Patina Alumni Reunion Dinner and Party

On Wednesday November 2nd, Patina Restaurant is having an all-star alumni dinner in which several of the most prominent alumni of Joachim Splichal's flagship restaurant come back for one night to cook a multi course feast.  Walter Manzke, Eric Greenspan, Octavio Becerra, Michael Otsuka, Theo Schoenegger, and David Feau will all be back in their old stomping grounds in their chef's whites.  Current Patina chefs Tony Esnault and Sarah Koechling as well as Splichal himself, will all be whipping up signature dishes.  The dinner is $150, all inclusive.  Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant.

A more affordable way to join in the celebration is the after-party at Kendall's Brasserie, for which tickets are only $30.  Oysters, pinot and pork products are all on the menu, along with some quality time with the talented crew of toques.  If you have spend much time with chefs, you know they can likely drink you under the table, so come and relax and share some wine.  You might even challenge Chef Manzke to a oyster eating contest?  Why not?  Life is good.

Reservations: (213) 972-3331.

Tonight: Dine LA Quickfire Competition Champion Crowned in Battle Dessert

Tonight at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at LA Live, Chefs Mark Peel (Campanile), Akira Hirose (Maison Akira), Octavio Becerra (Palate Food + Wine), and Eric Greenspan (The Foundry on Melrose), the four finalists in the Dine LA Quickfire compeition, will duke it out for the title of Champion in the final round of the competition, Battle: Dessert. Judging them will be Sherry Yard, the author and pastry chef at Spago, Russ Parsons from the LA Times and Evan Kleiman from Angeli Caffe and KCRW's Good Food.

Each chef in this battle won their preliminary round to advance to the finals.  The championship battle will be held from 6 - 8 pm tonight (Tuesday) and will be open to the public, so bring your sweet tooth as well as your camera. Savory food will be on offer as well, including $6 appetizer specials of spicy tuna tartare and slider trios.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at L.A. LIVE
800 West Olympic Boulevard. Phone: 213.748.9700 Web site: here.

Battle Cold Noodles at Starry Kitchen

Last night was the third in a series of four quickfire challenges sponsored by DineLA in which local chefs have competed to create a dish based on a secret mystery ingredient. Octavio Becerra (right) of Palate Food + Wine and Brendan Collins (left) of Waterloo & City competed to created the winning Cold Noodles dish, which would appear on the Starry Kitchen restaurant week menu.

Collins prepared an eel and foie gras terrine paired with cold noodles, while Becarra prepared a spicy cold noodle soup.  Becarra had the winning dish, and he will advance to the final round on October 5th, competing against Mark Peel, Akira Hirose of Maison Akira and the winner of tomorrow's challenge at Loteria! Grill.  Starry Kitchen also offered several specials for the Quickfire attendees, including their signature neon green crispy tofu balls, which lived up to their exalted reputation.

Tomorrow's final quickfire in the preliminary round will pit Akasha Richmond of Akasha restaurant in Culver City against Eric Greenspan of the Foundry on Melrose in an epic battle of Tacos.  Whose cuisine reigns supreme?  You can find out by attending the event at Loteria! Hollywood tomorrow (Thursday) from 5 - 7 pm, where they will be offering specials such as $4 Guacamole and Chips and $5 Chalupa plates.  The judges will include the owner of Loteria! Grill, Heather John from Bon Apetit and Harriet Ells, producer of KCRW’s Good Food.

Loteria! Grill Hollywood: 6627 Hollywood Boulevard, (323) 465-2500