FOUND: new frontiers
Suá Superette, Donna's, Hancock Park, Malibu weekend, Mozza, Honey's, Flamingo Estate, PS at LAX, MORE
GOODS & SERVICES • Neighborhood Watch
Hancock Park glows up
Hancock Park has undergone a post-Covid glow-up. Now the neighborhood presents as an actual destination for dining, shopping, and hanging. Here, the most noteworthy new spots (starting with one that opens today):
→ Suá Kitchen and Superette (144 North Larchmont Blvd.): A buzzy new Sichuan grab-and-go from Fly by Jing founder Jing Gao and partner Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth, Suá is designed (like many Hancock Place residences) around an olive tree and features pre-packaged meals and provisions.
The ticket: After all the hype, today’s opening day, 8a to 6p.
→ La Bettola di Terroni (225 North Larchmont Blvd.): It’s no secret that Larchmont wants for more sophisticated dining options, and Terroni’s Shereen Arazm’s newest venture aims to fill that void (think: swordfish carpaccio, a huge inventory of Italian wines).
The ticket: Best go early and saddle up to the bar to beat the flood of neighborhood parents popping out for a cocktail.
→ Thirteen Lune (120 North Larchmont Blvd., above): Windsor Square resident Nyakio Grieco chose to open her first retail location on Larchmont in the form of a sleek, mini beauty emporium that champions Black-owned brands like Ustawi and Humanrace, along with in-house brow artist Damone Roberts for quick shaping and touch-ups.
The ticket: After stocking up on skincare, pick up a bouquet of rustic flowers from actress Abigail Spencer’s farm-to-vase County Line Florals, in residence in the shop.
→ Holey Grail Donuts (148 North Larchmont Blvd.): The Kuai-born donut shop was a big deal when it opened last spring — and for good reason. Made with Hawaiian-grown taro root and farmers market produce, the flavors rotate seasonally. Current standouts include chaga chai and strawberry matcha.
The ticket: Come for the fermented, fried-in-coconut-oil dunkers, stay for the lattes. The cacao latte in particular (a divine combo of homemade cashew milk, organic coffee, cacao and a dash of maple) has a cult following for a reason.
→ Midland (138 North Larchmont Blvd.): Already wildly successful in Culver City, Midland’s Larchmont location has become the best spot to grab easy-win hosting gifts, like speckled ceramics or beeswax tapered candles. Don’t miss the elevated baby section in the back.
The Ticket: Locals love Becket+Quill (designed by Hancock Park resident Meredith Quill) for elegant, minimalist jewelry at utterly fair prices. Find them by the checkout at Midland.
→ Cookbook (310 North Larchmont Blvd.): On the northern stretch of Larchmont, away from the bustle, Cookbook just opened its third market, stocked with perfect produce, seafood from Wild Local, and bread from Bub & Grandma’s.
The Ticket: An on-site cafe should be opening any day now. –Zoe Schaeffer
LA WORK AND PLAY LINKS: All-cash buyers still propping up luxury real estate market • Spec-built Beverly Hills mansion is terrifying epitome of modern farmhouse style • The secrets of Erewhon • Why are so many actors launching their own businesses?
RESTAURANTS • First Person
A saucy affair
Red-sauce Italian is generally best left to storied institutions — or your nonna.
Donna, the namesake matriarch of Echo Park’s new spaghetti spot, isn’t actually a nonna. She isn’t even a real person. She’s a fictional construct of owners Michael Francesconi and Matthew Glaser, who made her up to evoke the idea of a nonna cooking for you somewhere in New Jersey.
All this to say I was skeptical on arrival at Donna’s on Sunset Boulevard last week. Two hours later, I was converted.
Maybe I was under the spell of the decor: floral-stamped wallpaper, checkered tiled floors, forest green banquettes. More likely I was taken by chef Sathia Sun (Felix, Union) and his tightly edited interpretation of an old-school red-sauce menu. The martinis, Negronis, and other spiffed-up classic cocktails didn’t hurt either. (The owners are also partners in the bars next door, Lowboy and Bar Flores, plus Little Tokyko’s Wolf & Crane).
The dish on every table: fusilli alla vodka, dolloped with whipped ricotta and chili oil. Instagram candy, but also, delicious. Sun’s Caesar swaps in tonnato — it works. And the saucy shrimp scampi gets an upgrade via blue prawns. My favorite? A special of beef tartare, topped with a fall salad of persimmons, radicchio, and crispy capers.
It’s easy to understand why Donna’s is already one of the toughest tables in town, especially after a deal-sealing dessert duo: a warm almond-carrot torte with a pat of orange-scented mascarpone, served alongside a shot of Braulio Amaro Alpino shaken with an orange peel. Waiter, run it back. –Emily Wilson
→ Donna’s (Echo Park) • 1538 Sunset Blvd. • Resy (released daily at 10a two weeks in advance).
