Blu Jam Café

Place: Blu Jam Café
Location: 7371 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Entrees: Crunchy French Toast, Migas, Banana Nut Pancakes
Price: $12.95, $11.95, $10.95


Blu Jam is fantastic! Expect a wait. But with the delicious food and great service, it is worth it.

The crunchy french toast is a definite must for the table. Personally, it is too sweet as a meal but I highly recommend as a shared dessert.  It is topped with fresh fruit and this vanilla bean sauce (drool).

I ordered the Migas. It is a spicy combo of scrambles eggs, jalapenos, chipotle, beef chorizo sausage, tortilla chips and mozzarella cheese. It was like huevos rancheros but with beef. It is the perfect meal after a crazy night of fist pumping (do people still do that?...you know what I mean). The great thing is, the meal is tasty, hearty and not greasy.

The pancakes were good. Nice and fluffy but nothing about them really stood out.

Every now and then you get a hostess working there that acts like she runs the guest list for a Vegas club. Once you get past the velvet ropes and get seated you are good to go. I went with a large group of indecisive people plus a baby who made a complete mess (I wanted to crawl under the table). But to my surprise the waitress was super friendly, was happy to go over the menu, and was totally understanding about the mess.

The Honor Bar

Place: The Honor Bar
Location: 122 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Entrees: Honor Burger (top left), the Kale Salad w. Peanut Vinaigrette (top right),  Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich (middle), and the Veggie Burger (bottom).
Price: $11 Burgers/Sandwich & $7 Salad

Blink and you may miss this hidden gem. I work 3 blocks away and have probably passed by this place over a hundred times and just recently discovered it. From outside it looks like another formal lunch spot I would take a client. In fact, I have taken clients to the South Beverly Grill which is attached to the place but didn't realize it's a separate menu. The Honor Bar is part of the Hillstone restaurant group. It has its own entrance but one can access it from the South Beverly Grill.

During the day you can go get your grub on with some pretty amazing sandwiches. My top two choices are the Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich and the Honor Burger.

The chicken sandwich is amazing!! Thick juicy tender fried chicken on a bun topped with swiss cheese. Did I mention it was amazing?!?!? The honor burger is also great; I think the kicker may be that it is topped with coleslaw. You don't need to add anything to it.

For the kosher/vegetarian people out there, they have a veggie burger. I heard so many wonderful things about it...yet sadly I was disappointed. I will admit, I have not eaten many veggie burgers but this one just seemed off, it wasn't even trying to taste like a burger. The mixture of the patty sounded good (brown rice, mushrooms, and almonds) but sadly it was bland. Even the avocado they topped it with couldn't save this sandwich. Luckily I heard their sushi is great. 
 
To help balance out this "cheat day" meal, I opt for the kale salad instead of the fries (which I've had and unfortunately they are very good). If you like peanut dressing then you should try it.

I've gone on Tuesday and Wednesday nights after work and they have live Jazz music. It's a small places and gets packed quickly with young professionals. Note: they don't take reservations, tables are on a first come first serve basis.

Bibigo

Place: Bibigo
Location: 225 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90212
Entrees: Hot Stone Bibimbap
Price: $10.00

Why does everything taste better with an egg on it? The bibimbap comes with your choice of rice, assorted veggies and topped with your choice of protein. For $1 more you can get a fired egg, trust me on this one, get it.

You have 4 types of rice to choose from, 6 choices of protein, and 4 types of sauce. I selected the black rice, the beef, and all (yes all) the sauces.

You get the dish in a hot stone bowl. Throw in all 4 sauces, mix, and spread out the mixture. Let it sit for a few minutes (don't worry it wont get cold). The bottom of the rice will become crispy. If you are middle eastern, it is similar to "Tahdig" and if you have ever eaten in a Sushi restaurant it is similar to crispy rice.

The great thing about this dish is that it stays hot. I was dining solo and got caught up reading an article in a magazine. 15 minutes later, my food was still hot.

