santa monica Archives - dani california cooks

Dani’s Culinary Travel Guides: Westside LA Edition

February 25, 2015 by Dani 2 Comments

If I spend a significant time in one place, I always put together a “guide” to that city filled with my personal recommendations of things to eat, and the occasional activity. Mostly eating. I have loved passing along to friends for their travels, and these guides have been so well received that I decided to do a series and share with you all!

Our next stop is the Westside of Los Angeles - specifically, my version of the westside which includes Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu, and Brentwood, among others. I was born and raised in Santa Monica, and have to say that I spent very little time past Beverly Hills. These neighborhoods have everything and anything you want, and LA’s food scene is top-notch, creative, and trendy. Scroll down for a variety of restaurant recommendations for the westside of LA. I had a really hard time putting this list together as I love so many places!

Top 3 All Time Favorite Restaurants (yikes this was hard!):

1. Gjelina (Venice) $$$ - So it’s pronounced gel-eena, but you don’t even need to know that given that they don’t even have a sign with their restaurant name on the restaurant. The food here is fantastic, modern American. The setting couldn’t be more LA. It’s rustic and fabulous at the same time. Always order a pizza to start, and don’t shy away from getting some of the vegetable sides. My grandfather always orders some version of duck confit. End your evening with a walk along Abbot Kinney!

2. Thyme Cafe + Market (Santa Monica) $ - This is our favorite lunch spot, with a whole case of delicious and healthy prepared salads. You can also order made-to-order big salads and sandwiches. There’s something for everyone. Read my in-depth review here!

“Thyme” for lunch!

3. Gilbert’s El Indio (Santa Monica) $ - This cash only, family owned traditional Mexican restaurant is a local favorite. My mom went here all the time when she was pregnant with me and maybe that’s why I love Mexican food so much! The portions are large and authentic, and the restaurant is covered with photos of the family members. Just the chips, salsa, and pickled carrots they serve while you wait for your food are enough to satisfy! Cash only.

Margarita’s @ Gilberts

Dinner:

1. Hide (Sawtelle) $$ - Perfect Japanese food in the westside’s “Little Osaka”. Order some perfect tempura to start before your perfect sushi arrives. Cash only.

Sushi @ Hide

2. Reel Inn (Malibu) $$ - Arrive right at dusk to watch the sun set behind Malibu beach, and then order up at the counter. Choose your fish, it’s preparation, and sides. And don’t forget a beer!

3. Sugarfish (Santa Monica and other locations) $$$ - The best sushi in LA, and even at a somewhat reasonable price. Wait times can be ridiculous, so be prepared to sit and have a drink beforehand! Order the Taste Me 2 - they will bring you several sushi/sashimis/handrolls to sample.

4. A-Frame (Mar Vista) $$$ - Set in an old IHOP, this trendy modern American restaurant serves up extremely flavorful and interesting side dishes. It’s a great mix of trendy/fancy/casual - you sit at a picnic table and eat some really spot-on dishes.

5. Shaherzad (Westwood) $$ - Our favorite Persian restaurant. Order meats, rices, and vegetables family style. Great for large groups! Try not to fill up on their handmade, warm flatbread that is served at the beginning.

6. Daikokuya (Sawtelle and other locations) $ - So far, my favorite ramen in LA. I think it’s better than Tsujita (did I just say that?!). The interior looks like a street corner in Japan.

Brunch/Lunch:

1. Huckleberry (Santa Monica) $$ - A fantastic celeb-spotting place for lunch or brunch. I always choose from their pre-made salads, but I hear their sandwiches are great too. You’ll have to fight off every urge to choose a dessert from their decadent window display. Read my full review here! Lunch at Huckleberry Bakery + Cafe

2. Joe’s Restaurant (Venice) $$$ - A Venice institution, Joe’s serves up impeccable food in a really pleasant setting. When the weather is nice (when is it not?) sit on the patio!

The women of my family @ Joe’s

3. Bay Cities Deli (Santa Monica) $ - The ultimate sandwich shop in LA. It’s legendary. Their most popular sandwich is called, fittingly, The Godmother. Order ahead to avoid long, long lines. It’s also an italian marketplace, and you can buy their baguettes individually!

4. Tavern (Brentwood) $$$ - I love this place for their decor. It’s so special. The food is standard modern American fare, and you can be sure to see a celebrity.

5. Coral Tree Cafe (Brentwood) $ - Another super popular brunch and lunch spot. Order up at the counter from their extensive menu of salads and sandwiches.

