Issue 79 — Summer’s Booked. I'm Eating Salad + Fries.
Salad pairings to copy, 25+ Summer events to hit, and 25% off MADE IN cookware (thanks, Bucatini!)
You wish your grill set up looked this good… ⤴
IT’S SUMMER, and it feels like it. I’m sunburned (which is so embarrassing for some reason). Canyon Coffee’s Fig Leaf latte is back on draft. Belle’s patio is open. BBQs are popping off. Glizzy McGuire shirts are happening, (at least for Molly). IDK about you, but I’m craving salad.
Heads up.. this is a looong BS issue, so if it’s getting cut off in your email, it may be time to download the Substack app!
Bites
Kismet Rotisserie is launching a summer sandwich series in support of CHIRLA with fun partners: Kate Berlant, Quarter Sheets, Khushbu Shah, Ellen Bennett and more.
Chili’s
is*has been… having a moment. Khushbu Shah wrote about it. Marlee unearthed a hand-drawn menu from 1979 for her Plugs feature on TheAngel. Jason even had to fill Chris in on HLG… 🌶️Kumquat’s July Melon Soda special might not be for me.. but their Coffee float sounds fun.
Speaking of… the people behind Kumquat, Loquat + Fondry, just introduced QUAT. A new coffee campus complete with a curated coffee shop with tea gear, a tasting room for high-end coffees, a cafe with a garden, and roastery. Location TBA… but there is speculation in the comments.
Your fave ceramicist, Cosa is opening a shop in Virgil Village - ceramics, workshops + retail! Congrats Karina!!
Baker’s Bench egg roll croissants are something else.
Y’all went nuts for my Venetian Spritz at Capri the other day. Go get one!
Spencer’s, the New Spa in West Hollywood looks stunning. I keep getting ads for 50% off… and now you will too.
Looks like Obet & Del’s is opening at Kitchen Mouse’s shuttered Fig location by Superior.
Tabula Rasa is doing $33 Orange Wine pitchers on Mondays 👀
Some places I’m hoping to get to this month:
Ohana Superette just reopened next to Bodega Park on sunset.
Men & Beasts, vegan Chinese tea house + dim sum in the old Cosa Buona location on Sunset / Alvarado
Borit Gogae: because of THIS.
Cannonball: new bistro in South Pas by the Hippo / Everson Royce people
Hot Tongue Pizza: Been told it’s better than Shin’s… RIP.
Miya on Lake: specifically for Plant Based Tuesdays
Mala Class: Szechuan on York. It’s too close to me to not give it a go...
Weiser melon szn is here. Apparently you can grab your melons at a farm stand at The ROW now, Thursdays and Saturdays… in addition to the actual Farmer’s Market, Potluck Local, LA Home Farm… ofc, Cookbook.
I love when places post their ‘bad’ reviews. “Matcha was good tho lol”
My stomach hurts just looking at this bread bowl, but wow.
They’re making space, you’re making spaghetti.
Bucatini is giving friends + fam (aka YOU) 25% off MADE IN cookware. Help the girls clear the shelves for new inventory! Happening in-store + online.
Hey Day is really changing the game for canned food. Enter Lasagna Soup and Cilantro Lime Pazole Verde (plant based)
Flamingo Estate dropped their new seasonal box, and it’s a love letter to Japan, with bits like Alpine Yuzu Salt, Matcha Chocolate Soba Crunch, + the Omoiyari Candle.
Wake up babe. Gustav’s new baguette bag just dropped.
Ballerina Farms went CPG - Happier Grocery
Brightland debuted a more accessible line called Everyday featuring a Salad Oil and Everyday Cooking Oil (yes, they’re in squeeze bottles. Get both for $52
Oh, and founder Aish finally dished on the age-old Olive Oil Wars… and A LOT MORE on Hot Smart Rich. Full podcast here.
