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Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/28/13 4:25 PM Page 2
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 3 June 2013
Los Angeles is known
worldwide as a city
of innovators, risk-
takers and entertainers, and
L.A.’s culinary scene is no
exception. Dining in the City
of Angels is continually
evolving with ever-changing
trends including sous vide
and macrobiotic cooking.
Chefs are now focusing
more on healthy eating,
using field-to-table ingredi-
ents and expanding the vast
array of fruits and vegetables, in-
cluding goji berries, black radish,
and fiddleheads. Interesting and
delicious vegan and gluten free of-
ferings are now widely available
across the city. Restaurants in L.A.
have the advantage of local arti-
sanal breads, cheeses and charcu-
terie. Local craft brewing and
distilling has made a huge impact
on the beverage scene as well.
Meat choices run the gamut of ex-
otic fish and game, poultry, heir-
loom pork and beef with names
like Kobe, Waygu and Piedmon-
tese. It’s all about choice in L.A.
The food truck craze seems to
have mellowed with diners opting
for a more civilized manor of sat-
isfying their hunger. This bodes
well for the brick and mortar es-
tablishments that have invested
heavily in the community. Gour-
met burgers are still luring patrons
searching for “the best” and spe-
cialty cocktails are big, making
mixologists newly minted celebri-
ties.
Our second annual Dining &
Entertainment magazine serves up
an enticing array of all Los Ange-
les has to offer – from terrace din-
ing and celebrity chefs, popular
summer time destinations like the
Hollywood Bowl and Dodger Sta-
dium, and a complete summer
movie guide. We’ve highlighted a
few restaurant favorites, and ven-
tured a little out of the city limits
for those wanting to explore new
places.
When you visit the establish-
ments you’ll find inside, please
mention that you read about them
here. We would appreciate it.
Now let’s see what’s on the menu!
Bon Appetit!
Karen and Michael Villalpando
Publishers
KAREN viLLALPANDO
Editor and Publisher
jiLL WEiNLEiN
Restaurant Writer
AARON BLEviNS
EDWiN FOLvEN
TiM POSADA
Staff Writers
MiCHAEL viLLALPANDO
Publisher
LAURA vAiLLANCOURT
Advertising Salesperson
EMiLY viLLALPANDO
Editorial Assistant
MAxWELL ROWE
Graphic Designer
The Park Labrea News & Beverly Press are weekly newspapers publishing since 1946.
The Dining & Entertainment magazine is a special edition publishing on June 6, 2013
5150 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 330 P.O. Box 36036, Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.933.5518 • www.beverlypress.com
Discovering L.A.’s Culinary Treasures
What’s on the Menu
Dynamic DUO pg. 4Five Star Dining at the Four Seasons Wailea
Host a wine tasting party pg. 6Sommelier Edgar Poureshagh summer suggestions
Peninsula Roof Garden pg. 8
Nick & Stef’s pg. 10Girl and a Grill
Zengo pg. 12
Terrace Dining pg. 14The Roof at The Wilshire Hotel & Katana
FigOly pg. 16
El Coyote pg. 18
Welcome to the jungle! pg. 20Fun this summer at Los Angeles Zoo
Downtown L.A. Dining pg. 22Kendall’s Brasserie, Bottega Louie & Soleto Trattoria
Greek Theatre pg. 24
Summer Movie Guide pg. 26-29
Korean BBQ pg. 30
Kings of the craft pg. 34Enjoy a brew or two at L.A.’s craft beer pubs
Pampa’s Grill pg. 38Southeast Asian L.A.’s way
A Whole New Blue pg. 40New food & craft brews, too
Celebrity Chefs pg. 42
Summer at LACMA pg. 44
Why Run when you can fly? pg. 46 Sky Zone - the ultimate work-out
Hollywood Bowl pg. 48L.A.’s own superbowl
Normandie Bakery pg. 50Oui, oui, it’s tres French!
4 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Five-star hotel dining in Los Angeles of-
fers a plethora of choices – The Mon-
tage, The Peninsula, and the Four
Seasons Beverly Wilshire, just to name a few.
Recently, we flew over the Pacific to Maui and
experienced the five-star, fabulous DUO at the
Four Seasons Maui at Wailea.
The restaurant is set poolside with low
lighting and magnificent views of the Pacific
Ocean. The trade winds blow gently through
the umbrella-lined patio. DUO is aptly
named, as it is a steak and seafood restaurant,
helmed by award-winning Executive Chef
Roger Stettler and chef de cuisine Bryan
Beneke.
We were celebrating our 25th wedding an-
niversary, and appropriately started with a
glass of champagne and oysters on the half
shell.
Kumamoto oysters from Washington State
were served with Hawaiian sea salt, lemon
wedges and a traditional cocktail sauce, as
well as a soy yuzu vinaigrette, a perfect open-
ing act to the chef’s culinary performance.
For the next course, we dined on braised
Kurobuta pork cheeks with apple and sage
bread pudding and Hamakua mushroom
ragout. The pork was ultra-tender and the
smoky-rich mushrooms and sweetness
of the apples complemented the cheeks
perfectly. The sommelier paired the
dish with a buttery Peter Michael
chardonnay, a memorable wine.
Since DUO is a steak and seafood
establishment, we obliged and ordered
a Kobe beef strip steak and a lobster
tail, split between the two of us. I was
tempted to order the beef with the same
mushroom ragout, that I loved so
much, but our waiter steered me in the
direction of the Maytag blue cheese
sauce, which was an excellent choice.
A side of white cheddar and
truffle macaroni and cheese was
served in a cast iron skillet and was
definitely decadent, and oh-so-good.
Grilled asparagus was a refreshing
bite of green and tamed the richness
of our dinner.
A lovely 2008 Beaulieu Vineyards
Rutherford cabernet sauvignon was a
superb pairing to the Kobe.
We lingered over our last glass,
soaking up the moment, feeling very
satisfied and happy.
The expertly-
trained wait staff
attended to our
wants, approach-
ing the table
seamlessly. Our
charming server,
Chad, engaged
us in funny ban-
ter without being
too intrusive. Al-
though we de-
clined dessert – due to
the heavenly mac and
cheese – he presented a
ribbon of white choco-
late decorated with
“Happy Anniversary”
and a few chocolate
truffles to persuade us to
nibble a bit. We took a
leisurely stroll back to
our room, reflecting on
a perfect night.
We were only able to
spend a few days at the
Four Seasons Maui, and promised ourselves a
return trip. The resort is luxurious with an
emphasis on service and amenities that are in-
clusive, not a la carte. An adult-only serenity
pool is the newest addition to the resort, to
add another option for lounging to the family
pool and main, center pool area. And of
course the beach is just steps away.
Until we meet again, Four Seasons Maui
… Aloha! 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive Wailea,
Maui Hawaii U.S.A. 96753. +1 (800) 311-
0630.
photo by Deborah Jones, courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui
DUO offers many cuts of beef, including the always
delectable filet mignon.
photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui
Fresh oysters are perfect way to begin an evening of
fine dining at DUO.
The perfect place to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary
– the Four Seasons Resort Maui.
Dynamic DUOby kAren
villAlpAndoA silver anniversary celebration
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:34 PM Page 4
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 5 June 2013Dining & Entertainment Magazine
BEEF.
Serve your guests only the highest quality beef, lamb,pork and poultry. We carry Piedmontese Beef, PrimeBeef, Colorado Lamb and Niman Ranch Heirloom Pork. Our meats are hormone and steriod free, naturallyraised, grass fed. We supply the finest restaurants inLos Angeles. At your next dinner party, present Marconda’s meatsat your table, and impress your guests.
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Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 12:50 PM Page 5
6 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
How to host a wine tasting party at homeBy eDgAR PouReShAgh
Guest Columnist and Sommelier
If you’re curious about wine and have a
knack for experimenting, create a little
amateur wine tasting group to enhance
your summer. Don’t let its pretentious reputa-
tion fool you; wine tasting is easy and fun.
Let’s enjoy the beautiful evenings, and what
better way to do so than with wine in hand.
Here is a quick tutorial on the do’s and don’ts
of wine tasting.
The most important thing to do here is to
not overdo the wine selections. If you are
having 20 guests over, you might be inclined
to want to have 20 different wines to try…
however, this will create a lot of spoilage, and
people will quickly deplete the favorite
wines. Instead, I recommend no more than
12 wines (ten is ideal). I would suggest hav-
ing five to six reds, three to four whites and
one sparkling wine or champagne.
Plan on having your guests drink two
glasses of wine each, which is a little less
than half a bottle. So, for forty guests, expect
to purchase around twenty bottles of wine.
Often when I am asked to help create these
events, I will create a potluck list for each
guest to bring. The trick here is to not spend
too much on the wines. You do not necessar-
ily want the best examples of each type of
wine. Plan on spending ten to 20 dollars per
bottle. There are many hidden gems that cost
around 12 dollars.
Here is where you can get adventurous and
really create an experience for your guests.
Find a reputable retailer or sommelier and en-
list their help. Step out of your comfort zone.
I often like to choose a specific part of the
world (like “The Wines of Northern Italy”)
and really delve into the different offerings.
Your inclination might be to provide your
guests the wines you love, but with events
like this it is more important to create a mean-
ingful experience.
Sample tasting lineup for the wines of
Northern Italy:
Franciacorta from Lombardy (Sparkling
Chardonnay)
Kerner from Alto Adige (White)
Sauvignon Blanc from Alto Adige (White)
Sylvaner from Alto Adige (White)
Dolcetto from the Piedmont (Red)
Barbera D’Asti from the Piedmont (Red)
Langhe Nebbiolo from the Piedmont (Red)
Barbaresco (Nebbiolo) from the Piedmont
(Red)
Brachetto D’Acqui (Sparkling Red Dessert
Wine)
A tasting like this will be a lot of fun, and
really give your guests a great understanding
of what wines
from that area
are all about. Be
safe, have fun,
and enjoy life
one grape at a
time!
photo by Brett Jones, courtesy of Wine Folley
Nebbiolo-based wines like Barolo and Barbaresco are from Northwestern Italy.
Edgar Poureshagh
Summertime & Wine
Some see a glass as half empty; others see it
as being half full. I look at a glass and wonder
what I want to put in it. My drink, and career of
choice, is wine. Being that my humble estab-
lishment, 3Twenty Wine Lounge, has enjoyed
two successful years on the Miracle Mile, I am
starting to realize more and more that the
beauty of serving others is much more about the
personal interaction, than it is about the experi-
ence of owning a restaurant or touting the label
of ‘sommelier.’ My biggest success, as a wine
steward, is to make the moment more enjoy-
able.
Wine, when chosen well, should not be the
highlight of an evening, but instead a perfect
complement. Wine can accentuate flavors, be a
muse for pondering, and the means by which
one may smile for just a little longer. The mo-
ment should define the wine, and not the other
way around.
