Category Archives: Cupcakes

This Weekend: Savor Los Angeles, Sergio Mendes, Chefs Night Out

Wow, we’re in August already? Where did the summer go? Well for the last weekend of July (sigh), you’ve got lots of food fests and sweets. You know where my mind is.

Friday, July 30

Savor Los Angeles
I never get sick of eating sweets and after every meal there’s always room for dessert so I’m SO excited about this Savor event. Guests with insatiable sweet tooths will be able to taste samples from yum purveyors like Babycakes NYC, Frosted Cupcakery, N’Ice Cream and more! There will also be free champagne, Intelligentsia coffee and a cheese and fruit bar to mix things up. But it’s not just about eating, you can dance to the dj and commemorate the moment in the photobooth.

  • 7-10pm. $35 general, $50 VIP. Miauhaus Studios, 1201 S La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Saturday, July 31

Sergio Mendes and Morcheeba at the Hollywood Bowl
No better way to pass a chill summer evening than with some Brazilian tunes courtesy of Sergio Mendes. Just thinking about it makes me want to chair dance as I type this. Fix yourself up a canteen of Caipirinha and bring some takeout from Café Brasil and you have yourself a breezy Brazilian partay in the Bowl. British trip hop band Morcheeba sets the chill and groovy tone of the evening as the opening act. If you can’t make it on Saturday, there’s always the earlier Friday show.

  • 8:30pm. $15-$156. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood (map).

Sunday, August 1

Win Tickets to Taste of Beverly Hills By Tweeting To Eat
Want to attend the Taste of Beverly Hills food fest but don’t have the $500 for a weekend pass? Well, if you follow TOBH’s Twitter starting August 1st through the 15th, they’ll post a daily “Culinary Clue” (Twitter hashtag #CCTOBH) about a participating chef. And on August 16, the first person to send an email after 4pm to TweetToEat@TheTasteofBeverlyHills.com with all 15 correct chef names will win TWO free weekend passes to the event (not including the Thursday 90210 party, though).

Cupcake Camp OC
This cupcake gathering hopes to attract 500 cupcake fiends for a good cause, plus some cupcake noshing and competitions. Every cupcake fan is invited to participate, whether it’s baking and bringing their donation of at least 50 of their own fabulous cupcakes or buying cupcakes. You don’t have to be a pro and if you like cupcakes baked from a box mix that’s all right, too! Personally I was considering submitting a Cake Doctor creation: Mexican chocolate cupcakes with spicy chocolate cream cheese frosting. Yum!

  • 3-6pm. Suggested donation: $10. Atrium Hotel, 18700 MacArthur Boulevard, Irvine (map).

Wally’s 7th Annual  Central Coast Wine & Food Celebration
You can’t go wrong with an event where you can taste about 150 Central Coast wines from wineries like Qupe, L’Aventure and Tablas Creek and partake of signature dishes from the likes of Comme Ca, AOC, Osteria Mozza and Bouchon. What a swank evening. Proceeds will go to The Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund at the UC Davis Department of Enology.

  • 12-4pm. $95. Wally’s, 2107 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

8th Annual Restaurant Awards: Angeleno’s Chefs Night Out
For another fancy foodie good time, check out Angeleno’s Chefs Night Out Event & Awards. The event will honor some of our city’s best chefs like Josef Centeno, Ludovic Lefebvre and Michael Voltaggio as well as offer culinary demos and wine and spirit samplings all under the beautiful fig tree at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica.

  • 4:30-7:30pm. $95 general, $150 VIP. Fairmont Miramar Hotel, 101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica (map).

This Weekend: Brazilian Dance Lessons, East LA Meets Napa, Hollywood Wine Tasting

Besides that awesome Radio Room contest I have going on right now, here are some cool things going on in the upcoming days. Hopefully this Christmas-in-July weather will go away SOON so we can enjoy our weekend!

