Michele StuevenStarting Friday, June 18 through Sunday, June 20, Hotel Figueroa is offering a special Father’s Day menu by the hotel’s famous coffin-shaped pool at Veranda Al Fresco. Highlights include East and West Coast oysters, a lamb Merguez burger (sesame bun), lobster mac & cheese, a 16 oz. Wagyu ribeye with shitake mushrooms and black velvet champagne sponge cake. Bourbon and mezcal specialty drinks will also be available.
The historic hotel is also launching a new “Summer Is Not Dead” staycation package available through Labor Day. Each package comes with a coffin-shaped Pom Pom pool float. The package is 26% off to all California residents. Separate daily outdoor wellness fitness classes and exclusive day passes starting at $35 and up and are available via Resort Pass.
République’s Walter and Margarita Manzke’s love letter to Paris, Bicyclette Bistro, opened this week in the former Picca and Sotto spaces in Pico-Robertson. The casual bistro features classic French fare like Burgundy Escargot en Croute, duck breast with beets and cherries, bouillabaisse and profiterole au chocolate as well as an all-French wine list. The extensive cocktail program pays homage to classic cocktails and French spirits to include cognac, Armagnac, calvados and eau de vie. The Kir Royale uses great crème di cassis sourced in Dijon. The award-winning chef couple will open their tasting menu-only concept, Bicyclette Restaurant, in the space later this year.
Bicyclette (Anne Fishbein)
All organic La La Land Kind Cafe is officially opening its doors in Santa Monica on Saturday, June 26. Francois Reihani founded La La Land Kind Cafe in 2019 with the purpose of empowering foster youth by providing them with employment and mentorship opportunities while setting out on a mission to normalize kindness. The cafe focuses on hiring those who have aged out of the foster care system, giving these employees the resources needed to sustain normal lives. Menu items include a long list of lattes, matchas, cold brews, teas and toasts.
Gracias Madre WeHo is offering a special Pride cocktail with partial proceeds going to The Los Angeles LGBT Center. Beverage Director Maxwell Reiss is serving a Harvey Milk Punch concoction made with hi-proof Blanco tequila, mango brandy, dry vermouth, pineapple, poblano chili, jasmine green tea, lime oleo, Oaxacan spice blend and clarified coconut milk. $2 from each cocktail sold will go directly to the Los Angeles LGBT Center in addition to Gracias Madre matching $1 to every $1 that tequila-company Don Fulano donates.
Johnny Rockets is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its first store on Melrose Ave. with an all-new Birthday Cake Shake with rainbow sprinkles at participating locations through Wednesday, June 30, or while supplies last. Rules to snag a free birthday shake are available on the restaurant’s website.
Courtesy Yamashiro Hollywood
Celebrate “Sunright Day” at any Sunright Tea Studio in Southern California on Summer Solstice Sunday, June 20, the longest day of the year. Buy one and get one free when ordering any Sunright Fruit Tea or any Sunright Boba Milk Tea at all Sunright Tea Studio all day and all night. The offer is available in-store only, and you can mix or match, with a maximum of up to five drinks per guest.
And on a roll, the David Segal Jazz Quartet featuring vocalist Finn Segal will be making a special International Sushi Day appearance at Yamashiro Hollywood from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, June 18.
What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the L.A. Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink.
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