Foursquare Check-in at The Oaks Gourmet

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have already seen my tweets on the matter. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of American Express programs designed to increase their customers’ loyalty – and last summer, they aimed at the social media savvy by partnering up with American Express.

Last Thanksgiving, the Saturday after Black Friday (after Thanksgiving Day), was a day they declared Small Business Saturday. If you spent $25 at a small business, you got $25 statement credit. Fortunately, the program was such a success they decided to extend a $10 statement credit deal to American Express members that are also on Foursquare. Yay!

All you do is sync your Foursquare account with your American Express card, and then start shopping. When you’re searching for venues at which to check in, small businesses participating in this Amex deal will show the orange “Special” tag in its listing, so you know what to look for. Just pay with your American Express and the $10 credit appears on your statement “within 3-5 business days,” according to Foursquare. I’m currently awaiting mine.

I’m not exactly sure when this deal ends, but it was touted as “limited time only,” with my reading word around the web that it could end very soon! Maybe even today? So I’d definitely sync up my card right now and get shopping! The great thing is that small businesses encompass tons of food, retail and services you never even thought of. Just check what Foursquare check-in Amex specials are nearby wherever you are, right now.

The fine print: “Purchase must be made within 24 hours of your check-in.”
The drawback in fine print: “Limit one $10 credit across all participating merchants.” What a waste of so many small business options to choose from, right? I guess at least they’re getting the neighborhood attention they deserve by showing that “Special” tag in their listing.

Happy shopping! And Happy New Year!

Photo credit to algo on Flickr

Where are you eating on Sunday? Hopefully you’re looking for a spot to brunch or dine at, because this particular round-up is one I can’t take advantage of myself since I’ll be in Mammoth. Whether you’re looking for bottomless bubbly, a buffet, a prix fixe menu or simply special dishes offered for the holiday, there are plenty of options all around town. Though I tried finding spots to represent the LA neighborhoods equally, apparently the Christians live on the westside as most of the specials I’ve found skew toward that side of town. It’s a curious thing, especially to an adoptive eastsider like myself.

Take a look below for your Sunday feast of choice on April 4, 2010:

Santa Monica: Whist at The Viceroy

Spend Easter by the beach. Whist at The Viceroy’s Executive Chef Tony DiSalvo (formerly of NYC’s Jean Georges) will be procuring an Easter feast to extend throughout the day but offered as two separate buffet menus: Brunch and dinner. Expect a shellfish station as well as a leg of lamb/prime rib station whether you do afternoon or night, but omelettes and grits in the first half and a risotto station in the second. The best part? The price includes access to the bellini station and house wine. Not bad for a such a snazzy place like Whist…

Whist Brunch & Dinner Menu

Brunch Buffet: 11 AM – 3 PM – $55

Dinner Buffet: 3 PM – 7 PM – $55

Children’s Buffet: $18

11 AM – 7 PM

$55 buffet incl. Bellini station, house wine

Whist at Viceroy Santa Monica
1819 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.260.7511

Venice, Beverly Hills & Downtown: Chaya

From 11 AM – 3 PM, Chaya’s all over Los Angeles will be offering a 3-course prix-fixe Easter Brunch menu. It will cost $35 for adults and $15 for young adults (12 and under), who have their own menu. For the adults, though, bottomless mimosas are included – so I’d highly recommend making a reservation right away to secure your slot. You can do this through Open Table.

At Chaya Venice (full menu), who will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in April 2010, guests can enjoy unique selections such as:

• Spring Jumbo Crispy Asparagus with Romesco Salsa
• Roasted Beet Wedge Salad with Bacon, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Blue Cheese Dressing
• Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict with Asparagus and Roasted Potatoes

11 AM – 3 PM

$35 prix fixe incl. bottomless mimosas

Chaya Venice
110 Navy Street
Venice, CA 90291
310.396.1179

Chaya Brasserie Beverly Hills (full menu), pick from an assortment of fresh brasserie-style fare including:

• The CHAYA Classic Tuna Tartare
• Cinnamon Roll French Toast with Farmer’s Market Berry Compote
• Grilled Free-Range Chicken Breast with Apple & Fourme d’Ambert.

11 AM – 3 PM

$35 prix fixe incl. bottomless mimosas

Chaya Brasserie Beverly Hills
8741 Alden Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.859.8833

At Chaya Downtown (full menu), local dwellers can soak up the sun on the outdoor patio as they enjoy:

• Avocado, Grapefruit, and Shaved Fennel Salad
• Flash-Seared Albacore Carpaccio with Yuzu Pepper Sauce.
• Sliced New York Steak with Wild Arugula, Poached Egg, and Truffle Vinaigrette

11 AM – 3 PM

$35 prix fixe incl. bottomless mimosas

Chaya Downtown
525 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213.236.9577

Westwood: Napa Valley Grille

At this Westwood mainstay, you have a couple options at your disposal so you can tailor your Easter brunch to precisely the celebration you’re looking for. Executive Chef Gillard creates a personalized brunch experience with market-driven, à la carte small plates that diners can mix and match including:

• Lemon Curd Griddle Toast with Blood Orange Syrup and Strawberries ($5.50)
• Frittata with Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus, Roasted Peppers, Fromage Blanc ($5.50)
• Silver Dollar Buttermilk Pancakes, Meiwa Kumquat Marmalade ($5.25)
• Corned Beef Hash Benedict, Roasted Potatoes, Peppers, Onions, Poached Eggs, Hollandaise ($5.75)
• Pasta Scramble, Cultivated Mushrooms, House Made Pasta, Pico de Gallo ($5.25)
• Variety of seasonal salads, hearty sandwiches, and entrées

There will also be an Easter Brunch buffet option, which will run you $49 per adult and $19 per child (12 and under). You’ll select from a wide variety of seasonal brunch dishes (kept warm over hot bricks), all complemented by freshly-made breads, desserts, and sweets from Pastry Chef Manuel Ortega. Take a look at the menu to see what’s on the spread:

Napa Valley Grille Easter Brunch Buffet Menu

10:30 AM – 3 PM

Small plates or $49 for buffet

Tableside Bloody Marys and Mojitos from $12 each

Napa Valley Grille
1100 Glendon Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.824.3322

West Hollywood: RH Restaurant

RH will host an Easter brunch buffet from 10 AM to 4 PM. With its beautiful transparent kitchen, diners will enjoy the camaraderie of chef Sebastien Archambault cooking in plain view. It costs $52 per person for adults; $20 for children under 12. The regular dinner menu will also be available until 11 PM on Easter.

