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What You're Eating: Anniversary Celebrations And Fresh Spring Menus

Charlie Palmer header
(credit: Charlie Palmer)

Spring is in the air, and its a good time for brunch, dinner and everything in between. Several LA-area restaurants are celebrating another year and business, but its the customers who are getting the gifts of specially-priced menus. Here's a look at some of the delicious, seasonal menus restaurants are offering this week.

Tapas Ray's & Stark Bar
(credit: Ray's & Stark Bar)

Ray's and Stark Bar

At LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6180
www.raysandstarkbar.com

The Patina Group is synonymous with fine dining and award-winning restaurants, so it's no surprise that Ray's & Stark Bar was named one of the best new restaurants in 2011. Located inside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the restaurant features a Mediterranean-inspired menu with an emphasis on farm-to-table, seasonal dishes. The restaurant will celebrate its 2nd anniversary on March 5, and in honor of the event, Executive Chef Kris Morningstar will cook Paella Valencia and mariscos on the patio. The special tapas menu also features Jamon Iberico, house-smoked chorizo, sherries chicken wings and papas con cabrales. The cost for the event is $22 and includes sangria and a cocktail from the Galician burning Quemada (a flaming coffee bean and Orujo liquor).

The Hungry Cat
(credit: The Hungry Cat)

The Hungry Cat Hollywood

1535 N. Vine St.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 462-2155
thehungrycat.com

David Lentz, self-taught culinary master and owner of The Hungry Cat, will host a special celebration on March 8 in honor of the flagship restaurant's eighth anniversary. A celebration and tribute to his hometown roots in Baltimore, the outdoor BBQ will feature genuine article Baltimore Pit Beef, Grilled Oysters, a Raw Bar, a Beer Station, and an à la carte menu of the restaurant's seafood specialties. Plus, special guest bartenders Matt Jeronimo and Josh Curtis will mix up specialty cocktails for just $8 each. Chef Lentz's menus incorporate sustainable, seasonal fish, shellfish, and produce and they change weekly. Be sure to make reservations for this special, one-night event.

this is not a pop-up
(credit: this is not a pop-up)

this is not a pop-up

Tiago Espresso Bar + Kitchen
7080 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-5600
www.thisisnotapopup.com
www.tiagocoffee.com

If you're adventurous, and looking for a unique dining experience, this is not a pop-up offers seasonal five-course menus that can change weekly or even daily. For $50, would-be diners can experience an exquisite menu put together by seasoned celebrity chefs. This week's menu items include charred octopus, roots & bulbs, beef heart, squab, and Skyy-poached apple, put together by former Vu (in Marina del Rey) chef Kyle Schutte. It should be noted that all dinners are BYOB and wines can be selected to complement your meal by calling Domaine LA at (323) 932-0280. This unique culinary approach was initiated to enable chefs to get into the kitchen and cook. The location changes from time to time as do the menus and the chefs who present them.

Bouchon
(credit: Bouchon Bistro)

Bouchon Bistro

235 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 271-9910
bouchonbistro.com

Best known for fine dining establishments Bouchon and The French Laundry, Chef Thomas Keller's commitment to culinary excellence is best displayed in his French Bistro, which offers a seasonal, changing menu using the best market selections each day. Bouchon's Spring Menu lunch and dinner plates including pate de campagne, salmon rillettes, and fresh baked bread and pastries. The raw bar also includes oysters on the half shell as well as other fruits de mer. The seasonal menu is complemented by Vin de Carafe, a wine program that recognizes local wine producers.

West Restaurant Los Angeles
(credit: West Restaurant and Lounge)

West Restaurant & Lounge

170 N. Church Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 481-7878
www.westrestaurantla.com

With stunning views of the city, West Restaurant & Lounge celebrates the best in California cuisine with a fresh, seasonal, changing menu paired with regional wine makers. The restaurant plays host to a variety of culinary events including multi-course tasting menus, food and wine pairings, and more. In addition to their current seasonal menu offerings, which include fresh homemade soups, lobster macaroni, hanger steak, and dishes made with fresh picked fruits and vegetables, the venue offers a five-course Chef's Tasting Menu for $65 ($85 with wine pairing).

Charlie Palmer
(credit: Charlie Palmer)

Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza

3333 South Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 352-2525
www.charliepalmer.com

This month, Charlie Palmer is introducing a new brunch menu with distinct specialty offerings at the Bloody Mary Bar. Highlights of the brunch menu include Caramelized Onion and Gruyere Quiche, Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, and French Toast Pudding. Guests brunching at the restaurant will receive an appetizer, entree, and unlimited Bloody Marys for $37.50. The Bloody Mary Bar will also feature six new menu recipes including an All-American featuring Baby Ray's BBQ sauce, Pickapeppa Sauce, Beef Jerky and a pretzel stick and the Orient Express which includes Ginger, Vietnamese Chili Sauce, Sriracha, Green Beans and Pepperoncini. Guests interested in recreating menu items featured on the brunch menu can participate in a Special Brunch Cooking Class on March 20 at 6:30 pm. Executive Chef Seakyeong Kim will teach participants how to create brunch foods, offer tips for making the perfect scrambled eggs, and share the top secret recipe for their signature Bloody Marys. The cost of the class is $105 per person.

Caryn Bailey is a Southern California-based writer and LA native who can be found writing daily on her lifestyle blog Rockin' Mama or on Twitter @RockinMama.

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