Nick + Stef’s Whole Animal Dinner: Goat
Feb. 3. Along with its stellar new design and menu downtown steakhouse, Nick + Stef’s launches a whole animal dinner series this year. Executive Chef Andreas Roller will prepare a different whole animal showcased throughout five decadent courses on the first Monday of each month. Roller kicks off the series with goat, a throwback to the Lunar New Year since we’re transitioning out of the year of the goat into the year of the monkey. Roller will roast the whole animal on a spit and showcase it in dishes like goat leg with baby kale, Brussels sprouts, pear, Marcona almond and Vermont goat cheese; shoulder with housemade pappardelle, guanciale and Calabrian chile; saddle served four ways with couscous, piquillo peper and mint; a selection of goat cheeses; and milk in panna cotta, a Valrhona chocolate beignet, chestnut honey and clementine orange. The series continues in March with Lechon Asado, a slow cooked hog whole roasted in a Caja box. See website for full details on the series. $69/$89 (with wine pairings), $99 (with extended wine pairings). 330 S Hope St., downtown, 213.680.0330. patinagroup.com
Officine Brera
Opens Feb. 5. The long awaited sister restaurant to downtown pasta mecca, Factory Kitchen is set to open its doors this week. Officine Brera is inspired by trips to the Italian countryside Owner/Restaurateur Matteo Ferdinandi and Chef Angelo Auriana took when they were children. The menu rotates daily and seasonally, featuring regional, Northern Italian food that is traditional but modernized to appeal to the masses. Menu highlights include grilled meats, risotto, spit roasted poultry and fowl, slow braised hunter-style meats, grilled fish and crustacean, market-driven vegetables and a separate bar menu. Dinner nightly, lunch to come. 1331 E. 6th St., downtown, 213.553.8006. officinebrera.com
Black Truffle Dinner Series at SAAM
Through Feb. 20. SAAM at The Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, celebrates black truffle season with its 4th annual Black Truffle Dinner Series. The 16-course menu explores the complex and unique flavor of black truffles in an intimate dining environment. While full details of the menu are under wrap, Chef Aitor Lozano Zabala does mention they they are featuring Black Iberian Suckling Pig, which has yet to hit a dish in L.A. $250/pp. Offered Thurs.-Sat. from 6:30 p.m. 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., L.A.. 310.246.5545. sbe.com
The Arthur J
Through Feb. 6. If your feeling the pangs of sadness that dineL.A. is over, cheer up! The Arthur J extends its decadent Exclusive Series menu through Feb. 6. Delight in their steakhouse experience over dishes like chilled jumbo shrimp cocktail; beef sirloin tartare; Sweedish meatballs; lobster bisque; a host of steaks and more, including baked Alaska for dessert. 903 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, 310.878.9620. thearthurj.com
Taste on Melrose’s Tasting Series
Feb. 3. In celebration of L.A.’s booming craft beer scene and Taste on Melrose’s longtime tradition of hosting Wednesday farmers’ market dinners, the restaurant launches an interactive tasting series that combines comforting, seasonal small bites with intriguing local beer pairings. The inaugural event welcomes South El Monte-based Progress Brewing to its new Atrium Bar. Co-Founder Dr. Diego Benitez will be pouring his favorite beers and walking you through the brewing process while you nosh on plates like swordfish ceviche, caramelized cumin-spiced pork loin and more, each paired perfectly with one of Benitez’s beers. 6:30 p.m. $40/advance, $45/door. 8454 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.852.6888. ilovetaste.com
Hotel Casa del Mar-Grand Hotel Quisisana Collaborative Menu
Feb. 4-11. Santa Monica’s iconic Hotel Casa del Mar partners with Capri’s Grand Hotel Quisisana. to offer an exclusive Capri-inspired dinner menu, celebrating Italy’s coastal cuisine. The à la carte dinner menu will feature seasonal dishes from Hotel Casa del Mar’s Executive Chef Alberico Nunziata and Grand Hotel Quisisana’s Executive Chef Stefano Mazzone. The collaborative dinner menu will feature dishes such as a Mediterranean octopus salad; risotto with tomatoes, capers and olives; and roasted scallops with artichokes, parsley and a lightly smoked anchovy sauce. 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, 310.581.5533. hotelcasadelmar.com
Taste of Night Market
Feb. 5-6. From the foodies behind 626 Night Market comes a new exclusive tasting event in Santa Monica. Find international mix of cuisines from local chefs and tastemakers, activities and performances that will center around the Lunar New Year. Ticket prices include food and drinks. $56-$95. Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica. tasteofnightmarket.com
Knead & Co. Pasta Bar + Market
The newest addition to Grand Central Market comes from Chef Bruce Kalman. You may know him from his perfect pastas and porchetta at Union in Pasadena. At Knead, Kalman focuses on handmade pasta—you can watch his team make it in the open kitchen’s “pasta lab.” Dine on specialties like Sunday gravy spaghetti and meatballs, and spelt cavatelli with spicy fennel sausage and Koda Farms chickpeas. The all-day bar offers pastries and breakfast dishes like polenta porridge with seasonal fruit, pistachios and Santa Monica honey (Prosciutto di Parma and/or a cage free egg for an additional charge). You can also pick up made-to-order paninis, fresh pasta salads and classic desserts like cannoli, tiramisu and zeppole. 317 S. Broadway, downtown. kneadpasta.com