Valentino
3115 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 829-4313
Ambiance
Piero Selvaggio’s Westside Italian eatery is timeless, elegant and iconic.
Dynamite dishes
You’ll fall in love with “La Bistecca,” N.Y. steak with sea salt and wine must, the lobster ravioli with shrimp and tomato ragu and the Seppie con carciofi e bottarga “sgranata” – cuttlefish with artichokes and cured mullet roe.
Sweet Tooth
Chocolate lovers will rejoice over the Gianduiotto alle nocciole, banana e polvere di liquirizia: chocolate-hazelnut ice cream, caramelized banana, Strega liqueur and licorice.
Top Tipple
Let Piero create a wine pairing for you: his taste is superb.
STEFAN’S AT L.A. FARM
3000 Olympic Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 449-4000
Ambiance
Top Chef star Stefan Richter has re-imagined his Santa Monica eatery as a casual bistro with a modern, elegant interior. Celebrities and power brokers alike love the intimate dining room, private wine cellar and rustic outdoor patios with fire pits.
Dynamite dishes
The crispy scallops with sweet corn puree are a must, as is the pork belly with braised red cabbage and beer sauce.
Sweet Tooth
We love the duet of red wine and blood orange lollipops.
Top Tipple
Try out Richter’s homage to his Finnish roots and order the Finnish Me Off: a fruity blend of tangerine vodka, cranberry juice, peach tea and lime.
Culina
300 S. Doheny Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 860-4000
Ambiance
The elegant California-Italian eatery at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills serves up beautifully prepared dishes in an opulent setting.
Dynamite Dishes
We highly advise that you try the Pesche Bianche salad of grilled nectarines, burrata, proescco gelee, marcona almonds, prosciutto and basil, as well as the Scamorza pizza of smoked mozzarella, speck, grilled hen of the wood mushrooms and thyme.
Sweet Tooth
The gelato here is to die for: don’t leave without sampling the black mission fig and toasted walnut.
Top Tipple
You have a choice with the lovely Bubbles or Brew libation: opt for proescco or pilsner with a base of spiced rum, lime and agave.
FISHING WITH DYNAMITE
1148 Manhattan Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 893-6299
Ambiance
There are only 36 seats at James Beard nominee David LeFevre’s South Bay eatery, so anyone who can actually get a reservation should feel like a VIP.
Dynamite Dishes
We recommend you start with the mouth-watering Peruvian Scallops followed by the “Old School” New England Clam Chowder and finish with the “New School” Black Miso Cod and Hamachi with ponzu and avocado.
Sweet Tooth
Order the innovative maple pudding with rosemary sandies with buffalo trace bourbon and candied pecans from the “After School” menu.
Top Tipple
Our favorite libation is “Innocents Abroad” – a sparkling cocktail with Starr, passion fruit, lavender, and Thai basil.
