Mother’s Day All Day: Special Menus From Brunch to Tea to Dinner

Mom’s Day Cometh: In La Canada, Descanso Gardens offers two brunch settings May 13: in the Rose Pavilion, surrounded by five acres of blooming roses, or on the Boddy Terrace overlooking the camellia forest. In both places the brunch buffet includes eggs Benedict, waffles, a turkey-carving station, fruits, pastries, orange juice and sparkling cider. There’s one seating in the Rose Pavilion, at 9:30 a.m., but two on the Boddy Terrace, at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Admission to the botanical gardens is included in the price of $35 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under.

* Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada; (818) 952-4401, https://www.descansogardens.org.

Rookies: Pastis’ first Mother’s Day will be a three-course brunch served with Bellini cocktails. Choices include chilled asparagus soup, grilled vegetable terrine, risotto Milanese with spring vegetables, roasted lamb loin, pine-nut tart with vanilla-honey sauce and bittersweet chocolate moelleux (something between a souffle and a cake). Brunch is available between from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The price is $35.

* Pastis, 8114 Beverly Blvd., L.A.; (323) 655-8822.

Eddy Kerkhofs has decided, after 23 years in business, to open Le Do^me for Mother’s Day (he’s usually closed on Sundays)--not for brunch but for dinner, 6 p.m. to midnight. A la carte menu specials will include white asparagus dishes, Florida stone crab on ice and soft-shell crabs. Entrees will be in the $20-$35 range.

* Le Do^me, 8720 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 659-6919.

Regent Beverly Wilshire offers tea service in the Lobby Lounge from 3-5 p.m. with tiny sandwiches, scones, chocolate-covered strawberries and Champagne or Sherry for $21-$25. In the Lobby Lounge you can also get a three-course meal 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. featuring ahi tuna and avocado tartare, Maine lobster melon cocktail, prime rib and filet of John Dory; $45. Or you can dine in the formal dining room with live music. A three-course meal with Champagne here will set you back $65 ($20 for children). Main-course options include mint-crusted grilled rack of lamb, lime-marinated John Dory and roasted Cornish hen. Reservations taken from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

* The Regent Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; (310) 275-5200.

French Chefs Picnic: It’s that time of year again when a bunch of French-speaking guys gather in Agoura Hills for a picnic. The Club Culinaire of French Cuisine will be throwing this year’s picnic at Vasa Park on May 6. Aperitifs begin at 11:30 a.m. (we told you, they’re French); lunch is at 1 p.m. After lunch, they’ll play soccer, volleyball and petanque (a sort of lawn bowling). The grand prize for the afternoon’s raffle is two round-trip tickets to Paris on Air France.

Among the chefs are Michel Blanchet of Michel Cordon Blue, Jean Francois Meteigner of La Cachette, Patrick Jamon of the Regency Club, Christian Rassinoux of the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Alain Cuny of the Wine Bistro, Pierre Sauvaget of the Bel Air Bay Club, Yvan Valentin of Sweet Temptations, Andre Angles of Frenchy’s Bistro, Rene Pybourdin of the Madison and Andre and Christine Averseng of Dining With Andre. Tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for children 7-12; children under 7, free. Call Kora Kroep at (310) 352-0990 for tickets. They are also available at the event. Vasa Park is at 2854 Triunfo Canyon Road, Agoura Hills. From the 101, take the north Kanan Road exit.

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Angela Pettera can be reached at (213) 237-3153 or pettera@prodigy.net