New Orleans Cuisine

Take the Metro blue line to the last stop in Long Beach and experience the largest Mardi-Gras event west of the Mississippi. The 17th annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival will be held at the Rainbow lagoon on August 7-8 from noon to 11pm on Saturday and noon to 10pm on Sunday.

Live musical entertainment mixes the best of Cajun, Brazilian, Zydeco, Blues, and New Orleans-style jazz. Guests can dine on a Crawfish feast of two to three pounds of fresh live steamed crawfish, red baby potatoes, corn on the cob and dipping sauce, served by Bristol Farms. There will be an International food court featuring New Orleans-inspired cuisine, chicory coffee and beignets. Special admission discounts and packages are available online. For more information and discounts, go to: www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com

Island Hop at Roy’s

The Los Angeles and Pasadena Roy’s Restaurants will feature a four-island inspired, four-course meal paired with wines on August 10 for $69.95 per person.  Start first with an appetizer inspired by the island of Kauai; Soy charred sea scallops with apricots, nasturtium, and Conundrum vinaigrette. It’s paired with a Conundrum white wine blend. That is followed by the island of Maui’s Kalua beef and Maui onion soubise with creamy polenta cassoulet and a cabernet natural sauce, paired with a glass of a Cabernet Sauvignon from Caymus Vineyards.  The Oahu inspired entrée, a spicy ginger steamed Hawaiian shutome with a tofu salad and lilikoi vinaigrette, is paired with Belle Glos “Melomi” Pinot Noir from Sonoma, and the Big Island inspired Macadamia Nut tasting with blueberries and yuzu is a sweet ending with a cup of hot Kona coffee. 800 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, (213)488-4994 or 641 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626)356-4066.

Surf & Turf Dinner Specials

One of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles is Tam O’Shanter. For 88 years, the Frank and Van de Kamp families have owned and operated the landmark dining spot at its original location on Los Feliz Blvd.   During the month of August, Tam O’Shanter will offer a Tam salad or soup of the day and a special 8oz cut of roasted prime rib of beef with mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and creamed corn or spinach with a Nova Scotia lobster tail.  Or choose fresh salmon with seasonal vegetables plus the lobster tail.  All meals include a glass of house wine.  For dessert, try a petit English trifle or C.C. Brown’s sundae sampler with coffee or tea for $44 per person. 2980 Los Feliz Blvd., (323)664-0228.

New Menu at Nobu

Nobu in West Hollywood, located in the famed L’Orangerie on La Cienega Blvd, recently installed a state-of-the-art brick oven. It heats up to roughly 700ºF allowing the cooking process to scorch flavor on the outside, while locking in moisture and flavor inside.  Chef Alex Becker is debuting his new “brick oven” menu where guests can dine on live Dungeness crab, Oysters jalapeno salsa, and 18-hour Niman Ranch pork belly with miso anticucho. Bon Appetit named Nobu Los Angeles to The Top Ten Places for Sushi. 903 N. La Cienega Blvd, (310)657-5711.

Brunch at Dominick’s

For years, longtime regulars have asked Warner Ebbink and Chef Brandon Boudet of Dominick’s to open for brunch on Saturday or Sunday.  After revamping the side patio, relocating the brick fireplace and adding more seating for lounging, the restaurateurs created a brunch menu and started serving Italian-American fare on weekend mornings from 9-3pm.

Many items are under $10. Start with a Dom’s Bloody Mary or Arnold Palmer ($9) and then dine on Zucchini pancakes with cucumber mint yogurt ($9), Polenta waffles with strawberries, whipped mascarpone & warm honey ($9) or soft white corn polenta with two fried eggs with Parmesan cheese ($9). 8715 Beverly Blvd. (310)652-2335.

Oceanfront Dining at Terranea

Nelson’s Restaurant at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes is the ideal location to start your weekend mornings from 7:30 to 10:30am. Their nibbler menu features house made granola, fresh fruit with honey, streusel coffee cake, chorizo quesadilla and a smoked salmon and cream cheese brunch wrap in a spinach tortilla.  Most items are under $10.

Nelson’s is named after the main character Mike Nelson, played by Lloyd Bridges in the popular 1960s television series, “Sea Hunt”. Inside the furnishings are made of recycled materials. The centerpiece bar countertop is made of recycled wine bottles.  Outside tables overlook ocean coves and the Point Vicente Lighthouse. 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, (310)265-2800.

Picnic Bento Boxes

Maison Akira in Pasadena is preparing boxes for picnics at the Rose Bowl, Descanso Gardens, and the Hollywood Bowl.  Start with a soba pasta salad, shrimp cocktail, house smoked duck breast and salmon, French cheese, salami & garlic sausage, ratatouille, and assorted vegetables. For the main course, choose miso marinated Chilean sea bass, grilled sliced chicken or Kobe Steak (add $8). Dessert includes an apple tart with caramel sauce. Each box is $25 with a minimum order of two. All orders must be pre-paid and ordered 24 hours in advance. 713 East Green Street, (626)796-9501.

Rejuvenating Spa and Lunch Deal

The new spaRelaken and Gonpachi restaurant located inside the Miyako Hybrid Hotel in Torrance is offering a special spa-and-lunch-package for $45. Relax in America’s first hot stone day spa that features the SGE bedrock bath treatment. After a dip in a warm spa bath, change into Japanese style cotton pajamas and enter a sanctuary-like room. Lie on heated “super growth energy” stones to restore cells and encourage beneficial detoxification through perspiration.  In Japan this legendary and beneficial spa treatment is known to improve circulation and metabolism, giving people a sense of healing and rejuvenation from the inside out.

Afterwards, stroll over to the adjacent Gonpachi restaurant for a healthy bento box lunch of house made soba, seasonal appetizers, tempura or fresh tofu, and a California roll.  The lunch includes a visit to the East-meets-West salad and soup bar.

Spa Healthy lunch packages must be booked between 10am to 1:30pm. Call spaRelaken (310)212-6408.