If you are enjoying an outdoor or summer-
time event, I urge you to take the time to think
about what wine would pair best with the envi-
ronment, as well as the cuisine. When sitting in
the hot sun, an oaky and alcoholic cabernet
sauvignon is much too heavy. Instead select a
cool and refreshing Sancerre (Sancerre is a
sauvignon blanc made in the Loire Valley of
France).
For those who really love red wines, look for
simple red wines, with very low tannins to
enjoy on a warm summer evening. There are
some red wines that actually taste quite good
chilled, like Barbera, Bonnarda, and Grenache.
Chill to about 50 degrees for the perfect temper-
ature without numbing too much of the wine’s
flavor.
If you ever need help with selecting of a
proper wine pairing for your dish, do not hesi-
tate to email me at [email protected].
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:34 PM Page 6
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8 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Roof Garden at
the Peninsula Hotel By Jill Weinlein
Inaturally gravitate to the com-
fortable seating around the fire
pit at the Peninsula Hotel’s
Roof Garden.
Tucked away near the magnifi-
cent Peninsula Spa is the alfresco
bar making some of the best cre-
ative cocktails in Beverly Hills.
I’ve enjoyed a Sunset on the Roof
martini, speckled jalapeno mar-
garita and frozen lemonade. Tak-
ing a sip or two while watching the
sunset is an optimal recipe to un-
wind and relax.
Executive Chef David Codney
cooks up The Peninsula’s annual
outdoor summer barbeque each
weekend during the summer, be-
ginning June 8.
Start your terrace dining with a
bowl of chilled cucumber soup
with white hearts of palm, sprigs
of cilantro and citrus tapioca. In
the center is a slightly spicy cu-
cumber-melon sorbet. It is refresh-
ing and full of delightful flavors,
an ideal summer appetizer.
The terrace menu includes
dishes like smoked baby back ribs,
Char Sui BBQ duck tacos, Prime
skirt steak, grilled tuna and a 12
oz. Australian Rock lobster tail
with yuzu and white soy butter.
Beef from the grill menu is from
local butcher Harvey’s Guss Meat
Co. in Culver City. Grill Chef
Brandon Weaver rubs the marbled
meat with 40 different herbs and
spices, and cooks it to perfection.
He likes to add sides of purple Ok-
inawa sweet potatoes with an or-
ange-ginger butter sauce and
Brandon’s barbecue pickled salad
with fennel, carrot, Kirby cucum-
bers, radish and tomatoes.
Splurge and enjoy a piece of
Ted’s caramelized honey corn
bread. It’s delicious.
Summer desserts include co-
conut and green apple gelato that
tastes exactly like the actual fruit.
Dining on the terrace at The
Peninsula Beverly Hills is a treat
you should allow yourself at least
once this summer. Parking is valet.
9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd.
(310)975-2855.
photo courtesy of The Peninsula Hotel
The comfortable seating around the fire pit is a perfect place to relax
and unwind with a glass of wine or cocktail.
TerraceDining
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:35 PM Page 8
L.A.’s Top Dog Since 1939
The Pink Family thanks Los Angeles for
73 years with a 36 Hot Dog Variety “Salute”
and a dozen varieties of Hamburgers - YUMMY!
Still Family Owned & Operated since 1939
Corner of La Brea & Melrose
Pink's.6.6_Layout 1 6/4/13 12:42 PM Page 1
10 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
When craving a really good
steak, where do you go?
There are a few great steak-
houses in Los Angeles, and Nick &
Stef’s in downtown Los Angeles is one
of the finest.
The Executive Chef Megan Logan, a
young, gorgeous blonde with a sweet at-
titude, enjoys grilling on the terrace once
a week during the summer. The aroma
of grilled meats and vegetables allure
workers to stop by before driving home
after a day at the office.
Her steaks are so tender and flavorful.
Her secret? The dry aging room. Guests
can view the floor to ceiling glass room
holding meat of every cut for a mini-
mum of 28-days at 35 degrees with 85
percent humidity. During this process,
the moisture evaporates from the mus-
cle, creating a more intense absorption
of beef flavor and taste. Also, the natural
enzymes break down the connective tis-
sue in the muscle, allowing the beef to
become more tender.
The New York steak is one of their
best sellers, and is served with three different
sauces: an incredibly rich and delicious Maytag
blue cheese, a decadent béarnaise and a lighter
red wine bordelaise sauce.
Finish your meal with the Guinness bread
pudding with cognac ice cream.
At sunset, guests gather to enjoy the Happy
Hour festivities every Monday through Friday
from 3 p.m to 9 p.m.
Sit on the comfortable outdoor
lounge terrace for $5 mixology cock-
tails paired with braised beef short rib
skewers and mini steakhouse burgers.
The terrace offers lovely views of
downtown L.A. It’s the perfect spot to
relax after work or before an evening on
the town.
Open Monday through Friday for
lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and
dinner Monday through Saturday from
5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The restaurant is
closed on Sundays. Valet service is
available in the Wells Fargo Center
garage, from the entrance on Hope
Street. Parking is free for three hours
with a validation from Nick & Stef’s
during dinner. After three hours there is
a flat rate of $9.
For pre-theater dinner, a complimen-
tary shuttle service to the Music Center
on performance nights is available.
Park in the Wells Fargo Center garage
all evening for flat rate of $5.70, with
validation from the shuttle driver. If
you choose to walk to the performance,
your ticket stub will also suffice as validation.
330 South Hope St. (213)680-0330.
by jILL weInLeIn
It’s all about the dry aging room... and Chef Megan Logan at
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:35 PM Page 10
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12 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Zengo, the Richard San-
doval restaurant in Santa
Monica, offers a new après
rooftop lounge to enjoy beach sun-
sets and Promenade viewing. Sit
in one of the modern sofas or a
rustic communal table as chef and
owner Sandoval celebrates sum-
mer with a new affordable lunch
and dinner menu. Nothing on the
menu is over $19.
Locals come up to enjoy
Zengo’s Happy Hour for the $4
mojitos every Sunday through Fri-
day from 3 to 7 p.m. Splurge for
one more dollar and sit back with
a hibiscus mojito or prickly pear
caipirinha. These drinks go nicely
with the Yuca fries with miso mus-
tard and lemon sake aioli or the
shrimp tempura with shrimp, crab
and avocado.
The beverage menu features in-
novative, hand-muddled cocktails
as well as Latin wines, Japanese
sakes and a collection of fine
tequilas.
On Saturdays, the popular DJ
Tim Koranda and guest DJs are
spinning techno to deep house
music from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Enjoy alfresco dining on the ter-
race every Sunday for the $35 bot-
tomless brunch with unlimited
small plates. Steak Benedict with
poached eggs goes nicely with a
lychee Bellini.
The restaurant opens for lunch
Monday through Friday from 11:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner begins at 4
p.m. to closing. Park in the Santa
Monica Place parking structure.
The restaurant validates. 395 Santa
Monica Place (310)899-1000.
An Artful blend of Latin
and Asian Flavors at
Zengoby jill weinlein
It’s all about positive energy at ROFL Caféon Melrose. ROFL is a Govind Armstrongcreation specializing in local California cui-sine.
Armstrong started his culinary career work-ing for Wolfgang Puck at the iconic Spago’sin West Hollywood. He is the Executive Chefat Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills, and justopened Willie Jean’s in Venice.
Armstrong is known for his burgers, butROFL Café serves other plates such as salads,
sandwiches and pizza. Weekend brunch is very popular with their sig-nature ROFL waffle with chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries andIntelligentsia coffee. 7661 Melrose Ave. (323)951-1536.
Friendly, creative, local. ROFL Cafe.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:36 PM Page 12
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14 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
The terrace overlooking
Sunset Boulevard is a per-
fect spot for people-watch-
ing and enjoying bustling West
Hollywood.
A favorite spot for film, music
and television celebrities, Katana
offers innovative Japanese cuisine,
and a glorious selection of sake,
Japanese beer, wine and creative
cocktails.
The robatayaki style of cooking
uses an open robata grill, which is
an ancient style of Japanese cook-
ing with skewers.
The elegant 1920s building also
houses executive offices for Mira-
max Films. On the sexy terrace,
guests sit at tables with comfort-
able chairs, next to heaters and
flaming Tiki torches during the
daily happy hour from 5:30 p.m.
to 7 p.m. Dinner service begins at
6 p.m.
Hama Hama oysters are served
with creative cubes of tomato
gelee and lobster medallions are
topped with black truffles in a
cherry port soy vinaigrette.
Be sure to order a few of the ro-
bata-
yaki, like the Wagyu
Japanese premium beef. From the
robata grill, try the Kobe pepper
with a spicy back pepper sauce.
The Japanese Karashi mustard
goes nicely with the Kurobuta
pork sausage. The tender pork ribs
practically fall off the bone and are
accompanied by a soy garlic bar-
becue sauce.
The food and service on the ter-
race attract Hollywood’s elite en-
joying an array of robata style
dishes, a grand sushi bar, and spe-
cial hot and cold dishes from the
award-winning kitchen.
Parking is valet in the building’s
garage. 8439 W. Sunset
Blvd. (323)650-8585.
KatanaA gem in the iDG ring of restaurants
by Jill Weinlein
Chef Eric Greenspan is
known for his culinary
creativity at The Foundry
on Melrose. When I heard about
his newer restaurant, The Roof at
The Hotel Wilshire, I was eager to
try it.
Exiting the elevator on the top
floor of the Kimpton boutique
Hotel Wilshire, I was immediately
wowed by the views of the
Wilshire corridor at dusk. The sky
looked like chains of rubies and
pearls.
The Roof is elegant while main-
taining trendy vibes in its prime
Los Angeles location. The cozy
seating is perfect for a first date, or
meeting up with friends to enjoy a
night on the town. With a hand-
crafted cocktail in hand and the
spectacular panoramic views of
the city, you can’t go wrong here.
Our waiter was charming and
helpful when making the very im-
portant decision of which cocktail
to order. I chose the El Diablo,
made with tequila, lime juice, gin-
ger syrup, house-made ginger beer
and a cassis float. It arrived in a
chilled copper mug and tasted
similar to a really good margarita.
My husband ordered a cool
Southside gin cocktail with cu-
cumber, mint and lime.
Glancing at the three-page
menu on a clipboard, the candles
offer just enough light to read
about Chef Greenspan’s interest-
ing dishes. The nori nachos and
lobster salad caught our eye.
These nachos have an Asian
twist and are served with tuna
tartare topped with a spicy salmon
roe and eel sauce. It’s served with
his homemade rice and seaweed
crackers flash fried with an airy
crunch.
The decadent lobster salad was
presented stacked with generous
pieces of lobster, tomatillo, chives
and avocado next to four corn frit-
ters. The fritters evoked Southern
home cooking with every bite.
