Tender Greens

22 Custom Lunch Picks

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:45:55 +0000

Los Angeles Magazine

Lettuce is just the start. Find flatiron steaks, soups like roma tomato and basil, and yes, impressive salads–dubbed “simple” or “big.”

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Sunset Strip Trip

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:05:52 +0000

By Kathryn Romeyn
Riviera Magazine

A weekend jaunt to L.A. sans automobile used to be unfathomable. Sure, a lush enough room at any luxe lodge comes with car service, but the opening of the opulent W Hollywood on Hollywood Boulevard, along with a spate of walkable, urban bar/restos on neighboring Sunset, means weekend warriors are now traveling on foot. In the first LEED-compliant property in L.A., glam, eco-conscious design oozes from sleek guest rooms, spacious bars, the Bliss spa and the Vegas- style poolside club, Drai’s. There’s even a Metro stop mere steps away, beside the outdoor Station bar. But beware: On Sundays the pool and Drai’s run amok with promoters, and shockingly, a keycard won’t get you a cabana, or even a line cut. Turn your attention elsewhere. On Sunset, restaurateur George Abou-Daoud has opened District (a warm-industrial fine dining gem with a reclaimed 100-year-old bar) and the Mercantile (a wine bar/gourmet market hybrid), which extend his single street gourmand ’hood of Mission Cantina, the Bowery and Delancey, each with late-night hours and famous fans. Tender Greens, an organic, fast-casual spot, is new next door; down the street, hipster music venue the Palladium has undergone a facelift; and La Vida, a new Spanish restaurant/ nightclub, is exotic and worthwhile. Te boulevards may be a two-minute walk, but “they’re two different worlds,” says Abou-Daoud, “like the beach bars on Balboa Island versus in Newport.

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Tender Greens – Los Angeles (West Hollywood)

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:20:13 +0000

by Cathy Danh
gas-tron-o-my

If things go according to plan, the entire city of Los Angeles will be amped up on sugar and good spirits this weekend courtesy of the Eat My Blog charity bake sale. This time around, we’ve teamed up with Tender Greens in West Hollywood. It might seem strange to hold a gluttonous event at such a virtuous venue, but I assure you that it all makes perfect sense. After all, what better way to counteract the damage of downing a dozen cupcakes than by consuming a plateful of organic greens afterwards? Guilt assuaged.

While scoping out Tender Greens’ space last week, I went against my carb-loading ways and ordered a salad for lunch. I could’ve eaten local albacore tuna, barbecue chicken, or even flat-iron steak, but decided to step completely out of my comfort zone and went with The Happy Vegan ($10.50). I have never felt more like a stereotypical L.A. gal than I did that afternoon eating a vegan salad in the middle of West Hollywood. At least I didn’t have a small dog with me.

The platter was comprised of four different salads—farro wheat with cranberry and hazelnuts, quinoa with cucumbers and beets, green hummus, and tabouleh. A pile of romaine leaves, along with a large house made crouton, rounded out the plate. Each salad struck a nice balance between healthy and tasty, but my favorite was the the green hummus. I haven’t a clue what’s in there besides lots of chickpeas, herbs, and garlic, but my oh my, was it moreish to the max. I washed it all down with a most refreshing mint-infused lemonade.

Following my fibrous feast, I grabbed a strawberry cupcake ($3) for dessert. It tasted like strawberry shortcake in cupcake form, especially with the biscuit-like cake. I hope that Tender Greens will be donating these for the bake sale.

And I hope to see all of you on Saturday!

Food Glorious Food

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:55:46 +0000

By Eric Rosen
LA Confidential

WE HESITATE TO GENERALIZE, but when it comes to dining around town, everyone has his or her favorite hangouts, and there are a few spots you can be sure to find certain LA “types.” Here’s our guide as to who eats what where

WeHo Party Boy
Power Lunch: Tender Greens

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Eat My Blog Redux on June 19 at Tender Greens

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:51:09 +0000

by Esther
e*star LA

The bloggers of the now-semi-annual Eat My Blog bake sale are coming together for the second time on Saturday, June 19, 2010. In one of the most impressive baking efforts in the city, 100% of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. This time, Eat My Blog will be held at Tender Greens West Hollywood where over 2,000 goods from over 70 bakers will be on display – all items costing a simple $1 – $4 each. Bring cash!

