Dine

La Popular’s Hollywood Debut

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Restaurants

Mexico City’s celebrated modern Mexican dining concept, La Popular is making its much anticipated debut in the heart of Hollywood at the newly reimagined Ovation Hollywood, formerly Hollywood & Highland. 

Executive Chef Arevalo unveils a menu that celebrates traditional Mexican dishes with bold, inventive tweaks. 

Starters range from the Ahi Tuna tostadas with chipotle aioli and crisped leeks to the seafood ceviche brightened with citrus and serrano. 

The Soups & Salads section features a richly layered tortilla soup with fried ancho chiles and chicharron, and Corn Off The Cob Salad dressed in Tajín-lime vinaigrette. 

Taco Plates features classics like carnitas and ribeye along with the more inventive creamy chipotle shrimp taco with refried beans and rice. 

Enchiladas too upgrade tradition in smoky short rib Colorado, the Queso, the Suizas shrimp and pulled hicken. 

Mexican staples in Platos Especiales include braised quesabirria with consommé, a hearty burrito with birria, carnitas, or chicken,  the Asada with chimichurri butter, and the  chicken mole Poblano with sesame and spice. 

Sides recall the street culture with street corn, Tajín fries, and golden fried plantains.

A special Kids Menu features favorites like chicken or steak tacos, a gooey cheese quesadilla, a hearty chicken bowl with rice and beans, and a classic kids burrito with flour tortilla, rice, beans, and cheese that help make La Popular a family outing.

Dulces favorites include warm Churros dipped in rich chocolate and silky cajeta sauce, and flan topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel. There’s also a decadent Turtle Pie with peanut butter, chocolate, caramel, and candied pecans.  

The beverage portfolio emphasizes single-origin tequilas and mezcals, barrel-to-glass sourcing of  agave spirits in all their diversity.  The equila & Mezcal collection spans Blancos, Reposados, Añejos, Cristalinos, Rosas, and rare Single-Origin Mezcals from Espadín to Tobalá and Arroqueño.

There’s a  curated wine list and a craft-forward beer selection that integrates both Mexican and local producers.  Inventive cocktailslist complement both the menu and evolving guest preferences that incorporates a sophisticated non-alcoholic craft selection.

La Popular will officially open on Monday, September 22nd, 2025, Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:00 midnight. 

For more information and reservations, please visit www.LAPopularCDMX.com.

Chef Talent at The 2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine

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

The upcoming second annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival, the two-night strolling culinary extravaganza will feature an Opening Night Celebration on Friday, September 12th, 2025, and a Grand Tasting on Saturday, September 13th, 2025. 

Both evenings will feature  an all-star lineup of 23 of the best chefs and restaurants, wineries, premier spirits, handcrafted cocktails, craft breweries, non-alcoholic beverages, and live entertainment.

Chef talent lineup announced to date includes a  lineup of 46 top chefs, with more expected to be announced soon.  They include: 

Event Host Chef Neal Fraser: Redbird, Vibiana – Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Chef Erik Ackley: Fishing with Dynamite – Manhattan Beach, CA

Chef Vanda Asapahu & Cathy Asapahu: Ayara Thai – Westchester, CA

Chef Jose Acevedo: Mercado – Manhattan Beach, CA

Chef Noah Clark: BOX Chicken – West Los Angeles, CA

Chef Brendan Collins: Boa Steakhouse – Manhattan Beach, CA

Chef Chris Cosentino: KOAST – Maui, HA

Chef Shaun Dry: BrewCo Social, Rock’N Fish – Manhattan Beach, CA

Chef Chris Feldmeier: Love & Salt – Manhattan Beach, CA

Chef Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger: Alice B., Border Grill, Socalo – Palm Springs, Santa Monica, CA

Chef Steven Fretz: Coast Range – Solvang, CA

Chef Jason Fullilove: Saint & Second – Manhattan Beach, CA

Chef Ray Garcia: – Los Angeles, CA

Chef Jeffray Gardner: Marsatta Chocolate – Old Town Torrance, Pasadena, CA

Chef Ray Hayashi: Ryla – Hermosa Beach, CA

Chef Jackson Kalb: Jemma, Ospi, Jame – Los Angeles, CA

Chef Jayro Martinez: Top of the V – Anaheim, CA

Chef Joel Hammond: Uchi West Hollywood – West Hollywood, CA

Chef Dennis Horton: California Surf Club, BeachLife Festival, BeachLife Grotto – Redondo Beach, CA

Chef Stephanie Izard: Girl & the Goat – Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA

Chef Thomas & Vanessa Tilaka Kalb: Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery – Pasadena, CA

Chef Antonia Lofaso: Black Market Liquor Bar, Scopa Italian Roots, DAMA – Los Angeles, CA

Chef Raphael Lunetta: Lunetta – Santa Monica, CA

Chef David LeFevre: Fishing with Dynamite, MB Post, The Arthur J, AttaGirl – Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, CA

Chef Alice Mai: AttaGirl – Hermosa Beach, CA

Chef Chris Park: The Strand House – Manhattan Beach, CA

Chef Michael Reed: Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed – Downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim, CA

Chef Steve Samson: Rossoblu, Superfine – Downtown Los Angeles, CA

Chef Frank Ryan Saporito: Wife and the Somm – Glassell Park, CA

Chef Warren Schwartz: Magpies Softserve – Highland Park, Silver Lake, Tarzana, CA

Chef Alex Seidel: Mercantile Dining & Provisions, Fruition – Denver, CO

Chef Jimmy Shaw: Loteria Grill – Los Angeles, CA

Chef Bret Thompson: Pez Cantina, Pez Coastal Kitchen – Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, CA

Chef Dustin Trani: J. Trani’s, Trani’s Dockside Station – San Pedro, CA

Chef Sherry Yard: Bakery by the Yard – Manhattan Beach, CA

The festival will be held at Manhattan Village in a 40,000-square-foot outdoor space located at the end of the Veterans Parkway Greenbelt Path, a beautiful landscaped trail that runs through Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Village will offer complimentary parking, allowing guests an easy walk to the event,. Guests are also encouraged to use Lyft rideshare services.

This year’s partners include Delta Air Lines as the official Airline, Infiniti of South Bay as the official Auto, Westdrift Manhattan Beach as the official Hotel, Manhattan Village as the official Shopping and Dining Center, San Pellegrino as the official Water, Chef Works as the official Hospitality Apparel, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove as the official Kitchen Appliance, and Southern California Restaurant Design Group as the official Commercial Kitchen Designer, T-Mobile as the official Wireless, Lyft as the official Rideshare, along with Reed Smith, Burford Beach Homes, Franki App, Peter Law Group, Ramtek, Ice Bulb and Sip Social South Bay.

Manhattan Beach Food & Wine will  benefit the Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP). Long co-chaired by chef Marcus Samuelsson, C•CAP is a workforce development nonprofit that provides underserved teens pathways to pursue careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry.  Annually, C•CAP provides culinary, job and life skills in 186 schools across the United States. 

Festival tickets are on sale now, with regular admission  from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and a Delta  VIP Early Entry Pass from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

For more information, please visit www.ManhattanBeachFoodandWine.com.

Preview:  2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine 

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

The 2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine, a two-night strolling culinary extravaganza will feature an opening night celebration on Friday, September 12th, 2025, and Grand Tasting on Saturday, September 13th 2025 with an all-star lineup of 40 top chefs.

With the dates approaching soon, event organizers hosted a preview event at the Westridge Hotel in Manhattan Beach on August 21, 6pm.  Restaurants participating in the food festival showed up to share the excitement and provide a sneak peak into the upcoming extravaganza of tastes and indulgences.

During the formal presentation the organizers mused on how the event got started. Shelby Russell stood in a nearby parking lot and conceived of this event.  Sherry yard recalled how she traveled to food  events all over the world and wondered, why not here?  “I live right down the street and I could walk here.” 

The rest, as they say, is history. Already in its second year, the event is set to feature twice as many chefs and beverage participants.  

The 2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine is a 21+ event. Event tickets are now on sale,   with Regular Admission 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm each evening, as well as a  Delta VIP Early Entry Pass from 6:00 pm on. 

Guests are encouraged to utilize Lyft rideshare services as the event serves alcoholic beverages. Walking to the event is encouraged, with complimentary parking also available at Manhattan Village.

For more information,  please visit www.ManhattanBeachFoodandWine.com.

The Rich Flavors of Michoacán

Mona Day Descanso Restaurant, Dine, Food & Wine Events, Restaurants

The menu at recently opened Descanso restaurant draws inspiration from the Michoacan region of Mexico, where owner Rob Arellano who grew up in the area.  Michoacán’s cuisine is heavily influenced by the region’s abundant resources, such as avocados, which grow year-round in the area;  it is also deeply rooted in its indigenous and colonial history, with a strong emphasis on traditional ingredients like corn, beans, and chilies. The restaurant’s menu draws inspiration from traditional family recipes and the vibrant flavors of the region reinterpreted through contemporary technique and premium ingredients.


The restaurant’s beverage program too uses popular street drinks of jamaica, horchata, local botanicals like aloe and agave and cacao blended  with regional spirits like tequila and mezcal.

Tuesday, August 19 the restaurant celebrated the rich culinary and beverage heritage of Michoacán with a multi-course dinner.  Owner Rob Arellano, Chef Sergio Lopez and bar manager  Justin Ybarra were on hand to field and address questions. 

The evening kicked off with passed appetizers.  There was guacamole with sharp on lime and chiles, and a home made house salsa with smoky with roasted tomatoes and chiles served with tortilla chips and chicharrones.  There was also popular street food of bowls of spicy tangy corn kernels.

The first course of the sit down dinner was a ceviche of tropical local sea bass with mango, jicama, Fresno chiles, cucumber, red onion, lime with a mango habanero sauce and micro cilantro. Ceviche with lemon / lime is more common in LA,  Arellano pointed out that the mango sauce is not that unusual for the region. 

 The ceviche paired well with a refreshing Ya No Vuela of Kettle One vodka, fresh kiwi, St Germain apricot liqueur, lemon and rosemary.

The second course  featured the Relleno:  a roasted Anaheim chili with tatuma squash, corn, sweet peppers, tres quesos, salsa verde, onion, Cotija cheese and micro cilantro on a blue corn tortilla. 

The relleno too was different in that it was not the drenched in flour before frying.  That omission definitely raised the chili profile.

The relleno was paired with a refreshing cucumber y Sal: El Tesoro Blanco tequila,  Chareau  Aloe liqueur, Cucumber, cilantro, lime and black sea salt.

The third course was a hearty short rib estofado of  braised short rib, guajillo Pinto bean Jus,  avocado, spring onion, micro cilantro, radish, serrano pepper, baby carrots and blue corn tortilla.

It was paired with a full bodied  Brazo Dulce:   Banhez  Espadin /  Barril  mezcal with fruity notes of  blackberries, raspberries, Orgeat,  honey, lime and mint.

The final course was dessert of Tres Leches de coco:   white cake soaked in a sweet coconut milk, fresh whipped cream, toasted coconut flakes and strawberries.

It was paired  with an espresso martini of  Herradura  Ultra, house horchata, cacao Blanc,  banana, and  espresso cold brew. It was the perfect closing drink.

Guests got to take home a jar of the popular house salsa as souvenirs of the evening. 

 For more information on the restaurant and its menu, please visit DescansoRestaurant.com.

SAUCY SAMMIES

Mona Day Dine, Restaurants

H&H Bagels has been a New York City institution for over 50 years, offering the quintessential New York bagel, even earning cameos in Seinfeld, Sex and the City, The Office, and more along the way.

H&H prides in using high quality ingredients, starting with unbromated and unbleached flour, and as being all-natural, non-GMO, with no artificial preservatives, and with each bagel providing 13 grams of protein. 

This focus on ingredients extends throughout its menu using fresh cracked eggs griddled for every sandwich, whole avocados hand sliced to order, and freshly ground small batch coffee all without microwaves or other short cuts. 

After 50 years in New York City, H&H is expanding nationwide, opening recently in Boca Raton and Santa Monica, and has plans for many more in DC, Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Knoxville, Chicago.  Its Santa Monica location opened just recently in February, on 710 Montana, right after the fires.  Expansion notwithstanding, the dough remains kettle-boiled in New York City water, then baked locally on-site fresh every day.

The bagel shop has featured bagel sandwiches made with eggs and cheese, steak, and sausage, along with its quintessentially New York Nova Salmon with the Works.  Now, starting June 18th, it is expanding its offerings with a new lineup of sandwiches using signature sauces, all of which will be available at its Santa Monica location.  

The new offerings include: 

Southwest Turkey – Oven roasted turkey, crispy bacon, fresh avocado, pepper jack cheese, and spicy Southwest sauce

Roast Turkey Ranch – Oven roasted turkey, crispy bacon, fresh avocado, provolone cheese, and buttermilk ranchHot Honey Ham & Cheddar – Smoked ham, cheddar cheese, red onion, Dijon mustard, and hot honey

BBQ Beef & Cheddar – Top-round roast beef, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, red onion, and BBQ sauce

Spicy Sausage, Egg & Cheese – Savory sausage patties, fresh cracked and griddled eggs, pepper jack cheese, jalapeño cream cheese, and Southwest sauce

Build-Your-Own – Your choice of meat, cheese, and sauce with lettuce, tomato, and onion (additional items cost extra)

All of these offerings will be available at its Santa Monica location at H&H Bagels 710 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

For more info and on-line ordering, please visit HHbagels.com

HOLLYWOOD UNDER THE STARS

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

St. Vincent Meals on Wheels will once again host its fourth annual Hollywood Under the Stars gala fundraiser at the Paramount Pictures lot on Saturday June 21,  6:30p.m. 

