Food Network Star Damiano Carrara Expands Empire Into a Massive Moorpark Space

Food Network stars to Moorpark

Ventura-based Carrara Pastries is moving to a new, and much larger, location in Moorpark. The bakery and cafe space has been featured prominently on Food Network over the years thanks to chef/owner Damiano Carrara, and now will have the opportunity to push even further into the greater Los Angeles market, with a bigger location to draw in crowds.

Carrara Pastries already does three square meals a day plus pastry and cake services, with one existing smaller location in Moorpark and a second in Agoura Hills. The new outlet is to be something of a flagship, covering a full 5,000 square feet of what was at one time a Fresh & Easy inside the Tuscany Square retail center in Moorpark. The jump shows just how popular Carrara’s company has become, and (while still technically in Ventura County) should help expand its profile to a whole slew of LA travelers, west Valley diners, and more.

Buy one, get one

Magpies in Tarzana is helping the kids back to school with a new buy-one-get-one deal on soft serve ice cream. It’s running this entire week, so all anybody has to do is show up.

Chef shuffles come to Downtown

Rumor has it that former Commerson chef Sasha Lyon is now cooking at Giulia in Downtown. The casual American restaurant carries a bit of an Italian backbone, but it’s still surprising to see someone with Lyon’s pedigree quietly taking the reins of a quiet DTLA dinner option like Giulia.

Wolfgang to the Bellagio

LA chef Wolfgang Puck is switching things up in Las Vegas, moving his seminal Spago over to the Bellagio after a lease deal fell through at his previous location. As LA Times reports, the jump into the (soon to be) former Todd English’s Olives space means a bigger patio and a view of the famous fountain too.

Burgers Never Say Die is off

Anyone looking for Sunday burger has to be displeased with news that Burgers Never Say Die is off for the time being. The underground East Hollywood hit is doing some much-needed repairs on their space, so stay tuned for an eventual reopening date.

Oli’s goes big in Montclair

Montclair Place’s Oli’s Tacos is doing a grand opening taco party today, after winning the property’s first Search for the Next Great Pop-Up. Oli’s beat out the likes of Barbara Jean and others to land a cheap stall for slinging tacos, and so today from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. the restaurant will be doing half-off the entire menu.

Lien Ta gets some recognition

Here’s Looking at You co-owner Lien Ta doesn’t mess around. She’s the driving front of house force behind the popular Koreatown eatery, and now she’s been tapped by the James Beard Foundation for their first-ever Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership fellowship, along with 20 other women in the industry from across the country.

Blue Hen stays for a moment

Looks like a protracted closing for Blue Hen in Eagle Rock after all. Following some local outcry the place is extending its farewell tour with a few more days, and longer hours.