Momed: Mediterranean Brunch on Beverly Drive

'Everyone knows the duck schwarma at Momed is fantastic' - but did you know that they have an awesome weekend brunch as well? Every Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-3pm.

Momed is actually short for "modern mediterranean" - and is a sleek but cozy space that offers a restaurant, deli, espresso bar and marketplace in one.  On a lazy Saturday morning (morning means sometime after noonish on weekends for me), after enjoying a SpaWeek deal ($50 for treatments that normally run around $100 and up!) closeby, I decided to stop at Momed for an off the beaten track brunch.

Momed is an affordable dining option in Beverly Hills, and has both a casual indoor restaurant space, as well as outdoor front patio seating. I like both, but since it was a sunny day I chose to sit outside. 

And then I saw it: the mouthwatering options on their brunch menu. Basically it's a prix fixe brunch: you get your choice of entree + Intelligentsia coffee + orange juice = $14.50. All of the choices looked fantastic, but the ones that struck me as more unusual were the Khachapouri "traditional breakfast flatbreads". There were two options: the "Kaseri cheese, organic scrambled eggs, onions and seasoned with dried mint and sumac" seemed more to be different in flavor profile, whereas the "Spicy soujok sausage, organic scrambled eggs, Halloumi cheese and kalamata olives" seemed to have more unique ingredients. My super friendly and helpful server Malena (more on her later!) validated this line of thinking when she recommended the sausage flatbread - so I went for it.

I really had no idea what to expect - maybe breakfast pizza with mediterranean toppings. 

What arrived was a fantastic creation that was like a thin-crust pizza but roughly oval shaped, topped with breakfast staples with a mediterranean twist and wrapped around the edges like a calzone. With eggs baked in with the flatbread.

Despite the menu listing 'scrambled eggs', they actually came sunny-side up, which I actually prefer both cuz it looks way more fun that way, and I get to have my unadulterated, beautifully runny yolk - the way I usually like to have my eggs anyway.  The flatbread was fresh baked and incredibly fragrant, while the sausage (which actually resembled and tasted like tiny pieces of spicy pepperoni - with mediterranean flavoring) lent a bit of heat. The Halloumi cheese was perfectly melted in (NOT a thick, congealed mess which is one main reason I don't like most pizzas)  and everything just worked together in harmony.
I'm not normally a big coffee drinker, but do like Intelligentsia coffee and couldn't resist the fragrant (and refillable) cup along with good ole OJ (also refillable) with my flatbread.

All in all, a lovely, easy way to kick off the day on a sunny SoCal morning.  And for dog lovers - your best friend is welcome on the patio as well.

Aside from the awesome food / brunch set - I wanted to take a moment to rave about service as well - I don't know if Malena is representative of all of the servers at Momed, but she was a big part of making my brunch experience great.  It was fairly busy out on the patio that morning and she seemed to be the only one helping with all the tables, but never wavered from her sunny disposition - even with the annoying non-customer who perched on the patio to loudly complain about the overabundance of actors in this town - all while flirting with the also cliched director guy and trying to get him to take her number (an oh-so-LA moment?).  Malena's one of those people who you can see are just genuinely happy, enjoy their jobs no matter what they're doing, and want to make sure you're having as good a time as she is.  And she had pretty good intuition about when to stick around and chat, and when to just hover a ways away - offering help if needed but giving you enough space to enjoy your meal.  I don't normally review service in this much detail, but really wanted to say that I wish more people were like Malena - because everyone she served that morning left in a good mood and ready to take on whatever the day may bring.  And people like her are a reminder that every person can make an impact on someone else in their lives - it doesn't have to be ground-breaking work like philanthropy trips overseas for victims of great tragedy - it can be as simple as spreading a little bit of sunshine to everyone you interact with in your daily life, in a moment as undramatic as neighborhood brunch.

In any case, a week later, I'm still dreaming about the insanely delicious flatbread.  Hope to be back to Momed soon!

In addition to the brunch deal, there are also others you can take advantage of.  See below:

Deal alerts (subject to change, please check with restaurant before ordering):

• Happy Espresso Hour: 50% off Intelligentsia coffee from 2:30-5:30pm daily
• Foursquare: Check-in, order the daily lunch special and get a Mint Lemonade, Hammam or Berry Iced Tea for $1

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience - 5.5 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $ (1 bite mark)
Probability of return visit - 100%

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Momed
233 S Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Ph: 310.270.4444

Parking: 2 hours free in public structure across the street on Beverly Blvd

Website: atmomed.com
Twitter: @momedfoodwine
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Farmshop - Brunch of Champignons

Farmshop has one of the best brunches I've ever had in my life. 

