From SallyKitt via Flickr

Monsieur Marcel, the gourmet market at The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax, is hosting a series of wine tastings this fall. It costs $30 to $35 to reserve a spot, and in turn, you’ll receive a gift certificate for the full amount of the tasting that you can then use toward the purchase of any of the market’s imported wines. Here’s the lineup:

Tuesday, October 18
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
South of France with a white, rosé and three reds from lesser-known regions
$30

Tuesday, October 25
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Four Côtes du Rhône red wines, including a Chateauneuf-du-Pape
$30

Tuesday, November 1
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Champagne and vin mousseux: two sparkling wines and three bottles from the Champagne region
$35

Reservations are required to secure a space in each tasting. Call (323) 939-7792 to get your spot.

Spa Luce

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with Goldstar to come up with a locals-only stimulus plan dubbed “Locals Only Hollywood Offer,” or LOHO, which is catchier anyway. The LOHO promotions range from 15 percent off at the Pig ‘n Whistle to 50 percent off spa treatments at Spa Luce in the Renaissance Hotel. And just in time for Halloween, Dearly Departed Tours are 50 percent off, too. There’s even a 25 percent off deal for all Farmers Market merchandise (yeah, it’s not really in Hollywood, but don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, OK?). These offers are good through Oct. 31, so get on it!

[UPDATE: To book activities/events, click on the Goldstar link above, then on the "Hollywood: LOHO" link in the left-hand navigation bar to see what's still available.]

[UPDATE #2: According to a Hollywood Chamber of Commerce representative, to redeem discounts at restaurants, spas or anything else not listed on Goldstar, you'll have to inquire with the individual retailer and show proof of residency within the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and/or Riverside.]

Since I started work at USC, I’ve been on the lookout for good, or at least decent, places to eat lunch. Then, lo and behold, a farmers market pops up a few weeks ago at the Shrine Auditorium nearby. I was so excited and went to check it out the very first day. What I found was a great collection of everything from fresh produce to clothing to made-to-order foods to jewelry — and even the Gastrobus food truck.

The market happens every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Shrine (the market is not part of USC). The first time I went, I tried the Gastrobus since I hadn’t before. In addition to its regular menu, the Gastrobus-ers shop the farmers market and create specials based on what they find that day. I had a corn flapjacks made with corn and cheese and topped with sour cream and scallions. They were pretty good, though I’m not sure I would pay $4 for them again. I then moved on to a stall that sells pupusas (the second time I went, I saw two stalls that sell pupusas; the one I went to is not the one with the big “Pupusas” sign). I got one filled with pork for $2 or $3, I can’t remember. It was really filling, so this was a good value. Next time I may try the cheese and squash version.

Gastrobus corn flapjacks

Pork pupusa

The second time I went to the market, I got a huge pork tamale (actually, I think I was given chicken though I asked for pork) for $3. I asked for both kinds of sauce — one red, one green and both delicious — at no extra charge. I also bought some really great plums from a stall run by a Korean family for $2/lb. The quality was superb, and there were four varieties. There was also an Indian food stall that had really tasty vegetable samosas for $2 (the were pretty big) and spinach paratha flat bread. The mint yogurt dip was really, really good.

Tamale

So if you’re in the area, stop by. There are also vendors selling cobbler, French pastries, dried fruits and nuts, agua frescas, hats, purses, and even a guy who plays guitar and sings while you shop. Hopefully I’ll see you there (it’s today!).

Farmers Market. From Rosebud_03 (flickr).

Ever wondered about the inner workings of some of your favorite restaurants in the Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax or along West Third Street? If you take a walking food tour with Melting Pot Food Tours, owners and guides Lisa and Diane Scalia will give you the low down. And now the ladies have expanded their walking tour business into Old Pasadena.

I took the Farmers Market/West Third Street tour back in October, and I had a great time. I had been to the Farmers Market many times before (and since), but I never knew the stories behind some of the decades-old food stands. Some of the places we visited and sampled from included Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts, Pampas Grill, Littlejohn’s English Toffee House and Mr. Marcel Gourmet Market. With the Farmers Market celebrating its 75th anniversary this year (Taste of Farmers Market is tonight, folks!), this tour would be a great way to get to know this L.A. institution better. From there, we walked over to the boutiques on West Third Street and visited all kinds of places, including Little Next Door (where we had some fantastic macaroons), Joan’s on Third and Chado Tea Room. Cook’s Library used to be on the tour, but since its closing, Kiss My Bundt has taken its place. Infinitely yummier in terms of instant gratification!

And now the Scalia sisters (super nice, by the way!) have taken their unique tour to the streets of Old Pasadena, with stops at Tortas Mexico, Bar Celona, Aux Delices Bakery and Cafe, Bird Pick Tea & Herb, Tibet Nepal House, Tutti Gelati and Mignon Chocolate. If this one is anything like the original version, you’ll leave full of food and new-found knowledge. And through the end of July, the Old Pasadena tour is $39 instead of the usual $49, which includes tastings at 9 eateries (11 on the Farmers Market/West Third tour) and a bottle of water to wash it all down. Lisa and Diane will even give you bus tokens to get you back to you car.

Farmers Market/West Third Street tour runs every Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Old Pasadena tour runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Both tours cost $49, except for Pasadena’s, which is $39 through the end of July (use discount code “Rose709″ when ordering on zerve.com).