Must Eat: Blockheads Snow Cream, Los Angeles, CA

This is probably the most exciting dessert I've eaten in the past year! The first time I tried Blockhead Shaved Ice, I literally became giddy with excitement. It is THAT good. Blockheads Shavery came up with an interesting twist on Hawaiian shave ice by adding ice cream. The resulting "snow cream" is a light, yet rich, icy treat!  I think it's absolutely brilliant.

Must Eat: Thai Vegan, Santa Monica, CA

Tofu Satay

J and I enjoy Thai food, but have been having some trouble finding really good Thai on the Westside.  After reading rave reviews on yelp, we decided to give Thai Vegan a try.  It is a mom and pop little shop inside the Thai Teak store across from Urth Caffe. The atmosphere is unique and quite cozy - probably best to do take out, or go as a small group.  

Must Eat: Tar and Roses, Santa Monica, CA

A few weeks ago, decided to take a break from cooking and explore a new restaurant in our neighborhood. We heard that this fantastic new restaurant by Chef Andrew Kirshner - Tar & Roses - had recently opened and were excited to check it out.  We didn't have reservations, but it was still early, so we took a seat at a bar and enjoyed our tapas style meal!

Must Eat: Bru's Wiffle- A Waffle Joint, Santa Monica, CA

There is something so comforting about Fried Chicken and Waffles.  We've heard the hype about Roscoe's, and have been craving it for a while.  But we just couldn't quite muster up the motivation to venture east of the 405 for brunch this morning. 

Lucky for us - Bru's Wiffle is only a few blocks from home.  J and I both ordered fried chicken and waffles - I got the Festive Chicken which came with a Mango Salsa, and J got the original with a mix of sauces on the side (Gravy, Louisiana Hot Sauce and Ranch).  We both got our waffles with a piece of white meat and dark meat. The chicken was boneless, perfectly moist and juicy, and crispy on the outside. The portions were hearty and satisfying.

If you're looking for fried chicken and waffles on the West Side, we highly recommend this spot!

Bru's Wiffle

2408 Wilshire Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-453-2787

www.bruswiffle.com

Must Eat: Mama Lu's Dumpling House, Monterey Park, CA

In the spirit of Chinese New Year (it's the year of the dragon!), this week I'm sharing a delicious Chinese food spot in LA! Living on the West Side, we don't make it all the way over to Monterey Park very often. But when we do, it is always worth the drive! You just can't find Chinese food like this on the West side unfortunately. Unless my parents are visiting. Sigh.

After hosting 23 people for Christmas this year, we decided to take a break from cooking and went out for a Chinese feast the day after.  This is what we ate and enjoyed ...

Must Eat: Malibu Seafood, Malibu, CA

After a day of hiking, J and I usually treat ourselves to something good to eat. After hiking the Mishe Mokwa trail to Sandstone Peak, we were exhausted and starving so we decided to stop at Malibu Seafood on PCH.  This is a laid back, no frills, oceanside seafood spot. We ordered the fish and chips based on the rave reviews on yelp, and were not disappointed. 

Must Eat: Ramen Yamadaya Culver City

We love Ramen. It one of our favorite comfort foods. We got hooked on ramen at Momofuku noodle bar and Ippudo in NYC and have been searching for a good ramen spot in LA since we moved out here in 2010.  Granted, we'd probably have more luck if we drove down to Torrance, and we still need to make the pilgrimage out to Daikokuya downtown - but during the week, we just want to go somewhere convenient and close to home on the West Side.  We were pretty psyched when we found a new Ramen shop not to far in Culver City!

The tricky part is finding a place that doesn't put a ton of MSG in their broth. MSG gives me a headache and makes me dizzy - which kind of ruins the fun of eating.  True story - when I went to local favorite Santouka Ramen, the broth had so much MSG I almost passed out after eating it!  At Yamadaya, the broth was rich and flavorful and delicious - as far as I could tell either very little or no MSG!

