Flor Morena Mystery SOLVED: Michaelangelo Moving In

Former Flor Morena and all. that. parking., Wildbell, Flickr

Readers, neighbors, people who wanted that parking lot expressed a lot of interest in the former Flor Morena space on Rowena in Silver Lake. Therewere rumors, but a Hound finally has the scoop:

News! Progress! The Flor Morena space in Silverlake will officially be the new location for Michelangelo. The guys hope to be open in early summer. Their last day in the current space on Silverlake Blvd. is 5/28.

Michaelangelo was just another pawn in the game of Silver Lake restaurant musical chairs, first announcing problems with the landlord would force them to close, then Josef Centeno was interested in the space, then the landlord was crazy again. It's good that they're staying in the neighborhood and good that it's a neighborhood spot moving in instead of some, some outsider. This makes three of the last five SL rumors now dispelled and/or verified. So what's going on with Eat Well, the current Michaelangelo space, and Back Door Bakery?
· The Flor Morena Mystery [~ELA~]
· Flor Morena = Michaelangelo [Chowhound via Eating L.A.]
· Silver Lake Rumor Mill: Flor Morena, Eat Well, Crazy Landlords [~ELA~]

EaterWire: Intelligentsia's "Best Barista in the U.S.", Pinkberry at Americana, BLT Does Lunch

Move over bacon, there's something newsier. Got something for the EaterWire? In the tip jar, please.

SILVER LAKE: One more reason why we're lucky to have Intelligentsia in LA: We have the "best barista in America" right here. Kyle Glanville, barista and Manager of Espresso Research, just won the US Barista Competition in Minneapolis this weekend. What does one have to do to win such an honor? Wow the judges by preparing and serving four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation---all within a 15-minute timeframe. Next up is the World Barista Competition in Copenhagen, and if he wins that, he can start calling himself the "Best Barista in the World." Someone might dump coffee grounds on his head if he does, but he can still say it. [EaterWire Inbox]

WEST HOLLYWOOD: In case a three-martini lunch still sounds like a good idea---and really, when doesn't it---Laurent Tourondel's BLT Steak now serves lunch on the Sunset Strip. [UrbanDaddy]

GLENDALE: You know you wanted to know: Pinkberry is officially swirling at the Americana at Brand. By our count, almost all the AAB restaurants are now open, save for Frida and the kiosks. [EaterWire Inbox]

EaterWire: Square One's New Owners, New Goudas & Vines, Chefs & Champagne This Weekend

Got a hot tip for the EaterWire? In the tip jar, please.

Ah Ming, Flickr

LA: News for breakfast lovers: The owners of Square One Dining---Phil Fox, Robert Lee and Hayden Ramsay---have sold the restaurant to John Himelstein of Gingergrass and partners D'nell Larson and Manao Davidson. Before you get your applewood smoked bacon in a bunch, the new owners plan on "keeping everything basically the same" except now they'll open on Mondays. [Eating LA]

SANTA MONICA: The owners of Montrose's Goudas & Vines turned the wine shop into Three Drunken Goats tapas restaurant, but are now planning another Goudas & Vines across town. Signage was spotted next to the second La Grand Orange location at 2000 Main Street. [EaterWire Inbox]

WEST HOLLYWOOD: If you're not busy on Sunday and have $275 burning a whole in your pocket, a reminder that the James Beard Foundation's first Chefs & Champagne event in LA will be happening on Melrose Place at 5pm. Greenspan! Citrin! Cimarusti! Fraser! Manzke! Myers! Colicchio!!! Champagne!!! [EaterWire]

EaterWire: Inside LA Mill's Retail Boutique, New Chef at Loews SM, Charles Perry Retires from LAT

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]

Charlie Perry leaving the Times Food section >>

EaterWire: Zen Zoo Still Eyeing Westside, New Chefs for Rustic Canyon and La Poubelle

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]

New chefs at Rustic Canyon and La Poubelle, next >>

Good News/Bad News: Andiamo Pizza

Photos by Alen Lin, 4/08

Andiamo has been open for about a month or so now, and the press seemed to take quite an interest in its eco-friendliness and Lance scooters more than the pizza. But does fare hold up to the hype? Time to gauge the chatter with the return of Good News/Bad News. It's always best to start with the Good:

GOOD: "I have only ordered once and I think the owner or manager was the one who helped me, but regardless of the great great service and super fast delivery, the food was amazing. We ordered the Cinque Formaggio, which for you brain-dead readers out there means 5 cheese. The pizza was EXACTLY like this pizza place in Florence that I used to frequent called Pizza Bianca. The crispy thin crust was warm and crunchy and the cheeses were melted upon arrival, which means it was just out of the oven....The only bad thing was that I inquired about their "Speciale di Giorno" pizza, which in the menu states is market price. The kid I was talking to had no clue what I was asking for. I had to hang up, push my frustration aside and call back. Thankfully I got the owner the second time. I guess they are too new to have day to day specials? Yum, yum, yum." [Yelp]

Better, So-So and the Bad: College vegan co-op flashbacks, minus the drum circles and tumeric >>

EaterWire: Inside Newer! Bigger! Silverlake Wine, Doughboys Jr. Potentially Growing

Once again, it's time for the EaterWire. Got something to share? We'll take that in the tip jar, please.