LA RESTAURANT LINKS: What’s going on with all the service charges at LA restaurants? • AOC Wine Bar loses out in major Beverly Grove real estate sale • I don’t want my martini to need me • Goodbye muddling, hello ‘mint-washing’.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Fall weekend, Malibu and surrounds
Nobu Ryokan Hotel (Central Malibu, above), Japanese icon goes to the beach, $2000
Malibu Beach Inn (Carbon Beach), panoramic views on Billionaire’s Beach, $735
The Surfrider Hotel (Malibu Pier), sporty and chic, w/killer rooftop bar, $685
Hotel June Malibu (Point Dume), boutique bungalows steeped in classic rock history (Dylan!) from Proper team, $500
Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club (Kanan Dume), 200-acre estate plus a beach club, spa, and three pools, $925
Four Seasons Westlake Village (Conejo Valley), top-notch wellness, 20 minutes inland, $595
The Ranch Malibu (Yerba Buena Rd.), immersive fitness retreat, luxury cottages, $9200/wk
Topanga Canyon Inn (Topanga Canyon), idiosyncratic bohemian casa w/mountain views, $260
The M Malibu (Eastern Malibu), bare essentials and beach views, $270
November weekend night, king. Some require minimum stays. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Thursday Routine
Mozza and honey
KATE GREENBERG, director of operations, Mozza Restaurant Group; owner, Honey’s at Star Love
Neighborhood you live in: Fairfax
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I start Thursday mornings with two back-to-back calls with two of our overseas restaurant teams — today it’s Mozza London and Chi Spacca Riyadh — then I walk to the restaurant. Every day is different.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m meeting with our contractor at Mozza to finalize details and schedule for the outdoor dining patio that we’ll be opening at Pizzeria this month. I’ve also been thinking about merch for my bar, Honey’s at Star Love. I’m going to get vintage ‘50-‘60s-inspired mechanic and bowling shirts made, and have an embroidery event at Honey’s where you can get your name (or somebody else’s) embroidered. Could be fun to further collaborate on other releases with different queer artists and designers.
Next, a meeting with our chef at Chi Spacca on a large-format, bookable dinner experience we want to launch. We’re debating if serving a pig’s head will be the main focus of the meal. And another weekly Zoom on the pre-opening of the upcoming Mozza in DC with Stephen Starr. Finally, a call with Boygenius’s team for an upcoming birthday they’re celebrating at Honey’s.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I went to N/Soto for the first time last night, which I’d been wanting to try. Tonight, I’m grabbing a glass of wine at Tabula Rasa before popping over to Honey’s. I often end up eating staff meal at the restaurant if I don’t have dinner plans — tonight was rigatoni with fennel, sausage, and tomato. I’ve been enjoying cooking more at home, and am very late to the game to praise Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese recipe, which I just made for the first time.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I recently came back from NYC where I saw the Liberty in the WNBA playoffs, which was such a fun game. I’m also seeing one of my favorite comedians, Liza Treyger, at Dynasty Typewriter.
What was your last great vacation?
My last great vacation was to Paris and the south of France, where I visited family. This couldn’t be more cliché, but I don’t go to Paris without getting a croque monsieur from Poilâne. I also never miss a stop at my favorite bistro, Parcelles, in the 3rd. (My boss, Nancy Silverton, told me her friend went back three times on a recent trip.) Their approach to service, the simple but well-presented menu, excellent wine list, and classic bistro vibe, sets the bar for what a perfect restaurant experience feels like — it reminds me why I chose to go into this industry.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Object
Birds of a feather
Anyone who’s ever drooled over images of Richard Christiansen’s fabulously groovy Flamingo Estate in the hills above Eagle Rock and Highland Park will be pleased to learn that you can co-opt a touch of its cool factor with the Flamingo Estate x Beni Rugs collection. Each of the 13 thoughtfully edited Moroccan rugs (in shaggy and flatweave) takes a cue from the estate’s lush gardens and Spanish-style architecture. You won’t need a fireplace to feel cozy this holiday season. –Zoe Schaeffer
→ Shop: Flamingo Estate (Beni Rugs) • From $662.
GETAWAYS • Airports
PS, it’s worth it
Even during its quieter moments, LAX is notorious for its ability to spike one’s cortisol levels.
PS offers a reprieve for pro travelers looking to bypass the airport’s chaos. The value proposition is straightforward: arrive at what’s essentially a private terminal, and wait for takeoff in either the Salon (above) or a Private Suite. The Salon is comparable to a spacious first-class lounge with impeccable service. (The hospitality is managed by a former general manager of Aman hotels.) The Private Suite offers a private room that accommodates up to four people, complete with a daybed, lounger, and outdoor area.
Both options come with a premium price tag. The best deal seems to be the Salon membership, with an annual fee of $1250 a year, plus $850 per person per trip. The all-access membership carries an annual $4850 cost, plus $750 per person per trip, or $3250 per trip for use of a Private Suite.
The benefits are tangible. On a recent trip, I had my tickets managed for me, relaxed for an hour with newspapers and coffee in the Salon, and then was driven directly to an Emirates flight to Dubai for pre-boarding. For foreign passport holders, the real value might be in the service on arrival at LAX. As soon as the plane's door opens, a PS rep greets you, escorts you to a private immigration and customs area within the private terminal, and then whisks you away in a car. Invaluable. –Colin Nagy
→ PS (available at LAX and ATL).
GETAWAYS LINKS: New members-only social club Park Club California opening soon in Costa Mesa • Dolly Parton’s second resort is officially open • Inside hotly anticipated London hotel newcomer The Newman • Is Paris+ replacing Frieze London on the art circuit?
CULTURE & LEISURE • Stadium Shows
Queen + Adam Lambert - The Rhapsody Tour, BMO Stadium (Exposition Park), Sat @ 8p, floor, $298 per
Lakers vs. Trailblazers, Crypto.com Arena (Downtown), Sun @ 7p, section 101, $811 per
UCLA vs. Arizona St., Rose Bowl (Pasadena), Sat @ 6p, section 18, $419 per
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