Small Bites: Steak with Spike Lee, celebs cook up comfort for Thanksgiving

Meat/meet with Spike Lee: Have a hankering to discuss the recondite narrative mechanisms of "Girl 6" or the New York Knicks' defense? Filmmaker Spike Lee will join Andrew Siciliano and Mychal Thompson of 710 AM ESPN for a luncheon that combines steaks and sports. Morton's The Steakhouse. 735 S. Figueroa St., L.A. 11 a.m. Tuesday. $50 (includes tax and gratuity); cash bar.

Celebs donate recipes for suicide prevention: Actors Glenn Close, Marcia Gay Harden and Joe Pantoliano, comedian Joan Rivers, singer-songwriter James Taylor, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Melissa d'Arabian, winner of last season's "The Next Food Network Star," are sharing their favorite holiday recipes as part of an awareness campaign for National Survivors of Suicide Day. Held every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, this year's campaign includes a recipe contest featuring Pelosi's chocolate mousse, Close's baking powder biscuits, Rivers' pumpkin bread pudding and more.

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Spike Lee takes in a meal from a court-side seat before a Lakers-Knicks game in 2008. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times

Sampler Platter: Top 100 Wines of 2009, best late-night diner, best gay bar, Soda Pop's sandwich shop opens this week, tofurky gravy soda

The world's grossest soda and manicured nails made to look like bacon are in today's food news roundup.

• Main Street merchants want a crack at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Santa Monica Daily Press

• Soda Pop's sandwich shop to open this Wednesday on La Cienega at Beverly. La Brea Dining Japanese restaurant to open at Crescent Heights and West 3rd Street. Blackburn and Sweetzer

• While the rest of the world tries to reduce its plastic use, Aussie winemaker Peter Yealands switches to plastic wine bottles. Stuff

• Playboy names Original Pantry Cafe as a Top 10 Late-Night Diner

• TripOut names the Abbey as Best Gay Bar in the World. Brand X

• Nov. 23 is the New Yorker's food issue with John Colapinto on the secrets of the Michelin guide, Calvin Trillin on poutine, Adam Gopnik on cookbooks, Mimi Sheraton on spit cakes; Evan Osnos on Beijing's love of wine, Raffi Khatchadourian on the Givaudan flavor factory and more.

• Jones makes tofurkey and gravy soda (read: carbonated vomit). Chicago Sun Times

• Wine Spectator will announce its Top 100 Wines of 2009 on Wednesday. Members get a sneak peek today.

• Prospectors set to drill for Shackleton's booze in Antarctica. Metro

• Meat manicure: bacon nail tips. Jezebel

• All About Beer celebrates 30th anniversary edition: "Revolution!" versus "What Revolution?"

• Elizabeth Hurley's diet tips: vodka and one meal a day. Daily Mail

• Yes, people do win McDonald's Monopoly game. (Daily Finance) In other news, McDonald's will open 1,000 new restaurants in 2010. CNNMoney.com

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: Stan Augustyn handles oils at Givaudan-Roure Corp. Credit: Joe Tabacca / For The Times

Eating along the Gold Line Eastside Extension: What didn't we include?

 

After eating our way from Little Tokyo to Atlantic Boulevard (and beyond) in East L.A., we had the difficult task of deciding which restaurants to include in an article about the many, many places to dine along the Gold Line Eastside Extension. (Trains are scheduled to start running on Sunday.)

The Little Tokyo stop presented some particularly difficult choices, because the area is packed with so many restaurants, without even including the Arts District. In this case, an editorial decision was made: The story focuses on those restaurants that are closest, within about a block or so of the stop at 1st and Alameda streets. So it doesn't include anything south of 2nd Street or much further west of Central Avenue. Unfortunately, that omits a lot of great restaurants.

And we heard about it from readers. Please let us know what else you would have wanted included. 

