Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1013885
18 / the tasting panel / august 2018 BRIEF ENCOUNTERS Los Angeles' New Amalfi Coast– Inspired Eatery Cal Mare Unveils Its Sunday Brunch Menu L ocated in L.A.'s Beverly Center shopping complex, Cal Mare trans- ports you to the coast of Italy with its indulgent cuisine and regionally sourced ingredients. With brightly colored decor, draping bougainvillea plants, and a relaxed ambiance, Cal Mare serves as a Mediterranean escape in the heart of Southern California that's well suited to a summery Sunday brunch. Headed up by chefs Adam Sobel and Michael Mina, the restaurant opened in November as one of the first additions to the recently renovated center. Top Chef alumni Joseph Sasto III now runs the show as Executive Chef, focusing on an array of Amalfi Coast–inspired Italian cuisine through the restaurant's newly crafted brunch selection. Guests can whet their appetites before their meal with the menu's cocktail selection: Choose from a trio of Bloody Mary cocktails, including the Giardino with tomatillo, apple, celery, and melon, or dive into the bottomless Aperol Spritz. One of the focal points at Cal Mare, the raw bar, includes an array of fresh, sustain- ably sourced fish and shellfish, but those harboring more of a sweet tooth for brunch can opt for the warm, cinnamon sugar–coated bomboloni (Italian doughnuts with vanilla custard, apricot jam, and elderflower honey) or the tiramisu toast with vanilla mascarpone, candied hazelnut, and espresso syrup. Brunch is available at Cal Mare on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. —Madelyn Gagnon Coast– Unveils appetites Bloody melon, or fresh, sustain- for brunch doughnuts with with vanilla The tiramisu toast at Cal Mare comes decadently topped with vanilla mascarpone, candied hazelnuts, and espresso syrup. A fter a complete revamp of both its restaurant and beverage program, hillside Burbank hideaway Castaway has reopened for busi- ness. With a beverage overhaul conducted by Master Sommelier candidate Paul Coker, the bar now features an extensive wine list of 150-plus offerings, an assortment of local craft beers, specialty cocktails that riff on the classics, a Hemingway Daiquiri, and two housemade punches. Along with its new digs, Castaway has introduced a "Tappy Hour" menu featuring $3 off all beverages on tap from 4–6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The bar offers ten tap beers, eight wines, two punches, and two tap cocktails: a Margarita and an award-winning Moscow Mule. —Madelyn Gagnon New Look, New Happy Hour at Castaway in Burbank Castaway in Burbank recently unveiled the results of its renovation.