We’ve recently reported on the new Umeda restaurant, the coming of Jeni’s ice cream and the re-opening of Jamba Juice on Larchmont, and the possible departure of Pinches Tacos…but there has been a lot of other local restaurant news this month, which you also might want to be aware of.
- The prestigious James Beard Awards has announced its 2017 finalists, and – as usual – several locals made the cut.  In the nation-wide categories, Margarita Manzke, from République, is among the five finalists for Outstanding Pastry Chef, and Caroline Styne, from The Lucques Group (Lucques, a.o.c., Tavern, and others) is among the finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur. In the regional categories, both Michael Cimarusti of Providence, and Ludo Lefebvre, Trois Mec, are in the running for Best Chef: West.  And finally, former Beard Award-Winning Chef Suzanne Goin (also of the Lucques Group) has been named a 2017 inductee to the James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America.
- Commerson, which opened at the NE corner of 8th and La Brea in November, was named to EaterLA’s list of 22 Hottest Restaurants this month…and was named one LA’s Hottest New Restaurants by USA Today. It will also be hosting a fundraising dinner for Habitat for Humanity Guatemala tonight (Monday, March 27), so that might be a good chance to try them out and do some good at the same time, if you haven’t already been there.
- Just down the street half a block, LA Press Organic Pressed Juice and Coffee recently opened at 824 S. La Brea.  They’re serving fresh certified organic cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, “wellness shots & cleanses,” direct trade coffee, and organic vegan-friendly foods…from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.
- The Larchmont Bungalow won another continuance last week in its latest criminal court appearance (the city is prosecuting the restaurant for operating without a certificate of occupancy, ignoring orders to comply, and violating a covenant signed by late owner Albert Mizrahi to be a take-out only business).  The next court date for the case is scheduled for late April.
