Novelties on Robertson

This week I took a couple of daytime walks on South Robertson Blvd between Cattaraugus and Cadillac, the borders our Reynier Village Neighborhood.

Eyes Peeled Coffee

Twice I stopped by Eyes Peeled Coffee, at 2839.  The first time I spoke to owner Gavy, and promised to list their place in the Restaurant page of our Reynier Village Blog, the second time it was right after Hamilton High students had come out of school at 3.30pm and a bunch of girls were mobbing the counter asking for Acai bowls. They were not available yet, but they will be starting Friday October 22, so I plan to go back a third time to sample this novelty, never before available in Reynier Village.

Fred’s Bakery

I noticed the pastel colored wrought iron tables and chair outside at Fred’s Bakery at 2831.

Undergrind Cafe

I walked into Undergrind Cafe, at 2713, all decorated for Halloween, and saw that they are now selling T-shirts and sweatshirts.

Carvd barbershop

I peeked into Carvd barbershop, at 2515, owner Martin was busy with a customer so I did not bother him. But I did spend time at Ivan Gallery at 27o1 chatting with my friend Barbara Mendes, who is always busy drawing and painting, now working on a second Queen of Cosmos Comix book, this time in full color.

Barbara Mendes-Ivan Gallery

More shops are getting close to opening for business, so why don’t you take a walk and check out our wonderful Great Street?
Read a list of Robertson Businesses, New on Robertson and more posts on this blog.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Eat on Washington

Pizza at the Coop

After receiving in the mail a $15 off discount if you spent $30, I visited again the Santa Monica Coop at 8770 Washington Blvd and National. I had featured this place when it first opened in a post about Food Markets. I found it to be as good as always, minus the great salad bar, that is no longer allowed after Covid-19. They have many hot food choices like pizza and soups, cold dishes like sushi and sandwiches, and lovely areas with tables, so you may eat lunch right there.

Bianca Bakery

Parking is free or one and a half hour, no validation needed, so I walked one block west to the Platform, I found open for indoor and outdoor dining the new restaurants featured in this blog, like Roberta and Margot. Loqi is small, so only takeout is available, but their fabulous large tacos are worth it. I walked across the street and bought a tasty ham and cheese croissant at Bianca Bakery. This Italian restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch from 9am to 3pm, and for dinner from 5 to 9pm.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Culver City restaurants open

Akasha

On this sunny Saturday afternoon, with the sky blue and clear after the rains, I took a walk in Downtown Culver City, after shopping at Trader Joe’s, to see which restaurants had reopened for outdoor dining, since they were finally allowed to do so on Friday January 29, after having been closed for over two months. And to my pleasant surprise I discovered that, besides the usual suspects, some new places had opened.

Citizen Public Market

The most intriguing is Citizen Public Market, inside the historic building that opened in 1929 as the Citizen Publishing Company. It is actually a fancy food court with four places already open: Goodboybob, Jolly Oyster, Pizzette, WeHo Sausage.

Gratitude

I walked into Gratitude, an art gallery on Main Street repurposed as a place to buy artisanal food and gifts.

Piccalilli

I noticed that Piccalilli, also on the now pedestrian Main street, had the best outdoor set-up with flower planters.

Mendocino Farms

I ate a tasty Peruvian Steak sandwich at the newly opened Mendocino Farms at the Culver Steps

Cafe Vida. Culver City

As for the usual suspects, I found open today for lunch with happy diners enjoying their meals: Akasha, Cafe Vida, Grand Casino, Meet in Paris and several other restaurants.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Sunday lunch on Washington Blvd

In these sad and tragic times of COVID-19, when so many people around the world got sick or died or lost their jobs (which only in the US means they no longer have health care), we gave some comfort to our heavy heart today by going out to lunch and enjoying this beautiful, warm and sunny day.

My best friend and I ate at our favorite Italian restaurant in Culver City, Pasta Sisters, loved their comfort food, lasagne and spezzatino (beef stew) with polenta. We noticed that Father’s Office was also packed with customers, seated outdoors with additional tables added to the pedestrian block of Helms Bakery.
After lunch, we walked West to the Platform, where Roberta was lively with people eating pizza, and Bianca Bakery was equally full.

Then we walked back to the East toward La Cienega, and found three restaurants, closed today for Sunday lunch, but open for dinner, EK Valley, serving Mexican Oaxacan food, Industry Cafe and Jazz, offering East African specialties, and the Italian Brunello’s Trattoria.

Check our other post-Coronavirus restaurant posts
Culver City Restaurants outdoor dining
Restaurants open near Reynier Village
Restaurants open in Culver City
Open on Robertson

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Culver City Restaurants outdoor dining

Pasta Sisters patio (c) Elisa Leonelli

Los Angeles restaurants were allowed to open again for dine-in (May 29), after being closed for 10 weeks (since March 20) to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and, after implementing safety guidelines, many did, but, due to increases in coronavirus cases and deaths, on July 1 they were ordered closed again for 3 weeks, unless they can offer outdoor dining. We took a walk in Culver City today at lunch time and we were pleasantly surprised to see that quite few places were open, and dozens of diners enjoyed their meals under the shade of patios in the summer heat of this 4th of July weekend.

Pasta Sisters-Eggplant Parmesan (c) Elisa Leonelli

We were happy to see Carasau, the new Italian restaurant that opened a year ago, serve their signature pizzas and their menu of Sardinian specialties. We sat down at our favorite place, Pasta Sisters at Helms Bakery, and loved their eggplant parmesan (melanzane alla parmigiana).
Also open: Auld Fella, Cafe Ugo, Cafe Vida, City Tavern, La Dijonnaise, Grand Casino, Janga by Derrick’s, Public School, Rush Street, Sake House, Tender Greens, Tentenyu.

