Michele StuevenChef Hendrix Vega, formerly of Amour, Gucci Osteria, and Bouley, will present a variety of culinary stations at Sendero’s Mother’s Day Brunch on the 24th floor of The Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, May 11. The menu includes a farmer’s market salad stand, ceviche and raw bar, cheese and charcuterie, carving stations, savory entrées, breakfast favorites, and a bounty of sweets.
Moms will take home a small bouquet picked fresh from the Original Los Angeles Flower Market and assembled by LA floral shop WildFlora. For a full floral immersion, you can also treat mom to a WildFlora-inspired spa treatment at the hotel and add on an exclusive and private tour of the 100+-year-old landmark Original Los Angeles Flower Market with a hands-on floral workshop with founder and florist Alexandra Scholtz.
There will also be a Mother’s Day-themed Chocolate Master Class on Saturday, May 10 at Sendero with French executive pastry chef and master chocolatier Francois Behuet for lessons on the art of chocolate sculpting and decorating.
A bountiful spread and Mother’s Day buffet brunch style menu by Union Chef-in-Residence, Eugene Santiago will be offered on Sunday, May 11 featuring Southeast Asian inspired dishes as well as a dedicated Omelette Station complete with fresh seasonal vegetables and accoutrements and a variety of cheeses, a hand-carved rib eye station with housemade au jus; Main entrees will feature ube pancakes, avocado toast, decadent Kaya toast, and delicate pork bao buns. Sides will include Longanisa sausage, scrambled eggs, parfaits, little gem salad, and fresh seasonal fruit. Desserts include Mango Bango, a tapioca pudding with coconut jelly and Hawaiian papaya; chocoflan made of silky pandan flan and Valrhona espresso cake, and Earl Grey Lavender London Fog Cake.
Courtesy Union
UNION will celebrate mom all month in May with a special Mama Matcha available to order Thursday through Sunday at the coffee bar. The Sculpture Garden features celebrated artist Fay Ray’s Cereus installation that gives California desert oasis vibes. First seating at 10:30 a.m.; second seating at 1 p.m. $75 pp inclusive of complimentary mimosa or mocktail; Children nine and older are $45; Children eight and younger are $25; Reservations are strongly recommended via Tock.
Aura Queen of Hearts Photographer Meredith Gradishar will be on hand for a special Aura portrait studio for moms to capture the special day with loved ones. There will also be a DIY Flower Bar by Xylem Florals, where blooming florals and fauna await a personal bouquet, as well as materials for a creative DIY Mother’s Day card. All pricing for experiences will be provided on-site and go directly to the artist.
Just steps away, meander through the current Compound artist exhibition, “Puerperal” by Fay Ray, pre- or post-brunch. Free and on view through August 2025, the striking exhibit of monochromatic sculptures, as well as the first-ever commissioned ceramics collection, explores the maternal journey, life endured, and divine feminine energy.
Camélia’s first daytime service in the DTLA Arts District will be a Mother’s Day High Tea only on Sunday, May 11th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The high tea has a set menu; the regular menu will not be available. The $88 per person ticketed event includes:
- Bread basket: Scone, Biscuit, Milk bun + jam
- Mushroom tartlets with white asparagus
Classic Japanese egg salad sando
Cucumber sunomono sando
Smoked duck hand roll
Fish rillette hand roll - Matcha crepe cake with strawberries
Meyer lemon cake
Coconut sable
Black sesame chocolate chip cookie
Mini creme caramel - A choice of loose-leaf tea
- Reservations: Highly recommended and available via OpenTable.
- Misc: Coffee, sake, wine, and cocktails will be available a la carte. The restaurant will be open for its regular dinner service starting at 5 p.m..
Courtesy Camelia
El Patrón in Altadena is celebrating its 15th anniversary this Cinco de Mayo with a community celebration featuring live mariachi from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with festive decor and staff dressed in traditional attire. The restaurant will also offer complimentary dessert to the first 20 people in line.
After having to close for two months following the Eaton Fire, El Patrón was able to reopen in March while many of its neighbors began the process of rebuilding. As many in Altadena are still reeling from the fire’s aftermath, owner Maggie Cortez is hopeful this celebration will help reignite community spirit and support.
Socalo is opening its doors to celebrate Monday, May 5, for mezcal tastings and a one-night-only dinner menu designed to deliver festive flair.
For lunch, Socalo is offering Quick Catering (pre-orders only), ideal for office parties, casual get-togethers or last-minute taco cravings. There’s a range of taco bars, burrito platters, and margaritas to-go to choose from.
Dobladita (Courtesy Socalo)
Then at 4 p.m., Socalo will turn up the flavor with a festive dinner experience on the patio featuring mezcal tastings by Hedonistsas, the full bar and exclusive dishes made for one night only.
The special one-night-only taco mania menu includes:
- Carne Asada Tacos (pico de gallo, guacamole, quemada salsa)
- Baja Shrimp Tacos(cabbage slaw, peanut salsa, salsa fresca, crema)
- Carnitas Tacos (tomatillo avocado salsa, onion, cilantro)
- Gobernador Shrimp Tacos (peppers, onion, chipotle sauce)
- Chicken Taco Dorados (crispy corn tortilla, Mexican cheeses, potato rajas, guacamole, fresca and quemada salsas, pickled onion)
- Jackgruit Ting Tacos (pickled red onion, crispy jalapeño, fried kale, avocado salsa
- Barbacoa Tacos (grilled and folded corn tortilla, slow braised lamb, onion), consommé, cilantro, salsa borracha, avocado salsa)
- Mushroom Dobladitas (heirloom blue corn tortilla, oyster mushroom, huitlacoche “Mexican truffle”, Oaxacan cheese, lime crema)
- Tlayudas – choice of:
- chorizo, asiento, refried beans, cabbage, cherry tomato, avocado, chile arbol salsa, crema
- pork collar cecina, asiento, refried beans, cabbage, cherry tomato, avocado, chile morita salsa, crema
- vegetarian asiento, mashed beans, nopales, cherry tomato, cabbage, tomatillo, avocado salsa
A collaboration pop-up swap between Saltie Girl and Found Oyster will take place on Tuesday, May 6, and at Found Oyster on the following Tuesday, May 13.
Found Oyster will offer Oysters Royale, caviar, vodka, creme fraiche, tuna stuffed squid, fried clam roll, serrano aioli, and cabbage slaw. Saltie Girl specials include fried lobster roll, beurre blanc, and Found Oyster French fries, a tinned fish board with Fangst smoked trout, Jose Gourmet smoked small sardines, and a SweetBoy macadamia nut cookie. Both restaurants will also offer their normal dinner menus. Reservations for Found Oyster at Saltie Girl via Resy. Reservations for Found Oyster at Saltie Girl via Resy are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.
What’s Popping Up is a column in the L.A. Weekly that explores everything new in food and drink.
Oyster Royale (Courtesy Found Oyster)