Oliverio Special Thanksgiving

Start with a winter pepita salad with goat cheese and a walnut dressing or butternut squash soup with roasted chestnuts.  Next, dine family style with roasted turkey, sweet potato, cranberry sauce, and apple pie with cinnamon ice-cream for $40 a person.  9400 W. Olympic Blvd. (310)277-5221.

Off Vine for Thanksgiving

Enjoy a four-course dinner on Thanksgiving Day from 2 to 8 p.m. at the charming restaurant, Off Vine. Choose for your entrée sliced roast free-range turkey, sautéed filet of wild Atlantic salmon, or prime rib of beef.  Save room for one of their famous chocolate, raspberry, Grand Marnier or pumpkin soufflés.  $45 per person.  6263 Leland Way, (323)962-1900.

Greenleaf Holiday Meals

Cater a health-minded “figure-friendly” Thanksgiving or holiday meal to serve to your family and friends.  Start with a butternut squash soup with pumpkin seed and roasted cauliflower or roasted turkey chili ($3.50 a serving). The roasted ham or turkey panini with caramelized onions, truffled spinach and whole grain mustard aioli is a terrific Christmas or Chanukah croque ($11.95).  Two locations: 9671 Wilshire Blvd. (310)246-0756 and 1888 Century Park East (424)239-8700.

Thanksgiving Cupcakes

Sprinkles is offering an EAT box through November 28 filled with orange cranberry and maple spice, pumpkin, red velvet, and dark chocolate cupcakes adorned with turkey and maple leaf sugar decorations. 9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd. (310)274-8765.

Black Friday Dining

La Sandia on the Dining Deck of Santa Monica Place is offering shoppers a preview of their new traditional Mexican brunch menu.  New items include chilaquiles with corn tortilla, black bean pure, crema fresca, Mexican cheeses and fried eggs and breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs, charro beans, potato, cilantro, salsa and guacamole.  Later, come back for their Hora Feliz menu at the tequila bar and communal tables from 4 to 7 p.m.  $3 Mexican beers, $5 Latin cocktails, $3 tacos, and $3 bottomless guacamole. 395 Santa Monica Place #305, (310)393-3300.

King’s Seafood Company

For every $100 gift card purchase to be used at Water Grill, Ocean Avenue, i. Cugini, and King’s Fish House, patrons will receive a $20 gift certificate to be used in 2011. Also, when you book a party of 15 or more guests at King’s Fish House for the month of December, you will receive a complimentary $25 gift certificate. If you reserve a party of 15 or more at Water Grill, Ocean Avenue or i. Cugini for this month, you will receive a complimentary $50 gift card as King’s Seafood Company’s way of saying thanks.  All offers are valid until December 28. Water Grill-544 S. Grand Ave., (213)891-0900. Ocean Ave-1401 Ocean Ave, (310)394-5669. i. Cugini-1501 Ocean Ave. (310)451-4595. King’s Fish House-100 W. Broadway, Long Beach, (562)432-7463. www.kingsseafood.com

Spicemongers Dinner

A special menu will be crafted by two chefs: Adelfo Francisco from the Larchmont Grill and Ana Boghosian of Spice Station to showcase spices and flavorful foods on December 1 at 7 p.m. at the Larchmont Grill. The chefs will discuss the history of spices and how they interact with foods.  Enjoy a five-course meal for $65.  Special holiday spice gift packs will be available for purchase.  5750 Melrose Ave, (323)464-4277.

RockSugar Giveaway

From now until Christmas Eve, RockSugar will give guests a “With our Compliments” $10 reward with the purchase of every $50 gift card purchased at the restaurant or online through the restaurant eGift cards program. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. #654, (310) 552-9988. www.rocksugarpanasiankitchen.com

Top Chef Arrives

Beechwood, a popular late night restaurant has a new look with the arrival of Executive Chef Jamie Lauren.  She was recently in the kitchen at Absinthe in San Francisco. As one of the crowd favorites on the Bravo television show, “Top Chef”, she was asked to participate on “Top Chef – All Star Edition”, airing this December.  Lauren’s new menu focuses on American fare such as Beechwood nuggets with chicken, curry, raita and whipped vindaloo oil; and soup shots with pumpkin, vanilla crème and pumpkin oil.  For desserts, she is known for her chocolate tasting with a milk chocolate malt shot, dark chocolate cocoa nib brownie, and dried cherry and pistachio white chocolate bark.  822 Washington Blvd. Venice, (310)448-8884. www.beechwoodrestaurant.com

Free Cheesecake Offer

A “slice of joy” card is good for a free slice of cheesecake when you purchase a $25 gift card at The Cheesecake Factory between now and December 25. Buy a $50 card and you will receive two “slice of joy” cards. Gift cards must be purchased at the restaurant or virtually at www.thecheesecakefactory.com. 189 The Grove Drive, (323)634-0511 or 364 N. Beverly Drive, (310)278-7270.

Largest Gingerbread House

Take a drive up to Solvang to enjoy an impressive 10-foot tall gingerbread house at Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery.  Fourth generation-Danish baker Bent Olsen used an estimated 250 lbs. of gingerbread dough, 150 lbs. of powdered sugar and three gallons of egg whites.  It’s on display from December 1- 31. 1529 Mission Drive, (805)688-6314.

Roy’s Keiki Gingerbread Event

Enjoy lunch at Roy’s with your child and make a Gingerbread house on December 4 at noon. All the trimmings are provided. Bring an unwrapped toy and receive a $5 off the $25 per child/$20 adults.  800 South Figueroa Street, (213)488-4994.