All of the entrées come with a
choice of a side. We ordered the
fresh grilled halibut on a bed of
fried Brussels sprouts, sautéed
with sweet and sour onions and sa-
vory bacon. We also selected the
chilled bean salad and a side of
creamed corn elote (Spanish for
corn on the cob). The dish tasted
just like the wonderful corn on the
cob at a County Fair or Farmers
Market. It’s cut off the husk and
mixed with chili watermelon juice
and queso fresco.
The wine list is interesting with
whites from Portugal, France, Italy
and the California Central Coast.
We ordered a glass of Copain
Tours Ensemble Chardonnay from
the Anderson Valley and a Black
and White Cabernet from Topanga
Vineyards in Napa to accompany
our dishes.
All the beverages are served in
fine plastic stemware to prevent
breakage, due to the table’s prox-
imity to the deck and swimming
pool in the center of the restaurant.
Eric Greenspan’s creativity in
the kitchen turns ordinary cuisine
into a masterpiece.
Next time you have guests who
need a “home away from home,”
check out The Hotel Wilshire.
Then join your friends for and din-
ner on The Roof. Open for break-
fast, lunch and dinner. $$ 6317
Wilshire Blvd. (323)852-6002.
The Roof
Emily Villalpando and
Karen Villalpando
contributed to these stories
.
photo courtesy of The Roof at The Hotel Wilshire
by Jill Weinlein
TerraceDining
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16 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Terrace Dining
When attending a show
or an event at the Sta-
ples Center or one of
the theaters around L.A. Live,
dining options can be limited if
you’re not willing to wait.
However, I found a great new
hidden gem across the street from
L.A Live. FigOly at Luxe City
Center Hotel, a boutique hotel at
the corner of Figueroa and
Olympic, is the perfect spot for a
charming meal with good pizza
and pasta.
The terrace is ideal for a few
quick cocktails, tapas and pizza
before heading to a show. My fa-
vorite cocktail was The Other
Side, which is bourbon with a lit-
tle fresh lemon juice, sage macer-
ated raspberries and ginger.
FigOly is a swanky and sexy,
especially for the after-work
crowd to enjoy the FigOly 5 for 5
Happy Hour. It’s available every-
day in the bar and on the terrace
from 5 to 7 p.m. Five dishes for
$5 is a great deal. Order the sa-
vory short rib sliders. Pair it with
a glass of Prosecco or wine for an
additional $5.
Cozy seats surround the fire pit
or for a more intimate setting, ca-
banas are toward the back of the
terrace. Large heat
lamps keep guests
warm, as do the orig-
inal cocktails.
If you are staying
for a more leisurely
dinner, I recommend
the spicy Ahi tuna
topped with an avo-
cado mousse served
with sesame crackers.
The roasted summer
squash salad is a fa-
vorite of mine topped
with toasted pepitas
and pomegranate
seeds to give it that
extra crunch.
Signature dinner
entrees include the
FigOly gourmet
burger made with aged sirloin
and tres leches cheese served on
a challah bun with spiced aioli
and a thin layer of prosciutto.
The seared salmon is served
with a creamy Romesco yogurt
sauce, mixed cauliflower,
sweated onions and an almond
gremolata.
Save room for the decedent
chocolate ganache on a graham
cracker crust accompanied with
grape jelly and housemade
marshmallows. Castrouma olives
dipped in Muscadet and simple
syrup decorate the top.
The gooey pecan tart made
with pecan shortbread arrives
with a scoop of coconut sorbet,
sprinkled with snowy pecan pow-
der and passion fruit caramel.
Valet park at the Luxe City
Center. FigOly will validate. In-
stead of paying anywhere from
$10 to $30 at other lots around
downtown Los Angeles, we paid
$9.
Go up for the views and stay
for the exquisite food. Open
seven days a week from 6 a.m. to
11 p.m. 1020 S. Figueroa St.
(213)743-7600.
photo courtesy of FigOly
The expansive terrace at FigOly beckons the after-five crowd, the pre-and post Laker game pack and
even an intimate date for two.
Where Dowtown L.A. Comes Alive
by JiLL WeinLein
photo by Jill Weinlein
Fire pit tables add both warmth and ambience.
Emily Villalpando and
Karen Villalpando
contributed to this story.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 12:59 PM Page 17
18 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
The bursting burritos and icy cold mar-
garitas at El Coyote Mexican Café are just
two of the very good reasons to visit the
Beverly Boulevard mainstay. It’s no mys-
tery why this place is so popular: they’ve
been around since 1931 and still have lines
nearly every night waiting for a seat. The
waiters and waitresses are outfitted in tra-
ditional Mexican attire, while the restaurant
has colorfully-painted walls adorned with
sombreros and a mix of eclectic art. Weekly
specials, such as Margarita Monday and
Tequila Tuesday, make this spot a favorite
among locals. The food is standard Mexi-
can fare and the prices absolutely can’t be beat. From classic combina-
tions like taco and enchilada with rice and beans to sizzling shrimp
fajitas, there’s something to please everyone at El Coyote.
Want to throw a fiesta in your own backyard? El Coyote can help with
custom-tailored catering including “street” tacos, tamales, chips and gua-
camole and more. They’ll even bring their famous margaritas.
Located at 7312 Beverly Blvd. Call (323) 939-2255 or visit www.el-
coyotecafe.com for more information.
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“The healthiest, most delicious steak ever.”Jay Weston, Huffington Post
“An elite variety of beef – centric part of Los Angeles”Barbara Hansen, Korean Restaurant Guide
3807 Wilshire Blvd. • 213.384.5464parking off Manhattan
www.starkingbbq.comWilshire
Wes
tern
Only Korean BBQ Restaurant in L.A. to serve Certified Piedmontese Beef
BEVERLY BOULEVARD ICON
EL COYOTE
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:37 PM Page 18
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20 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Welcome to the jungle!Beastly Ball, roaring nights & Brew at the Zoo get the zoo jumpin’ for summer
The Greater Los Angeles
Zoo Association (GLAZA)
invites residents to step
into the rainforest during the 43rd
annual Beastly Ball, where patrons
will get a sneak-peek at the zoo’s
new Americas project.
The event, held on June 15, will
honor “NCIS” actress Pauley Per-
rette and Wells Fargo while offer-
ing a glimpse of the new exhibit,
“Rainforest of the Americas”,
which will present mammals, rep-
tiles, birds and insects in a lush,
tropical setting.
GLAZA president Connie Mor-
gan said the organization, which is
a “major” nonprofit partner of the
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical
Gardens, is “absolutely thrilled” to
host the fundraiser, “which is al-
ways a fantastic event.”
“I’m excited about it because
we’re not only going to have
fabulous food and animal
encounters for our guests,
but we’ll also be
hearing
a
lot of music from Brazil and from
southern and Central America,”
she said.
Further, the event will offer
silent and live auctions with come-
dian Jimmy Pardo, animal feed-
ings and a pre-party soiree with
animals, cocktails and Perrette,
who will receive the Tom
Mankiewicz Leadership Award.
The award honors those who have
shown leadership in wildlife or en-
vironmental conservation or for
the recipient’s effort to promote
civic pride and harmony in a
multi-cultural community.
Tickets are $1,000 per person,
and the pre-party is an additional
$500. For information, call
(323)644-4753 or visit
www.lazoo.org.
While the
Beastly Ball
is the
GLAZA’s biggest
fundraiser, the fun
at the zoo will not
stop there. Zoo of-
ficials are hoping
patrons will “roar”
with laughter dur-
ing the organiza-
tion’s “Roaring
Nights” nighttime
series beginning
July 11.
Participants will
be able to tour the
zoo after-hours,
listen to live
music from local
bands such as So
Many Wizards
and CHIEF, enjoy
a dance party with DJ Morn-
ingstar, laugh with stand-up
comics and eat from a variety of
food trucks.
“We’re very excited, because it
is for anyone over eighteen,” Mor-
gan said. “We are really hoping
that the young people
will be coming out for
this, because we know
most have very fond
memories of visiting
the zoo as children, and
we’d like to have them
out and see all the im-
provements at the zoo
over the last fifteen
years.”
The events will be
held on July 11, 18 and
25, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Admission is $15 for
zoo members and $18
for non-members. For
information, visit
www.lazoo.org.
On Aug. 9, officials
will host “Brew at the
L.A. Zoo”, an evening
of fun with California
craft beer, food, live
music and an opportu-
nity to walk the zoo grounds at
twilight. Guests will receive beer-
tasting tickets, a tasting mug and
more. Tickets are $50 at the door.
With a large line-up of events,
GLAZA officials are excited about
the zoo’s future. GLAZA had been
in talks to take over the operations
of the zoo, and though those talks
stalled, GLAZA may be taking
over some other aspects of the op-
erations, such as its marketing pro-
grams, Morgan said.
“We’re here to add to the life of
the zoo,” she said, adding that
GLAZA operates six zoo depart-
ments — fundraising, member-
ship, volunteers, publications,
concessions and special events.
Although officials are pleased
with the state of the zoo and are
excited about the rainforest ex-
hibit, patrons can continue to ex-
pect new developments at the
facility, Morgan said.
“It’s just like a house,” she said.
“As soon as you finish, you go
back and start thinking about what
else needs to be done.”
The zoo is located at 5333 Zoo
Drive in Griffith Park.
Motoyama the orangutan photos courtesy of Los Angeles Zoo
By AAron
Blevins
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:37 PM Page 20
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 21 June 2013
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 1:00 PM Page 21
22 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Downtown Los Angeles has
blossomed into a culinary mecca
offering a full menu of 5-star
restaurants, street food and the
hottest joints to hang out. Here are
a few of our favorites:
Kendall’s Brasserie
and Bar
Next time you are seeing a pro-
duction at the Los Angeles Music
Center downtown, reserve a table
at the Parisian-style Kendall’s
Brasserie and Bar for pre-theatre
dining or for an after-the-show
cocktail.
Award-winning mixologist Paul
Sanguinetti has revamped Patina
Restaurant Group’s authentic
French café with an innovative
cocktail menu. Start with
an absinthe aperitif to
stimulate your appetite or
the Don Javier Goes
To France cocktail
made with
Tequila Ocho
Plata. It pairs
nicely with a
cheese plate and
crusty French baguette.
Executive Chef Jean Pierre
Bosc prepares a divine lemon-dill
salmon tart with onion soubise and
salmon roe. The roasted duck
breast arrives with leg confit, wild
mushroom daube and delicious
South of France style pommes
salardaise.
A patio for those who prefer al-
fresco dining is open for lunch on
weekdays from 11:30 a.m. and on
weekends when there is a matinee
performance. Dinner starts at 5 p.m.
Valet parking is available (din-
ner only) on Grand Avenue in
front of Patina at the Walt Disney
Concert Hall for $8 with Kendall’s
validation.135 N. Grand Ave.
(213)972-7322.