Thursday, July 8

2010 Cupcake Showdown at Downtown LA Artwalk
This cupcake contest hosted by all-girl band Nylon Pink not only features 10 cupcakeries going up against each for the title of best cupcakes in LA, but 300 free mini cupcake samples, live DJ sets, a photobooth and pop-up shots by Hello Drama Jewelry. All during DTLA’s Artwalk!

  • 6-9pm. 620 S. Main Street, Downtown (map).

La Descarga’s Brazilian Night
The hot party tonight’s going to be at rum bar La Descarga. From 8 to 9pm, there will be a Cachaca master class by Gerard Schweitzer, founder of Leblon Cachaca, and Daniel Nelson, the head of education for Leblon. What follows from 9 to 10pm is a class of a different sort with the La Descarga dancers giving Brazilian Samba dance lessons! You’ll get your chance to put those new moves to use on the dance floor after and Leblon Cachaca cocktails will be available for a discounted price all night. RSVP: reservations [at] ladescargala.com.

  • 8pm. $10 cover. La Descarga, 1159 North Western Avenue, Los Angeles (map).

Friday, July 9

AltaMed’s 5th Annual East LA Meets Napa
Forget pairing wine with French food or cheese, how about keeping it real and pairing the finest of Napa vino with the spiciest and finest of our very own East LA? At this fifth annual party, set in the historic Union Station, you’ll get the opportunity to do just that. Participating restaurants include Rivera, Loteria Grill and La Parrilla Restaurant and wineries are Madrigal Vineyards, Ceja Vineyards and Renteria Wines.

  • 6-9pm. $150. Union Station, 800 N. Alameda Street, Downtown (map).

Tuesday, July 13

Vintage Enoteca Wine Tasting
Brand-new Hollywood wine bar will be featuring the wines and snacks of Alto Adige (northern Italy) for the evening. For $25 a person get tastes of Pinot Bianco: Elena Walch, “Kastelaz,” Alto Adige, 2009; Moscato Giallo: Alois Lageder, “Vogelmaier,” Alto Adige, 2009; Schiava: Alois Lageder, “Romigberg,” Kalterersee Classico, Alto Adige, 2008; and Lagrein: Elena Walch, Alto Adige, 2008.

  • 7-9pm. $25. Vintage Enoteca, 7554 W Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood (map). (323) 512-5278.

This Weekend: Bloggers Who Bake, Free Counter Burger, Beer Class for Dad

Yee-haw for Dads! Hope your kids really celebrate you…except for the deadbeat dads, in which case never mind.

Thursday, June 17

Steve McQueen Weekend and James Bond Double Feature
I know these film events are supposed to be for dads but damn, I like Steve McQueen and Sean Connery, too. HOT! This whole weekend, the Egyptian Theatre will showcase a slew of Steve, including the 50th anniversary of The Magnificent Seven as well as The Great Escape. But unfortunately, no Bullitt. And on Sunday, the Aero Theater in Santa Monica will be showing Goldfinger and Thunderball, featuring my favorite Bond: Sean “Hot Scot” Connery.

Friday, June 18

LF Summer Warehouse Sale
Build up your summer wardrobe at this huge warehouse sale where you can get designer jeans, dresses, tops and more for 70 to 90% off. Deals include $6 t-shirts, $12 dresses and $35 boots! Cash and credit cards only.

  • Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 7am-3pm. 5333 McConnell Avenue, Playa del Rey (map).

Saturday, June 19

Eat My Blog Summer Charity Bake Sale
We, bloggers, can criticize food but how are we as bakers? OK, not me, but definitely all the other food bloggers who will be selling their tasty pastries at this biannual bake sale. The Manila Machine’s Ube cupcakes, Lindsay of LAist’s scrumptious smoked salt toffee and so much more. There will even be gluten-free goodies available. Here’s the menu for your perusal. Proceeds go to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. I’ll be manning the table from 10am to 1pm if you want to stop by and say, “Hi!” and put me to work. Hope to see you there.

  • 10am-4pm. Tender Greens West Hollywood, 8759 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood (map). (310) 358-1919.

