the BEAT of the week: Short Order.

Now, I have yet to try out Short Order, the new restaurant from L.A.'s beloved Amy Pressman and Nancy Silverton, since it only just opened a week and a half ago, but I guess that's not really excuse.

Because still, it's surely one to recommend. It's been 30 years in the making for Pressman and Silverton, both of whom once worked at Spago, and the latter moved on to help build Mozza. Short Order also boasts a cocktail menu created by the award-winning mixologist Julian Cox.

So expect some big lines as you wait outside the Original Farmers' Market on Third Street. Once you get in, though, be prepared for some delicious burgers, corndogs, melts, salads and custard shakes -- all artisanal and handmade. What more can you ask for?

If you make it in sometime soon, report back! I'll be in line.

Short Order is located at the Original Farmers Market at 6333 W. Third St. in Mid-City.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Short Order

Eat Out. DineLA restaurant week.

At long last, it is that time of year again. DineLA restaurant week is back in full force, and you better get your reservations in soon. Some of my picks for this year: Santa Monica's Josie Restaurant (as a fancy preview to the new and less expensive Josie Next Door), Lukshon (from the mind behind Father's Office), the buzzworthy Picca (don't miss the mindblowingly smooth Avocado Project).

Check out the whole list here, and happy eating!

dineLA restaurant week is Oct. 2-7 and Oct. 9-14.

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. Wurstküche Venice.

The westside outpost of favorite Los Angeles sausage restaurant Wurstküche is now open! Green chilies and cilantro (chicken & turkey), and mango jalapeño (chicken & turkey) are my favorites, and there are some great vegetarian sausages too, including smoked apple sage. The exotic options include duck, rabbit, rattlesnake, and alligator!

Don't miss the fries--with the white truffle oil glaze! And a Chimay White on tap.

625 Lincoln Boulevard in Venice, Calif. Kitchen open 11:00 a.m. till midnight, bar open till 1:30 a.m. (213) 687-4444

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: la.eater.com

Eat Out. Chick-fil-A Hollywood.

It was exciting enough when the USC Chick-fil-A opened in L.A. Now there is going to be another one right in the heart of Hollywood!

Opening Thursday September 22 at 6:00 a.m., Sunset and Highland - 6750 Sunset Boulevard

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Chick-fil-A

the monthly BEAT: Miracle Mile/Mid-City/Fairfax. Eat Out.

Chau and I both used to work in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles, and you better believe we found our fair share of great eateries. Any time of day, this relatively unassuming stretch between Beverly Hills and downtown Los Angeles has some delicious options.

Between around 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. a ton of famous L.A. food trucks are parked out front of the Variety Building (5900 Wilshire), and the 5750 Wilshire offices (which includes E!).

The Counter (for a custom burger and a quality milkshake)

Mixt Greens (healthy made-to-order salads and sandwiches)

Umami Burger La Brea (a BEAT favorite)

Caffe Latte (well-made espresso drinks, breakfast, muffins, soup, hearty salads, etc.)

Tawanni Thai (very decent strip mall Thai food, their tofu yellow curry was my go-to favorite)

Luna Park (good happy hour specials, pleasant little outdoor sidewalk area)

Stark Bar at LACMA (for creative cocktails and small plates)

Enjoy!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

the monthly BEAT: Silver Lake. Berlin Currywurst.

It's official: L.A.'s got a sausage obsession. (Keep your mind clean.) With the recent openings of restaurants like Wirtshaus on Fairfax and Papaya Dog a la New York alongside our established institutions like Wurstkuche and those bacon-wrapped dirty dogs found so conveniently on sidewalk corners late at night, there hasn't been this much excitement about sausages since Dodger Dogs.

But let's escape the L.A. hype for a bit and take a detour to Berlin -- via Silver Lake, of course. Nestled right on the Sunset Junction, Berlin Currywurst opened up earlier this year with an emphasis on simplicity: owned by an extremely nice husband-wife team; just a few benches, tables and chairs; and an easy menu of the German street food fave.

Currywurst isn't a usual dog-and-bun deal. Here you'll choose your sausage -- wursts of chicken, pork, beef, tofu -- then choose your heat level. The sausage comes cut up in pieces doused in homemade organic sauce based in ketchup and curry and your level of heat. There's bread on the side for you to dip in, and the option of delicious fries with jambalaya seasoning and onions.

