Aesthetics on Menu At Playa Vista Diner Designed by Gehry

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The opening of a 400-square-foot food stand next to an office building normally would hardly raise an eyebrow.


But a stand called “Delicious” that opened in a commercial and industrial district in Playa Vista last week is hardly ordinary.


It was designed by groundbreaking architect Frank Gehry, far better known for world famous edifices such as the Walt Disney Hall.


Gehry has likely never designed anything smaller, but then again, ulterior motives are at play. In a location with few other food establishments, Gehry was seeking a place where the creative types from his studio could gather and share ideas with those from the next-door offices of ad giant TBWA/Chiat/Day.


Instead of the usual hot dogs and cheap sandwiches found at most food stands, “Delicious” boasts such entrees as mirin-glazed salmon over cabbage and a grilled corn salad with scallions in a cabernet vinaigrette. Artisan breads and premium coffees abound, too.


“Of course, we needed a great food place for our people, but I also wanted it here because I thought it would be a way for our people to intermingle with Chiat Day’s people,” said Gehry, in a press release. “Their world is colliding with our world in the public realm.”


There also are some other off-the-menu tidbits at play.


The upscale items are trucked in each morning from the Robertson Boulevard kitchen of Catering by Field, an operation with Hollywood and corporate clientele. Lisa Field, who owns the catering service, happens to be the daughter of commercial real estate developer Larry Field, who co-owns the Gehry Studio building with Frank Gehry. Lisa Field has also been Gehry’s primary caterer for the last 15 years.

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Howard Fine
Howard Fine is a 23-year veteran of the Los Angeles Business Journal. He covers stories pertaining to healthcare, biomedicine, energy, engineering, construction, and infrastructure. He has won several awards, including Best Body of Work for a single reporter from the Alliance of Area Business Publishers and Distinguished Journalist of the Year from the Society of Professional Journalists.

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