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CHEFS ❤️ LA

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

 Photo Credit:  Nicholas Gingold | Craft Media Solutions

To honor firefighters, first responders, and community heroes for their efforts during the recent wildfires, Chefs ❤️ LA hosted a fundraiser at Lawry’s The Prime Rib Beverly Hills on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Brad Metzger, President of Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions and Founder/Producer of LA Chef Con, and Jacqui Leanza, Managing Partner of Brad Metzger Restaurant Solutions joined Tiffany Stith, COO of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc., and Ryan Wilson, CEO of Lawry’s Restaurants to put the event together.

The line up of L.A.’s top chefs included Curtis Stone, Michael Cimarusti, Suzanne Goin, Nyesha Arrington who all volunteered their time and talent pro bono.

The evening was hosted by Somebody Feed Phil creator Phil Rosenthal, Nine-time James Beard Award-Winning journalist Ruth Reichl, Los Angeles Times food columnist Jenn Harris, Brad Metzger, Jacqui Leanza, and auctioneer Billy Harris.

The VIP Michelin Experience Hour featured eight Michelin Chef Tastings and an elegant Eight-Course Tasting Menu for 262 guests. 

It showcased seven signature dishes from culinary icons including William Bradley, Josiah Citrin, Michael Cimarusti, Jordan Kahn, Niki Nakayama & Carole Lida-Nakayama, Jon Yao, and Curtis Stone, along with Astrea Caviar, six premium wines, and three craft cocktails that included Chef Michael Voltaggio’s Marcado 28 Tequila and Chef Elizabeth Falkner’s T’MARO Amaro.

Chef Daniel Boulud and his team prepared a delicate Mushroom Consommé to substitute for their Lobster Bisque for  those with shellfish allergies, while Chef Suzanne Goin crafted an alternative to her signature salad for guests with pork or dairy restrictions. 

The all-star lineup of chefs included Daniel Boulud, Jonathan Waxman, Ludovic Lefebvre, Nyesha Arrington, Suzanne Goin, Tiffany Dela Pena, Timothy Cardenas, Burt Bakman, Jeremy Fox, Katianna & John Hong, Andreas Roller, Clemence de Lutz + Sherry Yard.

Billy Harris led the Live Auction offering unique experiences that included: New York Culinary Getaway, a luxury NYC experience with stays at 1 Hotel, exclusive dinners at Le Bernardin and Peter Luger, and an insider’s tour with Andrew Friedman, Ultimate LA Taco & Tequila Experience, a private taco crawl with Bill Esparza and Chef Michael Voltaggio, Wynn Las Vegas Luxury Package, a premier getaway with top-tier accommodations and exclusive tastings from Wynn’s celebrated chefs, Michelin-Starred San Diego Culinary Getaway, a four-night stay at the newly reimagined Lafayette Hotel with exclusive tastings at Addison, Juniper & Ivy, and more, Los Angeles Luxury Staycation with oceanfront stays at Casa del Mar and Shutters, with VIP dining experiences at Funke, Bestia, Lulu, and Majordomo.

 Los Angeles Deputy Fire Chief Jaime Moore, CAL FIRE Division Chief Anthony Jones, CAL FIRE Prevention Specialist Chloe Castillo, U.S. Army Veteran, CAL FIRE Division Chief Matthew Edmiston, and Ventura County Fire Andy Vansciver attended as Guests of Honor. 

Co-Event Producer Jacqui Leanza managed the development of the CHEFS ❤️ LA website, managed the ticketing platform, addressed dietary restrictions and allergies, and oversaw charity and sponsor relations.

All event VIP Tickets as well as Dinner Tickets sold out within fifteen minutes on Saturday, February 1st,  underscoring the public’s desire to support wildfire relief.

The evening’s Live Auction alone raised over $104,000. The evening’s final tally exceeded over $850,000. All proceeds benefited World Central Kitchen and Restaurants Care, which provides critical support to hospitality workers affected by the wildfires.

