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?

Scent Bar: A Perfume Mecca

I have no qualms about admitting to you that I'm pretty passionate when it comes to perfume. I wouldn't say I'm a connoisseur, by any means (I don't have a sizable collection of vintage perfumes - think classic Dior, Guerlain, or Chanel - to boast of), but I probably know a little more than the average person with a moderate interest, who'll stop by a department store perfume counter on a whim. So it boggles my mind that I have yet to pay a visit to perfume mecca that is Scent Bar - which happens to be right here in town. I mean, look at all the perfume goodies they have to offer.  

A veritable cornucopia of fragrant treasures, Scent Bar carries mostly niche, hard-to-find fragrance lines like Le Labo, Eau d'Italie, By Killian, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Serge Lutens, and Parfums de Nicolai, among many, many others. And they recently moved to the fabulous new digs you see here. After rifling through these gorgeous photos (even more can be found here), I think I'm ready to pay homage. Who's with me?

{Photos via LA I'm Yours}

Happy Birthday, T

On Saturday I threw a little birthday soiree for T. It was a swinging success, for many reasons, but not least of which was this red velvet cake with buttercream icing and cream cheese filling from my favorite bakery, SusieCakes. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and an absolute hit. Oh, SusieCakes, you can do no wrong in my eyes.

P.S. How amazing do these turkey frosted sugar cookies look? And that pumpkin pie! Be still, my beating heart.

{Bottom two images from SusieCakes}

Santa Monica Farmers Market & Good Food Festival

I'm not the only one who's recently turned 30. The beloved Santa Monica Farmers Market is also celebrating the big 3-0 by throwing what will be the very first Southern California Good Food Festival & Conference. On the agenda? Chef demos, doc screenings, and a fancy Localicious Gala where chefs from top LA restaurants (think Rustic Canyon, Animal, Spago, A.O.C., and more) will create signature dishes using fresh, local ingredients from the farmers' market. Where do I sign up?

{Image via Grub Street LA}

Valentine's Day Weekend

Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day weekend. I ended up taking my own advice and indulged in a little pre-Valentine's Day pampering (a massage here and a manicure/pedicure there), after which T and I caught a Hitchcock double feature of Rebecca and Notorious, two of my favorites, at the local theatre. And these gorgeous lovelies below, courtesy of T, were just the icing on the cake. It was such a lovely long weekend all around! Hope yours was just as great.

Lazy Sunday

I stayed home all day doing an assortment of things: reading in bed, doing some laundry, vacuuming (oh, the glamour), baking pumpkin and chocolate chip muffins (pretty fab they were), and writing. All while wearing my pajamas--God bless the end of Daylight Savings Time and that extra hour of sleep! I finally caved in around 6 and made myself decent for an impromptu date night with T. We started off with oysters and sparkling wine, followed by some tapas and Spanish red wine, and ended with an apple tart and cappuccino (at three different venues, no less). Alas, I didn't have my camera with me, so I had to make do with my blackberry camera. Still, not a bad way to conclude the weekend.

So happy together

Saturday marked two years since the boyfriend and I have been together. Where does the time go? We celebrated the occasion with an incredible, leisurely meal at Rustic Canyon (which is owned and operated by the same couple behind what is fast becoming a westside hot spot, Huckleberry). You MUST try the soft-shell crab if you go. It's divine.

We followed dinner with a late night showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. T is HP-indifferent, I am HP-OBSESSED. I've read all the books several times, and I've even attended one of the premieres back in my UCLA days when I lived in Westwood village. It was very good of T to indulge me and sit through a rather long (and admittedly, a bit boring until the final half hour, but oh, what an amazing final half hour it was!) movie about teenage wizards. He braved it very well and I am so happy he did.

Summer Solstice

This summer solstice held all the auspicious elements of what is sure to be a superb summer: slept in late; went for a walk in perfect sunshine (which felt like a balm after too many weeks of June Gloom, a commmon Southern California affliction at this time of year); tried the newly opened cafe/bakery, Huckleberry (they use organic and local ingredients, and it's owned and operated by an adorable married couple whose love and enthusiasm for food is apparent as soon as you walk in. It's a real foodie's place); wished my father a happy Father's Day; enjoyed a particularly challenging and purifying yoga class; made dinner with T and hosted a good friend who was alone this Father's Day (it's not a sad story, he will be reunited with wife and son soon!); feasted on burrata and heirloom tomato salad, strawberries dipped in chocolate and red wine; and most impressive and joyful of all, I did not set foot into a car today--walking everywhere was absolute bliss! It was a pretty great day, if I do say so myself. Proof is in the pudding below.

I snapped a couple quick shots of Huckleberry's interior as I waited for my soy latte (which was delicious). I really took to the country-like freshness of the decor. I didn't feel like I was in LA, which is a welcome feeling, let me tell you.

The camera on my blackberry simply does not do these baked goods justice. I wanted to sample every single one. I made do with the croissant and raisin scone. Divinely buttery and flaky in the most perfect way.

