Best Pumpkin Dishes In Los Angeles
Haven pumpkin gratin (credit: Moxxe PR)
Pumpkin as the main attraction is the epitome of fall season deliciousness. Creative culinary visions abound as chefs around Los Angeles are busily creating fall menus to feature seasonal produce. Pumpkins are harvested in autumn, making it a popular ingredient to cook. Savory and sweet pumpkin dishes are plentiful and here are the best five dishes in town.
(credit: Messhall Kitchen)
Messhall Kitchen
4500 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 660-6377
www.messhallkitchen.com
Messhall Kitchen thrives in the original home of The Brown Derby and Cecil B. DeMille's Willard's Chicken Inn (their crispy chicken is still on the Messhall menu). Spearheaded by Chef Lauren Cartmel, known from her days at the Polo Lounge and Comme Ca, Messhall Kitchen is a comfortable gathering place with re-imagined comfort foods. During pumpkin season, Cartmel will be serving several menu options such as corn fritters with poblano peppers and pumpkin seed romesco sauce, roasted pumpkin bisque with black truffle and fresh mozzarella grilled cheese, winter kale Caesar salad with pumpkin, pepitas, garlic croutons and a house Caesar dressing, scallops with Kabocha squash risotto and a pumpkin cheesecake made with gingersnap crust.
(credit: Stir Market)
Stir Market
7475 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 503-4210
www.stirmarket.com
Stir Market is one of L.A.'s newest restaurant concepts. Considered a modern California take on the classic European food hall experience, Stir Market mixes epicurean retail space and boutique dining overseen by chef/partner and Food Network's Jet Tila. Distinctive food stalls will include a market salad bar where a red kuri squash salad will be offered. The small red-orange pumpkin salad will also have butternut squash, pumpkin seeds and pomegranate mixed into it. Other stalls will include chef-driven take-away fare, an artisan bakery, charcuterie and cheese stations, rotisserie, wine and craft beer bar and an espresso bar.
(credit: Fig & Olive)
Fig & Olive
8490 Melrose Place
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 360-9100
www.figandolive.com
Fig & Olive, a slice of coastal France located in Los Angeles, welcomes the fall season with a savory pumpkin pasta. Executive Chef Pascal Lorange is serving a pumpkin sage ravioli made with free range chicken, ricotta and charmoula (a popular marinade from the regions of Africa), topped with a pumpkin olive oil emulsion, toasted pumpkin seeds, parmesan and aged balsamic Frantoio olive oil. Fig & Olive is passionate about seeking out the best olive oils from the Riviera and coastal regions of the South of France, Italy and Spain. The restaurant offers tastings at the beginning of each meal.
(credit: Picca)
Picca
9575 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 277-0133
www.piccaperu.com
Executive Chef and restaurant partner Ricardo Zarate has an adventurous passion for creating nibbles with Peruvian flair. Considered a modern cantina, Picca serves Peruvian cuisine with Japanese influences. Currently on the menu, guests will find two seasonal dishes — zapallo, a roasted pumpkin dish, and locro de quinoa, a pumpkin quinoa stew served with a fried egg. Picca also features a signature cocktail menu, spearheaded by Beverage Director Julian Cox.
(credit: Michelle R./Yelp)
Firefly
11720 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 762-1833
www.fireflystudiocity.com
At the adored dining and drinking destination of Firefly, Chef Paul Shoemaker is creating a richly flavored fall soup to warm the spirit. Firefly's roasted pumpkin soup is made with Musque de Provence pumpkin (better known as the fairytale pumpkin), Brussels sprouts and roasted chestnuts. The soup is drizzled with aged-bourbon maple syrup. Firefly welcomes guests to the indoor/outdoor space where it is cozy all year long.