 For more information, and to donate or find ways to support World Central Kitchen or Restaurants Care, please visit www.WCK.org or www.RestaurantsCare.org 

Angels of Comedy

Mona Day Comedy show, Dine

Los Angeles magazine will present its Angels of Comedy Disaster Relief Benefit on Thursday February 13th  6:00 – 10:00pm at Engine Co. No. 28, one of the city’s oldest firehouses.  All proceeds benefit Pasadena Community Foundation’s efforts to raise funds for victims of Los Angeles wildfires – overwhelmed first responders, and displaced families and animals. More than just being a donation the event is about coming together as a community to heal, laugh, and rebuild.

The evening will kick off with a networking cocktail hour from 6 to 7:15pm featuring beef and vegan Firehouse chili, cornbread, cocktails, beer, and wine.  At 7:15, the magazine’s publisher, Chris Gialanella and evening host Sharon Fredrickson will deliver opening remarks.  

The show launches at 7:30pm with Sharon Fredrickson guiding audience through a lineup of stand-up performances by some of LA’s funniest comedians, including Aida Rodriguez, Ashley Burgess, Carla Collins, Erik Rivera, Kim McVicar, Kwame Siegel, Renee Percy, Sandy Stec, Maxi Witrak, and Peter S. Kim. 

The event will also honor Los Angeles first responders, sharing their inspiring stories and recognizing their heroism.  Additional funds will be raised with a raffle offering once-in-a-lifetime prizes. 

Generous event sponsors include Boomtown Brewery, Garrison Brothers, Gelato Festival, Golden Eagle Vodka, Hollywood Creative Alliance, KNEKT TV and Mezcal 33.

The evening is a 21+ event, and the all-inclusive ticket includes entry, Firehouse chili and cornbread, cocktails, wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and full evening of comedy. 

More than just being a donation, Angels of Comedy is about coming together as a community to heal, laugh, and rebuild, and you  can join the effort by buying a ticket for the evening and for the raffle, as well as by spreading the word.

For more information and tickets today, please visit lamag.com/events/angels

YUME

DST Chefs, Dine, Restaurants

Yume Calabasas celebrated the grand opening of its second location in historic Old Town Calabasas on February 10 to showcase the new venue and its offerings. 

Like the original location in Studio City, the new location offers a modern twist on traditional Japanese cuisine with an emphasis on intentional sourcing of ingredients locally and from Japan. The menu includes a selection of classic sushi and sashimi, as well as a dedicated Kushiyaki menu, along with new signature menu items available only at this location. 

Appetizers include Oysters on the Half Shell served with a choice of uni, caviar, or onion and Yume sauce, a house special ponzu sauce. Sunomono is a refreshing Japanese cucumber salad with shrimp, octopus, or crab. There is charred Miso Eggplant.  Similar to a spring roll, Seafood Cigar filled with shrimp or avocado is deep fried.  Crispy Rice comes with a choice of spicy tuna, spicy shrimp or avocado with truffle oil.  Agedashi Tofu is fried tofu with daikon radish & dashi.

The sushi menu includes Unagi, freshwater eel; Engawa, seared halibut fin and delicacies like Santa Barbara Uni. 

Rolls include classics like California Roll; Spicy Tuna Roll; Creamy Salmon Roll with Soy Paper; and Spicy Miso Sea Bass Handroll with Soy Paper. 

Specialty rolls include a Green Dragon Roll, with eel & blue crab with avocado, takuan, sesame seeds, and nori rolled in seaweed paper; Citrus Roll, with spicy tuna, avocado, lemon, garlic chips, cucumber and soy paper; and a Vegan Roll with asparagus, gobo, shiitake mushrooms, avocado, roasted bell pepper, crispy onions and ponzu olive oil. 

Sashimi specials include Halibut Sashimi with Yume Sauce or Fresh Truffle; Octopus Sashimi with Yuzu; Salmon Carpaccio with Mushrooms; and Albacore Sashimi with kogashi soy butter. 

The Kushiyaki section offers two grilled skewers of Negima – chicken with green onion, tare sauce, or lemon & salt, and Chilean Sea Bass with onion or sea salt. 

Rounding out the menu are hot dishes like Grilled Jumbo Shrimp served with sweet spicy sauce and Escabeche shrimp or whitefish with jalapeno, cilantro, onion, and sweet vinegar. 