For more Culver City restaurants open for takeout and delivery, click on this earlier post

Restaurants open near Reynier Village

Here are some restaurants open for takeout and delivery near Reynier Village
The zip codes are Los Angeles 90034 and 90035

Asian Fusion, 1710 Roberston

Asian Fusion, EK Valley, Gloria, Hu’s Szechuan, Julie Goes Green, Kogi Taqueria, La Esquina, Madre, Natalee, Phorage, Simpang Asia, SuperPho, Tara’s Himalayan, Tiki Fish, Tuk Tuk Thai, Ugly Roll, Vegan Joint, Versailles

Click on restaurant’s name for menus and more info

We ordered recently from BiiBiip (Mediterranean), Campos (Mexican), La Esquina (Mexican), Nathalie (Thai), Pasta Sisters (Italian), Simpang Asia (Indonesian), SuperPho (Vietnamese), Versailles (Cuban)
We enjoyed all the other places, when they were open for dine-in. Madre is the new name of El Nopal. Some of our favorite restaurants unfortunately are temporarily closed, like Si Laa, where they serve the very best Thai food, way above all the rest.

Gloria’s Cafe, 10227 Venice

For eateries on Robertson Blvd, click on this link

For restaurants in Culver City, click on this link

Restaurants open in Culver City

Chicas Tacos. 9345 Culver Blvd

Here are some restaurant in Culver City open for take-out and delivery. Others have temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Akasha, AR Cucina, Bianca Bakery, Brunello Trattoria, Cafe Vida, Chicas Tacos, Cava, Father’s Office, Grand Casino, Kay and Daves, La Dijonnaise, Loqui, Pasta Sisters, Phovorite, Sage, Sake House, Tender Greens, Tentenyu, Ugo

Click on restaurant names for address and menu.

For updates and more restaurants, click on Downtown Culver City, Helms Bakery, The Platform

For nearby places in Los Angeles click on the Restaurants page

Pasta Sisters. 3208 Helms Ave

Open on Robertson

In these times of fear because of Coronavirus, we are still allowed to walk in our neighborhood, whether we have a dog or not. I did that today and checked which eateries are open on Robertson for take out and delivery, not for dine-in. I walked into Argentinian Empanadas at 2513, spoke with Christian, had a taste of coffee ice-cream at Edoughble Sweet Shop at 2625.  Campos Tacos at 2639 was open as well, all the chairs turned over on top of the tables. Undergrind at 2713 is open every day from 8am to 2pm. Dolce Isola at 2869 is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 8.30am to 3pm. No tables set up outside, though. Fred’s Bakery at 2831 was closed, but only because it was Saturday. Every other day they open early, at 6am until 5pm, shorter hours on Sundays.
A lovely improvement, since I last time walked on Robertson a few days ago, is the walkaways painted orange, part of the Great Street project, after we have been enjoying the sidewalks extensions and the new street crossing with traffic light at Gibson
We hope you will all take a walk in our lovely Reynier Village, and support our local eateries.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Bianca Bakery

Today I tried a new restaurant in Culver City, Bianca Bakery, at 8850 Washington Blvd, next to the Platform shopping complex. I tasted their daily lunch special, polpette di vitello (veal meatballs) in marinara sauce, and I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious they were and how well they bonded with the freshly baked French baguette slices. The place is spacious and elegant, with outdoor seating, and a glass see-through area where the baked goods are prepared.
On the menu they have mostly Italian specialties, pastas such as Rigatoni alla Bolognese and Gnocchi Madeo, entrees like Caciucco, a fish stew from Tuscany. There’s a touch of French, Croque Madame, and Argentinian cuisine, Entraña a la parrilla (grilled skirt steal) with Chimichurri sauce.
I noticed a new pocket park nearby, with Italian style canvas chairs (sdrai) and a mural by Block Shop. It’s called Platform Park.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

A Cannabis Cafe

Cannabis Cafe (c) Elisa Leonelli

Touted as the first restaurant in America where guests can openly smoke marijuana, A Cannabis Cafe opened October 1st at 1201 N La Brea Ave in West Hollywood. They serve farm to table food and offer a variety of cannabis products to eat, drink or smoke; both are sourced from Lowell Farms, grown with organic fertilizer and no pesticides.

Cannabis Cafe (c) Elisa Leonelli

I was there today, as a member of the press but also as a customer. I ordered their avocado toast for breakfast. It came topped with peas and radishes and tasted delicious. I did not sample any marijuana offerings, but I listened to the explanations of a flower host or budtender. She showed me how to operate a giant water pipe called a gravity bong.

Cannabis Cafe. Gravity bong (c) Elisa Leonelli

I was puzzled by the logo of a bull and found out that it refers to William “Bull” Lowell, founder of the company in 1909. My waitress told me it represents a Minotaur, the half bull/half man creature of Greek mythology.

Cannabis Cafe (c) Elisa Leonelli

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

P.S. For more info read these articles in LA Magazine, New York Times, LA Weekly.

Jaffa restaurant

Jaffa Palms

While walking on Venice Blvd today, I discovered a restaurant that just opened in a new luxury apartment building, the Goldwyn. They are not open for lunch on weekdays, so I could not sample it, but plan to go back.  They have a happy hour from 4 to 6pm every day, dinner from 5pm, brunch at 10am on weekends. At 10306 Venice Blvd, it’s a second location of Jaffa at 8048 3rd St. It’s named after an old neighborhood in Tel Aviv, it serves modern Israeli cuisine. Tel 424-298 8180.

roasted cauliflower

As for the Goldwyn, the 1 bedroom apartments with balconies rent for around $3000.

apartment at the Goldwyn

New Restaurants Culver City

Margot bar © Elisa Leonelli

We were disappointed when we discovered that EnjoyEat, our favorite Italian restaurant in Culver City, had closed until further notice on January 1, 2019, after months of only having been open for dinner, not for lunch. When we contacted the owners, who still run their original restaurant, Eatalian in Gardena, they replied with the comforting news that they are working on a new concept and will hopefully reopen soon.

Palihotel © Elisa Leonelli

We always thought EnjoyEat was cursed with a bad location, in an alley next to the Arclight Cinemas, that is off the beaten path.  But then in mid January the newly remodeled Palihotel opened in an historical 1923 building, across the street, on that same Van Buren Place (as we posted on Nextdoor on January 10), so now more people will likely discover this location.

Simonette-Palihotel ©Elisa Leonelli

A French restaurant, Simonette, opened at the lobby level of the Palihotel, with outdoor seating in an inner courtyard, the tables surrounding a mature tree. Their brunch menu includes Moules Frites, a Belgian specialty of mussels and fries.

