Treasure LA

Thursday: “Hatchi Truck Stop” Brings No Tomatoes to Breadbar Century City

Pop-up king Breadbar in Century City is allowing the No Tomatoes truck to invade Breadbar’s kitchen to provide guests with gourmet Indian-style street fare. Dishes are $8, and there is a $32 minimum purchase. Menu includes:

• Complimentary Mango Lassi Shot, a thick and creamy mango shake
• Chicken Biryani, spiced boneless chicken
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Mini Kathi, grilled whole-wheat wrap filled with a choice of chicken or paneer
• Chapli Slidders, spiced-chicken or beef burger topped with crunchy coleslaw
• Spinach Chana (vegan)
• Cucumber Raita
• Samosa (vegetarian)
• Paratha
• Dessert: Chocolate Samosa and Rose Kir (rice pudding)

Upcoming Hatchi Truck Stop Events:

October 27 | The Nom Nom Truck and CoolHaus

November 17 | Papa’s Tapas

December 15 | The Grilled Cheese Truck

BREADBAR Century City
10250 Santa Monica Boulevard R-2                                                         
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Saturday:  East Village West exhibition at Royal/T Opens

Japanese pop-art cafe Royal/T is  partnering with Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980 to present an exhibit that “celebrates California pop culture as siphoned through the punk rock-fueled creativity of New York’s East Village art scene with works from the personal archives” of curators Ann Magnuson and Kenny Scharf.

If you can’t make it out for the opening on Saturday, mark your calendars for the Oct. 11 event: Los Angeles Premiere of “Woman’s Picture.” From 6-9 pm, Royal/T will be open for “dinner, a movie, and a discussion” in conjunction with “East Village West.” Director Brian Pera (of Evelyn Avenue), alongside “East Village West” curator and cast member Ann Magnuson, will be on hand to host the premiere of his new anthology film “Woman’s Picture,” which paints the portraits of three strong individual female protagonists from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Royal/T’s full dinner menu will be offered throughout the evening.

Royal/T
10 am – 6 pm Daily
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232

Saturday: 13 Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival

There’s no better time to explore Eagle Rock than this $5 music festival. From 4-11 pm on Colorado Blvd, you can hear non-stop music from band such as Mai Doi Todd, Nosaj thing, Flying Lotus, Rooney, Shadow Shadow Shade, and many more. Check out the (horrible) poster on the website for all the details.

Sunday-Friday: DineLA Restaurant Week

For two weeks (excluding Saturdays) starting Sunday, hundreds of restaurants across the city are presenting three-course pre-fixed menus ranging from $16-$44. With over 300 restaurants participating, even the most adventurous restaurant-hopper can find a place they haven’t tried yet. DineLA has stepped up their game this year, so not only can you sort by price, cuisine and location, view menus, and book reservations through their website, you can even see what Yelpers think about the restaurants.

My advice is to scroll through the list and pick maybe 10 restaurants that jump out at you, and then compare the DineLA menus to the normal menus. If they are offering dishes that are not on their normal menus (short ribs is a popular option) – skip it. If it works out to the same price – skip it and go after restaurant week when they are less slammed. But if you do a little research, you can get a good deal on a restaurant that you’ve had your eye on.

Bonus: If you sync your American Express Card & save $5 at each DineLA restaurant when you check in on foursquare.

Weekend Film Calendar from LAist

Weisswurst with pretzel

2011 may be remembered (or hopefully, forgotten) as the year of the great sausage glut in LA. It felt like a new sausage and beer place was opening every week this summer. Don’t get me wrong: there are few simple pleasures like a huge pretzel, a fresh sausage, and a few beers to wash it all down. But how many places do we really need grilling up the same pre-made sausages from the same purveyors?

Beer Flight

Needless to say, when Wirtshaus opened in July, my sausage fatigue prevented me from getting too excited. But then I heard the sausages were made in-house. And then I started hearing some pretty positive reviews. It was time to find out for myself.

Scharfe Wurst with red cabbage & fried potatoes

If there is a fresh pretzel on a menu, chances are that I’ll order it. I decided to add a weisswurst (Bavarian white sausage) to the pretzel and it was a great choice: classic and tasty, bringing me back to my days in Munich’s beer gardens. Unfortunately, the pretzel was a bit of a disappointment, failing to live up to the pretzel at Bru Haus (but the sausage was superior).

Duck sausage special with sauerkraut & fried potatoes

My disappointment was soon forgotten when my beer flight hit the table. Wirtshaus offers fifteen German beer on tap, plus at least a dozen more in bottles. I’ve been especially fond of beer flights lately – it’s a great way of comparing different beer styles without too much damage to your wallet or liver.