Juice/Coffee:

1. Intelligentsia (Venice) $ - Intelligentsia is the coolest coffee shop around. It may be expensive, but it’s an architectural wonder inside and they make some damn good coffee.

2. Juice Crafters (multiple locations) $ - My favorite of the juice/smoothie places in LA. And that’s saying something - there are a lot. I like their Silver Lily - has almond milk, kale, dates, raw almond granola, and coconut water. I usually add spinach!

3. 212 Pier (Santa Monica) $ - Great coffee shop to do some work in, very cozy, makeshift feel with different furniture and peeling paint. It’s also serves as a makeshift library - they have bookshelves lining the walls and people will fill them with books they don’t want anymore.

The brother working at 212 Pier

4. Groundworks (multiple locations) $ - Love these coffee shops. The one on Montana Ave is more of a cafe - serves great food - while other outposts are literally the size of a closet. Really recommend their roast called Bitches Brew!

The Best Outdoor Workouts on the Westside of LA

November 20, 2014 by Dani

I write this as it is snowing up here in Spokane and I am about to go into the sad indoor hotel gym :(. Is that a correct definition of irony? All I know about irony is that supposedly Alanis Morissette’s song “Ironic” is not ironic - or so I’ve been told.

My dad has lived in Los Angeles his entire life and has never belonged to a gym. Why go run on an elliptical when you can jerry-rig your surfboard in your pool to turn it into a resistance paddling workout?! (Good thinking, dad - see below). Since moving back to California, I have been totally spoiled by the plethora of outdoor workout spots in LA, and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions on exact locations (and parking!). The following workouts are rated by intensity and, of course, celeb-spotting opportunity.

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1. Jogging or walking on the beach boardwalk

The length of this bike path extends from Malibu all the way down to the South Bay, so you really can run as far as you want. Or you can take a quick pitstop for some seal watching at the Santa Monica pier (below) or visit my Grandfather’s bench (also below) right next to the Santa Monica aquarium! Intensity: light to moderate. Celeb spotting opportunity: minimal.But excellent people watching nonetheless

Selfie at Grandpa’s bench

Taking the long way home and running down the pier

2. Hiking in Temescal Canyon

Probably my favorite form of exercises on the weekend. Park on Sunset Boulevard and do the four-mile loop up to Skull Rock. It’s a total oasis in LA! On a clear day (below) to your left you can see all the way to downtown LA and Century City. To your right, it is the gorgeous homes of Malibu and some of the coastal islands. Intensity: Moderate to hard – lots of uphills on the way to Skull Rock! Celeb spotting opportunity: Medium. Look for the folks in baseball caps and big sunglasses who sail past you as they run up the trail.

3. Biking Along the Beach Path

You can’t beat a vigorous (or very casual) bike ride down the beach bike path. It extends from Malibu to Manhattan Beach and beyond. Start up near the Palisades for some great ocean panoramas, go through the Santa Monica pier area to gawk at tourists, meander in and out of walkers on the Venice boardwalk area (and get a little workout music from the drum circles). You can make this even a full day of fun and bike all the way to Manhattan Beach and stop for lunch before returning home! Intensity: as hard as you make it. Celeb spotting opportunity: minimal, but they do film a lot of movies and music videos along this route! 4. The Dreaded Santa Monica Stairs

These, my friends, are not easy. They are for the seriously dedicated worker-outers. I think I snapped this picture when I was sailing by on my bike one day. But these stairs have become a mecca and meeting place for those committed to fitness and who really want to sweat it out. Intensity: hardddd. These stairs go on for a while. Celeb spotting opportunity: very high. Personal trainers often take their clients here!

5. The Rings at the Santa Monica Beach

So I guess I fibbed a bit on the title of this post, because I actually can’t do this workout. I pretty much do a loose hang before landing back in the sand. But there are some crazy folks (like my good friends at Hungry and Fit!) who have racked up the muscle mass to do so. You’ll see monkey-people swing from ring to ring, do acrobatics, and unbelievable feats of gymnastics. Swing by here for some fitspiration! Intensity: impossible. Celeb spotting opportunity: medium! There is an area near the rings where people are often doing bootcamps. 6. Of course, last but not least…surfing

No shame here, I went through a super awkward surfer girl phase after seeing Blue Crush - see picture below. I asked for a wetsuit for my 14th birthday and wanted to do some shreddin’. This made my dad super happy, as he grew up with the Venice Dogtown crew and still surfs every weekend, to this day! However, I outgrew this phase but this still remains one of the most fun workouts you can have. Especially if you’re like me, and just ride the white wash and just enjoy being in the water. If you are just looking for a place to watch surfers, drive up to Malibu for awesome views of cliffs and coasts. Intensity: just fun, brah. Don’t get in the way of the locals. Celeb spotting opportunity: Pretty minimal.