The evening kicks off with a  champagne and cocktail VIP Hour  in the iconic Paramount Theater hosted by longtime Circle of Angels donors and 2024 Special Honorees Ian McShane and Gwen Humble-McShane featuring bites crafted by VIP Angel Chef Hosts Giuseppe Gentile and Francesco Zimone from Florence Osteria & Piano Bar and L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele.   

Then, nearly a dozen celebrated Angeleno chefs and pâtissiers will showcase a chef-curated tasting menu from 2025 Culinary Angels, who include Chefs Mihir Lad (Arth Bar + Kitchen), Nika Shoemaker-Machado (Georgia’s Restaurant), John Sungkamee (Thai Emporium), Armando Quiroz (City Club LA), and Noah Clark (BOX Chicken). Desserts will be provided by this year’s Sweet Angels Saffy’s, Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co., Lark Cake Shop, and Marsatta Chocolate. 

A brief formal presentation at approximately 8:00 pm will highlight the depth and breadth of services provided to seniors in LA County by St. Vincent Meals on Wheels. 

Nelly Llanos-Kilroy will be honored with the St. Vincent Meals on Wheels Crystal Angel of Service Award in recognition of her decades of unwavering support for the organization and exemplifying the spirit of community at St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.

Guests continue the celebration with signature cocktails and dancing under the stars to the lively sounds of a 10-piece live band the de Bois All Stars.  

Longtime donor and volunteer Rick Llanos will be back as the Honorary Host of Hollywood Under the Stars 2025. Rick’s connection to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels spans generations, beginning in his childhood when his mother, Nelly, and her close friend Kathy Kilroy collaborated with SVMOW’s founder, Sister Alice Marie, in the 1970s. Together, Rick, Nelly, and their family continue to actively support SVMOW by participating in events and sharing the organization’s incredible achievements.

St. Vincent Meals on Wheels supports those who are homebound and vulnerable throughout LA County, preparing and delivering food to those in need. These services are particularly in need during emergencies like the recent fires in LA. The need for fundraising and the support of donors is currently heightened by  the cutbacks in federal funding even as Los Angeles County is  experiencing the fastest-growing population of seniors facing food and housing insecurities.

Corporate and community sponsors include Kroger, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul;  individual supporters like Rick Llanos and Nelly Llanos-Kilroy;  and media sponsor Times Direct.

With Paramount Pictures as the venue for the evening, guests are encouraged to dress recalling the nostalgia for Old Hollywood.  Although tables will be reserved, guests are encouraged to mingle and visit all the restaurant stations and bars.

For more information and tickets to Hollywood Under the Stars, please visit: www.svmow.org/hollywood

Mushroom Monday!

Mona Day Chefs, Dine, Food & Wine Events

The Mushroom Council is touring the nation this spring to spotlight the flavor, versatility and sustainability of fresh mushrooms and the dedication of farmers who help bring this superfood from farm to plate.  

The Los Angeles stop of the gourmet roadshow celebrated all things mushroom at a  cocktail reception at Century City Italian specialty market Eataly’s Terra Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge on Monday, June 2, 7 pm.

The event launched the restaurant’s month-long Mushroom Monday promotion featuring a mushroom-forward tasting menu of signature dishes and mushroom infused cocktails created by Eataly’s chefs.  

Passed appetizers included spiedinos of Cremini mushrooms and cippolini with balsamic.  There was fritto of crispy tempura oyster mushroom with thyme aioli.  Pizza alla palla featured roasted cremini and button mushrooms with mozzarella and provolone.

Mushroom tasting stations displayed Insalata Spinaci with baby spinach and roasted shiitake mushrooms with sherry vinaigrette and parmigiano.  A housemade casarecce pasta featured  a mixed mushroom ragù with  fresh herbs and Grana Padano.  A gnocchi with sausage and oyster mushroom ragù was topped with pecorino romano.  Portabella mushrooms were grilled  with rosemary oil.  A Double R Ranch striploin steak featured  maitake compound butter.

