September's Biggest Food and Drink News

Gracias Madre Celebrates 10 Years

Celebrating a remarkable 10 years in West Hollywood, Gracias Madre is hosting an exciting anniversary event on Sunday, September 8 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Guests will have access to traditional Mexican dishes that first appeared on their menu a decade ago (complete with their original 2014 prices), along with drinks and live entertainment. Tickets cost $25 and will include two margaritas, access to beer and wine tastings by Rancho West Beer and ecoSpirits, and live music by a variety of talented musicians. Proceeds from the ticket sales will support True Believers, a nonprofit that aims to offset carbon by planting trees across the globe.

Pān Toh at Kato

Kato , the Omakase-style Taiwanese restaurant, has introduced a new private dining concept known as pān toh. A time-honored tradition in China, this banquet-style meal has taken on a new life among Asian immigrants. Available once a week on Wednesday nights for up to eight guests, the meal consists of a 13-course, family-style menu curated by Chef Jon Yao. The menu is reminiscent of large childhood celebrations, complete with wholesome food and memories. Held in Kato’s private dining room, the experience is characterized by attentive service and beautiful ceramic dishware. In addition to an unforgettable meal, co-owner and sommelier Ryan Bailey will hand-select a custom wine flight for guests to enjoy.

Late Nights at Lumière

This new program will be worth staying up past your bedtime! Located in the Fairmont Century Plaza, Lumière Brasserie has recently announced a new event called Lumière After Dark. On Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., guests over the age of 21 will enjoy an elevated atmosphere inside the French brasserie, complete with live DJ performances and mouth-watering food and drink specials. The updated drink menu will include a host of reimagined martini beverages, made with artisanal liqueurs and fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles Goes Mexican

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has welcomed a new executive chef, Jesus Medina, who was born and raised in Acuña, Mexico. Chef Medina will oversee all things culinary at the hotel, including the ground-level restaurant, Culina Ristorante and Caffé, The Lounge and Cabana Restaurant, as well as in-room dining and private events. Chef Medina spent the last eight years at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village and is adept with cuisines from Mexico, the Mediterranean, Spain and the U.S. To celebrate his arrival and National Hispanic Heritage Month, on Friday, Sept. 20, Bricia Lopez —Mexican-American restaurateur and co-owner of Guelaguetza in Koreatown — will collaborate with Medina on Cabana Restaurant's “From Mexico, With Love." The four-course four-course prix-fixe menu ($120/person) will feature inventive takes on Mexican dishes, and mezcal and tequila cocktails starring The Lost Explorer. Make reservations here .

Pasjoli Launches Menu Changes

One year after launching a new bar menu, Pasjoli has decided to expand menu options and introduce a prix fixe dinner menu. Starting September 16, the French bistro will sport two five-course dinner menus, including a duck option. The inclusion of duck was inspired by the unexpected popularity of their Monday duck dinners. In addition, Pasjoli will add a number of new options to their bar menu, including a burger ($24) and duck a l’orange, or fried duck wings ($18). These new menu options will be available all evening, as the bistro will extend their bar hours.

Funke Announces Charity Partnership

Chef Evan Funke , AEG Presents' Jay Marciano and City of Hope , a pioneer in cancer research and treatment in the United States, have partnered to host three exclusive dinners at the Funke restaurant in Beverly Hills. Held in Funke’s private dining room, the dinners will offer guests an up-close and personal experience with old-world handmade pasta techniques. The three dinners will take place on Oct. 17 (with Funke himself, who'll offer a sneak peek at the menu he's preparing for Oct. 22's Spirit of Life gala); Oct. 21 (with magician David Blaine) and Nov. 19 (with Conan O'Brien). Marciano will be honored at the Spirit of Life gala. Tickets to the prix fixe dinners created by chef Funke are currently up for auction , and are being sold in pairs.

Dunsmoor to Host Glenn Roberts

Glenn Roberts, founder of Anson Mills, will join Dunsmoor on Sept. 12 to kick off a new dinner series titled “ American Heritage Cookery .” This exciting new program will feature various American cuisines, complete with collaborations between experts in the culinary field. The first dinner in the series is called “Chapter 1: The Golden Halo” for the glow cast over the 200,000 square miles of rice fields in South Carolina’s Lowcountry during sunset. Anson Mills grows and produces artisan grains and legumes in Lowcountry, a unique geographic and cultural region along the coast of South Carolina. Reserve tickets here .