Now if only this place offered Korean fried chicken....I would become a regular.

Til we eat again...

Toast Bakery Cafe

Place: Toast Bakery Cafe
Location: 8221 West 3rd Street Los Angeles, California 90048
Entrees: Tony's Salad (left) and Iceberg Salad (right)
Price: $11.95 and $12.95, 1⁄ 2 portion $9.95

Tony´s Salad comes with mixed greens and is topped with bleu cheese crumbles, candied pecans, grilled chicken breast and avocado served with the house vinaigrette

Iceberg Salad comes with chopped iceberg lettuce and is topped with jicama, corn, garbanzo beans, mozzarella, tomatoes, avocado, grilled chicken breast and is all chopped with fresh basil and tossed in a light vinaigrette.

Warning: The vinaigrette is like crack, anything you top with this dressing will taste delicious.

If you like blue cheese, avocados and pecans, you have to try the Tony's salad. Its a hearty and satisfying salad. This last time I had the salad, the pecans tasted different. They usually tastes like candied pecans made with sugar but this time they tasted like they were toasted with maple syrup. I was pretty bummed because the candied pecans are what give this salad that edge.

If you want to go a lighter route then go for the Iceberg. Its nicely chopped so its easy to eat.  The combination of crunchy jicama and the creaminess of the garbanzo beans make it a slam dunk. You you still get the avocado (yum) and chicken (protein) in this salad so you will be both full and satisfied.

This place is always packed on the weekends. Luckily there are nearby shops to help the time pass when waiting for a table.

Also, they have two large tables in the back with couches instead of chairs. I wouldn't recommend actually eating your meal on those tables because you are hunched over a coffee table. It is nice spot however if you want to get dessert and sip your coffee. Reminds me of "central perk".

Happy Eating

Fresh Corn Grill

Place: Fresh Corn Grill
Location: Multiple Locations (I went to the one in WeHo)
Entree: Grilled Salmon Tacos with a side of grilled corn
Price: $10.95

I love fish tacos and at fresh corn grill I can get my fix. I go here when I try to be "healthy" - the salmon is grilled, not fried.

The tacos come with cut up salmon and topped with cabbage, lettuce, and avocado. Its nice and saucy so you don't have to add anything to them. I get them with a side of the grilled corn. The corn is crunchy and has that grilled BBQ flavor. Its so good. Oh and since its not on the cob, you don't get all that corn stuck in your teeth.

The Veggie Grill

Place: The Veggie Grill
Location: Multiple Locations (I went to the one in WeHo)
Entrees: All Hail Kale Salad with blacked chickin'
Price: $11.20

This salad is not just fun to order but tastes great too.

Its made with marinated kale and red cabbage, corn salsa, agave-roasted walnuts, topped with a ginger-papaya vinaigrette. I added blackened chickin (fake chicken - made with soy).

The salad is refreshing and light. Great for people who don't eat meat or trying to cut back.

They pack it nicely so you can get it to go.


 

 

The Churchill

Place: The Churchill
Location: 8384 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, California 90048
Entrees: The Farmhouse Pizza & Okinawan Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Drink: Alegoria Malbec Wine
Price: $14.00 Pizza, $14.00 Gnocchi, & $19.00 Wine (Usually $38 - Tuesdays is half off bottles...all day)

The Pizza is topped with seasonal produce (sweet potato and kale), local cheese (feta), and farm eggs. There is no marinara sauce simply garlic olive oil. So its more like a flat bread than a pizza. I wasn't such a fan...it just tasted like something was missing...like marinara sauce :)

I also tried the sweet potato gnocchi. Came with butternut squash, forest mushrooms, pecorino cheese. Guess I was starving and forgot to take a picture of the dish. But you can kind of see the dish behind the pizza. Anywho, it was a nice light dish. I think the chef was on the show Top Chef. He takes your staple dishes and adds a "gourmet" twist to it. 

