Hollywood Bowl Debuts New Gourmet Food & Wine Program
Los Angeles' most irresistible al fresco summer tradition has just gotten more delicious. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association has launched its new premium dining program for the 2016 summer season at the Hollywood Bowl under the guidance of James Beard Award-winning chef Suzanne Goin.
It's a sure-thing, developed by Goin and business partner Caroline Styne, the visionaries behind Lucques, a.o.c., Tavern, and The Larder. Taking over from previous concessionaire The Patina Group, the Lucques team will revamp the food and wine kitchens at the Bowl for the next decade, with a variety of onsite restaurants for dining in, take-away picnics, or delivery to box seats. The full spectrum also includes vegetarian and vegan meals, and catering on site for small and large groups.
"Dining has long been an integral part of an evening at the Hollywood Bowl," said Gail Samuel, Executive Director of the LA Phil. "With the combined creativity and excellence of our new team, we have developed exciting new culinary options that will enhance the concert-going experience and contribute to making a night at the Bowl unforgettable."
The Hollywood Bowl's three new premium dining options are:
Lucques at the Circle
Featuring fine dining for subscribers of the Pool Circle only, Lucques at the Circle offers a seasonal made-to-order menu and exceptional wine list from the award-winning cuisine of Lucques, one L.A.'s finest purveyors of California cuisine. Our gourmet go-to order: a grilled pork chop with cornbread-chorizo stuffing and glazed Bing cherries.
The Wine Bar by a.o.c.
L.A.'s best wine bar is now serving at the Bowl, and is pairing pours with artisanal cheese and charcuterie, market-fresh salads, and grilled fish and meats. Curated by Caroline Styne, the menu strictly features wines that are farmed sustainably, organically, or bio-dynamically, and are made by small production, artisanal winemakers. The bar also offers craft brews and farmers market-driven cocktails made with soju and other wine-based liquors. Our choice for wine nibbles: soft polenta with wild mushrooms, mascarpone, and gremolata.
Supper in Your Seats
These are three-course dinners or items from an à la carte menu that can be preordered and delivered to reserved box seats. (Sorry, Super Seats and upper loge, you're on your own.) To start the night right: "The Mulholland Drive" goat cheese toast with American prosciutto; roasted grapes and Saba; braised beef short-rib with smashed fingerlings, tomatoes, and pesto; and a caramel chocolate brownie with mascarpone and Marcona almonds.
Other highlights of the new Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine program:
The Backyard
The newly-designed al fresco spot (formerly the Rooftop Grill) is casual chic space centered by two large wood-burning grills. The family-style, farmers market-driven menu serves shared plates of grilled fish, chops, steaks, grains, greens, and a raw bar inspired by Goin's husband, David Lentz, who runs L.A.'s great seafood outpost, The Hungry Cat in Hollywood and Santa Monica. Our selection for summer supper: wood-grilled swordfish with green olives and preserved lemon.
Kitchen 22
The Bowl's SoCal roadside burger stand (formerly Staccato) features made-to-order beef, turkey, and vegan burgers, plus grab-and-go sandwiches and salads. New standouts include the grilled Comté cheese sandwich on Larder sourdough, and Spanish fried chicken with Romesco sauce. Our prediction for the most-popular dish: the Big & Juicy burger, served with cheese, lettuce, pickles, red onion, tomato, and awesome sauce.
Street Food and Snacks
Located throughout the Bowl grounds, these venues spotlight the multi-cultural foods of Los Angeles: marinated pork and spicy tofu banh mi; all-natural "haute" dogs and specialty sausages; street tacos (pollo asada, al pastor, and carne asada); barbecue pulled pork; and the Sweet Shop, featuring cupcakes and s'mores made onsite, plus Larder Baking Company for signature desserts and confections from macarons to ice cream.
Marketplace
Goin and Styne's casual Larder café-marketplace offer picnic-basket-ready salads, sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie plates, and hot entrées such as rotisserie chicken, barbecued beef brisket, and mac n' cheese. Complete the meal with drinks and Larder Baking Company's sweets, nuts, and crackers. Our pick for picnics: slow-roasted salmon with cucumber yogurt, quinoa, and turmeric.
Buzz McCoy's Marketplace
Another option for picnic-friendly foods like fresh grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, but it's the sushi bar here that will be the prime attraction. Watch chefs prepare your order in the display kitchen, or preorder and pickup. Our picnic pick: the labamba roll with chili mango.