Manzke, Fraser and Menashe Run Test Kitchen at Bestia Next Week

Bestia's Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis

By Lesley Balla

Test Kitchen may have made a semi-formal return at its former digs last week, but next week - October 16-21, to be exact - the pop-up dinners come back full force at Bill Chait's latest project, Bestia, in the Arts District in Downtown LA. This time around the evenings will be hosted by Bestia exec chef, Ori Menashe, who's welcoming an impressive roster of local and national chefs. The first dinner takes place on Tuesday, October 16, with Neal Fraser, Walter Manzke and Bestia's pastry chef, Genevieve Gergis. The reservation lines open tomorrow.

If you'e attended the Test Kitchen dinners before, you know it's usually a five- or six-course prix fixe menu created by chefs there to test and promote a new project or concept. Of course, we know Neal Fraser has Fritzi Dog coming at the Farmers Market soon, and Walter Manzke has teamed up with Chait to open Republique in where Campanile is now, so maybe there will be gourmet links and tarte flambe. Or maybe tart flambe topped with sausage? The menu is still being worked out, but you'll find it, as well as the future dinners, listed on the TK site soon. Reservations for this first dinner can be made beginning Thursday, October 11.

After the Test Kitchen run, Bestia's debut won't be far behind. The new 140-seat trattoria will have a requisite Neapolitan Acunto pizza oven, and Menashe, who worked with Gino Angelini and Jason Travi, will put it to good use. It's set to open in November, located in a new mixed-use project at 2121 7th Place.