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White Boy Tacos, anyone?
As if White Guy Pad Thai weren't enough, Downtown is now in the grips of another "white guy" food cart — this time slinging tacos on Spring Street during the late night shift. Tacos are done up with sake-braised chicken, whiskey-soaked steak, and other higher-end alternatives, and sell for $3 apiece or three for $8. One really cool thing: buy a plate of tacos and they'll give you a ticket that you can give to a homeless person to redeem for a single taco from the makeshift blue cart. Interested? Follow them here.
Augustine Wine Bar's new chef
Evan Algorri is out as chef at Augustine Wine Bar in the Valley, having moved on to some different opportunities, Eater is told. In his stead comes Matt Wilson, he of WILD at Canelé fame, with plans to further elevate the wine bar fare on site.
Jay & Bey at Maré
Apparently Jay-Z and Beyoncé are fans of Eric Greenspan's cooking, as the power couple dined under the stars at the chef's secretive Melrose spot Maré last night. A handful of tweets and lowkey Instagrams pointed out the couple's date night in the patio space behind Greenspan's Grilled Cheese — though no word on whether or not their adorable child joined them for the meal.
Spartina launches lunch
Just a few steps down Melrose, Stephen Kalt's Spartina has launched a lunch menu. Available weekdays only from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the menu will use the wood-fired grill to make sandwiches and a variety of other simple dishes, including pastas, pizzas, and pastries for dessert. The full menu can be found here.
It's the Vegan Street Fair on Sunday
The Vegan Street Fair returns this Sunday, ready to tackle the crowds that made last year's event a supposed drag. There's three times the space now and twice as many vendors, plus new access points for ticket holders so lines can move more smoothly. Considering last year's event drew almost 10,000 people, those changes are likely to help. Entrance is free, with bites priced at $3 or less.
Two Guns Espresso changes roasters
Popular South Bay stalwart Two Guns Espresso is switching things up, with a new roasting partner in Dillano's. The Washington-based roastery will be handling the coffee company's signature blends and retail bags, as well as being the primary bean supplier for all of their coffee shops.
Alton Brown's Umami mash-up
Noted food guru Alton Brown is partnering up with Umami Burger for a limited time, working a special $14 breakfast-tinged burger that comes complete with bacon and an egg on top. It's rolling out nationwide, with $1 from each burger going towards the Make-A-Wish foundation.
