The pint glasses have been polished, the last of the plaid wallpaper has been hung, the ovens are hot and The Stalking Horse is ready to make its debut in West Los Angeles on September 5, 2017. Located at 10543 W Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, The Stalking Horse is brought to us by Artisanal Brewers Collective (ABC), and will offer Angelenos and Anglophiles alike a casual English restaurant and pub highlighting beer, spirits and dishes known and beloved throughout Great Britain.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have spent some time in Cornwall, England and after experiencing some great Cornish pubs I knew I wanted to bring this experience to Los Angeles,” says Tony Yanow, one of the founders of ABC. “With the help of a few friends who live in England we created the vision for The Stalking Horse, an authentic Cornish-style brewpub that offers regionally specific beers and a variety of traditional dishes.”
The all-day menu, crafted by Culinary Director Trevor Faris, will offer both vegan and non-vegan options with an emphasis on pasties, a traditional English savory pie. To start, guests can enjoy dishes like Potted Shrimps served with herb salad and toasted bread, Yorkshire Pudding made with roasted hen of the woods mushrooms in an onion gravy, and Welsh Rarebit made with a melty vegan pub cheese, chives and crisp bread. Cornish style pasties and other savory pies, available daily in limited quantities, will range from a traditional variety made with steak, potato, onion and rutabaga to Lamb and Apricot Chutney, Tikka Masala and Chicken Pot Pie. Salads and larger entrees round out the menu including options such as a Root Salad made with beets, radish, carrots and a black garlic dressing, Beef Cheek Bourguignon served with creamy mash and roasted carrots, or Fish and Chips made with Alaskan cod and served with the classic accompaniments of tartar sauce and malt vinegar.
In addition to the multiple taps that will feature English style beer, a central focus of the beer program will be on-site brewing with a 7-barrel system under the direction of award-winning brewer, Brandon Edwards. Brandon started his career at Pizza Port Brewing in San Diego and most recently was Head Brewer at Columbus Brewing Company, where he led the team to gold at the World Beer Cup and was honored at The Great American Beer Festival. In line with the aesthetic and cuisine of the restaurant, the beer produced on-site will be English in style with modern twists, with beer production starting after the restaurant opens. Through the selection of English style beers on tap and forthcoming beer brewed in house, The Stalking Horse team hopes to promote education of this region and take guests on a journey back to Cornwall through every sip taken and pint finished.
The Stalking Horse’s beverage program, created by Assistant General Manager Jacki Wakefield, will lean heavily on gin and scotch with unique varieties not commonly found in Los Angeles such as Half Hitch Small Batch Gin made in the historic Camden Lock district of London, No.209 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Aged Gin, and Alexander Murray & Co. Highland 53-year scotch which is matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in sherry casks. Cocktails will feature fresh herbs and botanicals in cocktails like the 5 O’Clock Tea Time which includes Isle of Skye scotch whiskey, black tea syrup, lemon juice and rosemary, and The King’s G&T made with Re:Find Gin, housemade tonic, lime and star anise. Overseeing the restaurant will be General Manager Ron Carey, who was previously the General Manager at Rossoblu, Simbal and Ray’s & Stark Bar at LACMA.
The 3,700 square foot restaurant, named after an idiomatic expression was designed by Kris Keith of Spacecraft and boasts English ivy filled trellises with fragrant gardenia and geranium over the exterior while a retractable roof and front windows create an open air biergarten dining experience. The restaurant is divided by glass-paned windows that designate a full-menu pub side, which includes counter seating, high tops and views of the extensive brewing equipment or, alternatively, guests can dine at tables or booths in the plant-filled dining area which leads into the open-air patio. Gold accents dot the space from the hanging chandeliers to the gold pressed tin ceiling and painted coats of arm above the bar. Central to the design is the eye-catching mural designed by artist Shannon O’Connor that depicts the restaurant’s name sake, a hunter behind a stalking horse cutout.
The Stalking Horse will be open seven days a week, initially for dinner only starting at 5 p.m.. Beginning September 18, the restaurant will be open starting at 11 a.m.