Burrata is to caprese salad what sugar is to chocolate chip cookies. It's simply not acceptable with out it. Undoubtedly, burrata is one of the most delectable cheeses I have ever had the pleasure to devour. It's rather hard to find, but Andrew's Cheese Shop on Montana didn't disappoint. We nabbed their last one.

I only now just realize that food is the dominating theme of today's post. Which sort of makes sense, if you think about it. There's something about summer that is so life-affirming and of the moment. Summer is a time for enjoying the simple pleasures of life: appreciating nature, spending quality time with friends, savoring good food. These moments are so ephemeral and time moves so quickly, which is something I've been shocked to discover as I grow older. It's important to take hold of these moments and be truly grateful for being alive and well enough to enjoy them. Kind of saccharine, I know, but I can't help it. Blame it on the first day of summer. Who knew that such a sunshine-filled day would provoke such contemplation? Isn't that what grey, rainy days are for?

Switching it up

No matter how much I love the buttery soft leather Mulberry handbag that I own and wear on a daily basis, I sometimes feel the urge to switch it up. Lately, I've been gravitating toward canvas totes. There's something about their simple, easy charm that appeals to me. And they seem like a breeze to clean: just throw them in the wash and you're good to go. I recently bought this one from Village Books in the Palisades. I feel I'm doing my part in promoting this gem of a bookshop (I wrote a little about the bookshop back in January). I plan on sporting it today while T and I go to the farmer's market, the gym, and beyond.

On another note, isn't this cool spring weather so lovely?

Bar Bites at Bar Pintxo

T and I love this tiny tapas place just off of Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. And when I say "tiny" I truly mean tiny: Bar Pintxo only fits about 30 people and is just a stone's throw away from the super touristy 3rd Street Promenade, so needless to say the place fills up fast. Which is why we tend to stop by before the dinner crowds descend, usually on a week night or around mid-afternoon on the weekends.

Our go-to order every time we come is the crimini mushroom with jamon and diced vegetables for him and I die for the tuna stuffed tomato with garlic and parsley (both of which are ironically not pictured here. Sorry!). Today we tried the mouthwatering "gambas al ajillo" (white shrimp, garlic, parsley and lemon) and "espinacas a la catalana" (wilted spinich with pinenuts, garlic, apple and raisins), and paella with squid ink whose name I don't remember since T ordered it on the sly.

And when I saw "patatas bravas" on the menu, I knew I had to order it, if only to satiate my curiosity about the dish that emanates all the way back from my high school Spanish class days. They also have an extensive list of Spanish wines which, if you don't know wine, and even if you DO, can nevertheless be a debilitating experience. Which is why I tend to tell the waitress whatever I'm in the mood for that day (which can be anything from full-bodied and hearty to something a bit fruitier with a hint of blackcurrant and plum--the latter is what I requested this afternoon, almost verbatim!) and she'll bring me back something so flavorful and perfect that I've come to just trust the system and no longer bother with the menu anymore. And yes, everything is as delicious as it sounds.

One of the reasons I adore this place, apart from the scrumptious food, is the old world ambiance. Each time I step over the threshold I feel as if I just entered a cool, off-the-beaten-path bar in the middle of Barcelona or Madrid. The dusty wine bottles lining shelves on the wall, the elegant chandelier dangling overhead, the chalkboards featuring the day's specials in Spanish, all of this lends a very down-to-earth, yet elegant European vibe to the place. It's only when your American waitress cheerfully asks what you'd like to drink and you can see the glistening Pacific Ocean from your perch at the bar that you realize where you really are. I find the transporting quality to Bar Pintxo only adds to its considerable charms.

Walking down Montana Avenue

I am so charmed by this little window display. The nutcracker appears to be doing quite a convincing job of guarding all these ballet flats at London Sole. I mean, would you cross him? I wouldn't! I imagine I'd be very happy indeed if I had a pair of these chic little flats waiting for me beneath the Christmas tree. I didn't fare so well last year, but there's always next Christmas. Those silver ones are calling my name.

Weekend Musings

Sigh. Why do holiday weekends have to end? It always amazes me just how quickly they go by. One minute you're relishing the thought of four luxurious days where you seemingly have all the time in the world to do just about anything that tickles your fancy, and the next you're lamenting the cruel, hard fact that work/school/reality must set in in a mere 24 hours. Still, I can't really complain (but oh, how I love to do it), as these past few days have been wonderfully relaxing with a healthy dosage of good friends, good food and good wine, not to mention some quality 'me' time. I finally finished Mrs. Woolf & the Servants, which was an illuminating look not only at Virginia Woolf's relationships with her domestic staff, but also her relationship with food and her own body (i.e. she wasn't a big eater, something I cannot identify with at all). I even enjoyed my workout session with my trainer (can you imagine Virginia Woolf with a trainer?!). Yes, I have a trainer and I go to a gym. This coming from a girl whose athletic zenith in life was doing a hand stand in yoga...with the instructor's help, I hasten to add.

