Los Angeles
Los Angeles, where I was born and partially raised, will always hold a special place in my heart. Not the L.A. of Hollywood, but the old-school seventies beach vibe that which still lingers in corners. As strange, spread out and flatly lit as it can sometimes be, Los Angeles, with its bougainvillea, sea breezes, avocados and eccentric inhabitants, is like no other place and will always be in my soul.
Places to Stay
Shutters is my favorite place to stay in L.A. Make sure you get a room with an ocean view. It has a beautiful, breezy vibe, big bathtubs, good sheets. I return to it again and again.
The Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the real old-time L.A. classics. It never goes out of style and I don't think it ever will.
|
|
Hotel Bel-Air
701 Stone Canyon Rd.
Los Angeles, CA 90077
Reservations: (800) 648-4097
Main: (310) 472-1211
Restaurant: (310) 472-5234
www.hotelbelair.com
|
The Bel-Air's cottages with fireplaces are cozy, charming and elegant – you almost feel like you're in the English countryside on a very rare sunny day. Surrounded by sprawling gardens, it feels like an oasis away from the chaos of L.A. Although it's been slightly threadbare in the past, the Dorchester Hotel Group recently purchased it and is said to have given this classic hotel a bit of a facelift.
I haven't actually been here, but my friend David Collins designed the interiors and he has beautiful taste. And with Gordon Ramsay's in-house restaurant, I'm looking forward to trying it the next time I go to L.A.
Places to Eat
Michael McCarty is a pioneer of California cuisine. More than 25 years later, this place is still going strong. I have been going there for the better part of my life.
I am obsessed with chopped salad, and this place knows how to do it Italian style. You can compose your own from a long list of items. It's a great classic Beverly Hills lunch spot.
Via Veneto
3009 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-1843
My favorite Italian food in L.A. This place has incredible fresh ravioli and the best cioppino.
Sushi Katsu-Ya
11680 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 985-6976
www.sushikatsu-ya.com
You have to go to the original, in the mini-mall in Studio City. This place is heaven. The baked crab hand roll and the spicy tuna on crispy rice are reason enough to go to California.
Mega-chef Mario Batali and LaBrea Bakery's Nancy Silverton have created this incredible pizzeria and the osteria next door. This place constantly tests my friendship with Mario because I am always asking for a table for myself or a loved one.
Hamasaku
11043 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 479-7636
www.hamasakula.com
For some reason, all great sushi spots in L.A. come in a mini-mall and Hamasaku is no exception. When I want to stay on the westside, this is the place I go for delicious and crazily inventive maki rolls.
Chinois is another Los Angeles classic, one of Wolfgang Puck's first restaurants. It is what it sounds like, an amazing fusion of French and Chinese food. The curried oysters, the duck pancakes, everything is a delight. It can be noisy but it is lively and the staff is wonderful.
Nate'n Al
414 N. Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 274-0101
www.natenal.com
Nate'n Al is THE place in L.A. for authentic deli food. You feel as though you are stepping back to the '60s when you walk through the door. Bagels, turkey sandwiches on rye, matzo ball soup, you name it. Great quality and truly delish.
If you want a slice of New York pizza that is better than most places in New York, stop into Mulberry Street. Thin crust, tangy, perfect sauce. My favorite is the fried eggplant.
Santa Monica Co-Op
1525 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 451-8902
www.coopportunity.com
This distinctly Californian place is a one-stop-shop for fresh produce, delicious ready-made food and all the organic products you could ask for. Plus you promote local farmers by shopping there.
This place serves the best coffee in Santa Monica. Located on Montana Ave., the lattes are not to be missed.
Loteria Grill in the Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd St. at Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 933-9211
www.loteriagrill.com
Delicious Mexican served in the old Farmers Market. Their mole sauce is perfect and their tiny tacos are beyond delicious.
The Ultimate Local's List:
Mary's L.A.
Scoops
712 N. Heliotrope Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 906-2649
My favorite ice cream. The owner, Tai Kim, creates different delicious and very imaginative ice cream flavors every day and there are always four vegan flavors. My faves are maple Oreo and lychee grapefruit sorbet. The only flavor he always serves is brown bread. It's made out of Grape-Nuts and caramel and is beyond creamy and yummy.
Clean, fresh, delicious Mexican food in Silverlake – don't be afraid because it's hiding in a mini-mall!
Trails Cafe
2333 Fern Dell Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 871-2102
www.thetrailslosfeliz.com
A beautiful little lunch spot on the Los Feliz side of Griffith Park – they have delicious healthy food and great coffee and you can sit under the trees at picnic tables. A favorite for families because the kids can run around and the food isn't your typical run-of-the-mill park stand. They have amazing baked goods and the best avocado sandwich!!!
The Trails Cafe is very close to Griffith Observatory so you can make a day of it:
2800 E. Observatory Rd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 664-1191
www.griffithobs.org
Axe
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 664-9787
www.axerestaurant.com
My favorite restaurant on the westside – amazing fresh, local, seasonal food and a mellow neighborhood vibe.
I grew up going to the Brentwood Country Mart and I still love it, especially the amazing and infamous chicken basket with seasoned fries! They now also have the tasty City Bakery (and some nice shops, such as Calypso and Calypso Home too).
Sushi Nozawa
11288 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 508-7017
Amazing Japanese (in a mini-mall in Studio City)! There is absolutely nothing charming about the decor but the sushi is outrageous – get the chef's special. Follow the “Trust Me” signs plastered all over the wall...trust him!!! P.S. No California roll here – don't even ask!
My favorite chef in L.A. is Suzanne Goin and she has three restaurants – all different but all amazing:
|
|
Lucques
8474 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 655-6277
www.lucques.com
|
Beautiful macrobiotic food with insane flavor – a great lunch option. I love the teriyaki bowl with salmon and the California club sandwich.
This is a market and a cafe – incredible edibles, baked goods, sandwiches, takeout...
The BH Hotel has this old-world Los Angeles feeling that you can't duplicate anywhere else. Have lunch in the Polo Room if you're feeling fancy. Or pull up a stool to the 1950s counter downstairs at the Fountain Coffee Room, and have a more informal and equally yummy lunch.
The best coffee I have ever tasted! And they work hard to ensure economic and environmental sustainability for coffee farmers.
|
|
Hollywood Farmers Market
1600 Ivar Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Sunday mornings
www.farmernet.com
|
Love to see and taste organic California produce! They have coffee carts and tamales too (and good people watching)!
|
|
Santa Monica Farmer's Market
Arizona Ave. and 3rd St.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Wednesday and Saturday mornings
|
NEXT WEEK
Next week we make the ultimate dishes for the holidays.
|
