This 12 months has already seen a trio of latest eateries opening in Santa Monica, every providing a variety that differs considerably from many, extra typical quick meals shops.
“I’m excited to see so many new eating places opening as a result of Santa Monica has such a powerful give attention to wholesome residing and train is the proper marketplace for opening health-focused, new eating choices,” mentioned Susan Hojer, Vice President of Membership and Growth for the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.
Positioned at 2200 Colorado Ave, Hummus Xpress presents precisely what the title suggests. And whereas the meals there may be actually reasonably tasty, some confusion is commonplace because the retailer has chosen to undertake the phrase “a style of Italy” as a part of its branding.
Retailer proprietor Timmonique Burnett insists that garbanzo beans often known as chickpeas, the first ingredient in hummus, originate from Italy.
“Folks don’t do their analysis relating to the origin of chickpeas and garbanzo beans. So should you actually lookup the place it comes from, that’s the place we obtained Italy,” Burnett says.
Nonetheless, whereas the jury is out on the origin story, on the very least it will get clients wanting up historical past, tradition and overseas delicacies. And no matter their origins, Burnett makes use of them in all kinds of various and scrumptious methods, together with a pizza with a base comprised of pita bread.
Initially from Compton, Burnett lately needed to alter her personal weight-reduction plan and noticed a possibility in Santa Monica to open a enterprise as a result of “folks right here give attention to wholesome eating,” and she or he has no intention of holding to only one outlet.
“Our aim is to start out franchising in 2024 and we have already got some folks on our radar who’re serious about making an attempt to accomplice with us. So proper now I’m working with an legal professional to get all of the logistics collectively,” she mentioned.
Highlights from the menu embrace the lemon pepper pizza (pita bread pizza base, hummus unfold, lemon pepper hen, cheese and tomatoes) however for the very best expertise, ask what for regardless of the chef recommends.
In the meantime, on the Promenade, a brand new idea from Chipotle referred to as Farmesa has opened on the Kitchen United Combine area (formally the Gallery Meals Corridor) at 1315 third Road and “encompasses a strong, customizable menu of contemporary substances served in bowls.”
Prospects can place an order both by way of onsite kiosks, on the Kitchen United web site or for pickup and supply by way of market apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Farmesa serves quite a lot of bowls ranging in worth from $11.95 to $16.95. Every bowl encompasses a protein, inexperienced or grain, two sides, a alternative of 5 sauces and a topping possibility.
“Considered one of our strategic targets is to create or put money into rising culinary areas and restaurant ideas that match inside Chipotle’s meals with integrity mission and make contemporary meals each day,” mentioned Brian Niccol, Chairman and Chief Govt Officer in a press launch. “Our New Ventures crew, which was created in 2022, developed a singular restaurant idea that makes use of traditional culinary strategies with flavorful substances in a quick informal setting that we’re excited to check and be taught on earlier than we decide a broader rollout technique.”
Farmesa launched with a restricted run menu to start with adopting the complete menu that features dishes like traditional Santa Maria-style grilled tri-tip steak, spice-crusted ora king salmon, whipped potatoes, golden beets, sprouted cauliflower and candy potato chips.
Lastly, the favored, Southern Californian salad store chain Well being Nut is opening its fourth location in Los Angeles County, positioned at 1447 Lincoln Blvd. In response to the web site, it’s scheduled to open someday within the spring, though no official date has but been confirmed.
What began in 1988 as a family-owned vitamin retailer, the chain has advanced right into a profitable sequence of wholesome consuming shops and even has plans to open a fifth location after Santa Monica, in Culver Metropolis.
scott.snowden@smdp.com