Japanese Regional Culture in Your Neighborhood… If you know only one place in the Tohoku region of Japan, it’s probably Fukushima – and the people who call that area home would like to change that. Though the region is noted for its harsh weather and rugged terrain it has a rich culture and distinctive cuisine, and both will be on display at the Rising Tohoku Food Fair at the Mitsuwa Marketplace August 20 to 23. There will be samurai skill demonstrations, music and dance presentations, and strolling mascots dressed as rabbits, a cute pig, and a giant rice ball, plus the buckwheat noodles and fishcakes the area is famous for. It will be a fun way to learn about the region and celebrate its revival – get information at the events page of mitsuwa.com…
Bakery No More… The news is sad elsewhere in Torrance as L’Amande Bakery closed amid allegations of worker abuse and fraud. They were easily the most authentic French bakery in the area, and readers have emailed to ask where to go to get croissants and specialty breads. Unfortunately I don’t have a good answer, because they were in a class of their own. You won’t be getting your bread from Provence Boulangerie in Manhattan Beach either, because they closed suddenly two weeks ago. Where are you going for your pastries now? Please drop me a line with recommendations…
And A Marsatta Update… Marsatta Chocolates was hoping to be open by now in their new Torrance store, but was beset with problems – chocolate processing machines stuck in Moscow due to a dispute with the shipper being the weirdest. The machinery is now on the way, the building almost renovated, so they’ll be opening soon…
An Unusual Waterfront Breakfast… A Basq Kitchen is serving a weekend breakfast item you’ve probably never heard of, a kind of Basque taco called a taloa. It’s a thick, soft, corn and wheat cake topped with a meat, vegetables, and a mild, savory roasted red pepper sauce. They also make a breakfast burrito, in case you’re not feeling adventurous. Pair either with a pot of French press and a view of the marina and you have a relaxing morning…
Event Alerts!… The Hatch Chile is a revered item in New Mexico, usually grilled or roasted to bring out its sweetness before being used in all sorts of recipes. On August 24th Chez Melange will be celebrating this tradition with a five course hatch dinner – and yes, there are hatch chilies even in dessert, a chile-cornmeal pudding. It’s $60 plus tax and tip and you can reserve at 310-540-1222. A few days later, on August 27th, there’s an art and food event right across the street, as HT Grill features wines from Artiste at a dinner in the midst of paintings by Aldo Luongo. The menu wasn’t available at press time, but it’s an inspired idea. We do know the price, which is $90 – watch their website for details…
Everyone Is Happy But The Fish… Every restaurateur would love it if people decided they were hungry sometime other than the standard mealtimes, and many places are doing something about it with early bird menus and late night specials. Hermosa Beach Fish Shop decided to offer a Happy Hour, featuring bargain prices on chowder, fish tacos, ceviche, and other items between 3 and 6 p.m., and with wine and beer specials to match. I was wondering whether they were likely to have a daily influx of large parties coming in the door at quarter to six so they could get their orders in, then linger over their meals into the usual dinner hour. I mentioned this to an experienced server who laughed and told me they’d probably be delighted if that happened — it would still extend their dinner hour earlier, and people who come in early are likely to order a few more food and drink items for seconds. It’s a smart strategy, and I expect to see it elsewhere…
For more local dining events, check our new calendar at easyreadernews.com. Any events I should know about, restaurant openings and closings, great places to get chocolate or pistachio croissants? I’m at Richard@richardfoss.com…