Bottega Louie
This bustling downtown Euro-
pean café doesn’t take reserva-
tions, so just put your name on the
waiting list and watch the chefs
perform in the kitchen or grab a
drink at the well-stocked bar.
When your table is ready, you
will be found by a host and be ad-
dressed by your last name
throughout the meal.
Craving a smoked salmon
Benedict or ham and cheese crois-
sant? This bright space with a high
ceiling is open for breakfast at 8
a.m. Monday through Friday and
9 a.m. on weekends, when they
also serve brunch.
The lunch and dinner menu of-
fers a variety of salads, Napoli-
tano-style pizzas, pastas, soups
and sandwiches. Try one of the
24 different small
plates ranging
from $9 to
$13. En-
trees are
from $22
to $35 for
the Rib Eye
and New York
Strip steak. The 14 oz. Rib Eye is
a generous portion of beautifully
marbled grilled beef. It comes
with Kennebec French fries and a
luscious béarnaise sauce.
Save room for a chocolate souf-
flé or the beignets with raspberry
compote. You’ll love the butter-
scotch budino. Before leaving,
check out the glass shelves filled
with pastel Le Grand macarons. A
variety of delicate flavors include
chocolate orange, rose, violet cas-
sis, salted caramel and pistachio.
The trays of buttery croissants,
cranberry lemon scones, croissants
and pain au chocolate will also
mesmerize you. Treat yourself to
a few for a late night snack or
morning treat.
There is also a gourmet mar-
ket onsite offering salads, sand-
wiches and small plates to take
back to the office or home. 700
S. Grand Ave. (213)802-1470.
Soleto Trattoria & Pizza
Bar
Within walking distance to
the Staples Center, Soleto Trat-
toria (an Innovative Dining
Group creation) fills up before
every Lakers or Kings game.
With years of experience man-
aging BOA Steakhouse on Sun-
set, Mike Baray, the general
manager, opened Soleto last
year.
It’s a casual and fun spot with
recycled wood flooring and soar-
ing brick walls, leading up to a
black industrial ceiling. Each wall
is decorated differently, with
eclectic light fixtures and different
types of globes that soften the
glow.
The menu is simple with freshly
made Italian food and pizza. My
favorite appetizer is the home-
made meatballs with fresh mari-
nara sauce blanketed with
mozzarella cheese.
Of the salads, we enjoyed the
grilled vegetable and Chopt Ital-
ian. Both are dressed with Soleto’s
secret vinaigrette.
The restaurant offers flavorful
grilled oyster mushrooms
dressed with a truf-
fle vinaigrette,
sprinkled with
parsley and
s h a v e d
parmesan.
It pairs
nicely with
a glass of
2008 Gab-
biano Chianti
Classico with lush
berry notes, mild tan-
nins and hints of savory spice. The
pan-seared scallops resting on a
creamy mushroom risotto with a
parmesan foammade with garlic,
thyme and butter is delectable, es-
pecially with a glass of buttery
Jordan Chardonnay.
The pan fried Branzino Mi-
lanese is served with arugula, half
a lemon and thick shavings of
grana padano. Grano padano is a
subtler version of Parmigiano,
with a nuttier and less salty taste.
The delicate flavor works well on
salads, risotto and fish, because it
doesn’t overpower a dish.
Pizzas are fire roasted in the
brick pizza oven at Soleto Tratto-
ria. We tried the spicy smoked
pizza covered with thinly julienne
Fresno and Anaheim peppers and
caramelized onions. For those that
prefer a spicier pie, on each table
is a tall bottle of peppers soaking
in oil to sprinkle to your taste pref-
erence.
Be sure to valet
park behind the
restaurant; it’s
only $5. Just
take the ele-
vator up to
the ground
level. The
restaurant is
next to the en-
trance of the of-
fice tower. Open
for lunch Monday
through Friday from 11:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and dinner until 10 p.m.
The restaurant is closed on Sun-
days. Daily Happy Hour specials
are from 3 to 7 p.m. with food and
drink specials starting at $3. 801
Figueroa St. (213)622-3255.
Downtown LA Nightlife and Dining
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Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 1:01 PM Page 23
24 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
June 14-16
June 20
July 7
June 8
June 6
July 13
July 14
July 19
Aug. 17
Sept. 21
July 23-24
Aug. 3
Aug. 10
Aug. 24
Sept. 15
oct. 20
Music lovers will find
something from nearly
every genre this sum-
mer at the Greek Theatre, with
concerts performed in a unique
outdoor setting nestled in the hills
of Griffith Park.
The Greek Theatre has been a
top venue for concerts since 1931.
The 5,900-seat theatre has played
host to hundreds of well-known
musical groups over the years, and
the 2013 “Summer Concert Sea-
son” is no exception.
Audience members will also
enjoy a large selection of food and
beverages at the Greek Theatre,
which has a new grilling station
and a Pink’s Hot Dogs stand. An
extensive menu and full wait staff
service is available in the VIP box
suites. Food baskets and bottled
wine can be purchased for a pic-
nic. The Greek Theatre was
named “Best Small Outdoor
Venue of the Year” for the 13th
consecutive year at the 24th an-
nual Pollstar Awards in February.
The theatre is owned by the city
of Los Angeles, but has been man-
aged and operated by Nederlander
since 1976. Approximately 1,300
seats were added in 1983, and a
multi-million dollar renovation
was completed in 2004 that added
box suites and restored the
venue’s original 1930’s design.
The Greek Theatre is located at
2700 N. Vermont Ave. For infor-
mation, call (323)665-5857, or
visit www.greektheatrela.com.
Barry Manilow
Steve Miller Band and
The doobie Brothers
ll Cool J, ice Cube,
Public Enemy and de
la Soul
Pat Benatar with neil
Giraldo and Cheap
Trick
Jethro Tull’s
ian Anderson
Cyndi lauper
The Stylistics,
Peaches and Herb
Go Country 105’s 6th
Annual “Summer Under
the Stars”
“Funkfest” with George
Clinton & Parliament
Funkadelic
dianna Krall
Postal Service
Gypsy Kings
The national
Peter Frampton and
B.B. King
Carly Rae Jepsen
The Beach Boys
Summer Concert Schedule
photo courtesy of the Greek Theatre
The Greek Theatre is one of Los Angeles’ most popular locations for
artists around the world.
By Edwin FolvEn
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 6/3/13 3:27 PM Page 24
photo by Robert M
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 1:02 PM Page 25
“into darkness.” Superman’s reboot includes a bleaker rendition by the “Watchmen” and “300” director, Zack Snyder. Joining the man of tomorrow, we have quite the fas-cinating characters, from herding zombies, ghost police, dystopian post-humans, “Kick-Ass” super-heroes (I’m not cursing, the sequel premieres Aug. 16) and a former X-Man whose regenerative abili-ties aren’t what they used to be.
But if grit ain’t your bag of reel, there’s plenty of popcorn cheese. “Pacific Rim” is basically a Japanese anime in live action. This is what “Godzilla” should be. Percy Jackson finally returns after years of silence (that’s rarely good for a film franchise), ready to take on more mythical crea-tures in the “Sea of Monsters”, and another teen book series, “The Mortal Instruments”, vies for the “Twilight”-void in our moviegoing lives. We’ll just have to see if the superpowered off-spring of angels are as fascinating as Washington-based vamps with no fangs.
And then there’s Gru’s return in “Despicable Me 2” –– oh how I love those Twinkie-shaped min-ions (and Twinkies for that matter...RIP). But before you buy your tickets, order that large popcorn and pick out that seat with optimal acoustics (oh Sheldon Cooper), heed these words.
Midnight MadnessEver been to a midnight screen-
ing? It’s quite the experience. Fans donning Jack Sparrow costumes, throwing beach balls around two hours before 12:01 a.m. (it’s al-ways “01”), cheering during antici-pated trailers and gasping in unison amidst narrative reveals.
If you prefer passive viewing experiences, I’m sure there’s a matinee available, but if cinematic synergy beckons, take the leap...or simply a nap beforehand so you don’t fall asleep in the third act. And if waiting in lines for long hours doesn’t sound appealing, Arclight bookings make life easi-er, though you might just miss out on the cultural experience. Your choice.
Man of steel (June 14): British hunk Henry Cavill sure is dashing, adding rugged to Christopher Reeves’ all-American charm. Who knew Superman could grow a beard? More importantly, how does a man with impenetrable skin shave? And then there’s Michael Shannon (“Boardwalk Em-pire” and “Taken Shelter”) as evil villain, General Zod. Finally a “Superman” film without Lex Luther.
Henry Cavill is Superman.
Movie Munchies Ever since AMC Theatres made the unfortunate decision to disal-low outside food in their doors, culinary options dwindled in the modern-day movie palace. Sure, Arclight has carmel popcorn, but is it worth the high cost of tickets? Then there’s specialty theatres like iPic in Pasadena that offer both Lay-Z-Boy-esque seating and din-ner during the film, but that’s hard-ly sustainable for the repeat viewer.
But hey, at least our mayor didn’t decide to add a special tax to
oversized sodas at the movies, thus increasing the already 500 percent increase on movie food costs. Just remember, use your Gucci knock off to smuggle in a meatball sub, lest the cheap tomato sauce linger on.
suMMer sessionsIf you love movies but don’t
know how to channel that passion outside the theatre, check out these two summer events.
Hero Complex: Los Angeles Times’ “Hero Complex”, a once blog now subsection of the publica-
“Man of Steel” / Warner Bros. Pictures; “Much Ado About Nothing” / Roadside Attractions / “Despicable Me 2” / Universal Pictures; “Kick-Ass 2” / Universal Pictures
A. Fran Kranz stars as Claudio in “Much Ado About Nothing”.B. The minions pump out more antics in “Despicable Me 2”.C. Chloë Grace Moretz prepares to kick more...villains as the sadistic vigilante, Hit-Girl, in “Kick-Ass 2”.
| Movie Smuggling Tip |
Remember to use your Gucci knock off to smuggle in a meatball sub, lest the cheap tomato sauce linger on.
tion, hosts free screenings of upcom-ing movies, so check their website throughout the summer to reserve tickets. They go quick, so practice your mouse-clicking abilities.
LAFilmFest: Sure, Cannes might be in France and Sundance in Park City, Utah, but Angelinos have their own experience, LAFilmFest presented by Film Independent, June 13 through 23. Whether you crave indie films, shorts, music videos or classics, this one’s just as eclectic as the host city itself.
Much Ado About NothiNg (June 7)Joss Whedon follows his worldwide hit, “The Avengers”, with...Shakespeare. This modern-day adaptation of Billy’s comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing”, already has quite the early buzz and plenty of familiar faces, if you’ve seen anything in the Whe-donverse (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Firefly” and “Dollhouse”). We’ll just have to see if the storyteller known for witty ban-ter can lead a cast using only Old English.
