Lip sync battles for life, out of this world looks and costumes, comedic one-liners and zingers are back for season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race premiering on Friday, January 7. And if you’re looking for a place to watch the drag showdowns, The Abbey Food & Bar will be hosting viewing parties starting at 5 p.m. during their weekly Drag Race happy hour on the patio. Live and in person, this season’s viewing parties will be hosted by the Abbey’s own drag superstar Kornbread “the snack” Jete, who is also a contestant on this season’s lineup. You can catch her in person at The Abbey on weekends for Drag Brunch and Monday evenings Lip Service drag shows. No reservations are necessary to attend, just proof of COVID vaccination to enter.

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is kicking off its 2022 tour of the West Coast by rolling into SoCal with two L.A. area stops this month – Downey on Saturday, January 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Promenade at Downey near the Cinemark Theater and in Torrance on Saturday, January 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Del Amo Fashion Center near the AMC Theaters. Hello Kitty fans can look forward to exclusive goodies and limited-edition collectibles, including a new Hello Kitty Cafe canvas tote; a Hello Kitty Cafe rainbow thermos; hand-decorated cookie sets; enamel pin sets and madeleine cookie sets. Other best-selling items include sprinkle mugs and giant Hello Kitty Cafe chef cookies.

Kornbread

Kornbread “the snack” Jete (Courtesy The Abbey Food & Bar)

Sunday, January 9, Smorgasburg LA will reopen after their holiday hiatus with new vendors joining the roster. Smorgasburg has announced five new vendors:

B’ivrit 

https://www.instagram.com/bivritla/

B’ivrit is a roving Middle Eastern street food pop-up by Amit Sidi, famous for her tri-color falafel, hummus and cauliflower shawarma. After bouncing around between various east side spots during the pandemic, Smorgasburg will be B’ivrit’s first permanent weekly location.  

Cali Dumpling

https://www.instagram.com/cali.dumpling/

Founded by Candace and Allan Tea, Cali Dumpling was started during the pandemic as the stand-alone brand of an El Monte-based dumpling company that supplies handmade dumplings to some of the most well-known dumpling shops in the San Gabriel Valley. That means that starting this Sunday, Smorgasburg attendees will be able to get SGV-quality soup dumplings in DTLA, alongside more non-traditional specials like pho soup dumplings and pan-fried pizza dumplings.  

Chimmelier by Hanchic

https://www.instagram.com/chimmelier.la/

Chimmelier is a Korean fried chicken sandwich concept from the chef and owners of Hanchic, the modern Korean restaurant in K-Town helmed by Rising Star Chef Justin Kim.   

Happy Ice

https://www.instagram.com/happyice/

After a hugely popular stint this past summer as the star of Smorgasburg’s annual ice cream alley, Happy Ice will be joining the market full time with their unique brand of Philadelphia-style water ice from owner Lemeir Mitchell.  

Say it Ain’t So 

https://www.instagram.com/sayitaintsopb/

The brainchild of Chef Chris Olsefsky, Say It Ain’t So is classic SoCal-style fast food, but entirely plant-based. Think vegan crunchadillas, burgers, mini taquitos, and more.

For their grand re-opening day only, FOX’s new Gordon Ramsay cooking competition show Next Level Chef will be bringing some iconic Los Angeles eateries to Smorgasburg showcasing an array of what the Los Angeles food scene has to offer. Sushi | Bar, Gracias Madre and Howlin’ Rays will be popping up at Smorgasburg on January 9, serving some of their most well-known dishes for attendees inside of a Next Level Chef space.

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck

Courtesy Hello Kitty Cafe Truck

Oceanfront restaurant 1 Pico at Shutters on the Beach has added a new and limited-time Uni Toast where a portion of the proceeds for the dish will go towards the Santa Monica Bay Foundation. The Bay Foundation’s mission is to improve water quality and conserve and rehabilitate natural resources. The dish features a brioche toast topped with local uni, charred avocado, parsley powder, espelette and lime juice. 

Bar Louie is teaming up with Chloe Wine Collection of The Wine Group to launch its newest beverage as part of their year-round giveback program, Cocktails For A Cause. For every Winter Citrus Punch sold, Bar Louie will donate $1 to Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization that aims to end hunger. The nonprofit treats and prevents child malnutrition and supports communities with sustainable solutions to hunger. The winter-inspired cocktail is made with Deep Eddy Lemon, O3 Orange Liqueur, Chloe Pinot Grigio, vanilla, winter citrus, sparkling water, orange and grapefruit.

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