Jessica Koslow

Ettore Vino e Cucina, now the largest sit-down restaurant at LA’s Original Farmers Market, is open for business. The Italian wine and culinary destination is a collaboration between Osteria Mamma, the cherished family-owned Italian restaurant in Hancock Park, and Ettore, a boutique organic winery in Mendocino owned by Ettore Biraghi that uses the scientific Purovino method to eliminate sulfites from its wine.

Filippo Cortivo, the co-owner of Osteria Mamma, explained that his partnership with Fabrizio de Falco, Ettore’s managing director, is a natural extension of their shared philosophies about ingredients, production and lifestyle. Both businessmen are passionate about handmade food, hand-harvested grapes and the use of sustainable practices to deliver authentic products. Chef Mònica Angelats Coll was brought on board because she, too, is cut from the same cloth.

“When Filippo came to us with an idea for the farmers market, we thought it was a perfect place for us,” stated Falco. “We are proud to be part of this family.” . . .

Read the full article at LA Downtown News.

A new executive chef is feeding Downtown.

After a little more than two years, asterid — the restaurant at the base of the Walt Disney Concert Hall — has brought on chef Mazen Mustafa to continue the culinary legacy of Ray Garcia, who will remain as chef partner. Mustafa, who has worked around the world, will manage the kitchen and spearhead menu development.

“Walt Disney Concert Hall is a legendary space in LA,” Mustafa said. “To be able to work in that space and help create a new identity and new legacy is humbling, rewarding and exciting.

“I look at it as an extension or continuation of what Ray was already doing. The restaurant was designed to be a celebration of Los Angeles, and I’m trying to take that a step further.” . . .

Read the full article at LA Downtown News.

In honor of its 25th anniversary at its second-story location and October’s National Seafood Month, The Lobster offers a special $25 anniversary menu with four of its signature dishes for $25 each. 

Located at the top of the Santa Monica Pier, The Lobster has been open for 25 years under its current ownership, but some incarnation, beginning with the Seafood Shack, has been in operation in its current location since 1923. . . .

Read the full article in The Argonaut.

Hotel Dena’s Agents Only restaurant is celebrating National Guacamole Day (Sept. 16) all weekend long.

According to Asher Siles, the hotel’s director of food and beverage, the celebration felt natural now that Agents Only serves modern Mexican cuisine. The shift from a more American menu happened in March 2024, when celebrity chef Pablo Salas joined executive chef Raul Martinez’s culinary team. Salas brought his guacamole recipe with him.

Salas has gained recognition for his brand of “Mexiquense cuisine” in his hometown of Toluca, Mexico, and Fort Lauderdale. Various publications have named his first restaurant, Amaranta, as one of the best restaurants in Mexico. Agents Only is Salas’ first partnership in Los Angeles. . . .

Read the full article at Pasadena Weekly.

Entrepreneur David Zhao was not even 21 when he opened his first restaurant, Chubby Cattle Hotpot Las Vegas. Ten years later, Zhao has grown his Asian food empire to include 30 restaurants, with another 10 opening before the end of this year and an additional 60 planned for 2025.

Chubby Cattle BBQ Little Tokyo, which opened on Aug. 23, is Chubby Group’s 30th location.

“We are very excited to bring yakiniku, a true Japanese BBQ experience usually offering Wagyu beef, to Little Tokyo,” Zhao said. . . .

Read the cover story at DTLA News.

Hotel Erwin is revving up to celebrate 50 years of hosting Venice Beach tourists and neighbors.

Throughout the past half century, the property has watched restaurants come and go. In September 2023, Springboard Hospitality, a hotel management company that owns 47 properties in 13 states, acquired Hotel Erwin. The Sokol family, including 89-year-old Erwin Sokol, still owns and operates it.

Springboard has set out to reimagine, refresh and revolutionize the culinary options in Hotel Erwin’s three eateries: a reopened Barlo Kitchen downstairs, a reimagined High Rooftop Lounge and the first brick-and-mortar location of Pizza Girl in the lobby.

Read the cover story at The Argonaut.

Alejandro Meza is passionate about the simplicity of good food and good ingredients.

He shares that at Joliet Café & Bar, which opened its doors three years ago in Runway Playa Vista’s Free Market. The eatery celebrated its anniversary on Aug. 17 

“I love the concept we have created here,” said Meza, who goes by Alex.  . . .

Read the full article at The Argonaut.

A new restaurant debuted inside The Grayson Bar on South Broadway on Aug. 1. Where Fabby’s once served up sandwiches showcasing Mexican ingredients and a French technique now sits Temaki Society, featuring handrolls made in Los Angeles.

Temaki is a Japanese word for handroll.

“I am excited to be starting my business in downtown LA,” said Hoon Kang, the Korean-born owner/chef. . . .

Read the full article at LA Downtown News.

Chef Daniel Holzman is a walking encyclopedia of pizza. On July 17, the opening day of his Westwood location (his second but first standalone), the New York native is greeting customers and slipping back into the kitchen to make sure everything is coming out just right. 

A little after noon, he takes a minute to sit, relax and dish pizza history.

First, he spins the tale of how Italian immigrants supported each other in setting up pizza shops when they arrived in America at the turn of the 20th century. Because they faced xenophobia, they stuck together and taught each other how to make dough and do business. It is the reason why New York pizza is so uniform. . . .

Read the full article at The Argonaut.

Playa Vista is fun for families all year round. With its outdoor play structures and parks, the summer season ushers in more activities that pair perfectly with a picnic from one of the Runway’s restaurants.

In July and August, catch a flick on the big screen at Movies Under the Stars at Runway on select Thursdays at 8 p.m., or live music every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Runway Summer Concert Series. Each week features a different genre — country, jazz, reggae and rock.

For both series, families can bring blankets and chairs. Although buttery popcorn will, of course, be available at concession stands during the films, below are a selection of to-go meals that will delight taste buds and bellies while the eyes and ears are being entertained. . . .

Read the full article at Playa Vista Magazine.