Tasty Tidbits: Karen Young's Valley Restaurant Roundup

Amy Jurist of Amy's Culinary Adventures, known as the queen of "yummy decadence," is having another Underground Dinner on Saturday, August 27 at 7 p.m. The theme this time is Grills Gone Wild, featuring seven "smokin' hot appetizers and plated courses of grilled delights," plus a complimentary wine pairing per course and a custom grilled cocktail.  Come alone or with a friend or a group.  Amy's dinner parties are always a blast. The location of the event will be announced three days prior (they are always very unique). Take $25 off with discount code PATCH!  Get tickets here.

This week only at —get the Bacon-Wrapped Scallop Burger with chopped scallops, braised pork belly, yuzu and sweet chili.

Will Karges and Jake King, who have more than six westside restaurants between the two of them, have acquired the old Spumante/Risotto location on the Coldwater Curve in Studio City, for their second outpost of The Six Restaurant, an upscale gastropub with incredible burgers, mac n' cheese, and some decadent truffle infused fries and pizza. The original The Six is on West Pico.  They are set to open this October. 

Slowly, but surely, Century City's Take A Bao is getting ready for its close-up in Studio City (in the old Kung Pao location) by the end of October. Get ready for a new kind of Asian cuisine and fun cocktails.

The Chop Stop recently opened its second location in Encino (in the CVS Shopping Center) after launching its original spot in Burbank this past January. The theme? Chopped, of course! This fast casual eatery quickly prepares salads, wraps and soups with over 40 chopped ingredients of proteins, veggies, cheeses. Make it their way or customize it your way. The new plus in Encino is the addition of frozen yogurt.

Got kids under 12? They can eat free  at participating IHOP locations daily 4-10 p.m. through the end of August. Any item on the 'Just for Kids' menu  can be ordered for free with every purchase of an adult entree. www.ihop.com.

The Cheesecake Factory just introduced a new SkinnyLicious menu.  It features more than 45 dining options with 590 calories or less — such as small plates, appetizers, flatbreads, salads and entrees.  I  had the Mexican chicken lettuce wrap small plate ($5.95) and found it quite tasty! Also included on the menu are three SkinnyLicious cocktails for 100 to 150 calories each.

The Habit Burger Grill just opened its newest location at Lankershim and Vineland in North Hollywood. Check out the latest burger — the Mushroom Swiss Charburger with fresh, sautéed mushrooms and melted swiss cheese or $4.55. You can also add mushrooms to any burger for $1.

The biggest food event of the year is happening for four days over Labor Day weekend in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Downtown — TASTE — sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and Food and Wine magazine. Meet some favorite top culinary chefs and experience tastings, demos and seminars. For more information, visit http://events.latimes.com/taste/

Karen Young is the Founder/Editor of MYDAILYFIND.COM, a lifestyle site with a free subscriber newsletter about where to eat, shop, play in the 818.