With dozens of local bistros offering New Year’s Eve specials, it’s virtually impossible for The Sauce to keep a list—but we do know one great place to be on Friday morning, January 1. Start 2016 right with brunch at Studio City’s The Bellwether, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. And if you can’t quite get out of your PJs and New Year’s party hat (it's a look) by Friday, Bellwether is launching weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays beginning January 2.

 The wide brunch menu includes Crispy Pork Rillette (a popular item borrowed from the dinner menu), Eggs in Purgatory (baked in spicy tomato sauce with ciabatta bread) and the Nashville Hot Chicken Sando with pimiento cheese and chow chow slaw. For sweet eaters, there’s Monkey Bread with raisins and brown sugar, Dutch babies with assorted jams and powdered sugar, and French toast with apple butter. (Of course, if The Sauce had anything to say about it, Bellwether should serve their Thai-influenced tempura cauliflower 24/7 in 2016—just keep ‘em coming).

Sauce favorite: Tempura cauliflower (sorry, not for brunch).

And it’s never too early for a drink at the Bellwether: Specialty brunch cocktails include the Easy Like Sunday Michelada (lager, tomato juice, lime and Ted’s carrot-habanero hot sauce with optional float of house-infused habanero vodka); Smoked Salty Dog (house-infused grapefruit gin, fresh grapefruit and a smoked salt rim); and In the Money (house-infused grapefruit gin, Cochi Americano, lemon syrup and Racer 5).

13251 Ventura Blvd., Suite A, 818-285-8184