Simple, cheap ($6 for just the currywurst, add $3.50 for the fries) and absolutely delicious. A ton of flavor and heat that smolders softly at first, but effectively by the end. And the perfect primer for Pazzo Gelato next door, setting the pace for making Berlin Currywurst a Silver lake must.

Berlin Currywurst is located at 3827 Sunset Blvd. in Silver Lake.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Do It. LA Weekly Pancake Breakfast with Jonathan Gold.

LA Weekly's food critic Jonathan Gold puts on his annual Gold Standard event every spring, featuring his picks for the best of L.A., and it's always a huge success. Now he's narrowing it down and focusing on just one basic food groups: Pancakes.

Alas, you're surely not to get just simple flapjacks at the LA Weekly Pancake Breakfast happening later this month. With participating restaurants like Warszawa, Salt's Cure, LAMill and Playa, the menu promises to be fun, inventive and still completely delicious.

Having brunch with J. Gold! We're a lucky city.

The LA Weekly Pancake Breakfast takes place 11am-2pm on Sat., Aug, 28 at Vibiana, located at 214 S. Main St. in downtown. Tickets are $25 each and are available here.

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. Bouchon Bakery Beverly Hills.

I've never had better brioche than from Bouchon Bakery (these rolls from Bon Appétit are a close second).

Beverly Hills is lucky to be the newest location (joining Yountville, Calif., Las Vegas, and New York City) of Thomas Keller's flawless bakery chain.

Bouchon Bakery also makes a great latte to go with your baked goods. If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, I highly recommend going for the tuna Niçoise sandwich, on ciabatta, with Bibb lettuce.

Opens tomorrow. 235 North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. Info: bouchonbakery.com, (310) 271-9910

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Stefanie Keenan / Los Angeles Times

Eat Out. Paradis.

I think I've found my new favorite ice cream spot. And considering the vast variety of ice cream and frozen yogurt and gelato places that L.A. has to offer, I know it's pretty bold just to pick on favorite. But Paradis has completely won me over.

Paradis is a popular chain of shops in Denmark, offering homemade and freshly made ice cream. It only opened its first store in the United States (in Montrose) about two years ago, and earlier this year, it opened its second location, in Los Feliz Village (replacing a former Pinkberry). And it's prime to keep on expanding (in case you too get addicted).

The shop offers about 20 flavors at a time, with the usual chocolate and strawberry as well as coffee chocolate chip and Ferrero Rocher (which just happens to be my combination pictured above). And if you're in the mood to go all the way, opt in for chocolate marshmallow to put on top -- it looks devilishly delectable. Either way, though, the ice cream you'll enjoy will be incredibly smooth and creamy, and the flavors amazingly on point without being too sweet. It'll be difficult to go back to any other ice cream after Paradis, trust me.

Paradis is located at 1726 N. Vermont Ave. in Los Feliz.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Check It. 30 Scoops in 30 Days.

We featured LA Weekly's Elina Shatkin's ambitious feat of writing about 30 burgers in 30 days back in the day, but alas, she's done it again. This time, it's season- and weather-appropriate: 30 Scoops in 30 Days.

That's right: she's got the lowdown on all the big ice cream, gelato and frozen yogurt spots all over town, and it'll probably help you decide on where to indulge in that icy goodness next. It's perfect timing, really. Check out her nifty map and guide here. Happy scooping!

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: LA Weekly

the monthly BEAT: Abbot Kinney. Gjelina Take Away.

Gjelina got a lot of press recently for its "changes and modifications politely declined" policy when Victoria Beckham tried to make such a request and was stubbornly refused. Right or wrong, the scenario was just an example of how Gjelina is a place that takes its food and ingredients very seriously, and for good reason.

Because the food there is absolutely mouthwatering, and that happens to apply for its new take out sector, Gjelina Take Away, too. Mostly because it's not much different from its mother restaurant, besides not forcing you into reservations weeks in advance. And though the prices can be almost as high (pizzas and sandwiches are about $12-$14), the quality is right up to par with chef Travis Lett's admirable reputation. He's been called a food artist and a produce obsessive, and it's all true. The food is fresh and intricately assembled. You may not get to enjoy the lovely patio of the full restaurant if you order from GTA, but you'll be too distracted by your delicious food anyway. A great chance to grab a bite and keep on with your day on Abbot Kinney.