On a bright Sunday morning, my brunch buddy "Curses" and I headed out for the first time to the restaurant slash marketplace in the heart of Brentwood Country Mart - which would feel like a place straight out of Napa Valley, or some quaint little semi-rural gathering place in the South of France, if not for its population of characters who look like they just came from the set of The Hills (complete with costumes), a photoshoot for Anthropologie, or some unaired pilot for the Real Househusbands of Brentwood.

The space itself, we loved - airy and awash in natural light, rustic with wooden tables and trim, while sophisticated and chic at the same time with cool exposed bulbs hanging from lush woven silk ropes and carefully placed, minimalist greenery.  It almost made us forget the 15 minute wait (even with reservations...) and people passing us by, who we thought had arrived after us.  But within minutes of tasting the food, we would see why this place is always, always packed.

We started off with the Pastry Basket choose three pastries, seasonal preserves & spring hill butter ($12.50) - actually Curses wanted to get this and at first I objected, as the 'hot' menu items seemed so much more exciting and I wanted to save room for that.  But Curses is much wiser than me - you can only have so many egg dishes - and the pastry basket (well, really, pastry plate) turned out to be mindblowing.  We went with our servers' recommendations, and they were all unbelievably fresh and delicious - we had the Huckleberry Pear Danish ($3.50 a la carte):  Lemon Yogurt & Preserve Muffin ($3 a la carte): Herb Goat Cheese Scone ($4 a la carte).  

Our hands down favorite was the Herb Goat Cheese Scone - this was so light, fluffy and buttery it was more like a biscuit than a scone. Served steaming hot like it just got pulled from the oven, and fragrant with herbs so fresh we could imagine it being plucked from the garden minutes before.  So, savvy saveurs might say wait, the prices of the individual pastries add up to less than $12.50...I guess the extra charges are for the freshmade, gorgeous golden preserves (yes, you can taste the sun peeking betwen the oranges on the tree before they made it to your plate) and luscious slab of butter sprinkled with coarse sea salt (do they keep a cow in the back?)

As our second 'appetizer', I just had to have the Deviled Eggs once I read the description - it's served with smoked Idaho trout, upland cress & tarragon ($8) a bit of an unusual combination, and turns out the fish is worked into the hardboiled egg yolks for a tasty, stepped up, surf & turf inspired, brilliantly glammed up version of a classic egg dish.  For those who might balk at fish for breakfast - the taste of trout is very subtle.

I'm a huge seafood and mushroom and egg lover, and Curses already predicted before we even set foot in the place that I would dive right in for the Coddled Eggs as my main - served with smoked salmon, mushroom conserva, toast ($14.50).  This may have become one of my favorite brunch dishes of all time.  Eggs (that tasted like they just came out of a hen) were mixed with water and steamed into an incredibly smooth, light custard, then topped with beautiful mushrooms and chives for counterbalancing crunch and rich, earthy flavor.  The refined / restrained taste of the egg dish is then offset by lush slices of salty smoked salmon.  I was in heaven with every bite. Didn't even get to the toast - which I totally ignored.  LOVED the egg, and I wanted 10 more bowls... 

We must have been on some unspoken mushroom + egg kick, as Curses also decided on a funghi focused dish for her main: Frittata roasted wild mushrooms, melted leeks, drake family farm chevre, za'tar oil ($18).  This also blew our minds.  With this and the coddled egg dish, Farmshop manages to infuse creativity into breakfast/brunch, a meal that is not known for innovation - and unexpected world cuisine influence as well, with the oil made with za'tar, a middle eastern blend of spices, sesame and salt, and the preparation of coddled egg reminding me of a Chinese classic home cooked dish, steamed egg.  And leeks, with eggs? Genius.  Loved this dish.  Some may say $14-$18 for egg dishes is pricey - but I would say those people have not tried these eggs.  They're worth every penny.

We were also entertained by the couple next to us - the guy (complete with bold scarf and non-prescription glasses) was shocked, and possibly outraged, when in answer to his question, the server said the ingredients of his dish would be organic, but not sustainable.  It must have been with great restraint that he was able to bring himself to settle for the 'unethical'.  Thus, the concept of costumed brunch was born - looking forward to the next venue selection with Curses and what roles we would play for the meal.