Signature menu items exclusive to the new location include Kanpachi Crudo with Japanese amberjack with cilantro miso sauce; Hirame Orange Crudo, halibut sashimi with orange marmalade and yuzu vinaigrette; Crispy Whole Red Snapper, a deep fried whole snapper served with a sweet and spicy soy sauce; and Artisan Sushi Block which includes six pieces of pressed sushi with seaweed or soy paper. 

The sushi selection includes Torotaku, Serrano Yellowtail, Truffle Salmon, Yuzu White Fish, Garlic Albacore and Spicy Tuna.  

The beverage menu aims to make the new location not just a dining destination, but also a vibrant hub for nightlife.  It features Japanese-inspired cocktails, rare sakes, Japanese whiskies and other spirits available only at this location. 

Yume’s new location features a sleek, modern design featuring a solid walnut sushi bar with walls alternating venetian plaster walls and custom handmade wallpaper with a gold fish decal design. The light gray onyx cocktail bar with orange accents draws inspiration from the gates of Fushimi Inari in Japan. The 100-seat dining room features a sushi bar and spacious lounge area for cocktails before or after dinner. There is also a 40-seat private dining room with its own bar and private entrance at the back of the restaurant. 

Yume, which means ‘dream’ in Japanese,  opened its first location  in Studio City in 2020, and has been a neighborhood staple ever since.

For more information, please visit https://www.yumesushibar.com

Descanso

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Descanso restaurant celebrated the  grand opening of its  Los Angeles location on January 23. 

Corporate Executive Chef Jose Angulo’s menu updates Mexico’s culinary traditions with modern techniques. Highlights include the Seafood Tower with oysters, poached lobster tail, Peruvian scallops, snow crab claws, shrimp cocktail, ceviche campechano, caperberries, morita cocktail sauce, cucumber-serrano mignonette, and lemon. 

Enchiladas de Langosta feature butter-poached lobster in tortillas, and Taquitos de Camarón are made with marinated shrimp, blue corn tortillas, shredded lettuce, morita aioli, and mango-habanero salsa. 

The  popular Alambre, allows choice of steak, al pastor, chicken, shrimp or seasonal vegetables, complemented by bacon, onions, bell peppers, tres quesos frito, avocado toreado, serranos, micro cilantro and flour tortillas. 

Located in the heart of Mid-Wilshire, the 9,000-square-foot location accommodates 240 guests and features a central bar, a main dining room, two open-air patios.  In the celebrated Plancha room chefs prepare multi-course meals before guests at a communal table  reminiscent of street vendors. For  special occasions, a private Plancha Room for a more intimate Chef’s Table experience with a special menu of prized dishes for up to 10 people.

The restaurant will showcase artwork by local Los Angeles artists, with muralist Daniel Felechner, Erica Friend, and JP Mural (Juan Reyes) contributing pieces reflecting Mexico’s rich cultural heritage. Friend’s Coatlicue Mother of Gods and Sunflower Eclipse explore Aztec mythology and celestial themes,  while Reyes honors Frida Kahlo’s legacy.

At the center of heart of the space, a show-stopping 38-seat bar will serve a variety of expertly crafted cocktails. The Margaritas Especiales include the classic El Descanso with Milagro Reposado, agave, and fresh lime, and the spicy Bad Hombre with Herradura Reposado, lime, pineapple, serrano, and a salt-and-pepper rim. Other options include the Sandía-Rita and Cucumber y Sal. 

The Descanso’s Casillero Club offers exclusive access to fine limited-release agave spirits. Members can purchase rare Tequilas and Mezcals, with the option to store them in a private locker at the restaurant. Membership also includes priority reservations, first access to limited releases, and special gifts from the kitchen or bar with every visit. 

Founded in Costa Mesa, California in 2018, the new venture marks a significant milestone in Descanso’s expansion beyond its Orange County roots. 

As part of this special celebration, a portion of the sales during Descanso’s Grand Opening week will be donated to the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund. 

For more information and  the full Descanso LA menu, please visit descansorestaurantla.com

Manhattan Beach Food & Wine

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

The upcoming Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival kicked off with a preview event at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach hotel on Monday September 30, 6:30pm. 