This is The end (June 12)Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny Mc-Bride, Emma Watson, Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Jay Brachial and Craig Robinson as themselves in this end-or-the-world flick appropriately named “This is the End”. Too much of a good thing? Per-haps, but at least the R-rating is a tiny sign of hope for countless crass jokes to come.
World War Z (June 21)Brad Pitt in a zombie movie...I’m in.
The heaT (June 28)“Bridesmaids” proved women can be just as vulgar as men, and now director Paul Feig takes on the buddy cop genre joining uptight Special Agent Sarah (played by a “Miss Congeniality”-esque Sandra Bull-ock) and loose cannon Det. Shannon (Me-lissa McCarthy).
despicAble Me 2 (July 3)Remember a cute little girl declaring, “It’s so fluffy,” as she squeezed her pink unicorn? It’s time for “Despicable
Me 2” to provide us with a few more ring tone-worthy one-liners and adorable sounds by those minions.
r.i.P.d. (July 19)Welcome to this supernatural cop thriller, co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges as law enforcers of the R.I.P.D., the Rest in Peace Division. Even after death, they pro-tect the world, but this time from the dead. Or at least Bridges’ returns to his carica-tured accent employed in “True Grit”.
red 2 (July 19)Just admit it, “RED” was incredibly fun,
and “RED 2”, reuniting Helen Mir-ren, John Malkovich and action king Bruce Willis, is bound to be just as enjoyable. Let’s welcome Catherine Zeta Jones and Anthony Hopkins to the party, too.
The Wolverine (July 26)Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. And he reprises the career-defining role for the sixth time (I’m counting his cameo in “First Class”). I know what you’re thinking: Mr. Jackman, it’s time to
move on, but have faith in director James Mangold (“Walk the Line”). Some charac-ters just don’t die, and that’s rather appropri-ate for the Wolverine.
elysiuM (Aug. 9)It might look like an adaptation of the popular video game, “Halo”, but “Elysi-um” is a completely original story (minus that halo ring in the preview). The “Dis-trict 9” director, Neill Blomkamp, gears up for his sophomore release, depicting a slum-like dystopia and a paradise – Ely-sium – orbiting above. But one of earth’s have-nots, Max (Matt Damon), straps on a robotic exoskeleton to gain access to the planet’s best view.
KicK-ass 2 (Aug. 16)What better way to the end the summer than with a ragtag crew of vigilantes craving something more than an everyday life. And in place of Nicholas Cage’s Big Daddy in the first film, meet Jim Car-rey as Colo-nel Stars and Stripes. Just wait, just you wait.
JuNe 7As Cool As I AmÉvocateur: The Morton
Downey Jr. Movie Hey BartenderThe InternshipMuch Ado About NothingPassionThe PurgeRapture-PaloozaSyrupTiger EyesViolet & DaisyWish you were here
JuNe 12More Than MoneyThis is the End
JuNe 14Apostles of ComedyBerberian Sound StudioThe Bling RingThe GuillotinesHatchet 3Man of SteelStorm SurfersTwenty Feet From StardomVehicle 19The Wall
JuNe 21A HijackingThe AttackBetween UsLiars AllManiacMonsters UniversityRushlightsUnfinished SongWorld War Z
JuNe 28A Band Called DeathByzantiumCopperheadThe HeatI’m So ExcitedLaurence AnywaysRedemptionSome Girl(s)White House Down
July 3Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt MeDespicable Me 2Kevin Hart: Let Me ExplainThe Lone Ranger
July 5Hammer of the GodsJust Like a WomanStuck in LoveThe Way, Way Back
July 10Israel: A Home Movie
July 12Crystal FairyFruitvale StationGrown Ups 2Hot Flashes
The HuntPacific Rim
VHS2
July 17Computer ChessTurbo
July 19The ConjuringEvidenceGirl Most LikelyOnly God ForgivesR.I.P.D.RED 2Ways to Live Forever
July 26Blue JasmineFrankenstein’s ArmyStranded (limited)The To Do ListThe Wolverine
July 31Smash and Grab: The Story
of the Pink PanthersThe Smurfs 2
August 22 GunsDriftEuropa ReportThe Spectacular NowTop Cat
August 7Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
Aug. 9BloodPlanesElysiumI Give It a YearIn a World...LovelacePrince AvalancheWe’re the Millers
Aug. 13Last Passenger
Aug. 14The Patience Stone
Aug. 16Ain’t Them Bodies SaintsAustenland The ButlerCutie and the BoxerKick-Ass 2Paranoia
Aug. 21The Mortal Instruments:
City of Bones
Aug. 23The ColonyThe GrandmasterThérèse DesqueyrouxThe World’s EndYou’re Next
Aug. 28Closed Circuit
Aug. 30Drinking BuddiesGetaway
Summer movie Schedule Spotlight
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Guide 29 June 2013
30 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Dine among the stars on one of themost romantic patios in Los Angeles.
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323-962-19006263 Leland Way,
Hollywood, CA 90028(one block south of sunset, just east of Vine)
A Korean friend took me to one
of her favorite Korean restaurants
a few years ago, and I have been
a fan ever since. She also taught
me about Korean dining etiquette.
Politeness is important when shar-
ing food and drinks. For example,
one must wait for the eldest person
in the party to sit down before oth-
ers can take a seat. And then, all
should wait until the oldest person
begins to dine, before you pick up
your chopsticks to start your meal.
It’s nice to tell the host “Jalmuke-
sumneda,” which means I will eat
well. Here are a few of my favorite
Korean BBQ restaurants.
bibigoWith three locations in the
United States located in Beverly
Hills, Century City and West-
wood, this fast-casual Korean
restaurant offers many of my fa-
vorite specialties. The Korean
mega YouTube sensation, Psy,
loves Bibigo too.
The sunglass-clad Korean pop
singer, whose video for “Gangnam
Style” became the craze of 2012,
was recently spotted at Bibigo
while in L.A. searching for a per-
sonal chef. He has named his top
three finalists on www.psygob-
ibigo.com and voting will con-
tinue until June 10. When the
lucky chef is selected, he or she
will receive $40,000, 5-star hotel
accommodations, luxury trans-
portation and the once-in-a-life-
time opportunity to travel with Psy
on his world tour for one month.
In addition to the chef challenge
promotion, Psy has declared some
of his Bibigo menu items as his
“favorites.”
“Psy has supported Bibigo since
the opening of our restaurants in
Seoul, and we wanted to share
Psy’s favorite Korean dishes with
diners in Los Angeles with a new
summer menu,” said John Soo
Han, Bibigo corporate marketing
and planning director.
I had the opportunity to try
some of the dishes on Psy’s menu.
My favorite dish is the signature
Hot Stone Bibimbap featuring
healthy black rice, spicy pork,
fried egg topped with half sesame
and half Kohot sauce.
The essential Korean secret for
seasoning and balanced nutrition
is hidden in Jang (fermented
pastes and sauces), Soo Han said.
The healthful properties of Jang
include the strengthening of the
immune system and anti-aging.
The fermentation process pre-
serves the vegetable without de-
stroying nutritional qualities.
Bibigo incorporates fermented
Jang and Kimchi into many of the
dishes to enhance their flavors.
Kimchi is Korea’s symbolic and
fabled side dish.
The other dishes I adore are the
chewy sweet and spicy rice cakes
with yams, Kimchi stew and spicy
pork ribs.
Finish with a Korean sweet pan-
cake with raspberries, blueberries,
granola and vanilla ice cream.
This special menu is available
now until July 31. Bibigo is offer-
ing each guest who orders from
Korean BBQby jill weinlein
See Korean Dining page 32
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:38 PM Page 30
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32 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Open Everyday! Farmers Market: 6333 West Third St. at Fairfax (323)934-3113
Hollywood & Highland: 6801 Hollywood Blvd. #403 (323)960-0933Burbank: 108 E. Palm Ave. (818)846-0566
�������� ��������������Sweet & Savory Crepes & Waffles European SpecialtiesGourmet Sandwiches & Paninis, Salads & SoupsCoffee, Espresso & Cappuccino
�����������������
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Psy’s menu a chance to win prizes, in-
cluding a trip to Korea, and other
“scratch-card” gifts like a Bibigo VIP
voucher, an eco-friendly Bibigo shop-
ping bag, Psy memorabilia, or a soft
drink. The restaurants are open for lunch
and dinner at all locations.
1091 Broxton Ave. (310)824-0011, 225
S. Beverly Drive (310)275-0011 and
10250 Santa Monica Blvd. (310)557-0011.
Star King
Located in Koreatown, the restaurant
is the only Korean BBQ restaurant to
serve Nebraska Piedmontese beef. This
beef is originally from Italy and provides
a higher lean-to-fat ratio. The meat is a
less marbled low-fat cut of beef, lower in
calories, higher in protein and contains a
higher percentage of the good Omega 3
fatty acid.
Star King is a fun dining destination as
you sit with family or group of friends to
cook a platter of Piedmontese ribeye
steak, brisket and boneless short ribs on
a personal grill. Flavor-enhancing dipping
sauces accompany the beef.
Be sure to try the acorn jelly made in-house
and lightly tossed with toasted seaweed. The
seafood pizza is filled with shrimp and cala-
mari. Don’t be afraid of the freshly sliced
jalapenos in a sesame oil dressing or chewy
dried squid in a slightly spicy red sauce – they
are delicious.
One of my favorite dishes is Japchae (stir-
fried glass noodles), a popular Korean party
food enjoyed at birthdays and at dinner parties.
The luscious glass noodles are topped with
sautéed vegetables in a slightly sweet sauce. Of
course there is plenty of kimchi to spice your
dishes at Star King.
Accompany all of these delicacies with
roasted barley ice tea, sake or a delightful rasp-
berry wine.
Park for free in the garage structure behind
the restaurant. Star King will validate. The
Metro Purple Line is located across the street
at Wilshire and Western. Star King is open
seven days a week for lunch and dinner until
midnight. 3807 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 120
(213)384-5464. photo by Jill Weinlein
Service at Star King comes with a smile.
Korean Dining From page 30
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 6/3/13 3:28 PM Page 32
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 33 June 2013
In the Farmers MArket • 3rd & fairfax
323.939.9728www.Ulyssesvoyage.com
FFuullll BBaarr BBrreeaakkffaasstt,, lluunncchh,,
ddiinnnneerr
Great Greek Dining!Enjoy a romantic greek
dinner on our patio among
the olive trees
& twinkling lights!
Our Delicious Lamb Burger & fries
our show-stoppping Saganaki “Ouzo Flamed”
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 1:05 PM Page 33
34 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
By AAron Blevins
KiW
hile Los Angeles tends
to be progressive in
many ways, the city
was lagging behind on an issue that
is quite important to select bar pa-
trons — craft beer.
While other metropolitan areas
have embraced the microbrewery
products for several years, Califor-
nia and its largest city have re-
cently begun enjoying the diversity
that craft beers bring to the table.
