Sliced Out Of Hermosa: After seven years in business, The Cultured Slice cheese shop has closed, another specialty food store gone just a month after Grow in Manhattan Beach closed their doors. The Cultured Slice offered top quality products and made beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards, but was torpedoed by increasing food, staff, and insurance costs among other factors. It’s a loss for those who appreciate the curated selection, high-knowledge staff, and party trays that are artful in style and balanced in flavor…
Markets fluctuate: In a surprising move, an Erewhon Market will soon open in the former Mother’s Market on Rosecrans. This will be the eleventh location for the chain, which started over 50 years ago with a hyperfocus on natural and healthy organic foods. Fans who have been traveling to Culver City and Venice to shop will be delighted to have a local option. It will take a strong brand to make it at this location that is just yards from a Trader Joe’s, but they might pull it off…
Coming Attractions: It’s a short stroll up Rosecrans to the Wood Ranch Barbecue site, formerly Houston’s, where you’ll see activity next week. They plan to open on Monday, September 9, serving barbecue, of course, but also steaks, seafood, burgers, and a plethora of sides. I have visited their locations in Moorpark and Woodland Hills and enjoyed the ‘que, and look forward to seeing whether they can reproduce the smoky deliciousness I had there (1550 Rosecrans, MB)… Speaking of barbecue, Willingham’s World Champion in Redondo will be closed for about two months while owner/pitmaster Pilhwang “Phil” Bae recovers from injuries sustained in a car accident. We hope his recovery is quick and complete, and look forward to patronizing his restaurant again soon… In case there weren’t already enough coffeehouses in Redondo, BlendzUp coffee and acai bar is coming to the former Cooking Store at 1915 Catalina in Riviera Village. This is the same block as a branch of Hi-Fi Espresso, which is across the street from Coffee Cartel, and half a block away from Offset Coffee Roasters. Let the conflict of caffeinators commence!… Just down that block, a new restaurant called Taormina will open in a former art gallery next door to Turquoise. Taormina is a reincarnation and rebranding of Avenue Italy, which closed their location on Avenue I a few months ago, and will add a few Sicilian items to their pan-Italian offerings (1733 S. Catalina, RB)… Finally, something called Hong Kong Dim Sum Noodles seems to be moving into the shopping center by Jon’s Market on 190th. That’s what is written on the cardboard sign in the window, and it could be their name or what they plan to serve – I’m assuming both…
Event Alerts: September is a light month for dining events, but there are a few of note. On September 8, Radici in Hermosa will host a four-course meal of Italian traditional specialties with wines that include a rare old vines Barolo – it’s $115 plus tax and tip, about $140 – reserve on Open Table… The Chart House will feature Orrin Swift wines at a five-course dinner on September 18 – the king salmon with blueberry-fennel compote sounds particularly interesting. Price is $150 inclusive – full menu and reservations are on Eventbrite.com… On the 21st, Chef Christine Brown will teach a cooking class at PSP Steak, with the theme of how to make the best of family farm meats and produce. Full information is not available at this date – contact the restaurant for details… Those who appreciate tequila will want to mark September 26 on their calendar. That’s when The Rex in Redondo will pair Celaya tequilas with four courses of appropriate food, including chef Nunez’s mole negro with wood-smoked pork belly. Price is $150 plus tax & tip, about $190 – reserve on Open Table… Moving to October, Fleming’s in El Segundo will host a four-course pairing dinner with Far Niente wines on the 4th. Price is $200 plus tax & tip, about $250. Reserve from their website at flemingssteakhouse.com… And finally, on October 16 Pacific Standard Prime will host “The Judgement of PSP,” a blind tasting of California and French wines paired with Christine Brown’s creative cuisine. You will be invited to guess what you’ve been drinking at the end of the meal, and it will be a challenge for the palate. Details are not yet available, but will be announced soon – watch their website or contact the restaurant for details… Fishbar will also be offering a wine dinner that evening with four courses paired with Cline wines – price is $80 plux t&T, about $110…
A Mystery: In last month’s column I mentioned that the “Taste of the South Bay” event would be from September 14-22. The website at localanchor.com has a list of restaurants, but ten days in advance of the event beginning, no details about what they may be offering to entice diners. Oddly, the list of participants for this culinary program includes a claw machine amusement spot and an interior design firm, neither of which entices my taste buds. I can only suggest that you check the site to see whether it is updated yet…
Fair Pricing – A Rant: I have repeatedly aired my grievances about dining events that quote prices that don’t include tax and tip, a deceptive practice apparently designed to get the unwary to commit without knowing what the meal will cost. I try to remedy that practice in these columns by providing an estimate of what attendees will actually pay. This is sometimes wrong because some eateries have different service charges than others, so I recommend you check the real price before you reserve.
Recently a long-time reader contacted me about a restaurant I had recommended that lists prices based on paying cash, with no notice of the upcharge if you use a credit card. The difference between the two prices may be only a few dollars, but the principle of hiding the real price annoyed that customer so they will not be back. A restaurateur once claimed they list these fees as a protest against taxes and the fees charged by credit card companies, pointing out that many gas stations have different charges for cash or credit cards. I pointed out that they do, and they are required by law to post both. The law does not require restaurants to do this yet, but a desire to keep your customers happy should make a smart owner act like they did. To do otherwise makes you look dishonest, and that’s not a way to woo repeat business…
In Closing: If you know a restaurant opening I might’ve missed, a culinary event that should be covered, or just about anything related to food that I should know about, please send the information my way. I’m at richard@richardfoss.com. And as long as you’re on the internet, check out past restaurant reviews on our website at https://easyreadernews.com/restaurants/.
