Baby Blues BBQ opens in West Hollywood

I was already mopping up my drool when our own Charlie Amter reported back in January that popular but hot, cramped and extremely small Baby Blues on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice would be opening a much larger outpost in the former Cha Cha Cha space in the heart of West Hollywood. Fantasy has become reality. The new Baby Blues unofficially soft opens Friday.

It's got the same Carolina pulled pork, Memphis ribs and full lineup  of smoked, grilled meats and savory side dishes as the original location -- as well as a few additions such as pulled pork sliders, salads topped with the meat of your choice, hush puppies and sweet potato fries. Plus, the joint has a full bar with beer, wine and Mint Juleps.

Hours will be irregular for the first week or two, though you can count on lunch and dinner service. The official soft opening is March 27, and the grand opening will be April 3, when regular hours will go into effect: Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Baby Blues BBQ: 7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. (323) 656-1277, www.babybluesvenice.com

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Elina Shatkin / Los Angeles Times

Ritual closes, reopening as "Halo"

Are Asian-themed bars a thing of the past?

With Tokio closed and Geisha House losing steam, it was only a matter of time before Ritual closed down for an image makeover.  "They're doing away with the Asian theme, and splitting the place into two," Linda Giozacchini, director of events at the Cahuenga corridor club, said Wednesday.

The grand reopening of the new club, dubbed "Halo," is tentatively set for March 27. Giozacchini added—and both the L.A. Times and Metromix have confirmed—that the Sunset Entertainment Group (Chris Breed, Alan Hajjar and George Nahas) owns the space again (Earlier this decade, SEG operated the club as White Lotus, where paparazzi mobbed the front of the club in order to snag that perfect shot of Cameron Diaz).

The inside of the large venue will be a restaurant/lounge evocative of "old Hollywood glamour" and the outside patio portion will become a sports bar (but will not have a different name, just a separate feel and entrance). Music at the forthcoming club will include jazz in addition to more contemporary offerings, which is what Ritual had become known for the past two years or so.

The 400-capacity club, at 1743 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, opened in 2007.  Prior to White Lotus, the club was known as Crush.

- Charlie Amter and Alexandra LeTellier

Photo of "Halo" co-owner Chris Breed inside Ritual back when it was White Lotus in 2003 by Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times

Alice Waters renews call for White House organic garden on '60 Mintues' segment Sunday

Alice Waters, founder of Chez Panisse, was featured in a "60 Minutes" profile Sunday night on CBS (the video is embedded above in case you missed it). In the segment, Lesley Stahl was treated to a simple yet lovely looking breakfast in Waters' home, and the two talked about organic food, Waters' famed Berkeley restaurant, her Edible Schoolyard project and her desire to ultimately persuade President Obama to allow a vegetable garden on the White House lawn. While Waters is hardly the first to call for such a garden (and indeed, various presidents have had gardens on the grounds over the years), she has been a leading voice and, ahem, was a supporter of Obama’s campaign to become president.

The bestselling author has been pushing for the garden since at least 1993; she may see her wish come true with the current White House occupants, both of whom know a thing or two about healthful food.  Then again, former President Clinton is a known Chez Panisse fan, and we saw no garden bloom at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. under his watch, other than a small one on the roof that Hillary Rodham Clinton helped set up (It also should be noted that Laura Bush, to her credit, advised the White House kitchen staff to buy organic produce whenever possible, even though no large garden grew under her watch, either).

Others have called on Obama to help set an example to our fast food-obsessed nation via an organic garden at the White House, most notably the White House Organic Farm Project and Kitchen Gardeners International's campaign at eattheview.com. With fast-food consumption up in tough economic times, there are those who think the time has come for a garden that is not the Rose Garden to bloom in Washington, D.C. -- if only as a symbol.

-- Charlie Amter

Magnolia now open on 9th Street in downtown

The downtown outpost of Ron Marino and Laurie Mulstay's well-liked Hollywood restaurant Magnolia is now open. Mulstay and Marino launched the restaurant, which is adjacent to the Original Pantry Cafe, with little fanfare at lunch Thursday.

Curious office workers from nearby buildings seemed eager to stop in and check out the menu. The space is only slightly larger than the Sunset Boulevard location, with two patios, a small lounge area (complete with gas fireplace) and a full bar awaiting those who want to do more than gawk through the large windows that face 9th Street.