Ten Years of Momed

Also celebrating 10 years in Atwater Village is Momed . To mark the occasion, the modern Mediterranean restaurant will revive the beloved “Immigrant Chef Series” beginning Sept. 9 and continuing every Monday through the end of the month. This special program will offer guests the opportunity to experience a new seven-course, family-style tasting menu each week. The dishes will be created by chef Vartan Abgaryan in collaboration with four notable Los Angeles chefs (chefs Susan Yoon, Nakul Mahendro, Wes Avila and Vivian Ku), each with diverse immigrant backgrounds. Tickets will cost $80, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to nonprofits supporting immigrants and refugees. Momed is also expanding its happy hour from Sundays to Thursdays throughout the month of September.

Meet Fresh and Chef Max Donate to No Kid Hungry

In celebration of 10 years in the United States, the remarkable Taiwanese dessert chain Meet Fresh is partnering with Chef Max Boonthanakit to support the No Kid Hungry charity and end child hunger. Chef Max, founder of Boon chili oil and executive chef at the Michelin-star Camphor restaurant, has created a limited-edition dessert inspired by his Thai heritage. From September 16 to 30, guests can enjoy “Chef Max’s Thai Shaved Ice,” with a portion of each purchase benefitting No Kid Hungry. In addition to the special dessert, Meet Fresh has announced a variety of new Thai-inspired drinks, including the classic Thai milk tea.

Barbecue Bites at Hotel Bel-Air

The luxury Hotel Bel-Air is reviving its Annual Visiting Chef Series with a cookout experience. On Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a host of barbecue dishes created by Hotel Bel-Air’s culinary director Joe Garcia and executive pastry chef Cristophe Rull. The event will feature a number of renowned California-based chefs, including chef Ray Garcia, chef Saw Saw, chef Alisa Vannah and chef Burt Bakman. Ticket info is here and all excess food will be donated to the nonprofit Chefs to End Hunger.

Gourmet Gatherings at Waldorf Astoria

Three James Beard Outstanding Chef Award recipients will join Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club to host the new dinner series “Gourmet Gatherings.” The unparalleled experience will be hosted in the resort’s wine cave, a cellar which contains over 10,000 bottles of wine. The multi-course dinners will take place on Sept. 13, Oct. 11 and Nov. 2, and will be hosted by chefs Nancy Silverton, Rob Rubba, Michael Rafidi and Michael Anthony. The program will allow guests to experience the award-winning talents of four remarkable chefs.

Steak 48 Adds New Menu Items

Chef Raul Del Pozo, who joined Jeffrey and Michael Mastro's Steak 48 team as corporate R&D chef in October 2023, is spicing things up with some indulgent new menu items available at the chic eatery in Beverly Hills. Start with caviar service — including caviar cones and Sasanian caviar with blinis and accoutrements. Move on to fragrant hanging strips of bacon, striped bass crudo, yellowtail hamachi, torched scallops and mains such as a whole Branzino filet —accompanied by Boursin whipped potatoes, roasted cauliflower and creamy shells and cheese.

Celebrate with Damian and Maizano!

Mexican restaurants Damian and Maizano are partnering to celebrate Día de la Independencia and Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 16. The event will begin with the buzz of lucha libre (a form of professional wrestling originated in Mexico) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Ditroit alley. A vibrant after-party will follow from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., complete with delicious botanas and tacos, as well as a margarita to drink. Tickets to the unforgettable experience cost $115.

Peninsula's A Night in Jalisco

On Friday, Sept. 20, the Peninsula Beverly Hills will debut its newest limited-time dining experience on the Belvedere Terrace, A Night in Jalisco . On Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m., guests can indulge in tableside food preparations and festive dishes like Mexican street corn, braised Birria tacos and Dulce de Leche cheesecake — while sipping margaritas, Pisco Sours and Oaxacan Mules, and a guitarist serenades your group. Reservations are open through Nov. 9 and can be made here .