LC 8 2026

2 SECTION TWO

Larchmont Chronicle

AUGUST 2026

Restaurant proposed; some oppose

Taste of Larchmont set A new restaurant appli- neighboring Tonchin, Oste- been meeting with the Greatto serve fun Sept. 14 cation has been filed in ria Mamma, and Tu Madre. er Wilshire Neighborhood Larchmont. Cobi’s, serving refined Southeast Asian cuisine, has been a staple of the Santa Monica food scene for quite some time, earning a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin guide each of the past four years.

Their second location is planned for 5750 Melrose Ave. It would be the latest restaurant to open on the street,

In Los Angeles County, 71 restaurants have received Michelin awards; ranking beneath their esteemed star ratings, the Bib Gourmand is given to “restaurants worldwide that serve exceptional food at great value.”

While some are excited, others in the area view the restaurant with skepticism.

The restaurant operators have

Council to listen to community concerns. The Larchmont United Neighborhood Association has propositioned City Planning to enforce certain restrictions, including banning restaurant workers from parking on the street nearby and prohibiting outdoor service past 10 p.m. The item is on the agenda of the GWNC meeting Tue., Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Join friends and neighbors to savor cuisine and sip drinks from a host of eateries while strolling the Boulevard at the Taste of Larchmont Mon., Sept. 14, beginning at 6 p.m.

The 38th annual event, which raises funds and awareness for the nonprofit HopeNet, takes place on Larchmont Boulevard between First Street to just

Mediterranean meal makes 40th a celebration Last month, twelve of us decamped to Palm Springs to celebrate my partner Chris’ 40th birthday. Planning a weekend away with that many adults feels roughly as complicated as organizing a small diplomatic summit. By the time we all arrived at the house, I felt like we’d already achieved something worth celebrating.

I briefly entertained the idea of hiring a private chef.

Palm Springs has no shortage of talented cooks willing to arrive with coolers full of ingredients and quietly disappear after dessert.

But I ultimately decided to do it myself, with the aid of my sous chef and fellow Larchmont Farmers Market

beautifully to sharing, and

Something’s Cooking partly because these are dishby Jai Dattani

enthusiast, Allie.

One of my favorite things in the world is sitting at a table surrounded by people I love while everyone eats together.

The older I get, the more I appreciate how rare that has become. Getting this many people around a table for a few uninterrupted hours now feels almost radical.

Of course, if you’re cooking for a crowd in a kitchen that isn’t your own, this is not the moment to start experimenting. For inspiration, I turned to the Middle East—partly because the food lends itself

es I’ve cooked enough times to know they won’t betray me.

The menu was simple: roasted harissa salmon, a grain-based tabbouleh, baked feta with sweet peppers, and a bright green tahini sauce that I would happily eat with a spoon if society allowed it.

The true secret to successful entertaining isn’t cooking impressive food. It’s choosing food that allows you to spend time together.

The tabbouleh can be made hours ahead. I start with Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend— a mixture of quinoa, giant couscous, lentils, and orzo— cooked according to the packet instructions and left to

TABBOULEH as a side dish.

Photo by Ahmed al Maslamani

cool with a generous glug of olive oil. Into that goes diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green onions, and heroic quantities of parsley, mint, and cilantro, all chopped nice and small.

There is admittedly quite a lot of chopping involved.

Fortunately, our group’s designated mixologist appeared at exactly the right moment (Please turn to Page 9)

north of Beverly Boulevard.

While a complete list of participating eateries is not yet available, “We are excited to welcome additional sponsors for this year’s Taste of Larchmont,” HopeNet Executive Director and Hancock Park resident Roya Milder told us.

“Join us in supporting vital community programs while connecting with neighbors, local businesses, and a fantastic cause,” she said.

“Reach out to us to explore sponsorship opportunities— we’d love to have you be part of the celebration.” If this interests you, reach out to her at 213-389-9949.

Tickets are $50. Proceeds from the event support 12 food pantries at local churches, temples, and religious centers. While HopeNet is based out of First Baptist Church on Westmoreland Avenue, its partners are nonprofit organizations and congregations of many faiths. There are volunteer opportunities daily.

In 2025, HopeNet distributed more than 35 million pounds of food and served 261,000 people in the Metro Los Angeles area. Visit hopenet.org.