Beer Chicks’ Father’s Day Class at Rustic Canyon
If you still don’t know how to thank dear ol’ Dad for raising you, I say buy the man a drink, or several via this beer class by the Beer Chicks. I took the class back in April and had a blast. You and Dad will learn about all the different beers by tasting them. And for this class there will be several craft beers including Barrel-aged Beers, Double IPA’s and Sour Belgians.

  • 12-2pm. $45. Rustic Canyon, 1119 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica (map).

Sunday, June 20

Free Burger for Dad at The Counter
Score a free burger for Pops at any of The Counter restaurants just by walking in and yelling at the top of your lungs, “I WANT THE BFD!” OK, maybe you don’t have to yell it but just bring in your family and then let your waitress know you want the BFD (“burger for Dad”). And he’ll get a standard burger with toppings; it’s extra for the premium toppings. Only works when accompanied by a paying customer.

Cinco de Mayo 2010: Mustache Airbrushing, Mexican Beer Pong, Umami & a Movie

Pose (detail) by Philo Nordlund

Pose (detail) by Philo Nordlund

Tired of the same old, same old for Cinco de Mayo? It doesn’t have to be about another margarita, another mariachi, another hangover. Here are five unusual ways to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla, or as it’s commonly called, Cinco de Mayo.

25 Degrees’ Sonoran Hot Dog: 25 Degrees in Hollywood Roosevelt is not only offering free chips and salsa all day long and tequila and Mexican beer specials during 5-7pm happy hour but a special treat. The Sonoran hot dog seems like a random food not at all related to Mexico but it does have some chili and refried beans, as well as caramelized onions, tomatoes, queso fresco, mustard and garlic aioli AND it’s wrapped in bacon. A perfect way to fortify your stomach for the drinking ahead.

Mexico Restaurante y Barra All Day Specials: For the hard-core partyers there are lots of specials going on at this West Hollywood Mexican restaurant starting at noon and going til 2am; where to begin? For a fiver you get your choice of Dos Equis and Tecate Beer Drafts, tacos (pollo, carnitas or veggie) or appetizers like tamales or taquitos. Naturally margaritas are involved. Take your pick of traditional or strawberry for $8 a glass or $22 pitcher. Good thing designated driver service, Y Drive LA, will be on hand to take your drunk ass and your car home.

Rush Street Mexican Beer Pong and “Break the Pinata” Contest: This Culver City barestaurant is where you’ll want to go for some fun and games. Not only will they have Mexican beer pong, slurball and flip cup but a “Break the Pinata” contest. For sustenance, they’ll be rolling out their own dollar taco stand from 5-7pm. Mariachi band “Los Imperiales” will keep you on your feet while you imbibe from a selection of 20 tequilas and five Mexican beers. And then it’s a dj and dancing from 9pm to close.

Spanish Kitchen Drink Wheel and Mustache Airbrushing: This fiesta at Spanish Kitchen on La Cienega sounds like a blast, especially since they’ll be doing free mustache airbrushing (choose from six different styles). Will make for some fun pictures to look at the next day when you’re sober. And why just order off a menu when you can spin a drink wheel for your chance of winning one of 12 different top-shelf tequila shots and margaritas for five bucks? Masked luchadores from Lucha Va Voom as well as the Las Chicas Cazadores will be providing the entertainment and Tecate will be $3 all day and night.

Umami Burger presents… Dinner and a Movie: Three Amigos: The only sombreros you’ll see at this Cinco party are the ones on the screen. I never liked this movie with three formerly funny comedians but I do like Umami and beer. And this Cinco kicks off a Wednesday night movie series at Space 15Twenty where you can enjoy a free flick with a sample of craft beer and your order of Umami burger. The house ale of the evening will be Nakhon Lager, which is brewed with jasmine rice.