Here, a few additions from readers: 

Sampler Platter: Veterans Day deals, Toshi Sushi celebrates anniversary, Ruby Tuesday gets posher, bacon envelopes and chocolate mousse Peeps

Even among fast casual eateries there's a caste system. And Ruby Tuesday wants to move out of the neighborhood it shares with Applebee's and Chili's and into the classier 'hood alongside Olive Garden and Outback Steakhouse. All this and more essential food news:

--Speaking of Applebee's, they're giving a free meal to Veterans today. Krispy Kreme giving away free doughnuts. Consumerist
--Ruby Tuesday upgrades with fancier decor, more expensive food. New York Times
--Toshi Sushi, "greatest omakase bargain in Little Tokyo," celebrates anniversary. Sinosoul
--Mendocino Farms to open 2nd downtown venue at 5th and Flower streets. Blog Downtown
--Portland brewer makes beer from Bac-O Bits, Nutella and more. Houston Chronicle
-- Food pioneer: Chef Fergus Henderson. The Times
--The folks who made Bacon Salt bring you Bacon Envelopes. J&D Foods
--Crispy tripas at Rambo's Taco Truck in Eagle Rock. Gourmet Pigs
--Miniature finger-food plates: Absurd or absurdly practical? The Kitchn
--Everyone loves the cheese dust. Dorito's DIY commercial contest returns.
--Burlingame officials try to run Curry Up Now truck out of town. California Taco Trucks
--Chocolate mousse-flavored Marshmallow Reindeer Peeps, new for the holidays.
--A roundup of pumpkin-based restaurant specials. Caroline On Crack

--Elina Shatkin

Photo: Toshihiko Seki, owner and chef of Toshi Sushi in downtown Los Angeles, prepares a plate of sashimi and rolls. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Small Bites: Chocolate dim sum at the Peninsula; choucroute garnie at Bistro LQ; bartenders from New Orleans' Cure at the Edison's Radio Room

Dim sum for dessert:The Peninsula Beverly Hills puts a spin on a tribute to its Hong Kong roots with chocolate dim sum -- yes, chocolate. The dessert dumplings, created by executive chef James Overbaugh and executive pastry chef Miguel Torres, are being offered in the hotel's Club Bar and the Living Room (where resident pianist Antonio Castillo de la Gala performs, 7:30 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays to Thursdays and from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays). The warm, crisp, sweet dumplings are filled with either dark or white chocolate and citrus cream cheese. They're dusted with powdered sugar and served with three dipping sauces -- passion fruit, orange-raspberry and ginger-caramel -- and green tea ice cream. 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 975-2736, www.peninsula.com.

Sausages-n-sauerkraut: Nothing says "Alsace!" like a platter of choucroute garnie. Bistro LQ chef-owner Laurent Quenioux will be serving the traditional French-German dish on Nov. 24 and 25. His includes sauerkraut poached in Riesling, jambonneau (cured pork knuckle), Morteau sausage, apple wood smoked bacon, pork shoulder, ham hocks, boudin blanc, Strasbourg sausage (wieners), blood sausage and steamed potatoes. The three-course menu also includes herring with quail egg as a first course and dessert and mignardises. $40 per person. 8009 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 951-1088, www.bistrolq.com.

The last Radio Room of 2009: Tonight's Radio Room at the Edison downtown features guest bartenders from New Orleans' Cure, which owner Neal Bodenheimer opened this year, hiring a crack team of bartenders, including Richard Gomez, Kirk Estopinal and Danny Valdez. Gomez, Estopinal and Valdez will be "behind the stick" tonight at the Radio Room, the last one for this year, along with Plymouth gin brand ambassador Simon Ford (expect plenty of gin cocktails). Tickets for the 8 p.m. event are $10; proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles chapter of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, the Sporting Life and the Museum of the American Cocktail. 108 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 613-0000, www.edisondowntown.com.

-- Betty Hallock

Photo: chocolate dim sum. Credit: Peninsula Beverly Hills.

Small Bites: Gobi Mongolian BBQ drops prices and Samba Brazilian Steakhouse opens

Discounted Mongolian barbecue: Gobi Mongolian BBQ in Silver Lake has launched a deal that's good Mondays through Thursdays until Dec. 31, dropping the price of its lunch to $8.95 and dinner to $11.95. Happy Hour (Mon.- Fri, 4-7 p.m.) also features $3 select beers, $4 wines by the glass, $4 cocktails and $1 off artisanal ales. 2827 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 213-989-0711, www.gobimongolianbbq.com.

A dash of Brazil: Featuring Brazilian churrascaria, a dedicated Caipirinha cocktail bar and free nightly entertainment like Samba dancers and Brazilian bands, Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Lounge opens this Thursday at Universal CityWalk. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. www.citywalkhollywood.com.

--Elina Shatkin

Photo: A dancer makes a big impression at Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Bar in Redondo Beach. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times.

