Food trends of note: Cupcakes, food trucks, food truck backlash, nose-to-tail butchery...and pretending to close for remodeling when you're really closing down for good. The latest local restaurant to qualify under the latter: West Hollywood's Bastide. Eater confirms that it's not a new decor that has the contemporary French courtyard restaurant under lock-and-key. more ›

Notorious for its revolving door of megawatt kitchen talent, West Hollywood's Bastide announced yesterday that their new Executive Chef is Sydney Hunter III, who has been at the French restaurant since January. Hunter's local trajectory is storied: he began at L'Orangerie in 2002, was a sous chef at Bastide until 2008, then took charge at Fraiche in Santa Monica, and has been seen of late popping up in the kitchen in support of Chef Ludo Lefebvre at LudoBites. more ›

In its almost decade of business, Bastide--the French restaurant tucked into a pocket of Melrose Place--has earned a reputation as being elegant, avant garde, ever-evolving, and for some, a bit unapproachable. This summer, however, the courtyard of Bastide is opening up its gates to welcome in customers for a sort of getting-to-know you weekly special that includes wine and cocktails and small bites for the very approachable price of $15. more ›