Japanese maids with yuzu spray
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The Royal/T cafe in the Royal/T gallery-retail space isn’t open yet, but the website describes it as ‘L.A.’s first Japanese-style maid cafe’ (as in all the servers are dressed as maids ... those crazy Japanese!).
The maids (and a couple of man-aides) were making the rounds in the high-ceilinged, lofty-industrial Culver City space, scheduled to open next month. The preview exhibition by New York collector Susan Hancock included pieces from art stars such as Cecily Brown, Tracey Emin, Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami. Tray-passed goodies included fruit salad on a stick spritzed with yuzu spray à la minute, tricolor tomato soup and little paper cups of Japanese curry. A grassy knoll set up in the cafe space was covered with sweets from Jin Patisserie; every time someone picked up a fruit tart or green tea petit four, a maid was on hand to immediately replace it. Overlooking the cafe area was a giant Murakami stuffed animal. Tiny treats, big art.
Royal/T, set to open December, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City.
-- Betty Hallock
Photos by Betty Hallock