The return of the Gorbals: 'Top Chef' Ilan Hall's restaurant to reopen Saturday

After opening at the end of August only to be shut down nearly a week later due to a citation for an equipment violation involving the boiler system, "Top Chef" Ilan Hall's downtown restaurant the Gorbals will reopen Saturday.

Here's the skinny from a Gorbals rep:

"Good news: After an arduous permit journey, the Gorbals finally has every single one signed, sealed, and  delivered -- double-checked this past Friday! The restaurant could feasibly open anytime this week (they are hosting private parties in the interim), however Ilan has to retrain the staff and will officially relaunch on Saturday, Nov. 7, and will begin taking reservations that day as well going forward."

Hall will also be offering 50% off to L.A. Department of Building and Safety employees who present ID, just to show that there are no hard feelings. Here's what he has to say:

"What a journey! We are thrilled to be relaunching 100% this Saturday and especially want to thank all of our guests for their continued support. There's some fun stuff planned i.e. artisanal Scotch pairing dinners, Hannukah dishes (guess what's going in the latkes!!), and great deals for Art Walk. I invite everyone to come in and have some Scotch with me!"

-- Jessica Gelt 

Photo: Stefano Paltera / For The Times

Sampler Platter: Mignon coming to downtown L.A., Santa Monica resists food trucks, loads of contests

How is it possible that Farrell's is opening a location in Orange County before opening another location in Los Angeles? I have no idea, but it's true. This and more in today's food news.

-- Mignon, from the owners of Bacaro LA Wine Bar, is set to open this winter next to Cole's/Varnish. Eater LA
-- Santa Monica resists nouveau food trucks. California Taco Trucks
--Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour makes its Orange County return on Wednesday, opening a new location in Mission Viejo. Fast Food Maven
-- The New Yorker profiles Jonathan Gold (and mentions local food blogger Teenage Glutster!).
-- With the demise of Gourmet magazine, Jane and Michael Stern will now be e-mailing their Roadfood newsletter once a week. Eating LA
-- Mattatouille has some lovely pictures from his recent foodventures in Japan, Indonesia and Korea.
-- New York firm recalls ground beef due to possible E. coli contamination. Safe Tables
-- Challenge Butter recently launched its "Taste of the West" contest. Prizes include a seven-day / six-night trip to Montana and an $850 kitchen package from Spice Islands and OXO.
-- Check out this infomercial, supposedly the first one ever, made in 1949. It's from Vita-Mix and features founder William G. “Papa” Barnard and a blender. Make your own absurd video and you could win Vita-Mix's Pitch Me! contest.
-- Marly Billings of Newport Beach, Shelly Mayo of Brentwood and David Walter of Los Angeles won Wahoo's Fish Tacos' recent naming contest with the three following dishes: Power Chopper Salad, Wafu Bowl and Baja-ladas Platter.

-- Elina Shatkin

Photo: 28-year-old Justin Dervaes (right) secures a smoothie being blended as his sister Jordanne pedals in the backyard of the family's urban homestead in Pasadena. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times.

Small Bite: Market Bar coming to the Pacific Electric Lofts?

Downtown update: The corner retail space in the Pacific Electric building at the corner of 6th and Main streets downtown has been unoccupied, but the building's owner along with potential partner Richard Drapkin (Grace, BLD) are floating a plan for Market Bar -- a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, bar, market and wine shop. Already located in the building are Cole's, Blu L.A. Cafe and the Association. Vegan cupcakery Babycakes also has been slated to move into the building.

Photo credit: Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times

Homegirl salsa will be sold at Ralphs downtown starting today

The Ralphs supermarket downtown starts selling Homegirl salsa today. It's the salsa made by women in Homeboy Industries' Homegirl Cafe & Catering job training program, and the move is part of an initiative by Ralphs Grocery Co. to help the L.A. gang-intervention agency learn how to commercialize its products.

In the highly competitive supermarket world, anti-gang agency Homeboy Industries is getting a break. Normally, it would be almost impossible for a start-up food company to even get a meeting to pitch a new product to a major supermarket chain.

This will be the organization's first venture into a major food retailer. Initially, Ralphs will sell two types of salsa, Homegirl Mango and Homegirl Molita, for $3.99 a pound at the deli counter. There are plans to expand to packaged salsa and hummus in the refrigerated case.

To read more of Jerry Hirsch's story on Homegirl salsa, click here.

Photo: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times