Day In The Life - Working From Home in Santa Monica

October 29, 2014 by Dani Leave a Comment

Long story short: I am in a major transition period of my life right now. I currently work four days a week in a state that is not California, my office is based out of San Francisco, and I decided to live at home in Santa Monica while my boyfriend jetsets around the world. I’m not complaining at all - I get to split my time between two fantastic west coast cities, visit the boyfriend in exotic lands (Turkey! Israel! Cambodia!) while he is away, and even explore the cities I must travel to for work. However…it’s exhausting and a bit unsettling. So when I get to work from home in Santa Monica, it is a major luxury and I wanted to share a random “day in the life” with you all and the things I take advantage of. To summarize those luxuries? Dogs, trendy coffee shops, and beach runs.

7:30am: wake up!

8:00am: pack my backpack for the day and eat a quick toast with PB. This breakfast never. gets.old.

8:00am: hop on my bike and head to office #1

8:20am: arrive at the 18th St Coffee House

8:30am: settle in to the coffee shop, order an almond milk latte and eat the last of the season of farmer’s market peaches. am a bit flabbergasted as to why there is NO wifi at this coffeehouse but SO MANY screenwriters. turns out? wifi is a distraction. my solution? turn on my wifi hotspot on my cell phone - major work perk

8:30-11:30am: work, work, work. no interesting photos to share.

11:45am: bike ride home for lunch!

noon: arrive at office #2 and throw together lunch as I take a few calls. leftover Roasted Eggplant Salad with Chickpeas and Feta (<-recipe link!) on top of a bed of kale and arugula

1pm: more work. enact homemade standing desk. i highly recommend trying out a standing desk for a couple hours a day for those who work from home or in an office at a desk job. when i work at my laptop sitting down, my shoulders rise higher and higher and get more and more tense (without me even realizing it!) as the day goes on. the standing desk prevents that from even happening, so nice to switch it up every so often to give my body a break.

2:15pm: Mom returns home from the grocery store with the item below. take a ten-minute break from work to determine what to do with it (world’s largest backscratcher?) and shovel a couple handfuls of (unpictured) tortilla chips and salsa

2:30-4pm: the work continues…

3:45pm: get restless and check in on my #1 colleague. Sally, you’re looking good, you old pup!

5:00pm: finish up work! take myself on a gorgeous run to the beach and back, a little over 4 miles. being near the ocean helps me reset, and these runs are my sanctuary

6:00pm: quickest shower known to man and scarf the quickest dinner - turkey burger over greens with homemade cucumber dill greek yogurt spread (recipe to come!) Mezze to sample on the side, including whole wheat pita and hummus, sliced veggies and some of Trader Joe’s pepperjack cheese.

6:30pm: hop in the car and brave LA traffic to Westwood for a work event at UCLA. What a gorgeous campus!

9pm: return home. eat a couple handfuls of dark chocolate chips (I told you they were my weakness!) as I write a blow-by-blow of my day to my boyfriend - lucky him. Scandal is running in the background while I prep for work tomorrow

10:30-ishpm: crash in bed. early morning calls the next day, but at least I have the option to take them from my bed if necessary!

I plan to do a couple of posts of my average day-in-the-life when I’m traveling for work. Get ready for some VERY difference scenery.

Lunch @ Huckleberry Bakery + Cafe

October 27, 2014 by Dani Leave a Comment

Let’s talk about what I had for lunch on Sunday. Huckleberry Bakery and Cafe is a mecca for the Los Angeles cafe lunch scene. It has a fanatic following, and lines usually stretch out the door. And for good reason! The prepared salads and and sandwiches are fantastic, the bread is to die for, and their pastries oh-so-tempting. Huckleberry’s sunny, modern rustic interior is great for Westside LA people watching, and despite the popularity it certainly doesn’t feel past its prime at all. The restaurant recently released a cookbook which you can purchase online or in-store. Can you believe that bread on the cover?!

When you walk into Huckleberry, you will (usually) directed to the line in the back where you will wait in line to order. While in line, they offer you a bonus recipe! I think I’ll certainly make the Vanilla Apple Butter, which will go amazing with the Whole Wheat Apple Harvest Cinnamon Quickbread that I’ll be posting later this week. Stay tuned!