Tom McCormick, executive di-
rector of the California Craft
Brewers Association, said the in-
terest in craft beers continues to in-
crease across the nation, and Los
Angeles has joined the party.
“There just seems to be a lot of
excitement about craft beer in the
Los Angeles area in the last year or
so,” he said.
McCormick said the primary ap-
peal of the brew is the fact they are
made locally or regionally. They
also come from small companies;
even the larger brewers are small
in comparison to the Anheuser-
Busches of the world, he said. That
has led to an array of craft beer op-
tions.
“For so many years, all the beer
that was available, either imports
or beers brewed by the big brew-
eries, was really just one style,”
McCormick said. “Obviously,
there’s so much more to beer than
just that one style.”
He said brewers, some of whom
can be quite creative and passion-
ate about their work, have “really
had fun with the idea.”
“Each one has a very different
flavor profile to it,” McCormick
said.
In economic terms, craft beer is
beneficial to the region. Mc-
Cormick said he is “kind of embar-
rassed but proud to say the nature
of the business is inefficient,” as
microbreweries hire a lot of work-
ers.
“Craft beer in the country over-
all makes up six percent of all the
beer that is sold in the U.S.,” he
said, adding that microbreweries
employ more than half of the peo-
ple in the brewing industry. They
ngs of the craft
photo courtesy of 213 Nightlife
Bartenders serve drinks during the L.A. Craft Beer Crawl in August
in downtown Los Angeles.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:39 PM Page 34
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 35 June 2013
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Open 24Hours
Try one of our Delicious, New Burgers!
offer more than 20,000
jobs in California, Mc-
Cormick said. “It’s
great for the econ-
omy in a lot of
ways.”
He said the inter-
est has forced “mega-
breweries” to try their
hand at craft beers. Mc-
Cormick referenced
Blue Moon and Shock
Top, both owned by
large companies.
However, the attention to craft
beer — whether through micro-
breweries or global companies —
is welcome.
“It’s really a fun product,” Mc-
Cormick said. “It’s a fascinating
group of individuals and people.
It’s really nice to have a growing
industry that has a lot of faces and
people behind it. We’re all excited
for Los Angeles because there’s
some great brewing in that area
now.”
Indeed, in the greater Los Ange-
les area, several businesses are
catering to the craft beer crowd.
Among them are:
Short Order, 6333 W. 3rd St. at
The Original Farmers Market. The
business recently kicked off a new
weekly event, Fat Tuesdays at
Short Order. Every week, chefs
Christian Page and Dante Gonza-
les will make some of their signa-
ture dishes. Featured beers are
Mischief Belgian Strong Pale Ale,
Trade Winds Summer Belgian
Golden Ale with an Asian Twist,
Bois Anniversary Beer and Top
Secret Sour.
Golden Road Brewing, 5410 W.
San Fernando Road. The brewery
hosts public tours on Fridays, Sat-
urdays and Sundays at 1:30, 2:30
and 4 p.m. The business offers a
large patio space, shuffle board,
Aunt Sally, ping pong and more.
To receive a tour, send an e-mail
Farmers Market Bars, 6333 W.
3rd St. EB’s offers Lagunitas IPA,
Goose Island Honkers Ale, Om-
megang BPA, Golden Road
Brown Ale, Anchor Lager and
others, while 326 has Goose Is-
land Summer Kolsch, Stone IPA,
Eagle Rock Populist, Firestone
Solace, Stone Arrogant Bastard
and Green Flash Hop Head Red,
among others. On June 21, the
bars will host representatives of
Firestone, who will host a glass
giveaway.
Tony’s Darts Away, 1710 Mag-
nolia Blvd., Burbank. Tony’s of-
fers 40 different California beers,
vegan and non-vegan food and
daily specials. The bottle-free
bar/restaurant also offers brunch
on weekends.
Mohawk Bend, 2141 W. Sunset
Blvd. The Echo Park restaurant
and bar uses only California ingre-
dients in its food offerings, and has
72 taps of craft beer. Retrofitted in
a 100-year-old theatre, Mohawk
Bend also offers vegan and non-
vegan items.
For information, visit www.cal-
iforniacraftbeer.com.
photo courtesy of 213 Nightlife
Los Angeles’ interest in craft beers appears to be on the rise,
according to the California Craft Brewers Association.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:40 PM Page 35
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38 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Venturing into Culver City, I stopped at
Pampas Grill for a Brazilian BBQ
lunch. I’m familiar with the other Pam-
pas location that is always busy at the Original
Farmers Market. The food is consistently fresh
and delicious and good value, too. Both locations
are self-service buffet style where you can make
your own combination platter. Your plate is
weighed and charged by the pound. It’s easy to
walk away feeling very satisfied for under $15.
Pampas Grill is a small business, owned by
two families. The Culver City location is very
well designed and sits uniquely in the middle of
a shopping center surrounded by many other
restaurants.
Locals who work and reside in the neighbor-
hood come often for Brazilian cuisine, which is
melting pot of flavors and spices. Since Brazil is
a very big country with many regions, the food
reflects the country’s mix of native and immi-
grant populations.
One of the most populous states, Minas
Gerais, is best-known for its pao de queijo or
small, baked cheese rolls. At Pampas Grill, these
irresistible rolls are made with cheese
and yucca flour making them gluten
free.
The chefs start cooking the popular
weekend Brazilian dish, Feijoada, on
Wednesday to be served all weekend
long. In Brazil, this is considered the
national dish. First they smoke and
simmer pork. Then they add beef and
beans and let it simmer over low heat
for two days to bring out the exquisite
traditional flavors.
Order the salad bar and hot dishes,
such as the catfish stew cooked in
slightly sweet coconut milk. For $1
extra per pound, add any BBQ meats.
Beer and South American wines are
available. The white Argentina Filus
goes excellently with the fish and
chicken dishes. Or try the Chilean
P.K.N.T Silver Collection Pinot Noir with notes
of berries. It pairs nicely with the top sirloin, sir-
loin cap, and Tri-tip on long skewers.
Come early between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.
through Fri. to receive 20 percent off. Both loca-
tions are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to closing.
3857 Overland Ave (310)836-0080 and 6333 W.
Third St. #618 (323)931-1928.
Pampas Brazilian BBQBy jill weinlein
photo by Jill Weinlein
Friendly service adds to the Pampas experience.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:40 PM Page 38
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 39 June 2013
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 1:07 PM Page 39
40 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Nothing says summer like
Dodger baseball and Dodger
Dogs, but there is certainly more
on the menu this year.
At the end of March, Dodgers
executives unveiled the $100 mil-
lion renovation project that had
commenced following the 2012
season. Among the upgrades were
new scoreboards, restrooms, mer-
chandise and, of course, food op-
tions.
Complementing the famous
Dodger Dogs and traditional con-
cessions, officials
with Levy
Restaurants
have opened
LA Taqueria on
the Reserve
Level and
Elysian Park
Grill on the Re-
serve Level and at the top of the
park.
Inspired by West Coast flavors,
Dodger Stadium executive chef
Jason Tingley is hoping to take
ballpark cuisine at Dodger Sta-
dium up a few notches.
“We talk to Dodgers fans al-
most every day and we take their
feedback back to the kitchen to de-
liver fun new menus and concepts
that will get them excited to come
out and grab a bite at the ballpark,”
Tingley said. “We make sure
there's truly something for every-
one here at Dodger Stadium, from
vegetarian and gluten-free
options to kids menus and
chefs' tables.
“We have the best
fans in the world and
they're really what
make the menu here
special — we work hard
to make delicious food
that lives up to their great tastes.
We’re always in the kitchen getting
creative, trying out new recipes
and coming up with innovative
ways to bring the menu to life in
what's basically a restaurant for
56,000. Our team stays on top of
the L.A. food scene and collabo-
rates with local restaurants and
sourcing partners to incorporate
the best local trends and ingredi-
ents. Street style food is becoming
ever more popular, and one of our
new concepts for this season, LA
Taqueria, was inspired by the fan-
tastic food trucks found on the
streets of L.A."
LA Taqueria’s new vibrant of-
ferings include its Bacon Wrapped
Picante Dog, an L.A. street-style
The New Blue’sFood & BrewsBy AAron Blevins
photo by Aaron Blevins
Dodger Stadium received $100 million worth of upgrades over the
offseason, and team officials focused on fans first.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:41 PM Page 40
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 41 June 2013
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picante dog wrapped in bacon and
topped with grilled peppers and
chopped onion.
The restaurant’s Camacho’s Na-
chos Supreme comes with sour
cream, beans, nacho cheese, fresh
guacamole, Pico de Gallo and
carne asada or pork carnitas on top
of crispy nacho chips.
The fresh fish tacos are battered
and fried, topped with shredded
cabbage and chile lime cream. LA
Taqueria’s Street Style Tacos are
offered with a choice of carne
asada or pork carnitas, topped off
with a cilantro and onion mix, salsa
roja and a lime wedge.
Feeling parched
while watch-
ing the
Boys in
B l u e ?
The new
eatery has
unveiled its
Ravine Margarita,
made frozen or on the rocks,
with limeade and top-shelf tequila,
garnished with a lime and salt.
At Elysian Park Grill, patrons
can feast on a Dodger Blue Heaven
Burger, a one-third pound hand-
shaped premium beef patty piled
high with blue cheese, caramelized
onions and sliced tomato, topped
off with pasilla chile and chipotle
aioli and served on a French bun.
The restaurant also offers the
Santa Fe Turkey Burger, which is
topped with avocado puree, jack
cheese, fresh lettuce and sliced
tomato, served on a whole wheat
bun.
Further, team executives strived
to shorten the lines for the ballpark
goodies. When the team held a
press conference to show off the
new Dodger digs, Janet Marie
Smith, senior vice president of
planning and develop-
ment, said
team chair-
man Mark
Walters told
employees to
focus on the
fans first.
“As Mark often said, ‘They
don’t come here to stand in line.
They don’t come to stand in line
for restrooms, for hotdogs or for
lemonade, so do better than that,’”
Smith said.
While the Dodgers have been
thrown a few curveballs this year,
there is still plenty of baseball to be
played. Upcoming homestands
will begin on June 6 against the At-
lanta Braves, June 10 against the
Arizona Diamondbacks, June 24,
San Francisco Giants; June 27,
Philadelphia Phillies; July 11, Col-
orado Rockies; July 25, Cincinnati
Reds; July 30, New York Yankees;
Aug. 9, Tampa Bay Rays; Aug. 12,
New York Mets; Aug. 23, Boston
Red Sox; Aug. 26, Chicago Cubs;
Aug. 30, San Diego Padres; Sept.
9, Diamondbacks; Sept. 12, Gi-
ants; and Sept. 27, Rockies.
