Tipple and Brine Brings Excitement to The Valley (Sherman Oaks)

I never would've expected going to a restaurant in the Valley and running into so many friends. What kind of restaurant is drawing such a crowd to the valley? It's the new Tipple and Brine in Sherman Oaks.

Appropriate to the name of the restaurant, one of the most talked about item at Tipple and Brine is the oyster luge.

You can order one of the recommended scotches to go with your oyster, like the Bowmore. Sip the oyster brine, then pour some scotch into the shell and gulp it down with the oyster!

Another popular item is the Sea urchin toast, avocado mousse, radish, scallion ($14)

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A Walking Tour of Santa Monica: The Misfit, Del Frisco's Grille, and The Lobster

by guest blogger Bryan Tsunoda @btsunoda

I’ve participated on walking food tours in cities like Milwaukee and St. Louis and recently had an opportunity to do a local walking tour in downtown Santa Monica. One recent evening, I had an opportunity to visit The Misfit Restaurant and Bar, Del Frisco’s Grille and The Lobster.

The first stop was The Misfit Restaurant and Bar. It resides in the uber cool Clock Tower on the 200 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. It was built in the 1920’s in the Art Déco style and is the third tallest building in Santa Monica. 


 The Misfit Restaurant and Bar has a number of specialty cocktails. We were first introduced to “Good Night Emily”: Fords Gin, grapefruit, mint and Peychaud’s bitters. If you like grapefruit, it’s the perfect cocktail for a warm summer day.
 
A colorful kale salad was brought out.
 
It was comprised of shredded kale, quinoa, sunflower seeds, red grapes, preserved lemon and manchego parmesan with a champagne vinaigrette. The red grapes brought color to the dish and I particularly enjoyed the combination of sunflower seeds with the tasty champagne vinaigrette. This is a great salad to enjoy for lunch.

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August Food Events in Los Angeles Not To Miss!

Saturday, August 2
Plate by Plate
This is Project by Project's Annual Tasting which benefits the Pacific Asian Counseling Services. This year's 50 participating vendors including hot new restaurants Republique, Faith and Flower, Superba Food and Bread, and many more great restaurants like b.o.s., Bistro LQ, etc (check out the full list).
Tickets are $150 for general admission and $250 for VIP, which can be purchased here.
Time: 6:30pm (VIP), 7:30pm (GA)
The Vibiana
6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036


Thursday, August 7
LUCKYRICE Feast
Lukshon's Sang Yoon hosts the third annual LUCKYRICE Feast, this time overtaking a club in Hollywood. Participants include LA's Chef Jet Tila, Starry Kitchen, Lukshon (of course), Hamasaku, and more, along with Portland's famed Nong's Khao Man Gai. To keep you hydrated, bartenders from Pour Vous, Harlowe, Hinoki and the Bird, La Descarga, and more will be on hand, pairing each dish with a Bombay Sapphire East cocktail. Check out the full menu here.
Tickets are $150 for VIP early admission and $88 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased here.
Time: 7pm (VIP), 8pm(GA)-10pm
Create
6021 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Saturday, August 9
LA Scotch Club Peatin' Meetin' VI

This year marks LA Scotch Club's 6th annual celebration of peated whiskies. Along with over 100 whiskies, there will also be craft peated beers from local breweries and cocktails from LA's mixologists. Big Slim's Hickory Creek BBQ will be smoking meats over wood and peat. That's not all, there will also be a cigar lounge and Irish rock and folk live music.

Tickets are $100 pp and can be purchased here. Event starts at 5pm.
Brookside Golf Club
1133 Rosemont Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

Sunday, August 17
Food GPS Fried Chicken Festival
Angelenos love fried chicken so much that we are having the third annual fried chicken festival. This festival gathers some of the city's best chefs, though, including Kris Morningstar, Jason Travi of Superba, and Brian Dunsmoor, along with those known for their fried chicken like Jesse Furman of Free Range LA. Beers and cocktails will also be on hand to wash down all the chicken.

Tickets are $65 for general admission and $90 for VIP which includes one hour early admission and guaranteed seating. Tickets can be purchased here.
Event starts at 3pm (VIP early admission), 4pm general admission
Chinatown,  943 N. Broadway Los Angeles, CA, 90012

Thursday-Sunday, August 21-24
LA Food and Wine

The fourth annual LA Food and Wine Festival returns with over 20 events spanning 4 days. Attendees can take their pick from special lunches with celebrity chefs to the big grand tasting events. Among the events offered are Caviar and Champagne, lunch at Scarpetta with Scott Conant and Graham Elliott, lunch at Republique with Walter Manzke and Michael Tusk, the two grand tastings, Asian Night Market, and cooking demo by Iron Chef Morimoto.
Times and ticket prices vary by event. See the LAFW website for more information.

Sunday, August 24
LA Weekly Pancake Breakfast
The annual Pancake Breakfast features breakfast and brunch items from some of LA's top restaurants. With brunch comes mimosas, Bloody Marys, juices, and coffee.
Tickets are $30 if purchased before July 20. Tickets are available here.
Time: 11am-2pm
Park Plaza Hotel
607 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Friday-Sunday, August 29-31
The Taste
Los Angeles Times' The Taste has always taken place over Labor Day weekend, and this year is no exception. Unlike the LAFW, there are five events over three days at The Taste, including this year's Sunday Brunch which is co-hosted by Chef Thomas Keller.
Ticket prices range between $100-150, or $299 for a weekend pass. Purchase tickets here.
Paramount Picture Studios