Your Easter dining guide

 
Many Los Angeles-area restaurants are offering special dishes or deals for Easter. Here are just a few, listed in alphabetical order. If you know about any other offerings tell us in the comments section below:

A.O.C. Suzanne Goin’s small plates restaurant is carrying over its brunch menu into Easter Sunday along with the usual offerings for dinner. 8022 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323)-653-1390, www.aocwinebar.com

Chaya: Diners can enjoy a three-course prix-fixe brunch. The menus and prices vary slightly from location to location. Beverly Hills: 8741 Alden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90048; (310) 859-8833. Downtown: 25 South Flower Street (and 5th), Los Angeles, (213) 236-9577,  http://www.thechaya.com/

Clementine: The café in Century City conveniently has a catering menu in place for Easter consisting of everything from its baked goods of hot cross cinnamon buns, scones, bacon-leek quiche, a host of cakes and pies. 175 Ensley Avenue, Los Angeles, (310) 552-1080, www.clementineonline.com

Ford’s Filling Station: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., sample an eclectic menu at the gastropub that includes rainbow trout with salsa verde, squash blossom flatbread with harissa, huevos rancheros and a lobster BLT. 9531 Culver Blvd., Culver City, (310) 202-1470, www.fordsfillingstation.net

Fraiche: Brunch runs late, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., consisting of a three-course prix-fixe menu for $35. Go with the tried-and-true eggs-veggie hash and Scottish salmon, or get over Lent with the brioche French toast and vanilla mascarpone, an interlude of bucatini carbonara, and another sugar rush with the pistachio crème brulee for dessert. 312 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 451-7482, www.fraicherestaurantla.com

Huckleberry Café: Take it easy on Sunday and place a catering order to bring home. There’s plenty to choose from that serves up to 12 people such as braised lamb with farro and green garlic, spring vegetable succotash and a coconut passionfruit layer cake. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance. 1014 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 451-2311, www.huckleberrycafe.com

Jar: Fill up on comforting braises and roasts for Easter with coq au vin or a traditional pot roast. 8225 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, (323) 655-6566, www.thejar.com

La Cachette Bistro: La Cachette is hosting brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. that includes a bounty of egg dishes, Easter ham and charcuterie to start. 1733 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, (310) 434-9509, www.lacachettebistro.com

Little Next Door: Here, families with seven or more people can enjoy a private, outdoor brunch in the garden. On top of that, specialty cakes and Easter platters are available to order if you’re celebrating at home. 8142 West Third Street, Los Angeles, (323) 951-1010, http://www.thelittledoor.com/lndhome.html

Lucca: A brunch buffet will be featured from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ($29.95 for adults, $34.95 with Champagne) with a variety of offerings including eggs, veggies, a carving station, morning pastries and desserts. A special deal is included for children under 12 that allows them to pay in accordance with their age. Quail Hill Village Center, 6507 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine, (949) 725-1773. http://luccacafe.net/

M Street Kitchen: This spot will be serving up an Easter brunch from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a variety of omelets, benedicts and sweet and savory pancakes, along with their famous homemade English muffins. 2000 N. Main St., Santa Monica, (310) 396-9250. http://www.lagrandeorangesm.com/

Malibu Cafe: At the Calamigo's Ranch, in addition to a special brunch menu, Sunday festivities include a traditional Easter egg hunt (10-11 a.m. for children, noon to 1 p.m. for adults) and a “Dog Bunny” contest with prizes via Facebook for guests who bring their dog dressed like a bunny. Also, the Billy Wilson Band will play live from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 327 South Latigo Canyon Road, Malibu, (818) 540-2400. http://themalibucafe.com/

Nine Thirty: Take in the scene in the outdoor setting with a two-course brunch for $20.11, or make an event of it with bottomless mimosas or bloody marys. 930 Hilgard Avenue, Westwood, (310) 208-8763, www.ninethirtyw.com.