Participating chefs and wineries shared their excitement with a preview of their Festival offerings. The featured delicacies included an heirloom tomato salad, a mushroom crostini, carne asada on a homemade tortilla, breaded  pork and shortrib on Romesco sauce, a tuna poke from the Strand House, and a  gingery, more Japanese take on the same dish served in a cone from Wolfgang Puck catering. 

Desserts included meringues, macaroons and assorted chocolates flavored with botanicals like rose and lavender.  Of course, there were plenty of libations from wineries, distilleries and non-alocolic beverages to wash it all down.

The inaugural Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival is planned as a spectacular two-night strolling culinary extravaganza with an Opening Night celebration on Friday October 11,  and a Grand Tasting on Saturday October 12. The festival  will showcase the industry’s top tastemakers and connoisseurs to celebrate an all-star lineup of chefs, restaurants, wineries, spirits, cocktails,  breweries, and non-alcoholic beverages, along with live entertainment. 

The culinary extravaganza will feature a lineup of 50 of the Best Chefs representing not only the local cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, Los Angeles, but state-wide from Solvang, Palm Springs, San Francisco and beyond – from across  North America, from Denver, New York, New Orleans, Vancouver, and Mexico. 

The venue is a 40,000-square-foot outdoor space in Manhattan Village located at the end of the Veterans Parkway Greenbelt Path.  The venue features a beautifully landscaped trail that runs through Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach.

For more information on the Manhattan Beach Food & Wine, please visit www.ManhattanBeachFoodandWine.com.

Parkers’ Lighthouse Celebrates 40 Years

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Restaurants

The iconic waterfront dining destination Parkers’ Lighthouse in Shoreline Village, Long Beach is celebrating its 40-year anniversary.

Established in 1984 with a focus on fresh grilled fish, Parkers’ Lighthouse with breathtaking views of the Queen Mary and the Long Beach skyline, the restaurant has been a beloved Long Beach fixture,  popular with  both locals and visitors. 

The restaurant’s unique dining spaces include a wrap-around outdoor deck, a lively bar and lounge as well as an elegant main dining room with balcony seating.  Known for its fresh seafood, with a focus on fresh grilled fish, innovative dishes and exceptional service, the restaurant underwent significant renovations in 1999 and 2010, transforming its atmosphere and expanding the menu to include a variety of culinary offerings beyond seafood. 

Inspired by the Pacific Ocean, the menu reflects the Southern California lifestyle, featuring shareable appetizers, sushi and sashimi, mesquite grilled fish, steak and homemade desserts.  The bar offers award winning wines, beers, spirits and specialty cocktails.

The Queensview Steakhouse  located at the top of Parkers’ Lighthouse with  a spectacular 360° view of the waterfront offers a supper club dining experience with live music and an upscale menu that includes prime steaks, chops, lobster and freshly grilled fish. 

The restaurant is now celebrating its big anniversary with the introduction of new throwback menu items designed to take diners back on a nostalgic culinary journey. 

Each month through the end of 2024, the restaurant will feature a rotating selection of popular dishes from its storied past, so guests can enjoy new appetizers, entrées and desserts that harken back to the restaurant’s early days.  These specials will be available for a limited time each month. 

The August specials  featured appetizers Tuna Poke Nachos, Crispy wontons topped with Wasabi Aioli, Toasted Sesame  Seeds, Wakame Seaweed and Curly Scallions that were served in 1999.  Entrées included Penne with Rock Shrimp served in 1999 served with a Creamy Rossa Sauce, Basil and Parmesan.  And dessert featured a decadent Mud Pie from 2010.

The throwback menu items are a tribute to our history, giving customers a chance to savor the flavors that have made the restaurant a cherished Long Beach destination for four decades, and the restaurant’s thank you to the  guests who have supported it through the decades, bringing back memories and creating new ones.

For more information visit ParkersLighthouse.com and connect with Parkers’ Lighthouse via Instagram, Facebook or X.

Parkers’ Lighthouse is located at 435 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach, CA 90802.  

Heritage  Fire

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The Los Angeles edition of America’s beloved, live-fire, open-air culinary experience Heritage Fire  will take  place at Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 6 at 4:15pm, with an early VIP access at 3:30pm. 