The Dodgers were 22-29 as of
May 30.
photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Taqueria’s Street Style Tacos are among the new food options at
Dodger Stadium.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:41 PM Page 41
42 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Chefs are like rock stars. They
are good-looking, charismatic,
and have the confidence to bril-
liantly cook hundreds of meals a
day. Julia Child was the original
“celebrity chef” – she pioneered
the trail for culinary masters to
follow. Here are a few who have
made their mark on Los Angeles
and beyond.
Fabio viviani
The first time I met Fabio was
four years ago at his Toluca Lake
restaurant, Osteria Firenze’s for its
grand opening. I was so enamored
with him and his business partner
Jacopo Falleni. They both have a
distinct confidence with their
debonair good looks and suave
Italian accent.
Fabio worked with Jacopo at
Café Fiore in Ventura, where they
put the sleepy beach town on the
culinary map. Next they helped
open Café Firenze in Moorpark
and then Osteria Firenze in Toluca
Lake.
Recently, I was invited to a tap-
ing of his new Yahoo online cook-
ing show, “Chow Ciao!” The
production crew was taping Fabio
skyping with his mother in Italy
when I arrived. After the director
yelled, “Cut,” Fabio graciously
walked over and gave me a big
hug and introduced me to his
mother and father in Italy via the
computer.
As the crew broke for lunch,
Fabio offered me an invitation to
have lunch with him. I caught up
on his latest endeavors. “I’m so
excited about my new restaurants
in Chicago and my newest cook-
book ‘Fabio’s Italian Kitchen’,” he
said. Growing up in Florence,
Italy, the cookbook is filled with
tales of Fabio as a boy and 100
recipes from his grandmother,
Nonna. She influenced Fabio to
become the chef that he is today,
he said.
Fabio’s charming personality
has also helped him form relation-
ships and partnerships with the
media and companies like Bialetti
Cookwear, Bertolli Olive
Oil, Terlato Wine Inter-
national and Yahoo.com.
Securing a reservation
at his restaurants can be
a little tricky due to his
new popularity. Fabio is
becoming one of the
hottest chefs in the city.
Not only is he an excel-
lent chef, Fabio is an en-
tertainer and television
personality. The food he
creates comes from the
heart and I can tell he
puts all of his soul into it.
“The last time I had a
day off was in October
2012. I enjoy what I do
and wouldn’t want it any
other way,” Fabio said. Go to one
of his restaurants to have great
food, but also to be in good com-
pany.
Firenze Osteria is located at
4212 Lankershim Boulevard, Uni-
versal City (818) 760-7081 •
www.firenzeosteria.com. Café
Firenze is at 563 W Los Angeles
Ave., Moorpark, CA 93021 • (805)
532-0048 • www.cafefirenze.net
kris Morningstar
Chef Kris Morningstar at Ray’s
& Stark Bar uses only the freshest
and most natural ingredients. So
what does Chef Morningstar do to
achieve the best produce? He has
his very own garden full of pro-
duce and herbs behind the restau-
rant, of course.
His “hyper-seasonal” menu fre-
quently rotates based on the ingre-
dients grown on-site. Herbs
grown in the garden include lemon
verbena (used in many of the
cocktails), Opal basil, borage
(used in pasta dishes and as a gar-
nish for seafood), geranium (used
in cocktails and Chef Josh Graves’
ice cream), sorrel, lavender, sage
and thyme. Morningstar enjoys
walking outside of Ray’s and
Stark Bar and ten seconds later
holding a handful of just picked
herbs and lettuces. When not in the
kitchen, he works on his own gar-
den at home.
Morningstar was inspired by his
father to become a chef when he
was very young. Morningstar
loved to prepare family holiday
meals and large dinner parties
throughout high school and col-
lege as well.
After
graduating with honors from the
California School of Culinary Arts
in Pasadena, Morningstar worked
at some great dining establish-
ments in LA, including One Pico
at Shutters on the Beach, with
Chef Suzanne Goin at A.O.C, and
Chef Neal Fraser at Grace, before
working with Joachim Splichal at
the Michelin-starred Patina restau-
rant. Morningstar has a reputation
for creating the dishes that no one
else has created.
Some of the innovative dishes
you’ll find on the menu at Ray’s
are the wood roasted sunchokes
(from the garden) and served with
salsa verde. A sage pizza with Hen
of the Woods mushrooms is
topped with sottocenere cheese.
On the small plate list is Hamachi
sashimi with watermelon radish;
octopus in a Fresno chile sauce;
and Chesapeake Bay soft shell
crab with fava beans. Larger
plates of pork belly with grits,
Diver scallops and veal breast with
polenta look very appealing.
Ray’s and Stark Bar - 5905
Wilshire Blvd. (323)857-6180.
www.raysandstarkbar.com.
Susan Feniger
Chef Susan Feniger is an award-
winning American chef, restaura-
teur, cookbook author, and radio
and TV personality considered to
be a leading authority on Latin
American cuisine in the United
States.
Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken
became celebrities in 1981 when
they opened City Café and later
CITY restaurant on La Brea. Their
Kris Morningstar
Fabio Vivani
Celebrity Chefsby jill weinlein
and karen villalpando
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:42 PM Page 42
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 43 June 2013
success grew even more when this
dynamic-duo opened Border Grill
in Santa Monica and later in
downtown Los Angeles.
These creative ladies appeared
with in her PBS series “Cooking
with Master Chefs” and later
starred in “Too Hot Tamales” in
the 1990s. She also appeared on
the second season of “Top Chef
Masters” in 2010.
Feniger opened the chic restau-
rant Street, where she’s know for
her millet puffs, Meatless Monday
dishes and Kaya toast with a soy
glazed fried egg and coconut jam.
The menu at Street is unique be-
cause Feniger combines different
elements of food to create a work
of art. She can make the classic
home-style dish of chicken and
waffles into something elegant
with a street flare by adding some
spicy maple sauce and bacon. An-
other favorite is the Moroccan
spiced lamb belly. Feniger creates
a new interpretation of this dish by
using succulent lamb belly rather
than the traditional pork belly. And
it’s absolutely delicious.
Feniger is a fantastic chef be-
cause of her innovative techniques
and curious ideas that made her
the next best thing in the culinary
world. However, besides being a
chef, Feniger is active in her com-
munity through the L.A Gay and
Lesbian Center, the Scleroderma
Research Foundation, and
a movement called Share
Our Strength to help end
world hunger. Los Angeles
is lucky to have this amaz-
ing woman and chef.
Street is located at 742
N. Highland Ave.
(323)203-0500.
Scott Conant
Recently I attended a
10th anniversary dinner
party at Scarpetta in Bev-
erly Hills to enjoy a one-
of-a-kind celebratory
dinner at the Montage
Hotel Beverly Hills and to
meet celebrity chef Scott Conant.
When Conant walked into the
kitchen of Scarpetta, we instantly
felt his confident energy. The
brawny and charismatic chef is
like a professional quarterback
walking onto a field to lead a team
to victory.
Working side-by-side with Co-
nant was Chef Alessandro Stratta
of Scarpetta Beverly Hills; Craig
Strong of Studio at Montage La-
guna Beach; and Shawn Arm-
strong on Montage Deer Valley.
These esteemed chefs hustled
around the kitchen, one of the
most beautiful restaurant kitchens
I’ve seen, creating outstanding
cuisine.
While all of the chefs in the
kitchen are accomplished, Conant
has an air about him. His Scarpetta
restaurants can be found in New
York, at the Beverly Hills Mon-
tage, at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in
Las Vegas, at the Thompson
Toronto and at the Fontainebleau
resort in Miami.
Conant is an extremely busy
chef and television personality, as
guest judge in “Top Chef”,
“Chopped”, and as host and judge
of “24 Hour Restaurant Battle”.
We toasted to the evening with
a glass of Prosecco and nibbled on
bite size creamy polenta cups with
wild mushrooms and simple raw
yellowtail with a pinch of sea salt
and pickled red onion. Then we all
sat inside the private Chef’s Table
dining room to enjoy four signa-
ture dishes from each famed Mon-
tage chef.
Conant graced us with a sirloin
of Kobe paired with his signature
braised short ribs. The delicate
beef looked like a match made in
heaven next to the Kobe sirloin
with flash fried spring vegetables
and wild mushrooms. The surprise
of this dish was a beef bone sliced
in half and filled with luscious
marrow, Parmesan and leeks. It
was baked into a gratin and sub-
lime. Conant is a master at his art
and his acclaimed pasta sauce
of tomatoes and basil. It
is a must to experience
his perfection of pasta.
www.montagebeverly-
hills.com/beverly-hills-
restaurants. 225 N.
Canon Dr. Beverly
Hills, (310)860-7970.
John Sedlar
Rivera
near
LA Live in downtown Los Ange-
les offers the spirit of Latin culture
through food and unique libations.
Growing up in Santa Fe, New
Mexico, Sedlar traveled exten-
sively through Mexico, Latin
American and Spain to become an
expert on Latin cuisine.
In 2012 and 2013, the James
Beard Foundation nominated
Rivera for Outstanding Bar Pro-
gram. Sedlar was named “Chef of
the Year” by Esquire and also was
nominated for “Best Chef Pacific”
by the James Beard Foundation in
2012 and 2013. Sedlar’s extensive
cocktail menu is one of a kind. The
Barbacoa is a delicious surprise
considering it is mezcal, chipotle,
lime, ginger and beef jerky! These
tempting combinations push the
limit of your typical cocktail. Sed-
lar has created something special
at Rivera and everyone is itching
to go. Rivera, located at 1050 S.
Flower St. #102 (213)749-1460.
Emily Villalpando also
contributed to this story.
photo by Jose Martinez
Susan Feniger
John Sedlar
photo courtesy of bravotv
“The art of cooking is indeed a noble hobby, and a fully satisfying profession.
I’ve never run into a serious cook or chef of any age who didn’t say:
‘Every day I learn something new!’
Julia Child, from her book “Cooking With Master Chefs”
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 6/3/13 12:59 PM Page 43
44 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
The Los Angeles County
Museum of Art (LACMA)
comes alive this summer
with new art exhibits, lively con-
certs, classic film screenings and
informative talks.
Guests can dance to the pas-
sionate music of the “Latin
Sounds” series, catch a Stanley
Kubrick film screening, or create
their own paintings in classes led
by experienced artists. Those
looking to get a deeper look at the
collection can join a daily tour or
a discussion by the museum’s do-
cents and art educators. When
guests get hungry, everything
from snacks to full gourmet meals
are available at the LACMA Cafe,
C+M and Ray’s.
