Michele StuevenSuzanne Goin and Caroline Styne are bringing their signature Rib Fest back to A.O.C. in West Hollywood on Sunday, June 29. The family-style feast features Saint Louis-style pork ribs, braised beef brisket, spiced lamb spare ribs, and too-hot-to-handle chicken wings. Sides are included – coleslaw, baked beans, long-cooked collard greens, buttered corn-on-the-cob, and a tomato and watermelon salad. All is served with grilled cornbread and Wonder Bread. Finish with a summery dessert of nectarine and blackberry cobbler and buttermilk ice cream.
Rib Fest is priced at $95 per person, menu only; advance ticket purchase required. To purchase tickets, contact A.O.C. at 310.859.9859 or book online at OpenTable Experience. Rib Fest at A.O.C. is served from 4:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. for one night only.
Croque Madame (Courtesy Camélia)
Camélia will be doing that favorite pandemic activity, pivoting to lunch and happy hour starting on Friday, June 13, so they can accommodate diners while also following the curfew.
The restaurant will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., serving favorites like their Croque Madame, dry-aged burger and fries, pastas, salads, and more, with nightly Happy Hour specials from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Junior Cookies, the family-run, cult-favorite cookie brand known for its made-to-order, globally inspired treats, has officially opened a new bake shop in Santa Monica at 2726 Main Street. Born from a mother, son, and daughter trio who started baking in their LA home kitchen in 2017, the brand has grown a devoted following thanks to its small-batch cookies, Following the success of their West Hollywood flagship, the Santa Monica shop carries Junior Cookie favorites like Turkish Pistachio Cookie Cups and Crème Brûlée bites.
After serving 3.75 million meals, ladling 750,000 pints of clam chowder and shucking 200,0000 oysters, Bluewater Grill Redondo Beach celebrates 25 years in the South Bay with a week of 25th anniversary specials, events, and employee commemorations from Monday, June 16 through Monday, June 20.
As a thank-you to its customers, the sustainable seafood restaurant at King Harbor will serve all eight appetizers on the Bluewater Grill Redondo Beach menu for a special anniversary price of $15 for lunch and dinner. Signature options include baked crab and artichoke dip, seared scallops with roasted jalapeño aioli, smoked albacore and salmon, and Maryland style. The restaurant will also mix its signature Pilikia Margarita and Aperol Spritz for just $10 during happy hours from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Limit one discounted cocktail per person per happy hour.
Courtesy Junior Cookies
Also in the South Bay: The Portofino Hotel & Marina’s Summer Solstice: An Around the World Food & Wine Festival takes place on Friday, June 20, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the property’s marina-side restaurant BALEENkitchen in Redondo Beach.
The immersive event transforms the historic property into a global culinary playground, complete with a passport for guests to collect stamps as they travel from country to country. Each destination offers themed food, wine, and live entertainment, like a mariachi band alongside a taco, burrito, and churro station in Mexico, and a gondolier pulling up to the marina for an Instagrammable Italy moment. Tickets are $105, with special parking and hotel stay discounts available for a full weekend escape.
TV personality Chef Aarthi Sampath will be teaming up with Executive Chef Surya Kumar of Fitoor Santa Monica for a one-night-only collaboration dinner on Sunday, June 22. The two chefs will come together over a four-course immersive dining experience. Each course will offer two dishes, one created by each chef.
Sampath, known for her former role as Chef de Cuisine at Junoon and her appearance on Food Network shows including Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, and more, will be preparing each course alongside Chef Kumar.
Collaboration menu highlights include:
- Amma’s Thayir Vadai with sweet corn raita, boondi, radish made by Chef Aarthi
- Shetty Home’s Fish Pulimunchi with tamarind chilli masala, lemon rice, and baby radish salad from Chef Surya
- Short Rib Bunny Chow with homemade herb bread, pickled chili, herbs, and shallot made by Chef Sampath
- The full menu can be found HERE
Tickets are available for $105 a person and can be purchased HERE. Space is limited and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What’s Popping Up is a column in the L.A. Weekly that explores everything new in food and drink.
Fitoor (Michele Stueven)