Roberta’s © Elisa Leonelli

Late last year Roberta’s Pizza had opened at Platform, the fancy shopping mall at 8850 Washington Blvd, across the street from the Expo Line Culver City station. We had eaten there and posted on Nextdoor (December 1, 2018). We had written a blog post on their 2017 Pop Up experiment, and a review of Platform in 2016.

Margot © Elisa Leonelli

Today we tried a new restaurant, Margot, that opened at Platform on December 19. It is described as a mix of Spanish and Italian cuisine, so we ordered a focaccia sandwich filled with the typically Italian cold-cut, mortadella, and a frisee salad that came mixed with spicy olives. Both dishes were tasty but too salty. We didn’t care for the loud music, but the large and bright restaurant was comfortable.

If you want to eat authentic Italian food, try Pasta Sisters, that opened their cosy restaurant at Helms Bakery last March. Read our blog post here.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Palisades Village

Palisades Village © Elisa Leonelli

The newly remodeled shopping mall Palisades Village had opened in September, and finally today I had a chance to visit it, when a friend invited me to lunch. We picked Edo Little Bites, because we were familiar with the Italian cooking of Edoardo, son of Giorgio Baldi. As luck would have it, one of the specials was lasagne, prepared in the traditional style of my hometown, with green spinach pasta, béchamel, pork ragout and parmesan, layered then baked in the oven. For more info about the cuisine from Modena, please click here to read my article in Cultural Weekly.

Palisades Village Xmas © Elisa Leonelli

We walked around the small cluster of shops and restaurants all decorated for Xmas, we enjoyed the Amazon Books store and the Vintage Grocers.

Bay Theater © Elisa Leonelli

Looking forward to trying the Bay Theater, built in in 1948 and closed in 1978, which reopened in November as the luxury Cinépolis, where you lounge in recliner seats and order food to eat before (hopefully not during) the movie, like at the iPic in Westwood.

Eat Vegetarian

On Mother’s Day we tried OOAK, the new Asian Vegetarian restaurant in Culver City. We had pumpkin soup and shaking beef (actually mushrooms). The Cantonese food and the service were excellent. I asked for the meaning of the word OOAK. It’s an Internet acronym for “One Of A Kind.”

OOAK, Culver City

This made me reflect on the advantages of a vegetarian diet, that has been popular in the West since the counterculture 60s. That means eliminating any meat (beef, lamb, pork, veal, chicken) or fish from your food intake, eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. When fish and seafood are allowed, that is a pescetarian diet; when eggs and dairy products are included, that is called ovo-lacto vegetarian. No animals are killed when eggs and milk are produced, however, fish are killed for us to eat them, and, as a friend of mine says: “I don’t eat anything that had eyes.” The Macrobiotic diet, inspired by Zen Buddhism, allows fish.

OOAK, Culver City

A vegetarian diet is sometimes chosen for ethical reasons, “do not kill living beings,” even though arguably plants are living as well; but it is also beneficial to your health, reducing animal fat, proven to cause cancer, high-blood pressure, and other diseases.
During the past few years a vegan diet has been promoted as even healthier; that means no animal products at all, no eggs, no cheese, no milk, no yogurt. But often, in order to simulate the taste of meat and cheese, soy products and other substitutes are used.
Even more extreme is a diet of raw food. In addition to no meat or animal products, there’s no cooking, as the heat removes some enzymes from vegetables.

MAKE OUT, Culver City

For me eating meals of fresh fruit, salads and steamed vegetables, cooked lentils and beans, feels healthy, but it’s not a religion. I believe in what novelist Barbara Kingsolver says in her 2007 non-fiction book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, that eating grass-fed beef and organic chicken is okay, and environmentally responsible. Reading that book was eye-opening, and it set me on a path of healthier eating. I love making blended vegan soups with a variety of cooked vegetables and spices. For more on this subject, you may read my article Souping for Health in Cultural Weekly.

MAKE OUT, Culver City.

See below some Westside restaurants that offer vegan, vegetarian or raw food.

SAGE, Culver City

Among the fast food chains, I like Veggie Grill, inexpensive and tasty. Recently I tried Daily Harvest, a vegan food delivery service of fruits smoothies, cooked vegetable soups and legumes.  I really liked it.

SAGE, Culver City

Of course, you are able to make vegetarian food choices at most restaurants; just eat salads, vegetable dishes and legumes. Indian, Thai, Chinese cuisines have delicious vegetarian specialties. My favorites are Szechuan eggplant and Baingan bharta (mashed eggplant).

SAGE, Culver City

OOAK. Asian Vegetarian Cuisine
9540 Washington Blvd, Culver City

SAGE. Plant Based Bistro
4130 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City

MAKE OUT. Raw food
9426 Washington Blvd, Culver City

VEGAN JOINT. Since 2006
10438 National Blvd, LA 90034

ANNAPURNA. South Indian vegetarian
10200 Venice Blvd, Culver City

INDIA SWEETS & SPICES. Indian vegetarian, since 1986
9409 Venice Blvd, Culver City

REAL FOOD DAILY. Organic plant-based
414 N La Cienega Blvd. LA 90048

GRACIAS MADRE. Mexican Vegan
8905 Melrose Ave. West Hollywood

Text and Photos by Elisa Leonelli

Terra opens at Eataly

Terra, the new rooftop restaurant at Eataly in Century City, opens Thursday March 29 at 5pm. They will only serve dinner at first, until 11 pm, later also lunch.
The word Terra in Italian means Earth, soil.

Terra terrace, iPhone photo by Elisa Leonelli

As you enter this 11,000 square feet indoor and outdoor space, the first thing you see is the huge wood burning grill. Nicola, the son of Eataly’s founder Oscar Farinetti, explains that the concept was to have a fire pit in the middle of a restaurant. Their specialties are grilled meats (beef, pork, lamb) and vegetables (artichokes, asparagus, beets, carrots, zucchini). There are also pasta dishes, of course, and fish.

Terra grill, photo by Elizabeth Daniels

The large terrace with cushioned seating has a wooden Botanica Bar serving gin drinks. A variety of gins are imported from Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii, Scotland, and other places. A tasty snack is arrosticini, a typical dish from the Italian region of Abruzzi, skewers of grilled beef, pork and mutton. An herb garden is also on the terrace, as well as a covered seating area for dining.

