Monday, May 9:
Cassia Debuts Lunch
The dining destination helmed by co-owner and Chef Bryant Ng, is exploring its casual side with weekday lunch. In addition to select dinnertime favorites, the lunch menu features an array of all-new dishes. All burgers and sandwiches include fries or a salad, and highlights on the new lunch menu include: Cassia Burger ($17) made with ground short rib, and topped with shallot mayo, sambal, curry-pickled cucumbers, lettuce, and tomato, with the option to add American or Cheddar cheese ($2); Vietnamese-French Dip Sandwich ($22), with thinly sliced, smoked prime rib marinated with anchovy salt, palm sugar, and Phu Quoc Island black peppercorns, layered with a horseradish-anchovy sauce and Emmental Swiss cheese, served on clay oven bread with a pho broth for sipping or dipping; Koda Farms Chickpea Curry Sandwich ($17), featuring a curry made with coconut milk, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaf, then stacked with crispy eggplant, mizuna, alfalfa sprouts, cucumbers, pickled shallots, and feta on clay oven bread; Chinese Chicken Salad ($16), with shredded organic chicken, romaine, pea tendrils, English peas, tangerines, cashews, fried wonton skins, and sesame vinaigrette; and Cold Sesame Noodles ($15), with young soy beans, cucumbers, crushed walnuts, and the option to add crab ($6) or organic chicken ($5). For those who can’t escape the office, the restaurant also offers its lunch and dinner menu for pick-up by calling 310.393.6699. Monday-Friday, 11:30 am-2:30 pm; 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA
Baldoria
This shared plate and craft cocktail bar from Mozza alum David King opens in Little Tokyo. Expect globally inspired plates from Executive Chef Duke Gervais like seared polenta bites with wild mushroom ragu; grilled baby octopus and cipollini onion toast points; Natchitoches meat pie with spicy buttermilk dip and more. All of Baldoria’s cocktails are offered on-tap or by the bottle, and include the Gin Sling Sling, made with gin, maraschino infused liquor, lime, David’s house made ginger beer, and the Barrel Aged Tour Eiffel, made with xo cognac, suze Cointreau, absinthe aged on American white oak. Opens Monday; 243 S. San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA
One Night Only with Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson continues L.A. Chapter’s new pop-up dinner series, “One Night Only.” The Seattle-based chef of French-Vietnamese restaurant, Stateside, is throwing a Vietnamese-inspired, family-style dinner. Expect a three-course menu that includes crispy duck fresh rolls; fresh coconut and prawn salad; and cha ca la vong, black cod marinated in turmeric and galangal, rice vermicelli, fresh dill, cilantro, mint and peanuts. $45 (includes the three course dinner, welcome cocktail and recipe takeaway from the chef); Monday, seatings: 7 pm and 9 pm; L.A. Chapter, Ace Hotel Los Angeles, 930 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA; 213.235.9660
M.B. Post Anniversary
Five years ago, Chef David LeFevre launched his flagship restaurant, M.B. Post, and kept going with sister restaurants Fishing with Dynamite and The Arthur J. Celebrate half a decade of deliciousness of the Manhattan Beach neighborhood favorite as they serve up their favorite dishes like a raw bar by Fishing with Dynamite and carving station by The Arthur J. Also enjoy craft cocktails, wine and beer. Proceeds benefit The Kings Care Foundation. $165; Monday, 5-7 pm, or 7:30-9:30 pm; 1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA; 310.545.5405
Tuesday, May 10:
Hopdoddy Burger Bar’s Social Hour
Enjoy their new $5 Social Hour. With locations in El Segundo or Playa Vista, you can grab discounted brews, burgers and bites. The menu includes all signature sips, wine and draft beers for $5, the Jane Slider for $3, the Larry Slider made with Angus beef, caramelized onions, blue jack, and horseradish mayo for $4, Green Chile Queso with Kenebec fries for $5, and Truffle Fries for $5. Monday – Friday, 3 – 6:30 pm
Westbound
The bar, eatery, and debut establishment from entrepreneur Sarah Meade—joined the DTLA Arts District! With Head Bartender Dee Ann Quinones (Booker and Dax, 69 Colebrook Row, Susan Feniger’s former STREET) and Executive Chef Gary Nguyen (previously of Alma and Mélisse), Westbound offers a menu of elevated bar snacks, a travel-inspired cocktail menu, and singular approach to service. Designed by LA based firm Studio Collective in collaboration with Hamilton Architects, the space celebrates the location’s historic roots. The location for One Sante Fe was once the passenger terminal for La Grande Station (a main Los Angeles hub prior to Union Station). The decor includes espresso-dyed leather Pullman booths, a hand patinaed, copper-clad bar and Tom Dixon-designed satin brass light fixtures. The travel-inspired drink menu pays homage to classic cocktails around the world with a rotation of global ingredients. Cocktails include The Conductor made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, black sesame, tamarind, egg white, and lemon; the Sinatra and Chanel made with Monkey Shoulder Whiskey, coco palm, frankincense, and sour cherry bitters; classic cocktails include the Pharmaceutical Stimulant made with Aylesbury Duck Vodka, espresso, and Varnelli Caffè Moka (an homage to the cocktail created by Dick Bradsell of Fred’s Club in London). Executive Chef Gary Nguyen’s playful, yet sophisticated, dishes include an assortment of small plates and elevated bar snacks. Munch on “Foie ‘n’ Waffle” featuring brioche, espresso, maple, and navel orange compote; New Zealand Tai Snapper Ceviche with pickled serrano, basil, coconut, balsamic anchovies, and crispy shallot; and Beet Trifle with beet meringue, orange cake, brandy caramel, and a spring herb ice cream. 300 S. Santa Fe Ave, Suite N, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Thursday, May 12:
Beer and Cheese Paring
Join Angel City Brewery and Vagabond Cheese Co. for a night of Beer and Cheese pairings. Certified Cicerones Dan Shapiro & Keith Ely of Angel City Brewery and head monger/owner of Vagabond Cheese Co., Alex Ourieff will be guiding you through a tasting of five Angel City beers each paired with an artisanal cheese, along with crackers, nuts, dried fruit & preserves. Before the tasting, you will be taken on a special tour of the brewery and learn a bit about the fermentation process of these two delights. $37.92; Thursday, 7 pm; 216 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
TART at the Farmer’s Daughter Hotel‘s Red, White and Blues
TART restaurant has launch of Red, White and Blues—a weekly, live music event featuring a signature wine and burger pairing menu. For the first two Thursdays in the series, you will be entertained by the talent of Blues artist, Wynell Montgomery on the restaurant’s outdoor porch with fire pits. Montgomery has extensive experience as a Jazz Saxophonist, Pit Orchestra member, and Flute Solo and he has worked professionally with many different artists in the industry. For the Red, White and Blues series, Executive Chef Keith Shutta has paired each uniquely crafted burger with delicious wines made in the Burgundy region of eastern France. Menu choices include The Bacon Jam Burger, a 7-ounce bordelaise beef burger with bacon jam, taleggio cheese, arugula on a charred ciabatta and The Brown Butter Mushroom Burger, a 7-ounce beef burger with brown butter mushrooms, melted Swiss cheese, crispy onions and a dash of mayo on a sweet brioche bun. $24; Every Thursday, 5 pm-close (music is from 6:30-8:30 pm); 115 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
