Issue 51 — LA Design Weekend, Summer Openings + Mocktails in the Meadow
Saving my Oregon trip for later...
Los Angeles Design Weekend is here! ‘A weekend-long grassroots celebration of design organized throughout 3 days in clustered, neighborhood-centric activations.’ With lots of your fave F&B companies involved! Canyon, Goodboy, Baker’s Bench… Here’s the full list of participants. And here’s what I’m most excited about:
Friday: Fig + Oak, Ceramicah Solstice
Saturday: Entler, Synder DePass’ Debut Collection, RAD, Marta, Lookout & Wonderland, Garden Party
Sunday: Peter Shire, Untitled Books, Lenita, Wakawaka, Hollyhock House, Block Shop + Gerald’s at Woon with RAD Furniture.
Bites —
I went during Spring and it was AMAZING! ‘This was truly one of the most original meals I’ve had in years. Wildly thoughtful flavor / texture pairings. Each dish felt like a playground. This isn’t one of those dainty tasting menus. I left FULL. Honestly a steal…’ — Issue 43
Speaking of Frogtown, I spent the day trotting around the neighborhood with one of my fave clothing brands, Ozma. Stopped by La Colombe, Justine’s + Loreto with Maddy + Heidi. I love Frogtown. Would 100% move back…
The on-again, off-again meatless hamburger restaurant Burgerlords is under new ownership, Wake & Late. RIP to their vegan menu.
Perviously plant-based restaurant Sage, has had major beef with LA vegans ever since they introduced regenerative meats to their menu.
Cami really made an LA weekend look like Europe. Taking notes.
Gjelina’s Founding Chef Travis Lett’s new restaurant RVR opens this summer and will pick up right where MTN left off.
Jess is Goodboy Wine’s latest cover girl 🍷 I imagine the special bottles will be at the “Without Telos” opening at Half Gallery 6/21. I want one.
Sansho made savory potato donuts and oh my!
Have you ever seen a thinner, lacier smash burg?
Def will be making spiced tomato jam this year.
There are 3 vacant suites in the Silver Lake Wine complex — would love for something good to go in there. BE MY NEIGHBOR.
SF Gate published a love letter to the Old Place. Cute.
Erewhon debuted complimentary farm tours for members. (booked up for now, but it sounds like there’s more to come)
Hollywood’s iconic Arby’s has closed. Don’t worry, ‘Los Angeles has listed the Arby’s sign as potentially historic and eligible to become a local landmark.’ — KTLA 🤠
DayDayCook Acquired Beloved Asian Food Brand, Omsom (the third US-based brand in the company's Asian foods portfolio.) They’re expected to accelerate new product innovation taking half the time to get from idea to aisle. Exciting!
Din Tai Fung has entered their streetwear era. Not mad at the hoodie. I guess this isn’t the end of merch.
Just some content I liked:
“We do have a couple specials tonight I want to tell you about...”
New to LA menus:
Capri Club’s Caper Berry Martini: vodka, gin caper brine, olive brine, bordiga dry vermouth, spicy bitters, by Petini
Hippo’s New Negroni: Teaches of Peaches | gin, Lofi dry, Juliette peach, and luxardo Bitter
Eightfold Coffee’s Cream Top Earl Grey Iced Latte: oat milk, vanilla, & a vegan coconut cream top dusted with crushed vegan cereal
Cafe Tropical’s Chilaquiles Breakfast Burrito *only available until 11:30 am starting Saturday.
Moonjuice’s Fake Brat Smoothie: matcha colada spiked with Naked Mini Dew and Rhodiola for hydration, energy + mood.
"We've arrived at the sweet portion of the evening. Do y'all wanna hear about dessert?" 😏
I'll give you a couple minutes to think about it.
Summer Openings:
LA Grocery + Cafe in Melrose Hill, founded by two Honey Hi alums
Baker’s Bench in Victor Heights, here’s there menu!
Ondo Coffee in East Hollywood, by Bryan Choi
Mama’s Boy in Venice, Italian from the Winston House Team
Awan Vegan Ice Cream in Larchmont, GOATED vegan ice cream
Starleaf in Pasadena, 43 locations scattered throughout Asia
Ooyoo Cafe in Koreatown
Triple Beam in Santa Monica (finally open after 2 years…)
🗓 Coming Up…
6/19 — 6/26 Loreto’s Summer Omakase Series
6/21- 6/23 LA Design Weekend
6/21 A Tí at All Day Baby
6/27 The Bear Season 3 (All episodes drop)
6/28 Pasta Girlfriend at Marco Polo / Silver Lake Pool & Inn
6/31 Sam Burton at Zeb
7/01 California’s ‘Junk Fee Ban’ goes into effect.
7/17 Alta Adams x Crossroads — 4 courses of vegan summer food $75
Recent Bites (+ Sips)
Joyride from Good House Keeping: Madre Mezcal, Calvados, Pink Lady, Smoked Apple Agave, Yuzu, Ginger Lemongrass Tea, Celery Parsley Oil + Dried Apple
Teo @ Cafe Tropical: Very special farmer’s market focused, Mexican inspired pop-up. Quick rundown: We started with a carafe of Agua de Jamaica, and topped our glasses with Topo (a Danielle rec). The Summer tomatoes and salmon tostada were perfect… and the potatoes! Far more flavorful than they look — with a dry chili seasoning and an almond dipping situation that reminded me of chipotle Bitchin’ Sauce. Don’t miss the next run… Temporarily, Mondays at @cafetropicalsunset + Wed-Fri at @squareonedining.
Sunset Cultures Kombucha: Grabbed these on my way out of Café Tropical. Favorite flavors are Strawberry Fennel Flower + Cherry Fig Leaf. FREE shipping in LA ;)
My go-to lunch at home lately has been an Erewhon Kale + White Bean Salad Dupe (but with Hearts of Palm instead of avocado) — can’t seem to find a ripe one these days.
Just a lil Siesta x Yuzu Co Tuna Belly sammy. ;)
Bird Seed Chocolate Crack — Melted down some chocolate chips + topped it with seedy things before sticking in the freezer. Is this a wack thing to do?
Meadow Mocktail season is here! Thanks Ghia for hooking it up and always being down to party. Sad I was out of town for the Ghia + Kin /Target launch. Looked AMAZE.
🔗 Last Week’s Most Clicked Link
Apparently merch is dead, (Literally wearing my Cervo’s hat right now) Idk.. is it?
🦪💕🎉
mamas boy chef is from Hatchet Hall! Got them their Michelin star ⭐️