Gjelina Take Away is located at 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. It is only open 7am-4pm.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Eater LA

The Monthly BEAT: Venice. Wabi-Sabi.

This month's weekend focus city is Venice, California!

Abbot Kinney is one of Venice's (in fact all of L.A.'s) trendiest, most pleasant, cute, pedestrian-friendly streets. It has tons of great restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques.

Wabi-Sabi has been a favorite sushi restaurant of mine for years. The space is cool, modern, and clean, while being comfortable (cozy even) at the same time. The servers are always pleasant and attractive--and the food is spot-on. The crunchy shrimp roll is the one dish I am crazy for. It's a spicy platter of a cut shrimp tempura roll that is one of my favorite very favorite meals. It is made with soy paper (which I usually request for any roll) and all kinds of delicious sauces (one of which I think is Sriracha) on the plate for dipping.

The miso soup is really flavorful and always hot, the cocktails are interesting, well-made, and strong, and the fish is fresh. There are also plenty of hot dishes (small and large), for the non-sushi lover in your life, and some great dessert options too.

There is a very good Happy Hour for select food and drinks from 5:30 p.m. (when they open) to 6:30 p.m. daily.

Wabi-Sabi is located at 1637 Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, Calif. Info: (310) 314-2229, wabisabisushi.com

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Open Table

The monthly BEAT: Hollywood. The Cat & Fiddle.

Among the clubs and glitzy restaurants, the Cat & Fiddle finds itself nestled quietly among them all. Quietly for Hollywood, at least. The restaurant takes up a huge large space with a spacious and pretty patio, but proudly calls itself a pub, which means soccer (erm, football) and other sports games being broadcast on TV screens, there's often live entertainment by bands (jazz on Sundays!) and the general sort of shenanigans you'd expect from a good old fashioned British spot. And that's what can often make it a sort of oasis in Hollywood. Gone are all the pretensions and shallowness this area can sometimes inhabit. This is just a honest-to-goodness pub. Drop into the Cat & Fiddle and you can sit back and just enjoy a cold pint, maybe even play some (free) darts or a game of pool. The waiters and waitresses and bartenders are always friendly, and ready to serve you a good serving of fish and chips, or bangers and mash.

And hey, you can still get a taste of Hollywood here: scenes from Casablanca were filmed there, when it used to act as commissary for surrounding film studios back in the day.

The Cat & Fiddle is located at 6530 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: The Cat & Fiddle

The Monthly BEAT: Hollywood. Crabfest 2011 at the Hungry Cat.

It's that time of year! Make your reservations now for Crabfest 2011 at the Hungry Cat Hollywood. It's Sunday June 26. Arrive hungry.

A soft-shell crab dish I had there with grits and fried green tomatoes late last summer still makes my mouth water.

Bon appétit!

Info: (323) 462-2155, thehungrycat.com

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: vintagemetalart.com

Eat Out. Oak Tree Inn. [Guest Post]

Touted by Caltech scientists as the best Chinese restaurant near campus, Oak Tree Inn serves great fine dining for Chinese cuisine. The name might throw off a lot of people and the outside may look a little off-putting, but that's part of the restaurant's charm. It is based on word-of-mouth -- and now you have mine.

Be sure to get the peking duck, with its succulent cracked skin and the white sweet fluffy buns they're served with. The walnut shrimp is pretty spectacular as well if you want a simple seafood dish. If you can't decide what you want, the chef's specials will be able to help you out. And of course, your entrees are served family-style. Your meal is finished off with white chocolate covered fortune cookies, a sweet ending to perfect meal.

Oak Tree Inn is located on 1315 Fair Oaks Ave. in South Pasadena.

-- Muriel Nacar

Photo credit: eatoaktreeinn.com

Eat Out. Blue Plate Oysterette.

I love when a magazine interview says where it takes place. The May Vogue cover story--Reese Witherspoon--starts at Santa Monica's Blue Plate Oysterette. As if the lobster rolls weren't reason enough to try the seafood joint with an ocean breeze.

