Category: christmas

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Christmas Eve & Christmas Dinners to Book

1. Current Top Chef contender, Bruce Kalman of Union Pasadena will host his annual Feast of Seven Fishes dinner on Christmas Eve. Now in it’s third year, the feast will feature olive oil poached abalone, uni risotto, halibut steamed in fig leaves and more. Reservations can be made by calling Union at 626-795-5841 or via email at reservations@unionpasadena.com. Advanced ticket sales only and all reservations will be confirmed via email. The meal cost $125 per person with a $40 wine pairing option.

2. Tintorera will host a special brunch and dinner on Christmas Eve. Both will be served family-style with brunch available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5-10 p.m. Guests will enjoy a selection of classic Tintorera dishes complemented by signature drinks like Michelada and house mezcal. Both meals cost $60 per person.

3. Downtown CHAYA’s Amuse & Four-Course Christmas Eve Prix-Fixe Menu is a Japanese style meal that starts with Kumamoto Oyster with caviar and gold flake, and Kinmedai and Wagyu Nigiri to cleanse the palate. Courses to follow include Grilled Spanish Octopus; Hudson Valley Duck Breast; Togarashi Ora King Salmon; Angus Filet Mignon served with a wasabi au jus and Macha Opera Cake served with yuzu anglaise and fresh raspberries. The dinner cost $75.00 per person and service is held between 5:30 – 10:30 p.m.

4. Executive Chef Tony Esnault will prepare a Three-Course Christmas Eve Menu de Noel at Spring. The meal begins with hors d’oeuvres and moves onto your choice of Salmon, prepared with beets Hawaiian heart of palm, scallions and crostini or Magret de Canard, a maple leaf duck breast with sweet potato, pomegranate and kale, or the Flat Iron Steak, a Strauss Farm grass fed beef with forest mushrooms, pee wee potatoes and celery. Finish your evening with desserts like the Buche de Noel Traditionnelle made with a Valrhona chocolate log, orange marmalade and kumquats, and the Vacherin, with meringue, mango, passion fruit, and coconut sorbet. The dinner will be served from 5-8 p.m. and cost $76.00 per person with the option of wine pairing for $38 per person.

5. Plant based restaurant Beelman’s in DTLA will be open on Christmas Eve. Chef Caroline Concha will host a Tiki Themed Christmas with specials throughout entire day starting at noon till the late hours of 2 a.m.

6. Christmas Eve at Craft Los Angeles will offer a festive prix-fixe dinner menu served part family-style with main course choices that include apple tortelli with pine nuts; sage and roasted quail; parmesan risotto topped with truffles and more. Pastry chef Shannon Swindle will provide dessert options for the table to end the meal. Sweets include a spiced persimmon pudding, seasonal ice cream and sorbets, as well as a hazelnut, cranberry and pear tart. Reservations can be made between 5-8:30 p.m. The prix-fixe cost $135 per person.

7. Have a cozy meal inside a historic Craftsman cottage when The Raymond 1886 hosts a delectable Five-Course Christmas Eve Dinner. The feast begins with a choice of Wildhead Stealhead Roe with Lemoncello sorbet, and pickled lemon, or the Micro-Farmed Massachusetts Oyster with Yuzu-jalapeno, and Hungarian carrot. What comes next are choices of Wild Albacore from Fiji; Hand Harvested Scallops; Prime Iowa Beef; Roasted Duck Breast; Wild Caught Salmon and more. End the evening on a sweet note with a Chocolate “Blackout Cake” with chocolate malt balls, and Bailey’s Cremeux. The Raymond 1886 will be open for Brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for Christmas Eve Dinner from 4-7 p.m. the Five-Course Christmas Eve Dinner cost $120 per person.

8. The Restaurant at Mr. C will host a “feast of the seven fishes” theme Christmas Eve menu featuring a four-course meal of coastal inspired dishes. Choose from a Trio of Marinated Scottish Salmon; Tuna Tartare; Lobster Risotto; Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut and more. Dinner service begins at 6 p.m. On Christmas Day the restaurant will continue the seafood inspired menu starting at noon. The four-course menu includes King Crab Salad with soft avocado and citrus dressing; Baked Cipriani Mezze Maniche pasta; Pan Roasted Chilean Seabass with white wine sauce served with artichokes alla Romana; and a holiday favorite, a Panettone with mascarpone cream and chocolate fondant. Both meals cost $95 per person with an option for wine pairing at $35.

