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Arts & Culture Chef Dave Beran, former executive chef at Grant Achatz's Next restaurant in Chicago, is striking out on his own on the West Coast. His restaurant, Dialogue, will offer an intimate tasting menu experience at The Gallery, the newly renovated food hall on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade. Look for a Summer 2017 opening. Dialogue, 1315 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401, no phone.

Hotelier Juan Torre teamed up with chef Paco Parreño of Delicat restaurant in Valencia, Spain, to bring the concept to Los Angeles. Delicat will open at the Tuck Hotel in downtown’s Fashion District on June 9, 2017. Expect to find some twists on familiar dishes among the tapas and entrées, as in the burrata ice cream and lime air accompanying marinated tomatoes and guacamole in the “Just a Tomato Salad.” Delicat, 820 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90014, 213­ 947­3815.

Chef Mark Peel (Campanile) flipped his Grand Central Market spot Bombo into a fast­casual seafood concept called Prawn. Look for seafood stews and chowders, fish and chips, warm albacore salad and lobster rolls, as well as grain bowls topped with daily seafood. Peel plans to multiply the eatery, following up the downtown location with one in Pasadena in late summer. Prawn, Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, No phone.

Coly Den Haan (The Must, Perch) has opened Hot Hot Food on Hoover Street in the newest hipster Silver Lake/Virgil Village hotspot. (It’s near Sqirl, need we say more?) Eastsiders will like the comfortable booths, kitsch 70s art, jukebox and patio, and the mashup menu focusing on “LA fried rice” fusions. Look for fried rice plates with the likes of braised pork carnitas or jackfruit; candied and smoked bacon bits with coffee salt and eggs; and purple and green kale with mushrooms. Salads, chili, burgers, and avocado toast all day are available, too. To drink, find gourmet milkshakes, coffee and fresh juices. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Hot Hot Food, 654 N. Hoover St., Los Angeles, CA 90004, 323­522­ 6927 .

Highland Park cult pastry fave Mr. Holmes Bakehouse has opened a location in Larchmont. Look for the “cruffin” craze to continue here – but be warned, they sell out quickly and there could be long lines. Cruffin flavors include peanut butter chocolate cream and cherry almond. Donuts come filled with cherry curd and blackberry thyme jam, and there are matcha and churro croissants, too, such as the signature California croissant, a savory version with smoked salmon, nori and wasabi. Breakfast & Lunch daily. Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, 248 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004, 323­230­6675.

Italian newcomer Giulia has opened at 7th and Hope in DTLA. Look for cicchetto like bone marrow with citrus marmalade, wild sea scallops and grilled octopus; pasta includes short rib manicotti and langoustine linguine; mains feature osso buco, chicken al mattone and Gorgonzola rib­eye. There’s also gourmet pizza, brunch and a late­ night menu. Giulia, 701 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90017, 213­279­5025.

French chef Jean­Georges Vongerichten has opened his first California restaurant, Jean­ Georges Beverly Hills, at the new Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. Vongerichten also oversees The Rooftop by JG, a more casual restaurant/bar situated alongside the rooftop pool. Watch GAYOT's exclusive interview with Jean­ Georges Vongerichten and hotel owner Beny Alagem. Jean­Georges Beverly Hills, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, 9850 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 310­860­6666.

Hollywood mourned the loss of its beloved The Cat & Fiddle, but the British pub has re­emerged on Highland Avenue in the former Mud Hen Tavern space. The grand opening week, June 5­ 11, 2017, will feature live music in the evenings and all­day specials ($6 The Cat's Cider, $13 pie and pint). The Cat & Fiddle, 742 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323­468­3800.

Chef Zach Pollack (Alimento) has opened Cosa Buona in Echo Park. Expect Italian­American fare like an eggplant Parmesan sandwich, mozzarella sticks, peel 'n' eat shrimp scampi and Hawaiian pizza. Cosa Buona, 2100 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 213­908­5211.

Yard House has opened in a prime downtown Burbank location across from the AMC Burbank 16 movie theater. Choose from 130 beers on draft and a wide­ranging menu of salads, tacos, pizzas, burgers, steaks and "house favorites" like jambalaya, Nashville hot chicken and fish and chips. Yard House, 100 E. Palm Ave., Burbank, CA 91502, 818­840­6700.