No reason to stop at just one

There are plenty of places to get a cold beer in LA, but few that are German-owned and offer quality house-made sausages. I tried two sausage plates: Scharfe Wurst (spicy sausage) and the day’s special: duck sausage. Both had a wonderful texture that featured a satisfying snap of the casing. The scharfe wurst was the favorite, with just the right amount of spice. The fried potatoes with bacon, mild sauerkraut, and red cabbage were all respectable sides, if not terribly memorable.

Wirtshaus Menu

Lunch plates comes with one sausage, and dinner provide two sausages: probably enough for two people to split with an appetizer. Schnitzel is also available if you’ve also reached sausage fatigue.

Drink List

Dinner Menu

Wirtshaus is a solid addition to the neighborhood and with their Oktoberfest celebrations, there’s no better time to check it out.

Wirtshaus
345 N La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Welcome to Wirtshaus

Coloradito mole

If you’re experience with Mexican food is limited to beans, rice, and shredded meat wrapped in a tortilla, you are really missing out. While I love a great street taco, there are few things I crave more than a complex Oaxacan mole made up of roughly 20 ingredients.

Monte Alban Dining Room

When I get the craving for great Oaxacan mole, I usually head to Guelaguetza in Koreatown. I have yet to find a red mole that I enjoy more. However, I can’t always make it to Ktown, so whenever I hear there is a good mole on the Westside, I pray that it can satisfy my cravings. After our weekly hike, iFlipForFood & SavoryHunter joined me for a mole feast at Monte Alban, located in a strip mall in West LA. I was little disappointed that they didn’t offer their lunch specials on weekends, but it’s still a good value spot.

Tamale de mole

We began our meal with a chicken tamale covered in a rich black mole. Chocolate, chili peppers, onions, garlic, and more than a dozen other ingredients really elevated this tamale to a nice start to the meal.

Memela with black mole and queso fresco

Next up was a memela with black mole and queso fresco. As you can see from the picture, it resembles a Mexican pizza, but with a base of corn masa.

Menudo

Angela was craving menudo and she really enjoyed this version, but it featured a little too much beef stomach for my tastes.

Micheladas

Once I rehydrated with a few glasses of water, I went with a michelada – a bottle of beer mixed with tomato juice, lime juice, and assorted spices. When your bottled beer options are boring (thing Tecate and Corona) a michelada is a fun way to spice it up.

Verde De Puerco

Since there were four us, we realized that we had no choice but to order all four moles and declare a winner. Unfortunately for our goal of choosing a favorite, we were split: Mark and I preferred the rich red and black moles, while SavoryHunter and Angela preferred the green mole. Fortunately for our taste buds, all four moles were strong. I’d skip the yellow if I could only order three, but it was a delicious and relatively cheap meal.

Four Mole Feast

While my search for the best mole joint isn’t over, Monte Alban is my new go-to place for mole (and a michelada) on the Westside.

Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Fri-Sun: Wally’s Tent Sale

One of my favorite LA weekends is here! The semi-annual tent sale at wonderful Wally’s Wine in Westwood takes place this weekend. Sample a bunch of wines, stock up on all the spirits and wine you need for the next six months, and try a few new cheese that are also on sale from the Cheese Box. The employees are very knowledgeable and helpful, so don’t be afraid to pick their brains.

9 am – 5 pm
Wally’s Wine and Spirits
2107 Westwood Boulevard

Friday: Pazzo Gelato Happy Hour

Head over to Echo Park from 1-3 pm on Friday for one dollar scoops of gelato. One day only, so don’t miss this sweet deal.

Pazzo Gelato
1910 Sunset Blvd
Free parking in rear

Friday: Napa Valley Grille’s Whole Beast Feast

Napa Valley Grille Executive Chef Joseph Gillard is launching a new monthly Chef’s Fall Culinary Collection dinner series in Westwood. Enjoy a market-driven, five-course prix-fixe menu ($48 per person) and add wine pairings from Napa Valley vintners for additional $22. The rotating California Wine Month-inspired menu will feature new seasonal specials including Roasted Wild Porcini Mushrooms with Goat Cheese Grits and Sweet Corn Sabayon; Whole Roasted Suckling Pig with Estate Ratatouille and Chicharonnes; and Dark Chocolate Tart with Bitter Orange Marmalade—paired with pours including Domaine Chandon Rosé, Trefethen Family Vineyards Dry Riesling, and Belle Glos “Meiomi” Pinot Noir. Each dinner will seat up to 20 guests, with whom Gillard will interact and introduce each dish at the restaurant’s rustic harvest table. Be sure to reserve ahead, because spots are filling up.