9. The Mar Vista will offer a three course prix-fixe Christmas dinner with two seatings available at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Inspired by California’s seasonal ingredients the menu will include Mushroom Fundido; Kurobuta Pork Chop with corn bread dressing; Duck Confit with lime-spiked sweet potatoes and Persimmon Bread Pudding and horchata ice cream. Reservations can be made via OpenTable or by calling the restaurant at (310) 751-6773. The prix-fixe cost $50 for adults and $20 for kids.

10. Live large this holiday. Mastro’s will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas from 2-9 p.m. serving all their fan favorites like mouth watering steaks, seafood towers and decadent sides like the Alaskan King Crab Black Truffle Gnocchi Gorgonzola Mac & Cheese and Lobster Mashed Potatoes. Treat yourself to a Winter Whisper seasonal cocktail and the popular Warm Butter Cake as well.

11. Lost at Sea in Pasadena will be open for Christmas dinner featuring prime rib as a main course this Monday.

Story courtesy of We Like LA. 

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The Most Festive Things To Do This December

The holidays are upon us, and whether that fills you with dread, joy, or both, you still need to figure out what to do with yourself. It even gets kinda, sorta cold in LA (a little), so it may be a wintry holiday after all! So what if there’s no snow? Here’re the essential holiday events you need to hit in LA, from caroling festivals to Santa-tastic pub crawls and the city’s biggest free NYE party!
DEC 2: KNOCK OUT YOUR SHOPPING AT THE UNIQUE LA HOLIDAY MARKET
DOWNTOWN

The pop up market always goes balls-to-the-walls for the holidays, this year with more than 400 vendors to peruse. DJs, food, free drinks, art installations, free DIY project demos, a photo booth, and lounges await at this so-much-better-than-the-mall shopping option.
Cost: $15-$35

 

DEC 2: GET ALL HOLLY JOLLY AT THE FESTIVAL OF CAROLS

DISNEY HALL
Are you the one in the friend group who just can’t get enough Christmas Carols? Spoiler alert: Everybody who pretends not to understand your obsession really does understand, and will probably also want to get tickets to the Festival of Carols, where over 100 classically-trained carolers will be hitting you with the classics. Also on December 9.
Cost: $39-$129

DEC 9: TRY TO SURVIVE SANTACON 
ALL OVER LA
Let’s be honest: SantaCon is a huge nightmare. The streets are filled with stumbling Santas at every corner, most of whom are just a bit too merry — but is there a part of you that yearns to be one of those stumbling, merry Santas? Yes. Yes there is.
Cost: Free

DEC 9: DRINK ‘TIL YOU’RE JOLLY AT THE BREW HO HO
THE PHOENIX CLUB (ANAHEIM)
It’s just like the beer fests you know and love, but this time featuring all of those OC breweries you miss, like Noble Ale Works, Bottle Logic Brewing, and more. Holiday ales and specials will be the name of the game, and as per usual, the ticket grabs you unlimited tastings from every brewery on site.
Cost: $55

DEC 13-JAN 7: CHILL AT CHILL
LONG BEACH
The Queen Mary’s winter wonderland launches December 13, with classics like ice skating, the winning North Pole Village, a zipline, and a 140-foot ice tubing slide. There’s also an Ice Bar this year, where you can grab a parka and have the coldest drink you’ll drink all year.
Cost: $30

DEC 13-17: LOOK AT THE EXCESS WEALTH OF THE NEWPORT BEACH CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE
NEWPORT BEACH
Over a million viewers will be posting up for the 109th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade December 13-17, so why not be one of them? The harbor will be alive with boats, yachts, and canoes, many of them sporting over $500,000 in decorations. Oh, rich people. Bless their hearts.
Cost: Free

DEC 16: DON A RED SUIT AT THE SANTA MONICA PUB CRAWL

SANTA MONICA

If you’re looking to drink your way through the holidays (and who isn’t) a good place to start is at the Santa Monica Pub Crawl. You’ll have four crawlable routes, so choose wisely — though if you want our advice, choose the Pier Route, as the bars are bigger and you’ll have an easier time getting a drink. Also, uh, don’t forget to eat.

Cost: Early bird tickets are as low as $15

DEC 24: RING IN THE SEASON AT THE LA COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
DOWNTOWN
Bands, choirs, and dance companies will be spreading the cheer during this free, three-hour Christmas Eve show at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Cost: Free

DEC 31: KISS 2017 GOODBYE AT THE GRAND PARK NYE CELEBRATION
DOWNTOWN
LA’s biggest free party (and maybe LA’s biggest party, period) is Downtown’s non-alcoholic rager (yes, that’s a thing) at Grand Park, which includes food for sale, photo booths, art, and three stages of TBA live music.
Cost: Did we mention the free part?
Schedule provided by Thrillist. 
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