A la carte
Cajun Goes Mobile – Twice!… By now you’ve probably heard that the Ragin’ Cajun restaurant in Hermosa Beach is closing at the end of the year, to the great sadness of locals who have frequented the place. Steven was stunned when his landlord decided to terminate his lease so that his son could try his hand at being a restaurateur, but he has bounced back in high style with two new ventures.
The good news is that you now have two ways to enjoy Stephen’s hospitality. One is driving to their new location that will open in Plaza El Segundo, across the parking lot from Whole Foods Market next to Starbuck’s. The new and improved Ragin’ Cajun will feature a musician’s gallery and enough room for Cajun dance parties, so you can expect an atmosphere even closer to the West Louisiana roadhouses that this place is modeled on. The exact opening schedule isn’t clear as yet, but there shouldn’t be much of a gap between the closing of the old and the opening of the new. Or you can just let the Ragin’ Cajun come to you — if you are lucky enough to be nearby when Stephen Domingue rolls his food truck to your neighborhood. That truck will be serving their famous chicken and sausage gumbo at the Lobster Festival at Ports of Call in San Pedro this weekend, in case you needed another reason to attend an event that everyone but the lobsters think is a great idea. A Cajun food truck – it brings a whole new meaning to letting the good times roll…
…And More Openings and Closings… There wasn’t quite as happy an ending for the Catalina Restaurant in Redondo, which closed at the end of August. The inventive contemporary food served here was very good, but timing was against them – they opened a relatively expensive restaurant just as the economy soured, and though the place had a cult following they never hit the numbers they needed. Chef Ruben will be doing catering and private dining, and another restaurant will be moving into the space – no word yet on whom and serving what, but stay tuned… At the other end of the price scale, my favorite burger joint closed suddenly. Goodbye Canteen Grill, I will miss the wacky burgers, spicy pickles, and sweet potato fries. The location was taken over by Petit Cafe, an El Segundo institution serving Lebanese and American food. The original Petit location was a burger joint that gradually but steadily went upscale in food and décor, and they’re starting with a very nice room in their new digs…
…What The Heck Is Happening In Redondo?… There have been so many openings in Riviera Village that I can only skim them in the space I have this week: Asaka, a branch of the well-regarded Peninsula place, starts because alphabetical order rules. I liked the original location, which I reviewed in 2006, and have heard great reports. I haven’t heard anything about Sophie’s Place yet, but they’ve been open for only a few days as I write this – word is that they’re the latest gastropub outpost in the South Bay, and since I like the style I’m intrigued. Finally, Tapas & Vino has opened right up the street, a new venture from Anthony di Girgis who formerly ran the wonderful wine shop in the Galleria. I attended a few of his tastings with food and was delighted, so I’m looking forward to see what he can do in this new setting…
Twenty Years Already???… Congratulations to Sunday By The Sea, a wonderful food and wine event that turns 20 on Sept. 26. What started as an exclusive, elegant garden party in a private home… has remained one, because it’s a great idea. Tickets are $125 per person, and include a full banquet of delights from celebrated chefs. The gourmet afternoon is a fund-raiser for Trinity Care Hospice, and over the years almost $5 million has been raised for programs that include children’s care and assistance for people who would otherwise be homeless due to medical bills. So raise a glass and raise some money, while elevating your own spirits as well – call 310-257-3535 for reservations…
Something Else That’s Not Just For Breakfast Anymore… In the same week that I went to a birthday party at which there were over 30 food items that contained bacon, I also discovered the existence of bacon-flavored vodka. This boggles the mind – if you want to drink something smoky, why not just have a tumbler of good single-malt Scotch instead of desecrate some poor innocent vodka? I have been noticing some very weird bacon-based items on local menus, including bacon sushi, and I can only say that I will be happy when this particular craze is over…
Not As Overindulgent As It Looks – But Nearly… When I received a press release about Fleming’s restaurant offering a tasting of a hundred wines this month, I thought it had to be the worst idea I had ever heard of – I don’t care how good wine #89 was, your palate would be well and truly dead by that point. After I read the thing a bit more closely, I realized that the idea is to taste 20 wines each night for five nights. The sessions are called “Opening Nights” and they’re going on now – if you enjoy variety, stop in any Thursday in September from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and you are guaranteed a great time. The cost is a mere $25 and hors d’oeuvres are included – stay for dinner and you get a $25 credit toward your meal. It’s an amazing deal from a place that continues to make an office building on Rosecrans a dining destination…
And Another Culinary Star Is Born… Last week we covered the culinary triumph of Chef Makoto Okuwa of Sashi, who appeared on Iron Chef America, and this week we found out that a member of his staff is appearing on another cooking show. Mike Kim is one of the contestants on Gordon Ramsay’s new Master Chefs show, which makes Sashi the only restaurant in LA to have two culinary TV stars working together. It’s pretty amazing, really – congratulations to both of you, and we wish you the best of luck as you slice, dice, and grill before the unblinking gaze of the cameras… ER