Anyways, after our fab brunch, we were excited to walk it off by strolling through the open marketplace attached to the restaurant.

There was the bakery counter with perfect little croissants and meringued tarts, case of gourmet cheeses, and of course a small section to earn its name - farm fresh produce.  They had some gorgeous chanterelle mushrooms as well as beautiful green beans, onions, shallots... 

...and a perfect stash of multi-colored carrots.  Next to gourmet bags of beans and grains. 

The cured meats section looks amazing as well!

I felt like a kid in a candy store, with the selection of gourmet goods spread around the market as well - from Duck Rillette in a jar, pates, Straus ice cream in the freezer, all kinds of gourmet salts...  

...and my love for Farmshop was cemented, when I spotted little jars of SQIRL jams and preserves on a shelf.  (They even had my all-time fav: Nagami Kumquat & Chamomile preserves!!) So appropriate as SQIRL preserves are as farm fresh as you can get - they are literally sunshine preserved in a little jar.

Outside of Farmshop, you can also enjoy a leisurely morning strolling through the cute little boutiques at Brentwood Country Mart - there's a great book store, handprinted paper goods store, a few clothing stores, a candy store and nice spots for coffee or gelato.

Yes, Farmshop (and Brentwood Country Mart) definitely makes me feel like I'm on vacation without huge expense.  A staycation spot, if you will.  A little taste of the gentrified countryside, without ever leaving the city.  Amazing food and people watching.  I can't wait to make another trip.

On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6.5 bites
Presentation - 6 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience - 6 stars
Service - 5.5 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $$$ (3 bite marks)
Probability of return visit - 100% 
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Farmshop 
Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St., Suite 25, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Ph: 310.566.2400

Parking:  Park in strip mall lot attached to restaurant
Website: farmshopla.com

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Redondo Beach International Boardwalk - Fearless Fun Day

I grew up eating (and loving) raw seafood, and was fed animals/parts most people wouldn't even know of or think of as food (delicacies, my parents and grandparents called them - they're good for you).  But I'd never eaten food while it was still alive - until this weekend. 

After seeing a YouTube video of live sea urchin (uni) complete with moving spines, which the poster let me know was from Quality Seafood in Redondo Beach - I'd decided I needed to go try it at some point.  Even if the visual was a little disturbing a la Hannibal Lecter meets Detective Krendler at the dinner table (sorry, not very appetizing - but at least uni is just shellfish gonads...).  Sea urchin is already one of my favorites at sushi restaurants - and curiosity as to how it would taste coming from the freshest source - live, straight from the ocean - made me overcome any hesitation.

So I was super excited when fellow blogger Nomlog said she would be interested in making the trek for the experience as well!

Our adventure began with a quest for a seemingly 'secret' passageway to the boardwalk - Mapquest / GPS directions asked us to turn from Catalina Ave onto Village Dr - which did not seem to exist (at least there were no signs to indicate where it was).



A sea urchin in hand is better than two in the sea?

Knowing the ocean was to our right, we took a chance and tried cutting through a condo complex. Following winding paths, we finally emerged at a small park above the marina - beyond which was Quality Seafood!  Where you can pick out your own, live, seafood from the many tanks - pay by the pound - and have them prepared/cooked to order for free.

My friend "Designer", also a seafood fan, decided to join us - and we flitted around the marketplace like a trio of starving seagulls ready to dive for choice marine life. Past tanks of crab and shellfish, we found what we came for: Live Sea Urchin!!!!

Live from the ocean - it's delicious sea urchin!

We chatted with the guy behind the tanks (who is from Boston, so he knows his shellfish!) and he let us hold a live one.  As expected, it was a little like trying to hold a porcupine without the soft underbelly.  We couldn't wait to eat it (cost by the pound, the one pictured was about $11).  Prepping live sea urchin involved bashing the bottom with a flat metal tool til he could lift a circular piece like a lid, draining liquids out the center - then literally poking any debris out with his finger. 

And voila!  We have our live uni, ready to eat, spines still moving reflexively on the plate.  It was a novelty vs. being creepy - we had a great time capturing lots of shots and a few videos.  The sea urchin was of course incredibly fresh - plump with defined texture - and I loved being able to really taste the ocean with each bite.  The only unexpected thing was that the innards were surrounded by a bit of a milky substance, which we didn't even really want to think about what that could be.