The all-inclusive, walk-around tour will feature a lineup of local chefs grilling globally inspired, heritage-breeds al fresco.  The offerings include a wide array of meats and heirloom vegetables from the region’s top family farms and local purveyors to educate consumers and offer hands-on experience with ethically sourced food sourced straight from the farm to the table.  The feast will be complemented by a variety  of beverages from local wineries. 

The  all-star cast of top chefs from Los Angeles and beyond will include Phi Martin of Black Cat BBQ, Ben Diaz of Cork Fire Kitchen, Javier Lopez of 71Above, Uyen Le of Bé Ù, Marcos & Nayomie Mendoza of Cuernavaca’s Grill, Alex & Elvia Garcia of Evil Cooks, Daniel Castillo & Nick Echaore of Heritage Barbecue, Owen Jay Hankle of Smoke&Ashes,  Robert Liberato of STK Steakhouse, Jackson Kalb of Jemma Hollywood, Lucy Haro of Qusqo,  and more. 

Free-flowing drinks will be available from Two Times Oak, Clink Different, El Jimador Tequila, Franciscan Estate, Freemark Abbey Napa Valley, Frey Ranch Farmers + Distillers, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Westward Whiskey, Garrison Brothers Distillery, Glenfiddich, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Polemonium Wines, Diplomatic  Rum, Rums of Puerto Rico, and Una Vodka. Non-alcoholic drinks include of LaCroix Sparkling Water.  The event will also feature permanent jewelry by Link x Lou and a produce stand by Farm Lot 59.

Tickets include unlimited curated dishes, beverage pairings, live entertainment and more.  The evening culminates with guests  voting for the ‘Best Bite of the Day’ and the announcement of  one Heritage Hero champion.  Attendees must be 21+ to attend.  

For the full event series, a save the date video and tickets, please visit www.heritagefiretour.com/tour-dates/los-angeles-ca.

Plate by Plate

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Project by Project will hold its annual fundraiser Plate by Plate at the Wallis Annenberg at California Science Center in Los Angeles on Saturday September 14, 6 – 10pm.

Asian American community’s top chefs, restaurants, leaders, beverage and culinary brands, leaders and influencers will gather to celebrate 24 years of philanthropy and service within the Southern California Asian American community. 

The general admission ticket will include samples of signature dishes from over 25 restaurants.  They include Marco Polo, Wildwonder, Kazu Nori, Brique, Farmhouse Kitchen, Masarap cafe, Yoboseyo Suprette, Emporium Thai, Jemma Hollywood, One Hot Minute, Sunmerry Bakery cafe, Yoju, Turok’s Cheesecakes, 626 Hospitality, Flouring, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Chubby foods, Meet Fresh, Easy Tomorrow, Carasau Restaurante, Rakkan Ramen, Intercrew LA, Banh Khot Lady, Mochima, and Cafe Dulce.

Drinks include Suntory, Pacific International Liquor, Krikori Rice Whiskey, Asahi, The Plug, Only Hydration, and Matchako. 

A VIP ticket will include one hour of early access to the event, as well as an  exclusive VIP-only lounge access. 

Live entertainment to amp up the fun include peformances by violinist Jessica Chen and Cellist Henry Chen, lyra performers Ruby and Shelbee, dance by Miss Shu Mai, a magic show by Anna DeGuzman, and caricatures by James.

A silent auction will invite bids on gift cards from museums, entertainment parks, restaurants, and liquor brands.

And if you want still more fun, you can attend the highly celebrated after-party.

The theme for this this year’s event  is  Food Insecurity in AAPI Communities, highlighting the issue’s impact on access to healthy, culturally relevant food.  Event proceeds benefit this year’s beneficiary partner Thai Community Development Center.

The three local chapters of Project by Project  in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco select a local AAPI non-profit partner annually to develop a year long partnership to consult, raise awareness and funds.  For the past 26 years, PbP has championed philanthropic endeavors and partnered with over 50 AAPI non-profits in the three local communities with outreach, public awareness, and fundraising efforts in 19 campaign themes – from mental health, domestic violence, sustainability, homelessness, to even voter engagement and education access. The annual tasting benefit is one of PbP-LA’s signature events of the year. 

For more information and tickets, please visit https://www.projectbyproject.org/ and https://www.platebyplate.org/los-angeles