Italian Star Vic Casanova Adds Upscale Montage Laguna Beach to His Resume

The Casanova king

Victor Casanova must be a busy man. The longtime Italian-cooking chef has been working restaurants for years in and around Los Angeles, including the popular Gusto on West Third Street. He’s the chef-owner there, and even had Italian chophouse Pistola on the same street a few years back. As if that weren’t enough, he’s apparently also stepping in as chef de cuisine at The Loft inside the Montage in Laguna Beach, one of the more upscale properties in Orange County. Casanova has previously run hotel restaurants at places like the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.

Downtown moves

DTLA Rising has the scoop on some new Downtown food tenants. Slightly more upscale Starbucks Reserve is opening at 8th and Olive soon, alongside another new location of trendy Mexican option Tocaya Organica.

Legalization on film

The ongoing fight to more formally legalize street vending in Los Angeles gets a boost in this new short film from the We Are Mitú folks on Facebook. Check out this impassioned plea for common-sense legislation surrounding one of LA’s oldest culinary traditions.

Birthday party in K-Town

Here’s Looking at You is turning two, and to celebrate the Koreatown restaurant is doing two nights (Friday and Saturday of this week) of throwback favorites from the years past. Dishes will include things like veal sweetbreads, pork belly with nam jim, quail, and more — plus the return of the bar pie and some of their older cocktails.

The Joint gets bigger

Sherman Oaks newcomer The Joint is slowly expanding its food menu, now offering options like lobster rolls and freshly-prepared fish to go along with the limited opening items like coffee and pastries. The seafood-focused marketplace side is growing in its take-home selections as well.

Ice cream dreams

ABC7 gives some love to Donas in Downey, the inventive doughnut shop that is spanning flavors across generations.

Groundwork Coffee comes

West Third Street is getting a new coffee option soon. Signage is up now for Groundwork Coffee at 8121 W. Third Street, with an opening slated for later this year.