January 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Celebrate the Holidays in Style at Regent Santa Monica Beach At Chef Michael Mina’s Orla

Enjoy Brunch With Santa and a Mediterranean-inspired Christmas Dinner at Orla

Celebrate the 2024 holiday season at the Regent Santa Monica Beach with a lineup of festive dining and family-friendly activities by the ocean. From brunch with Santa to Mediterranean-inspired Christmas and New Year’s dinners, the luxury resort offers memorable ways to mark the season.

Brunch with Santa – Sundays, December 8, 15, and 22 | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Join Santa Claus at Orla, Regent Santa Monica Beach’s premier dining venue, for a family-style brunch with breathtaking ocean views. Guests will be welcomed with a champagne cocktail before enjoying a two-course brunch featuring shared starters and à la carte main courses. Caviar and shellfish upgrades are available for an extra indulgence. Main offerings include Crab Cake Benedict made with jumbo lump crab and black lime hollandaise, Farm Egg Shakshuka made with spicy tomato and pepper stew and crunchy shallot (GF), and Roasted Lemon Chicken with lemon potatoes, chilies, feta, and mint (GF). 

You can view the full menu and make a reservation here.

Children will take home festive reindeer antlers and a keepsake photo with Santa, while families can enjoy a special performance by the Rockettes, including an interactive dance routine.

  • Cost: $95 for adults, $55 for children ages 3-10
  • Parking: 3-hour valet validation for $18

Christmas Day Dinner – Wednesday, December 25 | 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Orla will host a Christmas Day prix fixe dinner designed by renowned Chef Michael Mina. The menu relies on seasonal produce to create a sophisticated holiday meal while you can view the hotel’s sweeping ocean views. Each meal comes with Orla’s signature bread service and diners can choose between seafood, soup, or salad starters. 

The dinner has six main course selections including a prime 8oz filet mignon with crispy onion ring and black garlic vinaigrette, tomato-ginger salmon with saffron couscous, dill yogurt, and blistered cherry tomatoes or a chateau of butternut squash cippolini with onion labneh, and a pistachio sour orange vinaigrette. The dinner has the deluxe option of royal caviar fateer (petrossian daurenki caviar, ashta cream, and chives and dill)  or black truffle Hilopitas with kefalograviera cheese, chives, and garlic breadcrumbs.

When you are ready for dessert, select Buche de Noel or The Lemon, an olive oil lemon cake. You can view the full menu here and reserve your meal at Seven Rooms

  • Cost: $125 for adults, $45 for children ages 3-10
  • Parking: 3-hour valet validation for $18

Chef Michael Mina, originally from Cairo, Egypt, and raised in Ellensburg, Washington, embarked on his culinary journey at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. During his studies, he honed his skills in Chef Charlie Palmer’s kitchen at Aureole in New York City. His career ascended quickly when he partnered with Chef George Morrone to conceptualize and launch the renowned seafood restaurant AQUA in San Francisco in 1991. Despite a challenging start due to a major earthquake, Chef Mina thrived as AQUA’s executive chef from 1993 to 2002, earning accolades such as Rising Star Chef of the Year (1997) and Best Chef: California (2002) by the James Beard Foundation.

Related Posts

LAFD Begins Partial Repopulation in Brentwood and West LA as Wildfire Evacuation Orders Ease

January 17, 2025

January 17, 2025

Residents in Brentwood, West LA Granted Reentry; Power Restoration Efforts Underway Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials have announced partial...

Santa Monica Police Seek Inglewood-Based Suspect in Fatal Shooting

January 17, 2025

January 17, 2025

Fabian Mendez, Considered Armed and Dangerous, Remains at Large The Santa Monica Police Department has an update on the case...

Join the Heart of the Hills Donation Drive to Support Fire Evacuees and First Responders

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Beverly Hills Rotary Hosts Event To Collect Essential Supplies for Wildfire Relief The Beverly Hills Rotary Club will host the...

LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund Launches with $12M to Support Artists Impacted by Wildfires

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Getty Trust, Philanthropists Unite to Aid Artists, Arts Workers, Devastated by Los Angeles Fires. A coalition of arts organizations and...

LADWP Refutes Fire Hydrant Misinformation During Palisades Fire’s Unprecedented Demand for Water

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Utility Addresses Online Claims, Confirms Water Systems Remained Operational The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)  is seeking...

Brentwood Evacuation Update: Residents East of Kenter Canyon Cleared to Return Home

January 16, 2025

January 16, 2025

Proof of Residency Required; Areas West of Kenter Remain Under Evacuation Orders Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk announced in an...

LA Restaurants Step Up: Feeding First Responders, Evacuees, and Communities in Need

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

From Free Meals To Fundraising Campaigns, Local Eateries Are Supporting Wildfire Relief  Many restaurants all over the city are doing...

Los Angeles Restaurants Rally to Feed Fire Victims, First Responders—Now They Need Your Support

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

Amid Tragedy, Local Restaurants Are Serving the Community While Facing Empty Seats By Dolores Quintana The city of Los Angeles...

Palisades Fire Incident Update for January 15, Nine Lives Lost, Evacuation Zone Unsafe for Residents

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

Firefighters Continue Suppression Efforts, Damage Assessments Reveal Significant Destruction. The Palisades Fire, which has scorched 23,713 acres, is now 21%...

State Farm Reverses Decision, To Renew Policies for Wildfire Survivors in Los Angeles

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

California Homeowners Impacted by Recent Wildfires Will Receive Policy Renewals State Farm, California’s largest insurer, has announced it will renew...

(Video) At Vistamar School – Discover the way high school should be

January 15, 2025

January 15, 2025

Students achieve remarkable outcomes with our strong academics, small classes, andpersonalized approach. Our graduates don’t just attend college—they excel. Vistamar’sunique...

WeHo Deputies Detain Suspected Looting Suspect Posing as Firefighter Near Getty Villa

January 14, 2025

January 14, 2025

Deputies Apprehend Man Dressed in Firefighter Gear Without Proper Identification   West Hollywood Sheriff’s deputies detained a potential looting suspect impersonating...

Mayor Bass Updates Emergency Order to Accelerate Wildfire Recovery in Los Angeles

January 14, 2025

January 14, 2025

RVs Approved as Temporary Housing; Streamlined Permitting and Task Forces Approved Mayor Karen Bass has updated the executive order of...

Art Dealer Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling from Ace Gallery Bankruptcy Estate

January 14, 2025

January 14, 2025

Douglas J. Chrismas Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison and Restitution   Douglas J. Chrismas, an internationally known art dealer,...

Los Angeles and Orange County DAs Propose Tougher Looting Penalties During Disasters

January 14, 2025

January 14, 2025

New Legislation Would Increase Punishments, Close Legal Loopholes Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Orange County District Attorney...