If you can’t make it this Friday, reserve your spot for October 28, November 18, and December 16, 2011.

Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Friday: Pearl Jam Twenty Opens

I’ve been hearing about this Pearl Jam documentary for months now thanks to a friend that’s a big 10C (PJ fan club member). This Cameron Crowe-directed documentary about Pearl Jam is been getting some good reviews and it won’t be playing for very long, so this weekend is your chance to see it on the big screen, the way that rock docs should be seen. Shows at the Laemmle 5 are already selling out, so buy your tickets now.

Friday: Happy Hour at Pici Enoteca

New happy hour alert! Beverly Hill’s Italian joint Pici Enoteca is starting a “Cicchetti Hour,” Monday through Saturday, from 4-7 p.m. $7 glasses of wine, and $4 Italian beers, and $7 small plates including Hand-rolled Pici Pasta with guests’ choice of vodka or tomato-basil sauce; Fig Jam, Prosciutto, and Mozzarella Panini on Black Olive Bread; PICI Meatballs with Tomato-Basil-Garlic Sauce; and Fried Fontina Ravioli.

PICI Enoteca
212 S. Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Saturday: Closing Night of For the Record- Coen Brothers

After a successful run, For the Record is retiring the Coen Brothers show to make room for music from Tarantino films. Show at Barre is tackling the music of Coen Brothers films with their supper club cabaret. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and a unique 360-degree theatre experience that features songs and scenes from O Brother Where Art Thou, The Big Lebowski, Fargo and more. Tickets are $25 (food and drink extra).  Read LAists glowing review of their Baz Luhrmann production.

Show at Barre
1714 N Vermont
Los Angeles, CA 90027

 
Saturday: Echo Park Art Walk & Shop Hop

Explore all of the wonderful things Echo Park has to offer with this whole day of free events. Music, shopping, art, food… you name it, you can find it in Echo Park.

Starting at noon
Map here

Sunday: Quebec in Hollywood Festival

The month-long Quebec in Hollywood festival is wrapping up, but there are still a couple more events you can enjoy. The big one: the premiere of “Iris,” Cirque du Soleil’s latest head trip where you can take a “journey through the world of cinema.” Friday thru Sunday, get your Quebec Happy Hour on at the Library bar.

Sunday: Abbot Kinney Festival

Venice knows how to throw a party. Join 150,000 “eco-conscious urban singles [editor's note: they mean hipsters], couples, and families” for a big party celebrating the wonderful galleries, bars, restaurants, (and pot shops?) on Abbot Kinney. There will be food trucks, over a dozen bands, beer gardens, and children activities. This will be my first AK Festival and I can’t wait. It runs from 10 am to 6 pm on Abbot Kinney in Venice.

Sunday: 9th Annual Tarfest

The La Brea Tar Pits are being taken over this Sunday from noon-6 pm with music by Saint Motel, Everest, Obi Best, A House for Lions, Infantree, and Ash Panda. In addition to the great local music, you should explore art installations, environmental sculpture, and live painting.

12 pm – 6 pm
Hancock Park
5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

Theatre

I’ve written a couple of theatre reviews for LAist lately. If you are looking for a unique night of theatre, I HIGHLY recommend ‘The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity’ at the Geffen playhouse. If you are craving a night of musical theatre, you could do worse than Reprise Theatre’s ‘Cabaret’ at the Freud, but I did find it underwhelming.

Films

Friday

Batman (1989) & Batman Returns (1992) double feature at Aero Theatre with producer Michael Uslan

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World at New Beverly Cinema

Donnie Darko at Nuart Theatre

Saturday

E. T. (1982) with DJ Cut Chemist at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

The Thing (1982),  In the Mouth of Madness (1995),  Prince of Darkness (1987), with John Carpenter at the Aero Theatre

Sunday

Red State with Kevin Smith at New Beverly Cinema

1941 with writer Bob Gale and actors Nancy Allen & Eddie Deezen at Cinefamily @ Silent Movie Theatre

The Big Sleep (1946) at The Bay Theatre

Frida with costume designer Julie Weiss at the Aero Theatre

The Red Shoes (1948) and Black Narcissus (1947) double feature at Egyptian Theatre

Orzo salad with crab, avocado, grapefruit and beet vinaigrette

City Tavern is still the new kid on the downtown Culver City block, but it has quickly become one of my favorite hangout spots. If a friend asks me to grab a drink near my place, I no longer suggest we tackle the $5 cocktail menu  (until 9 pm!) at Bigfoot West, but ask if we can order a bunch of California craft beer tasters at City Tavern.  The music is always good, the service is excellent, and the beer list can’t be beat in Culver City. Plus, there is plenty of food to pair with the rotating beer list. When I heard that City Tavern was doing a beer dinner with fellow newcomer Ladyface Ale, and my friends Mark and Angela from IFlipForFood were going, I knew I couldn’t miss it.

