YUM YUM...

My Favorite Garlic Bread

2 T of Mayo (TRUST ME ON THIS, even if you are not a mayo fan)

1/2 C of shredded Parmesan

1 T of Garlic powder

Splash of Olive Oil

1 loaf of Italian Bread

Combine ingredients and spread onto bread, you should have a paste.

Spread ingredients onto sliced bread and broil 2-5 minutes...WATCH IT...it doesn't take long.

If Life Gives You Limes, Make Margaritas!

Grandma Nancy's Crazy Margaritas

My Grandma taught my cousins and I how to make these before we were old enough to drink them.  Now, they are a favorite among the younger generation of my family, as they are VERY easy to make and they really get the conversation flowing!

(Enjoy at your own risk)

1 12 oz. can of frozen lime concentrate 

12 oz. of tequila

1 Bottle of Mexican Beer

3 Limes

Pour the lime concentrate, tequila, and beer into a pitcher.  Cut limes in half and squeeze into mixture.  Stir, Pour, and ENJOY!

A note from one of my favorite foodies...

http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/

Barrett emailed me this blog to post, yummy recipes for everything from vanilla bean macaroons to dark chocolate mousse. 

Thanks, Bar! 

xo

Cha Cha Cha!!!

It has been a LONG time since I have been to Cha Cha Cha, and this was my first visit to the Silverlake location. (The West Hollywood location closed a little over a year ago.)  I have now become re-addicted, because I forgot how obsessed I was with the Jamaican Jerk Pizza, Guava and Goat Cheese Quesadilla, and my new favorite : Banana Boats with Mango Salsa (pictured above).  I also LOVE the Sangria here, and could drink it all night because it is sweet (like me), but not TOO sweet (like me). 

656 Virgil Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90004

www.theoriginalchachacha.com

Spring is in the Air...

...and that only means on thing: BBQ (and happy hour).

Last summer, Mary and I began making these super easy personal pizzas on the grill.  They only take a few minutes, and you can use any veggies/meat you have lying around.  Here is all you need...

1. Trader Joe's Flatbread (look similar to a pita but do not open up)

2. Mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan cheese 

3. Pizza Sauce or BBQ Sauce

4. Spinach, onion, Italian sausage, prosciutto, mushrooms, red/green peppers, chicken, corn, etc.

5. Italian Seasoning

Turn BBQ on medium heat and place the Flatbreads on the grill. Leave on for a couple minutes until the one size begins to crisp up. Then take inside and dress the toppings on the side that you heated.  This ensures the ensure pizza is crispy and delicious. Once you added all the toppings you want, place back on the grill, and close the cover.  Leave the pizzas on the grill for about 7 minutes, or until cheese is melted. 

I usually make three pizzas for two people, all different kinds. 

Favorite Food Sites

1. www.GOOP.com
Is anyone as obsessed with Gweneth Paltrow's blog as I am? "Sunday night dinner" recipes, detoxes, the low-down on what Mario Batali made at his dinner party and all laid out on an easy to navigate site. Sections on the site are labeled "Make", "Go", "Get", "Do", "Be", and "See" are all of the topics covered, complete with a little icons. Click and you are directed to the subject of your choice, easy as that!

2. www.thisiswhyyourfat.com http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
See for yourself, enough said.

3. www.epicurious.com and www.foodnetwork.com
Between these two sites, you can have any recipe your heart desires.

4. http://orangette.blogspot.com/
My aunt turned me onto this blog a few months ago, and I can not get enough. The photographs are amazing and it is written even better. Recipes for sweet potato pound cake, brown butter spoon cookies with jam, and summer romaine salad with lime-garlic dressing, all tied into one beautiful blog.

5. www.foodblogblog.com
Think there isn't a blog dedicated to your favorite food? Think again. Use this directory to navigate you through the on-line food world-without getting confused.

