The Mr. Holmes Bakehouse Takeover Plan Is Picking Up Steam

The Mr. Holmes Bakehouse expansion plan

Despite its nascent nature, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse in Highland Park is already expanding. Well, they’ve been expanding — they almost immediately announced a follow-up outlet in Larchmont — but now they’re using their massive back kitchen to explore the wholesale game as well. Starting January 14, fans of Intelligentsia Coffee will now be able to get a whole variety of Mr. Holmes Bakehouse pastries right at the coffee shops in Silver Lake, Venice, and Pasadena.

As for the array, expect the usual high-saturation options like a Ferrero Rocher croissant and doughnuts and cookies with cereal on them, though they won’t serve the Instagram-famous Cruffins outside of their busy Highland Park store. The move is really just a new phase in the extended Mr. Holmes rollout across Los Angeles, and speaks to a larger trend of more upscale operators working with coffee shops on food. Places like Blue Bottle routinely host the Guerrilla Tacos truck and other operators, while Dinosaur Coffee in Silver Lake does pastries by Nicole Rucker and weekend bagels by Maury’s. Others, like Go Get Em Tiger, long ago figured out how to keep the model in house, and offer food on site from the awesome Ria Wilson.

Puesto arrives in Irvine

San Diego export Puesto has arrived in Irvine, right inside the Los Olivos Marketplace. The Mexico City-leaning taco spot began offering its full menu last Friday, and begins serving lunch today. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Phil Rosenthal returns

Here’s a bit of good (and long-awaited) news: Phil Rosenthal is coming back to television. The award-winning food and travel host’s show I’ll Have What Phil’s Having is now on Netflix, and he’s got a deal in place with the platform for a new (as yet hush-hush) show coming down the line. It’s, as always, a good time to be Phil Rosenthal.

Southern comfort in the Valley

Ventura Boulevard Magazine tracks down Black Bottom Southern Cafe, a North Hollywood newcomer that only opened in December. The place serves a variety of savory Southern favorites, from shrimp n’ grits on down, and looks like a good time.

Free Chili Day at Philippe’s

Now in its seventh iteration, Philippe’s free chili day is going to be a big one this year. Running Tuesday, January 24 from 10:30 a.m. on, the plan is for the restaurant icon to dish out 500 servings of the stuff for free, so all you have to do is show up. Better do that, like, now-isn though, because these things get mobbed.

Poke Haus expands to the Valley

Despite the influx of poke concepts, you might still recognize the name Poke Haus from their Westminster location. Well, get ready for even more brand recognition as a tipster writes in to say they’re expanding into a space right by Sweet Butter Kitchen. Not that the area isn’t already well-fed on poke. After all, the nearby Gelson’s serves the stuff inside too.

Bill Chait has more to say

The conversation around Tartine coming to Los Angeles is expanding, with the Observer getting Bill Chait on the phone to talk about his plan for the future, and why he left his massively popular Sprout restaurant group in the first place. It’s an intriguing look at the future of food in Los Angeles, and just how much collaboration is involved.