$1 Beers in Santa Monica, Ricardo Zarate's Continued Ressurrection, and More A.M. News

Zarate keeps coming back

Peruvian chef Ricardo Zarate is jumping back into the restaurant game with both feet following a high-profile departure some 18 months or so ago. Now comes news that he’ll be headlining this year’s Latin Food Fest in Los Angeles from March 18 through 21. That’s a ways off still, but you can get more info here.

LA Downtowner talks Pok Pok

Laced with nice photos, this quick look into Pok Pok in Chinatown offers a glimpse into what chef Andy Ricker is going for: someplace for people to gather, en masse, to enjoy beer, wings, and his own version of many Thailand classics.

Happy hour at the all-new El Chavo

Starting Tuesday and running through Thursday every week, the reimagined El Chavo will be doing happy hour specials. It's only two hours long (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), but expect cocktails, oysters, and beer.

Now a thing. Check it out. #elchavo #happyhour #oysters #bandera #beer #yes

A photo posted by El Chavo & Chavito (@elchavosilverlake) on Jan 22, 2016 at 9:18pm PST

All-you-can-eat secret pizza

Mobile wood-fired pizzamaker Urban Pie is doing an AYCE Piesenberg pop-up at their catering kitchen in Commerce on Thursday, with $25 nabbing you access to an endless rotation of pizzas and beer. The idea is to showcase some unusual, higher-than-usual quality ingredients — and to have a good time in the process. Party starts at 7 p.m. and runs all night.

A new La Brea Bakery chef

There’s a new corporate executive chef at La Brea Bakery, and his name is Henk Drakulich. The chef previously spent time at Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills — yes, Lisa Vanderpump’s still-unsold place — and the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado, but has been on site for a little while now. Not only is he reworking the casual cafe lunch menu with options like a fried chicken sandwich or panzanella salad, he's also taking over the wholesale component and various concepts.

$1 beers in Santa Monica

If you can believe it. To celebrate their first year in the game, Ashland Hill on Main Street will be doing $1 beers all night this Friday, and even sending around samplers of food from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. That’s all-day drinking, if you’re up for it.