In the final moments of the long weekend, the boyfriend and I (or T, as I shall henceforth refer to him in this space, because I'm getting lazy in my old age) braved the strong winds that had been blowing through the west side all day, grabbed a warm drink (earl gray for him, soy latte for me) and headed out to the bluff in the Pacific Palisades where we took in the setting sun. Only about twenty other people had the same brilliant idea. So did a few dogs. And it was FREEZING and extremely windy, even more so on that bluff than anywhere else. So our romantic interlude lasted all of one minute, and as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon, we scrambled out of there as fast as our legs could carry us.

Our legs carried us to Village Books in the palisades because I wanted to browse their selections, and I think T just wanted to get warm. I have to say that I really like this bookshop. It has a very cozy, neighborhood feel to it, and I like how the patrons all seem to know each other. Case in point: yesterday two men were talking very loudly in the shop about their houses and which architects they used and which homes they admire in the neighborhood, which would have been a fine conversation to overhear if it wasn't so suggestive of two grown men comparing body parts, if you know what I mean. It's the whole "my house is bigger than yours" mentality. Eventually, they graciously took the conversation outside, where they proceeded to talk at each other at exactly the same decibel. But apart from all that, I just like to give Village Books my business, especially in this day and age when Barnes & Noble and Borders loom on every corner, and Amazon is tantalizingly only a click away on the computer. So you can imagine my disappointment when I read that the shop is struggling a bit at the moment. Luckily, (or I should say hopefully), rescue came in the shape of one celebrity palisades resident and Village Books patron, Tom Hanks. I nearly whooped out loud for joy when I read about what he did for the shop. Which just seems so like him, too. I heart Tom Hanks and books and (hopefully) happy endings for book shop owners and extended weekends.

Oh, and for those who are interested, I ended up leaving Village Books with a copy of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, a book I've been meaning to read, and Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope, because what better time to read the president-elect's latest book than the month of his presidential inauguration? In two weeks, people!

Christmas Roundup

First and foremost, I sincerely hope that anyone who happens upon this blog (and admittedly, there aren’t a lot of you, but that's beyond the scope of why I started it in the first place; a big thank you to everyone who stops by!) truly had a merry and bright Christmas. The holiday season can leave a lot to be desired, but I hope you were able to find some joy amidst the madness. I certainly did. Enjoy the madness, that is. On Christmas Eve, feeling very disgruntled that I didn’t get the day off, I arrived at work and made the genius move of locking my keys in the car (nice one, Joanna!), but thankfully the situation was quickly and easily resolved with a little help from AAA. Hallelujah. In an effort to abate the tension brought on from that little situation, I decided to treat myself to a manicure. I chose a gunmetal, Dickensian sort of color (particularly apt at this time of year, methinks) as an alternative to the typical holiday red. I loved the end result, but achieving it literally meant waiting for paint to dry. BORING.

But the main Christmas Eve event was introducing the boyfriend to my family over dinner. Despite feeling slightly on edge about it going in—I have a very sarcastic and lively family who love nothing better than pushing other people’s buttons—I think on the whole it went very well. Though I suspect the vodka water and multiple glasses of red wine I consumed might have helped. As did this citrus-glazed ahi tuna.

The boyfriend and I finished up the eve at the charming Bar Chloe in Santa Monica. Festive twinkle lights were hung as a nod to the holiday and lent a quiet ambience, and I found it to be an altogether relaxing, and dare I say, civilized, end to a rather eventful day.

Christmas day was spent eating, opening presents, eating, taking a catnap, and eating some more (the goat cheese-stuffed bell peppers and peppermint bark were highlights). To top it off, Santa brought me a pair of incredibly warm and cozy UGG boots (he knew I was a fan way before they were ever considered trendy).

He also brought me a cookbook by that empress of domesticity, Martha Stewart. He must know that I've been meaning to cook more. Thanks, Santa! These photos are making me hungry.

Overall, I think my favorite part of Christmas was receiving the myriad holiday cards from friends and family. To me, these notes of good cheer and health and happiness are what Christmas is all about. Happy Holidays!

Weekend Snapshots

The boyfriend and I spent most of the chilly weekend cozying up with copious cups of earl grey tea from Taylors of Harrogate.
When we bothered to leave the apartment, we had breakfast at Cafe Vida in leafy Pacific Palisades. The food at Cafe Vida is always organic, healthy, and incredibly delicious.

And the first weekend in December wouldn't be complete without a little sugar cookie baking and tree trimming to inaugurate the holiday season.

The Getty Center and Getty Villa

I love visiting museums. Whenever I travel to a new city, it's one of the first things I scramble to see; I think so much can be discovered about a city through its art and architecture that I feel it's a good place to start. I particularly love the Museu Picasso in Barcelona and when I lived in London, I paid frequent visits to the National Portrait Gallery. Living in Los Angeles, I have my share of cool museums to check out, and I've had the good fortune of visiting both the Getty Villa in Malibu and the Getty Center in Brentwood in recent months. Both offer stunning works of art and consistently feature interesting exhibits--the Getty Center's Bernini exhibit is just exquisite.

Equally impressive as the artwork are the grounds of both museums. The Villa's classic proportions, as seen in the photos directly above and below, are something out of a Henry James novel.


Meanwhile, the Getty Center's modern white architecture provides a wonderfully dramatic backdrop against the Western art that lives within its walls (as seen below).