LA Beer Week 2013

LABW was founded in 2009 by a group of dedicated beer enthusiasts. Beginning today through September 29, events will take place through Los Angeles. On Sunday, September 22, unlimited 4 oz. samples of beer from over 50 breweries will be served in the beautiful, iconic art deco ticketing hall in LA’s famous Union Station. Tastings begins at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is limited to 600 tickets. During the four-hour session guests have access to small bites. The event also features the opportunity to meet the faces behind and try the beers from breweries of the newly formed LA Brewers Guild. Limited tickets available only via ItsMySeat. 800 North Alameda St.

Oktoberfest Pop Up

In the heart of LA Beer Week, on Saturday, September 21 from 6 to 10 p.m., Basha Wines & Spirits are teaming up with celebrity Chef Adam Gertler and The Dudes’ Brewing Company for a one-night-only Oktoberfest evening. Adam Gertler will be featuring four different sausages from his line of Gertler’s Wurst that will be paired with craft beer from The Dudes’ Brewing Company in Torrance. Try the Dudes’ Blood Orange beer that is hand juiced and zested with blood orange. 917 N. Sepulveda Blvd. (310) 318-9080.

Oktoberfest at The Counter

The build-your-own burger concept offers special burgers inspired by the German festivities. From September 21 through October 6, The Counter offers an Oktoberfest burger with German beer cheese, sauerkraut, pork belly, beef and mustard on a pretzel bun. Enjoy this with Oktoberfest fries topped with German beer cheese, sauerkraut, and pork belly sprinkled with scallions. Secret beer floats will be served. 5779 Wilshire Blvd. (323)932-8900, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. (310)282-8888 and 7919 Sunset Blvd.
(323)436-3844.

Jackson’s Food + Drink

During Beer Week on September 24, Chef Matt Strong is offering a five-course beer dinner with Stone Brewing Company. The first course is a Maryland lump crab cake with grilled tomato. It’s paired with a Stone Cali-Beligique IPA. The Indian spiced cauliflower is paired with R&R Coconut IPA. Chef Strong’s jumbo naked sea scallop is caramelized and served with lemongrass scented jasmine rice and red Thai coconut curry sauce. It will be served with a three day old Stone Enjoy By IPA. A Stone Smoked Porter will be paired with the BBQ pulled pork sliders with crisp cole slaw. Finish with a chocolate espresso cake and 2013 Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout. Tickets can be purchased by visiting this link: https://jacksonsbeerdinner.eventbrite.com/ 2041 Rosecrans Ave. (310)606-5500

Beer Week at Golden Road

Official LA Beer Week festivities at Golden Road start on Wednesday September 25, including a “build your own” Brewer’s Supper followed by a Homebrewers’ Night at Chloe’s. Guests will be able to choose any four dishes from Chef Adam Levoe’s menu, each paired with its own Golden Road brew, to construct their own “tasting” menu for $38. 6:30 p.m. followed by a special Homebrewers night at 8 p.m. 5410 West San Fernando Rd. (213)373-4677.

Pasadena Greek Fest

This outdoor festival returns to Santa Anita Park on Friday, September 20 from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday, September, 21 from noon to 1 a.m., and Sunday, September 22 from noon to 10 p.m. Enjoy food, wine, spirits, music and dancing. Visit the Hellenic Theater for culinary and cultural presentations. The event is priced at $5 for adults, and children under 12 years are free. Proceeds benefit cultural, educational, and community outreach programs run by Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church. 285 W. Huntington Dr. For information, call (626)600-1672   or www.pasadenagreekfest.org.

Redondo Beach Lobster Festival

From September 20 through 22 at the Seaside Lagoon there will be live entertainment, craft beers, wines, and succulent lobster dinner packages. Choose the ever-popular certified Angus steak dinner or the Surf n Turf dinner. General adult admission is $15, and children are $5 each. Admission tickets can be bought online or at the gate. Free admission with military I.D. all weekend. Tickets and details available at www.LobsterFestival.com. 200 Portofino Way.

Tortilla Republic

Come to a Tequila 101 tasting featuring Don Julio blanco, reposado, añejo, and 1942 tequilas on Saturday, September 21 at 4 p.m. Tortilla Republic’s tequila-inspired tapas include stuffed squash blossom with tequila battered cotija cheese and hibiscus reduction. The ancho chile scallop has mango and avocado. Try the ground pork and roasted vegetable stuffed with poblano pepper, and mango, melon, chili and lime sorbets with fresh fruit for a sweet ending. The Don Julio Tequila 101 tasting and tapas pairing is $40 per guest or $75 for two guests. 616 N. Robertson Blvd. (310)657-9888.

