New ideas baking in the big city
From a new salmon-pastry hybrid to a new downtown restaurant and brewery, here’s what’s happening in L.A. food and beverage:
Sushi baked: Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, the Highland Park bakery known for the cruffin (croissantmuffin hybrid pastry), is now serving something called a California Croissant. The bakery is billing the pastry hybrid as a sushi-stuffed croissant, even though there isn’t any actual sushi involved. It’s a croissant stuffed with smoked salmon wrapped in nori, with ginger and wasabi — but no rice. The croissant is served with a side of soy sauce for dipping. The California Croissant is $5 and available at both the San Francisco and Highland Park locations. 111 S. Ave. 59, Los Angeles, (323) 739-0473, mrholmesbake house.com.
More from the Hatfields: Karen and Quinn Hatfield, the married pastry chef and chef behind Odys + Penelope and Sycamore Kitchen, both on La Brea Avenue, will open a restaurant called the Mighty in downtown L.A. this spring. The restaurant, whose name was inspired by the Bob Dylan song “The Mighty Quinn,” will move into the Higgins Building, which is already home to Badmaash and the Edison. The Mighty will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Highlights include rotisserie chicken, pastas and salads. On the sweet side, Karen’s pastries, old-fashioned layer cakes and seasonal pies. The restaurant will serve Stumptown coffee, as well as beer and wine. 108 W. 2nd St., Unit 105, Los Angeles.
Light ’em up: Gastro Garage, the blowtorch-wielding pop-up dinner crew, will open its first permanent restaurant in the downtown L.A. Arts District this summer. You can expect dishes such as fish and short ribs cooked on a drill bit, with a blowtorch, and torched foam-stuffed doughnuts. And there will be cocktails (no torching). Address yet to be announced. thegastrogarage.com. Atwater switch: Canelé, chef and co-owner Corina Weibel’s neighborhood restaurant in Atwater Village, will close at the end of March or early April. Replacing it will be Journeymen, a restaurant by Gjelina’s David Wilcox and Guy Tabibian. The two describe the new restaurant as “very vegetabledriven, very progressive, very community-based.” 3219 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, canele.la.
Brasserie revamp: The Patina Restaurant Group has relaunched Kendall’s Brasserie in downtown L.A. with a new menu by chef Jean-Pierre Bosc. Highlights include escargot in absinthe-garlic butter; a croque-madame; and bouillabaisse. The restaurant also plans to open a new lounge called the Boardroom that will serve late-night bites, cocktails and have live music. 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 972-7322, www.pat inagroup.com/kendalls-brasserie.
New brews: Mikkeller, the Copenhagen brewery with locations around the world, including San Diego and San Francisco, will open Mikkeller DTLA on Feb. 10. Located in a 7,600-square-foot former auto repair shop, Mikkeller DTLA will have more than 62 taps as well as a craft cocktail program. Kaffebaren, a cafe located inside Mikkeller DTLA , is now open, serving kombucha, salads and sandwiches. A portion of the restaurant also will feature slowcooked, smoked meats from chef Enrique Cuevas, who has cooked at Spring in L.A. and Alinea in Chicago. 330 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, www.mikkellerbar.com.
Killer combo: The Mermaid in Hermosa Beach has merged with Killer Shrimp to become Killer Shrimp at the Mermaid. In addition to the new name, some of Killer Shrimp’s signature dishes, including the Killer Shrimp original bowl of shrimp, will now be available at the new location. The back poolroom has been turned into the Copa Lounge, a 1950sthemed dining room. 11 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, (310) 374-9344, www.killershrimp.com.
Still hungry? Odys + Penelope launched a happy hour menu this week. Spartina has launched a social club with specials every Monday evening. Josh Pebbles is the new executive chef at Tart restaurant at the Farmer’s Daughter hotel. The Hello Kitty Cafe truck is back and will be making appearances in Valencia, Glendale and Northridge. The Cellar Beverly Hills, a new wine concierge and storage service, has opened in Beverly Hills. Fat Dragon, a Chinese restaurant and tea bar in Silver Lake, in the same strip mall as Trois Familia, is open. Link N Hops, the Atwater Village restaurant and taproom known for its sausages and craft beer selection, has opened a location in Sunland.