Reserve a table

10 AM – 4 PM

$52 buffet

RH Restaurant at The Andaz
8401 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
323.785.6090

West Hollywood: Gordon Ramsay at The London

The Gordon Ramsay Restaurant will offer Easter brunch al fresco in the Hampton Courtyard at the London. Enjoy the view while feasting on the buffet, starting at 11 AM and ending at 3 PM. You’ll find items in the buffet like steak benedict, french toast, sushi bar, hot stations, carving stations and a pastry table including mini chocolate creme brulee, strawberry shortbread and freshly baked scones.

11 AM – 3 PM

$85 incl. champagne, mimosas & bloody marys

Gordon Ramsay at The London
(on hotel’s 3rd floor)
1020 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310.358.7788

Culver City: Akasha

You can always count on Chef Akasha Richmond to come up with original recipes relevant to the occasion and season. Each dish is resoundingly comforting, yet refreshing and made only with the finest, local ingredients. The only problem I see is choosing just one entree, or one dessert. Then again, who says you have to?

Easter specials:

• leg of lamb / matzo polenta / balsamic & honey carrots / asparagus
• goat cheese gnocchi / fava beans / fava tendrils / parmesan
• sea bass / pea & green garlic puree / artichokes / roasted tomato
• scallops / shelling peas / pea tendrils / house cured bacon
• ricotta cheesecake / almond biscotti crust / preserved kumquats
• flourless lemon pistachio cake / meyer lemon curd /strawberries
• easter cupcakes / jelly beans / marshmallow fluff

Are you on Foursquare? Now you have incentive to “give back” to the businesses that also love understand your addiction to Foursquare such as Akasha. Not a shoddy mayoral payday, either!! (I also realize that by posting about this I’m increasing my own competition.)

Foursquare Check-in Perks Alert:
1st check-in = Get a free latte
3rd = Complimentary secret cocktail
Mayor = 2 cocktails & an appetizer!

4 PM – 9 PM

Easter specials

Akasha
9543 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA‎ 90232
310.845.1700‎
@akashacc

Culver City: Beacon

Beacon, the imaginative Asian cafe in Culver City, will be serving up a 3-course prix fixe dinner for only $26 per adult or $12 per child. Choose from the following (amazingly delicious-sounding) entrees:

Reserve a table

5:30 – 9 PM

$26 prix fixe

Beacon
3280 Helms Ave.
Culver City, CA 90034
310.838.7500

Downtown: Cafe Pinot

Have Easter Brunch in the most coveted of Los Angeles wedding locations – on a tree-adorned patio shared with the Los Angeles public library. The prix fixe menu for 3 courses is $35 for adults, $15 for children. Savor Kevin Meehan’s delicious Mushroom Risotto or do up brunch with Ricotta Pancakes or Brioche French Toast. Peep below for the full selection:

Prix Fixe Easter Brunch Menu

Reserve a table

10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

$35 prix fixe

Cafe Pinot
700 West Fifth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
213.239.6500

Los Feliz: The Vermont and Rockwell

In Vermont they’ll be serving an all-you-can-eat buffet for only $19.99. Add bottomless mimosas for $15.99. Or, if you’re feeling it more for Rockwell – their clubby, industrial island in the back alley – you can get an a la carte brunch. Their back patio is open and this rare, eastsider Easter celebration will run from 11 AM to 3 PM. Pick your poison.

Reserve a table

11 AM – 3 PM

$19.99 all-you-can-eat + $15.99 bottomless mimosas (The Vermont)
A la carte (Rockwell)

The Vermont and Rockwell
1714 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles CA, 90027
323.661.6163

Pasadena: Dish Bistro & Bar

Dish Bistro & Bar in Old Town Pasadena is celebrating Easter with a special brunch and bubbly menu. Bottles of Prosecco are on special for $15 each, and come with carafes of fresh-squeezed juice for your mimosan delight. Brunch specials are priced a la carte; you can expect dishes from Chef Job Carder such as:

• Wild Mushroom Omelets with House-made Bacon
• House-cured Lox and Bagels
• Pain Perdu with house-made brioche

Pastry chef Kristin Ferguson will be baking up oven-fresh Banana Walnut Muffins and Cherry Cheesecake Danish

10 AM – 3 PM

A la carte dishes, $15 bottles of Prosecco

Dish Bistro & Bar
53 E. Union St.
Pasadena, CA 91103
626.795.5546

Long Beach: The Queen Mary

Whether you’re in it for the spooky, romantic or just plain creepy reasons (or a little of everything), every blog post can use a Jesse James-”Bombshell” McGee punchline. Check out what the individual stations at the champagne brunch have to offer. This seems a prime destination for families as there will be face painting and a visit by the Easter Bunny. I may be assuming things, but champagne must be included since it is labeled “Champagne Brunch.”

9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

$49.95 per adult, $12 per child

Queen Mary Easter Champagne Brunch
1126 Queens Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
562.499.1606

Happy Easter, everyone!!