Coucou, a sleek neighborhood French bistro, just expanded with a new outpost in tony Manhattan Beach, housed in the former Nando Trattoria space. The restaurant from Jesse and Hayley Feldman first opened in Venice in 2023, followed by a location in West Hollywood in 2024.
Coucou’s Manhattan Beach location serves the same menu as the others, with a lineup of French-California favorites like market crudites with olive tapenade, the Burger Americaine blanketed in a cognac sauce, and steak frites paired with garlic jus. The knife-and-fork L’Haute Dog also makes an appearance, alongside mussels mariniere with coconut milk and vadoudan, gnocchi Parisienne in a basil-comte pesto, and a soft serve sundae encased in a hard chocolate shell. A daily apero hour will run from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. with discounted drinks and snacks such as pommes frites, zucchini beignets, and steak tartare. Reservations for Coucou Manhattan Beach can be made on Resy.
Ggiata expands to Echo Park
Que Viva El Pulque! launch party at Komal
Komal will celebrate the debut of Juan Escalona’s Que Viva El Pulque!, a new book focusing on the indigenous Mexican liquor, on May 5. At the event, chef Fátima Juárez will be in conversation with Escalona about the book and plans to prepare a few bites for the crowd using pulque. The event is free to attend.
Mother’s Day cakes from Santa Canela
Highland Park bakery Santa Canela is offering pre-orders on flowers and sweets for Mother’s Day. This year, strawberry chiffon cake, a pastry box with Santa Canela favorites, and a bouquet will be available to order until May 8. Pre-order directly through Santa Canela.
Venice’s Abbot Kinney continues to grow