As the sun drops behind the Santa Monica Pier, The Lobster will host a rare one-night collaboration bringing together two of the Westside’s most respected chefs for an evening built around Japanese whisky, coastal California cooking, and decades of culinary history.
Taking place Thursday, May 21, the five-course Nikka Whisky & Spirits pairing dinner unites Executive Chef Govind Armstrong with Job Carder of Michael’s Santa Monica for the first time. The dinner arrives in celebration of World Whisky Day and showcases pairings from Nikka Whisky, the legendary Japanese distillery founded in 1934.
The evening opens with Chef Armstrong’s house-made pizza alongside a Nikka Coffey Vodka cocktail before moving into dishes that lean into layered textures and Japanese influences. Highlights include Dungeness crab and avocado salad with preserved lemon, toasted buckwheat, and yuzu gelée paired with Nikka Coffey Gin; braised short rib gyoza dumplings served in roasted tomato miso broth with Nikka Days Blended Whisky; and a togarashi-crusted Ibérico presa steak paired with Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky. Dessert closes the evening with a pour of Nikka Whisky From The Barrel.
The collaboration also reflects the legacy of two restaurants that helped shape Santa Monica’s dining culture over the last several decades. Chef Armstrong, known for championing sustainable seafood and California produce-driven cooking, recently saw The Lobster added to the Michelin Guide’s list of standout Los Angeles restaurants. His culinary background stretches from Spago to the acclaimed Arzak in Spain, while his work outside the kitchen has included appearances on Top Chef and Iron Chef America.
Meanwhile, Michael’s Santa Monica continues its long-standing reputation as one of the early pioneers of California cuisine. Since opening in 1979 under restaurateur Michael McCarty, the restaurant has helped launch some of the industry’s most recognizable culinary names, including Nancy Silverton, Jonathan Waxman, and Brooke Williamson.
With Pacific Ocean views, limited seating, and a menu built around whisky storytelling and seasonal technique, the dinner is expected to sell out quickly.
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Event Details:
Location: 1602 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica
Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m.
$160 per person
21+ only
Photo credits: Photo courtesy of The Lobster Santa Monica