You can look forward to delicious eats from local baking star power like KCRW Good Food host Evan Kleiman, Chicks with Knives, Debbie Lee, Drago Centro, Starry Kitchen, Bakelab, Cube, Fraiche, Choppe Choppe, Hollywood Corner, Valerie Confections, Plaisir, Scoops Ice Cream, and Tender Greens themselves. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be featuring a selection of hot beverages to help wash down all your sweets!

Not enticed, yet? Get there early before everything is gone – including bacon brownies, chocolate whoopie pies and ”intriguing debuts [like] Momofuku’s Crack Pie from the Los Angeles Times’ Daily Dish and Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Bacon Cream Cheese Frosting from Pat Saperstein of Eating LA,” says Diana Takes a Bite, one of the members on the Eat My Blog committee. What’s more, benefiting the LA Food Bank and fighting hunger should be reason enough to satisfy your sweet tooth; at the last Eat My Blog, over $3,000 was raised! “We are excited to partner with the Foodbank again, especially after visiting the facility this winter to see how the money we raised would be used,” said Cathy Danh, author of Gastronomy and founder of Eat My Blog.

I’ll see you bright and early that Saturday in June. After all - if you wait, all the good things will be gone!

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Combo Plate: Do-gooder baking

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 09:54:19 +0000

By Rene Lynch
Los Angeles Times

–Save the date: The second annual Eat My Blog bake sale is being held on June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Tender Greens in West Hollywood (8759 Santa Monica Boulevard). You can thank bloggers Cathy Danh of Gastronomy Blog and Laurie Moore of G-Ma’s Bakery for this opportunity to eat carbs and do good at the same time. Expect over 2,000 baked goods from 70-plus bakers. (I am making Crack Pies.) All items are priced between $1 to $4, and proceeds go to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

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Feast: EAT MY BLOG Returns to WeHo for Charity’s Sake

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 09:36:51 +0000

By Joshua Lurie
NBC Los Angeles

On June 19, dozens of local bloggers are once again banding together to benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, a nonprofit that’s fought hunger in L.A. since 1973. Last December, the initial Eat My Blog charity bake sale raised $3000 for the food bank, and Version 2.0 will be even bigger, taking place on the patio at the West Hollywood branch of Tender Greens from 10 AM – 4 PM, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the food bank. Expect over 2000 different baked goods, including carrot cake cookie sandwiches, strawberry balsamic cake and Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Bacon Cream Cheese Frosting. Nothing will cost over $4.

Participating bloggers include gas•tron•o•my Delicious Coma, Diana Takes a Bite, Eating LA, Ravenous Couple, Duo Dishes, Food, She Thought, What’s Gaby Cooking, LA Times Daily Dish, LA & OC Foodventures, My Last Bite, Mattatouille, Let Me Eat Cake, Uncouth Gourmands, Life With a Whisk and Two Hungry Pandas. This time around, local chefs will also donate baked goods, including Evan Kleiman (Angeli Caffe), Chicks with Knives, Starry Kitchen, Bakelab, Valerie Confections and Scoops.

“We are excited to partner with the Foodbank again, especially after visiting the facility this winter to see how the money we raised would be used,” said EAT MY BLOG founder Cathy Danh (gas•tron•o•my). “It was an eye-opening experience for all of us on the planning committee, and we left that day eager to make an even greater impact this time around.”

According to EMB committee member Diana Hossfeld (Diana Takes a Bite), they originally decided on the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank because “it directly correlates with the passion for food that drives and sustains our writing. We love food, we love to eat and we love to share that experience with other people. On a personal level, both Cathy and I feel absurdly lucky that we get to enjoy extravagant meals on a regular basis while there are so many people going hungry in LA. The poverty is staggering, and we both felt that it was important to highlight this cause and build greater awareness within a blogging community that is blessed with so much.”

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Eaterwire

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:30:35 +0000

By Lesley Balla
Eater LA

After the success of the last Eat My Blog bake sale, it’s back again June 19 from 10AM-4PM at Tender Greens in WeHo. Get your sweet tooth on with over 2,000 baked goods from over 70 bakers, including carrot cake cookie sandwiches, bacon chocolate chip cookies, homemade salted caramels, and strawberry balsamic cake priced between $1 to $4. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

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Eat My Blog!

