I always get asked the same three questions from clients and those coming in from out of town: "Where do you eat out?" "What should I order?" "What about take-out places?" Being an LA foodie (okay...who are we kidding, and wino!), I love a good food spot. Even though there's ALWAYS new restaurants to try, I have my favorite routine spots that I love to go to depending on what I'm craving that day. Here is a comprised list of some of my favorite restaurants in LA (some hot, some not) and what I particularly love to order!
BREAKFAST SPOTS:
Where: BLD Restaurant [bldrestaurant.com]; 7450 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036; (323) 930-9744
You can't beat BLD. Although they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (hence the name: BLD), the breakfast here is probably my favorite. I don't know if its the bar along the back with their enticing list of fresh bloody marys, or the delicious hot coffee press they give you when you order just a cup--but whenever I'm craving a yummy breakfast with the girls, this is my spot!
What to Order: House Made Turkey Sausage Scramble (I order it with egg whites & whole wheat toast); Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes (pictured below); Coffee; Bloody Mary
Where: Clementine [clementineonline.com]; 1751 Ensley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024; (310) 552-1080
This quant little bakery is one of the best hidden spots in LA. No matter what you're craving for breakfast--pastry, eggs, or a sandwich--they will either have it ready for you or make it on the spot. With a great espresso bar and adorable treats to buy for later, everyone here is super friendly and the servers never make you feel rushed. The lunch is delicious here too.
What to Order: Americano (my personal favorite coffee drink); Scrambled Eggs with Spinach & Cheese (pictured above); Pumpkin Bread; Eggs Benedict (pictured below; they only serve this on Saturdays; order the sauce on the side if you're watching the calories)
LUNCH SPOTS:
Where: M Cafe [mcafedechaya.com]; 9433 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; (310) 858-8459 / 7119 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90046; (323) 525-0588
Known for their "Contemporary Macrobiotic Cuisine," M Cafe is far from the ordinary health-obsessed hot spot. With a deli case filled with fresh organic salads and high-quality sushi rolls (think shiitake-avocado, spicy tuna, and salmon california roll), plus a huge menu on the wall with choices ranging from huge salads to amazing wraps--I have a hard time choosing just one thing when I come here!
What to Order: The M Chopped Salad; Kale with Spicy Peanut Dressing; Bento Box; Mixed Sushi Combo
Where: La Provence Patisserie [laprovencecafe.com]; 8950 W Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; (310) 888-8833 / 11677 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049; (310) 442-1144
Okay so this is either the worst or best idea to share on my blog, but this place is BY FAR my favorite hidden lunch spot. Don't come here for celebrity sightings or fancy outfits--or the parking availability for that matter--but come for the delicious food, friendly service, and mom-and-pop type bakery/cafe you've always hoped of finding in LA. Once you come here, it will be hard to eat another salad or macaroon anywhere else. They just opened another location in Brentwood too.
What to Order: Chopped Salad; Chicken Pesto Panini; Country Vegetable Puree; Macaroons (I LOVE their vanilla and hazelnut, and their chocolate one tastes like a fudge brownie...its unreal if you love chocolate you must try it)
DINNER:
Where: The Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya [katsu-yagroup.com/izakaya.html]; 8420 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048; (323) 782-9536 / 1133 Highland Ave Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (310) 796-1888
Katsuya has its reputation in LA--and for good reason--but when I came across this place about 3 weeks after moving to LA full-time, I was obsessed. Perfect for a dinner out with friends (come dressed up or not, no one will really notice), or if you're just craving some good sushi without the Nobu price tag--this is your spot. Don't be mistaken, this place might look like a hole-in-the-wall, but its PACKED at night. Here's an important tip: the later you arrive, the longer you'll be waiting.
What to Order: Seared Tuna with Japanese Salsa (pictured below); Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna (pictured above); Red Snapper Sushi with Shiso Leaf; Black Miso Cod
Where: Terroni [terroni.ca]; 7605 Beverly Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90036; (323) 954-0300
When I'm craving some yummy comforting Italian food with normal prices, this is where I head. The servers know the menu and suggest great things, and there's no pretentiousness when you walk in here. This is the perfect place to come with your best friend or significant other. Its not too dark, but not too light, and the crowd always seems happy. On the other hand, when I order a glass of wine at the bar while I wait for my table...a smile instantly appears on my face too. :)
What to Order: Lasagna (when they have it--a lot of times you have to ask them because they don't put it on the menu); Rigatoni Arcobaleno (pictured below); Thin crust pizza
Where: AOC [aocwinebar.com]; 8022 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048; (323) 653-6359
A cool place to go and grab a seat at the bar when you feel like a little wine & cheese (the real question being: "When do I NOT feel like a little wine and cheese?!"). Its a small restaurant, so try to make a reservation, but if you can sit at the bar and talk to the friendly bartenders you're in for a great night.
What to order: Prosciutto di Parma; Selection of Cheeses with Accompaniments; Bacon Wrapped Dates; Clams with Sherry and Garlic Toast (pictured below)
Where: Mucho Ultima Mexicana [muchomb.com]; 903 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; (310) 374-4422
We stumbled across this restaurant after a long day in the sun--and I'm soooooo glad we did! Over the years, its become our FAVORITE mexican restaurant to eat at. No greasy chips, stomach aches, or the overloading of salt in this kitchen--its all fresh and made to order (even the chips which are seasoned with a spicy cinnamon-salt concoction that is addicting to say the least!). Whether your ordering a mojito, tequila tasting or handmade margarita, the bartenders don't cheat ya and you'll be sure to grab a seat and stay a while.