Deviled egg, asparagus, roe paired with Chaparral Saison

The end of summer picnic themed meal started off with a deviled egg amuse. Topped with roe and asparagus, the deviled egg was simply prepared but I thought it was a great way to start the meal. I felt a little strange getting so excited about a deviled egg (and maybe it partly the anticipation of so much great beer to come), but the evening was off to a great start.

I was impressed with the presentation of the orzo salad with avocado and a grapefruit beet vinaigrette, especially since there was quite the generous helping of crab on top. The dish could have used a bit more seasoning, but a couple shakes of the salt shaker and mixing up the salad really helped, despite me being disappointed to ruin the nice plating.

Ladyface Beers for the Evening

Once I received the large handout of information about the beers we’d be drinking that evening, it became clear that beer dinners at City Tavern are not some cross-promoting marketing gimmick put on just for the sake of having an event. Before the meal began, Ladyface owner Cyrena Nouzille and brewer Dave Griffiths gave an introduction to all of the beers that the restaurant overrun with beer enthusiasts would be drinking. With a true beer lover like Jessica Christensen as the chef at City Tavern, I wasn’t surprised to see how much attention she paid to trying to pair the right dishes with the right brews.

Potted duck confit and crisps with Chesebro IPA

The standout dish of the night was a potted duck confit. Like any good duck confit, there was a nice balance of fat, sweet, and savory. What helped bring the dish to the next level was the added crunch of the duck skin chicharron.

Smoked cocoa-rubbed tri-tip sandwich and potato salad paired with Picture City Porter

I’m sure it was tempting to just serve the crowd-pleasing brew burger, but Chef Jessica wanted to make the evening special. The smoked cocoa-rubbed tri-tip was delicious, and I enjoyed the bread on its own, but the bread was a tad overcooked and made it difficult to bite into. The smooth and creamy Picture City Porter was a wonderful match, especially since Ladyface infused the batch with cocoa nibs specifically for this dinner at Jessica’s request.

Spiked watermelon and peppered strawberries

The final dish was strawberry shortcake and spiked watermelon from Chef Jessica’s own garden. It is one of the only spiked watermelon’s I’ve ever enjoyed, but I was a little disappointed that the biscuits tasted a bit strongly of baking powder.

Now that I’ve shown the pictures and talked about the dishes, let me get to the important part: it was a really fun evening. I got to meet some fellow hopheads like SinoSoul and Gourmandeez, fell in love with a new brewery (planning to head to the tasting room in Agoura Hills this weekend in fact), I was able to ask a ton of beer questions of Ladyface brewer Dave, I didn’t have to think about what to order or how to pair, and it was a good deal at $45.

I suggest sending an email to info@citytavernculvercity.com to get the monthly newsletter announcing special events such as beer dinners. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

City Tavern
9739 Culver Blvd, Culver City

Disclosure: The meal ended up being hosted

If you are looking to see an abundance of  formidable local bands this weekend, forget your usual haunts in Echo Park and Silverlake. Instead, head to Port O’Call Village in San Pedro and enjoy an eclectic line-up while cracking open a Main lobster at the 13th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival. Check out the bands below, and be sure to see how you can WIN VIP TICKETS to enjoy live music, fresh Maine lobster meals ($19), food truck grub, and more.

Friday
LobsterFest kicks off in TreasureLA-approved fashion: with a KROQ Locals Only showcase. Headlining the night is LA-by-way-of-Australia indie-pop outfit Andy Clockwise. Hailing from Long Beach, The Fling will provide a little folk, a dash of psychedelia, and plenty of 60s pop. Make sure you get there by 7:30 so you don’t miss White Arrows. Frontman Mickey Schiff left LA to study music at NYU, but now he’s back in LA and ready to put on an impressive show. Rounding out the night will be two contest winners: Dreams and 80 Proof.
Andy Clockwise
Andy Clockwise – Love and War

The Fling
The Fling – Wanderingfoot
White Arrows
White Arrows – Get Gone
Dreams
80 Proof