OK, I know I said only five ways but, come on, I had to include cupcakes. Sprinkles Cupcakes has a holiday Choco Loco cupcake made with Belgian dark chocolate cake with bittersweet chocolate and Mexican cinnamon frosting. Or check out Yummy Cupcakes’ unusual Chocolate Chili cupcake, a chocolate cupcake with a light blend of chilies frosted with a chocolate/chili buttercream. Yummy!

But whatever trouble you get in tomorrow, above all, be safe: 4 Ways To Be Safe on Alcoholidays.

Easter Roundup: Brunch, Sweets and Cocktails

Chocolate-dipped Peeps

Chocolate-dipped Peeps from Compartes Chocolatier

Seems like everyone is eggcited (sorry) about Easter this year what with all the Easter brunches around town. But I thought I’d narrow things down to Easter brunches with a twist, with something other than the usual holiday fare. And I’ve also included cocktail and sweet treat options.

Big Deal: Henry’s Hat in Studio City — Give your server the password “bunny hop” and you will score half off your food order! Also, it’s bottomless mimosas and sangrias and 2-for-1 Bloody Marys and mojitos every weekend brunch.

  • Henry’s Hat, 3413 Cahuenga Boulevard, Studio City (map). (323) 512-2500.

High Tea and Easter Activities: Royal/T Cafe in Culver City — A la carte menu or $25 high tea. A la carte menu with $9 Sunday scramble, $7 brioche French toast and $8 breakfast sandwiches and more. Plus a special Easter high tea set for $25 that includes Easter-themed treats and a carrot cupcake. Kiddies can be busied with three free different workshops: bunny ears-making, yarn flowers and egg-decorating. LA artist Lyman Sebastian Tillinger will also be on hand from 12 to 3pm to create Ukrainian-inspired Easter egg art.

  • 10am-5pm. Royal/T Cafe, 8910 Washington Boulevard, Culver City (map). (310) 559-6300.

South of the Border: Fuego at the Maya in Long Beach — $26.95/person; $12/child. Enjoy a caliente brunch on the sunny patio of this Long Beach hotel restaurant. Fill up your plates from the salad bar, taquito station, ceviche bar and dessert tables. And choose from entrees like the Chilaquiles Divorciados, Cerveza-Braised Pork Carnitas and Baja Lobster Platter. Menu.

  • 10am-2pm. Fuego at the Maya, 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach (map). Reservations: (562) 481-3910.

Old Hollywood: Hollywood Roosevelt’s Dakota Chop House — $39/person. An elegant buffet brunch at Marilyn Monroe’s old haunt. Here, you get access to an all-you-can-eat continental buffet as well as an entree like Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, lemon ricotta pancakes or Colorado lamb rack. For an additional $12, it’s bottomless Bloody Marys and bubbly cocktails, including the “Some Like It Hot” Mary with poblano-infused tequila and Marilyn’s Favorite Mimosa of champagne, peach puree and sauternes. Free parking and Sunday papers.

  • 11am-3pm. Dakota Chop House, 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (map). Reservations: Click here or call (323) 785-3037.

Poolside: The Backyard at W Los Angeles in Westwood — $42/person; $19/Child. So LA, Easter brunch by the pool. Executive Chef Monique King crafted a fresh menu of watermelon and pink grapefruit salad, brioche French toast and a basket of scones. There will also be an Easter egg hunt at noon.

  • 10am-4pm. The Backyard at W Los Angeles – Westwood, 930 Hilgard Avenue, Westwood (map). Reservations: (310) 443-8211.

En Italiano: Locando del Lago in Santa Monica — 3-course menu $49-$55; 4-course menu $69; or a la carte.  The Italian wine pairing is an additional $24/person. This Santa Monica restaurant features an Easter menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Northern Italian dishes include lamb sirloin, Alaskan halibut and vegetable roulades. For dessert, you can order Easter chocolate chunk sweet bread with bitter almond sauce.

  • Locando del Lago, 231 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica (map). Reservations: (310) 451-3525.