Spring Break 2009

In honor of Spring Break, I have moved myself downtown for a while (see view above). With LA Live almost complete and new restaurants opening left and right, I got a little overwhelmed and resorted to an old favorite: Takami. Located on the 21st floor in the financial district, Takami has SUPER fresh sushi and a breathtaking view. We started out with the spicy tuna with crispy rice (obvi.), then moved onto tempura rock shrimp salad, shiitake mushroom and shrimp skewers from the Robata Bar, and finished it all off with chocolate lava cake. My only complaint was the service was a little rushed, but other that that it was a great experience since I usually do take out.
Takami
811 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
takamisushi.com

Summer Eating Plans...

Trying to figure out if I can make it to Nantucket and the Clam Bake in Maine this summer...the last weekend in July includes Bay Scallops, Red Hot Dogs, Patty's famous onion dip, Amato's "Italian" sandwiches with loads of pickles, lobsters, corn on the cob, calamari, clam chowder, and of course, lots of vodka cranberrys and mudslides...

The Best of The Best

Top 10 Picks at My Top 10 Restaurants in LA (no specific order):

1. Pinches Tacos

Really I love everything here but my favorite is carne asada tacos. mexican corn on the cob with cream, cheese and chili powder.

8200 W. Sunset Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA 90046

www.pinchestacos.com

2. Izykaya Katsuya

Kobe Burger. Crab Hand Roll.

8420 W. 3rd St.

Los Angeles, CA 90069

3. Dominick's

Rice Balls with Mushrooms and Mozzarella. Italian Wedding Soup.

 8715 Beverly Blvd. 

West Hollywood, CA 90048

www.dominicksrestaurant.com

4. Koi

Never gets old to me.

Spicy Rock Shrimp Tempura. Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. Grilled Skirt Steak.

730 North La Cienega St.

Los Angeles, CA 90069

www.koirestaurant.com

5. Terroni

Fried Zucchini Blossoms with Ricotta Cheese. Maccheroncini Geppetto (pasta with fontina cheese, sausage, and dandelion greens. 

7601 Beverly Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

www.terroni.ca

6. In-n-Out.

Grilled Cheese with grilled onions. Chocolate Milk Shake. 

7009 Sunset Blvd. 

Los Angeles, CA 90028

www.innout.com

7. Cube

Burrata with extra virgin olive oil and black pepper (flown in on Thursday night, available through Saturday). Menu changes every two weeks.

615 N. La Brea Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90036

www.cubelosangeles.com

8. Magnolia

Spinach Artichoke Dip. Cobb Salad. Organic Veggie Burger.

Opens downtown LA this weekend! 

6266 1/2 Sunset Blvd. 

Hollywood, CA 90028

www.magnoliahollywood.com

9. Bay Cities

Smoked Turkey with Swiss, Pickles, Tomato, Italian Dressing, Lettuce, Onion.

Sweet Onion Chips. Potato Salad. 

1517 Lincoln Ave.

Santa Monica, CA

90401

www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com

10. Nate n Al's

(This is for you Beth)

Matzo Brei. Matzo Ball Soup. Salami on Egg Bread. Side of Pickles. Hash Browns. Bagel with Cream Cheese AND Butter.

414 N. Beverly Dr.

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

www.natenal.com

Best Cupcakes in LA. Hands down!

Joan's On 3rd cupcakes are reason enough to live in LA. Well that and their grilled ham and cheese, homemade burrata, maple rosemary chicken sandwich, gelato, peanut butter cookies, mac and cheese, and well...you get the point.  What specifically caught my eye THIS time, was the special raspberry vanilla cupcake I got last week that was filled with homemade raspberry jam. AMAZZZING. 

Joan's on 3rd

8350 W 3rd St.

Los Angeles, CA 90048

323.655.2285

Dying to Try...

Cecconi's 

8764 Melrose Ave

West Hollywood, CA 

cecconiswesthollywood.com

has anyone eaten here??

fill me in! xo