Tag Archives: Brunch

The Brunchies

by Scott Bridges
Huffington Post
July 20, 2012

Among the pleasures of living in Southern California is unfettered access to fresh farmers’ market produce, a picture-perfect climate and our hallmark leisurely way of life, and nowhere do these characteristics combine so symbiotically than in our tradition of weekend brunch. It may very well be my favorite meal. After all, all the pleasures of breakfast and lunch become available; and when else is it socially permissible to drink before noon?

I give you, therefore, my humble awards in a handful of categories integral to a proper brunch. In the tradition of those ubiquitous award program euphemisms, I give you “The Brunchies.”

This list is by no means exhaustive, and no doubt there are gems I’ve overlooked or have yet to discover. And if it seems a little bit Westside-biased, I concede the point; but I’ll suggest that the best brunch is a local brunch. In the spirit of fairness, however, I welcome suggestions and recommendations. Let me know your favorite haunts.

So without further adieu…

The Charleston
Hands down the best jazz brunch in town. And on a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard with a handful of waffle-specializing restaurants, Executive Chef Jet Tila serves up the best chicken & waffles in the neighborhood. His modern take on classic comfort foods makes for a very American-style brunch. I should add that the cocktails are superb.

5 Great New Brunches Around LA

by Lesley Balla
Zagat
June 8, 2012

zagat brunch charleston 5 Great New Brunches Around LA According to the LAT, there’s an upswing on brunch becoming a daytime dance party. But some of us just want brunch – lingering over Bloody Marys and mimosas, plates of eggs, and chatty conversation (or the crossword) well into the afternoon. Luckily there’s a spate of new weekend options around town. Here are five favorites worth checking out.

The Charleston

If live jazz and waffles make your weekend brighter, check out the brunch at this Santa Monica newcomer. Classic dishes from chef Jet Tila – like bread pudding French toast, or short rib hash – and cleverly named cocktails (Charlie Sheen Tiger Blood-y Mary, anyone?) go down pretty easy. Bottomless mimosas are even better (Sat-Sun, 10 AM-2 PM).

New Details: Jet Tila Waxes Poetic on The Charleston

by Kat O’Dell
EaterLA
February 1, 2012

Jet%20Tila thumb New Details: Jet Tila Waxes Poetic on The CharlestonAs reported yesterday, chef Jet Tila (Wazuzu at Encore Las Vegas) is in the process of taking over Angel’s cocktail bar in Santa Monica and reopening the venue as a dinner and drinks spot called The Charleston. Not, in fact, a gastropub as originally rumored. On his decision to makeover the bar Tila explains, “I’m going away from my roots as an Asian chef by highlighting my roots as a restaurateur. I wanted to be home. I wanted to have an F&B presence back home….It’s a fantastic location. No one has really understood how to cut this diamond to make it shine.”

While the lounge will stay open during renovations, or as Tila puts it, “We take the car into the body shop for a few weeks and pimp it out,” expect to see a major renovation of the menu and cocktail list. “Basically I want everyone to understand it’s going to be a bar with great food first,” Tila says. “We’ll be debuting brunch by the mid part of this year. We’ll feature very beverage-friendly small bites.”

Tila plans to serve Thai street fare similar to the plates he introduces next week during a pop-up dinner at Origin India Restaurantx and Lounge in Las Vegas. “[The Charleston] will be a laboratory for me to play where I come up with some crazy ideas. I don’t want to call it a gastropub. It’s a fun place to have a bunch of food and drinks.”

At his pop-up dinner in Vegas, he’s partnering with master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim who will create a cocktail pairing for the night. Abou-Ganim is also giving The Charleston drink menu “an eyeball to see if he can inspire some cocktails.”

In other Tila news, the common ownership between Bru Haus and The Charleston could turn his consulting gig at the pub into something more in the future, but no plans are inked. Tila will also continue his Breadbar Bistronomics pop-up dinners sometime in the spring.