If you're a fan of Witherspoon's (and who isn't, really?), Water for Elephants is out Friday.

Blue Plate Oysterette is located at 1355 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Info: blueplatesantamonica.com, (310) 576-3474

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: blueplatesantamonica.com

Eat Out. Ben & Jerry's free cone day.

Today's the day! Get your free scoop of Ben & Jerry's ice cream today from noon to 8pm at your local participating scoop shop. Stick to the old faves like Chocolate Macadamia, Chunky Monkey or Cherry Garcia, or check out some of the new faves, like the inspired-by-late-night-talk-shows Late Night Snack or Americone Dream.

Sadly, you will only get to choose one. But you're bound to be happy either way -- it's free, after all! Check out the Ben & Jerry's site for more info and locations. Happy free cone day!

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. Boneyard Bistro.

Last Saturday night we went out for barbecue at Sherman Oaks' Boneyard Bistro. The beer selection was vast, the music was live, and the fried macaroni and cheese (above) was as delicious as it sounds (and looks). And the pulled bbq chicken sandwich was pretty good too!

Other good BBQ joints in L.A. ...

Baby Blues BBQ (Venice and West Hollywood)

Zeke's Smokehouse

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill (at The Grove and other locations)

My favorite part is always the sides!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill.

The best sandwich I've had in recent memory was from Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at L.A. Live.

From the lunch menu, it was roasted turkey, on grilled sourdough, with balsamic onions, and fontina cheese. And I ate it while driving--not actually driving, but riding in a car, with a boy. Not getting the sandwich to-go nor devouring it on the hectic 110 freeway could take away from its incredible flavors. I usually find turkey sandwiches so boring that I avoid them, but this one, I'd get again in a heartbeat.

The rest of the items on the menus look equally delicious. Creamy cauliflower soup with wild mushrooms and crispy parsley, almond crusted salmon with celery root puree and port-red wine sauce, dulce de leche parfait ... you get the idea.

Note: Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill does not have to-go cups for to-go drinks, but Lawry's Carvery (also at L.A. Live) does. And their turkey sandwiches are likely very good too.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill is located at 800 West Olympic Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles. Info: wolfgangpuck.com, (213) 748-9700

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: wolfgangpuck.com

Eat Out. SteingartenLA [Thirsty Thursdays!].

As far as sausage places go, you really can't beat downtown's Wurstkuche, a hands-down favorite of us BEATs. But as the L.A. Times most recently pointed out, Los Angeles is undergoing a sort of sausage craze right now, and other places are, too, warranting a visit.

Daren and I headed over West L.A.'s SteingartenLA a few weeks ago, and were met by a large, thriving crowd at the dinner hour. To our surprise, the waitress told us that the restaurant hadn't even had its grand opening yet -- that's actually happening tomorrow, April 1st. But the large restaurant and bar was definitely bustling, with a mix of just-out-of-college twentysomethings and older middle-aged groups of friends meeting for drinks.

If anything, the beers are definitely worth the crowds and visit. SteingartenLA's got two happy hours: 4pm-7pm and 10:30pm to close, $5 house beer, $10 for your choice of one of 5 tap beers and any sausage. And the beer selection, as is expected for a sausage place, is pretty fantastic, with all sorts of craft beers on tap.

While the menu offers some more exotic choices like Venison Blueberry and Alligator and Pork, probably to rival Wurstkuche's niche, the restaurant does try to stick to German and Belgian traditionalism, so Daren got the Polish and I tried out the Lamb Spicy Sausage (seen above), with a side of sweet potato fries. The fries were great and came with an amazing side of aioli, and Daren liked his Polish a lot. I thought my sausage was pretty dry, though, as was the bun it came on -- it was too small for the thick sausage, and ended up falling apart by the end. Still, I had some great citrus-flavored beer to wash it down with.

Surely, the restaurant will have its stumbles in its first months, so I'm definitely willing to return. There's also an outdoors patio with an interesting fire pit that would be great to sit at with friends. Time will tell how well SteingartenLA will do in the sausage battle, but if they stick to good beer and perfecting that sausage, it'll become a great neighborhood favorite.

SteingartenLA is located at 10542 W. Pico Blvd. in West L.A. The official grand opening is tomorrow.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT