Chef Shuffles

Dakota Weiss Shanghaied from Shangri-LA

Photo: NINE THIRTY

Yoink! Chef Dakota Weiss, who received a glowing review from the L.A. Times and a nod from The New York Times for her work at Santa Monica’s The Dining Room at Hotel Shangri-LA, has been pilfered by The W Westwood. According to a press release, Weiss will act as executive chef, overseeing all kitchen operations, including most notably, NINETHIRTY and The Backyard Restaurant. Weiss, a Lancaster, California native, is known for a novel take on New American cooking and a use of local ingredients, and cites past experiences working with Dean Fearing, Stephen Starr, Jeff Drew, and Bruno Menard as influences. What will she be bringing to Westwood?

Weiss will naturally introduce a new menu to the NINETHIRTY, with dishes planned including seared hamachi with porcini mascarpone and pickled mushrooms, “oysters x Two” with carrot mignonette and bacon-creamed arugula and parmesan, stout braised chicken and biscuits, a maple syrup braised pork shank with whiskey and brown butter yams, and “drunk” Washington State black mussels with white wine, garlic, and hominy.

With Weiss suddenly on its side, it sounds as though a huge coup for The W Westwood has just taken place.

Dakota Weiss Shanghaied from Shangri-LA