Negroni Week
This year’s Negroni Week, during which bars and restaurants mix classic Negronis and variations for great causes, will be held through June 10.
Ocean Prime Beverly Hills
At Ocean Prime Beverly Hills. Sip a classic OP Negroni made with The Botanist gin, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth and Campari. Ocean Prime will donate $1 from each cocktail to Inspire Artistic Minds, a charity focused on providing scholarships and educational experiences to advance the arts in the areas of taste, sight and sound, especially in the food and beverage industry. 9595 Wilshire Blvd., (310)859-4818.
Ray’s and Stark Bar
The bartenders at Ray’s and Stark Bar are making a white lavender Negroni. It’s made with Monkey 47 gin, Suze liqueur, blanc vermouth and lavender. A portion of each cocktail sold will support Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. Jazz Nights at Ray’s are back on Friday evenings with live jazz performances at LACMA. Enjoy the sounds from the Ray’s patio, or lounge at Stark Bar with the perfect pairing of a Negroni or glass of Domaine de Cala rosé. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (323)857-6180.
Little Dom’s
The iconic hot spot Little Dom’s is partnering with the Bay Area artisanal creamery Humphry Slocombe (soon to open in L.A. but available at Whole Foods and Gelson’s) for a cocktail-inspired ice cream sandwich. Little Dom’s pastry chef Ann Kirk has created a limited-time Negroni ice cream sandwich featuring a scoop of Humphry Slocombe’s small-batch Campari ice cream. This specialty dessert is available at the deli counter during the day for $6. Later in the bar area, enjoy the cool treat alongside a flight of three custom Negronis. They include the Negroni blanca, smoked Negroni and Negroni sbagliato with Ramazzotti liqueur, vermouth and sparkling wine. A portion from each sale of the Negroni confections will benefit the Surfrider Foundation. Little Dom’s will give $3 from the ice cream sandwich and $5 from the Negroni flight and sandwich. 2128 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, (323)661-0055.
Ever Bar
Take a peek at a special menu of nine cocktails named after musical hits of 1919, the year the Negroni was born. The pre-Prohibition chart toppers include “I’ll Say She Does” by Al Jolson, “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody” by John Steel and “That Old Fashioned Mother of Mine” by master Thomas Criddle. A portion of proceeds from the sales of the cocktails will benefit No Kid Hungry. Come in from 6 to 7 p.m. during the nightly “Negroni Hour” and sip the specials while listening to the jazzy tunes for $9. 1800 Argyle Ave., Los Angeles, (213)279-3534.
S’mores store opens
Chef and owner Annalisa Mastroianni Johnson is opening her store Gotta Have S’more in Little Ethiopia today, June 7. Come and taste the nostalgic artisanal treats – Mastroianni heightens the flavors with milk and dark chocolate, salted caramel, peanut butter cup, and cookies and cream. These cupcake-size treats will change seasonally and include PB&J, spicy Mexican hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, strawberries and cream, and espresso bean. Open at 9 a.m. 1066 S. Fairfax Ave., (323)646-4114.
Rosé Day at Saddlerock Ranch
On Saturday, June 9, drive to Malibu to sip Moët & Chandon, B.B. Rosé and Voss Water, and enjoy programming by nonprofit charity partner The Art of Elysium. Local gourmet food trucks hand selected by famed “Iron Chef” Marc Forgione will feature some of his signature dishes. Celebrity DJ’s Zen Freeman, Devin Lucien and Caroline D’Amore will provide music throughout the day. The fun begins at 12:30 and goes to 8 p.m. Tickets are $95 and include access to the event, complimentary shuttle service from White Cloud Ranch to Saddlerock Ranch. There will be open meadow seating, an ice bed to keep your purchased wine chilled, wine bars and a gourmet food truck court. VIP tickets are $165 and include an expedited line at the event’s entrance, priority shuttle service, preferred viewing stage in VIP section with partial shade, hammocks and pillows, and access to a VIP section with additional bars and food vendors. For tickets, visit rosedayla.com. 32111 Mulholland Hwy.
