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Have company coming and lack the burning desire to prepare a feast in your own kitchen? Need an excuse to spend that holiday bonus check all in one place, just like everyone always told you not to? Or, are you going to be hungry this weekend? In any event, several LA restaurants have something going on Christmas Eve (or, "Saturday Night" for those who don't believe in Santa or the baby Jesus). Here's a few ideas. Reservations are most likely a must; contact the restaurant for confirmation of events, availability, and more info.
After 21 years, Santa Monica's Röckenwagner is closing its doors. While some local chow fans mourn, the Röckenwagner folks urge celebration, and in this case it comes in the form of a Christmas Eve prix-fixe feast featuring slow roast duck, warm mushroom salad and wild boar stew.
Röckenwagner || 2435 Main Street, Santa Monica || (310) 399-6504
Patina ushers in the holiday spirit with a five-course Christmas Eve meal. The menu is full of rich and exotic choices, like chanterelle and wild mushroom filled ravioli with chervil beurre blanc; hand-made black capellini with lobster ragù and tarragon essence; cioppino of dorat royal, P.E.I. mussels, New Zealand cockles, confit of baby fennel in a saffron broth; sautéed fois gras with roasted persimmons and pomegranate gastrique. For the fourth-course, choose between the butter-poached Peking duck breast crusted with Amaretto, duck crackling and fine herbs and the Cabernet-braised veal medallion with Swiss chard gratin and parsnip purée. For dessert, choose between a cinnamon macaroon with chestnut ice cream, Muscat sabayon and a coffee reduction or dark chocolate mousse with caramel cream and warm raspberries, followed by an optional sixth cheese course for an additional charge per person. This indulgent meal will cost you $85, or $97 with the cheeses.
Patina || 141 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles || (213) 972-7322
Taix French Restaurant has some deliciously affordable options for Christmas Eve dining. Between 4-8 PM diners may choose from specials such as roasted N.Y. strip steak with port liver mousselline or stuffed chicken breast with Cognac butter. Taix is also doing a four-course, prix-fixe dinner for a very reasonable $39.95 which includes French fare such as escargots de Bourgogne, grilled rack of lamb dijonnaise and roast duck with caramelized peaches. Bonjour, Pere Noel!
Taix || 1911 Sunset Boulevard || (213) 484-1265
Providence is having a "Feast of the Seven Fishes" on Christmas Eve, which aims at celebrating Chef Cimarusti's Italian heritage via delicious seafood offerings. There will be a four-course menu featuring seven different delicacies from the sea, as well as some select a la carte items. Special holiday hours are 5-8 PM.
Providence || 5955 Melrose Avenue || (323) 460-4170
Do you get your holidays all muddled like we do? How about the equal opportunity celebration of Chrismukkah at Lot 1224. It's a four-course meal that includes "Shalom Santa-gria" (a sangria made with Manishevitz wine), apple cranberry latkes with egg nog ice cream, and hot cocoa with Star of David gingerbread cookies. Runs December 24 and 25 for $75 per person ($115 with wine pairings).
Lot 1224 || 1224 South Beverwil Drive, Beverly Hills || (310) 277-2800
La Cachette will be serving up an elegant prix-fixe Christmas Eve meal that include options such as Kumamoto oysters and the marinated venison chop. If you can't make it there for Christmas, try the New Year's Eve dinner the following week. Reservations for December 24th can be made for 5:30-9:30 PM, and the cost is a hefty $110.
La Cachette || 10506 South Santa Monica Boulevard || (310) 470-4992
Photo by SuperFantastic from Flickr
