The Place You Didn’t Know Had Closed Is Reopening… It’s easy to forget that Baleen Kitchen is there, because of its location at the end of the Peninsula next to the Portofino Hotel & Marina. You don’t pass it on the way to anyplace else, and some people think it’s a part of the hotel. Baleen is indeed open to everybody, and over the years I’ve had some very good meals there. The restaurant closed for a complete remodeling in January but will reopen this coming Monday, July 24th. New chef Leandro Bongarra will offer “Coastal Cuisine” and has kept a few favorites from previous menus. I for one am glad that their duck carnitas on a corn crepe will soon be available again…
Zazou Moves on… For twenty years Zazou has championed modern French fusion from their demure spot on Catalina in Riviera Village. It has been a little less hectic and a lot more European than its neighbors, and has had a dedicated following. Owner Guy Gabriele has decided that it is time for a bit of a shake-up, and will be closing the restaurant at the end of August for refurbishment and rebranding. Until then, they’re offering a great deal: a multi-choice three course menu for only $40.00 per person. We’ll miss you Zazou, but will stop in to say goodbye, maybe more than once at that price…
Event Alerts!… If you’re looking for the most inexpensive food event I’ve ever listed, keep reading. Kinecta’s annual chili cook-off and barbecue is this Saturday, July 22, and the suggested donation for bowls of red and ribs IS a mere two dollars each. Of course you might decide to donate more, seeing as how it’s to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network hospital program, and you might buy more than a few raffle tickets for a buck each. Come on out for food, music, and to meet local firefighters and police – location is 1440 Rosecrans in MB. Even runs from 11 AM to 2 PM, and reservations are not required…
On The Other Hand… You probably should reserve to attend Walk With Sally’s White Lights, White Nights, because the event is close to selling out. The charity gala on top of a parking structure is unlike anything else all year, with crowds dressed in white from head to toe strolling through dozens of gourmet food and wine stalls before a show by Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath. Tickets are $225 at WhitelightWhiteNight.org…
Eat This While Listening To Country Music… Trisha Yearwood is best known as a country music singer, but she evidently has some chops in the kitchen too. The multiple Grammy winner will be signing copies of her book Trisha’s Southern Kitchen at the Williams-Sonoma in the Manhattan Village Mall on Saturday, July 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. I don’t know if she has written any songs about cooking, but you might ask her to sing one when you stop by…
Finally Open!… After months with an “Opening Soon” banner outside, Thai Garden is actually dishing out the pad Thai on Aviation. The chef is from the far South of Thailand but the menu includes items from all over the country. Welcome to the neighborhood – there’s always room for a good Thai place (210 North Aviation Blvd., Hermosa)…
Celebrating A Dozen Years… Chef Melba’s has been serving innovative California cuisine for twelve trips around the sun, and they’re celebrating with a series of wine dinners. The first is this coming Monday, July 24, and it’s a deal – five courses for only $79 inclusive. Items include sea scallops with hearts of palm and coconut, poached pear and duck brittle, and a lamb and lobster brulee. It’s Melba at her innovative best, and as of this writing space is still available. Call 310-376-2084 and prepare to be dazzled…
Randomalia… Bettolino Kitchen in Redondo has debuted a seafood-intensive summer menu, so if it’s Italian and swims it’s probably on the menu. Try the lobster risotto or octopus over white beans in lemon garlic sauce… Hermosa’s Standing Room is more meat centric, offering all-you-can-eat roast pig every Tuesday for only $15 per person. They even include sides and your first beer of the night, which is a pretty phenomenal deal…
Out Of Our Area, But Worth The Trip… I don’t usually write about events that are outside the South Bay, but once in a whole something comes up that is unlike anything served here. That’s the case with the Summer Supper in Sumatra, an Indonesian dinner in Venice. Most Indonesian food in the US is influenced by the cooking of Dutch colonists and is mainly served to tourists, but on August 7th chef Harryson Tobing will cook in the style of the Lake Toba region of Sumatra. It’s a benefit for the new Pacific Food & Beverage Museum, which will be opening this year in Los Angeles. If you’d like to go more, to the museum’s website HERE…
Anything else around town that I should know about? I’m at Richard@richardfoss.com…