Formerly Zita Trattoria, 825 W. 9th St. will now cater to a more sophisticated crowd. Mulstay, who also owns sexy nightlife destinations Chloe in Santa Monica and the Bar in Hollywood, has come up with a winning design scheme for downtown's Magnolia. The ex-New Yorker replaced the Zita's white with wood throughout, and has even added some nice wallpaper and vintage light fixtures. Expect virtually the same menu as Magnolia in Hollywood, with happy hour specials coming soon for the slightly different demographic that surrounds the new Magnolia (think paralegals and hospitality workers). Downtown dwellers familiar with Magnolia are no doubt excited that the restaurant is now open, despite the numerous dining options just up the street.

Magnolia, 825 W. 9th St., L.A. (213) 362-0880.

-- Charlie Amter

Four views of Magnolia restaurant in downtown L.A. Credit: Elina Shatkin / Los Angeles Times

Chaya downtown opening early next week to general public

After a few "friends and family" gatherings this week, Chaya's downtown L.A. outpost is shooting for a Monday opening. The original Alden Drive location celebrates 25 years of business this year, and the well-known Japanese/French fusion restaurant has locations in Venice and near Beverly Hills. The new location will serve up fare similar to that at the other restaurants, including customer favorites such as tuna sashimi and Kobe beef rolls. The official grand opening party is currently set for March 21 (the party is a closed event and is invite-only). Once this nearly 200-person capacity restaurant is open, you can expect an early and expanded happy hour (3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily) and a private dining room that seats close to 30.

Chaya, 525 S. Flower St., (213) 236-9577.

-- Charlie Amter

Photo: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Tender Greens to open WeHo outpost this month

Tender Greens, the fast-casual restaurant already popular with Culver City office workers and residents, is hot for West Hollywood.

The latest addition to the growing chain may debut in WeHo as soon as Monday (if all goes well with inspections), reps for the eatery said today.  Those who use Twitter might want to "follow" the restaurant here to get up-to-the-minute news regarding when Tender Greens WeHo officially swings open its doors for the first time.  Their Twitter page already gave followers a sneak peek of the interior earlier this month.

The Santa Monica Blvd. location, inside the Hancock Lofts at Hancock Avenue, marks the third Tender Greens location (an additional location is in San Diego).   According to a news release, the forthcoming West Hollywood restaurant will feature "eco-friendly design consisting of reclaimed and recycled materials used in the restaurant’s chairs, tables and other surfaces."

Expect the menu to carry the same dishes served up to hundreds daily in Culver City and San Diego, such as their “Big Salads” (using fresh locally grown produce) and the well-liked $4 soups (chicken soup with lemon thyme, anyone?).

Tender Greens, 8759 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.  (310) 358-1919.

--Charlie Amter

Photo of Tender Greens' Culver City location by Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times

NBC's 'Chopping Block' debuts Wednesday; Daily Dish talks to one local contestant

West Hollywood residents, meet your friendly neighborhood reality show star Kelsey Henderson.

The 22-year-old and her sister Vanessa are set to compete against seven other teams this spring on NBC's new cooking series "The Chopping Block," where contestants can win a cool $250,000 (Look for television critic Robert Lloyd's review, running Wednesday in The Times' Calendar section) and a shot at their very own restaurant. That is, if they can please legendary chef Marco Pierre White.

I met the Carmel-born Henderson earlier this month completely by accident at her new day job, as chef at up-and-coming  WeHo hotel Le Petit. Formerly the Valadon, the cozy hotel has undergone a radical transformation (think a slightly less glamorous cross between the Chateau Marmont and the nearby Le Montrose), and Henderson is apparently a small part of Le Petit's ascension in the area. (Do not read anything into the job, or assume anything about her performance on "The Chopping Block" -- contestants are sworn to secrecy and must go about their "normal" lives until all is revealed on-air.)

"I like to cook healthy twists on classics," she said last week on the rooftop of the hotel, during an informal gathering toasting Le Petit's recently approved liquor license. "Sometimes, I take my favorite dishes and try to make them healthy... it's fun to play around with the ingredients and try new things." The former lead macrobiotic chef for Madonna, and one-time personal cook for film and music video director Mark Romanek and his wife, Bridget, said that she is "not a vegan or vegetarian," but that she enjoys "eating and cooking that kind of food."   

"I trained with a world-renowned macrobiotic chef for about a year," she says. "Since then, all of my food has been inspired from macrobiotics ... but I like to eat a hearty steak dinner every now and then."

So what's on her menu at Le Petit for hotel guests?  A filet mignon "tower," a veggie burger wrap or even asparagus brie frittata (served with sliced pear and topped with a lightly dressed mixed green salad). Although the hotel does not officially have a restaurant on-site, savvy locals have already discovered the rooftop deck's tables set up outside near the pool for a leisurely lunch.

