Michele StuevenWhile best known for its rejuvenating pools and spa treatments, Glen Ivy Hot Springs also offers culinary experiences. On Thursday, Aug. 8, there will be honey-tasting sessions with Bobcat Properties Farm, and on Friday, Aug. 9, summer evening wine tastings led by expert Euan Parker of Vitica Wines.
Prebiotic soda SunSip will host an interactive Sip n’ Skate roller skating event with skating, rollertainment, a live DJ, a mini arcade, light bites, and ice cold SunSip on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pigeon’s Roller Rink in Long Beach. Available in five classic soda flavors — raspberry lemonade, cherry cola, strawberry vanilla, root beer and lemon-lime — each can contain five grams of sugar and 35 calories or less. The event is free with RSVP here on a first-come, first serve basis.
Steph & Friends Brunch at Girl & the Goat is back on Saturday, Aug. 3, where Chef Stephanie Izard and Chefs Claudette Zepeda, Antonia Lofaso and Danielle Duran-Zecca will serve up a fusion of Mexican and Italian flavors for a family-style feast alongside crafted cocktails whipped up with Santo Tequila. The experience will include communal seating for guests with tickets at $141 that can be purchased on OpenTable.
Frozeě for summer (Courtesy Videre LA)
On Saturday, Aug. 10, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Gladstones at the beach will host its annual summer luau featuring traditional Hawaiian food, tropical beverages (Mai Tais served in pineapples and Pina Colada in coconuts), live hula performances, fire dancing, Hawaiian music, and a live music set by the Royal Rats.
Guests are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts and Aloha attire. Those who do will receive a ticket good for a plate of traditional Hawaiian cuisine, a beverage, or an ice cream. Artisanal ice cream shop Fluffy McCloud’s will bring its all-natural, handmade ice cream with a tropical twist to the beach for a pop-up from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The special luau menu includes a selection of entrées that come with a side of mac salad and rice for $15. Entrées include Kalua pork, pulled pork sliders, sticky ribs and Huli Huli chicken. The Summer Luau is a free community event where all are invited to visit the public deck and enjoy the day. No tickets or purchases are required to attend.
As the temperatures rise, a frosty way to cool off this summer is with Videre LA’s new frozé slushies. Whether guests are lounging by the pool or grabbing a seat at the bar, Videre’s slushies come in a zesty blood orange margarita flavor, as well as strawberry peach frozé that combines juicy strawberries and luscious peaches with a splash of rosé wine.
Spanish anchovy grill (Courtesy CUEVA)
A special dinner celebrating the new Koreaworld: A Cookbook will take place on Thursday, Aug. 15, as part of the Caldo Verde cookbook dinner series with Korean-American Chef Deuki Hong and journalist Matt Rodbard, The New York Times bestselling authors of Koreatown: A Cookbook.
At $85/person, the four-course menu will showcase Chef Suzanne Goin’s take on highlights from Koreaworld like grilled kimchi wedge salad and Haemul Buchupajeon (seafood and garlic chive pancake), as well as grilled spicy pork baby back ribs and whole fried smash rockfish with banana milk cake with Misugaru milk ice cream for dessert.
Fig Tree Venice is expanding with the opening of CUEVA and will be celebrated with the launch of a new grill night series starting today. CUEVA is located next to Fig Tree on the Venice Boardwalk and will serve as a multipurpose 50-seat dining space, bringing additional seating for Fig Tree diners, as well as a private dining space for beachfront events, specialty pop-ups and event rentals. In addition, CUEVA will be used to experiment with specialty menus, guest chef collaborations and culinary activations.
CUEVA will celebrate with its first woodfire grill and natural wine night, a new series where Fig Tree owners will host a lively evening of seafood and wine inspired by their travels along the Basque Coast. The a la carte menu will include razor clams, summer veg with Spanish anchovies and carabinero — reservations can be made via Resy. Future dates for the series will be announced on Fig Tree’s IG with a link to purchase tickets.
What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the L.A. Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink.