Recession Busters: Free dinner at new Stonefire Grill

Stonefire Grill -- the mini-chain with locations in Valencia, Irvine, Chatsworth, Fountain Valley and West Hills -- is opening a new restaurant in Pasadena. The pre-opening party takes place Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. On offer: free dinner. But be sure to leave a tip (and a big one if you can swing it) because all tips go to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Owner Mary Harrigan's nephew, Brenden, suffers from the disease, and she has long been involved in the fight to find a cure.

Stonefire Grill specializes in American fare with a menu full of, you guessed it, grilled chicken, tri-tip and baby back ribs. Stonefire Grill, 473 N. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena. RSVP to (818) 991-4054, Ext. 0.

--Jessica Gelt

Photo: Stonefire Grill

BlackboardEats.com: New website brings you L.A. restaurant deals

Today marks the launch of a new website called BlackboardEats.com. Add it to your list of regular e-blasts (I get Daily Candy, Urban Daddy, Tasting Table and the Rundown among others) and wait for some very fine L.A. restaurant deals to be sent to your in-box twice weekly.

Besides giving you background and information on a particular restaurant and a regular rundown of deals around town, the website (subscription is free) offers you the option of signing up to get a discount at different restaurants. For example, you can sign up to receive 30% off your next bill at Akasha. 

Specials like that are available for only 24 hours, so you've got the rest of the night to sign up for the Akasha deal. Once you do, an e-mail is sent to you with a pass code that you then give to the restaurant upon arrival. You can only use your pass code for a particular restaurant once, and once you receive it you've got 30 days to use it. 

It will be interesting to find out how well this works as time passes. It seems like a great way to get people to visit your restaurant for the first time. Kind of like Restaurant Week all year long.

-- Jessica Gelt

Credit: BlackboardEats logo from BlackboardEats.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.

25 delicious deals

There are deals, and then there are delicious deals. But at a time when restaurants' offers of "buy one get one free" and "half-price on Wednesdays" are as commonplace as tuna tartare or beet salad, sometimes it’s tricky to distinguish the two.

This is definitely an eater’s market — but just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s a bargain. If a $5 cocktail isn’t well-crafted, or an appetizer that costs less than a cup of coffee fails to excite your palate, then it’s not a delicious deal.

So, wading through the low-price hype, L.A. Times Food section writers found 25 of the best values around, including $1 specials at a favorite San Gabriel Valley noodle house, a 10-course Indian thali feast, a $14.95 lobster dinner with a million-dollar view, the happiest happy hour and our top spots for all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue. Check it out:

Photo: At the Beachcomber in Malibu, the $14.95 lobster dinner special is too good to pass up, especially since they throw in the million-dollar view for free. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

 

Santa Monica Pier celebrates 100th anniversary

This year marks the Santa Monica Pier's centennial -- that's 100 years of entertaining visitors with cotton candy, carnival games, ocean views and a world-famous carousel, which looks especially stunning at night. On Wednesday, the pier celebrates its 100th birthday with a day of festivities: a morning blessing at 7 a.m., a re-dedication ceremony at 6 p.m. followed by a free concert featuring surf-guitar legend Dick Dale, and a fireworks show at 8:50 p.m. Here are a few suggestions for where to watch the fireworks. And here are a few Pier-inspired deals from local restaurants.

Pre-pier menu: Chef Ray Garcia of the very grown-up FIG offers a whimsical menu inspired by nostalgia: Scotch duck egg on a stick ($7), a lobster corn dog ($7), bratwurst on a pretzel roll ($9), a 1940s-inspired sandwich made with cashew (not peanut) butter and jelly ($8) and bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers ($8). The "pre-pier menu" is available Sep. 3 - 9 for lunch and dinner. 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 319-3111, www.figsantamonica.com.

Clambake: Chef Dakota Weiss hosts an extravagant raw bar and clambake on the roof of this historic hotel. It comes with free champagne and cocktails, but it doesn't come cheap: $100 per person. Shangri-La Hotel, 1301 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. 7-10 p.m., Wed. (310) 394-2791, www.shangrila-hotel.com/eat/. 

Longer happy hour: On Wednesday, Le Troquet, Le Merigot's terrace bar, extends its happy hour from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., with 50% off well drinks and 30% off appetizers like crab quesadillas and steak au poivre. Le Troquet at Le Merigot, 1740 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 395-9700.

--Elina Shatkin

Photo: The Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Celebrating Julia Child

"Julie & Julia," perhaps the most hyped food-themed movie since "Like Water For Chocolate" opens today, and a few places are offering Julia Child-themed deals of their own.

In honor of Child's birthday on Aug. 15, Platine Sweets & Savories has chosen a few of its favorite dessert recipes from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and is inviting patrons to vote via blog, Facebook, e-mail, Twitter or in person on which dessert it should feature during the week of her birthday. Choices are: peach tart, lemon and almond tart, crepe cake, blackberry clafouti, the Queen of Sheba (a chocolate cake with a slightly underdone center), palmiers cookies, or almond biscotti. 10850 Washington Blvd., Culver City. (310) 559-9933, www.platinecookies.com.

Comme Ca celebrates Child in three different ways. First, at their "block party," 3-7 p.m. Sunday, they'll serve four dishes inspired by Child's classic French recipes (each $7): roasted asparagus with hollandaise sauce; garlic sausage en croute, brioche, fried egg; vitello tonnato, sweetbreads, sauce au thon; and potato-Gruyere croquettes. They'll also have a 200-pound block of ice that bartenders will chip away at for three special cocktails ($5). Second, on Aug. 14-15 they'll offer a five-course tasting menu ($65/person; dinner only) featuring gravlax canapes, vichyssoise, crab-stuffed artichoke bottoms, lobster Thermidor, beef Wellington and berry crepes. And finally, for those with fat wallets, they'll celebrate by opening three First Growth Bordeaux from the 1997 vintage. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild will all be available by taste (3 oz.), glass, carafe and bottle -- all at a discount. ($210/bottle). Wines will be available Aug. 9-15. 8479 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. (323) 782-1104, www.commecarestaurant.com.

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Meryl Streep portrays Julia Child in a scene from "Julie & Julia." Credit: Jonathan Wenk / Associated Press

Coming to Little Tokyo: Michael Cardenas and Josef Centeno team up to open Lazy Ox

For all the restaurants opening downtown lately, Little Tokyo has been in need of something new and unexpected (Johnny Rockets doesn't count). Enter restaurateur Michael Cardenas and chef Josef Centeno, who are planning to open a 60-seat restaurant in the Sakura Crossing building on San Pedro Avenue between 2nd and 3rd streets.

The place, Lazy Ox, is envisioned as an "innovative neighborhood canteen." Cardenas (Boa, Katana, Sushi Roku) and Centeno (Meson G, Opus, Lot 1) say they want to open a local spot where you can stop by for a glass of wine or beer and some duck and pork terrine or sashimi of yellowtail with castelvetrano olives and pomegranate or brick-roasted pork belly with licorice pear, black garlic and charred tomatillo (all according to a preliminary menu). Also expect bäcos.

"It’s everything I like to eat and whatever inspires me,"  Centeno says. "My background is fine dining, but I've always wanted to cook with the same ingredients and technique and make it more affordable. It’s not in response to a recession, but it’s what the $30 tasting menu at Opus was all about.  

"I've been trying to open a restaurant for the last two years, but all I came up with were busted deals. Michael and I met six months ago and everything just clicked. I love Little Tokyo because it's got great energy and is really vibrant." 

Lazy Ox is scheduled to open in the fall.

-- Betty Hallock

Photo: Josef Centeno. Credit: Dee Dee deGelia / For Metromix 

Four food events you should know about

Tonight

Chillin' in MacArthur Park MacArthur Park's Levitt Pavilion kicks off its free summer concert series with a community reception called "A Taste of MacArthur Park." The event features the culinary prowess of 12 neighborhood restaurants, including Mama's Hot Tamales and La Fonda. Councilman Ed Reyes will be on hand and a concert featuring Gabby Villanueva and her band will follow.

