Open and Interesting… Bettolino Kitchen is serving in the former Gina Lee’s space on Palos Verdes Boulevard, and the early signs are good. The space has been freshened up with an open kitchen and communal tables, and the menu of modern Italian dishes fits the stylish, inviting room well. They’re open for lunch and already popular at dinner – when I stopped in last Sunday all tables were full. The restaurant is new but the family has a long history locally – Bettolino is owned by the Giuliano family, which owns Gaetano’s restaurant in Torrance…
Upcoming And Interesting… There are two bakeries opening in Redondo soon, one in the plaza at the corner of Prospect and Beryl, the other at the King Harbor Plaza on PCH. The latter has an interesting story – Kirari West is owned by a family from Fukushima, Japan, a place in the news for reasons other than gourmet delights. The Saito family opened a bakeshop there in 2011 making pastries exclusively from rice flour, and despite the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown there, they have remained open and spawned this first foothold in the USA. They’ll be making sweet and savory items using California ingredients and Japanese techniques. This brave experiment will be something to watch, and of particular interest to those who avoid gluten – watch for an opening in early May…
Bad Timing… Last week’s review of the Antigua Café came out on the very day that the restaurant closed temporarily due to the sudden death of the chef’s father. They are now open again, so feel free to stop by. Condolences to Chef Yaneth for her loss…
Dining For Cause… Dine Around Hermosa is a program that supports the 2015 Special Olympics – local restaurants donate 15% of their proceeds to the cause. Support those generous businesses and the games themselves – you can see a list at hbchamber.net – click the event calendar…
Whiskey Meets Haute Cuisine… The South Bay will have two dinners at which fine whiskies with multicourse meals will be served – and they’re on consecutive days. The HT Grill is first on April 22, a four-course tasting meal paired with California whiskeys, both neat and in cocktails. The menu is of their website and htgrill.com/events, and looks delicious. Hey 19 will be offering a bourbon dinner the very next day – no information yet about what will be served, but I’d venture to guess that the people at the restaurant will be able to provide information soon. Whiskies are much more difficult to pair with foods than wines, so this will be an interesting pair of events…
Checking The Calendar Again… The Bluewater Grill accidentally published an incorrect date for their next event – the “Shellfish Fanfare with White Wine” tasting will be Tuesday, April 14. If you visit on any day they’ll have some varieties of both shellfish and white wine, but this is the evening to enjoy calculated combinations…
Changes At The Bottle Inn… Congratulations are in order for the first anniversary of the Bottle Inn Redondo even as the original location is about to undergo a makeover. Plans are afoot to add a wine bar to a restaurant famous for their award-winning array of vino, which is a very smart move. No word yet on how soon this will happen, or whether the restaurant will be temporarily closed during construction…
Eagerly Awaited… In a column last month I mentioned that the South Bay is going to have a new Basque restaurant. The sign is up now so I can say where it is – on the Redondo Boardwalk, in the space that is currently Gambrinus. The chef-owner is Bernard Ibarra, most recently of Terranea Resort. I’ve had the privilege of enjoying Bernard’s cooking, and he is a master of his art. He brought a few Basque touches to his cooking there, but is free to cut loose with this project. No news yet about when they’ll be open – stay tuned…
Speaking of King Harbor, King Harbor Brewing will be celebrating their first anniversary on April 11th, at the brewhouse on 182nd Street by Kingsdale. They’re going all out with food, live bands, cask tastings, and commemorative mugs and other swag, Event runs from 2 P.M. to 6 P.M. – tickets can be purchased at the brewery or via Eventbrite…
Downstairs on the Side… If you are one of the many people who kept calling the Red Room in Manhattan Beach the Side Door despite the fact that they changed the name two years ago, you now have a new name to not remember. The Red Room became the Downstairs Bar a few weeks ago, and they’re serving food from their own kitchen rather than inviting people to bring take-out. The menu is impressive, much more than standard bar snacks…
Sicily Gets Respect… It wasn’t too long ago that Sicilian wines were not widely available in the USA, and when they were, they tended to end up in bargain bins. Americans are coming to appreciate the many varietals of that island, and if you’d like to further your own education you can book a seat at Hostaria Piave on April 21st. That’s when they’ll be hosting a wine dinner featuring Laurent de la Gatinais, proprietor of Tenuta Rapitala winery. The restaurant that usually serves dishes from the northeast will serve five courses of Sicilian specialties that evening, and the menu is a thing of beauty. Price is $75 inclusive – call 310-374-1000.
Delayed Again… The remodeling of the former Game Changers into Laurel Tavern is off to a slow start, but work should begin soon. According to one of the new owners the opening is now scheduled for the “end of summer.” While the original location has an extensive cocktail program, it appears that the Hermosa operation will only serve beer and wine. The reports I’ve heard of their food have been ecstatic, but it appears that we’ll all be waiting a bit longer to enjoy it locally.
Service On The Half Shell… Most people only have oysters as a treat when they’re dining out, as markets generally don’t stock live seafood. The people at The Jolly Oyster, a new market at 182nd Street and Van Ness in Torrance, want to broaden your horizons. They specialize in shellfish and offer sustainably farmed oysters, clams, and crab, and the people who work there have been known to offer samples of different varieties so you know what you’re buying. This is the second location – the original is near their farm in Ventura – and is likely to become a destination for seafood fans.
Any new places I should know about, any upcoming events? I’m at richard@richardfoss.com.
