Michele StuevenJoining the ranks of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and the Red Bull Mini Cooper, the Paulaner Sunset Spezi van has been spotted all over LA county recently introducing the classic German soft drink to a new legion of fans.
The groovy soft drink, which combines cola with orange juice and has been a mainstay in German-speaking countries since the early 1970s, is produced in Munich by the historic Paulaner brewery. With California’s growing thirst for new nonalcoholic beverages, Matthias Memminger thought it was long overdue to land in LA.
Courtesy Paulaner Sunset
“It’s such a tradition in Germany, every family has a Spezi memory,” Memminger tells L.A. Weekly in the Paulaner Sunset warehouse and storefront on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice. “Our family couldn’t understand why it hadn’t reached America.”
Memminger’s beverage experience doesn’t go beyond consumption, so he approached Paulaner about the idea and they made a deal.
The Memminger family, which includes wife Silke and sons August (19), Anton (23), and Adi (16) packed up 100 bottles in their suitcases and took an Easter family trip to Los Angeles in 2023. They spent 10 days schlepping around a cooler and passing out bottles of the orange cola soda with a citrus twist at Coachella, Grand Central Market, and to anyone willing to try it.
The Spezi drink — which in German translates to buddy or pal and comes in the original ‘70s bottle — has fewer calories, sugar, and fizz than a regular cola, and while it’s nonalcoholic, it makes a good bourbon mixer.
Within the last year, it’s become a hit and will be on the shelves at Bristol Farms next week, and is currently available at Chef Bernhard Mairinger’s new restaurant Lustig in Culver City, Wurstkueche, Larchmont Wine and Cheese, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, Howie’s Market in San Gabriel, the Venice storefront with the psychedelic mural, and immersive tasting events across town.
The Heidi van will be at the Summer SOULstice festival in Santa Monica on Saturday, July 13, and at Groove’ by RASA, on Friday, July 19, more info here.
The Memmingers from left: August , Matthias, Silke, Anton and Adi (Michele Stueven)
“My first Spezi memory, I was about 5 years old in Frankfurt,” says son and business partner Anton in the shop near Superba. “Growing up I was never allowed to drink cola until I was old enough to figure out where I could buy it myself. When we went to a restaurant on a Sunday with the whole family, the adults would drink beer and we kids got to drink a Spezi because of the lower sugar and caffeine, as a special occasion. I have such fond memories of those times with my parents and grandparents and extended family.”
Looking for a fun and affordable girls’ night out? Prima Donna just launched Martini Mondays. For 15 bucks, you can get a Tito’s vodka martini or Ford’s gin martini with a side of crispy shoestrings, and Beverly Bar also celebrates Mondays, with $12 martinis all day long.
Tomato lovers rejoice — a special Sunday Supper is taking place at Botanica on Sunday, July 14, with A Tomato Celebration.
The fixed menu from chef Alex Barkley features all things tomato (even the drinks, both n/a and alcoholic). There will be marcona almonds with tomato powder, sliced tomatoes and vanilla oil, clams and tomatoes on toast, tomato and chile-rubbed chicken, dried tomatoes with chickpeas and sage, and a tomato tarte tatin. It’s $70pp. Guests can make reservations at Resy.
Courtesy Prima Donna
Heading south? Omni La Costa’s celebrated Test Kitchen Series in collaboration with The Wise Ox Butcher & Eatery is back. From grilled meats and fresh seafood to colorful seasonal vegetables and beverages, the al fresco event combines summer flavors with the art of grilling and can directly share feedback and have the opportunity to influence future menus. Patrons can try an ever-changing lineup of six to eight dishes in development, plus beverage pairings, and interact with the culinary team. Tickets are available HERE.
While Arby’s Hollywood closed after nearly 55 years last month, on Thursday, August 8 through Halloween, Prince Street Pizza will open a drive-thru pop-up in the Arby’s location that will sell pizza by the slice as well as the brand’s new menu launch of mozzarella sticks. Known for the iconic, cowboy hat neon sign, the fast-food chain did not renew its lease leaving the storefront vacant. To help the owners fulfill the lease, Prince Street Pizza CEO Lawrence Longo will convert the restaurant into a pizza-slice drive-thru which will be open daily from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. The neon sign will remain at the 5920 Sunset Blvd. location with the original Arby’s Roast Beef branding.
What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the L.A. Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink.
Rendering Courtesy Prince Street Pizza