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]
The rumblings about Walter Manzke's exit from Bastide wafted through the air at Chefs & Champagne on Sunday. Bastide, which only reopened in September after closing for almost two years, owned by Joe Pytka, who's now gone through three top chefs in the restaurant's lifespan. We didn't have confirmation from either camp by the time it hit Eater on Monday morning, but it came soon after: Manzke (and wife Margarita) were out, Paul Shoemaker was in. Bastide got a solid three stars from the LAT---not quite the four stars it garnered with Alain Giraud at the helm, but not the one scathing star for Ludovic Lefebvre---they just added lunch, things seemed to be on track. So why and why now? The story from Joe Pytka's camp was that Manzke "left of his own volition," but several uninvolved tipsters suggested he was asked to leave. Manzke says "It was unexpected but mutual. I wouldn't have left if he didn't want me to leave." More insight from the chef, next.
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]
With Walter Manzke's quick exit from Bastide, Pytka has no time for chef auditions: “I am excited that Paul [Shoemaker] is available at a moment’s notice, and I look forward to tasting his masterful and enthusiastic cuisine. The best is yet to come!” [~ELA~]
Overall consensus for last night's inaugural Chefs & Champagne event is that it didn't pack the wallop it deserved. The James Beard Foundation's annual Hampton's fete was brought west to honor and highlight LA's best chefs, and they were all there: Richard, Manzke, Myers, LeFevre, Cimarusti, Citrin, Greenspan, etc. Thing is, the JBF decided to honor Tom Colicchio, an East Coast transplant who's still considered an outsider no matter how loudly he yells "Go Lakers!" at the end of a speech. A solid but odd choice. The event still shuffled along and could have a bright future should it decide to come back. As is always the case, it's difficult to hit every table---one big gabfest, the crowd teeming with industry insiders (owners, writers, editors, publicists)---but here, some highlights and lowlights from the menu, rumor mill and more.
1) Ruffled Feathers: Local chefs were honored to be included in the event, respect Tom Colicchio as chef and restaurateur, but a general "WTF, why Colicchio" attitude wafted in the air like the scent of searing pork belly from the Spago table.
2) Three words: Suckling pig sliders. One of the best things we tasted all night. Handed a couple while standing in the Bastide garden as staffers poured delightful Champagne and pretended that everything's A-OK at the restaurant. We later heard otherwise.
Whoa. Still awaiting confirmation, but the huge rumor at last night's Chefs & Champagne event on Melrose Place is that Walter Manzke is no longer executive chef at Bastide. Owner Joe Pytka lured Manzke from the Monterey peninsula to reopen Bastide after being shuttered for almost two years; it only and finally opened in September '07. If true, it's still unclear whose decision it was. We didn't see him but heard Manzke was at the event, and we don't know if Bastide had a table but they were offering Champagne, chocolates and suckling pig sliders (dear God, someone serve those all the time) in the leafy garden patio. A few chefs confirmed the rumor not with words, but in code: Sometimes just a look and a nod explains it all. Story developing, plus a C&C Hangover Report soon. UPDATE: Totally confirmed.
· It's Official: Walter Manzke in at Bastide [~ELA~]
· CONFIRMED: Bastide Officially Opens Tomorrow [~ELA~]
· Eater Inside: Bastide [~ELA~]
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]
Reservation lines for Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood just opened, and we're hearing that it's already filling up: "Prime times for the first week are already getting scarce for 2s/4s. I'm told the soft night is 27th, dinner only (5-10:30p), 28th starts regular full service." Fingers crossed for Ramsay sightings in week one, double crossed that it will be like Hell's Kitchen with Ramsay calling people donkeys and such. Alas, it sounds much more reserved---although he does promise "fireworks" on the menu. [EaterWire]
Breaking news from West Hollywood today: the mid-June opening date for Gordon Ramsay at the London hotel has been upped to May 27---and the ressie lines are open! What's more, we have the menu for your degustation. You can definitely see the attempt at being more West Coast for his LA venture---spiny lobster and halibut, market vegetables, Sonoma lamb---plus some pork belly, lots of foie, and one "crispy duck tongue" garnish. More Gordon Ramsay description from the man himself in an earlier interview:
"If you think customers are impatient in NY, wait to you see how impatient they are here in LA. One thing I can't afford to get sucked up is the trend formation of restaurants here. I invested heavily, we have a 10 year lease, and the style, the feel and décor of the dining room is vibrant. The décor is very LA, lots of silver, nickel, brushed stainless steel, cream fabric. Fast and furious, a level of intimacy, a level of fun."
The winner of the current Hell's Kitchen season is supposed to become the "executive chef" of Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood, but in reality it's just a glorified sous chef position, which is a good thing: Watching this season of HK, not one of those contestants deserve anythign more than dish detail. (1020 N San Vicente Blvd, 310.358.7788)
· Plywood Report: Gordon Ramsay at the London [~ELA~]
· Delays for Gordon Ramsay at the London [~ELA~]
· Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen Approach to HR [~ELA~]
We took a look around the Crown Bar today, the new restaurant/bistro/lounge from the boys behind Winston's and The Dime, but we could only get a few shots of the exterior and great patio for you, dear readers. What we can tell you is that there's a private opening tonight, with full public debut tomorrow, May 1. The former Tempest space is wiped clean, now the room sports a huge white marble bar in the center with tufted banquettes and ottomans on one side, booths and tables on the other, fabric wallpaper, lots of dark woods, leather, amber lighting. It's all new, but already feels comfortable, lived in, with a 30s-40s vibe. There are seats on all sides of the bar, which makes for easy bar eating if you so choose. Chef Chris Ennis, quickly putting his short term at One Sunset behind him (he was at Vibrato before that), came up with an "American bistro" menu, easy noshing food like flat breads with La Quercia prosciutto, burgers, crab and sweet corn fritters, salads. They'll take reservations for tables, although some will be held in the later hours for bottle service. This being a Winston's sibling, the lounge features prominently (as does the DJ booth) and stays open until 2am, and because several partners are entertainment heavyweights (Andy Fiscella, an actor; Chris Huvane, West Coast editor for GQ; Beau Flynn, a producer), the crowd follows suit. Metromix has the rundown on the DJs and nightlife angles. (7321 Santa Monica Blvd.; no dinner Sun, Wed)
· Winston's 2.0: New Crown Bar Details [~ELA~]
· Samantha Ronson and The Alliance Open Crown Bar Tonight [Metromix]
A WeHo operative alerts us that Buzz Coffee at 8000 Sunset Boulevard is now closed. We have no idea when it closed or why, and while the "we miss you already" goodbye signage has a slight teary tinge, the positive outlook of April showers bringing May flowers sounds like someone's happy to be free. Sidenote: Anyone know why that plaza has completely emptied out?
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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]
The 
Whoa. Still awaiting confirmation, but the huge rumor at last night's Chefs & Champagne event on Melrose Place is that Walter Manzke is no longer executive chef at 
Breaking news from West Hollywood today: the 
