It’s Koji Day at The Lonely Oyster on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at noon, starting with a hands-on Koji-making workshop (free for industry professionals,) followed by a 1:30 p.m. sake and mirin tasting with Lonely Oyster small bites. Dinner featuring koji seasoning dishes starts at 4 p.m., reservation via RESY. Koji, a national fungus of Japan, is used in everything from soy sauce to sake and everything in between in Japanese culinary culture. Japan’s top fermentation specialists will be on hand at Echo Park’s lively seafood restaurant to demonstrate how to make koji.


Nick the Greek will celebrate National Gyro Day and the opening of the brand’s location in La Mirada on Friday, Sept. 1, with a buy one gyro, get one 50% off, at all of its locations, including the recently opened outposts in Long Beach and Marina del Rey, along with the brand’s other SoCal locations in West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Fullerton. Nick the Greek will be opening the doors to its La Mirada location on Tuesday, Sept. 5, with a grand opening celebration that includes free lunch for all patrons from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nick the Greek La Mirada is located at 14948 Imperial Highway, La Mirada, CA 90638. 

The final installment of the summer concert series presented by The SoCal Sound/88.5 FM will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Hilton Los Angeles Culver City near LAX on the West Lawn. There will be an all-day happy hour menu featuring bar bites and summer cocktails from West & Co., as well as sounds of LA-based duo Strange Hotels. Throughout the shows, attendees also will have the opportunity to sample various products from beverage sponsors including Tanteo Tequila, Angel City Brewery and Daou Vineyards. Doors open at 2 p.m. Shows are free to attend for guests and locals, and all ages are welcome. More information can be found here.

Sip, Shop, And Spin on Sunday, Sept. 10, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at HiDef Brewing Co, DTLA — a curated experience featuring Parch’s nonalcoholic bar within the HiDef Brewery Co with award-winning food and beverage brands showcasing a menu that includes Spicy Bean Lab’s Ube latte and the award-winning meat pie from KCRW pie champion. The $5 ticket includes a glass of nonalcoholic cocktail from Parch, a plate of meat pie by the KCRW pie champion, and samples from local vendors including coffee,  snacks and sauces.  Furry friends are welcome and will be treated to wholesome treats specially curated for them. The festival will include a collection of products centered around self-care and fitness. Get tickets here.

The Lonely Oyster

You never know what to expect at the LA Chef Conference (Michele Stueven)

All Chill Hip Hop ice cream will be at the Leimert Park Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Prosperity Market at SoFi Stadium Sunday, in addition to store hours this weekend. It also will offer a family-friendly ice cream-making class on Sunday, Sept. 3. Meet at the shop (3415 W, 43rd Place) at noon and walk over to the park for some science fun and sweet treats. The class is $20 per participant. RSVP at info@allchillinc.com.

The Hawaiian-inspired Belles Beach House will host a Labor Day luau on Monday, Sept. 4, on their ocean-side patio. From noon to 6 p.m., Belles will serve a specialty menu of luau-style favorites and cocktails outside, alongside music from a live DJ who will be spinning all afternoon. The specialty menu will include: 

  • Kalua Pork Sliders: smoked pork shoulder, green cabbage, Hawaiian rolls
  • Garlic Fried Chicken: ginger, garlic, furikake
  • Grilled Pork Belly: Thai chili, barley vinegar, scallion slaw
  • Huli Huli Chicken: macadamia nut aioli, arugula
  • Lomi Lomi Tomato Salad: onion dressing, shiso, ginger
  • Potato Mac Salad: Mom’s recipe
  • Kimchi Fried Rice: mom’s kimchi, golden egg, ginger soy

Walk-ins are welcome, and guests can RSVP here.

On Monday, Oct. 30, the LA Chef Conference returns in partnership with Los Angeles Trade-Tech College’s Culinary Arts Pathway in Downtown LA and Presenting Sponsor OpenTable, benefitting Regarding Her, a national nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the growth of women entrepreneurs and leaders in food and beverage. The all-day event will include panel conversations led by industry experts, live cooking demos throughout the day, an after-party, as well as the LA Chef Con Food Festival Lunch spread out among the school’s five new state-of-the-art teaching kitchens. At the cooking demos during the  LA Chef Con Food Festival, chef Burt Bakman will man the barbecue and Eric Gephart will grill a whole Kvaroy Arctic salmon outdoors, while chefs including Jet Tila, Jon Yao, Brian Bornemann, Mary Sue Milliken and Sarah Stegner will be cooking on display.   Captain Eric Hodge from Rock Bottom Fishing will demonstrate the Ikejime technique.

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