Saturday
You’ll definitely get your money’s worth if you spend your Saturday in San Pedro. Anchoring the day is LA’s Vaud and the Villains, a 19 piece 1930s New Orleans orchestra.
Vaud and the Villains

The Taiko Project
He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister

I’m personally loving the new folk revival happening in LA and the rest of the country. The glamed-up folk band lead by LA brother and sister Rob and Rachel Kolar will keep your toes tapping while you ponder getting another lobster plate.
He’s My Brother She’s My Sister – Tales That I Tell

Shadow Shadow Shade
Eastern Conference Champions

You may know this Los Angeles by way of Philadelphia trio from the Twilight Eclipse  soundtrack or Last Call with Carson Daly . If you don’t know them all, you can see them rockout Saturday at 5 pm.

Eastern Conference Champions – Hurricane

Light FM
Deap Valley
Judson McKinney
The Damselles & TC4

Sunday
Headlining the Lobsterfest is 80s sensation Berlin. The New Wave band formed in Los Angeles in 1978 and gave us hits ”Take My Breath Away,” “No More Words,” and “The Metro.” The rest of the afternoons musical offerings promise to be eclectic: USC student Devon Eisenbarger will bring the blues, Dante Vs. Zombies will surprise, and The Little Ones will be provide refreshing indie pop.

BERLIN featuring Terri Nunn
Lady Dottie and the Diamonds
Little Ones
The Little Ones – Rock the Door

Dante Vs. Zombies

Dante Vs. Zombies is not an easy band to classify but my personal favorite description I’ve heard: “Anthemic but gritty cactus rock.”

Devon Eisenbarger

If the combination of lobster and great local bands sounds like a fun way to spend your weekend, TreasureLA has your hook-up! I’m giving away two ”First Class” tickets worth $41.00 each, plus a few general admission tickets ($10).

How to Enter:

Pick any band playing Lobsterfest and leave a comment describing where you’d take them to dinner and why.

For an extra TWO entries, tweet: “Help me rock @polalobsterfest with free tickets from @TreasureLA! http://bit.ly/r0SDyz”

Winners will be randomly selected.

Lobster Festival

110 Harbor Freeway
Parking and shuttle buses are free
Friday: 5 pm-11 pm
Saturday: 11 am-11 pm
Sunday: 11 am-7 pm
$10.00 for adults, kids under 12 get in free. $2.00 discount tickets on lobsterfest.com

Shows of the Week

Monday:

Foster The People at Galaxy Theatre

They released the pop record of the summer, and now you can extend the summer feeling with previously-featured Foster the People at the Galaxy Theatre. The show will benefit  The Do Good Bus and sounds worth the drive to the OC.

The Horrors at The Glass House

I’m not sure what it is, but Mondays are a weird day for concerts for me. I don’t want anything too high-energy, just something I can groove to and enjoy while sipping some bourbon. England’s The Horrors fit the bill for tonight.

The Horrors – Moving Further Away

The Benson Interruption @ Largo at the Coronet

Big Black Delta @ The Satellite

Tuesday:

Fleet Foxes w/ The Walkmen at the Santa Barbara Bowl

It’s a long drive for a Tuesday, but it may just be worth it for the incredible Fleet Foxes. Rock with the Walkmen and then let the beautiful soundscapes of the Fleet Foxes fill the bowl and transfer you to a beautiful place.

Crystal Antlers at The Prospector

Why are so many great shows outside of LA proper this week? Head to Long Beach to see Crystal Antlers play a hometown show.
Wednesday:

Fleet Foxes w/ The Walkmen at the Greek Theatre 

Not willing to drive to Santa Barbara? Well, you can see Fleet Foxes & Walkmen play in the wonderful Greek ampitheatre.

Horrible Crowes at The Troubadour

The new side-project by Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon is bringing their new tunes to the Troubadour. Stream their debut record Elsie here.

The Joy Formidable with Telekinesis @ El Rey Theatre

Thursday:

The Teddybears at the EchoPlex

Put your dancing shoes on for the catchy and outlandish Swedish Teddybears.

Eastern Conference Champions at The Satellite

Sarah Silverman at the Largo at the Coronet

Friday:

Surfer Blood at the EchoPlex

Last summer, I couldn’t get enough of Surfer Blood. This Florida band’s debut Astro Coast screams fun and summer.

