How To Lose Friends… I was having a very late lunch with a friend at a popular Hermosa Beach spot, so it was no surprise that we were the only ones in the very large café. The two of us had some business to discuss, so we asked our server to turn down the music that was blaring at nightclub volume. She refused to do so and strode away from the table, leaving us to wonder about her priorities. We were the only ones there, and when 100% of your customers ask you to do something, perhaps you should at least consider the request. Despite the fact that we like the food there a lot, we will take our business elsewhere in future…
Hidden In Plain Sight… I mentioned in a previous column that an Indian fusion restaurant was moving into the space vacated by Brix. I was wrong on that one – Turmeric is in the adjacent space that used to be a juice bar, and is a modest café rather than a grand restaurant. They offer inexpensive and health-conscious Indian food with a few unusual items, like curry-stuffed ravioli. If you’re looking for a nutritious quick bite alongside PCH and might enjoy conversation about food with the friendly owners, this is the place to go. As for the Brix space, it won’t be a restaurant any time soon, as a software company has moved in…
Previews and Changes… We have learned the name of the restaurant that will replace Rocky Cola, and it gives a good indication of what to expect. My Fit Foods will open soon and is said to include a bakery, restaurant, and market. Meanwhile, in downtown Hermosa, Sangria is nearing the end of a makeover that involves an interior remodel and a new menu. No word yet on exactly what they will be serving, but as long as they keep this name I can guess a featured item on the beverage menu…
First Look… Vietnamese food is an up-and-coming cuisine locally, served at hip surroundings at Number Nine, in vegetarian versions at Happy Veggie, and alongside Mexican food at Redondo’s Halibut Corner. The newest and most traditional Viet restaurant is Pho PCH, which replaced a sandwich shop in the shopping center just south of the corner of PCH and 190th. The menu is not long, mostly variants on the famous soup with a broth spiked with star anise, ginger, and pepper, but the items I’ve tried there have all had the authentic flavor. It’s a friendly, family-run place, and the server cheerfully offered to make an item that isn’t on the menu when I asked about it. Prices are low, quality high, which explains why they’re busy even in this hideaway location…
What’s In A Name?… The storefront at the south end of Goat Hill seems to attract businesses with oblique names – the previous establishment was Driver Dawgs, a hot dog place that did not actually teach canines to drive. The new occupant is Two Guns, which does not sell firearms either singly or in pairs. The name actually comes from the double shots of espresso that are the place’s specialty. Two Guns was opened by an American and a New Zealander, the latter a friendly fellow who is happy to provide travel tips, and they have a simple business plan based on good coffee, a rack of tasty pastries, and homemade yoghurt parfaits. They’re the only coffee house on the highway between the ManhattanVillage and Redondo, so they have a good chance of capturing the commuters coming and going…
Event Alert! Wine dinners in the South Bay are usually on weeknights, the better to bring in diners when demand is low. It’s a sensible strategy, but those who have to work early are left day dreaming about the delights they have missed. Zazou bucks the trend this Saturday by bringing in Beatrice Landini, one of Italy’s permit female winemakers, for a lavish four-course meal with wines from Tuscany and Bolgheri. It’s an alluring evening at a fair price, $65 plus tax & tip. Call 310-540-4884 for reservations…
Off The Beaten Track… When I have to go north at rush hour I beat the traffic by running along Highland Avenue until it dead-ends into Culver. Just after I make that turn I pass a little place called The Tripel, which is owned by the folks who own the Hudson House. My wife and I stopped in for a Belgian ale or two and found that they have an astonishingly ambitious menu – we tried quail stuffed with mushroom and barley, incredibly light baked potato dumplings, spaghetti with bottarga, and other delights. If you enjoy the food at the Hudson House and want to see what happens when those chefs get daring, you should make a special trip for this one. This little hideaway really rocks, and though you might have to wait a few minutes for a table, it’s worth it…
Change For The Better… When I reviewed Oceana Bistro last month I found excellent food but a somewhat incoherent and limited menu. They’ve changed hands and expanded their offerings, and the ambitious new owner seems to have some exciting ideas. Put this one on the watch list – this space that has changed hands many times may finally have a tenant with staying power.