The museum is kicking off its
summer exhibition programming
with a look at its history and future
in “The Presence of the Past: Peter
Zumthor Reconsiders LACMA”
Here’s to a lACMA Summer
running Sunday, June 9 through
Sept. 15. The exhibit, which is part
of the Getty’s initiative, “Pacific
Standard Time Presents: Modern
Architecture in L.A.”, explores the
work of Swiss architect Peter
Zumthor, who was commissioned
to rethink the museum’s east cam-
pus. Visitors will gain new insight
into how the museum functions,
and how its buildings and exhibits
are organized. It begins with a de-
tailed examination of the mu-
seum’s structures and the history
of surrounding Hancock Park. It
also focuses on Zumthor’s prelim-
inary plans for a new building to
house the permanent collection,
By Edwin FolvEn
photo courtesy of Museum associates/LACMA
Strap on your dancing shoes at one of LACMA’s many outdoor events during the summer season.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:43 PM Page 44
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 45 June 2013
Pampas Grill Farmers Market6333 W 3rd St. # 618
(323) 931-1928
Pampas Grill Culver City3857 Overland Ave.(310) 836-0080
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with large models built by the ar-
chitect’s studio.
For those with a passion for
music, premiere musical artists
from around the world take the
stage in the “Sundays Live”, “Jazz
at LACMA”, “Latin Sounds” and
“Art & Music” series. Guests can
also join in lively gallery discus-
sions held regularly, such as “The
Art of Looking” on June 13 at
12:30 p.m., in which educator Ali-
cia Vogl Saenz explores Robert
Irwin’s “Palm Garden” and other
works.
Fans of the silver screen will
enjoy the “Kubrick & Co.”
screening series, with ground-
breaking films such as “2001: A
Space Odyssey” and “A Clock-
work Orange”; and “Hans
Richter: Film Is …”, an ongoing
series being held in conjunction
with the exhibit “Hans Richter:
Encounters” about the early 30th
Century German artist. Those
looking for weekday fun can
enjoy screenings of classic films
on Tuesday’s at 1 p.m., such as
the Marx Brother’s “Duck Soup”
and “Horse Feathers” on June 18;
and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Sabo-
teur” on June 25.
Art lovers can also tour the cur-
rent exhibits, “James Turell: A
Retrospective”, “Henri Matisse:
La Gerbe”, “Japanese Prints:
Hokusai at LACMA” and
“Stephen Prina: As He Remem-
bers It”, or view special presenta-
tions planned throughout the
summer. Additional upcoming ex-
hibits include:
• “Shaping Power: Luba Mas-
terworks from the Royal Museum
for Central Africa”; July 7-Jan. 5.
• Kitasono Katue: Surrealist
Poet”; Aug. 3-Dec. 1.
• “Bajo el cielo de Mexico —
Gabriel Figueroa: Fifty Years of
Art & Film”; Sept. 22-Feb. 2.
• “John Divola: As Far as I
Could Get”; Oct. 6–Feb. 2.
LACMA is located at 5905
Wilshire Blvd. For information
and a complete schedule of events,
call (323)857-6000, or visit
www.lacma.org.
photos courtesy of Museum associates/LACMA
LACMA hosts various summers event that encourage attendees to set
up a picnic (top) and enjoy live music (bottom).
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:43 PM Page 45
46 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
Angelinos looking to get a
“jump” on their summer
physique — or those
seeking to simply jump for joy —
are invited to Sky Zone Torrance,
where the staff can accommodate
everything from birthday parties to
cross training sessions.
A franchise of SkyZone Fran-
chise Group, which is owned by
Hancock Park resident Rick Platt
and his family, Sky Zone Torrance
is located on West 190th Street.
The indoor trampoline park offers
open jumps, fitness classes and
dodgeball games, all of which can
burn up to 1,000 calories per hour.
Platt said Sky Zone facilities
have been used for world cham-
pion athletes, though it can easily
meet the needs of the average
“couch potato.” He said the tram-
poline parks have been shown to
help children with autism.
“It’s fun,” Platt said. “This is
something we like to say and it’s
99 percent true: We truly have
something for everybody regard-
less of age, size and ability. …The
playing field adapts to you. It’s just
an incredible workout, and it’s
low-impact.”
For the last five decades, re-
searchers have known about the
cardiovascular benefits to jumping
on a trampoline, he said. However,
Sky Zone amplified that concept,
allowing patrons to jump both lat-
erally and horizontally. The result
is a workout that is “dynamic” and
about “ten times more fun,” Platt
said.
It is also good for children, and
Platt said researchers have sug-
gested that the workout could be
the “magic pill” for the childhood
obesity epidemic. In a University
of South Florida study commis-
sioned by Sky Zone, researchers
found that children who jumped at
the park for two hours over six
weeks saw their leg strength in-
crease 67 percent, body mass de-
crease 3 percent and weight
increase 3 percent. The study also
found academic improvements as
well, Platt said.
At Sky Zone Torrance, patrons
can participate in “Skyrobics”,
dodgeball tournaments and games,
open jumps, corporate events,
“Skycamp” and school programs.
The location has a “sky basket” for
elevated hoops-shooting and a
foam pit to dive into.
For information, call (310)323-
4500, or visit www.skyzones-
ports.com. Sky Zone Torrance is
located at 1625 W. 190th St. The
company also has locations in Van
Nuys, Covina, Anaheim and
Riverside.
Why run – when you can fly?Sky Zone offers the ultimate out-of-the-box workout
By AAron BlevinS
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:43 PM Page 46
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 47 June 2013
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Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 1:08 PM Page 47
48 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
The Hollywood Bowl is
gearing up for an exciting
summer season of concerts
and special events held under the
stars in the Hollywood Hills.
The season kicks-off on Satur-
day, June 22 with the “Opening
Night at the Hollywood Bowl”
benefit. Vocalist and entertainer
Patti Austin, and critically ac-
claimed recording artist John Leg-
end will be inducted into the
Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame,
along with Steven Tyler and Joe
Perry, of “Aerosmith”. Each of the
inductees will perform with the or-
chestra, and proceeds benefit edu-
cational programs conducted by
the LA Phil, which operates the
Bowl.
The music continues on Sunday,
June 23 with She & Him, Emmy-
lou Harris and Rodney Crowell;
followed by the Reggae sounds of
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley,
Stephen Marley and Third World
on Sunday, June 30.
Audiences can participate in an
annual summer tradition from
Tuesday, July 2 through 4 during
the “July 4th Fireworks Spectacu-
lar”. Sara Hicks will conduct the
LA Philharmonic, and
singer/songwriter Josh Groban
will perform.
Fans of animation and classical
music will enjoy “Bugs Bunny at
the Symphony II” on Friday, July
5 and Saturday, July 6, with the
LA Phil performing live alongside
screenings of classic cartoons.
Other special events return this
summer, such as the “Grease Sing-
A-Long”, hosted by Didi Conn
(“Frenchy” in the hit movie) on
Saturday, July 13; the Tchaikovsky
Fireworks Spectacular” on Friday,
Aug. 16 and 17; and “Sing-A-
Long Sound of Music” on Satur-
day, Sept. 21.
The LA Phil performs in numer-
ous classical music concerts
throughout the season, such as
“Elgar’s Cello Concerto” on Tues-
day, July 16; “Verdi’s Requiem”,
conducted by Gustavo Dudamel,
on Tuesday, Aug. 13; and “Ro-
mantic Favorites”, with the music
of Gershwin and Rachmaninoff,
on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Numerous legendary entertain-
ers and musical groups will also
take the stage, such as Sergio
Mendes, Herb Alpert and Lani
Hall on Wednesday, July 17; Tony
Bennett on Friday, Aug. 2; Willie
Nelson & Family on Friday, Aug.
9 and Saturday, Aug. 10; and
Earth, Wind and Fire from Friday,
Sept. 13 through 15. Fans of mu-
sical theatre can also enjoy a pro-
duction of “Chicago: The
Musical” running Friday, July 26
through 28; and the Blue Man
Group performs on Friday, Sept. 6
and Saturday, Sept. 7. LA Phil
President and Chief Executive Of-
ficer Deborah Borda said the new
season will be very exciting.
“For the artists and audiences
alike, the Hollywood Bowl is a
symbol of Los Angeles and of
summer — the shared experience
of extraordinary music in this most
historic venue,” Borda said.
“There is something here for
everyone.”
The Bowl is also the perfect
place to have a picnic while enjoy-
ing the music. Guests can bring
their own food and beverages to
enjoy at their seats or in the 14 pic-
nic areas. Gourmet food is also of-
fered by the Patina Restaurant
Groups’ Roof Top Grill, Staccato,
Market Café, Market West and
Sweet Shoppe. Box service is also
available. Additionally, a new
wine bar opens for the Summer
Season on the Hollywood Bowl
Marketplace level, where guests
can sip wine in an outdoor seating
area and bar.
The Hollywood Bowl, which
opened for its first performance in
1921, remains one of the premiere
concert destinations in Los Ange-
les. The 18,000-seat venue is lo-
cated at 2301 N. Highland Ave.
For information, call (323)850-
2000, or visit www. www.holly-
woodbowl.com.
photo courtesy of Hollywood Bowl
by edwin
folven
HOLLYWOODBOWLSounds of Summer 2013
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:44 PM Page 48
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine 49 June 2013
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Live Music !
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Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:44 PM Page 49
50 June 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press Dining & Entertainment Magazine
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Owned by the vivacious
Chef Josette LeBlond,
Normandie Bakery on
Cochran Ave. employs 35 people
who produce over 3,000 baguettes
a day. Inside the bustling bakery,
Josette has a retail cafe where local
residents and businesses can pur-
chase fresh baked baguettes,
French and American pastries,
croissants, cookies, cakes, breads,
sandwiches, coffee and tea for
breakfast or lunch. It is open Mon-
day through Saturday 7 a.m. to 5
p.m.
In 2011, Chef Josette expanded
the Normandie brand to the Orig-
inal Farmers Market at Third and
Fairfax. Normandie Farmers Mar-
ket serves breads, croissants, pas-
tries, cakes and pies. In 2012 Chef
Josette opened a restaurant in her
Normandie Bakery calling it
Josette’s Bistro, and serving au-
thentic French bistro cuisine at af-
By Laura VaiLLaNCOurt
‘Oui, Oui’ to Finest French Sweets and Cuisine at Normandie Bakery
fordable prices.
Catering has also been a large
part of Normandie’s business for
the past 20 years. Conventions,
trade shows, weddings, office par-
ties and birthday parties, have con-
sistently requested not only
Josette’s expertise as chef but her
flair for putting together fine deli-
catessen, cheese, meat, pastry and
fruit platters.
Normandie is dedicated to of-
fering authentic French pates and
baked goods to the wholesale in-
dustry. Normandie works on ful-
filling special needs at competitive
prices.
Normandie Bakery is located at,
3022 S. Cochran Ave. (323) 939-
5528, and in the Farmers Market
at 6333 W. Third St. (323) 930-
1944. For more information visit
www.chefjosette.com/normandie.r
mandie Bakery.
photos courtesy of Normandie Bakery
Chef Josette LeBlond (right) cre-
ates a full culinary experience,
from a café to main course to
sweets (left) at Normandie Bakery.
Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/31/13 5:45 PM Page 50
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Dining Guide Main Layout.2013_Layout 1 5/28/13 4:26 PM Page 47