Now the wine was delicious! I would go back just for the wine. Now I'm no expert on wine so I won't go into details on the wine. All you need to know is 1/2 off bottles on Tuesdays...nuff said. The ambiance is nice, the vibe is chill, definitely a place to go to for drinks on a weeknight.

Cabbage Patch

 

Place: Cabbage Patch
Location: Beverly Hills (South Beverly Dr.)
Entree: Salmon Bowl
Price: $14.00

Just can't get enough of this place.....

I work a few blocks from Beverly drive, a street with tons of options for lunch, and yet I always end up here. Not that I'm complaining - I always leave 100% satisfied.

I can have Cabbage Patch 3 times a week and still want more. My favorite is the salmon bowl - You get a healthy filet of salmon, brown rice, peanut slaw, and veggies. You can substitute the veggies for more slaw at no additional cost - like I do.

Its good clean healthy food. On days where I want to be a little bad - I also order the Yam Wedges. If you like sweet potato fries, you must try them.

I have tried just about everything on the menu and can honestly say, everything is really good. From the salads, to the gourmet grilled cheese sandwich (comes with tomato soup) to their chicken kabob plate = you have options and you won't be disappointed.

Mention that it's your first time and they will likely give you a free mint iced tea. Enjoy!

Panini Cafe

Place: Panini Cafe
Location: Multiple Locations (Ate at the Beverly Hills location)
Entree: Charbroiled Chicken Shish Kabob
Price: $9.95

Served with basmati rice or bulgur wheat pilaf, grilled veggies, and choice of Caesar, mediterranean greek, or romaine avocado).

I opt for the wheat pilaf and the romaine avocado salad, no extra butter, it doesn’t need it.

The food is consistently good and the prices are reasonable.

The 3rd Stop Gastropub

Place: The 3rd Stop Gastropub (Wine and Beer only)
Location: 8636 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, California 90048
Entree: Margarita Pizza and Magic Hat # 9 Beer
Price: Late Night Happy Hour Menu - $4 each

Local bar with good food and cold beer. Thin pizza with the perfect sauce to crust ratio. Not heavy so you wont feel like crap eating it right before bed. The atmosphere is casual and laid back. A place to go to after work, especially if you just worked the night shift. Bartenders have good personalities and the place is not overly crowded. 

Happy Hour Times:
Mon - Sun, 4pm - 7pm
Mon - Sat, 11pm - 1am
Sun, 11pm - 12am

Happy Hour Menu:
DRINKS
Glass Of Wine $5
Draft Beer $4

APPETIZERS
TunaTartare $4
Pepperoni Pizza $5
Mac and Cheese $4
Margherita Pizza $4

Hello World

When it comes to food, there are 3 types of people:


1) The ones who are generally satisfied with whatever they eat. Food is food.            

My father falls into this category…as long as the food is warm, he is happy. He does occasionally complain about the lack of salt, but you get what I mean.

2) The ones who want that “celebrity body.” 

When it comes to food, it is clean and simple. No thrills (extra cheese) and no frills (extra sauce). A meal will be as simple as broiled chicken with brown rice (snooze fest).

 3) Then there is that special group of people where food is life.

These people light up when they just talk about food. I happen to fall into this category.

Plain and simple, I love to eat.

At one time or the other, I have been in the other two categories but now I happily reside in category 3.

I wouldn't consider myself a foodie, just a girl with a serious appetite.

I created this blog to share what I learn on my journey to find the best places to eat.  I want people to know LA for the food in addition to the amazing weather and occasional earthquakes.

Note: I live in LA (the land of beautiful people and toned bodies) so I still like my clothes to fit well. So you will find that I don’t always go for the deep fried dishes....but my inner fat kid is generally satisfied.

With all that said.....Welcome to my blog!  (thank you thank you - I'm assuming you're clapping and cheering).