Michele Stueven
Updated
A Santa Monica institution for more than 60 years, the Vienna Pastry Bakery beloved for generations was on the brink of extinction during the pandemic, as weddings and other family celebrations began to dwindle. Just as they were beginning to recover, a Go Fund Me account failed to help raise funds and, soon after, the lease on the Wilshire Boulevard historic space next to Callahan’s went from $9000 to $15,000. Vienna Pastry was forced to close.
The full-functioning on site bakery has popped back up farther north in a new and unexpected space – the ground floor of the Wilshire Bundy Plaza. They’re also serving lunch items like the signature Vienna panini, salads and sandwiches. It’s a little hard to find, just follow the aroma past the concierge to the right. Street parking is equivalent to the previous location, with 15 minutes validated inside the building.
Vienna Pastry Bakery (Michele Stueven)
La Peer hotel in West Hollywood presents “Dating is a Drag”— a festive brunch with drag show performances, taking place this Sunday, Feb. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. Hosted by drag queen Faith Killz, the event will include a special menu with “Love Bites” and Valentine cocktails, and performances by Hershii Liqcour-Jete, The Only Divinity, Loris & Chyna Mulani, featuring DJ Spencer Huff. The event’s cover is $10, and tickets are available on EventBrite.
Gracias Madre West Hollywood is having a private five-course Mezcal pairing dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 9 starting at 7:30 p.m. Included in the reservation is a La Luna-based welcome cocktail, a curated five-course dinner and three distinctive La Luna pours that will include Gracias Madre’s new “Cherry Coke Pechuga” private batch mezcal. Dinner includes plant-based favorites like its Hearts of Palms Aguachile, a Winter Salad, Caldo de Huitlacoche, Albondiga de Chorizo, Enchilada de Kabocha and a Guava Mezcal Cheesecake. This exclusive pairing dinner will be $100 per person and people can book their reservations via OpenTable here.
Pull out your shitkickers for Valentine’s Day – Tommie Hollywood’s rooftop Desert 5 Spot will be hosting couples line-dancing lessons by ‘Line Dancing Mike’ from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $75 per couple and include the line-dancing class as well as two cocktails. Booking Link: https://tenfivehospitality.ticketsauce.com/e/line-dance-of-love
The new limited edition Frankenreiter raw honey and shaved fresh truffles donut only will be available in L.A, from Feb. 10 to Feb. 28, at Holey Grail’s pop-up at The Platform in Culver City. A collaboration from cult-favorite Hawaiian and musician/pro surfer Donavon Frankenreiter, the fritter starts with its signature taro donut, which is dipped in a truffled honey glaze from Kauai Nectar Co., and finished with a drizzle of raw wildflower honey, sprinkling of sea salt, and shaved fresh Italian black truffles.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has launched Kneaded: L.A. Bread Stories, a digital-first multimedia series that highlights L.A.’s history of breadmaking. Throughout the year, Kneaded L.A. will premiere videos, stories, and photo essays with local bakers, sharing how their breads facilitate important cultural heritages and traditions.
This month spotlights Marlene Beckford’s Jamaican Fry Dumplings from Leimert Park’s Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine. Highlights from following months include: Frogtown’s Just What I Kneaded in March; Glendale’s Zhengyalov Hatz in April; Santa Monica’s DK Donuts & Bakery in May; Downtown LA’s Nickel Diner in June; The Original Hawowshi pop-up in July; an exploration of LA’s bread history in August; Guatemalteca Bakery in September; Long Beach’s San & Wolves Bake Shop in October; and Lucy Hale’s Indian Tacos & Frybread pop-up in November. Visit NHM.ORG/KneadedLA to explore the appetizing nooks and cultural crannies of LA bread.
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