July 24

You don’t need to head up the coast to taste delicious wine right from the barrel, this Saturday the San Antonio Winery downtown invited you in to taste their boutique wines fright from the barrel.

Wines to be sampled are:

• San Simeon Chardonnay 2008/2009
“Sarmento Vineyard”, Monterey (Barrel Sample)

• San Simeon Chardonnay 2007
Monterey

• San Antonio Winery Cask 520
Component Tasting (2007)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec & Petit Verdot, Paso Robles (Barrel Samples)

• San Antonio Winery “Cask 520” 2006
Bordeaux Blend, Paso Robles

• San Simeon Syrah 2007
“Pretty Penny Vineyard”, Paso Robles (Barrel Sample)

• San Simeon Syrah 2006
Paso Robles

• San Simeon Petite Sirah 2007
Paso Robles (Barrel Sample)

• San Simeon Petite Sirah 2006
Paso Robles

You will also be able to nosh on sun dried tomato spread, olive tapenade, roasted garlic crostini, heirloom tomato salad, cucumber granité intermezzo, cold curried lamb, chutney basmati rice, grilled mango, fresh fruit and spicy zinfandel geleé.

A historical landmark since 1965, it is Los Angeles’ only working winery. Founded in 1917 by Santo Cambianica, the winery continues to be a family-owned and operated business, with Santo’s nephew Stefano Riboli his wife Maddalena, their three children Santo, Cathy and Steve and Santo’s son, Anthony now at the helm. 737 Lamar St., downtown, 323.330.8771. www.sanantoniowinery.com

My taste buds needed a Mediterranean fix, but where to go for authentic food? Luckily I found Momed, Beverly Hills’ newest upscale (yet casual) cafe (short for modern Mediterranean), that serves food highlighting the authentic aromas, tastes and textures of cuisine from Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Morocco.

To find these flavors, Momed’s owner Alex Sarkissian, traveled to the Eastern Mediterranean where he discovered the culinary traditions of the region, which executive chef Matt Carpenter (Bin 8945, Bastide, Josie) then elevates with a modern touch.

A perfect example would be Momed’s version of Baleela (chickpeas). Sarkissian stumbled into a restaurant in Lebanon that normally seats about 1,600 people at once, and found a vat of chickpeas soaking in butter in the back. Momed’s version lightens the load of butter and serves the chickpeas with toasted pine nuts, lemon and a brown butter.

Like the food, Momed’s decor is simple and fresh. Order at the counter and see the chefs prepare your food in the open kitchen. The long bar is dotted with mason jars of herbs, while a glass case displays their fresh salads and spreads. Pick a table on the patio, or share a bottle of wine with new friends at the community table. On the wine list General manager Vasilis Tseros included some delicious selections such as a Moscofilero from Greece, a blend of Cinsault, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Grenache from Lebanon and Chardonnay from Israel.

The best way to experience Momed is to pick from the extensive selection salads, spreads, mezze, skewers and flat breads and share—no easy task because so many stand out. As simple as it is, the Tzatziki (cucumber and yoghurt dip with garlic) sparkles because Momed uses real yoghurt where many other Mediterranean spots cut corners using sour cream as a substitute. The Muhammara spread (made from roasted red pepper, walnuts and pomegranates) explodes with flavor and is addictive, as is the Baba ganoush.

Momed bakes their Pidas (flat breads), along with the house-made pita bread, in a wood burning oven. Sarkissian said he chose the former Rosti Tuscan Kitchen space so they could take over their wood-burning oven, which is a scarce commodity these days due to local zoning laws. I couldn’t stop noshing on a Pida that was covered with oven-rosted wild mushrooms, Coleman Family Farm spigarello and akawi cheese and another that came topped with minced chicken breast, pistachios and oven-roasted peaches.

I’ll be going back for the lamb burger (with crispy shallots and cucumber yogurt on a challah bun served with Momo chips), because I was too full to try it after savoring the duck shwarma pita roll. The roll mingles tender, succulent bits of duck with oven-dried tomatoes and makes it pop with a fig confit.

Follow dinner with an assortment of baklava—my favorite are the buttery phyllo rolls made with pistachios—and moist bread pudding. I washed down dessert with a strong, dark Turkish coffee. In addition to the Turkish coffee, Momed serves a full coffee menu that features Intelligentsia coffee. They also have six flavors of Belgian hot chocolate from the Chocolate Box Cafe and traditional Hammam tea, among the chamomile, Moroccan Mint and rose petals selections that round out the tea menu.

Whether you’re dining in or taking out (perhaps a picnic at the Hollywood Bowl), Momed offers a variety of delicious choices for every meal.

Momed, 233 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310.270.4444. atmomed.com

Evening cocktails on a patio? That’s posh. Evening cocktails on a glam rooftop? Talk about a one-up. You can’t throw a martini olive without hitting a rooftop bar in L.A., with fantastic spots in nearly every major neighborhood. Skybar (8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.848.6025) at the Mondrian Hotel and the Standard hotel bars (550 S. Flower St., downtown, 213.892.8080; 8300 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.650.9090) in downtown and Hollywood are perennially packed, and you can also live the high life at newer entries like Suite 700 (1301 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, 310.394.2791) at the Hotel Shangri-La and Drai’s (6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.962.1111) at the W Hollywood. The only things cooler than the ice in your mint julep are the hip company and refreshing evening air.

On July 13, In celebration of the L.A. institution’s 76th birthday, the Farmers Market offers guests a culinary tour of the market, with tastes from 45 of its restaurants and grocers—chicken pot pies, ice cream, gumbo, steaks, shakes and other indulgent fare—for an all-inclusive price.

Debuting at this event will be Short Order, a new casual American burger concept by Amy Pressman, Nancy Silverton and Bill Chait. Pressman will be preparing a tasting version of one menu item, "Ida’s Old School Burger," for tasters at the event. Silverton’s proprietary special Burger Blend sold exclusively at Huntington Meats in the Farmers Market.

The Market’s many retail establishments will also be offering specially priced merchandise for Taste of Farmers Market customers. All attendees will receive a Farmers Market savings book with coupons that can be used for return visits to the Farmers Market. 5-9 p.m. Tickets are available in three packages: $25 for food only, $30 for food plus 2 wine/beer tickets and the VIP package at $50, which gets access to all the food, extra beer/wine tickets, the coupon book plus expedited admission, a choice of the Farmers Market Cookbook or the Farmers Market history book, a Market tote and a free parking pass for a return visit. 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.933.9211 Map I13 www.farmersmarketla.com

At the rear of Shorty’s Barber Shop, the hippest clip joint in town, is a men’s boutique called Public Service, whose design was inspired by a collegiate gymnasium. In fact, some of the vintage-style T-shirts from The Original Retro Brand are displayed on air hockey or Ping-Pong tables, but gallery-quality art provides a sophisticated counterbalance. A venture of Chris Bair (owner of Shorty’s) and fashion stylist Lauren Megson, Public Service is the perfect place to browse for ecofriendly Revel Seven jeans, casual shirts from L.A.-based NSF or classic Ray-Bans while waiting for a haircut. The shop also carries a variety of cool gadgets and gifts, like ultrasleek, sustainably produced plastic water bottles from KOR or high-fidelity Spitfire headphones. 755 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A., 323.951.1191. publicservicela.com