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Los Angeles culinary figures are reshaping California dining this spring, with a high-profile chef moving to the Central Coast, a pop-up breakfast collaboration landing in Marina del Rey, and several community-focused events honoring local food pioneers. These developments matter now because they signal shifting restaurant geography, seasonal openings, and cultural tributes that affect where Angelenos eat and gather in 2026.
Jeremy Fox brings his cuisine to Edna Valley
Chef and cookbook author Jeremy Fox has agreed to serve as partner and culinary director for Edna, a multi-concept space in San Luis Obispo that will combine a restaurant, tasting room, market and distillery. The move marks a notable shift for a chef long associated with the Los Angeles scene.
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Fox’s decision follows the closure of his Santa Monica restaurant, Birdie G’s, in December 2025 and his departure from Rustic Canyon after more than a decade. He will be joined at Edna by Matthew Schaler, who was executive chef at Birdie G’s.
Edna plans a phased opening: the tasting room and market are expected in spring 2026, with the distillery and full-service restaurant slated for summer. Fox says the menu will emphasize contemporary farm-to-table cooking that highlights regional producers on the Central Coast.
What this means for the Central Coast dining scene
The arrival of an L.A.-based chef of Fox’s profile could accelerate culinary attention on Edna Valley, a wine region that’s already drawing visitors. For local growers and producers, a restaurant focused on local sourcing offers new wholesale opportunities; for diners, it promises a different kind of weekend destination that blends tasting, shopping and dining.
- Who: Jeremy Fox and Matthew Schaler
- Where: Edna, San Luis Obispo (Edna Valley)
- When: Tasting room/market in spring 2026; distillery and restaurant in summer 2026
- Focus: Modern farm-to-table and seasonal cooking spotlighting local agriculture
A Sonoratown x HiHo breakfast: the “BurriHo”
On Sunday, March 15, HiHo Cheeseburger teams up with Sonoratown for a limited breakfast offering at HiHo’s Marina del Rey location. The collaborative burrito — dubbed the “BurriHo” — will be served from 9 a.m. to noon.
The item combines Sonoratown’s signature flour tortilla with pastrami, softly scrambled eggs, melted cheese, griddled onions and HiHo’s fries. It’s a one-day pop-up aimed at early risers and fans of cross-brand mashups.
Community dinner honors Akira Hirose
The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center will stage a five-course dinner on March 15 celebrating the life and legacy of chef Akira Hirose, founder of the Little Tokyo restaurant Azay. The event gathers chefs Ray Hayashi, Gary Matsumoto, Chris Ono, Charles Namba and Roy Yamaguchi, each contributing a course.
Tickets are priced at $195, with an optional wine pairing available for an additional fee. The dinner functions as both a memorial and a showcase of contemporary Japanese-American culinary talent.
Mindy Kaling spotlights the Original Farmers Market
Actress and writer Mindy Kaling recently toured the Original Farmers Market for Architectural Digest, describing it as her favorite spot in Los Angeles. In the short video, she visits classics like Bob’s to pick up jelly doughnuts while offering viewers a brief look at the market’s history and ongoing appeal.
Her visit underscores the market’s status as a cultural touchstone: longstanding stalls continue to draw attention from national figures, and the clip may spur renewed interest from visitors planning spring outings to the city’s retail and food neighborhoods.
Quick calendar: upcoming food-related highlights
- March 15, 2026 — BurriHo pop-up at HiHo Cheeseburger, Marina del Rey (9 a.m.–12 p.m.)
- March 15, 2026 — Five-course memorial dinner for Akira Hirose at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
- Spring 2026 — Edna tasting room and market opening in San Luis Obispo
- Summer 2026 — Edna distillery and restaurant planned to open
The cluster of announcements highlights two trends: chefs are expanding beyond metropolitan hubs into regional scenes, and short-term collaborations remain a powerful way to generate local buzz. For diners, that means more reasons to explore beyond the usual neighborhoods and to watch how seasonal openings reshape where Californians eat over the coming months.