What to Order: Traditional Margarita (pictured below); Hand Hacked Guacamole (pictured above); Ceviche Especial; House Salad with Shrimp; Chicken Fajitas
TAKE-OUT SPOTS:
Where: XI'AN [xian90210.com]; 362 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; (310) 275-3345
This place has a delicious menu plus a great restaurant scene--but I always end up taking out from here because its my favorite Chinese place in town & I want to enjoy it on my couch. However, If you're not sure whether you want to stay in or go out, this might meet both your needs! The bonus is that there are healthy choices marked on the menu so you don't have to guess. Delivery can be ordered through whycook.com (an LA delivery service).
What to Order: Won Ton Soup; Steamed Dumplings (pictured above); Chicken Broccoli; Lo Mein
Where: Cafe Talesai [cafetalesai.com]; 9198 W Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212; (310) 271-9345
This is a great place for delivery on the westside if you're looking for great Thai food. Its a restaurant that is also great for a casual dinner or business meeting, but mostly I love to order this on the nights I don't feel like cooking... :)
What to Order: Tofu Soup; Chicken Satay (pictured above); Papaya Salad; That Chili Garlic; Pad Thai (pictured below)
Where: Vito's Pizza [vitopizza.com]; 846 N La Cienega Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90069; (310) 652-6859
Delicious thin crust pizza for the pie lover! When I'm craving pizza and don't feel like movin' my butt from the couch, Vito's is on my list to call. These pizzas only come in one size--BIG--so make sure you're sharing with someone! ;)
What to Order: Margarita Pie (pictured below); Vegetarian Pie (pictured above)
What are some of your favorite LA spots?? I would love to hear yours too! ;)
I LOVE holidays--especially Christmas time! But what I HATE about the holidays is how LAZY everyone becomes...and (even worse) how "food rules" seem to disappear during these indulgent times with extra chocolate boxes, cookie bouquets and butter-induced treats we all (for the most part) say "no thank you" to! How come once winter comes around we all seem to fill up like bears getting ready to hibernate?! **NEWS FLASH: We are not going to sleep off all the extra weight we forgetfully decided to add into our diets!! (Although if possible it would probably be #1 on our wish list!)
So in light of this decadent/party-hopping time of year, I've decided to share my five favorite "Fit Tips" that I give to clients to keep them focused on staying healthy AND cutting out unnecessary calories during these cookie-overloaded months!
FIT TIP #1: Make your breakfast a healthy one.
I know this sounds repetitive and simple, but so many of us skip out on breakfast and have lunch as our first real meal of the day. DON'T DO THIS. What ends up happening is you eat more food later in the day, thus letting the body become "starving" so it craves unhealthy foods--such as white bread, pasta, sugary treats and (worst of all) larger portions. Not good for watching your figure! For breakfast, try to have lean protein, a complex carb & a little healthy fat. Some of my favorite ideas for breakfast: Plain oatmeal with 1 scoop vanilla protein powder topped with fresh berries and 1 tbsp raw almonds; Scrambled eggs (2 egg whites, 1 whole egg) served over 1 slice dry whole wheat toast with avocado; or 1 cup 0% greek Fage yogurt with 1 cup berries and about 10 almonds. If an actual "breakfast meal" is too much work, grab a think thin or larabar PLUS a piece of fruit, such as an apple or orange.
FIT TIP #2: Use only 1 piece of bread for your sandwich.
One of my all time favorites for lunch is an open-faced sandwich. You don't have to make your sandwiches like this all the time, but during certain weeks or months of the year when you know food will be EVERYWHERE, taking away a slice of bread at lunch time really does add up! Quick sandwich idea: Toast one piece of whole wheat bread (make sure one slice has at least 3g fiber and is no more than 110 calories), then spread with hummus and top with a slice of reduced fat cheese, avocado slices, lean protein--such as turkey, chicken or tuna--arugula, and thin apple slices (*apples are a great "top" piece for any sandwich). Use a fork and knife or pick it up (if possible) and eat SLOWLY. Same goes for if you're grabbing a sandwich to-go or a turkey burger at a restaurant--only eat half or take the top piece of bread off!
FIT TIP #3: Drink water ALL THE TIME.
It will fill you up AND clear your skin! All the extra sugar and simple carbs this month really do a number to your skin, and water is one of those miracle workers that can hydrate your pores and keep your body sensors in check. Remember that saying: "Out of sight, out of mind?" Well, let's not hold true to this when it comes to storing your water supply! Keep a bottle of water on your desk and another in your purse. Biggest dieting no-no: mistaking thirst for hunger!
FIT TIP #4: Exercise, Exercise, and then...Exercise Some More!!
Moving the body keeps the calories moving THROUGH our bodies--therefore eventually expending them!! If we don't move or decide "holiday time" equals "time to take off exercising" we couldn't be more wrong! We want to keep our metabolisms rolling on full speed as we decide to have that extra drink or piece of chocolate--and in order to do that, we need to get our butts kicked AT LEAST 3x a week! If you don't have a trainer or gym membership, put on your tennis shoes and hit the pavement!!
FIT TIP #5: Don't make dessert when you're hungry.
Similar to the saying: "Don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry." However this is a little more exact and to the point. DO NOT BAKE WHEN YOU'RE CRAVING A SUGAR COOKIE!! If you're wondering what happened to HALF the batch of cookies you just made--stop fooling yourself...we all know (and by "we" I mean "you") that they ended up in your stomach. When we make things we love to eat, we actually end up eating MORE of a bad thing than we should; thus ending up feeling sick, depressed and disappointed with ourselves. Don't let this be you.
And there you have it folks--My 5 best fit tips I can give for getting through this holiday season!! If anyone has their own "fit tip" they use, please post it and spread your secrets!! :)
Happy Holidays XO
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