Chef Ludo Lefebvre (Trois Mec, Petit Trois, etc.) will open Coffee & Waffles this June, operating out of a trailer parked at the Native Hotel on PCH in Malibu. Look for several sweet and savory waffles, and coffee from local roasters Eucalyptus & Pine. Coffee & Waffles, Native Hotel, 28920 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, CA 90265, 424­644­ 0517.

Chef Phillip Frankland Lee brings a casual new “seafood shack” experience to his hometown of Encino, with Frankland's Crab & Co. Scratch|Restaurants again assembles their team of pastry chef Margarita Kallas­Lee, barman Devon Espinosa, and designer Jordan Olson for this latest venture. Look for by­the­pound fresh catches like chilled white gulf prawns, wild­caught king crab legs, or Maine lobster; there’s also branzino fish and chips, shellfish chowder, and fried oysters and clams. Frankland’s Crab & Co., Encino Place, 16101 Ventura Blvd., #250, Encino, CA 91436, 818­906­9609.

Anca Caliman (Lemon Poppy Kitchen) has opened a charming storefront Romanian restaurant, Parsnip, on York Boulevard in Highland Park. Look for traditional cooking suited to an LA palate: eggplant dip, dumplings stuffed with polenta and peppers, flatbread with feta and dill and Romanian chopped salad. Heartier fare includes beef goulash, stuffed cabbage and chicken paprikash. Parsnip, 5623 York Blvd., Highland Park, CA 90042, 323­739­0240.

A stylish Café Gratitude spinoff (and sister to the Newport Beach flagship) has opened on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. Gratitude offers an upscale, all­organic plant­based menu and has a light, bright setting that includes original art, chic banquettes and Moroccan tile. The patio boasts marble tables and olive trees. Executive chef Dreux Ellis (Café Gratitude) prepares some greatest hits from his other café menus, like mole enchiladas and pad thai kelp noodles, as well as new specials to be announced. Gratitude, 419 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, 424­389­ 1850.

Spiffy new Hollywood Proper Residences offers residents and the general public a hip neighborhood rooftop hangout, Filifera, just in time for summer. Kelly Wearstler designed the sleek poolside space overlooking a twinkling Hollywood landscape. Look for seasonal handcrafted cocktails like the Lavender Collins and Passionfruit Fizz, as well as select wine and beer. Snacks include cheese and charcuterie plates, and nibbles such as olives, pickles and crudités. Reservations are required. Filifera, Hollywood Proper Residences, 1550 N. El Centro Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323­499­4009.

“Machete” actor and budding restaurateur Danny Trejo continues his culinary expansion across Los Angeles with Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts in Hollywood. Traditional donuts (glazed, cinnamon crumb, etc.) can be found alongside Mexican­ inspired creations in flavors like horchata, tequila­ lime, Mexican hot chocolate and tres leches. Trejo's Coffee & Donuts, 6785 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323­462­4600.

Chef Daniel Mattern and pastry chef/baker Roxana Jullapat (Campanile, a.o.c., Cooks County) have opened Friends & Family in East Hollywood’s Thai Town. Expect morning eggs, pancakes and elevated bakery goods; and for lunch, salads, quiche, grain bowls, and hot and cold sandwiches. Dinner (coming soon, along with wine) will be more ambitious. The front counter is stocked with pastries and takeaway loaves. A full lineup of Counter Culture coffee and espresso drinks is available. Friends & Family, 5150 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, 323­ 668­2000.

Vegan restaurant Cruciferous has opened on Fountain and Vine in Hollywood. Look for fresh from­scratch pastas, bread baked in­house daily, and main dishes crafted from local farmers market vegetables, as well as various fermented foods. Elevated plant­based fare includes General Tso’s Brussels sprouts, green spring risotto, smoked chili­rubbed cauliflower, kabocha squash donuts and roasted banana flan. Wine should be coming soon. Cruciferous, 1253 Vine St., Ste. 8, Los Angeles, CA 90038, no phone.

Co­founders Lawrence Rudolph and chef Joe Miller have named Santa Monica’s new Rudy & Hudson California Diner after their respective grandfathers. Striving to balance a classic New York City luncheonette and iconic California roadside coffee shop, Rudy & Hudson offers a menu of elevated traditional diner fare, as well as breakfast all day. Look for the likes of french toast filled with toasted coconut and banana with passion fruit sauce and powdered sugar, Cobb salad, a smoked brisket sandwich, barbecue baby­ back ribs, California sand dabs and buttermilk fried chicken. Rudy & Hudson California Diner, 1920 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404, 424­581­6444.