-- Emma Wartzman and Max Diamond

Photo: Easter eggs benedict will be on the menu at several restaurants. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

4 food events you should know about: Chefs cookout for Alex's; Ammo's fundraiser; 'comfort dinners' at Petrossian; making tamales at MOLAA

Chefs fundraiser: Chef Suzanne Goin and partner Caroline Styne of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern and chef David Lentz of the Hungry Cat will host L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade on Sunday, a chefs cookout to raise money and awareness for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Jennifer Garner is the honorary chair, Jim Belushi is the emcee, and participating chefs from all over the country include  John Besh of August in New Orleans, Chris Bianco of Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, David Tanis of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto in New York and Neal Fraser of Grace in L.A. $150 for general admission or $350 for the VIP special seating and after-party. All proceeds go to Alex's Lemonade Stand. Tickets are available at www.lucques.com, www.thehungrycat.com or www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/la-loves-alexs-lemonade. Noon to 4 p.m. Culver Studios, 9336 Washington Blvd., Culver City. 

$ for Edible Schoolyard: Ammo chef Daniel Mattern and pastry chef Roxana Jullapat announce their first annual "Brunch & Bake Sale," to take place on Sunday, benefiting the Edible Schoolyard program at Larchmont Charter School. Some bake sale treats from the pastry kitchen to look forward to: petite cinnamon buns, carrot cake muffins, pumpkin bread, cheddar biscuits with farmhouse butter, and breakfast beignets with fruity dipping sauce. And from the brunch menu: steel-cut oatmeal with warm pear compote and muscovado sugar, heirloom apple pancake baked in a wood-burning oven, and thick-cut brioche French toast with Roxana's cherry preserves and maple syrup. All of the proceeds from the bake sale and 15% of brunch sales will be donated. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 1155 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, (323) 467-3293, www.ammocafe.com.

Petrossian prix-fixe: Petrossian Boutique & Restaurant in West Hollywood has kicked off prix-fixe dinners on Thursday nights: three courses for $44 with a French comfort-food theme. Chef Benjamin Bailly features classic French dishes such as frisee aux lardons, boudin blanc with pomme puree and caramel pot de creme. Thursdays, 5 to 9:30 p.m. 321 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 271-0576, www.petrossian.com. 

Tamale time: The Museum of Latin American Art offers a series of "Buen Provecho" cooking classes with instructor Consuelo Campos, including a tamale-making class on Saturday, just in time for the holidays. For additional information, e-mail education@molaa.org or call (562) 216-4108. $25 for members, $35 for non-members. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, (562) 437-1689, www.molaa.org.

-- Betty Hallock

Photo: Pecan sticky buns served at brunch at Ammo. Credit: Liz O. Baylen/Los Angeles Times

Salt's Cure opens in West Hollywood

Salt's Cure opened this weekend on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday, with lunch rolling out today. In the light-filled, brick-accented 24-seat space, chef-owners Chris Phelps (formerly of Canele) and Zak Walters (of Cube) work in an airy open kitchen. There's a small butchers case at the front of the restaurant, its shelves lined with a selection of meats for taking home: ramekins of potted duck, whole chickens, lamb chops and prime rib, plus Schaner Farm eggs. 

The brunch menu includes house-made sausage and bacon served with fresh eggs and an English muffin (also made in house); oatmeal griddle cakes with honey-cinnamon butter; white nectarines with fresh cottage cheese, dressed with a little olive oil and cracked white pepper; lamb liver pâté with pickled mustard seeds, cucumbers and onions; house-cured halibut served with crème fraîche, pickled leeks and sheets of crackly-thin crackers; and fried ricotta fritters with strawberry jam. Coffee from Barefoot Coffee Works in San Jose is ground manually(!) to order. There are a few wines, too. 

Lunch is served starting this week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., including sandwiches of pulled pork, roast lamb, BLT or chicken salad served on house-made bread. Dinner service is expected to start within the next few weeks.

7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 850-7258, www.saltscure.com. 

-- Betty Hallock

See more photos of brunch at Salt's Cure after the jump.... 

Liver tasting menu at the Grill on the Alley, $5 cocktails at Elements Kitchen and weekend brunch at Delphine

The Grill on the Alley: This stylish Beverly Hills haunt is applying a modern approach to a vintage dish with its three-course liver tasting menu, served April 19-25. This isn't your grandmother's liver and onions: Dinner begins with an endive, spicy pecan, romaine and Gorgonzola salad before moving on to a choice of either calf’s liver with bacon and onions or calf’s liver with bordelaise sauce, and finishing with a sweet treat. The cost is $37.75, add another $10 for a glass of wine. 9560 Dayton Way, Beverly Hills. (310) 276-0615; www.thegrill.com. Also available in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.

