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L.A.’s Restaurant Week is starting back up this weekend (Jan. 24 to Jan. 29, and Jan. 31 to Feb. 5), and to kick off the event, which comes just about three months after the last incarnation wrapped up, Dine L.A. (the city’s food arm of its tourism board, L.A. INC.) threw a party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Lots of chefs were there, some wearing their chef jackets (Ben Ford, Joachim Splichal) and others not (Ludovic Lefebvre, Marcel Vigneron), as was Mayor Villaraigosa, but what event hasn’t he shown up to? Anyway, the party was catered by the hotel’s Dakota Chop House, 25 Degrees and Library Bar. Here are some of my favorites.

By far the standout food items at the event were the drinks. The arugula gimlet, made with gin, lime, agave and micro arugula, was not only gorgeous but also very, very tasty — and I don’t like gin.

This photo was taken after I had been drinking it for a while; the micro arugula was originally sitting on top

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Haven’t figured out what to get Mom for Mother’s Day? If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still scrambling for plans (mostly because my mom is ridiculously hard to please – and she’ll attest to that). Try taking her to some of these  eateries:

• Robata-Ya: Mom eats for free from the Sawtelle yakitori’s combo menu, AND she gets a free drink. Recommended for poor and cheapskate kids.

• Ortolan: Brunch will be extended from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this Sunday. Treat Mom to the Michelin-rated resto’s scrambled eggs and caviar or lobster spaghetti. Recommended for those with more dough to spend.

• The Resort at Pelican Hill: The newish Newport Beach hotel will offer four dining experiences: one a traditional brunch in the ballroom, and three prix-fixe menus in other areas of the resort, including the Coliseum pool. Recommended for people with hard-to-please moms who live in the O.C. (me!).