Treasure Troves of Tomalley

At another part of the market, Nomlog ingeniously scored a bag of Lobster heads (4 for $2.30 - an awesome deal!).  Most people would pass this up as there isn't really any meat - but we knew all kinds of deliciousness was hiding inside (tomalley, the liver of a lobster that doesn't look appetizing but is rich with flavor - that Asians especially view as a delicacy)!  Nomlog asked for it to be steamed, and within 20-30 minutes, we had a tray of heads to dig into for 'blue' gold!

Shellfish + white wine sauce:  Can anyone think of a better combination?

To round out our epic feast - a tray of clams live steamed in white wine sauce.  As Nomlog isn't a fan of clams, Designer and I had the giant tray to ourselves.  The cool thing about Quality Seafood is that you can try out the many varieties of shellfish by pretty much getting as much or little as you want - they will throw into a tray and steam it for you on the spot.  Just pay by the pound. So at our friend from Boston's recommendation, we tried a handful each of Tua Tua Clams ($9.99/lb) from New Zealand, with sleek whitish shells, which according to Quality Seafood is only available through them, and Savory Clams ($8.65/lb) with purplish / black/white shell patterns,  Softshell Clams ($14.29/lb) from Boston, and Manila Clams which unfortunately didn't cook right, and we couldn't eat as the shells did not open.  All the clams we tasted were delicious, especially in the light white wine broth - but the Tua Tua was our favorite, sweet and succulent without any tough bits, and relatively large in size.   

Got crabs?

Designer hit up the Live Crab station ($5.99/lb), for fresh steamed crab.  Though it was a bit of a pain for her to have to drop a $3 deposit for a mallet for cracking the shell (then have to wait in line after to get the deposit back), and $1 per cup of drawn butter - I could tell Designer enjoyed her crab by the fact that every time I turned to her, all I could hear were sounds alternating between frenzied mallet pounding and ravenous gorging. 

This echoed the sounds emanating from Nomlog's and my side of the table, where we were elbow-deep in lobster, uni and bass - tomalley smeared faces (plus crab fat that Designer kindly pushed over to me) only emerging from the plates occasionally when coming up for air.

Very attractive, yes I know.  But that's the beauty of it - it's not a fine dining restaurant, everyone sits at communal tables outside and expects to get down and dirty with their seafood.  And we were having our 'fun, fearless females' day - so the heck with what other people think, as long as we are enjoying ourselves.

Beyond the tasty crustaceans, there were also all sorts of fresh fish on ice, that you could choose to either have broiled or fried.  Some of which I've never heard of, like "Bangus Milk Fish", "Golden Pomfre" and "Thresher Shark". 

Nomlog got a lovely cut of sea bass, broiled - you can read about it (and her take on the day) here.

This guy was not happy with us.

Did we feel any guilt for feasting on innocent creatures? Maybe - but it's an honest, heads to tails approach - for those who eat meat, is the 'guilt' in fact any less, just because they have been processed beyond all recognition, making it easier to forget what they were before they were just food on your plate?

For those looking for other items to round out their meal, Quality Seafood also offered sandwiches, corn on the cob, paella and more.  We had skipped these to save stomach space for the fresher preparations of  seafood.

Pelicans in wait for scraps from local fishermen

After lunch, we had a fun time exploring the rest of the boardwalk, and the beach beyond. 

At a 'fish cleaning station', right by where recreational fishermen cast their rods, we 'met' two beautiful pelicans who were happy to take any scraps the fishermen were willing to offer.

They seemed familiar with tourists and even seemed to pose for a few photos.
True to the 'international' part of their name, the boardwalk offered a bunch of eateries of different cuisines that I'd love to go back and try, one of which is Pacific Fish, a Korean-owned casual spot that serves abalone and other seafood plates, along with Korean beers and soju. 

Another is Gambrinus, a Russian bar/restaurant with marina views (just past the water cycles) offering blini, vareniki and belashi (meat pie). 

While strolling the boardwalk we also noticed imprints of sea lions, otters, whales, fish in the cement.  This one, a fish with wings, stood out to me - is it supposed to be a tribute to all the creatures who have gone on to a better place?  Or a play on 'angel fish'?

