The news that five of L.A.'s best chefs---Michael Cimarusti (Providence), Christophe Eme (Ortolan), David LeFevre (Water Grill ), Josiah Citrin (Melisse), and Angelo Auriana (Valentino)---would join each other in one kitchen for five different dinners over the next few months sent the local foodie world a-buzzin. Each chef creates a course in the style of the host restaurant, and it's practically a bargain at $130 ($190 with wines). These are some of LA's biggies, after all, the ones gracing the top of the Michelin "inspectors" lists. The chefs want to create a stronger bond among themselves and the restaurant community as a whole, and Cure Autism Now gets some of the proceeds.
In the interest of helping you, dear readers, get a table at one of the hottest dining events in town (at least for those nights), we did a little foot work to find out who still has availability. Consider this the fire. Now place under chair. Get moving.
Monday, April 30
Providence, 5955 Melrose Ave., 323.460.4170
Availability: Sold out between 6 and 9:30; two tables open at 10.
Reservations: Call the restaurant for credit card authorization.
Cancellation policy: 72 hours in advance; no shows will be charged $100 a head.
Wednesday, May 23
Ortolan, 8338 W. 3rd St., 323.653.3300
Availability: Getting full, but some openings early and later hours.
Reservations: Call the restaurant for credit card authorization.
Cancellation Policy: Probably the same as the others, but the restaurant's computer crashed today and they couldn't help us. We'll update ASAP.
Sunday, July 1
Water Grill, 544 S. Grand, Downtown, 213.891.0900
Availability: Between 7pm and 8pm pretty full, other times are wide open.
Reservations: Call the restaurant for credit card authorization.
Cancellation Policy: 48 hour notice; no shows get a gift card for the pre-approved amount.
Sunday, July 29
Melisse, 1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.395.0881
Availability: Openings between 5:30 to 6:15 and 8:30 to 9:15.
Reservations: Call the restaurant for credit card authorization.
Cancellation Policy: 48 hour notice; no shows are charged half per person.
Sunday, August 26
Valentino, 3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.829.4313
Availability: Plenty of openings between 7 and 9:15.
Reservations: Call the restaurant for credit card authorization.
Cancellation Policy: 72 hour notice, no shows are charged $50 per person.
