Chef Brandon Kida, native son of the vibrant and patchwork food scene which is Southern California, came up in the industry zigzagging between the coasts. He started out at the Culinary Institute in New York, and then did a stint at the Blenheim Hill Farm Upstate, where “farm-to-table” is something of a mantra. He imbibed the essence of Blenheim’s culture and built on that ethos at a series of kitchens on the east and west coasts, climbing the ranks before finally coming home to LA to take the helm at Hinoki & the Bird, what has become one of the few truly great Century City restaurants.
Crawling at a snail’s pace along Hollywood Boulevard, I’m running a bit late for my appointment with Brandon, but I’m eager to meet him and experience his unique take on California cuisine with an Asian tinge.
Century City Restaurants: Hinoki & the Bird
The name is intriguing. Is it a fable or does it allude to more structural elements of the place or cuisine? Taken literally, a “Hinoki” is a tall, slow-growing tree, similar to a cypress, that’s native to the island of Japan. And, as they do in many cultures, birds do figure prominently in the lore of Japan. In the most general sense, avian creatures symbolize the human spirit. But the meaning of the name is not spelled out, and I think it is better that way. It forces a personal interpretation for each guest.
