Michele StuevenA special a la carte New Year’s Eve Taco Extravaganza menu at SOCALO will include $4 tacos, $5 beer, and $8-$10 cocktails and Mexican wines on Saturday, Dec. 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Regular brunch and dinner menus also will be available.
La Monarca Bakery’s Three Kings Day/Dia de los Reyes cakes are back and available now at all 12 locations for pickup or delivery. The traditional, circle-shaped desserts are studded with dried fruit to symbolize the jeweled crowns worn by the three wise men. Customarily, whoever finds the baby figurine in their slice must throw a party on Feb. 2 for family and friends. The cake features pan dulce dough with La Monarca’s signature cookie crust, candied cactus, and walnuts with a baby figurine on the side for hiding on your own. Preorders are available now through Wednesday, Jan. 4, and pickup and delivery available Jan. 4 through Friday, Jan. 6. Fifteen count trays of Rosca Conchas also are available.
Dia de los Reyes cake (Courtesy La Monarca Bakery)
Connie & Ted’s signature Lobster Pot Pie is back for the holidays, available for the holidays, for dine-in at the restaurant or via take-out, made with Maine Lobster, delicata squash, English peas, mushrooms, pearl onions, and baked in a homemade buttery pie crust. A selection of decadent add-ons including caviar and truffles also will be available for purchase at the restaurant! Dine-in specialties include black truffle pasta, oysters with caviar supplement, big eye tuna tartare served with caviar, crème fraiche and chives, as well as Nancy’s Scallops, served with parsnip and a caviar/champagne Beurre Blanc.
Dinner reservations are recommended, however walk-ins are always welcome. No reservations are needed for brunch and lunch walk-in counter service from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Make a reservation on OpenTable.
On New Year’s Eve at Dream Hollywood, there will be a luxury dining experience at Beauty & Essex, featuring Chef/Partner Chris Santos’ signature dishes. There are two seating times available: an early seating from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and a late seating starting at 9 p.m. The early seated guests will be offered the a la carte menu, and the late seating includes a curated four-course prix fixe menu for $135 per person, as well as the option to purchase an all-inclusive three-hour bar package for $90 per person. In addition to food and drinks, there will be a live DJ performance and a midnight toast to welcome in 2023. Formal attire is recommended for the event and reservations can be made here.
Holly-weird Rock & Roll New Year’s Eve at Lost Property, brainchild of the devious minds behind Black Lagoon & Krampus’ Cove Pop-Ups, is bringing a special one-time New Year’s Eve Event to Lost Property. Happening from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m, tickets are priced at $125/person and includes a welcome cocktail, passed light hors d’oeuvres, giveaways, balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight. Dress code is your glam/goth rock, anti-holiday and smell ya later 2022 best. Tickets can be purchased here *Seating is first-come, first-served and is not guaranteed.
Chicken Dorado tacos (Courtesy SOCALO)
LUMINARIAS in Monterey Park will ring in the New Year by offering two shareable specials alongside their a la carte menu items. The Arroz Meloso for Two ($64) features shrimp, mahi mahi anticuchero, creamy cilantro rice, cornbread migas and garlic aioli. The Caviar Frites ($19) consist of crispy Yukon gold fries topped with caviar, vodka crème fraiche and ranch. Guests also will be served a complimentary glass of champagne upon entry. Reservations HERE.
THE GREEN ROOM in the Castaway Burbank will throw a New Year’s Eve party that kicks off with a complimentary glass of champagne upon entry. For $110 and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., the team will be offering tray-passed appetizers alongside their standard menu offerings for an additional charge. There also will be live entertainment with a DJ, fire dancer, a performer and more. Specials from the Winter Wonderland menu also will be available for purchase. Reservations HERE.
Once again Dog Haus will serve up its annual National Hangover Day special, with participating locations offering The Hangover smash burger or a Hangover Breakfast Burrito served with a 16-ounce can of Pabst Blue Ribbon for under $10. There will be multiple HDTVs to watch the day’s games on Sunday, Jan. 1.
The Hangover burger features a smashed patty that is 100% genetically tested Black Angus beef, certified humanely raised, topped with white American cheese, smoked bacon, Haus chili, mayo and a fried egg. The Hangover burrito is a huge flour tortilla, stuffed with three sunny side up eggs, tater tots, smoked bacon, white American cheese, Haus chili and mayo.
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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