Surfer Blood – Neighbour Riffs

A Night At The Moulin Rouge at the Hollywood Bowl

Eastern Conference Champions at The Satellite

Saturday:

Saturdays off the 405 w/ Surfer Blood at The Getty Museum

Paul Oakenfold at the Avalon Hollywood

We Barbarians at The Satellite

The Paul F. Tompkins Show at Largo at the Coronet

Sunday:

Laura Marling at the Hollywood Forever Masonic Lodge

James Blake at The Music Box

A Night At The Moulin Rouge at the Hollywood Bowl

Thursday: Fashions Night Out

New York’s Fashions Night Out has gone global. Tonight at the  Beverly Center, there will be an opening ceremony featuring Mayor Villaraigosa, Nicole Richie, and The Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo. In addition to a catwalk, LAist reports “Over 100 of the surrounding shops will promote partying as well as shopping throughout the evening, offering everything from complimentary champagne and red carpet makeovers to deep discounts, giveaways and raffles on the latest designs.”

I HIGHLY recommend trying to get into 3.1. Philip Lim in West Hollywood to see the wonderful up-and-coming band Cults play a set to benefit the Silverlake Conservatory of Music from  7-10 pm I saw them make quite a few new fans with an impressive performance at FYF last week.

Thursday: Downtown Art Walk

It must be the second Thursday of the month because tonight is the famous Downtown Art Walk.  If you’ve been, you know what to expect. If you haven’t, you owe it to yourself to join the throngs of people that make this the most happening night of the month Downtown. Once you get your full of art and wandering, hit up one of the many after parties, such as the Dirty Disco and Live Art at ExchangeLA.

Starting Friday: Quebec in Hollywood Festival

For the next three weeks, Quebec is invading Hollywood. Here’s your best chance to learn about one of the most unique cities in North America. All month long, events will feature  art, music, fashion, food, & comedy. Here is what is going on this weekend:

9/9: Hard Rock Café: Free show by Québec rock bands, The Respectables, Steve Hill, Tailor Made Fable and Dance Laury Dance.

9/12-24: David Lawrence Gallery: Portraits of Marilyn Monroe by celebrated expressionist, Corno.

9/12-17: The Grill on Hollywood: Chef Jean-Pierre Curtat of the 5 Diamond AAA-rated Nuances Restaurant at the Casino de Montréal, presents a unique menu featuring some of Québec’s best products.

Friday-Sunday: 3rd Annual LA BBQ Festival

Enjoy the still-Summer weather with all you can eat BBQ from around the country, 20 beers on tap, wine, cocktails, and desserts. Weather has been beautiful in Santa Monica lately and there will be some live music. Tickets are $60 and all-inclusive.

Tickets
Colorado and Ocean
Santa Monica

Saturday:  ‘An American Werewolf in London’ Drink-Along

BBQ Films and Cinema Speakeasy are teaming up for a free screening of John Landis’ American Werewolf in London. In addition to the werewolf classic, you’ll get FREE BEER and munchies for sale. Appropriately, the beer is Newcastle Werewolf Limited Edition Ale and $10 should appropriately coat your stomach with bites from Eat Catering.

Doors at 8 pm, Film at 9 pm
It’s free, but you’ve got to RSVP & be 21+.
Address in Culver City to be provided upon RSVP: heythere@cinemaspeakeasy.com

Sunday: Tomato Festival

Tomatoes are one of my favorite foods, so this event sounds pretty wonderful. Enjoy tomato tastings and learn how to “grow, cook, and preserve” tomatoes at the Hollywood Farmers Market. Be sure to say hi to Chef Evan Kleinman and LA Times Food Editor Russ Parsons.

8 am-1 pm
Hollywood Farmers Market
Intersection of Ivar and Selma Avenues

Sunday: Support The Trevor Project by Eating at Fresheast

Looking to do some good this weekend without actually doing any work? Well, you’re lazy butt is in luck. Organic and healthy Asian casual restaurant Fresheast will be donating 30% of Sunday’s proceeds to the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention efforts for LGBTQ youth, and is a charity I hold a lot of respect for. Dishes average roughly $10, so if you can’t justify coughing up serious money to eat at charity food festivals, this may be more your speed.

fresheast
8951 Santa Monica Blvd- Suite G1
11:00am - 10:00pm

Sunday: Cleo’s 1st Anniversary Menu

To celebrate their one year anniversary, Hollywood’s Cleo will be offering a  ”1717 Menu” every Sunday in September.
For $17.17 per person, you can enjoy a prix fixe menu of Cleo’s most popular dishes.  The prix fixe menu features:

• Brussels Sprouts
• Choice of Dip
• Choice of Kebab
• Baklava

Cleo
1717 Vine St.
Inside The Redbury Hotel @ Hollywood & Vine
Sundays in September

Sunday: Firemen Drink Free at the Foundry

If you know any firemen, be sure to tell them that they can drink for free all night this Sunday at the Foundry. Chris Pierce will be playing in the lounge as well.

The Foundry
7465 Melrose Ave
6 pm-close

Sunday: Free Pint for Cops & Firefighters at City Tavern

City Tavern, with their excellent craft beer list, will also be commemorating the hard work and sacrifices made by our police offers and firefighters. Police offers and firefighters are encouraged to stop in and City Tavern will buy you a pint.

9739 Culver Blvd
Culver City

Sea Bass Ceviche

I never would have guessed that my favorite restaurant to open this year would be a takeout spot. You may be tempted to lower your expectations as you walk up to the window situated in Grand Central Market’s outer courtyard, but don’t let the lack of waiters, plates, and general ambiance deter you. After hearing great things from iFlipForFood, MidtownLunch, SavoryHunter, and The Find, I was eager to make the descent on the Angels Flight (with grazing goats!) to see what Peruvian wonders were in store.

Chimú

Duck Leg Escabeche with panamito beans, pickled cherries, cancha

If casual, well-priced Peruvian food featuring excellent ceviche reminds you of Ricardo Zarate’s Mo-Chica, then it shouldn’t surprise you that Chimú chef Mario Alberto spent some time at Mo-Chica as well as Lazy Ox Canteen. Dishes range from $9-12 and I’m yet to experience a disappointing dish. I normally take notes during meals I plan to write about, but I just couldn’t bring myself to put down my fork and pick up a pen. Each bite was that good.

Chancho (Pork Belly) with stewed barley, tomato, huacatay

The menu is constantly changing, so you may experience the same disappointment that I did when I discovered a dish I really wanted to try (Estofado de Lengua - beef tongue) was not offered that day. My recommendation: get a group of friends together as quickly as possible and just order the whole menu at Chimu. With food this good at such reasonable prices, you’ll understand why it’s my favorite new restaurant.

Lomo Saltado with red onions, tomatoes, and rice

Aji de Gallina (shredded chicken) with parmesan, hardboiled egg, and rice

Chimú Menu

Chimú Menu

Grazing Goats at Angels Flight

Baby Blues BBQ Plate

Block party is a phrase that gets thrown around way too much. Earlier this week I was complaining about Culver City’s abuse of the phrase. When I was invited to check out the first Hudson Block Party in West Hollywood, it was a relief when it turned out to be an actual block party. Traffic was closed off, there were multiple outdoor bars, there was a stage for live music, and people were outside wandering about, not just bar-hopping.

Chicken Sandwich from Baby Blues BBQ

To soak up the cheap beer and brightly-colored alcoholic concoctions, food was for sale by Baby Blues BBQ (pictured above), The Hudson, and the forthcoming The Churchill. Chef Jason Tuley of the Churchill even brought a portable pizza oven for the event and two ice cream flavors: pistachio and vanilla apricot/peach. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do with a real pizza oven and a proper kitchen.

Crowds But Not Too Crowded at Hudson Block Party (Photo Courtesy of iFlipforFood)

It was definitely a mixed crowd (a lot more LA scenesters than I am used to being around), but everyone seemed to be having a great time (except for the long line of people hoping to get in). Enjoying the beautiful day with DJs, live music, beer, and BBQ… I’d love to see more of these events around the city. Plus, money was raised for a good cause: the West Hollywood Library. I was glad to have the opportunity to check out a unique event with my friends Mark & Angela from iFlipforFood & theMinty

Ross Sea Party Performs (Photo Courtesy of iFlipforFood)

The Hudson
1114 North Crescent Heights, Los Angeles
Hours: Monday – Friday from 4pm – 2am & Saturday & Sunday from 10am – 2am
Happy hour is served daily from 4pm -7pm as well as a special late-night happy hour menu on Sunday & Monday 10pm – 2am

Fri-Mon: The Taste

THE place to be this weekend for food, wine, and scene lovers is Los Angeles Times & Food & Wine’s The Taste. 4 days, 9 events, and a TON of food and drink. Tickets are roughly $125, but if you use discount code WEB, you can save 40%. You’ll find me at the Burgers and Beer events (unlimited tastings from over 30 of L.A.’s best restaurants/chefs and samples from over 30 top wineries, breweries and spirits , plus live music and beer seminars), The Art of Mixing (featuring Mariachi El Bronx & Jason Bentley), and Street Eats with Susan Feniger, Alex Guarnaschelli, Marcel Vigneron, Fabio Viviani, Marcela Valladolid, Sang Yoon, Roy Choi, and many more. Events are in Beverly Hills, Downtown, and Hollywood.

