Jessica Koslow

There are a few things that are important to Brian Bornemann, and at the top of that list is eating local. He credits his training, which started in Tuscany at a little place called Osteria del Gatto in Siena, for this unwavering love. He worked for a chef-owner who would make his own pasta, his own olive oil from his own trees and hunt wild boar and venison to bring whole into the kitchen. It inspired him to become the chef-owner he is today, with Crudo e Nudo in 2021 and now Bar Fortuna, an Italian cocktail and wine bar, which opened on Main Street on Oct. 21.

Crudo e Nudo is the maritime embodiment of eat local. The whole mission, explained Bornemann, is to get people to recognize seafood from their own front yard — what they should be eating instead of seafood from Japan, Mexico or Spain. Bar Fortuna extends this “‘locavore philosophy’ by exclusively using California ingredients,” he said. “Instead of Parmesan and Pecorino, we’re showcasing an incredible Broncha cheese from Petaluma; pastas are made from Tehachapi Grain Project’s Sonora flour and produce comes from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, where I’ve been going since childhood.”

Another dynamic feature of Bar Fortuna’s menu is the butchering of a whole lamb and pig from California ranchers to be featured across a variety of dishes: one day a lamb chop, the next a grilled lamb shoulder and the next a braised lamb ragu on tagliolini. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

Within walking distance to Dave Harper’s new Aussie/SoCal-inspired Bower Surf Club are not one, two or three but at least five schools: Village School,New Roads, Little Dolphins, Hill & Dale andWestside Waldorf Elementary and Middle School. That is a lot of parents and caregivers dropping off and picking up their little ones who need a lot of coffee and possibly a cheddar scallion biscuit. As of September 10, when it opened its doors, this is exactly what the Colorado Avenue café in Santa Monica is offering its guests.

 “Other than Subway, there’s not too much to servicethem, not many cool, aesthetically pleasing restaurants,” said Harper. “I would like to be a breath of freshair in the day of the mum who’s dropping off their kid after a stressful morning, the office worker who wants their morning coffee ritual or needs something for lunch that’s affordable, or someone who wants to have a happy hour drink after work. People in corporate areas are used to that coming with a pretty underwhelmingaesthetic.”

Bower Surf Club is located in a commercial space, Colorado Center, yet it is beautifully designed in white and natural colors and decorated with a variety of root burls, rocks, driftwood and plants from Harper’s personal collection. . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

On Sunday, Oct. 4, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf threw itself a 63rd birthday community. The prize wheel was spinning at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, cold brew samples were available and the brand’s official mascot Mr. Ice Blended was taking photos with fans and dancing along to the Power 106 DJ in the pop-up booth, who was raffling off fun prizes. Coffee Bean’s birthday festivities kicked off on Sept. 29, National Coffee Day, and will last all month long with exclusive collectibles and special offers.

Although competition is fierce in the coffee space, Coffee Bean is proud to be born and raised in LA. All of its coffee is roasted in Camarillo — and has been roasted locally since the brand launched in 1963. According to Dana Castaneda, Coffee Bean’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Herbert Hyman launched the company before coffee was as popular as it is today.

“We were the ones that started the movement of the ice blended and cold brew coffee,” Castaneda said. “There were a lot of things that we were doing ahead of most of our competition. What I love is we are deeply rooted in LA, and we’re a big part of the community.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.