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Easy to Please, Hard to Impress

An Entire Shopping Mall is Converting Half its Restaurants to Coronavirus-Friendly Operations

3/23/2020

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A sampling of burgers from Hopdoddy at The Point in El Segundo. Photo courtesy of Hopdoddy.
Restaurants at The Point, an iconic shopping mall in El Segundo, have responded to Coronavirus-related limitations by converting to takeout and delivery. Fitting to The Point’s chic and modern appeal, these eateries and drinkeries represent several of SoCal’s favorite new hautespots, as well as timeless brands that are in the same boat as far as retaining business amidst the pandemic.

For those in the South Bay looking to get a Taste of The Point during their quarantine, here’s a way to enjoy high-end pasta, farm-to-table sandwiches, organic bowls and even margaritas to-go:

Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Born in Austin, Texas with new life in California, Hopdoddy serves angus and American grass-fed Kobe beef, chicken and sushi-grade tuna, baked-from-scratch buns, hand-cut Kennebec fries, farm fresh salads, and handcrafted milkshakes. They’ve created a series of meal kits for those looking to replicate their meal with the freshness of dining in, as well as offered up their standard menu--including signature drinks--for takeout and delivery. Website here

Tocaya Organica
Tocaya’s is bringing its signature ‘Modern Organic Mexican’ to households. Patrons frequent Tocaya for its tacos, burritos, bowls and salads that are rooted in traditional Mexican recipes and incorporated into versatile dishes that accommodate vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dietary needs, among others. Tocaya is now offering prepped ingredient kits, family meals, as well as their standard menu for takeout and delivery. Website here

North Italia
This celebrated eatery features scratch-made pizzas and pastas, as well as other decadent Italian favorites. They’re continuing to push their mission for guests to ‘savor every bite, sip, and moment’ by offering their menu for takeout and delivery. Website here

Mendocino Farms 
Known for fresh sandwiches, family-owned Mendocino Farms is offering its menu for takeout and delivery. Please note that during Coronavirus-related limitations, Mendocino Farms has modified its standard hours to close at 8pm. Website here

Pressed Juicery
With culinary temptation a lot less accessible than usual, now may be as good a time as any to go on a juice cleanse. Pressed Juicery’s premium juices are available for takeout and delivery. Website here

Peet’s Coffee 
The ‘Original Craft Coffee,’ Peet’s has been brewing since 1966 and seeks to continue providing a daily pick-me-up for regulars who have made their shop a home away from home, those meeting with other online vs. at one of their tables, and anyone who would otherwise stop by. Patrons can enjoy Peet’s to go, via mobile ordering. Website her
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Some Seriously Famous Restaurants are Offering Special Takeout and Delivery Menus

3/20/2020

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Chicken pot pie at The Side Door, available via valet pick-up in Corona Del Mar

Restaurants across the country are getting creative to continue doing business during the Coronavirus pandemic. And while people are already yearning to return to the comforts of restaurant dining rooms, there are many unique opportunities that those seeking ‘a meal out’ should take advantage of.

Here’s a few notable eateries around town that are showcasing special menus for patrons to enjoy at home:

Ayara Thai, Westchester
This famous family-owned Thai restaurant has enhanced its takeout and delivery menu with meal kits for families, as well as special kids menus, that showcase its age-old family recipes. AyaraThai.com

The Butchery; Brea, Costa Mesa, Crystal Cove and San Diego
As grocery stores are routinely running out of meat, The Butchery’s shelves are fully stocked with a variety of high-quality beef, pork, poultry, pre-marinated meats, locally-made sausages, ground beef prepared in-house, and a full deli case of charcuterie meats and artisan cheeses. Their selection also extends to specialty grocery items like marinades, spice blends and seasonings, deli accompaniments, and a curated assortment of hard-to-find craft beers and wines. ButcheryMeats.com

Coastal Kitchen, Dana Point
Coastal Kitchen is offering take-out menu options from 4 – 8pm nightly. Starters and salads, entrees and sandwiches, and famous desserts can be ordered by calling (949) 449-2822. CoastalKitchenDanaPoint.com.

Five Crowns, Corona Del Mar
Part of the illustrious Lawry’s group, Five Crowns is offering a family-style prime rib dinner for parties of 4 – 6. Meals can include the Five Crowns’ famous prime rib, Atlantic salmon or roasted turkey, as well as creamed corn, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes and bake-at-home Yorkshire pudding. Customers can also order high-end wines by the bottle. Five Crowns’ standard menu is available as well. As an added bonus, all take-out orders receive 20% off, with valet pick-up available. TheFiveCrowns.com

Gabi James, Redondo Beach
This South Bay eatery has added cleverly-named family meals to its takeout and delivery menu. “Netflix and Grill,” “Forking Cabin Fever” and “Cluck Indoors” feature specialties such as skirt steak and filet mignon, chicken and ribeye, Gabi James potatoes and chocolate bread pudding. GabiJamesLA.com 

Georgia’s Restaurant, Anaheim & Long Beach
This spectacular Southern soul eatery is offering family packages at both of its locations, featuring everything from 8-Piece fried chicken dinners to smothered pork chops, catfish and blackened chicken pasta, all with soulful sides and their legendary cornbread. Georgia’s Long Beach is offering Curbside Pickup all day until close, and delivery through Grubhub. Georgia’s Anaheim is available for delivery through DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats. Georgias-Restaurant.com

Here and Now, Downtown LA 
This beloved neighborhood bar Here and Now will be offering delivery of its full food menu through Postmates. Favorites include their Here and Now burger with signature Boyle Heights sauce, roasted shishito peppers and Habanero Chicken Wings. HereAndNowDTLA.com

