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July 2009 - Posts
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My grandparents courted here, and it's still a hot pickup place. Read More...
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Jet-setters, hold on to your hats: the Dorchester Group’s legendary Bel-Air Hotel , which Zagat surveyors praise as a “lover’s paradise” where “everyone is treated like a star,” will close for an 18-month renovation Read More...
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Katana Photo: courtesy of the restaurant On August 5, The Joy of Sake partners with West Hollywood's Katana to host its first LA “Aftertaste.” The evening will concentrate on brewing techniques used to add fragrances like apple, banana Read More...
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– Michael Pollan considers the impact of Julia Child. [ NYT ] – The House rejected narrowly legislation aimed at giving more food control to the FDA. [ WSJ ] – A new study says organic food isn't really better for you than regular Read More...
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As Eater reported, Murano will close after service this Sunday. Club Sushi and One Sunset have also closed, with Luau looking dicey as well. Read More...
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The Patina Restaurant Group throws its first "Tomato Festival" Photo: courtesy of the Patina Restauarnt Group Now until the end of summer, the various Patina restaurants ( Cafe Pinot , Catal , Kendall's Brasserie , Nic & Stef's Steakhouse Read More...
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Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia Photo: Copyright Columbia Pictures As we’ve mentioned before , we’re more than a little excited about Julie & Julia , the new movie about the blog-documented journey of Julie Powell (Amy Adams) as she Read More...
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Today the Cheesecake Factory celebrates National Cheesecake Day by offering half-price on its 30 different types of the sweet treat. The chain also debuts its red velvet variation, and for the next year, it'll donate 25¢ from each slice sale Read More...
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First Cabin Photo: courtesy of the restaurant The pleasure of dining by the water is something only an aquaphobe could deny. Yet too often the food quality at waterside restaurants is a washout. To give you a leg up, here are five such spots that please Read More...
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– The situation for this summer's crop of Northeast tomatoes looks grim. [ NYT ] – New York missed inspecting one in five restaurants in 2008. [ NYT ] – Michael Jackson's personal chef speaks. [ Salon ] – Trouble in California Read More...
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Hakobe Photo: Claire Thomas Ubiquitous restaurateur Adolfo Suaya ( BoHo , Gaucho Grill , Geisha House ) joined with Japanese model Asako to turn his Lodge Steakhouse in Beverly Hills into Hakobe , a Japanese fusioner serving a midpriced menu of exotic Read More...
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Bistro LQ Photo: Claire Thomas It's been more than a decade since Laurent Quenioux closed 7th Street Bistro, his highly esteemed Downtown French, to become (among other things) executive chef for the LA Dodgers; the arrival of Bistro LQ (in the former Read More...
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Dr. Hogly Wogly's Three Way Photo: Claire Thomas You'll find the city of Tyler at the east end of Texas, north of Galveston and Beaumont. This is prime barbecue country, gathering its influences from both the South and the West, from the beef Read More...
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After just one year in business, Katsu Michite (formerly of Tama Sushi) has closed Katsu Sushi in Beverly Hills. Read More...
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– Sports drink Muscle Milk is neither muscle, nor milk. Discuss. [ NYT ] – Related: Coke is readying a fizzy milk drink. [ Times ] – July 4th was not so good for big beer sales. [ The Atlantic ] – The demand for blue fin tuna does Read More...
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Nothing succeeds like success. According to the LA Times ' blog The Daily Dish , the overwhelming success of Abbot Kinney American Gjelina (just try getting a rez some weekend!) has led the owners to look up – upstairs in this case, at the space Read More...
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After debuting two years ago, Tracht's – Suzanne Tracht's Jar offshoot at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel – closed this week. Read More...
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– A drop in sales burns McD's. [ Bloomberg ] – Do chefs and drugs go together like salt and pepper? [ The Daily Beast ] – Cereal gets manly with Wheaties Fuel. [ NYT ] – Just how big is Anheuser-Busch/InBev? [ Accidental Hedonist Read More...
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Pizzeria Ortica is among those offering "Fashion Plates" deals. photo: courtesy of Pizzeria Ortica For the third year in a row, high-end mall South Coast Plaza is celebrating its high-end dining options with Restaurant Week–style deals. Read More...