Two signature cocktails included Beech, Please! – a white beech mushroom–infused Botanist gin, Campari, Baldoria Umami vermouth.  Shroom Service featured Japanese whiskey, shiitake mushroom cordial and soda. 

Table displays featured a gamut of mushrooms.

The formal presentation featured remarks by a Mushroom Council spokeswoman and Eataly’s culinary team.  

If you hadn’t had your fill of mushrooms yet, there was a gift bag on your way out, with – you guessed it – more mushrooms to cook at home!

A California Avocado Grove Tour

Mona Day Dine, Food & Wine Events, Local Travel, Nature

Spring through summer is an exciting  time in local agriculture:  it’s the California Avocado season!   This year is even more so because at about 375 million pounds, the crop is expected to be the most robust since 2020. 

Although the season lasts only late March or early April through late summer, it is enormously important to the roughly 3,000 families who farm the land from San Diego to Monterey because after months of  work, they now gear up to pick  the fruits of their labor.  

It is also important to us consumers:  California avocados are fresh and local.  Grown close to home, they move from grove to grocer to table within days, minimizing carbon emissions  from transportation.  The avocado is a nutritional powerhouse, with 1/3 of a medium fruit providing nearly 20 vitamins minerals and phytonutrients packed in good heart healthy fat.  Not to mention, the fruit has a rare knack to transform an array of dishes from being ordinary and mundane to becoming extraordinary and gourmet.  Clearly, its time to celebrate the California season, and what better way to do so than an avocado grove tour?

Our tour met  up at our base hotel in Thousand Oaks to walk over to local resto Pearl District for an avocado forward dinner.  On the menu was  Ahi Crudo with California Avocado, Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette, Pickled Kumquats;  Chilled California Avocado and Shrimp Vietnamese-Style Ceviche;  Pan Roasted Halibut with California Avocado and White Miso Salsa;  Grilled Prime Filet Mignon with California Avocado and Potato Hash;  Spicy Vegetable Fried Rice with Local Veggies and California Avocado.  Dessert was a decadent California Avocado Tiramisu with Berry Coulis.

Next day  after breakfast,  we shuttled over to family owned Camlam Farms in the hills of Camarillo. With over 1,000 acres in production and 300 acres dedicated to avocados, the farm has history goes back to the 1876 Rancho Calleguas land grant. John Lamb has led operations for over 30 years and served on the California Avocado Commission board with brothers and long-time stewards Robert III and David Lamb, and  sixth-generation grower and next-gen leader Maureen Cottingham.  The family is a pioneer of high-density planting and sustainable irrigation and works with universities to host rootstock trials for continued innovation.  One such trial led to the Lamb Hass,  a premium variety gaining global recognition.

A people mover ride toured us through groves of a number of different avocado varieties including Lamb Hass, Gem and the most well-known, Hass. We learned their differences and their different needs.  We also learnt about their  irrigation and temperature control for frost prevention. And we learned about the bees and pollination.  We tried our hand at harvesting, and my big lesson was to leave a bit of the stem on the fruit to prevent it from ripening too fast.

Then there was a guacamole competition with some surprising ingredients like mango, pepitas, bacon, jam and dragon fruit. We split into teams for a showdown for prizes for various categories like most creative, most scoop-worthy, etc

By now we had worked up an appetite and were ready for lunch by the orchard’s peaceful reservoir.  Hosting farm visitors to the farm over the years, the family has become expert at grilling, so lunch featured pork ribs, tri-tip and chicken grilled onsite by the Lamb Family. The proteins were accompanied by – you guessed it – avocado forward sides.  There was Farmers’ Market Green Salad with Sliced California Avocado and Roasted Beets, Baby Gem Lettuce and California Avocado Salad with Spiced Chickpeas and Goat Cheese;  Grilled California Avocado, Corn, Quinoa and Mango;  Lemon and Herb Risotto Cakes with California Avocado Crema.  Dessert was Lamb Family Lemon Tart and California Avocado Brownies. 

After lunch it was time to relax with the  multi-generation Lamb family for a Q&A and farming stories. Maureen’s young son whom we had previously met as he rode his horse now flitted in and out of the area on his bicycle. 

After a bit of rest back at the hotel, the group walked over to another local eatery Crawford’s to network and say farewell at one last avocado-forward reception.

Learn more at CaliforniaAvocado.com 

To learn more about how to select, handle, store and peel a California Avocado, visit https://californiaavocado.com/how-to  

You can use the California Avocado store locator at to find a store near  you CaliforniaAvocado.com/store-locator

#CaliforniaAvocados #CAavoseason #GroveTour2025