From the Rustic Canyon crew comes Tallula's, a Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica. In this vibrant, casual spot, guests can tuck in to turkey enchiladas, fish tacos, lamb and black beer "birria" and more. Tallula's, 118 Entrada Dr., Santa Monica, CA 90402, 310­526­0027.

Chef Chris Phelps has opened Breakfast by Salt's Cure in the original West Hollywood location of Salt's Cure. Diners can dig into the signature oatmeal griddle cakes, along with variations incorporating TCHO dark chocolate chips, bananas and toasted walnuts, pink lady apples and spiced brown sugar, or blueberries and flax crumble. Breakfast by Salt's Cure, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046, 323­848­4879.

Chef­owners and partners Emily Fiffer and Heather Sperling have opened Botanica in Silver Lake. The restaurant’s design includes high ceilings with exposed wooden beams; elements of concrete, wood and neon; and a market, bar and back patio. Look for contemporary dishes like caramelized leek and fava tartine with lemon and rosemary, cast­iron pimenton clams with Red Fife wheat berries, and spiced grilled lamb kebabs. Botanica, 620 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026, 323­522­6106.

French pastry chef Dominique Ansel, chef/owner of Dominique Ansel Bakery and Dominique Ansel Kitchen, will open 189 by Dominique Ansel, a bakery and full­service restaurant at The Grove in Los Angeles. Patrons routinely line up for his famous invention the "Cronut," a half croissant­ half doughnut. However, this project will also feature savory options and a full bar program. Look for a Fall 2017 opening. For more information, visit the official website. 189 by Dominique Ansel, The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90036, no phone.

Mama Lion, the new, swank restaurant from chef Michael Hung (formerly of Viviane and Faith & Flower), makes its debut in Koreatown on Western Avenue and Sixth Street, near the Wiltern Theater. Look for a contemporary menu and elevated cocktails by Aidan Demarest. Mama Lion, 601 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90005, 213­377­5277.

TAO Group’s expansive complex surrounding the Dream Hollywood hotel includes hipster­luxe, late­ night pizza joint Luchini Pizzeria & Bar. Look for specialty cocktails like the “Smokin’ Hot Peach” with mezcal, peach schnapps and citrus, and reasonably priced beer and wines by the glass. Choose from two styles of pizza ­­­ Neapolitan and Sicilian ­­­ with classic toppings as well as the likes of wild mushrooms and pickled jalapeños. Beyond pizza, there’s also a Fontina cheeseburger, marinara braised spare ribs, antipasto, salad and avocado crostini. Lunch & Dinner daily. Luchini Pizzeria & Bar, 1607 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, 323­593­ 7771.

Culver City denizens will be happy to discover chef Josef Centeno (Bäco Mercat, P.Y.T., Orsa & Winston) has opened BäcoShop on Washington Boulevard, in the former Chop Daddy’s space. The star attraction is the chef’s well­loved bäco sandwich, made with specialty house­baked bread and filled with items such as coffee­rubbed grilled steak and charred scallion, chili shrimp, slow­ roasted pork and fava fritters. Also find salads (you can add a bäco filling) and sophisticated vegetable dishes, as well as sides like pasta and potato salad. Desserts include daily soft serve and rice pudding. To drink, expect wine and beer, including the signature BäcoBeer Sumac Imperial IPA. Lunch & Dinner daily. BäcoShop, 9552 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, 424­ 258­6301.

The Rosy Oyster is a seasonal poolside pop­up bar at The Hollywood Roosevelt. Model/sommelier and ex­New Yorker Lelañea Fulton (Dirty French, Megu) curates a hip wine list for what’s sure to be a hot destination this summer just off the hotel’s Tropicana pool. The extensive rosé program offers ten rosé wines by the glass as well as high acid whites, playful reds, a sharp focus on grower Champagne, and “fun orange wine,” vermouth and sherry. Wines are paired with a fresh, rotating selection of oysters. The Rosy Oyster, The Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323­856­1970.

The former Jerry’s Deli space in West Hollywood is now home to Granville. The expansive restaurant offers skylights, a generous bar and a patio. Look for American classics like burgers, club sandwiches, big salads, steaks, fish and pastas, as well as lighter California fare such as roasted beets, a “paleo plate,” a poke or poblano quinoa bowl, and yuzu lemon mousse. Granville, 8701 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048, 424­ 522­5161.

