Looking at these brand new images inside Anisette (as opposed to stalking from outside, you can really start to get the scale and scope of Alain Giraud, Mike Garrett and Tommy Stoilkovich's new Santa Monica brasserie. We hear final inspections are afoot today and if all goes well, maybe expect the first petit dejeuner by May 26; dinner shortly after, around June 5. How does one say 'brace' in en français?
· GiraudTracking: Anisette Revealed [~ELA~]
Dakota on The Bridge
HOLLYWOOD: This summer, Dakota at the Hollywood Roosevelt will offer dinner on the bridge overlooking Tropicana Bar and the David Hockney pool. Full dining experience Thu-Sat nights with---brace---access to the Tropicana Bar after. Also note: New(ish) exec chef Jason Johnston streamlined the menu over the last few months, and chef de cuisine Jeremy Strubel recently came on board. Reservations are recommended for the restaurant, required for the bridge experience (323.466.7000). [EaterWire Inbox]
WEHO: Landmark gay bar Micky's burnt down last summer and sat dark for months and months, but we have an update from a reader: "Rebuilding has begun. It seems they are now expanding the bar to include a restaurant and take over the previously unused 2nd floor. Kind of along the lines of what Eleven did. They are doing some major iron work across the front work and it seems like the project is pretty big in scale." [EaterWire Inbox]
NEXT: Panini Grill replacing Splash in WeHO, Farmer's Market Gala in SM >>Starting May 30, Opaque Dining in the Dark will take place at the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica, leaving its current home at the Hyatt on the Sunset Strip. Dinners are still Friday and Saturday nights, servers are blind or visually impaired, and the room is pitch black: "Diners experience a world of sensitivity never experience before, taking a journey of taste, sound and touch, all in the dark," as Brett Michaels and the Rock of Love gals exhibit above. After that ep, we wouldn't want to be in that room anymore either.
· Opaque Dining in the Dark [Official Website]
Last week there was some movement/events at Alain Giraud's new Anisette brasserie in Santa Monica, but we've confirmed that the restaurant will open for breakfast in "mid-May." (Isn't that technically just a week away?) The above sneak peek reveals that Anisette is quite possibly the most classic brasserie-looking of the new LA brasseries, and with Giraud at the helm, we expect as much on the menu. Look at those tile floors, tall ceilings, wookwork, mirrored columns! Excitement. Palpable. Bracing.
· Plywood Update: Anisette [~ELA~]
· GiraudTracking: Movement, Awnings at Anisette [~ELA~]
This snap of the de-papered Anisette and note came in from a Santa Monica operative: "Took a quick peek in on my way back to the office. Looks pretty complete to me -- the bar is even complete with bar stools. Could they be opening sooner than later? Obviously, whether the kitchen is ready is another story..." Another tipster saw a lot of movement---cars, people---at the restaurant last night, but we were assured it was just a private event. It may look complete, but we're told there are still a lot of details that need tending to, and that the opening date is still mid-May (breakfast first, then lunch, and dinner by the end of the month). Alain Giraud fans: Start the countdown now.
· Plywood Update: Anisette [~ELA~]
· EaterWire: Anisette Update [~ELA~]
LA Mill boutique, via Racked
SILVER LAKE: Racked LA has some spiffy pics of the new LA Mill retail space and all the goodies you'll find within. Chemex? Check. Glassware, teas? Check and check. [Racked LA]
SANTA MONICA: Gregory Foos is the new executive chef at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. He replaces Gregg Wangard who left last year. Foos, who hails from a Loews property in St. Pete Beach, FL, will oversee all culinary ops, including Ocean and Vine restaurant, which, coincidentally, will have a new menu soon. [EaterWire Inbox]
LOS ANGELES: After Zen Zoo closed its Brentwood and Beverly Hills locations, owner Alfred Ritter said they would look for a new space to reopen. It hasn't been easy. From the Zen Zoo newsletter: "Many of you have been asking when Zen Zoo Tea will return to the Westside (we miss you too!)...While we've considered some options, we have not been able to find a location that best fits Zen Zoo's business and operational needs. If you are able to help speed up that process, and you have a direct contact for a location lead (for the Santa Monica and Brentwood areas only), please e-mail: realestate@zenzootea.com." Not sure blasting your email list is the best way, but it couldn't hurt. [EaterWire Inbox]
Bits and pieces and breadcrumbs end up in the daily EaterWire. Got some news to share? The tip line is always open.