I’m behind on podcasts, but I have a few saved from This is TASTE 🎧
Tilda closed, enter Bar Bacetti (this move makes sense). Other LA losses include: Melody, Cole’s French Dip and…. The Angel 😇
La Fey is looking for a new chef in residence starting Mid-July.
Mak Center is looking for a new Residency + Exhibitions associate.
Jack from Endorffeine is looking for an apprentance. Serious applicants only.
⚠️ Community Support
2025 has been devastation after devastation for LA. But once again, this city is showing up for each other.
The recent ICE raids have hit restaurants especially hard. “staffed overwhelmingly by Latinos and immigrants — 79% and 66% respectively,” — LA Times.
Luis, of beloved Angels Tijuana Tacos, was taken by ICE outside the Eagle Rock Target on July 4th. (Of all fucking days…) His brother Carlos has started a GoFundMe for support.
In response, communities are moving fast and with heart:
Neighbors are buying out street vendors to help keep them safe and off the streets, like the recent Echo Park Tamale Vendor Buyout.
Cafés like Little Ripper have hosting grocery drives to support immigrant neighbors.
‘Know Your Rights’ resources are circulating widely.
Restaurants have jumped into fundraiser mode (again). Kate Berlant kicked off Kismet Rotisserie’s Sandwich Series with the “Crazy Cobb,” benefitting CHIRLA.
7/11: Abolish ICEcream Social at Forage Crafts in Frogtown.
Fredis, a familiar face at Found Oyster and Stir Crazy, made the difficult decision to return to El Salvador this week. He’s been a beacon of light and smiles, and has established himself as a true LA hospitality staple, and a great friend to many. Please consider helping him cover the sudden costs of departure for him and his sweetie Dalmatian, Paloma.
🗓 Coming Up…
7/10-7/16 Loreto’s Summer Omakase
7/11 Challadad x Nyletta are slinging fried Challahdogs at Bar Bandini
7/12 Rocky’s Matcha at Jon & Vinny’s (FREE MATCHA SOFT SERVE with any dine-in purchase) And they made new merch ofc…
7/13 Ben’s Bagels at Seco
7/15 Lasita at Budonoki! in partnership with Resy. Book here.
7/19 - 7/20 Senses Coffee at Woon Pasadena for brunch!
7/19 - 7/20 Uncle Paulie’s x Mr. Beef x Coco’s To Go-Go
7/23 Beverly Hills Hotel is kicking off their summer movie series with Meal Girls
7/23-25 Loreto x Majordomo Collab Dinner with Anajak Thai Wine (exclusive experience for Chase Reserve card holders)
7/27 York Manor Market
7/22 S!mon x Holbox
8/16 Echo Park Rising (All ages, all day, always free!)
July - September LA x LA Collab Dinner Series at Rustic Canyon
Specials Board
Dominicana at Queen’s Raw Bar: house-made coffee liqueur, aged rum, hand whipped cream
Gorgeous green slutty fava bean salad I saw on Instagram.
Kettl dropped 2 new matcha drinks, Shiso White Peach matcha soda + Coconut Mandarin Matcha, (but only in New York, not LA??)
Green Pea, Mint & Lemon Hummus from Social Hummus - looks like it was avail at Honey Hi. Follow Talia on IG for updates.
Fig Leaf Latte is back on draft at Canyon… content by me :)
Recent Bites
Doto took over the shuttered Jewel space in Virgil Village. I’d been for a pop-up, but this was my first time having their food. Copied Andrew’s bento order — I got the arctic char (apparently that’s not Salmon). It came with white rice, mizuna salad, kombu pickles, and yuzu soy. Available all day. We ran into a couple friends too! Exactly the kind of vibe you want from a new neighborhood spot…
Sōgo Roll Bar has arrived in Highland Park (their other spot’s in Los Feliz/East Hollywood) and we’re happy to have them. I’m usually a classic cut roll girl, but finally tried the miso cod (thanks, Rach) and now it’s a must. Nobu who?
