Trump’s LA Golf Club Down $250,000 in Catering Alone Since Election, and More

Bad for business

Things are not going well for Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes. The admittedly beautiful property sits right along the Pacific Ocean, but as the Washington Post notes via a series of public records requests, it’s still tough times at the ritzy enclave.

For one, almost no one is golfing there, says the Post. Add in a significant drop in commercial and television shoots (only two this year, both from small out-of-town companies) and food at the course that is (at least by some estimates) hilariously bad, and it’s all a recipe for a struggling business. The Post says Trump’s brand has proven rather toxic, and no one has even booked a wedding since last November. Several high-profile fundraisers and events have pulled out and gone elsewhere, and all told since President Trump has taken office the course is down “$250,000 total in rental fees and catering costs” alone.

The most exciting eats

Angeleno Magazine put out their big annual restaurant issue last month, with room for best brunches, hot chefs, and great bartenders. The magazine’s list of noteworthy new restaurants includes 71Above, Kismet, Tsubaki, and more.

More about Sotto

Interested in learning more about chef de cuisine Craig Towe of Sotto? The man has taken the helm now that Steve Samson is mostly at Rossoblu in Downtown, and is guiding the popular Beverly Hills-adjacent restaurant in a new direction.

Sit-down Mexican food in the OC

The OC Register has put together a list of the best sit-down, full-service restaurants in greater Orange County, and it’s a who’s who of names to know. There’s Taco Maria, of course, but also Solita, Javier’s Anepalco, and many more.

Third Street’s dead zone

LA Weekly offers a grim look at one particular space along West Third Street, and how cursed it seems to be. The site is where Link was for a time, and a number of restaurants prior to that, and now yakiniku option Manpuku is coming along to try its hand — curse or not.

Hot sauce shops

There’s a new dedicated hot sauce shop in Los Angeles, as LA Taco reports that Fuego Box has opened its doors as of two weeks ago. The space new Pico and Hauser in Mid-City is, of course, focused on small-batch producers instead of big hot sauce labels. That makes sense, considering the company started as a subscription service only, and is for the first time moving into true retail.

Samosa House rising

El Segundo’s latest restaurant tenant is Samosa House, with the burgeoning casual Indian food chain taking over a former outlet of The Counter. More interesting, though, is Toddrickallen’s assertion that many of the new shopping complexes that have hit this small South Bay town are struggling to find (and maintain) tenants, from Plaza El Segundo (where Samosa House sits) to The Point on down.

It’s tapas time

With hidden tasting menu restaurant SAAM at the Bazaar morphing into a new place named SOMNI under new chef Aitor Zabala, there’s some room for playfulness at the SLS Hotel. At the moment that means a multi-day pop-up by chef Andoni Luis Aduriz of two Michelin starred Mugaritz of his tapas restaurant Topa Sukaldería running until July 21 at The Bazaar. Sample courses that meld flavors from Basque country to Latin America like mole-covered profiteroles and smelt tiradito. Reservations recommended.