-- Charlie Amter

Photo of Kelsey Henderson at Le Petit by Charlie Amter/Los Angeles Times

Must-try dessert? The Must's take on the Fluffernutter sandwich

In today's Calendar section I take a look at two new bars in downtown L.A.'s Bank District.  One of the hangs, wine and beer bar the Must, actually has a notable food angle. The owners of the 5th Street bar have tapped Mary Ann Salcedo, a former sous-chef from Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen," as chef.  Salcedo's menu is interesting (and well priced, might we add), but one item seems to have piqued the interest of just about anyone who has room left for dessert: the Fluffernutter. 

Pictured above, the Must's take on the sandwich (which, apparently, has been trademarked) is so rich you can probably split one order with three friends and still feel full. The bar and restaurant, which recently added lunch service, uses bananas for its interpretation of the sandwich.

Marshmallow Fluff was invented in Massachusetts, and according to a 2006 Boston Globe article, state Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein proposed that the Fluffernutter be declared Massachusetts' "official" sandwich.

Any Daily Dish readers care to share their Fluffernutter experiences?  We're all ears.

Bonus: After our post ran, we got our hands on the recipe for the Must's unique take on the Fluffernutter. Here it is: smoked almond peanut butter, marshmallow fluff and bananas on pan-fried brioche bread served with chocolate ganache sauce.

The Must, 118 W. 5th St., Los Angeles. (213) 627-1162.

-- Charlie Amter

Photo:  Fluffernutter at the Must. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Fairfax comes into focus: New restaurant/lounge to debut this summer in former Largo space

Fairfax, the new restaurant and lounge inside the former Largo space on Fairfax Avenue, is coming into focus. Co-owner Reg MacDonald gave the Daily Dish a sneak peek at his forthcoming restaurant (which will simply be called Fairfax) earlier this week.

"This is going to be a gasatropub-type place that everyone from the neighborhood can enjoy," he said. The former Tokio owner, and current Tinto partner, says the nearly 2,500-square-foot space, which he has stripped down to its brick walls, will feature a second-level dining area for 30 people, in addition to seating for 150 or so downstairs.

"This area could be great for a birthday party or meeting," the South African-born co-owner said from the second-floor perch, which overlooks the main dining area. MacDonald added that the kitchen, which will sit below the terrace-level VIP dining area, will be "enclosed in glass so everyone can see what's going on inside." MacDonald and his partner in the endeavor, Jordan Bucky, have already enlisted Jared Simons, who recently left Hollywood's Bardot nightclub, to design the menu and work full time at Fairfax. 

So what'll be on the menu?  "Simple gastropub-like food," said the budding restaurateur.  "It's going to be a basic, old-school neighborhood pub with a contemporary feel.  We'll have 20 different beers on tap, comfort food with nothing over $15 and lots of items in the $8 range." It's clear the Village Idiot's continued success nearby on Melrose Avenue is a model of sorts for MacDonald, and he admitted as much Wednesday. "The Village Idiot, Anisette and the Belmont are a few of our inspirations," he said. 

And just like the Belmont, expect a lively patio scene visible to those speeding by -- only here, it'll be Fairfax Avenue drivers who may be tempted to park and have a beer (or two).

"We're going to open up the entire front  section with an outdoor patio so you can see everything from the street," he said of the place, which he plans on opening sometime this summer. "This area reminds me of Rivington Street in New York, and we're really going to try and make something beautiful inside -- but not too beautiful to alienate anyone in the neighborhood." 

-- Charlie Amter

Photo: Charlie Amter/Los Angeles Times

Good Girl Dinette nears completion in Highland Park

Eating L.A. reports that Diep Tran, former co-owner of the Blue Hen, is close to opening her Good Girl Dinette in Highland Park. Interestingly, Tran seems to already have a growing fan base online thanks in part to her blog. The Eagle Rock/Highland Park booster has been writing about her struggles in opening the forthcoming restaurant over the last year or so. But Tran is on top of things, judging from the posts, and after reading her blog, I'm now more likely to visit the intersection of Figueroa and Avenue 56 this spring.

Blogging about construction progress and menu refinement certainly seems like a nice strategy for future first-time restaurant owners when it comes to generating interest for new dining destinations. Not that the blog in any way seems contrived or exists solely as a marketing tool: It's clear that Tran is passionate and sincere about Vietnamese food, and food in general (she was featured in a KCRW-FM segment last month regarding her "good girl suppers"). Still, I expect pre-opening blogging may become a trend, if it's not already, amongst future Web-savvy first-time restaurant owners.

-- Charlie Amter

Photo: goodgirldinette.blogspot.com