PS: If you’re gonna order sushi delivery, this one’s up there…
I’m still fairly new to the egg game, so this was my first breakfast sammie experience at Bub and Grandama’s and it did not disappoint. Maybe the best breakfast sandwich I’ve had?? Green Eggs and Cheese with greens, sheep’s milk cheese, za’atar, and mayo on a kaiser bun. Just perfect.
Sam’s Place has kept a solid, consistent menu since day one, so a new dish is kind of a big deal. Shrimp is a welcomed addition. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll order some bub’s to soak up the sauce.
La Morra Pizzeria popped up at Canyon Coffee a few weeks ago. It’s one of my favorite returning sidewalk dinner parties in LA. So many friendly faces! (You know who you are.) My forever favorite is the sungold pizza, but when that’s not on the menu, I go for the seasonal special. This time it was a white pizza with lemon and herbs. Tangy, delicious.
Here’s more BTS pics Keegan and I took that night.
Speaking of La Morra, I keep coming back to THIS SALAD PIC on their grid.
Shiso + kumquat is one of my all-time favorite pairings, so I’m convinced Ototo made this salad just for me. There’s a little furikake dusting, too. I’ve been craving salads like this lately—big leafy greens with punchy little bits, and then combining it with something more… cozy, like fries.
A few of my go to salad dinner’s on rotation:
Spring Pea Salad (or the Endive Salad) + Honey Gold Potatoes from Barra Santos
Salad + Okonomiyaki (and a glass of sake) at Ototo
Herb Salad + Bub’s grilled bread (and a bottle) from Sam’s
Any Salad + Mac N Cheese from Goop (lol, but actually).
Little Gem + Spicy Fussili at Jon + Vinny’s
I’ve also been hitting Queen St. — I mean Queen’s Raw Bar — passing on the oysters, and just getting their Queen St. salad and fries. Feels silly at one of my favorite seafood spots, but it’s a nice reminder that the non-seafood stuff can really hold its own.
Also: the Ghia spritz is bangin’ there. It was supposedly off the menu after 6/6, but honestly, they should make room for her…
Sandy Ho at Canyon Coffee.
I’ve been admiring Sandy’s cooking for a long time. I think the first time I saw her food in person was at one of the fundraiser events I worked at the Schindler House. Pretty sure she was there alongside Balo and Sasha. I’d love to know who produced it because the talent was stacked. I think Alice did the flowers? I was working, so the food wasn’t for me, but I could tell I’d be into it.
I’ve missed so many pop-up opportunities, but I finally snagged a seat at her Small Bites Dinner Canyon Coffee in May. I was fully prepared to go solo, but was stoked when Lauren joined. From working Chloe’s events, I knew the bar was the move. Best seat in the house, right by the kitchen, where you can watch all the plating and finishing touches before dishes go out.
Her food is stunning and totally up my alley flavor-wise: seafood-forward, a little spicy, some crispy bits, and tons of herbs. Literal fairy food. A playground of little bites. I wish there had been a printed menu so I could rattle off every dish I had the pleasure of eating… Just get yourself to a Sandy pop-up.
****My only recurring note for pop-up dinners serving wine: please, please find a way to serve it in real glassware!
I’ve come to accept that a glass of wine will put me back $17… but in a plastic up? No.
I know a lot of sidewalk setups don’t want to deal with racks of breakables, washing stations… But I’d gladly pay an extra $5 for a take-home glass. Maybe even a branded one with your wine logo on it?? Use it as a marketing opportunity! It’s a win-win: better wine experience, cute souvenir, and less waste. Just a thought.
🔗 Last Week’s Most Clicked Link
Last issue, I mentioned something was taking over Holcomb’s spot on York — cat’s out of the bag: it’s this. 🍶
The goop salad + mac n cheese combo is sooo real- the new echo park location postmates game has been so strong lately
Zizou is definitely worth the trip, great vibe! My visit to Mala Class was not exceptional, but probably Christmas day is not the best time to visit. And Doto was cool but unfortunately the bento box was not available for dinner when I went!