Terra Bar Botanico, photo by Elizabeth Daniels

Dulcis in fundo, a cart of ice cream is passed around at the end of the meal, only one flavor, fior di latte, with various toppings.
Appetizers, small plates, vegetables and salads are priced from $8 to $19. Pastas from $19 to $23. Main courses from $28 to $42.

grilled beef, iPhone photo by Elisa Leonelli

There is valet parking on Avenue of the Stars, just South of Santa Monica Blvd, and an elevator that zips you up to the 5th floor restaurant. Eating at Terra will definitely a pleasurable luxury experience for those who can afford it.

You may read in Cultural Weekly my articles about Eataly’s opening last November, and about a tortellini-making class at Eataly’s Cooking School this January.

Pasta Sisters in Culver City

Pasta Sisters finally opened on Sunday March 4, at Helms Bakery in Culver City, and it was worth the wait. It was an exciting experience to be there on their first day.

Pasta Sisters, Helms

My family and friends became fans of their storefront takeout place at Pico and Arlington, as soon as they opened, three years ago. We especially love their lasagne and eggplant parmesan.

Pasta Sisters patio

Now that they have a nearby restaurant with two outdoor patios, we will be able to enjoy their delicious food comfortably seated. The menu was expanded from their signature fresh pasta dishes, with the addition of several items, including beef stew and polenta (spezzatino con polenta Valsugana), a specialty of Padova, the Italian city in the Veneto region where the sisters are from.

Paola Da Re

Paola and her sisters Luisa and Patrizia learnt to cook from their mother Maria Giovanna. Paola is the chef, son Francesco, daughters Giorgia and Francesca help her run the family business. Paola credits the enthusiasm of their 40 employees and the optimism of her children for the successful opening of their new venture.

Francesco

On my first day I tried panzerotti, an appetizer I never tasted before, fried dough with two different hot stuffings, spinach and ricotta cheese, Italian cooked ham and mozzarella. They were amazing. I look forward to going back many more times and trying all of their dishes.

Giorgia, Francesca

For more info on where to find authentic Italian food in Los Angeles, or prepare it yourself, you may read my articles in Cultural Weekly
Italian Bread, Modena style
Fresh pasta, Modena-style

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Pasta Sisters staff

Chocolate on Robertson

At the September 27 SORONC Townhall meeting about the Robertson Great Streets plans, I was impressed by the heartfelt speech of a young man, David, who introduced his handcrafted chocolate to the neighbors. They are open to the public on Saturdays from 11am to 4pm, and offer free samples. So yesterday I went to visit their factory, Letterpress Chocolate, at 2835 Robertson, the same storefront where Sue Leedom used to sell her Mollie’s Cookies, next to Fred’s Bakery, recently remodeled by new owner by Avi Kadmon.

David Menkes with a tray of cacao beans

Letterpress is a technique of relief printing from plates. David used to be a graphic artist, and does all the designs for his artisan chocolate packaging. The logo is inspired by an old US airmail stamp. It means that he comes from the mountains, flies all over the world and brings back chocolate beans.
His wife and daughter work at the family business, where they manufacture small batch, bean to bar, chocolate in different flavors, single sourced from small farms in Belize, Tanzania, Trinidad, Ecuador, etc.

David Menkes with wife Corey and their daughter

This reminds me of the Lavazza coffee that I have been drinking since moving to the US in 1972, to make sure that every morning as I wake up I smell and taste the same flavor I am used to, having grown up in Italy. I buy Lavazza at Bay Cities, World Market and Vons. It comes in cans and in 12oz bags in several flavors, plus 2 single origin coffees: Santa Marta, Columbia and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. A couple of years ago I received a Nespresso machine as a birthday gift, but I load refillable pods with Lavazza. To me this Italian coffee beats the taste of the Swiss brand by far.

Stop by to meet David on Saturdays, taste the various samples, ask him to introduce you to his wife and daughter, who are busy in the back making and packaging the award-winning chocolate they ship all over the world. And if you wish to buy some bars of your favorite flavor, they cost $10 to $12 each.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

For more blog posts on Robertson businesses click here

Food markets

The Santa Monica Coop, at 1525 Broadway since 1995, opened another location in Culver City. It’s called Coopportunity Market & Deli, it’s located at 8770 Washington Blvd and National.

Coop, Culver City

I went to check it out today and found a wide variety of choices, organic fruits and vegetables, grown without pesticides, grass-fed beef raised without antibiotics, cage free chicken wings, crusted wild salmon, hot pizza, poke bowls and much more. It has free underground parking and tables to sit and eat from their salad bar and cooked food selections.

Sprouts, Culver City

It is a welcome addition to the nearby Sprouts that opened last September at 8985 Venice Blvd and to Trader Joe’s at 9290 Culver Blvd.
The Coop is planning a Grand Opening celebration on September 9, don’t miss it.

Trader Joe’s, Culver City

I frequent many other food markets that offer salad bars, hot soups and prepared meals, such as Whole Foods at 11666 National Blvd and Barrington. Amazon already started lowering the prices today, after their recent acquisition.
Gelson’s in Century City, Bristol Farms at 3105 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, Erewhon at 7660 Beverly Blvd and Fairfax LA 90036, Lassens at 710 S LaBrea and Wilshire.

I do love cooking my favorite recipes at home, and I constantly experiment with new dishes, but I also enjoy the quick satisfaction of trying different tasty and healthy foods prepared by others, while shopping for groceries at these markets.

Coop, Culver City

Click on all the red links for more info, please write your comments.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

New Restaurants-Culver City

We were curious about several new restaurants that opened recently in downtown Culver City, replacing others that closed, so we took a walk, looked at their menus and sampled some of their food. We favored inexpensive and unpretentious establishments, offering healthy choices.
For example the baby kale salad at BACO SHOP (424) 258 6301, 9552 Washington Blvd, the grain bowl with black lentils at CAVA (23) 230 5027 , 9343 Culver Blvd, the Angry Avocado roll at RAMEN ROLL (310) 426 8926, 9900 Culver Blvd.
We also indulged with the Chicken Karaage at TENTENYU (424) 603 4803, 3849 Main St. It was yummi (and boneless), much better (if not comparable) than HONEY KETTLE’S FRIED CHICKEN, rated number one in Los Angeles by LAist, Thrillist and Los Angeles Magazine (if you don’t mind waiting 30 minutes or more).