Authentic Neapolitan­style pizza has arrived in Brentwood, courtesy of at Pizzana on San Vicente Boulevard. Chef Daniele Uditi hails from Naples, so expect traditional pies from an Italian wood­burning oven. Co­owner Candace Nelson (Sprinkles Cupcakes) is in charge of desserts. Look for beer and wine, too. http://pizzana.com/. Pizzana, 11712 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049, 310­481­7108.

Chef Ernesto Uchimura (Plan Check) has opened Electric Owl in the former Gardner Junction space in Hollywood. Look for casual Cal­Med dishes, beer, wine and cocktails, and a patio. Dinner Wed.­Sun.. Electric Owl, 1451 N. Gardner St., Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323­545­6565.

Chef Kyle Schutte’s new restaurant The Flats has opened in Beverly Hills in the former Red Medicine space, offering small plates, flatbreads and salads with a contemporary twist. The former “Cutthroat Kitchen” star creates dishes like goat cheese and thyme polenta with roasted mushroom consommé, fennel, tomato kimchi and sorrel; panzanella salad with cornbread, fennel, citrus and a white honey­peach vinegar sorbet; and duck confit flatbread with caramelized red onion, red wine pudding, toasted caraway, herbed goat cheese, pickled red cabbage and baby herbs. The Flats, 8400 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 310­909­7549.

Felix, the Italian restaurant from chef Evan Funke (formerly of Bucato), makes its debut in Venice. Expect house­made pastas, wood­fired Neapolitan pizzas and other seasonal Italian specialties. Felix, 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, 424­ 387­8622.

Washington, D.C. import Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken has set up shop in downtown Los Angeles. The uniquely flavored treats include crème brûlée and PB&J. The genius, though, is turning a savory doughnut into a fried chicken sandwich. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, 516 W. Sixth St., Los Angeles, CA 90014, 213­622­ 7876.

Blu Jam Café will reportedly open its fifth U.S. location, this one in DTLA’s Spring Arcade Building in the former BierBeisl Imbiss space, in summer 2017. Look for its famous brunches with luxe Benedicts, omelets and pancakes, and blues music accompaniment. Blu Jam Café, Spring Arcade Building, 541 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, no phone.

Matthew Kaner (Covell) will open a new, not­yet­named wine bar in Atwater Village in the Ozu East Kitchen space. Look for curated wines and wine country cuisine from around the globe for dinner and brunch.

Husband­and­wife team Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas­Lee partnered with mixologist Devon Espinosa on Woodley Proper, a cocktail lounge sharing the same complex in Encino as Scratch Bar & Kitchen. Woodley Proper, Encino Place, 16101 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91436, 818­906­9775.

Chef Raphael Lunetta (JiRaffe) has opened his new eponymous restaurant Lunetta All Day on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica. The “modern neighborhood diner” has an all­day menu with items like a savory grain bowl of wheat berries, freekeh, farro, marinated greens, blistered red onions, lemon­herb vinaigrette, pepita romesco and poached egg; a vanilla bulgar and freekeh porridge topped with blueberries, turbinado, pecans and caramelized bananas; and salads and sandwiches. At dinnertime, look for pasilla negro­ rubbed grilled carnitas, rotisserie small­eye prime rib or fried Jidori chicken. Lunetta, a more formal dining room located next door, will open in May 2017 serving seasonal California fare. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. Lunetta All Day, 2420 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310­581­4201.

CREAM (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me) has opened a location in North Hollywood. The chain is known for handcrafted ice cream sandwich combinations using warm, freshly baked cookies or other confections such as brownies, waffles or do’sants. Expect flavors ranging from banana walnut fudge to cin­ful churro, salted caramel and soy blueberry. Also find gluten­free and vegan cookie sandwiches. Open daily. CREAM, 11135 Magnolia Blvd., Ste. 170, North Hollywood, CA 91601, 818­993­1759.

Baja California’s renowned chef Diego Hernandez (Corazon de Tierra) has opened Verlaine. This contemporary Mexican restaurant is located in West Hollywood in the former Dominick’s space on Beverly Boulevard. Verlaine, 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048, 424­288­4621.

TAO Group and celebrity chef Chris Santos have opened a Los Angeles location of Beauty & Essex, the pawn shop/restaurant/lounge concept that originated in 2010 in NYC and has since expanded to Las Vegas. The restaurant group has also launched a branch of Asian bistro TAO. Beauty & Essex, 1615 Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323­676­8880.

