Chef John Sedlar's Rivera and Playa Have a Secret...Menu-PST's Art as an Appetizer Available Feb. 7-March 31

'47 Chevy in Wilmington, CA by Oscar Castillo

Chef John Sedlar knows how to throw a party. I attended a preview for the Pacific Standard Time Art as an Appetizer secret menu at both Playa and Rivera restaurants. Influential bartender Julian Cox shook our drinks into splashes of Endless Summer; mezcal baron Ron Cooper himself poured his brand of lusty nectar from the gods; and famous artists and their admirers took in a late lunch with foodists and twitterati.

The menu is a collaboration of Chef John Sedlar(Rivera, Playa), Del Maguey's Ron Cooper, and mixologist Julian Cox. An inspired menu to provoke an interest in Pacific Standard Time's Performance and Public Art Festival.

Only those in the know--that means you--will have a go at this quite reasonable tasting at $37 for 3-course meal. Ask for the Pacific Standard Time menu and dine over works of art hand selected by Chef Sedlar, who will open his own Museum Tamal this year.


Ball Drop – Single village mezcal, london dry gin, freshlime yuzu tincture, cayenne. Inspired by Ron Cooperʼs 1969 piece “Ball Drop” featured at the Collection of the University Art Museum Art Video Archive at Cal State Long Beach University.



ʻ47 Chevy in Wilmington, CA – Micro climate mezcal, agave nectar, st. vincent orgeat, passion fruit, fresh lemon, lavender air. Inspired by Oscar Castilloʼs 1972 piece “47 Chevy in Wilmington, CA” featured in the Icons of the Invisible: Oscar Castillo at the Fowler Museum, UCLA.

This drink is an inspired margarita, an East-side sipper to chill out the homies como puro relax.


Course 1-Crudo Assortment: A crudo assortment of fresh and smoked seafood with kumquats, fresno chiles, lime, red seaweed, copita of Del Maguey's Chichicapa mezcal. Inspired by Beatrice Woodʼs “Fish Platter” featured in the Beatrice Wood: Career Woman-Drawings, Paintings, Vessels, and Objects exhibition at the Santa Monica Museum of Art.


2nd Course-Los Angeles county Museum of Art on Fire: Fire – grilled breast of chicken with cobb salad quemado, goat cheese, incendiary salsa. Inspired by Ed Ruschaʼs 1965-1968 “Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Fire” featured in the Crosscurrents in LA Painting and Sculpture 1950-1970 exhibition at The Getty Center.

Outstanding chicken dishes are coming out of Sedlar's kitchens these days and this is no exception. It's Burnin' Down the House good.


Course 3- Beach Trash Burning: Sorbet splashes of roasted pineapple mescal, poblano chile lime, hibiscus pomegranate. Inspired by Carlos Almarazʼs 1982 “Beach Trash Burning” in the Mapping Another LA: Chicano Art Movement exhibition at the Fowler Museum, UCLA.

Challenging flavors of heat and liquor in lightly sweet desserts are signature Rivera and Playa flavors.


The Latin-American kitchen has a long tradition of beautiful, thought provoking plates and dishes to present cuisine. Let the PST menu tempt you through the senses to seek out the Los Angeles artists and their works created during the years 1945-1980.

The PST menu is available during dinner only and is listed at $37 for three courses, although each course is available
individually as well.

Playa Restaurant
7360 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-933-5300

Rivera Restaurant
1050 South Flower Street Los Angeles, CA 90015-5100
213-749-1460

WHEN: February 7, 2012 – March 31, 2012