For a list of our favorite restaurants in Culver City check the RVNA website.

Please go explore and comment with YOUR favorite choices. Thanks!

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Robertson-Great Street

Tommy’s Express Car Wash

Many residents were disappointed two years ago when South Robertson Boulevard was NOT included among the 15 “Great Streets” chosen by Mayor Eric Garcetti for transformation.  Last November SORONC (South Robertson Neighborhood Council) leaders applied for a $13,000 matching grant, with letters of support from RVNA (Reynier Village Neighborhood Association) and other community organizations, and on February 3, 2017 the Mayor confirmed that South Robertson (from Cadillac to Kincardine) is one of 7 additional Los Angeles Great Streets 2016.

2512 Robertson

I took a walk up and down Robertson a few days ago to see what’s new.  I spoke with Ari Cohen, the new owner of Fred’s Bakery who took over the  business 2 years ago, I checked out Tommy’s Express Car Wash, and I looked at the gated parking lot of 2512-2516 Robertson, a building left vacant for 30 years by an absentee landlady.  We wish she and her son would sell it already and allow a restaurant to open there. It would be a great addition to the existing eateries: Dolce Isola, Argentinian Empanadas, Campos, Monaco Gelato, Undergrind Cafe.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

P.S. For other posts about our “Great Street” click on Robertson under Categories

Pizza Pop Up

Roberta’s Pizza (c) Elisa Leonelli

I was checking their website to see if Sweetgreen had opened at Platform in Culver City (it has), and saw a page about Roberta’s Pizza. I was born in Italy, so I’m always on the lookout for authentic Neapolitan pizza restaurants in LA, and the photos of these pizzas looked promising. So today I went for lunch with a friend, we ordered one pizza to share, the Bee Sting with spicy soppressata, and after the first bite we had to immediately order a second. To be fair, these pies are quite small. They had set up a shack under the Expo line bridge, with wooden tables in front, and placed their awesome clay pizza oven outdoors.  I asked how long they were going to be there and they said they are leaving in 10 days, February 12, drive the pizza oven back to the original Roberta’s in Brooklyn. I told them that the parking lot for the Expo across the street would close on February 14, for construction of a commercial and residential complex, and they said, “We’re leaving just in time, then.”

Sweetgreen (c) Elisa Leonelli

We also did check out Sweetgreen, where you can get healthy salads, warm bowls, and fruit juices, made from local organic ingredients.
Platform is at 8840 Washington Blvd, Culver City 90232. See post on this blog.

P.S. Roberta’s Pizza did end up opening a restaurant at Platform, with an extended menu and a full bar.  We had lunch there in December 2018.  It was crowded and noisy, but still good pizza.

Roberta’s Pizza at Platform 2018

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Sprouts is here!

I have been shopping at Sprouts for years, ever since they opened their first Los Angeles area store on Sepulveda at Jefferson in 2010. I was glad when they took over a location on Westwood Blvd, since that is closer to my regular routes. Recently I tried their new LaBrea store at Willoughby.  So I was very excited today to finally shop at their latest store on Venice Blvd, so close to my neighborhood.  It’s a place where I already go often, to shop at Trader Joe’s, or the sadly departed Office Max, to watch movies at the new Arclight Cinemas, to eat at my favorite restaurants in downtown Culver City, like EnjoyEat.

I did my regular shopping, I love their Strouds brand of gelato, their heirloom tomatoes, their nuts, lentils and beans in bulk, their salad bar, their home-made sausages. But this was a special day.  The atmosphere was festive, with frequent buzzing sounds, just like at the slot machines in Las Vegas, when every 15th customer won a booklet of coupons.  They were giving away green recyclable bags and passing out sushi tastings.  You can also see the discounts on their website.

Sprouts. 8985 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034 (424) 361-6611

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Gelato on Robertson

Monaco- Fabbrica di Gelato finally opened on Friday September 2 at 2633 Robertson Blvd. 203-979 6346.  Their hours are Thursday to Sunday from 12 noon to 8pm.
Residents of Reynier Village and Castle Heights already love walking over there to taste this delicious ice-cream freshly made Italian style, in flavors like Cappuccino, Hazelnut, Tiramisu, Gianduia, etc.
Many neighbors contributed to the Kickstarter campaign that by May 2 had reached the $10,000 goal in only 2 weeks. The work to refurbish the old store was completed 4 months later.
This is a labor of love from a passionate young man, Luca Monaco. He was raised in Montreal by his French mother and Italian father, and now lives in Santa Monica.

Welcome Luca. Benvenuto.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli
P.S. Winter Hours: Thursday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm

Dolce Isola is Capri

We enjoy having Dolce Isola on Robertson, the bakery of the Ivy restaurant; they serve breakfast, sandwiches, salads and ice-cream.  The downstairs space is way too small, but they do have a few more quiet tables upstairs. Ever since they opened in 2007 we sometimes order their pricey food for the summer park nights organized by our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association, where neighbors get together to eat, chat and have fun.  This week I wanted to get cookies from Dolce Isola for the last park night of 2016, since we had bought them from Fred’s Bakery on Robertson and Grand Casino in Culver City for the other park nights.  But I was unhappy that they only had one choice: chocolate chip cookies, so I bought Tiramisu instead.  I adore this delicious Italian custard, that literally means “pick me up” and I make it myself with soft mascarpone cheese.  The Dolce Isola version was so fabulous that many people attending the social evening asked for seconds.  Only after I got home I noticed the green design on the paper bag.  The Isola=island that is so sweet=dolce, is Capri, off the coast of Naples.  The descriptions read in Italian: the island of Love, the island of Sun, Arrivederci a Capri=let’s meet again in Capri.