Must Eat: Si Laa, Los Angeles, CA

One recent fall evening, before heading out to an event at the museum (LACMA), we decided to get some thai food.  I found the highest rated Thai restaurant in mid-city using yelp, Si Laa on Robertson Blvd.  When we sat down, our waitress came and asked us if it was our first visit. It was, so she  recommend some dishes.  Everything was spot on and delicious. I really loved this meal. This is what we tried.  I would eat it all again and am already looking forward to my return trip!

Must Eat: Meals by Genet, Los Angeles, CA

Every now and then, I crave Ethopian Food. Luckily for me,  Little Ethopia is only a short drive away.  Although J and I have enjoyed every meal we've had on Fairfax (we've tried 3 different restaurants so far), Meals by Genet is our favorite. The restaurant has a nice ambiance - cozy and candlelit. We came with J's family, who was visiting from Canada, and sat at a round table - making it easy to converse, as well as eat, from our communal injera (Ethopian bread) topped with delightful meats and vegetables and sauces.

Must Eat Phoenix: Postino Wine Cafe

This morning, we met up with our friends Galaxie and Brandon for brunch at Postino Wine Cafe . We took advantage of their $5 wines before 5pm deal, and enjoyed a bellini with our brunch. 

Postino is famous for its bruschettas which come in an array of tantalizing combinations. With each order, you get to pick 4 toppings - I chose (pictured below from left to right):  1) Burrata, Bacon, Arugula and Tomatoes; 2)  Prosciutto with Figs and Mascarpone; 3) Warm Artichoke spread; 4) White Bean with Chopped Tomato. 

 J and Brandon got the Farm Scramble which was a hearty serving of Roasted Yukon Gold potatoes scrambled with fresh eggs, herbs, onions, gruyere and white cheddar served with mixed greens and a tomato salad. 

Must Eat Phoenix: Los Reyes de la Torta

I came to Phoenix for a few days for a conference. My brother picked me up from the airport and told me he had discovered a place for dinner that he was sure I would love.  He was right.  Tortas are mexican sandwiches and these were the best sandwiches I've ever had! They were bursting with flavor, meats with avocado, tomatoes, cheese. E had the Torta Milanesa (below) and I had the new chicken Torta (above). 

Must Eat: Grom - Malibu, CA

I'm in Phoenix and according to my phone's weather app, it is 107f right now. I could go for some ice-cream or gelato! Speaking of gelato, my favorite NYC spot just opened in Malibu! After hiking in the Santa monuca mountains a few weeks ago, J and I stopped at GROM at the Malibu country mart for a treat. it was better than I imagined... Luxurious rich creamy perfection in sophisticated flavors. Mmmmmm... So good. I love sweet rose creamery for good old fashioned rich ice cream (also available in exotic flavors), but GROM is the place to go in LA for gelato! (warning - it is kind if expensive - around $5 for a small but I think it's worth it!)

Must Eat: Amelia's Espresso and Panini Bar, Santa Monica

One of my favorite part of the weekend is brunch. We often cook brunch ourselves, but every now and then we like the treat of going to a nice little cafe and trying something new.  We've heard a lot of wonderful things about Amelia's on Main Street in Santa Monica (4.5 stars with 157 reviews on yelp) and decided to give it a try.

Amelia's is a lovely neighborhood mom and pop cafe/sandwich shop. We ordered the breakfast sandwich (pictured above) and the frittata special.  Everything was very gourmet, fresh, hearty and delicious. We left full and happy. 

 Important note: They serve coffee, panini and soup throughout the day until they close at 4pm, but if you want to get your hands on a breakfast panini - you need to get there by 11am :)

Amelia's Espresso and Panini Cafe
2645 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-396-9095
www.ameliascafe.com
Tues-Sat 6:30a - 4p
Sun 11a-4p

Must Eat: The Misfit, Santa Monica, CA

Hey everyone! It's been a busy summer and I've actually been cooking a lot of simple meals at home (making lots of the recipes I've posted on this blog -each and every one has been taste tested and approved by J!). I've been a bit slow to post new restaurant reviews, but I have a few to share coming up in the next couple weeks.

