Quite a few restaurants are featuring specials and limited-time offers for the holidays. You can find that unique addition to your holiday dinner or party this time of year. For me, I look forward to seeing delicious items that I have not tried before or experiencing unique takes on a classic dessert. Listed below are some interesting holiday takeout specials.
Westside
Birdie G’s
Get their “World Famous” Rose Petal Pie for that holiday dinner. It’s available all-month long as 6″ and 9″ whole pies. Order online through Tock or call 310-310-3616 after 2 p.m. with 48 hours’ notice.
Birdie G’s, 2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404; 310.310.3616; birdiegsla.com
Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe
Pastry Chef Laurel Almerinda is baking Egg Nog Bread Pudding, Strawberry Cranberry Trifle, and boxes of Christmas Cookies. Plus, there are Holiday Cookie Decorating and Gingerbread House Kits available until Dec 24. Baking kits require 24 hours notice. Pre-order online through Tock, call 310.451.2311, or e-mail catering@huckleberrycafe.com.
Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe, 1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 310.451.2311; huckleberrycafe.com
Lanea
Santa Monica’s Lanea Cocktail Bar celebrates the season with various holiday tamales carefully crafted by Petra Zavaleta of East LA’s Barbakush. Lanea’s Holiday Tamales include: Grilled Chicken with Petra’s Secret Seasoning, Grilled Pork with Petra’s Secret Seasoning, Vegetarian filled with queso mozzarella, or the Pina, a vegan tamale filled with fresh pineapple. All tacos are handmade to order on 100% gluten-free corn masa tortillas and wrapped in a corn husk. Lanea will be offering Zavaleta’s tamales for $3.00 each, weekends only, through the end of the year.
Lanea, 217 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 424.265.7437 gotolanea.com
If holiday tamales interest you, a curated list is available here.
Bianca
Want to impress your guests at your family get-together? Consider a Bûche de Noël or a beautiful Panettone from Bianca. This fan-favorite Italian sweet bread is offered in two flavors: Classic Candied Fruits or Bianca’s signature flavor, Chocolate Orange. Don’t worry if you can’t decide; they also have gift baskets.
Bianca, 8850 Washington Blvd. Culver City Ca 90232; 424.603.4353; biancalosangeles.com
Pasta Sisters
Pasta Sisters continues their holiday tradition by making their popular handmade tortellini. Use this ultra-fresh pasta to amplify your pasta salad’s quality or make creamy tortellini with fresh spinach and tomatoes.
Pasta Sisters, 3280 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90232; 424.603.4503; pastasisters.com
South Bay and San Pedro
Becker’s Bakery
Beckers Bakery is a family-owned bakery that has been operating for three generations. It is known for its whimsical cakes and cookies. They offer their famous sugar cookies with Santa faces and gingerbread men ($3 ea.). They also feature kits such as sugar ($24) or gingerbread ($28) cookies, as well as a gingerbread house kit ($60).
Becker’s Bakery, 1025 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; 310.372.3214; beckersbakeryanddeli.com
Torrance Bakery
If you are stuck at home, gingerbread house decorating kits are an excellent way to entertain the kids and are available at Torrance Bakery. The large kit includes an assembled undecorated gingerbread house, whiteboard, a generous amount of frosting, Santa and sleigh, two plastic trees, and various items like pretzels, pillow mints, M&M’s, jelly beans, spice drops, candy canes, and more. The price for the kit is $41.95.
Torrance Bakery, 1341 El Prado Ave, Torrance, CA 90501; 310.320.2722; torrancebakery.com
San Pedro Fish Market
Beginning Fri, Dec 10 through Tue, Dec 21, San Pedro Fish Market invites shrimp lovers to experience the 12 Days of Shrimp. It is an opportunity to win a World Famous Shrimp Tray, branded apparel, and other various merchandise giveaways. Follow @SanPedroFish on Instagram and Facebook. San Pedro Fish will announce a different giveaway or promotion at 7 a.m. every day during the event. Promotions end at 7 p.m. each evening, and winners will be announced on social media the following day.
San Pedro Fish Market, 1190 Nagoya Way, San Pedro, CA 90731; 310.832.4251; sanpedrofish.com
San Fernando Valley
Creme Caramel LA
Creme Caramel is back with their show-stopping Bûche De Noël. This year they offer both their traditional chocolate/mascarpone version and a Filipino version made using ube and coconut. All Bûche De Noël must be ordered seven days in advance of pick-up. Christmas Eve hours 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.
Crème Caramel LA, 14849 Burbank Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411; 818.949.8352; cremecaramella.com
Berolina Bakery
Some of Berolina’s holiday specials include a Bûche De Noël a rich chocolate roll filled with chocolate, or Raspberry mousse topped with chocolate buttercream. Serves 8 – 10. $50.45
Looking for a festive coffee cake for breakfast? The Christmas Tree Coffee Cake is a fresh-baked cinnamon danish coffee cake baked in a Christmas tree pan, covered with icing, sprinkles, and cherries. $13.50
Berolina Bakery, 3421 Ocean View Blvd, Glendale, CA 91208; 818.249.6506; berolinabakery.com