ABOUT
Opening: 2017
Address: 416 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Website: Freehand Hotels
Developer: Sydell Group. October 2019 The Sydell Group sold Freehand Hotels to UK Hotelier Generator
Chef: Alex Chang
Designer: Roman & Williams
CONCEPT
Freehand is a collection of hotels that combine the social culture of a hostel with innovative design, award-winning food and beverage, and a community-driven atmosphere.
Each Freehand houses its own set of restaurants and bars, overseen by top local talent, and inspired by the city they call home.
Hong Kong born, Los Angeles raised Mexican-Chinese chef Alex Chang created a menu that explores the multi-cultural flavors of urban LA through an Israeli lens.
When he took the job at what was advertised to be one of Downtown Los Angeles’ hippest hotels, Chang had zero experience with cooking – or eating – Israeli food, which allowed him to experiment with flavors and ingredients from other cuisines he was very familiar with: Mexican and Asian.
TREND
Popular Local Chef – Flavor of the City – Unique combinations of ingredients
In line with the New York Times Food Trend Predictions 2019 the LA foodie loves bold and new flavors - preferably a mix of aromas from different cuisines on the same plate.
Dishes with fermented ingredients as well as sour, funky and spicy flavor profiles intrigue the Kombucha drinking generation.
The carefully crafted cocktail concoctions with “superfood” ingredients such as kefir and tamarind or home-made infusions like “toasted hazelnut infused eagle rare”, place The Exchange’s bar right on trend with its young urban professional clientele.
MENU
Burnt Eggplant: Baba Ganoush with bonito flakes (which is shaved Katsuobushi, a Japanese dried, fermented tuna that accentuates the smokiness)
Whole Fried Local Red Snapper: Signature dish, served with noodles inspired by Chinese hand-pulled noodles, dressed in a tahini sauce and peanut dukkah (a North African condiment of ground herbs, nuts and spices).
Melon Salad: grilled cucumbers, ume vinaigrette, aged goat feta, pink peppercorn & shiso
DESIGN
This is the first restaurant in California by the New York based design firm Roman & Williams. The 2002 founded firm creates designs for film sets, private residences, hotels and retail spaces.
Restaurants designed by Roman & Williams in Europe:
- La Rotonde de la Muette, Paris
- The Stage and Octavus Bar, Milan
- Cantinery, Istanbul
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