Rare Weekend 5.29.08

Hello June.



Add Charlie Palmer to the list of celebrity chefs landing in LA. Yes, Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s has arrived. Feast on Crisp Pork Belly with Melon, Lemongrass Poached Lobster, and Apricot Crusted Rack of Lamb (um, yum). Peruse the menu. Opens tomorrow.

Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, (714) 352-2525, charliepalmer.com

Take 30 percent off Spring and Resort collections for men and women at John Varvatos’s Summer Sale. Starts this Saturday at all JV shops and ends when the goods are gone.

John Varvatos, 8800 Melrose Avenue, WeHo, (310) 859-2970, johnvarvatos.com

It’s not often that you can eat well and score goodwill, so consider this weekend’s Taste of the Nation. LA’s top chefs (Providence’s Michael Cimarusti, Sona and Comme Ça’s David Myers, Craft’s Tom Colicchio, and others) will be participating to help Share Our Strength. This Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Culver City Media Park, 9070 Venice Blvd. (at Culver Blvd.), Culver City, (877) 268-2783, taste.strength.org

The start of the workweek means Sip and Swirl Mondays at Vinoteque. Swill lots of vino. Pair with light menu selections. Flirt a little. Repeat. $40 gets you 5 vinos and 3 starters.

Vinoteque, 4437 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, (310) 482-3490, vinotequela.com

We’ll be poolside at Whist for Taste of Tuesday where $5 gets us (and you) Elk Tenderloin with Foie Gras Cherry Butter, Soy Salmon with Spicy Cucumber, and other small plates. Every Tuesday through Labor Day, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Whist, 1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, (310) 260-7500, viceroysantamonica.com