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Piccolo Photo: courtesy of the restaurant At Venice's Piccolo , July 29 brings "Cena al Contrario," which flips the script on the usual wine-pairing strategy. On this particular night, you choose either three or five wines and chef Roberto Read More...
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Blue Cupcake Photo: courtesy of Blue Cupcake Seattle has its Pike Place Market . San Francisco has its Ferry Building Marketplace . And if some developers in Downtown LA have their way, we'll have our Artisan Market in the Douglas Building at the Read More...
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– Menu-labeling laws going federal? [ NRN ] – For one night, as part of the London Restaurant Festival , fine dining comes to the London Eye. [ Bloomberg ] – Starbucks credits McDonald's with getting it out of free-fall. [ AdAge Read More...
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Jason Travi's stylish Italian Riva has added a new stuzzichini menu – a selection of 30 small plates, including salami and crudi, ranging in price from $6 to $14 (310-451-7482; reserve online ). Read More...
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Henry's Hat Photo: Natasha Bedu Colorfully named Universal City pub Henry's Hat offers beer-friendly American snacks ranging from burgers and pizza to a single-serve clambake and a vegan cassoulet, along with the wild and wacky cocktails one would Read More...
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With the new, ultra-posh W Hotel set to open in Hollywood in December, there's been much speculation about its anchor restaurant, with rumors of numerous New York heavy rollers ready to fill the space. But the latest word is that it will be prodigal Read More...
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– A highly contagious fungus is threatening this summer's tomato crop. [ NYT ] – Cooking dirt, or dishes that look like it. [ NRN ] – Baja Fresh is getting into the Korean taco business. [ Speakeasy ] – There won't be a Read More...
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The only thing consistent is the service – consistently bad. Read More...
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Bar Lubitsch ’s ringmasters have reinvented WeHo’s divey old Coronet Pub into The Roger Room , a tiny spot with a subtle circus theme and a conspicuous cocktail focus, featuring both to-the-letter throwbacks and creative, pricey updates such Read More...
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– Starbucks is testing out new logo-less coffee shops in Seattle. [ Seattle Times ] – An excerpt of Times critic Frank Bruni's new memoir drops in this week's magazine. [ NYT ] – In Argentina, Pepsi is now Pecsi. [ AdAge ] – Read More...
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Photo: RaeA On August 2, sip some of the Central Coast's best vintages from over 60 wineries while nibbling on bites from some of LA's top restaurants at the sixth annual Central Coast Celebration . A fundraiser for the Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Read More...
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Harry Potter -themed family meals are all well and good, but sometimes you just want a dinner for the grown-ups. On July 21, Corona del Mar favorite Five Crowns takes a break from celebrating the boy wizard to honor popular Central Coast vintner Summerland Read More...
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– Las Vegas dining has gone from feast to famine. [ NYT ] – Deep discounts are starting to hurt large chain restaurants. [ WSJ ] – Related: after franchisees revolted, Burger King will still sell $1 double cheeseburgers – but only Read More...
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Caché Photo: Claire Thomas At the Santa Monica Med Caché , diners seated at the counter along the open kitchen can watch chef-owner Josiah Citrin (who still runs Mélisse ) work up a lively menu of small dishes and comfort foods sourced Read More...
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The Tasting Kitchen Photo: Natasha Bedu In the Venice space that ever-so-briefly housed AK, the casual bistro Tasting Kitchen – open Wednesday–Saturday for dinner only – will be around until the fall, when a new menu, look and name will Read More...
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RockSugar Photo: Naomi Kiang The Cheesecake Factory 's Pan-Asian spin-off RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen has been holding steady in Century City for over a year now, and to celebrate, it's offering a five-course tasting menu, available for lunch Read More...
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– The G-8 pledges $20 billion to food and agricultural assistance in poorer nations. [ WSJ ] – Grant Achatz wonders if celebrity chefs really should stay in the kitchen? [ The Atlantic ] – Of course, sometimes it isn't easy for them Read More...
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Chaya Venice will be participating in the 12th annual "Extravaganza for the Senses" Photo: courtesy of the restaurant On July 18, the Saban Free Clinic will be hosting the 12th annual "Extravaganza for the Senses" at the 20th Century Read More...
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– Remember the world food crisis that seemed to be averted in 2008? It isn't over, just laying low. [ Economist ] – The calorie counts that many restaurants display are more wishful thinking than fact. [ WSJ ] – Mr. Chow and Phillipe Read More...
