Mama’s Boy at Winston House is a modern, red sauce Italian restaurant with a Southern accent. Situated inside Winston House – a popular community hub with live music and DJ sets – Mama’s Boy offers a vibrant, evocative menu that embodies Chef Wes’ Texan roots and love of Mom’s home-cooked Italian food. The program blends a dining adventure with the comfort of sharing a meal with friends and listening to your favorite music, all wrapped in a lively atmosphere.
Chef Wes Whitsell, formerly of Hatchet Hall, announced that he’s taken on the Executive Chef role for Local: Los Angeles (The Waterfront, Winston House), debuting with the opening of Mama’s Boy at Winston House on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
At Mama’s Boy, Chef Wes presents a menu of nostalgic Italian cuisine with a Southern twist – a true ‘Spaghetti Western’. Each dish is a nod to his upbringing, a journey back home where every bite tells a story of love, tradition, and the connection of family.
Chef Wes is a self-proclaimed ‘Mama’s Boy’ from the start. The chef was shaped by a childhood where love was served on a plate. Raised in a family that celebrated food as the ultimate expression of affection, he learned early on the art of combining Italian flavors with his family’s Southern sensibility. His move to California further enriched his culinary perspective, connecting him with local family farms to ensure his dishes are seasonal and crafted with the best the garden can produce, earning him a Michelin star for his work at Hatchet Hall.
Paired with Chef Wes’ dinner menu are riffs on classic cocktails from Beverage Director Dave Purcell (Melrose Umbrella Co., NoMad DTLA & Las Vegas), such as the My Way, a martini made with St. George Sea Gin, Haku Vodka, House Vermouth Blend, Fino Sherry, Lemon Oil and Italian Cured Olives brined with thyme, oregano, garlic and Campari tomatoes; the Brass Monkey, a twist on a garibaldi with Grey Goose Vodka, Campari, Strawberry, Lemon, Whipped Orange Juice and Sea Salt; or the Gin & Juice, a summer fix with Gin, White Vermouth, Lime, Yuzu, Peach and Matcha. The dinner club will be overseen by General Manager Matt Pene (Eleven Madison Park, NoMad Los Angeles, Fellow, Imari).
In addition to Mama’s Boy, Whitsell has also overhauled the culinary program at Local: Los Angeles’ beachfront concept, The Waterfront, bringing Tex-Mex eats to the lively boardwalk restaurant.
Mama’s Boy menu highlights include:
● Pimento Cheese Arancini with hot pepper-tomato jelly, dill ($13)
● Aunt JuJu’s Stuffed Mushrooms with cream cheese, green garlic ($13)
● Peaches & Burrata with country ham, arugula, balsamic ($17)
● Roasted Weiser Carrots with harissa-coconut yogurt, honeycomb, cilantro ($14)
● Dry Aged Kingfish Crudo with passionfruit, fennel, fresno chili, lime ($18)
● Cornmeal Fried Oysters with pickled jalapeno tartar sauce, marinara, lemon ($18)
● Venison Meatball Sliders with red sauce, provolone, Calabrian chili aioli (2 per order) ($17)
● Dad Pies – ultra thin, crispy pizza made with Tehachapi grain Sonora wheat ($14):
● The Chef Wes with Peads and Barnett sausage, mushroom, jalapeno, tomato
● The Corey with Canadian bacon, artichoke, grilled onion, feta
● Brad Dad with anchovy, mushroom, jalapeno, olive
● Mom’s Manicotti with cottage cheese, venison ragu ($17) or tomato sauce ($11)
● Smoked Brisket Agnolotti with Pecorino butter, vincotto ($25)
● Roasted Black Bass with tomato, jalapeno, green garlic, Grandma’s potato puree ($32)
● Ribeye Cap with giardiniera, baby broccoli ($60)
● Soft Serve Root Beer Float with vanilla ice cream ($10)
● Strawberries & Cream with aged balsamic, mint ($10)
Mama’s Boy at Winston House is located at 23 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291 and is open Tuesday – Saturday, 6-11PM.
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