I went to a few of these last summer and had a silly good time. You can bring a picnic and a blanket and just relax as the sun sets. MacArthur Park has come a long way thanks to community efforts to clean it up. MacArthur Park Levitt Pavilion (at the corner of 6th and South  Park View streets), community reception 5 p.m., concert 7 p.m. Free. (213) 384-5701, www.levittla.org.

Thursday

Ice for you Be the coolest person you know (internally at least) by swinging by Paciugo Gelato Caffe's one-year anniversary party in Hermosa Beach. The party involves the happy distribution of free cups of hand-crafted gelato. The party spirit is up to you. Paciugo Gelatto Cafe, 1034 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach. 4 to 7 p.m. (310) 379-2525.

Five years in Spain Bar Celona in Pasadena celebrates its fifth anniversary in conjunction with the Running of the Bulls celebration in Pamplona, Spain. The festivities include an all-night happy hour with $5 tapas, sangria, beer and cocktails; paella cooking demonstrations; DJs and live flamenco guitar; a mechanical bull and, at 9:30 p.m., a faux running of the bulls session. Bar Celona, 46 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 405-1000. www.barcelonapasadena.com.

Locals night launches Cafe Pinot kicks off the Patina Group's inaugural "Locals Night," which hops from one Patina restaurant to another throughout the summer. Cafe Pinot's turn at bat features a taste of the French Riviera with complimentary assorted tapanades and homemade crackers and breads. Tasty items including pommes frites, tuna niçoise rillettes and an open-faced grilled rosemary chicken sandwich go for $5, and French cocktails are $7. Cafe Pinot, 700 W. 5th St., L.A. (213) 239-2568. www.patinagroup.com/locals.

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo: Paciugo Gelato

Small Bites: Patriotic wines at Pourtal; Comme Ca to celebrate Bastille Day (with a very big block of ice)

Patriotic wine tasting: Wine bar Pourtal in Santa Monica kicks off a tour-of-the-U.S. wine tasting  Friday: "United Grapes of America: A patriotic tasting tour of 30  wines from 30 states." Each wine will be available to taste from Pourtal's Enomatic system, along with tasting notes. Owner Stephen Abronson and wine director Peter Birmingham sourced wines from as many states as possible (every state of the union has at least one winery, but state laws prevent the purchase of wine from some states). There's a "Cowboy Reserve" from Wyoming and a "Super Texan" Sangiovese from Texas. (And I'll admit it: I like Hill Country Viognier.) Available through July 13. Pourtal is open on the Fourth of July. 104 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 393-7693, www.pourtal.com

And if Bastille Day is your thing: There are no royalists at Comme Ça, which is planning to celebrate Bastille Day with a “block” party on July 12 and a special prix fixe menu that runs through that week. At Sunday's "block" party, they'll be hand-carving ice chips and chunks from one enormous block of ice for $5 cocktails, including the AF 69 (gin, Cointreau, honey and lemon verbena) -- so named for the daily Air France flight from LAX to Paris. Seven-dollar party snacks feature oysters a la nage, snapper escabeche, and pork belly confit. A $40 three-course prix fixe menu will be offered July 12 to 18. (Please see the jump for the menu.) Closed July 4. 8479 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 782-1104, www.commecarestaurant.com 

-- Betty Hallock

Illustration: Lauren Paska Bro / For The Times

Freebie Alert: Pinkberry and the passion of the fro-yo

There probably will never be a fro-yo summer quite as ecstatic as that of 2006, just as MySpace probably will never again be the hottest social networking site. But that doesn't mean we can't engage in a bit of fro-yo passion every now and then.

And according to the Digest at Los Angeles Magazine, June 26 would be the ideal time to do it. That's when Pinkberry launches two new flavors (although the company won't say what they are yet) and prepares to drop the green tea flavor entirely. The yogurt will flow freely from 5 to 11 p.m. Ready your spoons.

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo: Pinkberry's green-tea-flavored yogurt. Credit: Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times