Elements Kitchen: Chef Onil Chibas’ classy Elements Kitchen in Pasadena has implemented a cocktail program headed up by bar consultant Michael Dozois of the much-talked-about Neve Luxury Ice company. Neve makes hand-cut ice cubes frozen to a slow-melting density that suits classic cocktails and fine sipping liquors. Dozois uses fresh juices and house-made syrups to create a menu of old-fashioned crowd-pleasers including gin rickeys, Gordon’s cups and mint juleps. To celebrate the new bar program, Elements has launched “Thursday Liquid Sketches” featuring three cocktails centered around a single element such as cucumber or hibiscus and priced at $5. It's a sister program to the restaurant’s “Wednesday Night Sketches,” which offers a weekly changing menu of $5 small plates based around a single ingredient like asparagus or scallops. 37 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. (626) 440-0044. www.elementskitchen.com.

Delphine at the W Hollywood: This breezy brasserie in the uber-hip W Hollywood hotel will debut its outdoor patio and begin serving brunch this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Classic, Riviera-inspired dishes include Le Delphine fruits de mer; Croque Monsieur or Madame; eggs à la Basquaise; scrambled eggs in puff pastry with asparagus and wild mushrooms; steak frites with béarnaise; and grilled chicken paillard salad with frisée and mustard vinaigrette. Fresh-squeezed juices, espresso, cocktails and Bellinis are also available. 6250 Hollywood Blvd. (323) 798-1355; www.restaurantdelphine.com.

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo: The beefsteak tomato tartare at Elements Kitchen. Credit: Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times

Hop on over to these Easter brunch spots

Easter is about spring, family and rebirth.

But it's also about eggs.

Dyeing them, hunting for them and eating them. And when you simply can't face the thought of biting into another hard-boiled one, you might want to think about having someone else cook one up for you at brunch. Because that marvelous meal is as much a rite of spring as Easter itself. Here are a few of our favorite places to get your yolk on:

More Thanksgiving options: Joe's, Simon L.A., Henry's Hat, Gus's BBQ, Josie and Larcmont Larder

Joe's Restaurant is offering a four-course Thanksgiving menu with several choices for each course, including sunchoke soup with smoked baby artichokes and hazelnuts; crispy sweetbreads with fall vegetables; Heritage Farms turkey breast and leg confit; Eastern monkfish and gulf shrimp with butter clam parsley broth; and pumpkin pie with pepita brittle and parsnip vanilla ice cream. $52 per person, $22 for children. 1023 Abbott Kinney Blvd., Venice; (310) 399-5811, www.joesrestaurant.com.

Henry's Hat opens Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m., serving brunch all day long (including 2-for-1 mojitos and Bloody Marys, and bottomless mimosas and sangria). A Southern Thanksgiving buffet dinner starts at 2 p.m.: spinach salad; deep-fried turkey breast; brown butter and honey glazed ham; mashed potatoes; stuffing; roasted Brussels sprouts; coconut cream pie and pumpkin pie. $20 per person; children under 8 eat free. 3413 Cahuenga Blvd., Studio City; (323) 512-2500; www.henrys-hat.com.

Simon L.A. at the Sofitel Hotel is serving Thanksgiving, featuring free-range, organic turkey and trimmings such as sweet potatoes with caramelized walnuts, cornbread and sage stuffing, and buttermilk mashed potatoes. Kerry Simon's signature junk food platter: pumpkin cupcakes, orange coconut snowballs, pecan-date cookies, candy corn Rice Krispies treats, cranberry-orange sorbet, and pumpkin milkshake. Or you can have pumpkin pie. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., $46 per person, $21 for children under 12. Sofitel L.A., 8555 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 358-3979; www.simonlarestaurant.com.

