Tucked away
Hermon's, best restaurants for holiday meals, Laurel & Nichols Canyon real estate, Flamingo Estate truffle oil, Casa Cody, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
Difference maker
Last Word Hospitality’s restaurants Found Oyster, Rararumah, Queen’s, and Barra Santos are each distinct, unique scenes, outside of one common thread: they’ve become well-loved, bustling northeastern LA fixtures. And it looks like a new one is set to join their ranks, with Last Word’s newly soft-opened Hermon’s, a classic chophouse in a neighborhood bistro’s clothes.
Just off the Arroyo Seco Parkway, Hermon’s is housed in a former church banquet hall tucked away on a quiet corner between Highland Park, South Pasadena, and Monterey Hills. Behind its wooden doors, the space was full and bustling (but not frantic) on Friday evening last week. Both the all-booth, dark-wood dining room and handsome U-shaped bar at the center were filled with diners lingering over dessert or another round of martinis (tiny or classic).
The soundtrack tilted indie and alternative, just different enough from the preset playlist you hear in a lot of other places. It’s a setting that feels like it’s always been there, and always made sense.
Chef DK Kolender, previously of Tartine and Dudley Market, has put together a menu showcasing classic Californian produce with bistro vibes. To start, we enjoyed a fresh scallop crudo with red onion, fennel, and a zip of citrus, as well as a steak tartare with a salsa macha binding and potato chip transport. Then, an order of garlic bread and Two Sheet Vongole, featuring clams, cream, and guanciale between two well-sized, crisp, but not crunchy pasta sheets. Another highlight, the Ode To Chez burger, is named after Chez Renee, Last Word’s planned Malibu spot that fell victim to the Palisades Fires before even opening.
The well-curated wine program is dynamic, and fun. Cocktails are far from an afterthought, either. In fact, on order next time: a celery spritz, a yuzu margarita, and maybe that whole grilled branzino and some steak frites. Which is to say that there will absolutely be a ”next time.” While Hermon’s might be new to the neighborhood, it’s already become that next new neighborhood spot. –James Royce
→ Hermon’s (Hermon) • 5800 Monterey Rd • Wed-Sun 5-10p • Reserve.
LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Minimalist Echo Park Japanese bar concept Gyoza Bar expands to second WeHo location • Beverly Grove team behind Oste goes French with Regalade, new bistro also in Beverly Grove • Cypress Park coffee specialists Loquat expand in Silver Lake • The Michelin Man is coming for wine.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three properties that have come to market in Laurel Canyon and Nichols Canyon in the past 14 days.
→ 7837 Woodrow Wilson Dr (Nichols Canyon, above) • 3BR/4.1BA, 2294 SF house • Ask: $2.465M • The Natzler Residence, home and studio of the famous ceramicists, on market for first time in 80 years • Annual taxes: $4904 • Days on market: 10 • Agent: Barry Gray, Compass.
→ 8137 Amor Rd (Laurel Canyon) • 3BR/3BA, 2256 SF house • Ask: $2.85M • remodeled midcentury modern with pool area • Annual taxes: $32,497 • Days on market: 9 • Agent: Felix Pena, Hilton & Hyland.
→ 1836 Laurel Canyon Blvd (Laurel Canyon) • 5BR/6BA, 5034 SF house • Ask: $4.99M (reduced from $5.8M) • built 2015 w/ pool and spa, situated near Mount Olympus entrance • Annual taxes: $52,937 • Days on market: 8 (and previous) • Agent: Laura Soares, The Agency.
FOUND GIFT GUIDE • FOUND Larder
Real deal
Most white “truffle oil” is nasty stuff. Almost all of it’s entirely artificial — olive oil, spiked with lab-made “truffle aroma” or “natural truffle flavor” compounds that have nothing to do with actual truffles. It’s aggressively pungent, with notes of gasoline and flavor that fools the inexperienced chef into thinking they’re elevating a dish with a luxe touch. They are not.
So when California’s Flamingo Estate released a $150, 750ml bottle made from real white truffles macerated in the brand’s Ojai estate olive oil, I was skeptically curious, as their products tend to be high quality. I’m pleased to report: This stuff’s the real deal. It tastes like white truffles because it is truffles. It has a nutty, sweet white truffle aroma, more mellow than the fake stuff. The oil tastes like a mix of fresh white truffles and good quality peppery olive oil. The flavors are balanced, with no harsh synthetic notes. And the truffle taste doesn’t cling to your tongue; it fades the way real truffles do. And while $150 might feel like a lot, just remember that this year, fresh white truffles are selling for anywhere from $2000 to $5000 a pound. –Kat Odell
→ Shop: White Truffle Extra Virgin Olive Oil • $150 / 16-oz bottle.