Anisette, before it was unsheathed
SANTA MONICA: A tipster ran into Alain Giraud at the farmer's market recently: "The brasserie (I called it a "cafe" and was quickly corrected) has an awning up and the windows are done in very typical brasserie style. Silly me forgot to ask him the opening date." That's OK. We hear it won't open until mid-May and will go against the grain and debut breakfast first, then lunch, and dinner will probably start at the end of May, early June. [EaterWire Inbox]
SANTA MONICA: Another SM tipster spotted signage: "I was walking tonight and it looks like Rockenwagner is moving something into the space next to the gelato place just off the Promenade (so said the papers hanging in the windows)." Details anyone? [EaterWire Inbox]
New brunches at Malo and The Foundry >>
When Bruce Marder opened Brass.-Cap in 2005, Miss Irene did not take a shine to it: "Perplexing" was a favorite descriptor and she gave it a half star. This was Marder's French American bistro, after attempting Café Capo on Beverly (now BLD), but riding the success of Capo, Broadway Deli and other restaurants since the 80s. And here we have a property listing on Loopnet, on the market for a cool $4.5 million. This is one of those beachy spots that flies pretty under the radar; locals like it, there's the occasional celeb spotting. But has it ever had the draw of, say, Capo? We haven't confirmed with Marder or his people yet, but we do know tables are still available on OpenTable, and it's business as usual on the answering machine. As one commenter noted, it's the property for sale, not the business. Story developing.
· Brass.-Cap [LAT]
· 100 West Channel Road [Loopnet]
We asked, we guessed, and we finally have an answer: Xooro (pronounced "sure-oh") is the American version of the traditional Spanish fritter. LA's first xooro shop will open in Santa Monica on Broadway. According to acompany rep, these aren't "your typical churro from the amusement park, county or street stand," but "gourmet," with flavors like lemon cream, maple butter, Turkish hazelnut cream, sweet pumpkin, creamy dark chocolate, and there will be gluten-free, low-carb, and organic options. You know how this works: By December, we'll have Xooro copycats all over town.
· EaterWire: What is a Xooro? [~ELA~]
· The Mystery of Xooro: More tapas for SM? [~ELA~]
SANTA MONICA: La Grande Orange opened in Pasadena a few weeks ago, so now it's time to hear about its westside sibling: "I was just driving down Main Street in Santa Monica and saw a sign for Le Grande Orange. The city approved a CUP for them recently. I was driving so I couldn't get a photo - sorry! [Ed. note: Stop car. Get out. Take snap. Continue.] But it's in a four-story mixed-use building (apartments up top, retail below), at 2000 Main Street, just south of Pico." When the LGO group came to Los Angeles from Arizona, they announced both locations, and considering how long it's taken to open Pasadena, we might be in for a wait in SM. [EaterWire]
WEST HOLLYWOOD: Paparazzi spotted "Meat is Murder" Morrissey coming out of New York steakhouse import STK on La Cienega the other day, and TMZ called him out for it because, you know, it's a steakhouse and he's a staunch and very vocal vegan. PETA jumped in giving all vegetarians clearance: "PETA is fine with vegetarians dining at steakhouses. It's just like shopping at stores like Whole Foods that also sell meat, because it's good to show proprietors they can make money by selling veggie options." Um, can we get the grilled hypocrite, medium-rare, a side of mashed hypocrite, and a bottle of hypocrisy, please? Thanks. [TMZ]
Old One Pico; rendering of new One Pico
Just in time for Santa Monica beach weather, the historic Shutters on the Beach will reopen One Pico this week (could be tomorrow, could be end of week says the hotel operator). Since Catch opened in sister property Casa del Mar last year, it was only fitting that One Pico get an update, and behold, the new dining room courtesy designer Michael S. Smith. Although the finished product isn't exactly like the rendering above, the room will have a breezier look, lots of ocean blues (in this case teal tufted leather chairs), dark wood accents; the lovely beachside views remain. Michael Reardon, who's now executive chef of all the ETC Hotel properties (Casa del Mar next door and Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara included), created a seasonal, Italian-inspired menu. Think: grilled octopus with potatoes and capers, homemade pastas, steak Fiorentina, John Dory with langoustines and farmer's market vegetables. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner; Coast, on the first floor, serves three square.
· Catch at Casa del Mar Now Open [~ELA~]
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