Today I'd like to feature "The Misfit" a new gastropub that just opened in our neighborhood here in Santa Monica. J and I tried it last Wednesday and loved everything about it. The bar and ambiance was super cool, the cocktails and white sangria were thirst quenching and delightful. The food was FANTASTIC. We especially loved the roasted shishito peppers that executive chef Bruce Kalman had gotten that morning at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market.

Brunch: 26 Beach, Venice, CA

This morning, we met up with our friends S & A for breakfast at 26 Beach. Arriving once they opened at 9am, we beat the rush (when we left at 10am, there was a line at the door!).  We decided on this place after reading about it's 4 star reviews on yelp.

Must Eat: Stella Rossa Pizza Bar, Santa Monica

When we lived in Boston, we kind of took pizza for granted. There was the classic italian Pizzeria Regina type, as well as the fancy nuovo Upper Crust in the Back Bay. The pizza in Worcester @ Border Grill was also fantastic. My all time favorite was the grilled pizza nearby in Providence, RI @ Al Forno's, or for more every day satisfaction, Bob and Timmy's. 

It has taken us a while to discover our favorite pizza places in LA. In all fairness, we have still not gone to Pizzeria Mozza - which we have heard numerous sources rave about. Over on the West side, we like the thin crust artisanal pizza at Gjelina.  Then, Stella Rossa Pizza Bar opened up and I found my new go to pizza spot in Santa Monica. :)

Must Eat: Bottega Louie, Downtown LA

Bottega Louie is one of my favorite restaurants in LA.  It's downtown, so I don't go often. But every time I go, I leave happy.   I like the space and the ambiance - it's always bustling, but never hectic. Service is fantastic. Despite how busy it is, I've never had to wait more than 15 min and all the waitstaff are cheerful and enthusiastic.   But the main reasons why I love it here are : 

1. french macarons - no, not quite Laduree, but pretty good for LA
2. chocolate souffle - BL definitely makes the best souffle in LA (off vine was a close 2nd) 
3. the simple pasta dishes - I've tried the orechiette with sausage and bolognese and both are so comforting and yummy. 

Must Eat: Sushi King, Santa Monica, CA

We love sushi. We have some favorites in the area (sugarfish and happy hour @ chaya), but we love that this restaurant is only 5 blocks away!!! Sushi King is a no frills (not much ambiance), but solid sushi establishment that satisfies our sushi craving. 

The yelp reviews had raved about the miso glazed sea bass with green beans appetizer for good reason. It was melt in your mouth delicious! 

We got some salmon, yellowtail, and halibut sushi. All were very fresh and delicious.  Also pictured is the spicy tuna roll. 

This was the catepillar roll, which was a fantastic combination of eel and avocado. The first photo (at the top) is of their take on the rainbow roll which was quite good. 

Sushi King

1330 Wilshire Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-395-0120

Must Eat: Bao Dim Sum, West hollywood, CA

We love dim sum for brunch.  We used to go to Boston Chinatown, but ever since we moved to Los Angeles, and specifically the "West Side"/Santa Monica, it has been hard to find good dim sum close by. Sure, there are plenty of options in the San Gabriel Valley, but that is > 45 min drive.  There is a place in West LA, "Palace Dimsum" that is okay, but not that great.  So, when I discovered that there was dimsum closer by in West Hollywood that was actually rated quite highly on yelp, we decided to give it a try.

Must Eat: Beard Papa's Cream Puffs!

Tonight, we went to Tofu-Ya and stuffed our bellies with delicious Korean food.  We barely had room, but we found a way to fit in a few more cream puffs.  Beard Papa's is a franchise of cream puffs that started in Japan and is now available throughout California. They are SO GOOD!