The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County’s reimagined restaurant, Neighborhood Grill by Post & Beam, will open to visitors starting on Friday, March 17, as part of its new food service reorganization with South LA Cafe Hospitality. Neighborhood Grill will be operated by celebrated chef/owner John Cleveland and co-owner Roni Cleveland of South L.A.’s  Post & Beam, known for its “California Soul” approach to food. Grand opening celebrations are planned for the weekend of March 17 to March 19.

Lifestyle hospitality group, Noble 33, will celebrate Women’s History Month with a limited-time cocktail, sold across its restaurant concepts. At participating locations, including Toca Madera West Hollywood and Casa Madera West Hollywood, the Mujer Poderosa  (Powerful Woman) will be available for the entire month of March. Supporting women in leadership and professional advancement, Noble 33 will be donating $2 of every cocktail sold to the James Beard Foundation’s Women’s Leadership Programs.  The libation is a mix of El Tesoro Blanco, St Germain, creme de violet, yuzu, agave and bitters.

Garrison Brothers Distillery and McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams will release their  limited-edition collaboration ice cream flavor, Garrison Brothers Whiskey & Pecan Pralines, on Friday, March 10, in scoop shops and for nationwide online shipping. For  the third year in a row, the award-winning Texas bourbon distillery and the California ice creamery have joined forces to create a whiskey ice cream flavor, which features smooth, sweet, smoky and spicy Garrison Brothers Small Batch bourbon made in Hye, Texas, and Central Coast California milk and cream, and topped off with buttery, salt-roasted ‘n caramel-coated pecans.    

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

Courtesy YUM Los Angeles at Holy Basil

YUM Los Angeles at Holy Basil in Downtown is back. Formerly a pop-up concept, the Thai seafood night market-style menu is available on site every Thursday through Saturday night from 5 p.m. to 8:30pm. The menu features classic seafood stall fare found all over Southeast Asia like oysters, fried sturgeon filet, steamed local squid, and steamed mussels, and pairs with Holy Basil’s new sake and natural wine program. Reservations for YUM are required and can be made via DM through the @yumlosangeles Instagram. Don’t forget to ask about the special of the week, and place a pre-order. 

A spirited class hosted by bartender and author Toby Maloney  takes place at Little Beast on Sunday, March 19, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. He’ll Teach the mechanics, philosophies and flourishes contained in his book, The Bartender’s Manifesto. The three-and-a-half-hour course will cover how to analyze and construct a cocktail, methods and tenets of creating your own unique concoctions. After the class, Little Beast will be open to the public for a happy hour/book signing with Maloney and owner of The Varnish, Eric Alperin. Now Serving will be selling copies of both author’s’ books. 

As part of Dole Packaged Foods’ launch of Dole Wiggles Fruit Juice Gels made with 100% fruit juice, it will team up with CAMP for an interactive ‘Giggle for Wiggles’ launch experience in support of No Kid Hungry. Now through Sunday, April 30, at all CAMP locations, kids will be encouraged to tell their best, silliest joke to a CAMP Counselor. Each laugh will trigger a $1 donation to No Kid Hungry (up to $10,000) and a complimentary Wiggles treat for the young jokester. The flagship Los Angeles location will feature a physical Giggle Shack, allowing budding comedians to record and share their jokes with friends and family.

March still Matters for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles: Porto’s Bakery has created a  limited edition CHLA cookie and will donate 10% of the sales to CHLA. Alfred Coffee is collecting donations for CHLA and will donate  $1 for every Lavender Lemonade sold this month to the hospital, and Uncle Paulie’s Deli will donate a portion of sales from all locations to CHLA all month-long. Plus: 

  • Cafe Gratitude: Buy a kids meal. Cafe Gratitude will donate $1 of every item sold from the kids menu at the Larchmont, Venice and Arts District locations.
  • Dairy Queen: Make a donation on National Cone Day on March 20 and receive a free cone.
  • El Cholo: Donate $100 at any location and receive a VIP nachos card to enjoy Carmen’s nachos free through 2023. 
  • Etta: Purchase the special CHLA dessert, and Etta will donate 10% of the sales to CHLA.
  • Fred 62: Buy a kids meal. For every kids meal purchased, Fred 62 will donate $2.
  • HomeState Hollywood: Order the Love Song Band Taco in store or online for pick-up or delivery. For every taco ordered, HomeState Hollywood will donate $1.
  • Jesse Boy: Eat a bowl at Jesse Boy. Jesse Boy will donate $1 for every bowl purchased.
  • Lark Cake Shop: Purchase the special edition Lemon Berry cupcake, and Lark Cake Shop will donate a portion of the proceeds to CHLA.
  • Milk Jar Cookies: Purchase a special cookie from either location and a portion of the sales will be donated. 
  • Mr. T: Dine at Mr. T during March, and a portion of sales will be donated to CHLA.
  • Round Table Pizza: For every large pizza purchased at the North Hollywood location, Round Table Pizza will donate $1.
  • Sweetfin Poke: Purchase a guava lemonade from any LA location and Sweetfin will donate $1 from every guava lemonade sold.
  • Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts: Purchase the Cumpleaños Donut or a baby onesie, and 20% of the sales will be donated.
  • Tulsi Indian Eatery: Buy a Lassi at any participating location during March and Tulsi Indian Eatery will donate $1 to CHLA.
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County

Michael and Kwini Reed (Courtesy Masters of Taste)

Masters of Taste, L.A.’s outdoor, luxury food and beverage festival returns on Sunday, April 2,  from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., on the field of the Pasadena Rose Bowl. 100% of the proceeds will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a nonprofit organization celebrating 50 years of providing homeless services and housing for thousands of neighbors.

Chef Michael Reed and Kwini Reed will serve as hosts of Masters of Taste 2023, which also marks the sixth anniversary of the event. Chef Reed is the co-owner and executive chef behind Poppy + Rose of Downtown L.A., and Anaheim’s Poppy & Seed. In addition to the two concepts, Chef Reed and his wife and co-owner Kwini also run the catering company, Root of All Food. This year’s vendors include Yardbird, Holy Basil, Arth Bar and Kitchen, Lark Cake Shop, Ayura Thai and The Hitching Post.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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