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Pomona grows
A newish Pomona restaurant is up to something a little bit different: They’re trying to team up with hyper-local farms and gardens to grow 100% of their produce — and that includes a partnership with students at Cal Poly Pomona nearby. The restaurant, Vita Italian Bar & Grill, opened earlier this year inside the DoubleTree by Hilton. Since then chef David Wolfskill has begun collaborating with the school’s Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture, in hopes of ultimately sourcing nearly all of its produce from within greater Pomona. Meat and seafood would be sourced across California.
The move to sustainable and local sourcing is a promising one, particularly for a Pomona-area chain hotel restaurant, but such things are not entirely unheard of. Central Coast restaurant The Bear & Star has been trying to grow as much of its produce and livestock as possible from a nearby family farm since last year.
New digs
Adolfo Suaya is on the move again, this time opening up a new hotel property in Hollywood. The Whisky Hotel will break ground at 1717 N. Wilcox Avenue this year, and will feature lots of in-room drinking possibilities as well as a ground-floor restaurant.
Summer on high
The return of summer means the retun of Melrose Rooftop Theatre, the ongoing food-and-drink film series going down above E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood. There are $65 three-course meal and ticket combos available, plus drinks and more for up to 100 folks per screening. Expect movies like Coming to America, The Big Lebowski, Almost Famous, and more.
Poppy party
Downtown’s Poppy + Rose has expanded into dinner service, reports DTLAer. Expect larger-format entrees and the addition of a more robust beer and wine menu, including wine-based cocktails.
Chicken for days
The former Hashi in Little Tokyo will become a new outpost of Korean fried chicken option BBQ Chicken any day now. The popular Korean chain will also serve a variety of dishes like pasta, salads, and beer. 442 E. 2nd St., Little Tokyo.
Orange County parties
Orange County’s KAABOO Festival in Del Mar is going big with the chef lineup this year. Expect dishes from Ludo Lefebvre, Brian Malarkey, Daniela Soto-Innes, Jessica Koslow, and many more across the three-day food, music, and comedy event in September.
Genever’s new role
Genever has officially launched its new happy hour in Historic Filipinotown, offering $7 martinis and negronis, $7 glasses of wine, and more. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
