Admit it, you forgot Mother’s Day was this weekend until you saw the headline. No worries, there are plenty of tasty ways to celebrate the L.A. mom in your life on Sunday, or for that matter, anytime this summer.
Whether she’d prefer a brunch fit for a foodie, a posh steak dinner or a picnic under the stars, here are a few suggestions to suit any mother’s taste buds.
Baran’s 2239
This hotspot owned by brothers Jonathan and Jason Baran, situated in an unassuming strip mall in Hermosa Beach, is perfect for anyone who loves unique share plates served with a craft IPA.
The South Bay space is reminiscent of a neighborhood bar, featuring wooden tables and a large wall mirror, exposed rafters and a wraparound bar with sports playing on the overhead TV.
Executive Chef Tyler Gugliotta has put together a stellar menu, so come hungry. Start with the daily donut and the housemade granola atop housemade yogurt. It’s a sweet way to start the meal and pairs well with the sparkling rose.
Housemade granola
From there, move on to something savory. I recommend the smoked belly hash, with Weiser potatoes, pepper relish and two eggs sunny side up. It pairs well with an on-tap beer, most of which hail from California. If you do feel like staying on the sweet side, the bread pudding French toast with pink peppercorn cream, passionfruit and gooseberry is certainly a treat. The trio of bacon -- jerk, maple and applewood -- makes an ideal side to any dish.
Bread pudding French toast
BOA
If you want your mom to temporarily forget about the grandchildren you still owe her, wine and dine her at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood. Innovative Dining Group’s impressive space on the west end of the Sunset Strip features indoor and patio dining, complete with firepits and frequent celebrity sightings.
Chef’s foie gras
The modern-day steakhouse has a robust list of appetizers and it’s hard to choose just one. Choose two or three. The roasted bone marrow is a must, but I’d also recommend the chef’s foie gras and tableside prime steak tartare, topped with quail egg and served with house-made pickles and grilled toast.
Roasted bone marrow
Let’s get to the steak. While you can’t go wrong with any cut you choose, served with your choice of rubs and housemade sauces (I recommend their signature J-1 sauce), I’m partial to the center cut filet Mignon. The Wagyu flat-iron is lately giving it a run for the money though. Still, the sides are not to be missed — truffle mashed potatoes are out of this world and the mac ‘n’ cheese is also a decadent indulgence.
The restaurant will have a special menu for Mother’s Day brunch. During brunch hours, there will be a seafood bar, carving station, crepe station and custom egg bar, in addition to a mimosa cart.
The Hollywood Bowl
For the mom who appreciates an experience with her meal, it’s hard to beat tickets to a Hollywood Bowl show under the stars. May features a few concerts (Sunday night’s show is every mom’s favorite band, Train) or snag her some seats to an upcoming performance. This season’s shows include Tony Bennett, The Moody Blues, John Williams (of course) and even the Muppets.
The venue is stepping up its dining options this year: Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, of A.O.C, Lucques and Tavern fame, will be offering “grab-and-go” options and prepared picnics designed for wine pairings. If you don’t picnic at the Bowl with a bottle or two of wine, can you really call yourself an Angeleno?