Small Bites: Brunch at Allston Yacht Club, free dessert at Shin, free drinks tonight at Magnolia for Britney Spears' ticket holders

Sunday brunch in the neighborhood: Allston Yacht Club, the friendly Echo Park neighborhood restaurant, has begun serving Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant, known best for its  eclectic small-plates dinner menu and creative cocktails, will serve up tasty dishes including duck confit and sweet potato hash, biscuits and gravy, gravlax, organic house-made granola and yogurt and more. Need some hair of the dog? Try the AYC Ship to Shore bloody Mary, a classic Sazerac or mimosa. This new development should keep Echo Park locals from rushing to Silver Lake for their weekend-morning food fix. Allston Yacht Club, 1320 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 481-0454. www.allstonyachtclub.com.

Let them eat free cake! Simon Shin's hip Hollywood Korean barbecue restaurant, Shin, is celebrating its one year anniversary this month. To honor customers and generally make diners happy, the restaurant will be giving free "Shin Cake" to parties of four or more who have ordered the all-you-can-eat barbecue menu. (I recommend this option. At $25, it's a steal, and Shin's barbecue is particularly yummy, especially the beef short ribs.) "Shin Cake" is basically a green tea powder-infused rice flour pancake stuffed with cinnamon and brown sugar and topped with vanilla bean ice cream. Shin, 1600 Wilcox Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 465-4100. www.shinbbq.com.

Drink it up for Britney: Tonight only, if you are one of the lucky fans going to the Britney Spears concert at Staples Center, show your ticket to the folks at Magnolia downtown and get a free VeeV cocktail. Magnolia, 825 W. James Wood Blvd., L.A. (213) 362-0880.

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo: Gravlax at Allston Yacht Club. It's what's for brunch. Credit: Allston Yacht Club.

Small Bites: DineLA's fall Restaurant Week, Bruni-o-rama, weekends at the Palihouse

Here we go again: DineLA will launch its first fall Restaurant Week in October, and if you've been following @dine_LA on Twitter, you may have noticed the list of participating restaurants getting longer and longer (see the current list below). The latest participants include Akasha, Spago Beverly Hills, the Foundry on Melrose and Campanile. It's no wonder that restaurants are jumping on the bandwagon when this year's earlier Restaurant Week was a hit with anyone (everyone) whose dining-out habits were squeezed by the recession. Participating restaurants offer special deals on three-course meals. "We’re thrilled with the response to the first-ever fall dineLA Restaurant Week," says Carrie Kommers, director of dineLA. "Obviously, there is still a demand from the restaurant community for a program that drives increased traffic to them and creates awareness of LA’s incredible dining scene. Doing this twice a year was an easy decision.”

All Bruni, all the time: (Former) New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni will appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" this morning at 7 a.m., following this week's interview on Nightline, in which he reviewed the Choco Taco. Bruni's been busy on the interview circuit, also discussing his book "Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater" with the New Yorker and Time Out. 

Weekends at Palihouse: Brendan Collins, chef at the Hall at Palihouse Holloway, rolls out Saturday brunch, served 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Omelets, filet mignon and eggs, smoked salmon terrine and moules frites are on the menu. Earlier this summer, he started Roast Sunday Lunch, featuring roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, toad in the hole, fish & chips, and wild mushroom and potato pie -- and sticky toffee pudding and Canterbury burnt cream for dessert. 8465 Holloway Drive, West Hollywood, (323) 656-4020, www.thehallbrasserie.com. 

-- Betty Hallock

Photo credit: Spago Beverly Hills

Very Small Bites, Part II: Stefan's, Eva, Caffe Roma, Reservoir

"Top Chef" Season 5 runner-up Stefan Richter has officially opened his eponymous restaurant, Stefan's at L.A. Farm, a high-end industrial park packed with post-production and audio mixing companies. 3000 W. Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 449-4000.

Eva, which is going into the former Hatfield's space, announced that Sundays will be a no-menu "Dinner Party" night. Chef Mark Gold will cook based on what he selects from farmers markets and serve everything family-style, "with free flowing wine." 7458 Beverly Blvd., L.A.

Newly renovated to give it more of a bistro feel, Caffe Roma has recently reopened. 350 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 274-7834, www.cafferomabeverlyhills.com.

Reservoir begins serving brunch every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 16. Options include a BLTA served over a cheddar-and-chive waffle, a vegetarian chorizo scramble, Bloody Marys and more. 1700 Silver Lake Blvd., L.A. (323) 662-8655, www.silverlakereservoir.com.

