Good Eats

Whenever I go abroad (which is, admittedly, not often enough), one of my favorite things to do is nosh on the local cuisine. I've had some of the freshest, most incredible homemade pasta in Rome; the best gelato of my life in - of all places - Prague; and a seemingly simple goat cheese salad in Paris that looked fairly ordinary, but after taking a bite, absolutely blew my mind. Interestingly enough, the sentiment that is often conjured whenever I find myself lucky enough to travel around the world and *eat* (it might be my favorite thing to do ever, after reading) is that of appreciation. Because I can't help but feel that I eat pretty darn well in my regular life, right here in Santa Monica. With the ubiquity of great restaurants and world class farmers' markets, it's no wonder I'm living the good life when it comes to food, and for that I am eternally grateful. Here's a sampling of the delectable eats I've been enjoying of late. First up, the first bite of nectarine of the season.

And it was just as succulent and delicious as this image suggests.

Bolognese spaghetti with parmesan, served al dente, courtesy of Rustic Canyon, a fabulous local restaurant. The couple who run Rustic also have a great little brunch place that offers the most amazing, savory baked goods (the co-owner hails from Tartine, so she certainly knows what she's doing), as well as a pizza place and an always-crowded ice cream parlor. I swear they're taking over Santa Monica....not that I'm complaining!

Rustic's prime New York steak with caramelized turnips and hedgehog mushrooms. Mouthwateringly delicious.

Lastly, I couldn't possibly skip dessert (if I did, you can safely assume aliens are at work here on this blog). Cupcakes from SusieCakes, the best cupcakes on the planet. Bold statement? Definitely. But it's oh-so-true!  Above is a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting; below, a white chocolate strawberry cupcake - seasonal and scrumptious!

Is anyone else hungry? Or is it just me?