Just in time for Rosh Hashanah coming up on Friday, September 18, the Spielberg family-owned neighborhood kosher dairy restaurant The Milky Way has launched sidewalk al fresco dine-in service in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood. Dine-in service is by reservation only via Resy or by calling the restaurant directly at (310) 859-0004. The Milky Way has fully transitioned into a cashless restaurant, credit card only and will continue offering takeout, curbside pickup and delivery via Postmates.

Picnic Society by Gwen, a new concept by chef and restaurateur Curtis Stone, will open its doors on Monday, September 14, for an exclusive four-month residency. The menu will be influenced by Stone’s Hollywood butcher shop, Gwen. Picnic Society is designed to be a full-service restaurant with an extensive grab-and-go picnic market featuring salads, sandwiches, and European classics alongside a curated selection of spreads, cheeses, charcuterie, and vegetables. The al fresco-ready menu Picnic Society will offer includes pre-made baskets, miniature tables, blankets, and cutlery for outdoor picnics. The restaurant has partnered with WonderTent Parties, bringing menu items like steak frites, lobster rolls and salad Niçoise to the second-floor terrace of  http://thegrovela.com

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Ela Ela roast chicken (Kathryn Ballay)

The team from Holy Cow BBQ is expanding the farm and has just launched Rooster’s Chicken House – a new concept featuring fried chicken, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, salads, a variety of sides, biscuits and desserts at all Holy Cow locations (Santa Monica, Culver City and West Los Angeles) for take-out, delivery and to-go. To celebrate the launch and National Chicken Month, each Monday in September Rooster’s is offering a different promotion for its first 50 orders:

Monday, September 14 – Order any Rooster’s Sando and get a free side

Monday, September 21 – With an order of either a ½ dozen or a dozen wings, you will get a double order

Monday, September 28 – Order an 8pc basket and get 4 gourmet cookies free

Frogtown’s Salazar has reopened for pickup and delivery via Postmates, also offering curbside-only pickup from the Drive Thru On Demand app. Offerings include Salazar favorites like aguachiles, carne asada fries, six different tacos, and items from the grill. The takeout menu includes four cocktail choices, along with a variety of wines by the bottle, beer and soda.

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Chocolate tasting (Courtesy Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories )

Ela Ela, The h.wood Group’s newest ghost kitchen concept featuring a Mediterranean-inspired and California-grown menu has popped up and will be open for outdoor dining reservations Wednesday through Sunday from 6pm-10pm via OpenTable. Located in a hidden alley tucked away off of Waring and La Cienega next to Poppy, you can expect Ela Ela’s full menu from roast chicken with grilled lemons to tahini roasted vegetables and orange blossom pudding with sesame brittle alongside chilled wine, beers and cocktails to enjoy al fresco.

Ela Ela joins the group’s two recently launched ghost kitchen concepts:Mama’s Guy and Lilah’s. A fourth – the vegan concept Beautiful Foods –will round out their roster of ghost kitchen concepts when it launches later this month.

The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories is bringing a new virtual tasting series to the table. The Santa Monica Chocolate Society has teamed up with the school to bring chocolate enthusiasts a bi-monthly virtual chocolate tasting series. Each tasting will have notable chocolatiers leading the class through an assembly of chocolates from various manufacturers and farmers around the world.

Each class will have a new guest including Anjuli Dharna, the Sales Director at Uncommon Cacao, Matt Caputo the CEO of Caputo’s Market and Deli, and Maya Schoop-Rutten the Owner of Chocolate Maya. Registration for classes is available on the Gourmandise online class calendar. Upon registration, participants will be given a Zoom ID and can pick up their chocolate kit curbside at The Gourmandise School in Santa Monica Place to enjoy the tasting from the comfort of their own homes.

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Chefs Brandon Gray and Eric Williams (Courtesy West Hollywood Brunch Club)

West Hollywood Brunch Club, a new weekend concept with outdoor patio dining only from Derek Berry (Saved By The Max/Mooby’s) + Chef Collaboration between Brandon Gray (Brandoni Pepperoni) and Eric Williams (Something Fun)  kicks off this Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13.
The menu will feature new takes on classic brunch items (breakfast sandwiches, french toast, pancakes, and avo sourdough toast, and more) and will also feature Royce Burke’s  Yarro Burrito. Vegan and Vegetarian items will also be available.
Not comfortable dining in? Take advantage of the walk up mini market offering Brandoni pepperoni pizza kits, assorted hot sauces from Something Fun, fresh baked sourdough bread, and spaghetti kits from Secret Lasagna. Take out drinks include to-go cocktails, beer from Boomtown, and a collaboration with Dayglow Coffee.
The club will run on the weekends only from 10am-4pm. Reservations are free to book, http://exploretock.com/brunchclub

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

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