National Rosé Day at Halo Top Scoop Shop
Two of America’s sweetest brands Halo Top Scoop Shop and Sugarfina are joining together Saturday, June 9, to offer a sparkling 24-karat gold Rosé All Day sundae. It’s made with vanilla bean soft serve in a freshly made golden waffle cone, sprinkled with rosé-infused gummies from Sugarfina’s Rosé All Day collection, including 24-karat gold Rosé All Day bears, Sparkling Rosé bears, and But First, Rosé roses. It’s topped with a gilded rosé rock candy stick by Sugarfina. This unique sweet treat is available exclusively at the Halo Top Scoop Shop through Saturday, June 30. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (424)303-7359. 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, (818)963-8476.
A taste of the Rhône Valley
Now through June 18, sit back and sip some of the beautiful wines from southeast France as local chefs and sommeliers from participating restaurants feature select pairings with wine from the Rhône Valley. While there are more than a dozen different grapes grown in the Rhône Valley, the four major red varieties are syrah, grenache, mourvèdre and cinsault, and the primary white wine varieties are roussanne, marsanne and viognier. For information, visit bit.ly/2Jw3glD.
dineL.A. Donut Trek
Even though National Donut Day is only one day, dineL.A. believes that donuts deserve to be celebrated all month long. During the month of June, donut enthusiasts can visit up to 10 acclaimed donut shops across L.A. and indulge in a special treat. Head over to Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts for a special maple bacon bar. Bob Tusquellas, who has owned this shop in The Original Farmers Market since 1970, tested over 10 different bacon toppings to achieve this perfectly salty-and-sweet profile. Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts is offering a raised donut with mango glaze, chile powder, Maldon sea salt, paprika and lime zest. Check out the 24/7, family-owned California Donuts in Koreatown, where they have developed an orange creamsicle donut topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream. DK’s Donuts will makes a pink raised donut with a gold star that mirrors the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Josh Levine’s 100 percent vegan Donut Farm is offering the L.A. Sunset donut, which which features a pink pomegranate glaze and blue sprinkles. At Randy’s Donuts, known for its delicious treats and iconic donut sign, recently opened a second location in the Westfield Century City. Both locations of Randy’s are serving a donut glazed with gold sprinkles to resemble the gold and glitter of Hollywood. Bob’s Coffee & Donuts, 6333 W. Third St., Los Angeles, (323)933-8929. Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts, 6785 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (323)462-4600. California Donuts, 3540 W. Third St., Los Angeles, (213)385-3318. DK’s Donuts, 1614 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310)829-2512. Donut Farm, 2609 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213)788-7549. Randy’s Donuts, 805 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, (310)645-4707, and 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (424)335-0211. For information, visit bit.ly/2HoeUtE.
What’s new at Crackin’ Kitchen
Pasadena’s Hawaiian-Cajun restaurant Crackin’ Kitchen has launched new dinner menu items. Diners can share plates of lomi-lomi salmon and Thai mussel pot, alongside seafood combos. Staying true to Cajun flavors, Crackin’ Kitchen offers a new spice menu from which guests can pick a spice level for their sauces, choosing from mild, hot, “Fiyah” or “XXX.” The new happy hour offers drink and small bite specials daily at the bar from 4 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to closing. Crackin’ Kitchen pairs house wines and a rotating beer and cocktail menu with food specials, including their signature guava soy chicken wings, Cajun fries, daily oyster special and my favorite malasada sliders prepared either as a BLT sloppy Joe or surf and turf slider for $3 each. 115 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626)714-7227.
Locali’s new bowls
The health-conscious convenience store and neighborhood deli, Locali, is now offering four pre-packaged vegan and gluten-free quinoa salad bowls in Whole Foods Market stores throughout Southern California. With brick and mortar locations in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Venice and downtown Los Angeles, co-founders Greg Horos and Melissa Rosen have made The Big Daddy with quinoa, arugula, vegan and gluten-free chicken, marinated in spicy vegan buffalo sauce, celery, black beans and creamy dill dressing; The Krazy Kale with quinoa, shredded kale, black beans, chopped tomatoes, cucumber, sunflower seeds and chipotle lime dressing; The Odyssey with quinoa, spinach, hummus, chickpeas, artichoke tapenade, tomato, cucumber, Kalamata olives and creamy dill dressing; and The Deconstructed BLT with quinoa, chopped romaine, tempeh bacon, tomato, avocado and maple mustard dressing. 5825 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, (323)466-1360. 8730 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (424)302-0464. 701 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, (310)399-2254. 817 S. Los Angeles, Los Angeles, (213)623-3223.
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