So if you can’t travel to the real place in Italy, you should go to our local Dolce Isola at 2869 Robertson and have a leisurely good time, Italian style.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Culver City summer

Kirk Douglas Theatre (c) Elisa Leonelli

Yesterday I checked out the Summertini event in Culver City. I discovered that the name means small tastings of martinis, vodka mixed with different fruit juices.  They were served in tiny (tini) plastic cups, not only at restaurants, but also at art galleries (The Whole 9) and a gift shop (Lundeen).  My favorite place turned out to be Grilliant, because they offered me a full size Winetini in a real glass.  The best location was the Kirk Douglas Theater lobby, where tea, not alcohol, was available and a platter of assorted cheeses and fruit.  I had seen an amusing play there in April, Women Laughing Alone with Salad, and I loved the atmosphere.  They had a backdrop set up where photographs of audience members were taken holding fake salad bowls in front of virtual scenery. Very cool. Take a look at their fall/winter season.
The Third Wednesday event for August 17 is called Tropical Staycation.  It’s the 5th annual Spiked Tropical Punch Tasting, so check it out.
Free summer concerts have been taking place for years in the courtyard at City Hall. Tonight July 21 it’s Latin Salsa dancing rhythms.  See program for the upcoming Thursdays: July 28, August 4 and 11.  Our favorite way to enjoy these evenings is to sit at Hikari across the street and listen to the music, while eating sushi and drinking sake.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Culver City Hall (c) Elisa Leonelli

Platform on Washington

Platform

Last week, after picking up the delicious Gazpacho soup from Smart Simple Gourmet at 3731 Robertson, I took a walk on Washington Blvd going East. This used to be a long stretch of road with no shops, mostly occupied by car dealerships, but recently a fancy shopping mall called Platform has been constructed and opened in March. A desirable location, especially now that the Expo Line has been extended to Santa Monica. The Culver City station is right across the street.

Aesop

Some of the shops have yet to open, but there are quite enough interesting places to warrant a visit. So I went back the following day to explore and take some pictures. I watched families with small children play in the numerous sitting areas bordered by drought tolerant landscaping, I saw customers with their laptops lounge on various terraces, I noticed an event organized by the LA Film Festival at the photo studio Lightbox, I walked into SoulCycle and thought I might like to try this type of exercise, I chatted with the salespeople at Aesop, skin care products, and they offered me a cup of tea.

Loqui

I had a tasty lunch at Loqui, Mexican tacos and quesadillas wrapped in their home-made flour tortillas.

Blue Bottle Coffee

I asked the girls at Blue Bottle Coffee if they could make me a cappuccino Italian style, all milk foam with espresso poured on top, and they did. I was pleased.

Juices Served Here

So I went back again the following day with a friend, we had dinner and drinks at Cannibal, ice cream at Van Leeuwen. We walked into some of the shops. At IDV (Ilan Dei Venice), we learnt that all the outdoor furniture at Platform is made by them.

Mural by Jen Stark

The Platform is in walking or bicycling distance from Reynier Village, but they also have a parking structure on Landmark Street, first 2 hours free. It’s in the building with the rainbow murals by artist Jen Stark, that also houses São Açaí, smoothies and bowls, and Cannibal, butcher shop and restaurant.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Smart Food

After my first juice cleanse in June 2014, I started incorporating cold pressed vegetable juices into my daily diet, which I found an easy way to add nutrients. There are SO many places selling these juices all over town now, that I must not be the only one devoted to this kind of healthy eating.
The closest to Reynier Village is a small window at 3731 Robertson, south of Venice, across from FEDEX. Juices Served Here had their production facility there and I would stop by often. Then one day, a couple of months ago, I had to do a double-take, because the juice menu had changed. A new company had moved into this location, Renew Juicery.  Shortly after that, I received an email from Linda, the chef-owner of Smart Simple Gourmet, that they started selling their healthy menu items out of this same window.  I had discovered the delicious food cooked by Linda at the Culver City Farmers Market on Tuesdays, where she had stand for years, but for the past couple of years she only sells at the Mar Vista Farmers Market on Sundays.  So now I can get juices and gourmet meals from the same place nearby.  Very convenient. Check it out!

Text by Elisa Leonelli

Helms Bakery

The Helms Bakery District (Photo: © 2015 Joe Martinez- All Rights Reserved.)

Living so close to Culver city, it seems a shame not to take advantage of some of the areas that practically border our neighborhood. One area that I like to frequent, and is well within walking distance, is The Helm’s Bakery District just south of Venice Blvd.

Once upon a time, it was an actual bakery. The family owned and operated Helms Bakery supplied local residents with its fresh-baked bread for over four decades. Now it is a local landmark and home to a variety of restaurants and businesses. From Father’s Office Gastro Pub, with its 36 beers on tap, to LA Dijonaise Cafe’, with it’s offerings of fresh baguettes, croissants and desserts…there is something here for everyone.

After a bite to eat, I like to make my way over to Arcana Bookstore, one of the world’s premier visual arts bookstores. It is unique in that its primary focus is Photography, Art, Fashion, Design, Architecture, Cinema and Music. It’s been in business since 1984. Originally in Santa Monica, it moved here in 2012.

Or perhaps you need to freshen up your decor? You can head-on over to a number of establishments that cater to home decor furnishings like HD Buttercup or Room & Board.

In any case, it is a nice way to spend an afternoon browsing or shopping…and it’s “right next door.”

Oh and be sure to catch the 6th annual free Helms Sunset Cinema series returning to Helms Walk – the pedestrian plaza on Helms Avenue. The Outdoor film screenings kick-off on September 5 with the Disney animated film “The Princess and the Frog”

For more info, check out the Helms Bakery Website.

Helms Bakery District
8800 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034 *

* In a strange zoning configuration, part of Helms Bakery District is in Los Angeles and part in Culver City

– Joseph Martinez

Wilde Thistle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday afternoon we visited a lovely Irish-Scottish Cafe and Pub (for Artists, Writers, Thinkers & Lovers), at the corner of Motor and Palms, named after Oscar Wilde, the national poet of Ireland, and the Thistle, the national flower of Scotland.  Inside we found the most pleasant atmosphere (they also have an outdoor table), with a trio of musicians playing Irish music (two women on the fiddle, a man alternating between a flute and a concertina). Behind the bar a small TV was playing the FIFA World Cup football game between US and Japan.
It’s a family place run by Caite Wallace, daughter Ciara, sons Liam and Brennan.  They have Happy Hour from 3 to 7pm from Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday), with draft beers at $5, soup+grilled cheese at $5, a trio of sliders for $7.  The art on the walls is by Steve O’Loughlin and it’s inspired by Celtic designs.

