Phillip Frankland Lee Sent Packing, Changing Chain Restaurants for the Better

Lifehouse Tonics launches today

No, it's not a Christian progressive rock band: Lifehouse Tonics is a new Hollywood spot for healthy-drinking elixers and probiotic drinks. Think drinks with stuff like cordyceps, hibiscus flower, epimedium, and something called a shwagandha. The store opens today, and hours run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Cookie Casa closing

After several years of baking up a storm on Beverly Boulevard, Cookie Casa is shuttering this coming Saturday. The company penned a note to longtime fans saying they're all ready "for a new chapter". But don't worry: leading up to their last day, they're going to be baking like mad, and on Saturday everything will be $1 only.

Phillip Frankland Lee's exit interview

Here's the since-booted Phillip Frankland Lee doing his 'exit interview' for Top Chef season 13, saying things like "once again, everything I touch the judges just don't like."

Plan Check gives away crullers

Plan Check on Sawtelle is partying like it's four years ago (when they first opened), giving away free birthday cake crullers tonight to anyone, for any reason. They're also not limiting the party to just the Sawtelle outpost (their first) — you can get those bad boys at any location tonight.

State Brewing Co. lands a brewmaster

South Bay brewing startup State Brewing Co. lands A.J. Stoll as their first brewmaster, per this post. Formerly an award-winner with Figueroa Mountain, Stoll will now be on site helping to turn out beers from the small Gardena space.

Changing the way you think about chains

Here's an interesting local angle to all the talk of remodeled chain restaurants. LA Daily News chats with the founder of Stout and the founders of Mendcino Farms about how they'd like to reformat the notion of 'chain restaurant' dining.

And five years of Harvard & Stone

Can you believe how long Hollywood's premier cocktail club has been around? Harvard & Stone, tucked into an unassuming space in Thai Town, is doing it big to celebrate their half-decade of drink making, and it's all happening tonight.