Glendale now boasts its own bright and airy Eggslut on Brand Boulevard, across from The Americana at Brand. At this third LA­area location, look for the same popular menu that features a coddled egg on potato purée in a glass jar with chives and gray salt; bacon, egg and cheese on a warm brioche bun; and a ground Angus cheeseburger with caramelized onions. Also expect cold brew coffee and the long lines that are found at the DTLA and Venice stores. Eggslut, 252 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204, 818­484­ 5911.

Chef Ricardo Zarate has opened Mamacita, a fast­casual spot on the fourth level of the Hollywood & Highland mall. Look for specialty quinoa bowls with skirt steak, free­range chicken, gochujang portobellos, short ribs and Peruvian poke ceviche. To drink, there’s purple corn chicha with pineapple, cinnamon and lime, strawberry horchata, or passion fruit juice with chia and mint. Mamacita, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., #418, Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323­698­1100.

Umeda has opened on Melrose Avenue, offering Japanese cuisine, sushi and sashimi. Also available are wine and Champagne, beer, cocktails and saké. The space includes an open kitchen. Umeda, 6623 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323­965­8010.

Patina Restaurant Group has opened The BoardRoom, situated under the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and adjacent to Kendall's Brasserie & Bar. It’s a lounge with cocktails, bar bites and live music, and a sultry, dim­lit 40’s décor that hearkens back to post­war France. The BoardRoom, Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213­972­8556.

Tower 12 is the new beach­town casual kitchen and bar from chef Brendan Collins (Birch). The space features vintage relics, furnishings and artwork that reflect the neighborhood’s laid­back surf and beach culture and history. A California­ inspired menu looks to update American classics including shareable bar bites, wood­fired pizzas, sandwiches, salads and entrées. Located on a second story deck with ocean views, the restaurant has a wraparound, wooden outdoor balcony. Tower 12, Hermosa Pier, 53 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254, 310­379­6400.

In Hollywood, Beso has flipped into Viva Hollywood, dishing up Mexican fare in newly revamped, glamorous surroundings. Chef Raymond Alvarez will turn out the likes of ceviche tostadas, steamed clams with Spanish chorizo, upscale tacos and mains such as seabass Veracruzana, chicken mole, turkey chile relleno and smoked chimichurri skirt steak. A cocktail menu, courtesy of Erik Weatherford, includes the “Afterglow” made with earl grey­infused Botanist gin, lime, lavender and rosemary. Dinner Tues­ Sat. Viva Hollywood, 6350 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323­467­1350.

Chef Eric Greenspan opened a new kosher Jewish eatery, Fleishik’s Sandwiches, Nosh & Whiskey, on Beverly Boulevard. Look for traditional Jewish cooking, both deli and homestyle, including brisket, kugel, salads and pastrami sandwiches. Fleishik’s Sandwiches, Nosh & Whiskey, 7563 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, 323­746­5750.

Portland cult bakery shop Voodoo Doughnut has opened at Universal CityWalk, bringing its scarily cute Voodoo Doll doughnut with it ­­­ it’s shaped like a voodoo doll, filled with raspberry filling and features a pretzel stake. Voodoo Doughnut, Universal CityWalk, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, no phone.

Chef­owner Aaron Robins has opened SOCA in Sherman Oaks. Expect raw bar offerings and globally inspired fare, such as Basque­style pickled beef tongue with grilled bread salad. SOCA, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, 818­789­1985.

Find more recent openings with our list of the Top 10 New & Notable LA Restaurants and round­up of all the NEW Restaurants in Los Angeles

NOTEWORTHY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Plan Check x Thug Kitchen Takeover Menu for June During the month of June, Plan Check Kitchen + Bar (Sawtelle Boulevard, Fairfax Avenue, Wilshire Boulevard, Ocean Avenue) partners with attitude­ fueled vegans Michelle Davis and Matt Holloway of Thug Kitchen to offer a limited­run Plan Check x Thug Kitchen Takeover Menu ($3­$15) featuring plant­based twists on the restaurant’s classics. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the West Hollywood Food Coalition. Menu highlights include the Lazy Hunt Burger (kidney beans, smoked almonds and umeboshi paste seasoned patty topped with lettuce, caramelized onions and avocado); Popcorn Cauliflower (breaded with fried chicken­inspired spices and baked to a crisp); and a special cocktail, Fool’s Gold (mezcal, pineapple purée, orange blossom simple syrup, lime juice and mint).

