Fall dineLA Restaurant Week Announces Participating Restaurants!

dineLA has announced the list of participating restaurants in the first-ever Fall dineLA Restaurant Week taking place Oct. 4-9 and Oct. 11-16. The official dineLA website, www.dineLA.com/restaurantweek, went live this morning featuring the diverse list. More restaurants, menu postings and other exciting information about dineLA Restaurant Week will be added to the website in the weeks ahead.

Upward of 200 participating restaurants from Long Beach to the San Fernando Valley join together for the biggest Los Angeles County food and wine event. Some of the restaurants listed include: Fuego at The Maya; Michael's Santa Monica; Drago Centro; Rosa Mexicano; Spago Beverly Hills; The Bazaar; Cache; Campanile; Susan Feniger's STREET and more (for complete list see below).

"It's an exciting time for Fuego and the dineLA foodies to partake in the flavors, passion, and talents of what is known as dineLA Restaurant Week, LA-style," comments Executive Chef Jesse Perez of Fuego at The Maya. "I believe Fuego brings its own distinct flair to the culinary landscape of Los Angeles. I hope to introduce diners to a variety of flavors, spices, and ingredients that they may have never tried before. To complement that, Fuego at The Maya offers a beautiful resort experience and setting unlike anywhere else, providing a culinary destination and escape from the city."

Michael McCarty, executive chef and owner of Michael's, remarks, "I've always thought that LA is the great American melting pot in action, and 30 years after I first opened Michael's in Santa Monica we're still going strong with a menu that features the finest of fresh, seasonal, locally grown ingredients, simply and expertly cooked in ways that highlight their natural quality. We love to throw a great party with great food and great drink for our guests every day and every night, and we're still as proud as ever to be part of the local dining scene. dineLA Restaurant Week promotes the best in Los Angeles dining, and I'm delighted to join my fellow LA restaurateurs and chefs in helping celebrate what I believe is the best dining city in the nation."

Presented by LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau in partnership with American Express, dineLA Restaurant Week presents the diverse and extraordinary talent that exists in Los Angeles. From local neighborhood family-owned eateries to upscale celebrity chef restaurants, dineLA Restaurant Week unites cafes, restaurants and bistros from all corners of the county.

"Just look at the sheer number and variety of restaurants on the dineLA website and you'll see how much LA's dining community is truly embracing the Fall dineLA Restaurant Week program," said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of LA INC. "Our intent was to create a dining program that would both support and promote the spectacular LA restaurant scene and I feel confident the Fall dineLA Restaurant Week will be an important boost to the local economy."

American Express® Cardmembers will be able to register their American Express® Card to receive a $20 statement credit when they dine three or more times during dineLA Restaurant Week at participating restaurants. This exclusive promotion is designed to encourage Cardmembers to take full advantage of the special three-course meals offered at some of LA's best restaurants. Cardmembers can register beginning September 15, 2009 by going to dineLA.com/restaurantweek.

ABOUT dineLA
dineLA is a dynamic marketing initiative among LA INC., American Express and the LA restaurant community to promote the scale and variety of LA restaurant and food experiences to locals and visitors. dineLA's comprehensive Web site--www.dineLA.com--provides detailed information and search capabilities for over 2,000 area restaurants; chef profiles; a culinary events calendar; monthly enter-to-win giveaways; e-newsletter; online chef and restaurant videos; as well as engaging and timely editorial content. dineLA seeks to position Los Angeles among the top restaurant cities in the world and to build awareness, traffic and revenue for restaurants throughout the greater LA area. In addition, dineLA plays an active role promoting the LA restaurant scene year-round through involvement in industry events such as the LA Wine Fest, Wally's Central Coast Wine & Food Celebration, Extravaganza for the Senses, and the March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction. For more information please visit: dineLA.com.