The Wilde Thistle Cafe: 310-730 6208
3456 Motor Ave, Los Angeles CA 90034

Please check it our and write your comments!

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Movies in the park

Last night we went to check out this new event in our neighborhood.

Street Food Cinema presents summer movie nights in nearby Syd Kronenthal Park in Culver City, at the end of McManus Ave, South of Washington Blvd, walking distance from Reynier Village, once a month for five weeks, starting May 16, doors open at 5.30pm, movies at 8.30.

See schedule for more info and prices
Food trucks provide the food

At 6pm many families armed with chairs and blankets (it was cold) were arriving.  It’s hard to find a spot in the small parking lot of the park, and a sign warns NOT to park in the neighboring streets.  Parking is provided at 5780 Jefferson Blvd.  Better to walk or bicycle.

Please let us know if you attend any of these movies, send your comments.
Thanks

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

Juices for health

 

After hearing about it from friends, a few months ago I decided to try a juice cleanse, not only to lose a few pounds, but for overall health.  I was cautioned that this should not be attempted without the guidance of a nutritionist, so I consulted Sirena, who had come highly recommended.  Check out her website www.sirenapellarolo.com

I did not want to make my own cold-pressed vegetable juices, since there are so many places offering this service everywhere, now that juicing is a hot trend.  I tried a few and was especially happy with these 2 sources.

JUICES SERVED HERE
They have a “window” in our neighborhood at their production facility
3731 S. Robertson, Culver City 90232 (across from Fedex, South of Venice Blvd)

THE RAW JUICERY
Sold at various farmers markets (cheaper at $20 for 3 juices in plastic bottles)

What I discovered is that juicing is a great way to add more raw vegetables to your daily diet, in combination with a variety of foods, raw and cooked, vegan choices and lean proteins (from animals raised without antibiotics).

Please send us your own experiences with healthy diet regimens.

Text by Elisa Leonelli

Eatalian

I had discovered Eatalian last year (October 6, 2013), when the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West (IACCW) organized “Piazza Italia” at Ciclavia, a taste sampling of Authentic Italian restaurants, in a downtown pedestrian area near Grand Park. I had tasted their delicious ice-cream, and was delighted to find out that they were planning to open a location in Culver City. The main location of Eatlian Cafe is in Gardena, where they also have ExEat.
I had forgotten about this, until I found their business card and called them. They had indeed opened a cafe, EnjoyEat Espresso, and a restaurant, EnjoyEat Classico, in an alley next to the Pacific movie theaters in downtown Culver City.  I went there to eat pizza last Saturday night, and was not disappointed; their gelato, cappuccino flavor, was out of this world.  It reminded me of the Coppa del Nonno that I used to love as a child in my hometown of Modena.

Text by Elisa Leonelli

 

Wine Tasting

During one of our exploratory walks along that stretch of Washington Blvd between National and La Cienega, that has been blossoming with new restaurants, shops and art galleries for the past few years, we discovered a gem:  Bar and Garden, a unique liquor store that specializes in artisan products, AND offers wine tastings twice a week: Tuesdays from 5-8 and Sundays from 2-6
We checked it out today and found the atmosphere very pleasant. The girl at the bar was quite friendly, as she poured 3 samples of French wines from the Loire Valley.  We enjoyed the delicious amuse-bouches: olives and cheeses with fresh bread.
Bar and Garden: 310-876 0759
6142 Washington Blvd. Culver City 90232

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

Asian fusion

PEI WEI lettuce wraps

 

We were delighted to find out that a new location of PEI WEI had opened in Culver City, close to our Reynier Village neighborhood, so we went to try it out.
We had liked their place in Beverly Hills, but this venue was even nicer, with windows that let in the daylight and outdoor tables on the terrace, in a new mini-mall at the corner of Sepulveda and Washington Blvd.
They serve Asian fast food: Thai, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese, their specialty are the lettuce cups (a favorite item of their parent restaurant P.F. Chang) and they come in 3 different versions. Definitely yummi. Check it out!

Don’t forget to consult the Restaurants page of our Reynier Village website for more of our favorites and email us yours.

Text by Elisa Leonelli

FARMERS MARKETS

We are lucky to have so many farmers markets nearby, and we already recommended the closest, on La Cienega at 18th Street within walking distance of Reynier Village, Thursdays from 2 to 7pm.
But our favorite is the Culver City Farwers MarketCulver City Farmers market, now on Main Street between Venice and Washington Blvd, Tuesdays from 3 to 7pm. They not only have a variety of  fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms, but a real find.  A lovely young woman cooks healthy and delicious dishes for you to take home. Check out her weekly menu at Smart Simple Gourmet, pick them up and get ready for a real treat. She has a stand at the Mar Vista Farmers Market as well, on Grand View at Venice Blvd, Sundays 9am to 2 pm.
On Sunday mornings we also like the little market on Melrose Place East of La Cienega, and the newest, the Motor Ave Farmers Market on National.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

New Culver City Restaurants

Wildcraft

We had been waiting for months to see the new LYFE KITCHEN-Love Your Food Everyday, open in Culver City, after seeing their name on the boarded up storefront, and that event finally took place this week.  I had read a LA Weekly review of WILDCRAFT, another new restaurant that opened on Monday February 25, and was anxious to try it, so I took a walk over there yesterday at lunchtime.  There was a long line waiting to eat at Lyfe Kitchen, in fact all the restaurants were crowded with happy diners enjoying the warm weather at outdoors tables lined up along the wide sidewalks.  So I decided to have the porchetta panino at Wildcraft and I was not disappointed; it did not resemble the suckling pig that is a popular street food in Rome, and it has become quite a fad in Los Angeles restaurants, but it was quite tasty.  I can’t wait to go again with friends to try their pizzas cooked in a traditional brick oven made in Naples.
For a complete list check the Culver City restaurant page of our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association website, and kindly send us your comments.