In the Garden: Descanso Gardens in La Canada — $50/person; $20/child. Brunch in the gardens, make sure to take your Claritin first. Here, you get seasonal Ratatouille, a build-your-own waffle bar and for dessert a chocolate croissant bread pudding. Menu.

  • Seatings at 9am, 10:30am, noon, and 1:30pm. 1418 Descanso Dr., La Canada Flintridge (map). Reservations: (818) 790-3663.

LA View: Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood — $85/person. Take in the views of Sunset Strip while visiting the sushi bar, risotto station, omelette station and a carving station with wild salmon and beef tenderloin. Best part has gotta be the free-flowing champagne, mimosas and Bloody Marys. Menu.

  • 11:30am-3pm. Gordon Ramsay at The London, 1020 N. San Vicente, West Hollywood (map). Reservations: (310) 358-7788.

Organic: Akasha in Culver City. No prix-fixe here but lots of yummy specials like goat cheese gnocchi with fava beans ($12), herb-crusted leg of lamb with creamy polenta ($25) or sea bass with English pea and green garlic puree ($25). For booze there’s no corkage for wine or you can toast the holiday with a local sour orange mojito or blood orange and tangelo margarita.

  • 4-9pm. Akasha, 9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City (map). Reservations: (310) 845-1700.

COCKTAILS:

Cabo Cantina on Sunset Boulevard has bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys for $9.95 til 3pm.

Hungry Cat in Hollywood boasts half-priced specialty cocktails, draft beer and bottles of wine all day on Easter Sunday. Reservations: (323) 462-2155

Napa Valley Grille in Westwood may have a fab Easter brunch buffet ($49/person; $19/child) but I’m liking its tableside, made-to-order Mojitos or Bloody Mary cocktails ($12) with a choice of Grey Goose or Ketel One vodka, fresh juices, savory ingredients, and garnish options. Reservations: (310) 824-3322.

SWEETS:

Buttercake Bakery has a selection of holiday desserts, like flower cupcakes and daisy petit fours for Easter and Matzah toffee brownies and flourless chocolate cake for Passover.

Compartes Chocolatier offers special treats to make your Easter basket extra chic: chocolate dipped peeps and hand-painted chocolate bunnies.

Crumbs Bake Shop has pretty pastel Easter chocolate and vanilla cupcakes decorated with sprinkles, bunny sugar cookies or jelly beans. Or for Passover enjoy the Raspberry Red Sea nut cupcake, Holy Moses chocolate cupcake or Chocolate and Vanilla Commandments. (FYI, none are kosher for Passover.)

Simon LA in West Hollywood has a brunch that stands out because of its dedicated dessert buffet, under a tree no less, which features chocolate eggs, carrot cupcakes, coconut macaroons, house made marshmallows, assortment of cookies and more.

Sprinkles is featuring brown sugar praline and carrot cake cupcakes through April 4 as well as Passover chocolate cupcake through April 6. Or you can impress the hostess of your Easter brunch with a HOP box of the spring selection of dark chocolate, red velvet, brown sugar praline and carrot cupcakes decorated with pink and green bunnies.

This Weekend: Happy Hour Italiano, Rivera’s $5 Cocktails, $20 Unlimited Sushi

Woo hoo! My last weekend of not drinking has finally arrived! And I plan to celebrate big come Monday at First & Hope’s Red Rover, Red Rover bar night. But til then check out all the fun things going on.

Thursday, March 25

Oliverio’s Italian-Inspired Happy Hour
Remember Blue on Blue? The Avalon Beverly Hills’ happy hour? Well, it has since been replaced by that of the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Oliverio, but this time en Italiano. New Salute cocktails are $14 and the aperitivi ranges from $8 to $22 with oysters at $2.50 each but it’s all half off during happy hour every Tuesday and Thursday. True, $7 cocktails is pricey compared to the usual $4 well drink fare of a typical happy hour. But this fancy, poolside one features Italian delicacies like grilled octopus ($4), pizzetta truffle with goat cheese and black summer truffles ($11).