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Guinness ice cream and chocolate cake at Reservoir in Silver Lake. Credit: Axel Koester / For The Times

8 food events you should know about: Summer festival weekend edition

FRIDAY

Wines of the people Join James Beard award-winning wine importer Terry Theise for a tasting of boutique Champagnes made by farmers (he calls them "Farmer Fizz") as well as a selection of Rieslings from a single vineyard. Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar, 104 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. 5 to 8 p.m. $33 for a flight of three. (310) 393-7693. www.pourtal.com.

Eating downtown Celebrate the downtown renaissance with the "Taste of dtownLA" festival. A feast cooked by downtown restaurants Magnolia, Provecho, Remedy, Maria's Italian Kitchen, Urth Caffe, the Daily Grill, Takami, Rock 'n Fish, Gram and Papas and Wokano will help celebrate the launch of dtownLA.com, which dubs itself "the only online fashion and lifestyle publication catering to downtown residents." There will also be cocktails and a silent auction benefiting the Midnight Mission. Brunswick Studio, 843 S. Los Angeles St., L.A. Food tasting, 6 to 9:30 p.m., tickets $40. Launch party, 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. $40, alcohol included. www.dtownla.com.

SATURDAY

Deepak thoughts If you've wondered what kind of mystical calm Deepak Chopra lives in, you can find out at a dinner hosted at his 2-acre Palos Verdes estate, which is fashioned after a Tuscan villa. "Dancing With the Stars" dancer Jonathan Roberts will show off his moves and chef Enrico Glaudo of Frascati Ristorante in Rolling Hills Estates will prepare an Italian-themed menu of pizza, quiche, pork medallions, caprese salad and more. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Palos Verdes Art Center. Time and address provided with reservation. (310) 541-2479. www.pvartcenter.org.

Cajun fun It's time for the 16th-annual Long Beach Crawfish festival featuring dancing, live Cajun, Brazilian and Zydeco music as well as plenty of delicious crawfish, red baby potatoes, corn on the cob and remoulade dipping sauce. Rainbow Lagoon, 400-403 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach. Sat. noon to 11 p.m.; Sun. noon to 10 p.m. $13 in advance, $15 at the gate. www.longbeachcrawfishfestival.com.

Tasting San Pedro Another festival is upon us: the 21st-annual Taste in San Pedro, which features food and drink from many of the area's favorite restaurants as well as live music, dancing, fireworks, face painting, photo booths and a Ferris wheel with gorgeous ocean views. Point Fermin Park at Gaffey and Paseo del Mar, San Pedro. Sat. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. $10, adults; $7 seniors; $5 children 6 to 17. (310) 832-7272. www.tasteinsanpedro.com.

Sharpest knife in the drawer Get your knives, scissors and garden tools professionally sharpened while you shop at Red Carpet Wine & Spirits Merchants. They'll have a pro on hand in the parking lot and during that time you'll also get 10% off your purchases. Red Carpet Wine & Spirit Merchants, 400 E. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Knives $5, scissors $8, gardening tools $6 to $9. (818) 247-5544.

Cooking at the market Join JoAnn Cianciulli, the author of "L.A.'s Original Farmers Market Cookbook," for a showcase of her summer grilling recipes. She'll heat up the grill to make grilled barbecue chicken pizza, skirt steak tacos and avocado-corn salsa. Samples will go out to the crowd and she'll sign copies of her new book "Barbecues Galore." Farmers Market Plaza, 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A. 5 to 7 p.m. Free.

SUNDAY

Brunch for singles If you're looking for Mr. or Ms. Right, you may enjoy the "Stylish & Single in the City" brunch at Catherine Malandrino Cafe. Celebrity stylist Marcella Reynolds will be there to dish out advice on appearance so wear or bring a photo of your favorite outfit for dates, and "dating expert" Evan Marc Katz will provide mini-consultations to the first 15 RSVPs. A complimentary 100-calorie TY KU cocktail will be served with brunch, so you can get boozy and watch your figure all at once. Catherine Malandrino Cafe, 651-653 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $30. (310) 652-0078.

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo: A pile of shellfish rubble sits on the table where seafood lovers spend the evening shucking crawfish, crab and shrimp at the Boiling Crab, a popular Little Saigon eatery. Credit: Los Angeles Times