A friend's mom used to steam live crab at home, and she would always, adorably, apologize to the crabs and thank them for the food they provide before sticking them in the pot.  Taking her cue, I did give silent thanks to the creatures that gave their lives to feed our bodies and souls that day.

With the sometimes isolating, "A-B" destination driven car culture in LA, I really love places where you can not just go to grab a meal, but can make a day of.  Redondo International Boardwalk really was great for that - after our seafood feast, had a great time strolling the boardwalk checking out other restaurants and bars, and enjoying the sun and sand (such a beautiful day, 86 degrees in *October* - this is why I love SoCal).  Many others seemed had the same idea. Those inclined to further activity - there are also water cycles you can rent by the marina, and a 'nostalgic' arcade for families.

Our last stop of the day was for a Churro (1 for $2, 3 for $5) - made fresh daily at at least 2 storefronts on the boardwalk.  The simple stick of warm, fried, cinnamony, sugary dough - enjoyed over gorgeous views of the open Pacific - was a great way to close out the day.

All in all, a fabulous time with fab friends - hope to see  you again very soon, Redondo!

[For 60 photos from the seaside adventure, check out the album on my Facebook page!]
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Redondo Beach International Boardwalk 
Quality Seafood
130 South International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA

Parking: $5 maximum all day in structure directly behind Quality Seafood, $0.25/15 mins at meters on Catalina (time limit: 4 hours max, old school coin-op, bring quarters)

Website: qualityseafood.net
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Oliana - Olive Oil & Vinegar Tasting Bar!

Acidity. Varietals. Blends. Intensity. Words I never really associated with olive oil before - in fact, I never really took the time to learn much about it at all.  I knew of course, like every other food product, that there are different grades - and that certain brands taste better to me than others. (Most grocery store brands are pretty much flavorless, and too...oily. Of the ones I'd tried Lucini was the only brand that actually tasted good to me, and I always keep a bottle in stock to make pasta with, or Caprese. That was about the extent of my vocabulary and knowledge of olive oil.)

This past weekend was an eye-opening one for me at Oliana in West Hollywood.  The recently opened space in the Pavilions shopping center on Santa Monica Blvd is not just a retail store, it's like a hands-on learning center, offering free tastings of over 45 fresh extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars. There is a central island lined with tanks of premium oils, arranged from the lightest to the fuller body and more pungent, from classic blends to specialty oils infusions like Herbs de Provence, and a wall of balsamic vinegar infused with interesting flavors from coconut to dark chocolate.


Owners Randy and Dax are incredibly knowledgeable about olive oil, from branch to bottle, and are eager to share what they know.  I learned so much from just 10 minutes with Dax, about smoke points, polyphenols, regions, the benefits of fresh pressed oils and what to look for when tasting oils.  The guys treat olive oil and vinegar with a reverence normally seen in the wine world - but without all the snobbery.  It's clear that they have true passion for the subject and really just want to make enjoyment of premium oils and vinegars accessible to everyone. 

The airy, sunny space is inviting and a fun place to browse through on your own (with Dax as tour guide) or to experience with a friend - and all without high pressure sales tactics!

It was great really being able to try the various blends - as many as I wanted - and to taste the differences between them to find the ones I like (I ended up getting a bottle of the Hojiblanca Extra Virgin Olive Oil - which is a "Spanish Varietal" from Australia, tastes buttery and rich with intoxicatingly intense olive flavor with a peppery finish, and is apparently the current Gold Medal award winner in the International Olive Oil Competition in LA! And a small bottle of the black truffle olive oil which was intoxicatingly fragrant and smooth).  I also loved the vinegar - everything from traditional 18 year aged balsamics to white balsamics and inventive fruit and spice infused flavors.

As if there were not already enough to love about the tasting bar - they also have a creative olive oil & vinegar pairing station where you can sample custom blends that were great for sparking ideas for how all these can be combined to present new flavor profiles and can translate into dressing or dips etc. at home with all these gourmet options! 

Some cool sounding and tasty concoctions were Blackberry Ginger Basil, Fig and Garlic, and Basil Coconut.  I could especially see the Basil Coconut blend being used in a Thai-inspired salad!  I love that  Oliana offers recipes with ideas for how to use the oils/ vinegars on their site.

Most of the oils and vinegars are bottled to order and come in wine-like bottles with a great gold seal - presentation counts for a lot in my book, and I definitely made a mental note to add this to my list of great gift ideas. 