SILVER LAKE: Silverlake Wine closed for a remodel, reopened, and now sister site Racked has what's believed to be the first pictures of the new space. Designer Ana Henton, who's been quite busy these days (Vinoteque, Lemonade) is responsible for the overall look. [EaterWire]

MIRACLE MILE: Word from a tipster who checked out the new Doughboys on Wilshire Boulevard today: "Talked to the lady about the expansion of it into a real restaurant. She said, 'Fingers crossed, we will be open for the full menu on Monday.' I then quizzed her about the lack of space for a full restaurant, and she said that the counter and few tables in front will be it for the first few days, but if it is a weekend hit, then they will put tables under the El Rey awning to make it the full restaurant!" Hmmm…and still no word on the Third Street location. [EaterWire Inbox]

EaterWire: Anisette Update, More Rockenwagner in SM, Malo and The Foundry Add Brunch

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 >>

EaterWire: More LA Mill, Baskin Robbins Discounts, JAAN's One Table

SILVER LAKE: More big news for LA Mill: The adjacent retail store opened yesterday. In it you'll find everything from LA Mill coffees and teas to the glasses and coffee accoutrements you use when dining next door. The bonus: The Barista Table, which is like a chef's table but with coffee. Seats eight, but the space can be configured for more, with Adrian Vasquez's five-course dessert menu and coffee pairings, maybe home-brew classes, private tea parties. Manager Christopher sounds very accommodating. The direct line for the retail side is 323.663.4442. [EaterWire]

BEVERLY HILLS: Because the recession doesn't affect everybody, JAAN at the Raffles L'Ermitage offers an exclusive fireside table for two or four on its renovated garden patio beginning May 1. Completely customized meal on comfy couches, with one option---caviar, lobster, truffles, and a saffron chocolate tart laced in 24K gold---going for a measly $2,500 per couple. [UrbanDaddy]

EVERYWHERE: It's no Scoops, but Baskin Robbins is honoring America's Firefighters by selling ice cream for $.31 cents per scoop next week, Wednesday, April 30th. 5pm-10pm. [EaterWire Inbox]

Silver Lake Correction: Reservoir Still Taking Over Netty's

We posted some rumors swirling around the Silver Lake shutters yesterday, but we now know one is absolutely false: Gloria Felix still has dibs on the Netty's space, it will still be Reservoir, and she's shooting to open in the second week of July.. She apparently got a lot of calls about what we wrote, so apologies for the bad info/bad intel. Working with business partner Darren Roberts, Reservoir will be "California rustic," seasonal, with its own herb garden. Felix, who's worked in some top kitchens in town (A.O.C., Lucques, Grace and Jar), said part of the delays were due to her time on Hell's Kitchen; she's currently one of Gordon Ramsay's sous chefs on the show, and they filmed two seasons back to back. About being on the show? "Since I wasn't a contestant," she says,"I was on the good side of Gordon. I actually learned a lot about myself as a chef." As for all the other rumors: Still rumor.
· Silver Lake Rumor Mill [~ELA~]

Silver Lake Rumor Mill: Blair Taking Flor Morena? Breadbar at Eat Well? Crazy Landlords?

Former Flor Morena, Wildbell, Flickr

Almost immediately after posting about several Silver Lake shutterings, we received a few unsubstantiated, though notable, claims. You know we're all about rumor, gossip and conjecture, so let's just throw these out there and see if any stick. Some will surely get the Eastsiders in a food-frenzied tizzy:

1) Flor Morena: Two responses: "There's a pending deal for Flor Morena - don't know who." But then this:."Apparently multiple restaurateurs are vying for the Flor Morena spot, which is prized because it has parking spaces. One of the leading contenders is Blair from Blair's Restaurant."

2) Michelangelo: "Maybe staying put. The parking issues and tiny size make it difficult to lease (which is why Josef Centeno dropped out), plus the landlord is truly insane."

3) Eat Well: "Could very well become the first Eastside outpost of Breadbar."

No reservoir at Netty's? Landlord keeping Backdoor? >>

The Silver Lake Shutter: What's to Become of Michaelangelo, Eat Well, Backdoor Bakery and Others?

Former Flor Morena, Wildbell, Flickr

LA Metblogs takes a head count of various business that have gone under in Silver Lake, and it's not pretty on the restaurant/cafe/bar front. We have details on some of the empty "loooong gone and vacant" locations, which might cheer them up, but still a lot of unanswered questions. If you have some answers, the tip line is open:

Flor Morena: We were queried about the empty space last November, but recently got an email from someone who wants to know who owns the space, they want to lease it. Let us know, we'll play matchmaker.

Johnny’s Bar: Bobby Green, one of the Bigfoot Lodge owners, has dibs on this location. Still no hard details on what he has planned.

Netty’s: Last time we drove by it looked the same as it always did: closed, fenced in, not much work being done. It's supposed to become Reservoir, which was a partnership between Gloria Felix and pastry chef Elizabeth Belkind. Belkind, however, is working on her own bakery project. Felix became one of Gordon Ramsay's coaches on the current season of Hell's Kitchen, and taping could have added to the delays.

Questions still surround Backdoor Bakery, Mornings/Nights and Eat Well >>