CULTURE & LEISURE • In Season
Sarah Silverman and Friends • Largo at the Coronet (Mid-Wilshire) • Fri @ 8p • GA, $50 per
Stevie Wonder • The Fonda (Hollywood) • Sat-Sun @ 7p • GA, $275 per
Lakers at Clippers • Intuit Dome (Inglewood) • Sat @ 7:30p • Sec C26, $555 per ($187 lowest avail)
WORK • Thursday Routine
Skin deep
ZACK TANCK • vice president • Bollare
Neighborhood where you live and work: West Hollywood
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I oversee the KOL (key opinion leader) team at Bollare, a fashion and lifestyle PR agency. A Thursday morning can range from client meetings, approving influencer creative content, and event prep to planning upcoming brand strategy.
I like to start my day by doing my skincare routine. My favorite products include Superfood Cleanser by Youth To The People, Good Genes by Sunday Riley, and eye masks by Lux Unfiltered, which you’ll often find me wearing on a walk around my neighborhood before starting up the work day. That’s followed by making what I call my “golden drink,” which is bone broth (my favorite is by Kroma), apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and turmeric. I drink this before any caffeine.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today’s agenda consists of the final planning stages across several events taking place tomorrow and next week, one of which is a really exciting, immersive activation in New York City to support an upcoming film release and collaborative product. (That’s all I can say for now!). I have a quick lunch with two longtime friends at The Tower Bar at Sunset Tower Hotel — nothing beats their Chinese chicken salad. After that, a few client calls, and I’m waiting to see an influencer campaign that I’ve been working on for the past three months go live.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
It’s been a long day, so I think I’m going to have to do a little SUGARFISH takeout. I was a longtime “Trust Me” man, but now I just order an a la carte mix of my favorite things instead (don’t sleep on their sea bream). That, plus a little guilty pleasure TV — obsessed with Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
The weekend plans are a bit up in the air as I head out to New York on Sunday, but I wouldn’t be opposed to a beach walk on Saturday morning and dinner at one of my newer favorite restaurants in LA: Alba in West Hollywood or Ōwa in Venice. I also recently had the most incredible sushi dinner at the newly opened Soma Suisan on La Cienega, where the owner is one of Tokyo’s premier tuna suppliers.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Having been a beach bum since birth — I grew up in Venice Beach and my parents still live in the family home I grew up in — nothing tops a lazy beach day, an ocean swim, and watching the sunset on the sea’s horizon. I also love an outdoor movie screening, especially of a cult classic. I recently went to Showgirls at Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and that was insane in all the best ways.
Any weekend getaways?
Palm Springs is forever and always my pick for a weekend getaway from Los Angeles. The pace instantly slows, and I have such fond memories of visiting my grandparents there as a kid. I love staying at Korakia Pensione (my A++++ top pick, the vibes are immaculate and it just feels so cozy, cool, and unique), but I recently had weekend getaways at Hermann Bungalows and Casa Cody, which were great, too.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Over the summer I — beep beep! — got a new Jeep. I’m obsessed. My last car was a two-door Wrangler (living my Cher from Clueless fantasy), but this new Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4xe is hybrid electric and makes for such a smooth drive (plus is a small way to contribute to bettering the planet).
Where are you donating your time or money?
I am a donor to Feed The Children as well as to The Trevor Project, both of whom are in need of our support now more than ever.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Following pop-ups, Tony Hawk opens 1980s time warp restaurant Chick and Hawk in Encinitas • Death Valley’s lake is back • Maui makes its vacation rental phaseout official • Hotels on Southern Rim of Grand Canyon are reopening • The real reason you should dress up for the airport.
ASK FOUND
Three PROMPTS for which we seek your immediate attention:
What’s your favorite Los Angeles spa (and treatment)?
Where are you having your office holiday party this year?
Which restaurant are you booking for New Year’s brunch?
Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com with more answers or questions.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Holiday meals
Birdie G’s (Santa Monica), one final 8-nights-of-Hanukkah-inspired dinner series before restaurant closes for good on NYE, reserve