As for pricing?  Oliana makes it simple with a 'prix fixe' system - you can get almost any oil / vinegar in the store for one price by volume:

200ml $14.95*

375ml $19.95
750ml $29.95

*The exception is truffle oils, which start at 200ml $34.95

Aside from oil and vinegar, Oliana also offers a wide selection of artisan tapenades, pestos, olives and more, in case you want to pull together a gourmet package to make a nice gift basket. There are also other cool food-related finds like gorgeous Himalayan salt plates.

I couldn't bring myself to spend $35 on a larger bottle of truffle oil, so I was glad when Randy/Dax pointed out sampler sized bottles for $12.95 by the cash register - afterall, with truffle oil you don't need a lot to get the flavor in.

All in all, a fun way to spend a bit of my afternoon (and I got to pop over to Beauty Collection, conveniently just a few doors down, to stock up on makeup that day).  Olive oil devotees can even sign up for Oliana's Olive Oil Club, to receive four mailings a year of curated, paired olive oil 375ml + vinegar 375ml plus a bonus 200ml surprise bottle of seasonal oil or vinegar. You also get product info, recipes and 10% discount off purchases in-store and online (15% for orders bundled with the club shipment) - plus invites to special events, all for $39.95 per shipment. 

Glad to have made this WeHo discovery, and to be able to access fresh, quality oils from a company that takes a personal, passionate approach to their products - all for the same or just a few dollars more than grocery store prices - I am so not going back to grocery store brand oils / vinegars again!

1MB Deal Tip: Before you leave, be sure to sign up for Oliana's mailing list and get a free 200ml bottle of olive oil on your birthday!

And check their Facebook for info about their Grand Opening event coming soon: August 11th 6pm-8:30pm!

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Oliana Premium Olive Oils and Vinegars
8951 Santa Monica Blvd Suite J, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Ph: 310.888.1874

Website: OlianaOil.com
Twitter: twitter.com/olianaoil
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Oliana-Premium-Olive-Oil-and-Vinegars
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Taste of Farmers Market - 77th Anniversary Celebration of The Original Farmers Market

Ever wondered why there is a faux retro gas station in front of the Farmers Market at The Grove?  I've passed by it many times but just took it for granted that it was another 'set' piece to add to the ambience.

It wasn't until this past Tuesday that I learned some of the history behind the market, while attending the Taste of Farmers Market event in celebration of its 77th anniversary.  Yes, it all started back in 1934 - and is a great story of imagination, possibility and happy happenstance.  The Gilmore family had landed the property on 3rd and Fairfax through a drawing of straws, used it as a dairy farm until they discovered oil when drilling for water for the herds, and over time allowed a pair of entrepreneurial spirits to make use of a vacant lot nearby to have local farmers come to sell fresh produce off the backs of their trucks.  Farmers would pay just 50 cents back then to rent a space to park their truck and sell their wares to local shoppers.  The concept was an instant hit, and within months they were building structures to house merchants and facilitate visits from the crowds. 

Thus, the faux gas station (a detailed replica of a 1936 service station) is a nodd to the Gilmore family, Gilmore Gas and its place in Western American history - and the great journey of seemingly unrelated circumstances that came together to create the market and turn it into what it is today.  The market of course wouldn't be what it is now without the diverse mix of food vendors - and like the place itself, the whole food service side of the business is steeped in history.  And all started with an idea - an idea that came from one enterprising lady, Blanche Magee. Blanche thought that farmers at the market might want to eat lunch -  so she would fill a picnic hamper with sandwiches and trek to the market selling them to the farmers.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Seventy-seven years later, and the Magee family still operates two food stands at the market, Magee's, which serves - you guessed it - sandwiches (and salads and special plates), and nuts.  

Ulysses' Voyage Greek Restaurant
Loukoumades


I've always enjoyed The Original Farmers Market - with its laid back and authentic vibe in contrast to the relative opulence of The Grove next door.  Part of the charm of the place is its no-fuss atmosphere, and welcoming of people from any and all walks of life.  It's sort of the great equalizing space in the midst of the ostensibly higher-end stores at The Grove.  And that applies to both vendors and patrons - on any given day you can take your pick of anything from Spanish to Singaporean to French to Italian to Greek to Brazilian.  You can arrive in your suit or your flip flops - and feel equally at home.  Is it fine dining?  No, and that's not the point of the market (see origins of food stalls noted above).