Sweet Rose Creamery

Opening on Saturday, September 21 is a new ice cream shop from restaurateurs Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan and Co-owner/Executive Chef Shiho Yoshikawa. Located on Pico Boulevard, between 9th and 10th Street in Santa Monica, the new workshop and retail space brings with it the addition of soft serve ice cream, a rotating selection of farmers’ market-driven flavors, fresh baked sweet and savory pastries from sister restaurant Milo & Olive. Coffee is from local roaster Caffe Luxxe. Sweet Rose Creamery’s original storefront, which opened in 2010 at the Brentwood Country Mart, earned praise both locally and beyond for the team’s commitment to utilizing exclusively organic dairy, integrating seasonal produce from neighborhood farmers’ markets. 826 Pico Blvd. Country Mart shop – 225 26th Street, Suite 51 (310)260-2663.

National Thai Restaurant Week

From September 23 through 29 enjoy Thai cuisine at a discount. Even though Thai food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world, Americans tend to only order Pad Thai, satays, and Tom Kha Gai soup. Participating “Thai Select” restaurants in Los Angeles are offering diners 15 percent off their total bill with an order of one “must-try” dish. Chan Dara is one of the restaurant’s preparing dishes and offering a discount. Their Thai Lollipops – lamb chops in a Thai curry sauce and served with steamed bok-choy and luscious coconut rice. Also, their popular Maine lobster salad with avocado and tomato served over greens and dressed in a Thai chili-lime vinaigrette. To learn more about Thai Restaurant Week locations go to (323)383-9117 – ThaiRestaurantWeek@gmail.com or http://www.facebook.com/ThaiRestaurantWeek, Chan Dara 310 N. Larchmont Blvd. (323)467-1052 and 11940 W. Pico Blvd. (310)479-4461.

Duck, Duck, Goose Menu

Every Tuesday Chi Lin restaurant invites guests to order Chi Lin’s signature dish, Peking duck. It is slow-cooked for eight hours with lacquered crispy skin and flavorful meat. Enjoy savory accompaniments that include crepes, plum sauce, cucumbers, and scallions.  For $24, guests can enjoy a sampling of the signature dish with two Peking duck dishes paired with a signature Grey Goose Sparking Mau cocktail. 9201 W Sunset Blvd. (310)278-2068.

gLAnce Wine Bar

Justin Vineyards & Winery from Paso Robles is pouring their Bordeaux-style blends and single varietals on Wednesday, September 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s a free event with small bites. 900 W. Olympic Blvd. (213)765-8600.

Italian Feast of San Gennaro

The Prima Notte Gala is on Thursday, September 26 hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla to celebrate Italy from North to South with an annual street festival. The Galbani® Cheese Italian Feast of San Gennaro has been in Los Angeles since 2002. The San Gennaro Foundation has donated over $1,000,000 to local charities that benefit Los Angeles shelters for children and families, food banks for the homeless, and school programs for underprivileged youth, among others. The feast is located between Highland and Orange in Hollywood with Italian culture, entertainment and cuisine, music, genealogy research, kid’s corner, bocce, bingo, carnival rides and games. Surprise celebrity guests will join the cooking team, including Chef Marco as they demonstrate Italian recipes on the Galbani® Cheese La Cucina Italiana Cooking stage. A Procession of St. Gennaro on Hollywood Blvd. will begin at noon on Saturday, September 28th and conclude with a Mass on the Main Stage presided by Monsignor Antonio Cacciapuoti. Tickets for the opening night gala are available online at www.feastofla.org and are $30 each for general admission with food and drink available for purchase. Entry for Poker Tournament is $100 per player. A Blood Drive for City of Hope, Cedars Sinai, Children’s Hospital and American Red Cross will also be hosted on-site. The festival venue is conveniently located across the street from the Hollywood and Highland complex and Metro Red Line, directly behind the Jimmy Kimmel Live Theater. The Feast will be held September 27 through 29, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. General admission is $5 and kids under 12 are free. All proceeds benefit the San Gennaro Foundation, established to provide aid to children and families in need in Los Angeles. 1651 N. Highland Ave. (818)508-0082.

James Beard Foundation’s Taste Local Dish Challenge

In efforts to support the LA Community Garden Council, Top Chef Masters contestant, Richard Sandoval of Zengo in Santa Monica is participating in the local dish challenge. Now through October 31, Chef Sandoval has chosen to feature his signature duck confit-daikon tacos with curried apple & orange coriander sauce and will donate $1 from each dish sold to the JBF Taste America Education Drive, which helps drive awareness around our country’s food system. Order the duck confit-daikon tacos and take a photo of the dish to post on your Instagram account with the hashtags: #JBFTasteamerica #LA. The city with the most Instagram uploads will be eligible to win up to $10,000 to be donated to the LA Community Garden Council. 395 Santa Monica Pl. (310)899-1000.