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 12:57:06 +0000

by Catty Critic
Dining with the Catty Critic

I’m excited to participate in the 2nd annual Eat My Blog charity bake sale on Saturday, June 19th from 10am to 4pm at Tender Greens in West Hollywood.

Over 70 bakers will be donating scrumptious treats such as carrot cake cookie sandwiches, bacon chocolate chip cookies, homemade salted caramels and strawberry balsamic cake. I’ll be making mini versions of this delicious almond tea cake sans strawberries. All items will be priced between $1-4.

100% of proceeds will be donated to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

Besides bloggers’ baked goods, local chefs and restaurants such as Chicks with Knives, Starry Kitchen, Bakelab, Fraiche, Tender Greens and Drago Centro will be donating special treats. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf will also be on hand serving up hot drinks to help wash down all the yummy eats.

Come out and support a great cause!

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A Little Farm in Pt. Loma Feeding Tender Greens Diners

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:27:19 +0000

From the street, the hilltop Pt. Loma property of the Reeb family looks like just another suburban home. Sitting on a cul-de-sac over a canyon, the house was built in 1937 and has the old-fashioned charm of a place that was built for family living. Even stepping into the back yard — with its pool and grass — doesn’t reveal the scope of what Paul Reeb and his son Steve are up to: gardening for the masses. Or at least for the masses who eat at local restaurant Tender Greens literally across the street in Liberty Station.

Reeb has taken land, now owned by his mother, that’s just under an acre and turned it into a produce oasis with a little greenhouse and even a little vineyard that produces grapes that he, in turn, crushes to make wine. And that wasn’t easy since much of the property slopes steeply down into a canyon.

I first met Reeb late last summer at a dinner hosted by Tender Greens to show off Reeb’s bounty. A graphic designer by trade, he’s long had a yearning to be a farmer. Living just a few blocks from his mother’s house means he can spend a lot of time working this land when he’s not doing his “day” job. Having 23-year-old Steve help out when he’s not working at Tender Greens himself is a huge help, Reeb says. And chef/owner Pete Balistreri buys everything Reeb grows, including tomatoes, greens, zucchini, radishes, and artichokes.

Reeb has recently finished his winter crops so most of what’s in the ground currently are young plants just getting started for a summer harvest. Zucchini is in the ground around the pool, tomato plants are almost everywhere you turn and there are about 25 heirloom varieties, plus 10 Reeb is experimenting with — about 200 in all, including Abe Lincoln, Dr. Whyche, Risentraube, German Pink, Hillbilly, Black Krim (which Reeb says is the best tasting), Omars Lebanese (which get huge), Bonnie’s Best, and Blonde Kopftashen.

“I grow these for taste not looks,” Reeb says. “Taste is number one.”

Reeb gets his seeds from Seed Savers Exchange, plus he harvests his own. With all those tomatoes, his wife often freezes the tomatoes whole to use in the winter for soup or sauce. Or she dries them.

Up near the house is a little greenhouse where a sea of micro greens, mostly daikon, is growing. Behind the greenhouse is a tiny man-made pond filled with bluegills and crawdads. The nitrogen they produce in the water fills a gerry-rigged irrigation system constructed by the Reebs.

Surrounding all this are beds brimming with tall, swaying anise, fragrant lavender, and mounds of Easter Egg radishes. Anaheim and poblano chili plants are just getting a start, along with onions and green beans. There are some citrus trees, an ancient, still prolific, avocado tree, and, well, a lot of weeds.

The canyon garden is what’s most impressive. Seven years ago the men started clearing out what was long a fire hazard, cut down some diseased Torrey Pines, and began the job of terracing and planting grapevines down the steep slope.

Right now the chardonnay, zinfandel, and pinot noir grapes are just popping out. Around them are colorful nasturtiums, bushy sage plants, fennel, mounds of cardoons — which has thistles that look like artichokes but you don’t eat the thistle, you eat the stalk — and artichokes.

While Reeb is harvesting many of his plants, the big harvest comes in late July and into September. Reeb invited me to return then, when I can see the “after” of this “before” visit. Stay tuned.

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