Looking for an affordable and convenient way to experience Italy without airfare?   Naples pizza institution turned stateside L’antica Pizzeria da Michele is offering new interactive pizza-making classes ($130 per person). In a fully immersive hands-on experience in the art of Italian pizza-making, guests will learn to create their   Neapolitan pizza from scratch, from the beloved 153-year-old recipe from the original Naples location (as seen in the Julia Roberts movie, Eat, Pray, Love). 

Led by a trained pizzaiolo in the restaurant’s hidden garden area, participants will learn to knead and toss their way to pizza perfection with a two-hour class, light bites, an expansive list of Italian wines, cocktails, and a pizza take-home kit, in addition to the pizza that participants make at the restaurant. Aspiring pizzaiolos will be able to prepare their version of the classic Margherita pizza with fresh Italian tomatoes and imported mozzarella from Italy, alongside other classic Italian pizza recipes.

Tickets for the Sunday, March 3, and Sunday, March 17, classes can be purchased via Eventbrite here. 

 In honor of Black History Month, Kevin Hart’s plant-based Hart House University Park South will celebrate with two back-to-back community events and partner with local Los Angeles organizations. The first is a comedy brunch in partnership with Del’s Juke Joint and hosted by comedian Del Harrison on Saturday, Feb. 24. The second event is in partnership with Make a Move for the Say it With Ya Chess: All Ages Chess Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 25. This month’s show features Sheila Ajjie, Chico Will, Glenn Bolton, Jonnae Thompson, Kacey the Songbird and hosted by Del Harrison (Sisters, BETPlus & Crowdsource Murder, Lifetime).

Pizza

Pad Thai with Prawn (Courtesy Chao Krung Thai)

In celebration of its second anniversary, Selva in Long Beach will fuse Colombian energy with a special menu for a weeklong series of dinner specials, specialty drinks, and live music taking place from Wednesday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 3.  Featured items from Colombian-born Chef Carlos Jurado include smoked pollo and arepas, banana leaf-encased Colombian tamales, and charred uni with rice cracker.  

The weeklong anniversary celebration will include special guest DJ Jean Paul on the decks on Saturday night with cumbia, salsa, and bossa nova for a lively evening.

Fork n’ Film, an immersive cinematic culinary experience, recently launched at The Wayfarer DTLA, is a new take on dinner-and-a-movie. The pop-up theater experience takes place at The Wayfarer DTLA’s whimsical underground Lilly Rose and includes a multi-course meal with paired beverages inspired by movie classics, served at the exact moment it appears on screen. The new official LA Fork n’ Film location is screening The Princess and the Frog through Sunday, March 17, followed by Ratatouille throughout March and April. More information and a link to purchase tickets can be found here.

The James Beard Foundation Greens program which shines a spotlight on chefs and operators making meaningful change within their communities, while educating a younger demographic on the importance of supporting independent restaurants, has expanded to the West Coast. 

For the next Greens Los Angeles event, on Thursday, Feb. 29, the foundation will feature Chao Krung Thai in the Fairfax district. Established in 1969, the restaurant has deep culinary roots that trace back to chef/co-owner Amanda Maneesilasan and co-owner Katy Noochlaor’s grandmother, who had the honor of cooking for the royal family of Thailand. For the occasion, Maneesilasan will prepare a family-style feast that pays homage to her heritage and her grandmother’s life and legacy, including larb salmon with salmon roe, pad Thai with grilled prawns, Mussaman short ribs with Jasmine rice and Khao Mao Tod, battered and deep-fried coconut-banana rolls.

Pizza

Blossom Ballroom circa 1920s (Courtesy The Hollywood Roosevelt)

Celebrate the 96th Academy Awards ceremony in style on Sunday, March 10 at The Hollywood Roosevelt with an exclusive Oscar Viewing Party in the historic  Blossom Ballroom,  location of the first  Academy Awards in 1929. Located a half block away from where the Oscars will be happening live, The Hollywood Roosevelt will host a star-studded viewing gala with a live broadcast of the show surrounded by elegant décor and food and drink to celebrate all the talented nominees this year.

 Tickets are priced at $350/person (inclusive of tax and gratuity) and include:

  • 4 p.m. red carpet arrivals with a step-and-repeat and premium open bar in the hotel’s historic lobby
  • 5 p.m. telecast and viewing gala accompanied by a four-course fixed menu dinner in the Blossom Ballroom
  • Priority access to the hotel’s after party in the lobby featuring live entertainment, dance floor, and bottle service available for purchase
  • Tickets are available for purchase here

The event’s dress code is elegant formal gala attire and tables can also be booked for larger parties for $3,000 per table.

What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the L.A. Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.