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Washington Blvd Restaurants

Industry Cafe

We had blogged about this stretch of Washington Blvd, between La Cienega and National, in 2010 and 2011, when it comes alive for the annual Culver City Art Walk (this event was sadly canceled this year because of citywide budget cuts), and we’ve walked there often to try some of the new restaurants.
We loved BATCH (it replaced SUBLIME); their pizza crust stands up to the exacting standards of an Italian like myself.  We are happy that the INDUSTRY CAFE offers live jazz, but the Ethiopian food could be better.  It was a good idea to make Helms Avenue a pedestrian area, but we’re sorry that they found it necessary to evict the Jazz Bakery to make room for yet another furniture store. LUKSHON is too snooty for my taste, but one day, when I had a cold, their Shanghai matzo ball soup was just what the doctor ordered.  We prefer places like PINCHES TACOS (yes, it’s named after a Mexican curse word), with its blue and pink building and their tasty sopes, or our latest find, E.K. Valley (Epy García’s Kitchen), serving Mexican food from Oaxaca.

For a list of our favorite Culver City restaurants, please check the Restaurants page of our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association website.

Please enjoy the food and send us comments below.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

New Restaurants

Moo Moo

A few weeks ago, we blogged about our old time favorite nearby restaurants, see post.
Now we want to tell you about a few recent discoveries.

Earlier in the year, with my neighbor Deni, co-author of this blog, we tried CHEGO, the closest locations of the many restaurants opened by Roy Choi, the Korean chef who became famous for his Kogi BBQ food trucks. It was exciting food, but get there as soon they open at 5.30pm, and study their online menu, so you’ll know what to order.  Chego means “thumbs up” in Korean.
CHEGO (310) 287 0337 – 3300 Overland Ave, LA 90034

You may want to check out his more upscale restaurants, that also serve alcohol.
A-Frame (310) 398 7700 – 12565 Washington Blvd, LA 90066
Alibi Room (310) 390 9300 – 12236 Washington Blvd, LA 90066
Sunny Spot (310) 448 8884 – 822 Washington Blvd, Venice 90292

Always a fan of Thai food, I went with my old friend Christopher to a new place that opened last October, because they serve noodle soups.  Be careful of the spiciness, we ordered level 1, as the waitress recommended. Moo means pork, and Moo Moo is slang for “take it easy.”
MOO MOO Thai Cafe (310) 287 9999 – 11127 Venice Blvd, LA 90034

I had been eating at Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine since reading an LA Times review when it  opened in 2008, because it reminded me of my dreamy trip to India and Nepal in 1984, but have gone back many more times in the past few months, because they serve tasty vegetarian dishes.
TARA’S Himalayan Cuisine (310) 836 9696 – 10855 Venice Blvd, LA 90034

This Salvadoran place that also serves Mexican food has been open for 10 years, but I had never tried it, until I decided to assemble a list of nearby restaurants for the new website of our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association. We found satisfying food and a family atmosphere.
GLORIA’S Cafe (310) 838 0963 – 10227 Venice Blvd, LA 90034

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

Local restaurants

Cafe Brasil

For over 20 years, since moving to Reynier Village, I have been going out for meals with friends and family at my favorite nearby restaurants, a short drive away.
CAFE BRASIL, opened in 1991.  They were the only place to enjoy a leisurely lunch in the outdoor patio the day after the 1992 LA riots, when every other place was closed.  And we love their new location further West on Washington, next to their enchanting Villa Brasil Motel, opened in 2002.
HU’S SZECHUAN has been serving tasty and inexpensive Northern Chinese food at this location  for over 30 year, and they also deliver. My friend Chris wrote a glowing restaurant review way back in 1979, so that’s how many years we have been coming to eat here.
VERSAILLES, opened in 1981, is a no-nonsense Cuban place always packed with customers.  They have another location on La Cienega Blvd, just south of Pico.
Check the list below for addresses and websites, along with my favorite dish for each.
Please send us comments about YOUR local favorites.

Text and photo by Elisa Leonelli

Café Brasil: 310-837 9506
10831 Venice Blvd LA 90034
Executive Lunch $ 7.95
www.cafe-brasil.com

Hu’s Szechuan: 310-837 0252
10450 National Blvd LA 90034
Yu Hsiang Eggplant $ 7.45
www.husrestaurant.com

Versailles: 310-558 3168
10319 Venice Blvd, LA 90034
Cuban Style Pork $ 11.99
www.versaillescuban.com

Eat on Robertson

Campos. Robertson Blvd

There are not nearly enough good places to eat on Robertson as we would like, so we wouldn’t have to drive to downtown Culver City to find a proper restaurant, however we have some local favorites, like Campos, not a chain like Taco Bell across the street, but a family owned place that serves authentic Mexican food.  We love the Argentinian Empanadas made by Adriano and Marcelo, and we’re very appreciative of the discounts they offer our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association, when we host our summer park nites.

You may want to enjoy a stroll, grab some food at these local eateries.

CAMPOS TACOS  310-202 7308
2639 S Robertson Blvd

DOLCE ISOLA 310-776 7070
2867  S Robertson Blvd

EMPANADAS  310-836 5944
2513 S Robertson Blvd

Dolce Isola. Robertson Blvd

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

Farmers market

pupusas

We all know by now that locally grown fruits and vegetables are better for our health (more nutritious) and for the environment (less pollution).
So why don’t we make it a weekly ritual to visit the Farmers Market at 1801 S. La Cienega Blvd?
It’s very close to Reynier Village and easily reachable by walking or bicycling.
It takes place every Thursday afternoon from 2 to 7 pm.
You can buy organic or pesticide-free produce to prepare healthy meals.
You can buy cut flowers, also plants for your garden (from Ramos Nursery).
You can take home delicious meals, such as Salvadoran pupusas and Hawaiian BBQ chicken.

For more info check out their website
www.lacienegafarmersmarket.com

Text and photos by Elisa Leonelli

organic vegetables

Man does not live by compost alone. . .

Introducing “Food & Dining”  to our blog!
Because toiling in the garden is not sufficient for a happy life, man (and woman) also has culinary needs, and darn it, who doesn’t like to talk about food?!?!???

Citrus Jicama Salad from Chichenitza

With our new Food & Dining category we invite you to comment and share your:
–  family recipes, bbq marinades, backyard picnic ideas
–  delicious finds at Trader Joe’s, Glatt’s, Elat or other local markets
–  favorite vendor at a local farmers market
–  methods for canning or drying fruits from your garden
–  hot local restaurants . . .

. . .   and much more!    Please join in and let’s talk food!

Text and photo by Deni Mosser