Isn’t it so gratifying to find a kindred spirit? When Jessica of Thread and Bones reached out to me for an impromptu brunch while she was in LA, I had just the spot in mind — Gjelina in Venice, the much-hyped, reservationless spot on Abbot Kinney that’s held the food scene in thrall for years.

Over coffees, cocktails, and the clickety-clack of our cameras, under the wary eyes of the desperately hip front-of-house staff, we discussed our paths and passions and Paris — we had both been in the city at the same time and somehow managed not to meet, despite having similar haunts.

To ground the ephemerality of a friendship in its first flutterings of being formed, we had earthy Moroccan baked eggs and sturdy polenta studded with kale and bacon. And cocktails to loosen tongues, bien sur, not that we ended up needing them. We needed another hour or two of meandering through the Venice shops to try to talk ourselves out, and we were still yet unsuccessful. To be continued.

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Posted in: dining out, los angeles, Uncategorized | Tags: bloggers, brunch, california, food, food photography, gjelina, gjelina venice, la, los angeles, los angeles restaurant, photography, thread and bones, venice, venice brunch, venice restaurant | 8 COMMENTS

I’m going to warn you now: there are lots and lots of brunch posts coming. Please don’t think I’m one of those dithering ladies who rolls out of bed at noon and stumbles to brunch on a weekday — quite the opposite, in fact. These days, I’m lucky if I can manage an omelette at home before running off to work. So, on weekends, I enjoy the luxury of several hours lingering over coffee and cocktails and something with eggs.

Today? Back to the Mission and Bar Tartine.

Bar Tartine’s brunch revolves heavily around bread, toasted and piled with various toppings, as one would expect from the name. Considering how I feel about carbs, and how much I love Tartine Bakery down the street, it was inevitable that I would enjoy myself here.

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Posted in: dining out, travel, Uncategorized | Tags: avocado toast, bar tartine, bar tartine brunch, bread, breakfast, brunch, california, food, food photography, mission, mission brunch, photography, restaurant, san francisco, tartine, weekend | 2 COMMENTS

Before I left for Paris, I lived a few blocks away from Huckleberry. Somehow, though, I failed to visit until just before I moved away. I’ve been trying to make up for my negligence by visiting nearly every weekend since being back, getting runny fried egg and gruyère sandwiches or duck hash, and trying to save enough room to have a piece of rich salted caramel shortbread for dessert.

It’s a deservedly popular spot, and doesn’t take reservations, so be conscious of the wait if you’d like to eat in. Or, you can be like me and go at an off-time like 2pm. Or! You can get everything to-go and drive the mile or so to the beach and consume your comestibles while wiggling your toes in the sand.

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Posted in: dining out, los angeles, Uncategorized | Tags: bakery, breakfast, brunch, cafe, coffee, food, healthy, huckleberry, latte art, los angeles, lunch, organic, photography, restaurant, santa monica, santa monica brunch, santa monica restauarant | 3 COMMENTS

So, Animal. Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s dude-food, nose-to-tail, pig-centric restaurant on Fairfax.  With those hyphenated adjectives, was there any doubt I would love this place?

I just want bone marrow to be on all menus forever. Also fried pig’s ear. I suppose Animal’s popularity — and therefore its influence — is helping push that dream closer to reality territory.

Also? Animal is one of the places where I regret California’s foie gras ban the most. Short rib poutine is divine, if unpicturesque, but damn would it be spectacular with some seared goose liver under all that gravy.

Animal
435 N Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 782-9225

Music to eat by: Them Shoes [Patrick Sweany // Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone]

Posted in: dining out, los angeles, Uncategorized | Tags: animal, animal los angeles, animal restaurant, bone marrow, food, los angeles, photography, poutine, restaurant, short rib poutine | 2 COMMENTS