Melrose Pasta Paradise Spartina Serves a New Casual Lunch Menu

The taste

Taste of the Nation returns on May 4 to Culver City. The popular annual food charity event features some of the biggest names in LA restaurants, with money going to benefit No Kid Hungry. Tickets are on sale now.

Dominique’s burgers

Dominique Ansel’s 189 restaurant at the Grove is flipping to become a Burger Park for a week. The idea is to overhaul the space and sell a bunch of one-off burgers and fried chicken sandwiches during lunch this week from Monday through Friday, and again next Monday through Friday. Check it out.

Book deals

Here’s the cover for Fiona owner Nicole Rucker’s upcoming baking book Dappled, which will arrive this summer. Pre-orders are available now.

Up and running

Salazar is now open on Mondays. The news comes just as the weather has warmed up around Southern California, meaning one more day for outdoor tacos in LA.

And going away

Meanwhile, Van Nuys kabob specialist Kashcool Kitchen has closed. The restaurant was originally located in Woodland Hills but downsized to the Van Nuys space a while back and now, in a Facebook post, says they are closed for good as of last Tuesday.

Pikoh party

There’s a new happy hour to know about in Los Angeles, and it’s at Pikoh on the Westside. The Ricardo Zarate spot’s new deals run daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with options like $6 cocktails and a $9 burger.

The pasta days

Melrose pasta spot Spartina has a new lunch during the week, running noon to 2:30 p.m. Most pasta run around $11, plus pizzas and starter options like salumi plates for $9. The opening menu is below.