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Long Beach Food Scene Intel is a series from Brian Addison that will recap food news throughout the city, both news that needs just a quick mention, is developing, or repeated news where you might have missed the full features.
Olive & Rose liquor license nearing approval
Olive & Rose—the more casual sister concept to the Michelin-starred Heritage space from the Pretty siblings, Chef Philip and Lauren Pretty—will finally be serving liquor soon. Having served mocktails solely since its opening (and they are phenomenal), Lauren announced via Instagram how the space is inching toward unveiling its inaugural cocktail program with cocktail connoisseur Noah Friedman behind the bar. The reason for the hype? Noah hails from Baby Gee, which has become the city’s most accoladed bar under the tutelage and creative direction of Gianna Johns. Now is the time to see how Noah flies solo…
Dilly’s Sandwiches soft opening on Nov. 7
After announcing that Dilly’s Sandwiches is coming to Lakewood Village’s Village Shops area back in December of 2023, taking over a space near Cali Chilli and a bit from Vino e Cucina, the space has announced it will officially soft open come Nov. 7—and with it, gives the neighborhood even more options food wise. Which is clutch.
Long plagued by corporate options, the area has been revitalized culinarily with the addition of the massive Long Beach Exchange commercial complex—but outside of that, spaces like Cali and Vino have been holding down the fort.
When it comes to beer, the space will be well-prepared come Nov. 7: Lowercase, Fair State, Oxbow, Pure Project, Great Notion, The Veil, Drowned Lands, Equilibrium, Artifact, Bottle Logic, Institution, 8 Bit, and Urban Roots all have kegs representing their breweries.
Alli Kaphiy soft opening and grand opening dates announced
Chef Karla Flores-Ybaceta of the Peru Mikhuna food truck and Alli Kaphiy coffee truck (as well as the former A Little Bit of Heaven catering services) has proven that, well, hard work pays off: Melding her love of Peruvian sandwiches and coffee, the chef had moved into the former Granny’s Donuts space at 3399 Atlantic Ave. back in August.
Now? The space is ready for regular business after some on-and-off starts: Soft opening happens Monday, Oct. 28 and grand opening kicks off Wednesday, October. 30. Check out my brother Manny Burrola’s preview.
The Wild Chive seeks assistance via GoFundMe
Chef Soozee Nguyen has launched a GoFundMe in the hopes to raise money in order to “keep The Wild Chive alive.”
“We now understand that despite the growth we continue to see in our business,” the fundraiser reads. “It is no match for the financial strains rooted from these decisions and the current elements… If you’re in a position to help, any contribution would mean the world to us. Every dollar raised will go directly toward stabilizing our business and ensuring we can keep creating the safe and welcoming space you know and love.”
The entire Wild Chive team has a definitive reason to help keep the gem alive: Yelp!—the user-determined restaurant aggregator that is simultaneously useful and one of the worst parts of the food industry—has determined that the Alamitos Beach vegan spot is one of the country’s best for brunch earlier this year.
Belmont Shore’s Wine Beach will have its last day of service on Oct. 27
Wine Beach—the oenophilic space created by wife-and-wife Jodi Meade and Debbie Jarrett—will officially have its last weekend of service come Oct. 27. Deb unfortunately passed, leaving Jodi to guide a ship that was entirely Deb’s. While Jodi has tried to make the steering of that ship[ work—a handful of months ago, she told me she is doing her “best, but a bit of soul has been lost”—it is time to wrap up a part of her life that was never intended to wrap up this way.
ICYMI: Cameron Slaugh proves he is Long Beach’s most underrated chef with The Attic’s ‘Southern Nights’ dinners
Chef Cameron Slaugh—the man behind both the stellar Nonna Mercato in Bixby Knolls and The Attic on Broadway—is the city’s most underrated chef. He has somehow escaped regional coverage while remaining under the radar at home.
But who needs accolades when the food can speak for itself? And with Chef Cameron Slaugh’s “Southern Night” prix fixe dinners every Friday and Saturday evening, one needs little more proof than this.
And with four hefty courses at $55 per person, it’s not just the quality—but the value.
For Brian Addison’s full feature, click here.
ICYMI: Inglorious Funnels offers the best funnel cakes in Long Beach—and they want a more permanent home
I love this story because admirability for hard work never ceases to make my heart swell—and Isabel and Jorge Rodriguez, the owners of Inglorious Funnels, are just that.
With their talent and dedication, they’ve become the reigning kings of the mighty funnel cake. And now, they’re searching for a brick-and-mortar.
