High-Powered Chefs on Rosecrans… Winning a James Beard Foundation award is one of the most prestigious awards that a chef can aspire to, and an elite group of honorees will be cooking at Lido di Manhattan on May 14th. The “Celebrity Chef Tour” dinner will feature local heroes Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts of Hudson House, Bernard Ibarra of Terranea Resort, plus chefs Chad Colby of Mozza and Jimmy Schmidt and Brian Recor of Morgan’s in the Desert. Mixologist Sara Strom of Santa Monica’s Shutters will offer cocktails at the gala dinner event. It’s $155 for everything including tax, and will probably sell out – call 310-536-0730 to reserve…
And speaking of Chef Ibarra… I misstated something last month when reporting on the new Basque restaurant that will open in Redondo soon. Chef Bernard Ibarra is a partner in the restaurant but will continue in his position as Executive Chef at Terranea…
Calling It Quits… Cantina Real in Manhattan Beach quietly closed this week, with a letter thanking customers for their patronage posted on Tuesday. The restaurant has struggled since moving to this large space in September of 2013, and rumors of a sale have been flying for months. We don’t know what’s next yet, but the space is already in escrow…
One Less Traditionalist… Naka Sushi was probably the least flashy sushi bar in the South Bay, everything from the white-on white sign and the casual interior low-key. It was still a pleasant place for dinner where Chef Naka served up sushi that depended on fresh fish rather than exotic seasonings. Naka sold the place a while ago, and Kurisaki Sushi has moved in. The style seems to be a bit more modern but not outrageous, and they’ve improved the sake list, one of the items where Naka came up a bit short. They don’t have their new sign up yet, though they unfurl a banner whenever they’re open…
Events On The Radar… There are still tickets available for the 30th annual For Our Children, South Bay’s most famous dining event. This benefit for local charities draws hundreds of people to sample nibbles from over thirty eateries and as many wineries and breweries, with the added attractions of live music and a silent auction. The event is on April 26th at American Honda in Torrance, and you save $25 by buying in advance rather than at the door – go to 4Rchildren.net…
Coming Back?… It was all the way back in January that the sign went up announcing that The Kosher Palate will be closed for a month, so it’s looking a bit unlikely that they will reopen. The gourmet soups, sandwiches, and salads here were been very good, though like all restaurants using exclusively kosher products things were a bit more expensive than competing places. The reason given was a family illness, and we wish good health to owner Michelle Grant and her family, who obviously really cared about serving great food here…
Not Quite Yet… A new sign and an eye-catching mural have gone up at the site of the new Manhattan House gastropub in Manhattan Beach, and some people have been assuming they’re about to open. They won’t actually be serving for another month, so you’ll just have to wait a bit longer… Another coming attraction is yet another expansion by El Pollo Inka, which will open in the former Marie Callendar’s in the Peninsula Center. The same owners have been operating nearby Inka Wasi, also serving Peruvian food from a more limited menu, which will remain open…
The Murky Crystal Ball… The frantic pace of openings near the beach is likely to slow down for a while, mainly because almost every viable space is taken and landlords know they can be picky about who they decide to rent to. Some major deals have fallen through because the owners have demanded absurd prices, or that tenants would make improvements that are usually not their responsibility. One deal that was all set to go fell through when the building owner dined at another restaurant owned by a prospective lessee and decided he didn’t like the food. It might seem like a trivial thing to scuttle a big deal, but landlords want to have confidence that their new tenants are viable businesses so they don’t have to deal with problems later. Restaurants that are having a tough time often cut corners on maintenance to save money, and the owner is the one who has to clean up the mess when they’re gone…
Kurisaki Sushi, 1414 PCH, Redondo (310) 540-5555