Saturday: White Trash Wine Tasting

If you don’t have the $$$ to spend on the Taste, then this popular Colorado Wine Co. event is your next best option. For $20, you’ll get to take part in a very unique four course wine pairing.

Course 1: Ecru’ de Mais (aka Corn Nuts) with Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace
Course 2: Tuna/Pecan/CreamCheese/Pimento Balls (self-explanatory) with Vina Clavidor Verdejo, Rueda, Spain
Course 3: Jambonet Cassoulet (Bacon baked Beans) paired with Dubaisson Scaldis amber beer
Course 4: Katie’s Grandma’s Poke and Pour cake (cannot be explained) with Aszu Tokai, Hungary

To quote the event organizers, “White trash meets the Eurozone. Come’n get it!”

$20 per person
First seating 4-6 pm
Second seating 6:30- 8:30 pm
This sells out every year, so RSVP to info@cowineco.com ASAP

Saturday: FYF Fest

I had a great time last year at the FYF music festival, so I can’t wait for this Saturday to check out so many amazing bands, including: Explosions in the Sky, Cold War Kids, Broken Social Scene, No Age, Girls, Dan Deacon, Japandroids, Future Islands, Avi Buffalo, and Cults. It’s a lot of music (noon to midnight) for only $40.

$40
Los Angeles State Historic Park

Saturday: Labor Day Weekend Pool Party at the Standard Hotel

Don’t have a friend with a pool this Labor Day Weekend? You can still celebrate the end of summer at the Standard Hotel Hollywood with DJ sets by Bones, Bixel Boys, Falcon Punch, and more. The event is free with RSVP.

12-6 pm
The Standard Hotel | Hollywood
8300 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood California 90069

Sat-Mon: Fiesta Hermosa

Head down south for this large arts and craft fair in Hermosa Beach. In addition to 270 artists and crafters, including painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors, and handicrafters, there will be two music stages, leaning heavily on classic rock tribute bands. There will also be a Charity Beer & Wine Garden to fuel the fun days.

Saturday-Monday
10 am – 6 pm
Downtown Hermosa Beach

Sunday: Beer Belly Backyard Boogie

Labor Day weekend means two things to me: craft beer & BBQ. Luckily, Koreatown’s Beer Belly has us covered. At the Backyard Boogie, The Park’s Finest will be cooking up some of our favorite BBQ dishes (from 3pm-8pm), and the Beer Belly family will have beer pairing recommendations for your grub. All BBQ proceeds will be going to help The Park”s Finest team get their first retail location set-up.

Menu ($10 plate):

All September: Corkbar’s Flights & Menu Specials for California Wine Month

Downtown’s Corkbar is a great spot for happy hour, a date, or if you’re simply in the mood to pair wine and food in a fun atmosphere. The wine bar will offer a specialty wine flight each week that focuses on a different varietal, growing region, or winemaking style ($10-15), in addition to two menu pairings all-month-long with Corkbar’s most popular items – the Corkbar Burger with Frank Family Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel ($22), and Mac & Cheese with Stag’s Leap 2009 Viognier ($20).

Week 1: “Summer Whites” (September 4-10)
Five whites from California’s Gold Coast region, including Pinot Gris, Albariño, and Marsanne

Week 2: “Classic California Reds” (September 11-17)
Five celebrated red wine varietals grown in California, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir

Week 3: “Classic California Whites” (September 18-24)
Five celebrated white wine varietals grown in California, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier

Week 4: “Unusual Reds” (September 25-30)
A look beyond classic red wine varietals, including California wines made with Pinot Meunier, Tempranillo, and Malbec grapes

Monday: Casa Vega Launches New Happy Hour

Casa Vega, the Sherman Oaks family-owned Mexican restaurant that opened in 1956, is launching a new happy hour. You’ll get 50% off all appetizers, including Queso Fundido, Taquitos, Mexican Pizza, and more, during regular happy hour from 2:30-7 p.m. daily. Casa Vega’s current happy hour includes $4.95 House Margaritas as well as a 20% discount on selections from the bar menu. Additionally, Casa Vega will launch a Late Night Happy Hour starting at 10:30 p.m. nightly. The Late Night Happy Hour will offer $4.95 House Margaritas as well as 20% of all beer and cocktails, and 50% of all appetizers.

Casa Vega
13301 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423