RH at the Andaz Hotel
For dineLA.com
Dec. 22: Italian Feast of the Fishes at Angeli CaffeChef and host of KCRW’s Good Food does Christmas Italian style with her version of the Italian feast of the fishes. There will be pizza puttanesca with anchovies, fried calamari, trofie (short, skinny twisted pasta) with shrimp and fennel, along with a host of other good things. $40 per person. 323.936.9086 or www.angelicaffe.com.
Dec. 24: Chinese at The Foundry on MelroseIn keeping with the unofficial Jewish (and Greenspan family) tradition of Chinese food and a movie on Christmas Eve, chef Eric Greenspan is doing, what else, Chinese food and a movie at The Foundry on Melrose. The crispy sesame beef, chow mein noodles with cabbage and shiitakes and all the rest will be served family style. “The Princess Bride” screens at 8:45 followed by “The Big Lebowski” at 11. You need not be Jewish to partake! 323.651.0915 or www.thefoundryonmelrose.com/calendar.html.
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve at Providence
Do not feel like being goosed? Prime rib sound ho hum? Consider La Viglia (Feast of the Seven Fishes) by chef Michael Cimarusti at Providence, now a certified annual tradition in this town. The menu begins with crudo di ricciola, which is not raw Ricola cough drops but amber jack. Sea scallops with black truffles are up next. More fish, more truffles and dessert, thankfully sans seafood, follows. $115 per person; $165 with wine pairings. 323.460.4170.
Dec. 25: Christmas Day at the Millennium Biltmore HotelThe relatives are in town and you are hosted out. Let someone else do the work: specifically La Bisteca in the Rendezvous Court at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Offered between noon and 8 p.m., the menu includes choices such as duck ravioli, lobster salad and lamb chops. $49 for adults; $24 for children. 213.624.1011.
Dec. 30: Champagne Cupcakes at SusieCakes
If there is a cupcake person in your house or heart, surprise him or her with Champagne cupcakes from SusieCakes. They are available today and tomorrow only at the sunny bakeries. And in case you, like us, were wondering if there is real Champagne in them there cakes, the answer is oui. There is brut rose in the pretty pink cakes crowned with white frosting. And for the next day, why Morning After Mimosa cupcakes of course. And you thought cupcakes were going the way of the dodo bird. Yeah right. www.susiecakesla.com
Dec. 31: New Years Eve at MelisseJosiah Citrin has outdone himself with the menu for New Years Eve. It is pure luxury. There is poached egg with osetra caviar and lemon creme fraiche - in our next life we would like that for breakfast on a regular basis - Maine lobster, seared foie gras with spiced French toast, truffle crusted lamb loin. And that is just some of what diners for the second seating will be savoring. $250 per person. But oh so much better than pigs in a blanket and a roomful of semi drunk friends of friends (you know, the typical holiday fare). 310.395.0881.
Dec. 31: New Years Eve at WilshireIt ain’t easy finding a restaurant that doesn’t charge an arm and a leg on New Year’s Eve. Enter Wilshire which is not only offering its regular menu, but holiday favors and a complimentary glass of Champagne for all diners as well. Just looking for a spot to hang out and celebrate? $50 gets you access to an open bar starting at 10 p.m. Signature cocktails, wine and beer are included as is a DJ who will be spinning until the party winds down at 2 a.m. 310.586.1707 or www.wilshirerestaurant.com.
Jan. 6: Pourtal’s Malibu Wine Tour
Tonight is the start of the “Malibu Wine Tour” at Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar in Santa Monica. A handful of winemakers from the likes of Semler, Rosenthal, Cielo, Hoyt and Malibu Vineyards will be on hand to talk about their creations and wine making in the ‘bu. The tour continues through the end of the month with an all Malibu flight and other surprises. www.pourtal.com.
Jan. 9: Charles Perry Lecture
If you have enjoyed the writing of Charles Perry in the Los Angeles Times Food section, here is your chance to see and hear him in person. At 10:30 a.m., it is the annual Charles Perry lecture, part of the Culinary Historians of Southern California terrific series at the Central Library. www.culinaryhistoriansofsoutherncalifornia.org.
Jan. 19: Panini-Off Recipe Contest
Tonight marks the finals of the “Panini-Off” recipe contest at Brentwood’s Coral Tree Café. The winner takes away a $250 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO CORAL TREE CAFE. And their creation will be added to the café menu. Cheer on the competitors and eat for a good cause. Ten percent of the day’s revenue goes to the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association. 310.979.TREE or www.coraltreecafe.com.
Jan. 20: Melville Wine Dinner at Nick + Stef’sChad and Mary Melville and their delish wines (Melville Vineyards for the uninitiated) pay a special visit to Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse this evening for a six course dinner. A sample of the night’s offerings: pork belly with white bean mousse and Calvados scented apple relish paired with a 2008 Estate “Terraces” Pinot Noir, a pre-release, meaning you’re tasting it before just about everyone else. 213.680.0330.
Jan. 24-29 and Jan. 31-Feb. 5: dineLA Restaurant Week
Need we say more?
Feb. 4: LearnAboutWine at Simon L.A.If you’re a fan of chef Kerry Simon’s food, particularly his wonderful seared tuna, here’s your chance to learn from the man himself. “The rock n’ roll chef” will be demonstrating the recipe for tonight’s LearnAboutWine class, “Red Wine & Chef Simon’s Favorite Tuna” at his restaurant, Simon L.A. Tuna eating included. $49 with advanced reservations. www.learnaboutwine.com.
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day at RHChef Sebastien Archambault of RH in the Andaz Hotel has created a ‘sharing menu’ for this year’s holiday that will have couples passing plates back and forth. “I’ll trade you a bite of seared diver scallops with orange braised endive and cilantro seeds for a little of your roasted duck breast with red cabbage, apple and syrah wine sauce.” And if you can’t get in tonight or are juggling a couple sweeties (we won’t tell!), know that the menu is being offered Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th as well. 323.785.6090 or www.andaz.com.
Feb. 20: Opening Your Own Restaurant
Despite the horror stories and sobering statistics, you still want to open your own restaurant. After all, you just know your idea for an all meatball place is what the people want. (Hey, we have heard stranger.) You might as well go into it as educated as possible. UCLA Extension offers a two day seminar for aspiring restaurateurs. The class meets all day this Saturday and next. Pre registration is required. $280 well spent we say. 310.825.9971.
