Benefit for victim of Malibu fire
Local chef Sonia El-nawal is in the early stages of planning a benefit for Kerry Clasby, known as The Intuitive Forager. Clasby, who has organized several Las Vegas-area farmers markets and has been instrumental in bringing the products of hundreds of small family farms to residents and some of the city’s top chefs, lost much ofherhome and business in Malibu, California, as a result of the Woolsey Fire. ElNawal, chef/owner of Rooster Boy Cafe in Desert Shores, reports that Clasby is “starting from scratch, basically.” El-nawal is talking to other local chefs, hoping to host dinners at her restaurant on “three, four, five nights, orwhateverittakes,” to aid in the rebuilding efforts. More to come.
Le Thai is back
While nobody was looking, Le Thai quietly reopened at 523 Fremont St. downtown after a major remodel that started in July. The project included turning the tiny restaurant into a bar area and enclosing the patio to become the new dining room, expanding the restaurant’s capacity. “We just decided to put the open sign on; we’re not big into parties,” owner Dan Coughlin said.
Winery expands
The Pahrump Valley Winery —whichhaswon 480 national wine awards — has completed its $1.7 million expansion, adding 7,000 square feet. Among the improvements is an automated line that enables two people to handle 2,000 bottles in an hour, versus eight people bottling 500 an hour the old way. There’s also a new tasting area and event space. The winery’s
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