Issue 84 — Fall Openings, Veggie Feasts & My In-N-Out Order
Plus bites from Genghis Cohen, République + Specials at Queen's Raw Bar
Hiii and Happy Monday!
I’m so glad that Obet + Del’s breakfast sandwich got the attention it deserved last week. Those english muffins are realllly special. I went back to try it with jam, and WOW.
Right now, I’m in San Diego visiting my mom + sister for a little early Thanksgiving celebration. Had a welcome lunch at El Pescador Fish Market per usual and walked by a Pop-Up Bagels coming soon sign on the way there.
Then we got to work on our vegetarian sort-of Thanksgiving feast. Pretty lame I didn’t get any good pics, but I’m sure you’ve seen enough Thanksgiving plates on Instagram to fill in the blanks.
My mom, sister, and I all cook the same way. We find a recipe we like, then immediately change five things about it. We sort of made Molly Baz’s fall wedge, but swapped in sweet potatoes for squash (because that’s what we had), the store was out of frisée, so we skipped it, and we used a different spicy cranberry chutney recipe. The pepita maple brittle was so easy though, definitely something I would have never though to top a potato (or squash) with, and I’ll certainly be making again.
Our veggie stuffing was half cornbread croutons, half torn Hawaiian rolls (my dream bread combo), and packed with thrice the amount celery, carrots, onions any recipe calls for, and lots of mushrooms. I also made Matt Molina’s Hippo Wax Bean salad, which is such a bright, mustardy surprise next to all the heavier hearty stuff.
I have a few more Thanksgiving celebrations coming up, so I’ll take better pics next time ;)
Just a Few Bites
Arroyo club made a deck of cards with illustrations of their bartender’s faces on them. I’m looking for Clairo in the mix.
Gra is bringing back their pickled grape amuse-bouche after 6 years. A tiny, tangy comeback.
Miyoko lost her namesake vegan butter company, and now she’s trying to buy it back before it’s liquidated. If you’re vegan, or just keep vegan butter on hand for that one friend, you know it’s the best on the market. GoFund me ends tomorrow.
Algae Cooking Oil collab’d with Nara Smith on a garlic oil.
Brightland x Mackenzie-Child dropped a holiday gift edition.
Looks like coffee pop-up Cortado and Gamboge are partnering up on a brick and mortar.
Cocktail Bar, Thunderbolt dropped their second zine.
The York is under new ownership and getting a full redo. It’s suck a large space, looking forward to seeing what they come up with. :)))
This Potato Gratin at BG Nite’s looks to die.
Fall Openings:
Yi Cha: Korean drinking food, small plates, soju in the old Otoño space on Fig. (Open in Highland Park)
Hermon’s: From Last Word Hospitality, Hermon’s is looking handsome. Lots of booths, a big U-shaped bar, and a menu from former Dudley Market chef (and brother to Found Oyster’s Ari Kolender, DK. It’s giving elevated neighborhood grill energy. (COMING SOON to Hermon / Highland Park)
Angie’s: The Spina crew opened a late-night Mexican restaurant and bar right across the street. (Open in Atwater)
Quat: Kumquat’s new compound, ft. a roastery, café, garden + coffee gear shop. (Open in Glassell Park)
Yala Coffee: serving Middle-Eastern-inspired specialty coffee brewed in a bed of hot sand, taking the former Kitsune space on Sunset. (COMING SOON to Silver Lake) Shout out to the 4 people who messaged me a pic of their signage going up. Love the crowd sourced info!!
Ramona Room: An amaro bar in the shuttered Elf Space by the Dune + Sinizki folks (Open in Echo Park)
Reunion & Company: A wine brand and coffee cart company that kicked off in 2020, now with their own permanent daytime cafe, open from 8-3pm. Grand opening party 11/15 (Open in Silver Lake)
Wilde’s: British comfort food in a very sexy dining room, daytime pastries and roasts coming soon - expect long waits. This one is hot!! (Open in Los Feliz)
Old Gold: Previously a pop-up, now with a real space, slinging thick Sicilian pies - they offer a vegan ranch, which i’ve never seen on a pizza menu. (Open in Los Feliz)
Chainsaw: Legendary pop-up turned permanent, known for inventive pies, unexpected ice cream flavors, collaborative intimate dinners. Karla funded her new space via GoFund me - covered by East Side Rag. (Open Melrose Hill)
Berenjak: London’s Persian darling just landed at Soho House (but you don’t need to be a member to dine) charred kebabs, tahdig, saffron carajillos? Yum! (Open in the Arts District)
Broken Spanish Comedor: A comeback we actually wanted. (Open Downtown)
Super Peach: David Chang’s new Korean Asian fusion spot in the Century City Mall. Infatuation called it his take on a Hillstone restaurant.
Max & Helen’s: Nancy Silverton and Phil Rosenthal’s retro-modern diner serving matzo ball soup, patty melts and waffles. (COMING SOON to Larchmont)
Lapaba: Nancy Silverton’s Korean-Italian past bar in K-Town. Kimchi lasagna, gochujang arrabiata… OK! (COMING SOON K-Town)
Maydan Market: D.C.’s part Middle Eastern / north African restaurant, part marketplace in West Adams. (Open in West Adams)
It’s Giving, Thanks
Some restaurants and grocery stores offering Thanksgiving pies, sides, and birds for pre-order.
or if you’re not looking for a whole feast, Lady + Larder’s Lucky Lady sandwich delivers in a smaller format, with shaved turkey and swiss with shaved onion and wild arugula plus cranberry cherry jam and pink cranberry.
🗓 Coming Up…
11/12 Canyon Coffee is celebrating their new website with design studio Mouthwash. RSVP required.
11/14 Love Affair with Cheeky’s and Jumbo Time Wine at Nico’s Baby Battista.
11/15 Civil Coffee turns 10, with tattoos, tacos, tequila and a latte art competition.
11/15,16,22 + 23 Benny Boy Brewing’s spearheading a Fall Apple Fest 🍎
11/16 Sunday Reset with Sunny, Kace, Salted Cow Bake and Shala Social Club
11/16 Café Triste at Pinyon
Recent Bites
Men & Beasts: A rare fully vegan dim sum restaurant and teahouse on Sunset on the corner of Alvarado in the old Cosa Buona space. It’s a refreshing mix up in the sea of white table cloth steakhouse nostalgia so many new restaurants are leaning into. I love everything we tried. I don’t eat meat, so seeing sticky crunchy bits covered in orange glazes and sweet-and-sour is very exciting for me… They’re playful and experimental in all the right ways. I just wish there were a few more fresh (not fried) veggie moments. Still, I love the curiosity, and I’ve heard they’re really into taking customer feedback. We need that in new restaurants. Excited for them! (Echo Park)