Gem of a Market-to-Table Restaurant Celebrates Fifth Anniversary with New Dinner, Cocktail, Meals-to-Go Menus; Pressed Juicery Now Available On Site
For LA trivia buffs, did you know BLVD 16 restaurant, located on Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood, is named after that very boulevard stretching 16 miles from downtown to Santa Monica? Located adjacent to Kimpton’s The Hotel Palomar Los Angeles-Westwood, the restaurant celebrates its fifth anniversary with a series of new menus, including dinner, cocktail and meals-to-go. And, in keeping with Kimpton’s wellness mantra, Blvd 16 now serves a selection of Pressed Juicery juices.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has become a nationwide leader in initiating chef-driven,flexible and approachable culinary experiences that home in on locally-sourced ingredients, unique and seasonal beverage programs and menus that are anything but cookie cutter.
BLVD 16 at The Hotel Palomar, led by Chef Richard Hodge, functions as an all day dining restaurant for hotel and non-hotel guests alike. The restaurant’ssleek design belies the approachable menu – not meantto break the bank – featuring items from $8 for shareable plates to $32 for large plates and a three-course prix fixe lunch for $15. Says Hodge, “When I am able to bring new ingredients to the restaurant, nothing makes me happier. I am fortunate to have very talented and passionate vendors. I visit the local markets year round to get inspiration, which is reflected in my menus. Great, fresh, high-quality, thoughtfully-prepared cuisine is expected by each of our customers, regardless if that person is a guest of the lounge or is attending a banquet for 200.”
The new menu offerings include:
Pressed Juicery: Those who benefit from juicing don’t have to sacrifice their lifestyle at The Hotel Palomar. A selection of Pressed Juicery’s “Nourish” juices, which include Greens 2, Roots 3 and Vanilla Almond is delivered daily and available at Blvd 16, for room service and for banquets and catering.
Craft Cocktail and Wine Menus: BLVD 16’s lounge is one of Westwood’s most popular bars. It offers not one, but TWO, “rush” hours – from 4 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight. Its new seasonal craft cocktail menu is original and creative, while the wine menu gets kudos for the small batch wineries it sources and supports. The SassyPeach with Espolon Reposado Tequila, Summer Peach Syrup, Muddled Jalapeno and Fresh Citrus is as spicy as the Watermelon Cooler with Hangar One Vodka, Local Jasmine Liqueur, Watermelon and Fresh Lime is refreshing. Wines from Dunning Zinfandel, Cambria Pinot Noir and Moraga Red& White Blends are also great finds and great values. Soon to come is beer on draft, which will complete the lovingly handcrafted selections already on the beverage menus.
Dinner Menu: Offering Farmer’s Market and “Daily Whims” specials, Shareable Plates, signature Flatbreads, as well as Large Plates, the new BLVD 16 dinner menu features items such as Quinoa with Cucumber, Oven Roasted Tomato, Feta Cheese, Olives and Mint Pesto; Shishito Peppers with Pickled Onions and Pink Peppercorn Aioli and a Chef’s favorite Flatbread with Rapini, Spicy Chorizo, Cracked Pepper and Lemon Crème Fraiche. ChefHodge features seasonal ingredients that he’s discovered off the beaten path: Stinging Nettles, Purple Haricot Vert, and Pink Peppercorns are offered on the current menu. Large plates include Boneless Short Ribwith Pesto Grits, Summer Squash and Roasted Tomatoes and Grilled Salmon with Peas 3 Ways, Mushrooms and Herbed Lemon Butter. Chef’s Daily Whims include Water, Grill, Land and Raw selections such as 5-Spice Sea Bass, Summer Shrimp Louie Salad and ApricotBraised Pork Belly. Prices range from $8 to $13 for Farmer’s Market items, Flatbreads and Shareable plates and $15 to $32 for Large Plates.
Meals-to-Go: Whether guests are going to the Hollywood Bowl, the Getty Museum or taking one of The Hotel Palomar’s new PUBLIC bikes out for a spin, the new Meals-to-Go Menu includes three options: Trailblazer with fresh and healthy items such as house made trail mix, whole fruit, fresh juices and sandwiches; Sunset on the Beach, as romantic as it sounds with such items as chocolate covered strawberries, Rocken Wagner artisanal breads, imported and domestic cheese with seasonal fruit and the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market which includes a fresh mixed green salad with a selection of additions, from grilled chicken and smoked salmon, to fresh vegetables, cheese and croutons. Each menu is $25 and serves two.
Chef Hodges’ creativity overflows to all catered events making each one unique, whether a business meeting or social gathering. All group guests are offered a chef-driven BLVD 16 experience, from menu planning to execution by Chef Hodge and his culinary team. David Houde, Director of Catering, says, “The philosophies used for BLVD 16, including sourcing farm-to-table, sustainable, organic ingredients, are the foundation of each catered affair.”
Catering clientele can choose from a seasonal banquet menu that is created and prepared by Chef Hodge and his team, but many guests request their favorite items from BLVD 16’s menus, or ask Chef Hodge to customize menus from scratch to match the group’s budget and theme. Some of the most popular items for business meetings are from the Farmer’s Market menu, which allows Chef Hodge to change ingredients seasonally based on what he finds at market, or the Trailblazer’s build-your-own trail mix and house made granola.
About BLVD 16:
Blvd 16, located adjacent to the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles, offers innovative, seasonal American cuisine inspired by the area’s bountiful selections. Blvd 16’s menu, created by Chef Richard Hodge, includes only the freshest seafood, poultry and produce, culled from local and regional sources and prepared with authenticity, vibrancy and flavor. The restaurant seats more than 60 guests in the dining room andoffers two private dining areas perfect for intimate dinners and small private parties. Blvd 16’s bar serves an exceptional assortment of fine wines, contemporary and seasonal craft cocktails and small, shareable plates. Blvd 16 serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90024. Call 310-474-7765, visit www.blvd16.com and follow on Facebook for updates on special events, holiday offerings and wine tastings.
About The Hotel Palomar Los Angeles-Westwood:
The Hotel Palomar Los Angeles is centrally located in the Westwood Village neighborhood and fuses modern Hollywood glamour with a keenly curated focus on the arts for a refreshing experience in upscale boutique hotels. Its location provides easy access to Beverly Hills and shopping on Rodeo Drive, the breezy beaches of Venice and Santa Monica, the Skirball Cultural Center, Hammer Museum, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles andGetty Villa in Malibu. The Hotel Palomar Los Angeles features 268 spacious guest rooms including 30 suites, of which 24 are spa suites with Fuji soaking tubs, 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and all the amenities that a Kimpton hotel is known for including complimentary coffee/tea and wine hour, pet-friendly program, mind, body, spa services, pool and lounge. The Hotel Palomar is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90024. For more information call 310-475-8781, visit www.hotelpalomar-lawestwood.com and follow on Facebook.