SOCA Launches New Happy Hour Bar Menu & Spanish Gin Tonics In Sherman Oaks, SOCA has launched a new bar menu featuring Latin and Asian­inspired seafood bites in addition to six signature Spanish Gin Tonics. Expect elevated G&Ts like the No. 1 (Gin Mare, Fever­Tree Mediterranean Tonic, kumquats, thyme) and No. 5 (Spirit Guild Astral Gin, Fever­Tree Mediterranean Tonic, satsuma, lemongrass, makrut leaf). Happy hour nibbles include oysters with a bacon­herb crust and manchego, lobster roll on brioche and Korean crab dumplings. Available daily from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ($10­15). SOCA, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, 818­301­4300.

Wolfgang Puck Honored on Hollywood Walk of Fame Celebrity chef/restaurateur Wolfgang Puck has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Television. His credits include five seasons of "Wolfgang Puck" on the Food Network, as well as guest appearances on "The Simpsons" and "Frasier." Recently, Puck launched The Rogue Experience, a special tasting menu experience at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. GAYOT named him Best Restaurateur in the U.S. in 2010.

New Cocktails at Faith & Flower Faith & Flower has a new spring drinks menu from new bar manager Adam Fournier (Areal) and director of bar programs Ryan Wainwright. It features spirit­focused classics and an “Awards Tour.” Look for “English Milk Punch” and “Siren’s Song” (Edinburgh Seaside gin, nori­infused dry vermouth, pink Himalayan saline and house pickled sea beans). Fournier will also bring Whiskey Wednesdays to Faith & Flower, during which he will open a discussion on one specific bottle each week including small batch, rare and vintage varieties. Faith & Flower, Watermarke Tower, 705 W. 9th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015, 213­239­0642.

What's Next for Chef Ben Ford The Branstetter Group hospitality company has partnered with chef Ben Ford to launch a fast­ casual chicken concept and also grow Ford’s Filling Station. The chef and his wife/business partner envision a modern day “roadside” chicken concept inspired by the American chicken shacks with locations along the highway. Look for a classic menu of high­quality chicken, sandwiches, crinkle­cut fries, shakes, seasonal fruit hand pies, beer, wine and more. The flagship outpost will be announced shortly.

Wednesday ICHIBA Tasting Menu at Hinoki & the Bird At Hinoki & the Bird, chef Brandon Kida’s new ICHIBA tasting menu is available every Wednesday night. (“Ichiba” means “market” in Japanese.) The five­course menu is created with in­season ingredients the chef picks out at the Santa Monica Farmers Market that morning. Hinoki & the Bird, The Century, 10 W. Century Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90067, 310­552­1200.

New Sunday Brunch Announced at The Mar Vista On the Westside, The Mar Vista launches Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Signature morning dishes from the culinary team of D. Brandon Walker, Jill Davie and Jorge Rivas include an egg hot pot with applewood smoked bacon; a cured salmon loaded potato; and goat cheese chilaquiles (with a vegan alternative available). Popular dinner items ­­­ Fontina bacon crab melt and mushroom fundido ­­­ are reinterpreted as brunch items served atop English muffins. Also find house sangrías and mimosas. The Mar Vista, 12249 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310­751­6773.

Chef Scott Conant Debuts Weekend Italian Brunch at The Ponte On Beverly Boulevard, The Ponte has launched weekend brunch, available Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Specialties include polenta and eggs with sauce puttanesca; a Benedict with poached eggs, prosciutto, tomato hollandaise and mixed greens; and spelt pancakes with espresso syrup and whipped ricotta. Head bartender Ryan Wainwright’s menu of cocktails includes the “Rabarbaro Spritz” with Zucca Rabarbaro (a rhubarb­inflected amaro), Vergano Chinato, Monopolowa Vodka, Dimmi liqueur, lemon juice, Sorelle Branca Prosecco and club soda. The Ponte, 8265 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 323­746­5130.

