Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Guide On My Favorite LA Food Spots

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! ;)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Its Pumpkin Season!!

Its my favorite time of year...FALL!! I love that leaves change color and start to flood the sidewalks, light summer tank tops are replaced for layered jackets and comfy scarfs, and my kitchen smells of warm soups and spice-filled recipes!! But most of all, nothing gets me more into the spirit of the fall season then seeing a pumpkin patch or having everything "spiced," "pumpkin pie," or "cinnamon sugar" flavored--YUMMMMM!! Here are some fun "pumpkin facts" that I'm sure you didn't know before reading this little post...(p.s. did you know the Irish were actually the first ones to "carve" a pumpkin??!) Halloween pumpkins are edible and the source of canned pumpkin you buy from the supermarket. You want to pick pumpkins that are firm and heavy for their size and store them in a cool, dark place for up to 2 months. The "pumpkin capital" of the world is Morton, Illinois. This self-proclaimed pumpkin capital is where you'll find the home of the Libby corporation's pumpkin industry. The tradition originally started with the carving of turnips, but when the Irish immigrated to the U.S. they found a ton of pumpkins and figured out they were much easier to carve! Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats. They also called pumpkins "isqoutm squash" and used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine. Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites. The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,689 pounds. The Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin. 80% of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October. Pumpkins are 90% water!! With that said, they are fat free, cholesterol free and sodium free, a good source of vitamin C and an excellent source of potassium and vitamin A! Now here are some recipes that I think you might enjoy to embrace the pumpkin-filled holiday season! *HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICED BREAD* (makes 3 pans/cut recipe in half to make one big loaf) 1 1/2 cans pumpkin puree; 4 eggs; 1 cup vegetable oil; 2/3 cup water; 1 3/4 cups organic raw sugar;1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 4 cups whole wheat flour; 3 teaspoons baking soda; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg; 1 teaspoon ground cloves; 1 teaspoon ground ginger Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water, sugar and vanilla extract until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans. Bake for about 50-65 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. *HEARTY PUMPKIN SOUP* (makes 7-10 servings) 6 cups chicken stock; 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt; 4 cups pumpkin puree; 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley; 1 cup chopped onion; 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; 5 whole black peppercorns Heat chicken stock, sea salt, pumpkin, onion, thyme, garlic, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes uncovered. Puree the soup in small batches (1 cup at a time) using a food processor or blender. Return to pan and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for another 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in heavy cream. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. *DELICIOUS ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS* 1 1/2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds; 2 teaspoons organic butter, melted; 1 pinch sea salt Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown; stir occasionally. Happy Fall Everyone!!! Go spice up your kitchen!! :)