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-9pm. Oliverio at The Avalon, 9400 West Olympic Boulevard, Beverly Hills (map). (310) 407-7791.

Rivera’s Spring Cocktail Menu Debuts Tonight With $5* Drinks
Tonight, master mixologist of Rivera, Julian Cox, will debut his new spring cocktail menu for the downtown restaurant. Liquid Muse Natalie Bovis and I got a sneaky peek of the prototype of a beet cocktail with Combier orange, Spanish brandy, beet juice, plum wine and lemon that may or may not be on the new menu. Whatever the lineup is going to be, though, I know it’s gonna be good. If you stop by tonight after 9pm, you’ll be able to try out the new drinks for only $5* each.

  • 9pm to close. Rivera, 1050 S. Flower Street, Downtown (map). (213) 749-1460.

Friday, March 26

Early 1900s Extravaganza at the Los Angeles Athletic Club
Party like it’s 19-0-0! At the Los Angeles Athletic Club’s wine soiree, guests will get to sip wine paired with historic cheeses as well as the lux Valrhona Grand Cru chocolates all while taking in the views from the athletic club’s rooftop patio. Folk-blues orchestra, The Dustbowl Revival, will keep your toes a-tapping. Tickets are $66 a person or you can score the ticket package of $88 for two people (as of this writing there are 4 left).

  • 7-9pm. $66 a person, $88 for two. Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 W 7th Street, Downtown (map). (213) 625-2211.

Saturday, March 27

Chaya Go Pop-Up Restaurant’s All-You-Can-Eat Sushi and Bar for $20 a Person
While Chaya Venice is getting a makeover, Chaya Go, a pop-up restaurant, will open steps away to offer diners all-you-can-eat sushi and beer, wine and sake for only $20 a person! Executive Chef Shigefumi Tachibe’s menu will include spicy tuna, salmon sushi and veggie sushi rolls. Nice part is that all proceeds will benefit C-CAP (Careers through Culinary Arts Program).

  • March 27 to 31. Chaya Go, 245 Main Street, Venice (map).

Sunday, March 28

Pamper Me Fabulous
It’s that time of year again: Get scrubbed down, trimmed and polished to reemerge as a beautiful renewed butterfly for spring. Pamper Me Fabulous is the spa day you’ve been waiting for with an offering of mini beauty and spa services from the best spas and salons as well as lots of gourmet eats for you to luxuriate over in the Vibiana cathedral. Tickets range in price from $25 general admission (a swag bag, health and wellness expert sessions and access to beauty product samples, boutique shopping and drinks and desserts) to $100 VIP (two mini treatments from top spas and salons and access to lounges, bubbly and appetizers as well as a VIP swag bag). Get 10% off when you use discount code: oohlala.

  • 11am-5pm. Vibiana, 210 S. Main Street, Downtown (map).

* Not sure if the cocktails are $5 or $6. On Tuesday, Julian told me they are going to be $5 but then he tweeted that they’re $6. Either way, great deal.

St. Patrick’s Day Cupcake Roundup

Crumbs Bake Shop's Lucky One cupcake.

Crumbs Bake Shop's Lucky One cupcake.

I found the perfect way to make it through St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow: go on a bakery hop! Fortunately a ton of L.A. bakeries have created Irish-inspired goodies for the holiday and I rounded them up in a post for LA Weekly‘s Squid Ink. There’s Kiss My Bundt‘s Bailey’s Irish Cream cake with Irish cream butter cream and Yummy Cupcakes‘ Guinness cupcakes. And you know Sprinkles‘ Irish chocolate cupcake with Belgian dark chocolate and Baileys Irish cream cheese frosting is not to be missed.

For foodies who’d rather bake than crowd the bars tomorrow, Kiss My Bundt is also teaching a baking class where you will learn to make baked treats from scratch as well as tipple a complimentary beverage of Baileys, Guinness or Irish whiskey.

See my Squid Ink post here.

On a boozier note, if you’re a discerning drinker on the hunt for good St. Paddy’s Day cocktails, take a look at this.