Chef de Cuisine Mirko Paderno’s New Northern Italian Fare at Vinoteca At Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, chef de cuisine Mirko Paderno has revamped the menu at casual espresso/wine bar Vinoteca with Northern Italian delicacies ranging from handpicked, imported salumi and cheeses to small plates, pastas and desserts. Some highlights include a savory pizzette with Parmigiano, truffle honey, arugula and smoked mozzarella; fresh, handmade gnocchi with short rib sugo; tuna tartare with quail egg, watercress and Pecorino; and Raviolacci al Pomodoro, a ricotta­stuffed egg pasta with Parmigiano, San Marzano tomatoes and basil crumbles. The space shifts from espresso bar to wine bar at 11 a.m. daily. Vinoteca, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 300 S. Doheny Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90048, 310­273­2222.

Lodge Bread Co. Expands Space, Hours and Menu In Culver City, Lodge Bread Co. has expanded into the next­door space and now offers an all­day menu in a nearly 2,000­square­foot venue designed by Omgivning Architects. Look for new dishes including gourmet pizza (sweet pea/burrata/Parmigiano/tomato and black kale/garlic/goat cheese are two examples) and mains like shakshuka, soft greens with goat feta and fennel confit, and melted tartine with spicy pickles. There’s a beer and wine list, too. Lodge Bread Co., 11918 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066, 424­384­5097.

UPDATES ON LOS ANGELES CHEFS Chef Jonathan Waxman, one of the pioneers of California cuisine, will open a restaurant at Westfield Century City in Spring 2018. The self­ described "neighborhood restaurant,” which does not yet have a name, will join the much­ anticipated L.A. location of Eataly and many other new dining options at the redeveloped center.

Chef Luciano Pellegrini has returned to Valentino, one of GAYOT's Top 10 Italian Restaurants in the U.S., in the role of executive consulting chef. A native of Bergamo, Italy, he moved to the United States in 1985 and began working with restaurateur Piero Selvaggio, eventually becoming executive chef and partner of Valentino Las Vegas. Together with chef de cuisine Tommaso Tarantino, they have crafted a new menu featuring dishes such as smoked quail on potato and asparagus salad with blueberry sauce; fresh tagliatelle with creamy sweet Gorgonzola and homemade egg yolk bottarga; and bone marrow stuffed veal shank braised with vin santo served with soft polenta. Valentino, 3115 W. Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310­829­4313.

Andreas Roller has been announced as the executive chef of Patina, the flagship restaurant of Joachim Splichal's Patina Restaurant Group. Chef Roller recently helmed the kitchen at Splichal’s Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse and has demonstrated a dedication to finding top­quality ingredients from both local and global sources. Patina, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 141 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213­972­3331.

Pete Manfredini is the new executive chef at Estérel restaurant at Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Look for a revamped French­ California menu with Mediterranean influences and seasonal specialties at the Sofitel’s signature restaurant. Estérel, Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 8555 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048, 310­358­3979.

LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT CLOSINGS

Chef Vic Casanova’s Italian steakhouse, Pistola, has closed. Casanova will move his pasta restaurant Gusto into the West Third Street space. Pistola, 8022 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, no phone.

Peruvian restaurant Picca shuttered after service on June 4, 2017. Picca, 9575 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035, no phone.

Andrew Kirschner's seafood spot SMYC (Santa Monica Yacht Club) has shuttered. SMYC, 620 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, no phone.

Atwater Village has lost longtime favorite Canelé due to rising rents. It’s reported that Gjelina duo David Wilcox and Guy Tabibian will open their restaurant Journeymen in the space, focusing on seasonal vegetable dishes. Canelé, 3219 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039, no phone.

Rustic Kitchen Market & Café is temporarily closed due to smoke and water damage from a fire in the building. Rustic Kitchen Market & Café, 3523 S. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310­390­1500.

Chef Mark Peel will replace Bombo at Grand Central Market with a new seafood­focused concept called Prawn. Angelenos will remember Peel from his fine­dining restaurant Campanile, which shuttered in 2012. (A more casual spin­off serves hungry travelers at LAX.) Bombo, Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, No phone.

Brunch fave Doughboys has closed on West Third Street due to rising costs, but the owners hope to resurrect some of the restaurant’s popular items in an upcoming “Doughboys on the Run” concept. Doughboys, 8136 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048, no phone.

Atwater’s charming Asian spot Ozu East Kitchen will end dinner service April 1, 2017, and offer suppers and pop­ups through April 30. A wine bar from Matthew Kaner will move into the space. Ozu East Kitchen, 3224 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039, 323­284­8773.

Eva Longoria’s swank Hollywood restaurant Beso has closed after nearly a decade. The space is now filled by the new Mexican concept Viva Hollywood. Beso, 6350 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, no phone.

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