Larchmont Chronicle
January 2016
SECTION One
29
ENTERTAINMENT
Not-to-miss food on Grand; burgers, nostalgia at Normandie The Broad, the new contemporary art museum, is making a splash on the Grand Ave. cultural corridor. After feasting on the dazzling lights of Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room and Murakami’s 82-foot-long whimsical painting, puckish patrons cross On the the courtyard Menu to Timothy Holby lingsworth’s resHelene taurant, Otium, Seifer as my sister and I recently did. A sleek, modern space, the restaurant has many warming touches. Hanging glass beads conjure both a rainstorm and holiday decorations. An outside wall is adorned with a fish design by artist Damien Hirst. Although affiliated with the museum, Otium is a chefdriven venture, and the menu reflects his vision of seasonal cooking. Think elegantly plated tri-tip with fried egg, rice and kimchi, or smoked haddock with beets and sunflower seeds, featuring ingredients grown in the restaurant’s garden. Beautifully sliced fresh
hamachi was served with nori, sweet and sour tomatoes, and an herbed swoosh of avocado for $15. Marvelously fragrant green curry with Chinese sausage accompanied a generous bowl of the plump bivalves for $18. We couldn’t stop sopping up the broth with the excellent bread until every drop was savored. There are other eateries nearby, but I may never try them because of Otium’s considerable charms. Otium. 222 S. Hope Street. 213-935-8500. Full bar. ••• It’s not often that a Los Angeles restaurant reminds me of childhood excursions to the local luncheonette with my mom, but Cassell’s Hamburgers has the nostalgia factor in spades. The classic joint, founded by Al Cassell in 1948, has been transplanted into the Normandie Hotel. The atmosphere is dead on, down to the placards fea-
turing specials and the glass case with a literally revolving selection of homemade pies. Unlike the canned veggies accompanying my lunches back in the day, Cassell’s offers freshly made fare, from $7.99 hotcakes with vanilla butter to $11.99 house-poached albacore tuna salad sandwiches. The burgers are hand-formed from Colorado Angus chuck and brisket ground in-house
in the original establishment’s grinder. Served with a choice of sauce and lettuce/tomato/ pickle on a La Brea Bakery Parker House bun for $8.99, the 1/3-pound patty has a robust beefy flavor. Coleslaw is good; potato salad is unusual. It’s a cold smashed potato dish rather than the cubed spuds with mayo found in most places. Wash it down with a chocolate malt, a sarsaparilla soda
or a bourbon neat. And who can resist that dessert display? I was disappointed by the apple pie, though. The crust wasn’t buttery or sweet enough to complement the slightly tart apple filling. I’ll have to try a different flavor next time, I still heed the call of the spinning pie stand. Cassell’s Hamburgers. 3600 W. 6th St. 213-3875502. Full bar.
Ulysses Voyage
The Original Flavors are Back! A Culinary Odyssey in Traditional Greek Dining!
Owners Hana & Peter Welcome You!
OBITuary
Try our outstanding Greek cuisine in many flavors!
Loredana “Mamma” Cecchinato passed away Dec. 7 following a short but valiant struggle with cancer. She was 70 years old. Born in Padua, Italy in 1945, “Mamma,” as she was affectionately known, learned to cook from her father using fine ingredients combined with large doses of love. At the age of 19, she met Roberto, her husband of 50
years. They married in 1965 and had two children together, daughter Cristina and son Filippo. In 2004, after relocating to the U.S., Mamma joined her children to open their first family-owned restaurant. Six years later, the family opened a new site on Melrose Ave. at Lucerne Blvd. and called it “Osteria Mamma.” The rest is history.
Enjoy a romantic Greek dinner on our patio among the olive trees and twinkling lights or at a fireside table inside.
Brunch on Sat. & Sun. • Lunch & Dinner Daily • Full Bar Live Music Fri. & Sat. Nights
In the Farmers Market • 3rd & Fairfax 323.939.9728 • www.ulyssesvoyage.com
THE EBELL OF LOS ANGELES
One of 21 Best Under-rated Restaurants in LA
LUNCH WITH ARCHITECT BRENDA LEVIN
A Leader in Historic Revitalization and Restoration
According to EaterLa
Ms. Levin will take us on a virtual tour of her projects, with a behind the scenes tour of our city as imagined by some of Los Angeles’ most significant builders and designers of the early 20th Century. Monday, January 11, 2016 11:30 am Social; 12:00 pm Lunch; 12:45 pm Program
My Two Cents “From the Soil to Your Soul”
SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY SCREENING:
Documentary about the 1960’s birth of the women’s movement.
Shrimp and grits, stuffed pork chop, grilled trout, Oxtail tacos, mac ‘n cheese, vegan spaghetti lunch – dinner – brunch - catering 5583 W. Pico Blvd. at Curson 323-938-1028 easy parking
©LC1215
Thursday, January 14, 2016 6:30 pm Cocktail Hour; 7:30 pm Screening
presents Barbara Morrison & Her Trio Friday, January 22, 2016 7:30 pm Doors Open; 8:00 pm Show Starts For information on tickets or the Ebell, visit www.ebelleventtickets.com, www.ebelloflosangeles.org or call 323-931-1277 x 131 - 743 S. Lucerne Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90005
©LC1215
Osteria ‘Mamma’ loses namesake