ROOM IDEAS FROM AN APP
From a new brunch pop-up in Santa Monica to food events around town, here’s what’s happening in the Los Angeles food and drink world:
Time for brunch: Chef Ari Taymor is on the move once again. The chef started his Alma restaurant as a pop-up in Venice before opening a restaurant at a small space in downtown L.A. in 2012. After three years he moved Alma to the Standard Hollywood and ended his twoyear run at the hotel last December. Now he has started a weekend-only pop-up in Santa Monica devoted to something he does exceptionally well: brunch. Taymor describes the pop-up as “serving elevated breakfast favorites with a modern twist.” The pop-up, called Little Prince, is named after the French children’s book “The Little Prince,” which Taymor’s mother read to him when he was little. “She’s always been so supportive of me in everything I want to do, especially through a tough few years,” said Taymor. “I wanted to find a way to celebrate
that.” Taymor’s partner in the pop-up is restaurant consultant and developer Shane Won Murphy, who has ownership in Kettle Black and Sawyer in Silver Lake. If you had brunch at Alma at the Standard Hollywood, you’ll recognize some of the dishes at Little Prince, including the cast-iron pancakes and the smoked brisket with Anson Mills grits. The seaweed hollandaise sauce also makes an appearance, served with crispy potatoes and a smoked salmon hash. Little Prince is in the former Fork in the Road space on Main Street, next to the Jinya Ramen Bar. General manager Steve LaFountain created a list of all-day cocktails, and the pop-up is also serving a selection of natural wines. Little Prince is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 2424 Main St., Santa Monica, littleprince.la.
Eating for a cause: Dozens of L.A. restaurants are participating in Make March Matter, a month-long campaign to raise funds for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Chef David LeFevre created a pretzel and chocolate bread pudding for the month of March at his Manhattan Beach restaurant Fishing With Dynamite. The proceeds from the dessert will be donated to the campaign. Beacon Echo Park will donate $1 of every toast ordered in March; Porto’s Bakery will donate a portion of the month’s sales; Simmzy’s will donate 100% of the sales from its ice cream sandwiches; and Shake Shack in West Hollywood will donate 25% of its total sales on March 19. For a complete list of participating businesses and to make a donation online, visit www .makemarchmatter.org.
Shop and eat: The next time you’re in need of a spicy fried chicken sandwich and in the market for handcrafted housewares, there’s Scout. The new Silver Lake restaurant and retail shop opened last week on Sunset Boulevard, next to sister restaurant Sawyer. The cafe portion of the space serves pumpkin seed granola and Greek yogurt; grain bowls; house-cured salmon toast; spicy fried chicken sandwiches; and kale salads. The 240square-foot shop carries local craft beer, wine, cookbooks from local chefs, cocktail kits, vinyl records from local bands, potted plants, charcuterie boards and more. The shop also is stocked with fresh pasta and sauces from its other sister restaurant, Kettle Black, and do-it-yourself biscuit mix and pickles from Sawyer. The cafe and shop are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 3707 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 451-9750, www.scoutsilver lake.com.
Simply divine: The Los Angeles LGBT Center is hosting its 13th annual Simply DiVine food and wine event on March 24 at Hollywood Forever. All proceeds from the event support the center’s programs and services. General-admission tickets are $150. Club VIP tickets are $500 simplydivinela.org. 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.