Mickie Finnz closes, beards & bourbon, Sinatra’s whiskey, late night Love & Salt, clambakes at Hook & Plow…

An old proverb says all a cook needs to make a good meal is love and salt. Photo by Andrea Bricco

An old proverb says all a cook needs to make a good meal is love and salt. Photo by Andrea Bricco

Finnz Out, Steaks In?… Mickie Finnz in Riviera Village never really caught on with locals – the tropical vibe made it a popular nightspot, but the food wasn’t up to the standard of the other Hennessey restaurants. They closed quietly after a decade in business, and a new concept is in the works. Reliable sources indicate that a steakhouse and whiskey bar is coming, which would follow a trend in the South Bay. It could be a good idea – though the Bull Pen is a genuine classic and only a few blocks away they cater to an older crowd and aren’t known for high-style mixology. No word on the timetable yet, but I’ll let you know when I can confirm more…

And Speaking Of Steaks and Whiskey… On November 11, HT Grill will be hosting a “Beard and Bourbon” dinner, and fortunately you will only be called on to consume one of those two items. You don’t have to even have a beard or wear a false one – it’s named in honor of the “No Shave November” meme. Hirsute or not, you’re in for a deal – $50 plus tax and tip gets you four courses paired with Kentucky bourbon cocktails and shots. The menu and reservation info are at htgrill.com…

And While We’re On The Subject… The restaurant that focuses on steak and whiskey all the time has scheduled a wine dinner with pairings from Napa’s Plumpjack Winery. Despite being named after a Shakespearean insult, Plumpjack makes splendid wines and this dinner will showcase them with challenging selections like blood sausage with radicchio kraut and braised beef tongue with pickled crabapple. It’s on November 17th, price is $125 inclusive,  and it should be a remarkable evening – call 310-318-5555 to reserve…

And Still More About Whiskey… It’s a measure of how popular whiskey is these days that I’m still writing about it after four paragraphs. In this case it’s an event at Lou’s On The Hill, a tasting of Jack Daniels “Sinatra Select.” Frank Sinatra liked that brand so much he was buried with a flask of it, and the new whiskey is potently smoky and strong. It’s hard to find locally, so this is your chance to sample it. The date is November 18, and appetizers will be served alongside the hard stuff. Call 310-378-4288 for information and reservations…

And Something Completely Different… I don’t usually write about events outside our coverage area, but this one is so interesting that I had to include it. Harbor College, which is just off the 110 at PCH, is hosting a dinner showcasing the cuisine of Azerbaijan tonight, November 5, featuring live music. Azeri cuisine has roots in Turkish food, and the Consul of Azerbaijan will be present to make sure they make it just like they do at home in Baku. The cost? A mere $25 per person. Address is Cafe Eleven-11 Bistro, 1111 Figueroa Place, on the campus at Harbor College. Reserve via email at lahcbistro@gmail.com – and yes, you can do that even on the same day as the event and pay at the door. Some seats will still be available for walk-ups…

Hermosa In The News…  This has been a relatively quiet year in Hermosa – eleven non-chain restaurants debuted there last year, only two to date in 2015. A third should be serving soon, as Brats & Brau plans to open its doors by mid-November. It’s anyone’s guess when Laurel Tavern will open in the former Game Changers space, or what will replace Establishment, but nothing seems very likely to do so by the end of the year. More changes are on the horizon – Three Hermosa Avenue restaurants are for sale, and a local chain will soon have a location on Pier Avenue.          

One thriving restaurant is adding daily specials, including one that was popular a century ago. Clambakes were a major draw until the demand for bivalves brought the local population to extinction. Hook & Plow can’t restock that population but is bringing back the flavor for their clambake Mondays, a full meal of New England style seafood, sausage, corn and potatoes. It’s $55 for two, which is a deal. There are other offerings too – Wednesday is chicken and waffles, Thursday a massive tomahawk ribeye for $85. Pretty pictures are on their website, prices should be added soon, or you can call at 310-937-5909…

Elsewhere in Hermosa, for one night only you can quaff craft beer to support the Soroptomists Club of Manhattan Beach. “Savor The Flavor” will feature food and both local and exotic brews, including Russian River Brewing’s Pliny The Elder. There will be live music, a tequila tasting, and raffle, all for a mere $45. The venue is the Kiwanis Club on Valley, and information and tickets are available at simanhattanbeach.org…

Sounds A Bit Racy… If you’re looking for late night love in Manhattan Beach, the place to go is not a pickup bar – it’s Love & Salt. “Late Night Love” is their new evening happy hour program, in which diners can get any pizza or a gourmet burger along with a glass of wine or craft beer for a mere $20. MB’s nightlife can always use more late options, and this one is mighty tempting…   

Thoughts On The Art Of Service… The South Bay now has some excellent bar programs, but incompetent and arrogant service is putting this revolution at risk. One reader reported an El Segundo restaurant adding upcharges for using anything but the well liquor, with customers not informed until the bill arrived. My position is that if you aren’t told of a charge, you shouldn’t have to pay it, period. A place that does otherwise might make an extra four or five bucks on that one drink, but loses both that customer and anybody they talk to. Good operators understand the value of communication – bad ones don’t stay in business for long…

Any new restaurants, any events I should know about? I’m at Richard@richardfoss.com…

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