masters. In 2015, Shook and Dotolo became the newest All-Clad Chef Ambassadors. A dream come true for Shook and Dotolo, they partnered with Vans and released a Chef Shoe Line collaboration for animal, Son of a Gun and Jon & Vinny’s in January this year. $125; Monday; 8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tuesday:
SOCA’s New Happy Hour
Head to the restaurant’s plush 15-seat bar for SOCA’s new bar menu featuring a selection of wines as well as gin cocktails including six signature Spanish Gin Tonics: No. 1 Gin Mare with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, Kumquats, Thyme; No. 2 Mahon Gin with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, Grapefruit Peel, Celery Leaf; No. 3 Tru Gin with Fever Tree Indian Tonic, Orange Peel, Fennel Frond, Blossoms; No. 4 Few Breakfast Gin with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, Meyer Lemon Peel, Chocolate Mint, Dehydrated Blueberry; No. 5 Spirit Guild Astral Gin with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, Satsuma, Lemongrass, Kaffir Leaf; and No. 6 Malfy Gin with Fever Tree Indian Tonic, Shiso Leaf, Strawberry, Pink Peppercorn. In addition to the restaurant’s Seafood Bar Menu will offer elevated, globally-inspired happy hour bites with Latin and Asian influences such as Oysters with a bacon herb crust and Manchego, Korean Crab Dumplings with King crab, Korean chili, citrus san bai su, and a kimchi slaw; Flatbread Manchego with Fontina, creme fraiche, boneyard bacon, melted leeks, and Shimeji mushrooms; Lobster Roll; Shawarma Sliders with Charmoula marinated beef, house made pita, white bean hummus, and pistachio tzatziki; Blistered Shishito Peppers with crispy shallots and sweet soy and citrus; and Pommes Frites Meyer with lemon aioli. Daily, 5-6 pm; 14015 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423; 818.301.4300
Tallula’s Opens
Tallula’s is a new Mexican restaurant from the Rustic Canyon Family of Restaurants—the team behind Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry Bakery & Café,Milo & Olive, Sweet Rose Creamery, Cassia, and Esters Wine Shop & Bar. Tallula’s, named after partners Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan’s daughter, has Executive Chef Mario Alberto menu with fresh, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Acclaimed Wine Director and Esters Co-Owner Kathryn Coker curates the wine list from boutique producers around the world, while Rustic Canyon and Esters Bar Manager Aaron Ranf crafts the beer selection and a cocktail menu that ranges from traditional margaritas and palomas. Mary Thompson, formerly of The LINE Hotel and Saint Martha in Koreatown, joins the team as General Manager. Highlights of the menu include Grilled Market Fish Tacos with black bass, Mexican sauerkraut, malt aioli, and epazote on house made blue corn tortillas; Heritage Turkey Enchiladas topped with black recado-quinoa sauce, burrata cheese, and sesame; Roasted Half Organic Chicken with mole casero, masa-ricotta chochoyotes (dumplings), and market vegetables; and large-format dishes to share like a Rotating Guisado del Dia (Braise of the Day) such as Lamb Barbacoa with Negra Modelo, rice, and herbs or a Dry-Aged Beef “Cowboy” Steak with smoked potatoes, three different salsas, pickled onions, cabbage, and tortillas. Desserts include a Tres Leches Cake with honey, chamomile, and fresh market berries and Pan Dulce with candied whole cocoa beans and a cup of raw drinking chocolate made with stone-ground chocolate from Los Angeles’ ChocoVivo. In addition to traditional Mexican drinks, Aaron’s cocktail menu offerings, like a Hibiscus Refresco with Spirit Works Sloe Gin, Opuntia Prickly Pear Brandy, the bitter aperitif liqueur Bruto Americano, hibiscus tea, lime, and agave syrup, and The Canyon with Selvarey Rum, Plantation O.F.T.D. Rum, fresh pineapple and lemon, house made spiced turmeric syrup, and Angostura bitters. 118 Entrada Dr, Santa Monica, CA 90402 www.tallulasrestaurant.com or by calling 310.526.0027.
Wednesday:
Los Angeles Times Night Market
The first annual Los Angeles Times Night Market is an outdoor street food market that takes over Grand Park and features 50 food booths from LA’s restaurants, food trucks and bars as well as a selection of artisanal vendors. Expect a tastes from khao soi, pad kee mao, dim sum to pupusas, encased meats and izakaya. The event is free but you have an option to take it to the next level by purchasing tickets to the Super Market, which offers access to curated food vendors, additional seating areas and food booths, bars, premium lounges and entertainment. Free; Wednesday through May 14th; Grand Park LA, 200 North Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
National Shrimp Day at Killer Shrimp
Their extensive menu has over 30 delicious shrimp dishes to choose from and they recently added 15 new dishes to their menu. They are also famous for their Killer Shrimp ‘Original’ dish which is a secret family recipe and a one of a kind dish! They are offering their Killer Shrimp ‘Original’ dish for its original price of $9.95 all day on National Shrimp Day (regular price is $17)! Wednesday;4211 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
May Mix-Off
The Mixing Room at JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE gathers Los Angeles’ best bartenders to compete in the May Mix-Off in collaboration with William Grant and Sons. The three-week competition takes place Wednesdays through May 24 and each night includes live mixology demos, a sampling of cocktails from each participant of the week and a hand in selecting the city’s most talented bartender to receive a grand prize trip to Tales of the Cocktail. Kick off the competition, by joining in a complimentary mixology class featuring tastings of Milagro Tequila on Wednesday, May 3 at 6 pm. Wednesday, 3-6 pm; 900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA; 213.765.8600