While in line, you get plenty of time to peruse the menu. Popular options include three of the pre-made salads (I went with that choice), but equally as enticing are the brunch options and made-to-order sandwiches. Since there is usually a wait, you have plenty of time to go back and forth between their raw kale salad and just going all in for their reuben or insane grilled cheese. Raw kale salad…grilled cheese…

Thankfully right before you make your order you are presented with their trays of fresh pre-made salads to help sway you. Popular favorites include their quinoa salad (on the right), the lentils (second from the left) and the cumin-roasted carrots (zomg) which I ordered on my plate, in the first picture. This aromatic roasted carrot and avocado dish has garnered such a following that the LA times finally recreated the recipe for all of us to make at home. Add that to the list!

You place your order, feel virtuous for avoiding the grilled cheese (maybe next time…) and take a seat. Despite the long lines, there is generally seating available when you are finished ordering as you aren’t allowed to take a seat until your order is placed. And then, you enjoy the scene and the food. Below is a picture of me, smiling at my food (#awkwardfoodbloggerproblems). Despite Huckleberry’s relatively expensive tag for lunch ($15 in total for 3 pre-made salads), this was certainly enough for two meals and I packed away half of it for lunch during the week.

If you are looking for an tasty lunch spot that has excellent, fresh and healthy options, Huckleberry is the spot for you (and for me). If you are looking for a place to indulge in some pastries and coffee, Huckleberry is also the spot for you (and for me). And you can always do a little bit of both, because we all need balance in our lives! So, see you here next weekend? And we’ll split the grilled cheese and raw kale salad?!

Overall Dani California Ratings on Huckleberry:

Food: 4/5 stars
Price: a little on the expensive side for lunch (~$13/person)
Ambiance: 5/5 stars
Parking: meh, standard Wilshire Blvd situation
But most importantly…celeb spotting opportunity: VERY high

Lunch @ Thyme Cafe + Market

October 20, 2014 by Dani Leave a Comment

We have a couple of lunch spots in Santa Monica that we rotate around on Saturdays, and Thyme Cafe + Market is always at the top of our list. This cafe opened up a couple of years ago, and even in the thyme (heehee) that I was living on the East Coast, whenever I came home for a weekend or a week we always had to make thyme for Thyme. Well, lucky me since I’ve moved back to California and we can enjoy this wonderful neighborhood spot whenever I want! And now I’ll stop with the cringe-worthy pun overuse that I just ran with.

You order up at the counter next to their incredible dessert display, and we often “threaten” that one day we’ll just order a slice of the marzipan-almond cake for lunch. This pastry arrangement before choosing a kale salad is just. not. fair. Thankfully all of the savory foods are Thyme are really what have us coming back.

Pastries

They have a fantastic spread of pre-made salads, and that’s often what my mom ends up ordering. On Saturday she chose the charred lemon broccoli as well as the cold shrimp salad, which comes in a non-mayo yogurt dressing. You can mix and match two or three, and these dishes change depending on what’s in season. One thyme (sorry, I slipped) I tried recreating their black bean and lime quinoa salad and it just wasn’t the same. When I get the recipe right, I will share with you all!

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There are also large salads and sandwiches to choose from the large chalkboard menu. Me? I always do the tuna salad. No question. This time, Mount Olives came along with it. Thyme has created a very light tuna salad with currants, celery and red onion, and the mixed greens along with it are tossed in a tangy mustard dressing. Perfect.

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We also sampled a new brand of kombucha - one that I had never seen before! Health-ade is based out of Los Angeles, and you can find them at a variety of shops and restaurants on the westside. I love the medicinal-style bottle, and the kombucha itself is extra bubbly. It even got a thumbs up from both my parents, who most certainly think that I just jump on every trendy food bandwagon. One day, I’ll do a post on all of the benefits I’ve found through upping my intake of probiotics.

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Thyme isn’t just a cafe, it is also a marketplace. There is a huge refrigerator stocked with quarts of pre-made soups, different entrees you can heat up at home, grab and go salads, and little seasonal home trinkets to purchase as well. Shave off a little thyme in your kitchen and pick up some food to-go. Okay, that really was my last one.

There’s a reason why we keep coming back here - there really is something for everyone. My brother’s go-to order? The Gruyere grilled cheese on sourdough, add bacon and avocado. My mom and I lament - oh, to be young and have the metabolism of a twenty-year-old-boy! If you come into Thyme on a Saturday and see a 5’1” brunette taking pictures of her food, please embarrass me and come up to say hello!