All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

In case you're looking for some local food events happening in LA in the next couple of months, here are some to look for, courtesy of DineLA.com:

August 3
More than 50 Central Coast wineries will be pouring yummy stuff at Wally’s 5th Annual Central Coast Wine and Food Celebration benefiting the Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund. A handful of Los Angeles’ best restaurants will also be representing. Among them: Spago, Sona, Lucques and The Hungry Cat. For tickets, call 310.475.0606 or visit wallywine.com.

August 5
If tequila and red meat are the source of pleasure for your palate, you won’t want to miss tonight’s Herradura Wine Dinner at The Palm West Hollywood. Each course will be paired with an Herradura tequila for sipping. In addition, each recipe integrates tequila. Think aged filet mignon in an anejo cream sauce paired with Herradura Anejo. Sabroso. Call 310.550.8811.

August 18
Club Culinaire, the local organization founded to promote French cuisine, sponsors a series of dinners throughout the year. Tonight’s “Chef a Table” takes place at Grace, the stylish Beverly Boulevard eatery. Like all Chef a Table dinners, this one begins at 7 p.m. with a Veuve Cliquot wine reception. A five course dinner follows during which chef Neal Fraser will table hop, giving guests a chance to hobnob with one of our biggest talents. But Fraser’s not French you say? True. You need not be to be a club member. You simply must cook in the French style. $105 for members, $115 for non-members. For reservations, call 323-934-4400. For more information on the club, visit clubculinaire.org.

August 31
Join five of Los Angeles’ most celebrated chefs along with Giuseppe Tentori of Chicago’s Boka—Tentori was named one of Food & Wine’s best new chefs of 2008—at tonight’s 5x5 dinner at Water Grill downtown, the penultimate in this year’s series. Water Grill chef David LeFevre teams up with Josiah Citrin of Melisse, Gino Angelini of La Terza, Michael Cimarusti of Providence and Walter Manzke, formerly of Bastide, to prepare a six course menu that promises to blow away even the most jaded foodie. Make your reservations asap. Even with the $150 price tag ($215 with wine pairings), seats promise to go quickly. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Southern California Chapter of Special Olympics. For reservations, call Water Grill at 213.891.0900.

September 7 – 21
Angelenos can get into the spirit of California Wine Month by sniffing-and-swirling their way through over forty restaurants during wine & dineLA presented by American Express. Top LA restaurants will strut their culinary stuff with heavy-hitting wine pairing menus designed to highlight the best of our local grapes. Watch for participating restaurants and their menus at dineLA.com.


UPDATE: Gayot also has a great list of events going on this Summer. Some noteable ones are the 888 Menu at Gonpachi on August 8 & 9 which features 8 courses for $88 (for two people), as well as the Backyard BBQ Series at Vinotèque in Culver City for $28 per person, going on now through August. Get out and eat something!

That Lovin' Feeling

A few people have asked me for Valentines Day recommendations, so below are some of my favorite romantic restaurants in Los Angeles:

Cafe La Boheme
8400 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, 90069
(323) 848-2360

Il Cielo
Italian
9018 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, 90211
(310) 276-9990

Off Vine
American
6263 Leland Way
Hollywood, 90028
(323) 962-1900

Green Door
American
1429 Ivar Ave
Los Angeles, 90028
(323) 463-0008

Falcon
American
7213 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, 90046
(323) 850-5350

Moon of Tunis
Moroccan
7445 1/2 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, 90046
(323) 874-3333

Lily's
French
1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, 90291
(310) 314-0004


Or check out this article for a few restaurants offering free items specifically on Valentines Day.

Go on, lovebird!

A Week for the Weak (in the wallet, that is)

DineLA's restaurant week starts next week and takes place from Jan 27 - Feb 1 and Feb 3 - Feb 8. This is your chance to get a table at some of LA's best and most expensive restaurants for a discounted price. All offering 3 course menus that range from $15 - $34, this is your chance to have a fantastic meal without having to sell anything via the black market to pay the bill. Check out this address to find more and see all the menus:

http://www.dinela.com/data/restaurantweek/participating.php

I'll be dining at Beacon-LA and 3 on Fourth, and you'll be the first to know about them!

Feel Like Royalty

Photo Courtesy of royaleonwilshire.com

Per Zagat, here's a new restaurant with fun themed nights. Although the main courses might be a little pricey for a gal on a budget, their small plates and bar menu ($7-$13) seems like the way to go. Straight from the article:

"... check out Royale, a fresh-out-of-the-box Downtowner that's already offering an assortment of special nights – "Eastside Mondays" (the music of East LA, from 9 PM–2 AM); "Built Tuesdays" (a get-together of artists, photographers and so forth, from 8 PM–1 AM), and "Soul Food Friday" (the last Friday of every month, including appetizers like crispy pork spareribs and mac 'n cheese, and live music from 9:30 PM–2 AM)."

Who said there's nothing fun to do on a weeknight?

Royale
2619 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90057
$$-$$$

Today is a BIG Day!

Photo Courtesy of Jupiter Images

Osteria Mozza and Craft open up their doors to the public! It's like someone gave me two puppies. Now I just have to find the $ to buy their puppy chow. Donations? Dates?

Update: You can check out Osteria Mozza's menu on Eater LA.

Mayo Yayo!

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with Mexican food! The Los Angeles staple, El Cholo, is known and loved by many. BUT, what you may not know is that they are adding a new menu item starting this month through October. Their famous Green Tamales, which are usually only available online, have been available as of May 1 in their restuarants!

Dust off your sombrero and take advantage of this special treat! Aye Aye Aye!

El Cholo
1121 S. Western Ave.
Los Angeles, 90006
$$

Let's Get Festive!

Photo courtesy of www.beach-cities-la.com

Summer is around the corner, warm weather creepeth in, and with it comes sun dresses, bbqs and any reason to be outside. Thus, I've compiled a list of Food Festivals taking place this Summer in Los Angeles, allowing you to eat and get a tan at the same time. Walls be gone, welcome the summer of the tents!

MAY

17th Annual Pasadena Summer Fest – A Taste of Summer
100 Rose Bowl Drive in Pasadena
May 27, 28 and 29 from 11am – 9pm

Connoisseurs of finger lickin' festival food treats always enjoy the Memorial Day weekend's A Taste of Summer where a dozen restaurants, cafes and eateries serve up scrumptious treats at modest prices.
COST: Free admission, food not included.

JUNE

Picnic des Chefs
Old Lodge, Elysian Park, Pasadena
June 3 at 11:30am
For more information, call Kora at 949-295-0506

Le Tour de France Culinaire hosts its 27th annual “Picnic des Chefs” in the Old Lodge area in Elysian Park. The party begins at 11:30 a.m. with aperitifs and lunch, followed by a raffle at 3:30 p.m. The expansive menu will include culinary contributions from numerous local chefs, whether French born or French trained. Expect pâtés from chef Akira Hirose of Maison Akira, artichoke salad from Jean-Pierre Bosc of Mimosa, grilled tuna from Andre Angles of Frenchy’s Bistro and a variety of cheeses and pastries for dessert. To drink, there will be French and American wines, Champagne and French beer. Activities will include silent and live auctions, a French DJ, pétanque, soccer and moon bouncers for children (gayot.com).
COST: $50 for adults, $20 for children between 10 and 21, free for children under 10.

19th Annual Taste of the Nation
Media Park, Culver City
June 24 from 1pm – 5pm

The 19th Annual Taste of The Nation brings together an impressive collection of chefs and restaurants in Los Angeles for an afternoon of delicious food, fantastic wine, fun activities and live music at Culver City’s Media Park from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with celebrity chefs including Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (Ciudad, Border Grill), Ben Ford (Ford’s Filling Station), Suzanne Goin (A.O.C., Lucques), Neal Fraser (Grace, BLD) and more, while enjoying tastes from over 40 wineries or noshing on the countless food offerings. All proceeds benefit Share Our Strength, the leading organization committed to ending childhood hunger in this country. (gayot.com)
COST: General admission is $95 with advance purchase, $105 at door; tickets for children 15 or under are $25, and kids under 6 get in for free. VIP tickets cost $150. For additional information and advance ticket sales, visit taste.strength.org.

JULY

10th Annual Extravaganza for the Senses
20th Century Fox
Saturday, July 21, 2007

The Annual Extravaganza for the Senses is one of the largest wine and food events in Los Angeles, and has a great cause to boot, as the event raises money for The Los Angeles Free Clinic.
COST: For more event information contact the Clinic's Special Events office at (323) 330-1670 or events@lafreeclinic.org.

AUGUST

12th Annual 2007 LA Tofu Festival
August 18-19, 12pm - 8 pm
Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

The festival will feature over 100 imaginative and delicious tofu dishes served by L.A.’s hottest restaurants as well as artisanal soy products and a wide array of Pan-Asian and non-vegetarian specialties.
COST: General admission is $8 and dishes range from $1-$4 per serving.

SEPTEMBER

Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival
San Pedro
Sept 14, 15, and 16

The World's largest lobster festival, the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival features discount Maine lobster meals. After feasting on our world famous lobster meals, guests in the past have enjoyed dancing, street performers, a pirate camp, tall ships and music from artists like Jason Mraz, Tristan Prettyman, The Young Dubliners, and General Public.
COST: The Market Price determines the reduced cost for the lobster. Check the website for details.

Taste of Santa Monica
Santa Monica
September 16, 2007

Sample one delicious treat after another from 40 of Los Angeles finest restaurants. Enjoy live music and chef demonstrations all afternoon. Bask in the warm summer sunshine and cool ocean breezes on Santa Monica pier. Treat your senses to something special.
COST: Adults - $40, Children under 4 - $10

A Taste of Downtown Burbank
San Fernando Blvd., Burbank
September 27, 2007

Taste the international cuisine of Downtown Burbank’s restaurants, sample beers & wines from Gordon Biersch Brewery and Market City Cafe and enjoy live music. This event is also charitable, raising over $37,000 last year for the Burbank Community YMCA.
COST: Yet to be announced.

Feast of San Gennaro 2007
September 28 – 30, 10am – 11pm
1651 Highland Ave. Hollywood
(behind "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Studio on Hawthorn
one block south of Hollywood & Highland)

Just like the 76-year old New York City tradition, the 2006 Feast of San Gennaro will celebrate Italian culture, entertainment and food and will feature live music, carnival games, street performers and strolling musicians in addition to wine from local wineries and food from Los Angeles' best Italian restaurants. Guests will be invited to learn recipes at the cooking stage, play bocce ball with some of Hollywood's most prominent Italian-American celebrities and much more!
COST: $5 donation, not including food.

Here, Kiddy, Kiddy

Just when you thought advertisers couldn't get any sneakier, they did. Have you seen KFC's new ad yet? Well, let me refresh your memory.



The imbedded buzzing during the shot of the chicken bucket is at a high enough frequency that only some ears (i.e. young ears) can hear it. KFC ran a simultaneous promotion on their website, giving the first 1,000 people who heard the pitch a chance to win $10 to the fried chicken chain.

I could hear the buzz so I guess I'm in the age range that is supposed to be lured to KFC. I must tell you, I've only gotten sick on food once and it was from eating too much KFC. So maybe I'm biased on the subject, but I think this is a little 1984-esq and freaks the balls of me (hypothetical balls). Next thing we know, all KFC's will be projecting the "buzz" on loud speakers as droves of children drop their yo-yo's and/or jax and head straight for the nearest locale.

Please, stop the brainwashing and just come up with better commercials.

Something to 'Scream About!

Today, April 17 is FREE CONE DAY at any Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop. From 12pm-8pm you can get a free ice cream cone, so go get 'em while they're hot (read: cold). Why not another something to celebrate (besides turning in your taxes).