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.

It is not every day someone gets the opportunity to eat on the 34th floor in LA But that is exactly where AC Bar & Bistro sits, overlooking Crypto.com Arena, LA Convention Center and the entire city. It is where diners can order a well-reviewed burger and then walk across the floor to La Lo La Rooftop for the same sweeping 360 views and a different menu: tapas and cocktails. These are just two of the 13 places to eat and drink inside the Moxy + AC Hotel located at 1260 South Figueroa Street.

The newest addition as of September is Wild Angels, a grab-and-go all-day cafe just off the Moxy lobby with an entrance on Figueroa Street. Formerly operated by Bluestone Lane, the property decided to assume operations in order to offer a wider range of options.

“It is exciting to get an opportunity to reopen the coffee shop as Wild Angels and tie into some of those hallmarks of Los Angeles: great cup of coffee, great breakfast sandwich, pastries,” said Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage Jason Johnston, who oversees the hotel’s four restaurants, catering and banquet events. “L.A. is a breakfast town.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

There is something very satisfying about a bento box. Diners can try a little bit of a lot and mix different flavors, textures and types of dishes (appetizers, mains, sides) in one meal. This summer, Chef Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat debuted his version, called the Kao Kaeang lunch ($28), at all locations of his Thai restaurant Holy Basil. It’s just one upgrade of many — he also moved his original DTLA location to the Arts District — that he is overseeing as his restaurants evolve, change and “push the boundaries of what Bangkok cuisine is,” he said.

The idea of the Kao Kaeang lunch is inspired by Thailand’s popular curry shops. It’s a traditional street food experience, and with his take, guests can choose one wok-fired dish, one curry and one cold vegetable, accompanied by chili fish sauce, chive cakes, vegetable soup and organic jasmine rice.

According to Chef Deau, he and his team have a two-fold mission when they arrive to work each day: “1) to showcase what Thai cuisine could be to our prospective customers and 2) to be able to make this profession a sustainable career for everyone on our team so we can keep doing what we love.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

Most people love 24-hour diners and have probably visited one for a late-night meal at some point, but according to Yelp data, from January 2020 through 2025, 24/7 restaurants in the United States decreased by 11%. Fortunately, LA has NORMS, which is celebrating its 77th anniversary on Sept. 24, and other classic choices to visit when hunger hits before or after normal business hours.

NORMS’ 24-hour model started early on in the restaurant’s history, probably around number four’s arrival, relayed Mark Politzer, NORMS’ president and CEO, who will mark two years with the company in January.

“Our concept was always, where life doesn’t stop, where life happens. It’s been our slogan for many years,” Politzer said. “We’re proud to be in the community this long. NORMS has always been a place for people and the community to break bread, meet, have conversation, laughs, celebrate, mourn.” . . .

Read the entire article at Pasadena Weekly.

Around this time last year, chef-owner Michele Galifi was prepping to open the doors of his new restaurant, Bianca Sicilian Trattoria, in the Arts District. Fresh off a fall from a ladder and a broken wrist, arm and elbow, the proud Palermitano picked himself up and spent the next 12 months cooking and serving traditional Sicilian food. Last month, he expanded operations with Lulu’s Coffee, a new breakfast spot inside Bianca Sicilian Trattoria.

While the restaurant is named after his first daughter, Bianca, Lulu is a nickname for his second daughter, Lucia.

“She’s a little feisty one,” he relayed. “I feel like it can connect to the coffee.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

Chef Casey Lane feels right at home on Abbot Kinney. He landed here in 2009 at age 25 to open The Tasting Kitchen, which, according to Forbes, “helped turn a scruffy Westside street into one of the most consequential dining corridors in America,” and he is back again, reopening the restaurant in July after a 2023 fire and permit and construction delays.

Although he left the restaurant in 2019 to pursue other opportunities (Ghisallo, Jyan Isaac Bread, Hotel Figueroa, Marco Polo, Simonette), the 2026 newly designed Tasting Kitchen was calling, and Lane was ready to return.

“What I’ve always loved about The Tasting Kitchen is the freedom to create,” he shared. “There’s nothing better as a creative than having the freedom to explore, to make mistakes and to have successes along the way.” . . .

Read the entire article at The Argonaut.

On Sept. 17, Martha Stewart’s favorite bartender, Matthew Biancaniello, will be popping up — for the first time since 2020 — at Evangeline Swamp Room in celebration of oyster season. Biancaniello will be serving alcoholic oysters and other on-theme cocktails to accompany a “222” Palette of Oysters prepared by Marcus Christiana-Beniger, chef/owner of Evangeline Swamp Room and the restaurant next door, Little Jewel of New Orleans.

One of Biancaniello’s oyster creations will feature Nikaido Shochu (a traditional Japanese distilled spirit), pieces of kalamata olive tapenade and lime-basil oil. Another one is dressed in Green Chartreuse, jalapeño relish and fried capers.

“It’s almost like a little meal,” said Biancaniello. “When I left The Roosevelt Hotel’s Library Bar in 2012, one of the first things I started doing was alcohol-infused events, like alcoholic ice cream. I was already more of a food person than a drink person.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.

Steaks have been movie stars (John Travolta ordered one “bloody as hell” in “Pulp Fiction”) and used as weapons (one was hurled at John Heder’s face in “Napoleon Dynamite”). They have been devoured in eating challenges (John Candy in “The Great Outdoors”) and savored as comfort food (after dodging tornadoes in “Twister”). Whether celebrating or in the mood for a steak-out, Downtown Los Angeles offers quite a few options — with more opening every year. They range in style, including Brazilian and French and vibe. Reserve a spot at one of these top choices — and save an appetite.

This summer, Mastro’s, known for its steaks cooked 28 days, wet-aged in a 1,500-degree broiler, has rolled out its Summer of Luxury $100 prix fixe menu. Guests can choose an appetizer, entrée including a petite filet, fresh vegetables and potatoes and a dessert, including its signature warm butter cake.

“We feel that 28-day wet aging is the optimal time for flavor and for the beef to tenderize,” said Patrick Barrett, the divisional vice president of Mastro’s. “We use a house steak dry rub that’s proprietary and then put them on a broiler at 1,500 degrees, and those broilers get a nice sear on the steak, a nice crust, and lock in all the flavor.” . . .

Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.