Il Pastaio, Beverly Hills
This Italian fine dining establishment will allow guests to order many of their favorite Drago Family dishes to go. To place a take-out order directly, please call Il Pastaio at 310-205-5444 and feel free to utilize Il Pastaio’s curbside pickup as the City of Beverly Hills has made it possible for guests to pull right in front of Il Pastaio during this time. IlPastaioBeverlyHills.com

Little Dom’s, Los Feliz 
Modern Italian restaurant Little Dom’s and adjacent Little Dom’s Deli will be offering breakfast, lunch and dinner takeout and delivery via Caviar. Aside from everyday classic Italian favorites, new items have been added such as a daily $25 three-coursePanDOMic menu that includes soups, sauces, jams, and bottles of wine and beer. LittleDoms.com

Mama Terano, Palos Verdes
Specializing in rustic, homestyle Italian dishes, Mama Terano is offering its entire menu for curbside pickup. Customers simply need to submit their payment information when ordering and call the restaurant at 310-377-5757 when they arrive. MamaTerano.com

Old Vine Kitchen + Bar, Costa Mesa
Old Vine Kitchen + Bar is now offering “Heat and Serve” meals to-go that consists of everything from cinnamon rolls and chile verde quiche to lasagna with fresh baked focaccia. Old Vine’s six for sixty wine packages are also available for pickup, and come complete with tasting notes and suggested food pairings. All menu items serve six people, and orders must be placed 24 hours in advance by calling (714) 545-1411, or by emailing oldvinecafe@yahoo.com. OldVineKitchenBar.com

Piccalilli, Culver City 
Cali-Asian restaurant Piccalilli will now be offering takeout Monday – Saturday from 11am - 8pm. Menu items include favorites such as brussels sprouts with Korean chili, corn nuts and scallions, whole shrimp and sweet potato with Japanese curry salt. Modified menu favorites include the confit pork shank sandwich and the bangkok chicken katsu sandwich. PiccalilliLA.com

SHU Sushi House Unico, Bel Air
Guests will be able to order many of SHU’s favorite Japanese-Italian fusion dishes to go from 4 – 9pm. To place a Take-Out Order directly, please call SHU at 310-474-2740. ShuSushi.com

Tacos Tu Madre; Westwood, Larchmont, Los Feliz, West Hollywood
Guests can treat themselves to a variety of twisted Mexican favorites, for both takeout and delivery. Breakfast burritos, Korean BBQ tacos, fried chicken tacos and vegan bahn mi bowls are just a few of the items offered up. TacosTuMadre.com

The Raymond, Pasadena
The Raymond 1886, Pasadena’s beloved craftsman cottage, is offering take-out and delivery for families to share at home for lunch and dinner during the week, and for brunch and dinner on the weekend. They’re offering a 10% discount on all takeout orders when calling the restaurant directly 626-441-3136. The Raymond 1886 will also offer delivery through DoorDash and Grubhub, and they’re working on becoming available via Postmates. TheRaymond.com

The Side Door, Corona Del Mar
This cozy gastropub, also part of the Lawry's group, is offering 20% off takeout orders from their seasonal comfort food menu, with dishes such as chicken pot pie and prime rib sliders.
SideDoorCdM.com
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This Food Festival is Looking to be One of the Country’s Best

3/18/2020

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Masters of Taste Foodie Biz
The Masters of Taste team celebrates during a preview of the festival's culinary, drink and sweet masters.

Master’s of Taste will be celebrating its 5th year on Sunday, April 5, but it’s hard to believe that such an iconic event is still relatively new in the food festival realm. Held on the field in Pasadena’s historic Rose Bowl stadium, Master’s of Taste brings together dozens upon dozens of LA’s most highly-sought restaurants, as well as a slew of wineries, breweries, distilleries and other beverage purveyors. There’s even an entire section dedicated to dessert. Collectively, these chefs, winemakers, beer brewers, bakers, ice cream makers and everyone in between are known as “The Masters” of culinary, drink and sweet.

This year’s Master’s of Taste 2020 Host is Chef Vanda Asapahu, Owner and Chef of the famed Ayara Thai in Westchester. Chef Asapahu’s role represents many milestones: she’ the first female chef to be given the title of Host for the event, and Ayara Thai is the first mom-and-pop establishment to be represented in this way. Cooking for Master’s of Taste since year one, Asapahu was once one of only two female chefs at the entire event. She sees year five as ‘a year for the ladies,’ where female representation is set to dramatically increase.

Ayara Thai’s legendary family recipes and deep, profound flavors are joined by the likes of many masters in their own right. Michael Hung of Faith & Flower—last year’s host chef—will be back, as well as representatives from Momed, Celestino and Bacchus Kitchen among a long list of others. Drinks will include Obvious Wines, Ascension Cellars, Mt. Lowe Brewing Company, Humm Kombucha and cocktails made from hotspots such as The Raymond and Preux and Proper. Sweet masters will include Penny Oven, Butter Cake Shoppe, My/Mo Mochi and specialties from Mi Piace.

Equally important Master’s of Taste’s mission to fight homelessness. 100% of proceeds go to Union Station Homeless services, which just last year was able to house more than 1200 previously homeless men and women. The event raised over $500,000 in 2019 with its first-ever sellout crowd.

The event is likely to sell out again this year and bring in more than 3,000 people. Get your ticket to feast for a cause while they last at MastersOfTasteLA.com.
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    Benjamin Brown is a seasoned restaurant writer and hospitality consultant, serving up SoCal's hottest food news and reviews.

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