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Pop-Up Re-Do: Test Kitchen Sequel Launches With Rocco DiSpirito
(Photo courtesy of the Test Kitchen)
The ever-changing feast that was Test Kitchen is back for another run, kicking things off with some serious star power. Rocco DiSpirito, who's been criticized for not actually doing much cooking, will be helming the stoves for the first night on October 1.
DiSpirito will be cooking (yes, cooking!) from his new book, Now Eat This! Italian, Favorite Dishes From the Real Mamas of Italy - All Under 350 Calories . The menu includes items like lasagna bolgonese, meatballs, and cheesecake, and quite frankly we're curious as to how the hunky chef will turn those rich dishes into something so low-cal.
After the one-off at Sotto, which was home to the original 2010 TK edition, the festivities will move over to a Bestia in Downtown L.A.'s Arts District. Ori Menashe will be opening his Italian restaurant later this year, but to make use of the space, they'll be hosting a series of Test Kitchen events from October 16 thru November 11. Guest chefs from Los Angeles include Gino Angelini, Jason Travi, Micah Wexler, Nancy Silverton, Neal Fraser, Kevin Meehan, Jeremy Fox, and Walter Manzke. Benito Molina, Pablo Salas, Jair Tellez, and Javier Plascencia of Baja California will also be passing through.
Julian Cox will head the bar program as he did for Test Kitchen's first run, but this time another Test Kitchen alum Josh Goldman will be on his team. Goldman brought some unexpected pairings to the nights he worked at Test Kitchen with Michael Voltaggio (think Old Style in brown paper bags), and it'll be cool to see what he has up his sleeve for this installation.
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Reservations for the DiSpirito dinner can be made via emailing events@sottorestaurant.com. The prix fixe is $65, with $30 optional wine pairings. He'll also be signing copies of his book at the meal.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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