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iPhone's Seafood Watch App Finding sustainable seafood just got a little easier thanks to two tech innovations pointed out to us by Joe Isidori of NYC's Harbour . With Blue Ocean Institute’s Fishphone , diners can find out about a particular Read More...
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For those who have pulled out the last of their hairs trying to land a seat at Pizzeria Mozza , there's now an option that's even more casual than Osteria Mozza . The newly opened Mozza2Go, a take-out and delivery concept adjacent to its big siblings, Read More...
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Rush Street will participate in Dine Out for a Cure. Photo: Naomi Kiang On July 15, the city will host its first annual "Dine Out for a Cure" event, in which local restaurants volunteer to donate 10% of their day's gross profits to breast-cancer Read More...
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Though it may seem strange that a corporate fast-food chain is supporting a documentary that criticizes corporate food culture, that's exactly what's happening. Chipotle, the second most popular chain in our Fast Food Survey , has arranged for Read More...
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Mélisse Photo: courtesy of the restaurant July 14 brings not only Bastille Day , but also the 10th anniversary of Josiah Citrin's top-rated French Mélisse . For the celebration, the restaurant is offering a four-course $100 prix fixe Read More...
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– The Obama administration has proposed a sweeping overhaul of food safety. [ NYT ] – In the recession, people keep drinking. They just aren't drinking high-end wines. [ WSJ ] – Are butchers the new culinary rock stars? [ NYT ] – Read More...
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Come and explore the nuances of Spanish cuisine at the lastest Zagat Presents event, "España via California" happening tomorrow night at hip Downtown newcomer Corkbar . The five-course menu from executive chef Albert Aviles and chef de Read More...
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The Dining Room at The Shangri-La Hotel Photo: Claire Thomas Set in an ocean-adjacent, circa-1939 Santa Monica hotel that’s been brought back to its original art deco splendor by a $30 million remodel, The Dining Room at The Shangri-La Hotel serves Read More...
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The Hideout at The Hollywood Heights Hotel , a retro restaurant inside the recently refurbished, modernist Hollywood landmark hotel, offers moderately priced Traditional American fare – think mac ’n’ cheese, onion rings and a Caesar; Read More...
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Rue Montorgueil, Paris, Festival of 30 June 1878 Claude Monet Looking to celebrate French liberté on Bastille Day? You don't have to go to Paris to get in on the action. At Comme Ça ’s “Bastille Block Party,” the block Read More...
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Grace Photo: courtesy of the restaurant After pigging out this past weekend on ribs, burgers and beer to celebrate our nation's birthday , perhaps you'd like to continue your patriotic eating, albeit the healthy way. To help you out, we've Read More...
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– Gordon Ramsay 's profits dove 90%. [ Indpendent ] – Meanwhile, despite his newly Botoxed chin, Gordo talks back. [ Daily Mail ] – Unsurprisingly, the elephants swept the humans at the annual Nathan's hot dog–eating competition. Read More...
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photo: Angela Rutherford Buzz Readers, In order to get a head start on the Fourth of July holiday, the Buzz is taking a brief break from our regular posting schedule, returning Monday, July 6. Until then, we hope your holiday weekend is full of sun, fun Read More...
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The corned beef was so stringy, I was practically flossing with my sandwich. Read More...
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Westside Tavern Photo: courtesy of the restaurant After four months in business, West LA's Westside Tavern is rolling out lunch service. Starting on July 7, chef Warren Schwartz will be serving his take on lunchtime standards from 11 AM until dinner Read More...
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Pinot Bistro Photo: courtesy of the restaurant You don't have to go to Europe to get a taste of the Tour de France action. Over the course of the race, July 5–26, Studio City's Pinot Bistro is offering a tour of its own with a prix fixe Read More...
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– Funny looking fruits and veggies are coming back to the E.U. tomorrow. [ Independent ] – The Taste of Chicago wastes a lot of food. [ MP:C ] – Related: more than half the people at the Taste are single. [ Tribune ] – Denny's Read More...
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Edison Lounge Photo: courtesy of the restaurant Even in a recession, people like to drink. They just don't like to drink out as much, according to the just-released ninth edition of our Los Angeles Nightlife guide. We surveyed more than 1,750 locals Read More...
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