A La Carte: Azure Mediterranean opening, a new bakery in Redondo, Hey 19’s birthday, Lou’s on the Hill’s whiskey night, Sausal stars in El Segundo….
Propreiters Lenora and Adnen Marouani celebrate Barsha’s third anniversary last week. Photo
Coming Attractions… I’ve had a look inside Azure Mediterranean Restaurant, the place taking the long-vacant spot next to Ortega 120, and it looks lovely. What had been a dark cavern is now sunny and open, and there are several inviting small rooms for private parties. The restaurant should be open by the end of the month, serving a pan-Mediterranean menu – one of the managers mentioned Greek, Egyptian, and French as influences. Most recent openings in this general area have been based on regional Italian food, so this one should stand out…
The Mystery Deepens… Elsewhere in Redondo, the fate of On The Rocks remains a mystery. Last month their website was updated with a new menu featuring an Australian theme – this month that website is down. Communication with customers obviously isn’t a priority – their Facebook page hasn’t been updated since June, and we all know how difficult it is to do that…
New Arrival On Artesia!… Those who read my column regularly know my enthusiasm for independent bakeries, and therefore can probably guess my reaction when a new one opened in Redondo Beach. Savory N Sweet is well-hidden in a storefront in the 1900 block near Starbucks, and lives up to its name – they’re baking cupcakes, cakes, pretzels, cookies, and much else. I tried a jam-filled cupcake made with layers of graham and regular flour and it was excellent – I look forward to trying more…
Signs of Success… There is celebration at Hey 19, which will be hosting a one year anniversary party on October 19th. The evening will be a delight for those into numerology – there will be nineteen raffle prizes, a nineteen dollar steak and cocktail special, and other tie-ins to those numerals. No reservations required, so drop in and toast the best thing to happen to West Torrance in a long time…
Reservations Needed For This One… The events at Lou’s on the Hill seem to always sell out, but as of this writing there is still space for their Woodford Reserve whiskey tasting on October 28th. An evening of beverages with bites will cost $45 – call 310-739-5926 to get your seat at the table…
First Looks…Sausal just opened for lunch, and my experience there confirms that this restaurant is another reason to go to El Segundo. The oxtail picadillo empanadas, seared salmon sandwich with cucumber-mango salsa, and chili verde with sweet corn were all excellent – my dining companion said this was the best sandwich he had ever had. The inspiration here is of the California ranchos, drawing from both Spain and Mexico, and the execution is flawless. They serve modern food with ancient roots, and they can keep this up they’re going to be a star in the South Bay’s fine dining constellation…
Finding The Perfect Bird… Last month I lamented the closing of Flossie’s, which had served the finest fried chicken in the South Bay. This month the Ragin Cajun started serving it, and I found my new chicken spot. A modest dash of herbs and Cajun seasoning adds just the right level of spiciness – this won’t burn your mouth, but you’ll know it’s there. It’s still on the specials menu, but apparently available all the time. Go for it, you’ll be glad you did. Finish with a slice of Ms. Jeanine’s pecan pie if you have any room – the rest of you will be in California, but your mouth will be in the South…
The Chef Has Been Found… I was driving by the former Sushi Duke location and noticed a banner for a business called Ramen Spott. Will this be the new business in that spot, I wondered? No it won’t, because Ramen Spott is chef Sanjay Duke’s new restaurant in Torrance. He’s serving many of the items that were popular at Sushi Duke plus something I haven’t seen before in this area – a Sri Lankan dish called Chicken Kottu. It appears that the location on Catalina is likely to be redeveloped so the restaurant won’t reopen there, but those who enjoy Chef Duke’s food now know where to find him…
Beer Lovers, Mark Your Calendars… Rock & Brews in El Segundo will be hosting its second Craft Beer Festival on Sunday, November 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Fourteen craft breweries will be participating, most of them local – a measure of how quickly the industry has grown and how sophisticated our tastes have become. Tickets are $45 for food, drink, and a panel of brewers discussing their craft – get them, now at 310-615-9890…
Any new restaurants I should know about, any food and beverage events, anyplace else serving amazing fried chicken? I’m at Richard@richardfoss.com…