Welcome to Foodie Fridays, our biweekly report on the latest neighborhood nosh and local libation news in Long Beach, where every other week we feature what’s happening in the scene and the latest buzz in the blogosphere about the best places to eat, drink and be merry.
IN PICTURES: Local chefs serve up gourmet meals at Long Beach homeless shelter
Following its kick off event serving gourmet meals at Long Beach Rescue Mission, Dine LBC will officially commence on Saturday with dozens of local eateries offering “value-oriented” meals, pop-up events and more through Sunday, Aug. 12. Founder and organizer Terri Henry stated the days-long event is more akin to a “culinary week” than a typical restaurant week with its lineup of “unique food-related experiences.” For more info, head to the website here.
Long Beach’s first-ever brunch fest will take place Saturday at Rainbow Lagoon enticing ticket holders with mimosas, pancakes, hamburgers and everything in between breakfast and lunch. Local eateries and drinkeries participating include Restauration, La Traviata, The Breakfast Bar, Steelhead Coffee and Liberation Brewing Co. There’s more info on the boozy, brunch-centric event in our things to do list here.
The Easter egg in this list of the top four ramen houses in Long Beach is that a fifth is on its way thanks to owner Jason Kang of Seoulmate, the korean-fusion restaurant-hut that opened about five years ago across the street from Wilson high. Kang will be opening a new ramen joint called Mr. Makoto this fall at 2741 E. 4th St.
Burgerim, the downtown corner joint slingin sliders with build-it-yourself options, will offer for a limited time the B4Burger, a vegan, gluten-free patty composed solely of plants that packs 14 grams of protein. Burgerim says it’s the first large chain to offer the pattie, now added to a lineup ranging from salmon and falafel to beef, lamb and turkey patties.
Support local brews and beekeepers at Long Beach Beer Lab on Thursday, Aug. 16. A fundraiser for Long Beach Beekeepers and the release party for Beeks’ Honey Blonde Ale—made with about five gallons of neighborhood honey—$1 for every pint of honey beer sold will be donated to the nonprofit, which boasts seven years of encouraging sustainable beekeeping practices and educating the public on the honey bee’s importance to our environment. More info can be found via Facebook here.
The recently opened Ammatolí has brought delicious Middle Eastern food to downtown Long Beach and is a stand out among the “repeat franchises” that make up The Streets. New patrons should try the Musakhan chicken roll, with caramelized onions, olive oil, roasted pine nuts and sumac, the zaatar manoushe, a mixture of herbs and olive oil to be heavily spread on your extra order of pita.
The owners of The Auld Dubliner are working on a new concept, opening an American tavern inside what was one of Long Beach’s most sacred music venues called The Blue Cafe, once open and thriving on The Promenade. Closed in 2009, the space has seen little activity. The Ordinarie is well on its way to adding a dash of old-fashioned American hospitality to the downtown area in the form of offering “fine food without a fuss”, live music and libations.
Los Angeles Magazine takes a dive into lambics, an obscure sour style of Belgian beer that Beachwood Blendery has been working to recreate inside its “lambic laboratory” in downtown Long Beach over the last almost five years. Expect a new release this fall following years of experimentation led by head brewer Ryan Fields.
And last but not least, starting today, Michael’s Downtown is offering $5 bottomless Frosé cocktails—which is basically a Rosé slushy (with berry sauce) and a libation worth sipping on a hot day if you’re not still at work or are taking a late Friday lunch—on Fridays through September 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. More info here.