FROM LEFT: Beef-cured fluke; the dining room and glass-walled kitchen at Hatfield’s; coconut-custard macaroon
Hatfield’s
Bigger is better—at least when it comes to Hatfield’s, which has found a new, larger home on Melrose after a little more than three years on Beverly Boulevard. Chef-owners Karen and Quinn Hatfield chose the spot because of its hallowed history: The space was home to the original incarnation of renowned chef Michel Richard’s Citrus restaurant. The husband and wife team have put their own spin on the interior, using earthy tones of green and beige and nature-inspired décor, including a “living wall” of various plants in the restaurant’s conservatory.
The glass-walled display kitchen (a holdover from Citrus) provides a window into Hatfield’s bustling kitchen, where you can marvel at the preparation of the eatery’s seasonally changing modern-American fare. Not to be missed are Hatfield’s staples, such as date- and mint-encrusted lamb with roasted root vegetables, fava beans and potato-chive puree or buttermilk-steamed chicken with chanterelle mushrooms and pea tendrils.
But perhaps the most exciting aspect of the new address is the bar (the old location didn’t have one), which offers its own menu of snacks, from deviled eggs to shots of ginger-carrot soup. Wine from GM and beverage director Peter Birmingham’s list—including an impressive selection of biodynamic bottles—is mandatory. 6703 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, 323-935-2977; hatfieldsrestaurant.com—LESLEY MCKENZIE
BlackboardEats
LA foodies and deal hunters alike are embracing BlackboardEats, a free twice weekly newsletter and website offering enticing deals at local restaurants.
Chalk the concept up to LA local and former Yahoo! food editor Maggie Nemser and her team, who boast credentials ranging from Bon Appétit and Food & Wine to Epicurious and Zagat. Nemser handpicks local eateries that offer “outstanding” food and then, together with the restaurant, devises a special.
“We only ask that restaurants offer something engaging and exclusive to our subscribers,” says Nemser.
The offer is redeemable with an e-mailed discount code that can only be obtained within 24 hours of its announcement and is valid for 30 days.
The concept first launched in LA last September and was followed by a New York version at the beginning of this year. Participating LA restaurants have included in-demand hot spots such as Eva Restaurant, Mozza2Go and Akasha Restaurant, with offers ranging from a free bottle of wine or appetizer to 40 percent off the entire bill. We’re hungry just thinking about it. Visit blackboardeats.com.—LESLEY MCKENZIE