The Taste of Farmers Market event on July 12th offered the public the rare chance to sample from almost all of the vendors at the market, AYCE style, for one price ($35 per person for unlimited tastings, $45pp to add 2 wine/beer tickets). It had been a challenging day at work, and I arrived with only an hour left to go in the event (the event ran 5-9pm and I got there at 8pm!) - so I was grateful when the organizers were kind enough to provide a media pass.

Some of the highlights from the event reflects the diversity of the offerings of the market:  Loukoumades fried dough balls drizzled with honey, from Ulysses' Voyage,  turkey or nutella crepes from The French Crepe Company, Chicken Mole Taco from Loteria Grill, Patatas Bravas from Little Spain, Brazilian sausage, sirloin cap and plantains from Pampas, Pain a la Tomate, and Chocolate Mousse with Glazed Raspberry from Monsieur Marcel (one of my fav spots in the market) and english toffee from Littlejohn's English Toffee.  I missed but would have liked to sample the gumbo and cornbread from The Gumbo Pot.

Gourmet hand-crafted frozen pastas
Papara

I had actually rarely ventured to the back aisle of the market, and was excited on this night to see that the Singapore Banana Leaf stall serves Laksa - they were not sampling that dish that night, so I made a note to return the next time I'm at the market. 

The market also offers dry/frozen goods including an interesting stall called Paparadelle's Pasta, a company based out of Colorado that offers hand-crafted gourmet pastas that are frozen to maintain freshness.  Some of the mouth-watering and original pastas I saw there included Spicy Red Hot Thai Curry Orzo and Sweet Potato Paparadelle (8 oz bag for $5).  And of course, the chocolate pasta that they sampled at the event, which was made into a 'pasta sundae' with whipped cream.  It's a concept with flavors and textures that take getting used to, but I respected the risk-taking and envelope-pushing.  They also sampled and orzo salad which was delicious. 

As one of the vendors that have been there it seems, forever, Bennett's Ice Cream is made fresh on the premises and has been a staple at the market since it opened.  For the event, they offered two scoops with any flavor of your choice.  I opted for the Chocolate Junkie and Fancy Nancy (coffee banana and caramel) - both were smooth and 'real' - like only old-fashioned hand-crafted ice cream can taste. A charming thing about Bennett's is that you can actually watch them mix their ice creams through the window into the open kitchen. 


In addition to tried and true staples, the market occasionally introduces its fans to newcomers - and at last Tuesday's event, they previewed a vendor that will be coming soon to the market:  Short Order, a partnership between Nancy Silverton (of Mozza fame) and Amy Pressman, which will be focused on burgers.  Short Order easily had the best savory food sample at the event in my opinion, with a Mac 'N' Cheese Burger - a little slider served with a side of watermelon rind pickles.  They actually ran out of mac n' cheese by the time I got there, so I didn't get to try that topping, but the slider itself was still delicious - served at just the right temperature, with a tender, juicy patty embraced by the fluffiest hot brioche buns - it may have been a small bite, but it was packed with lots of promise for the upcoming launch of the gourmet casual restaurant (the girls at the table said September!).  Sign up at their teaser website to receive info on the upcoming opening!

In addition to the samples from food vendors, the market also offered samples to take home from stickers to treats for four-legged friends from Three Dogs Bakery (I picked up some cool "pup-cakes" for my friend 'Designer's fav pal, Stella).

All in all, a great event that invited people to break out of their comfort zone and give all vendors at the market a chance - while some definitely stood out more than others, it was a great way to check out the wide range offerings at Farmers Market in one night, so that you can come back another time to get a fuller experience at the places that you liked.

And just think - each time you dine at the Farmers Market you are not just fueling up, but partaking in a piece of LA history as well. It also doesn't hurt, of course, that it's also a good alternative to the pricier options next door - and serves as a great pit stop on the way to the movies or shopping excursions through The Grove, and/or a destination in itself for those on a budget, especially on Thursday/Friday nights during summer when free live music is offered from 7-9pm on the West Patio.

[Feast on more photos from the Taste of Farmers Market event, as well as from other fantastic farmers' market finds around town at my Facebook page!]

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The Original Farmers' Market 
Mon–Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am– 8pm, Sun 10am – 7pm
6333 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Ph: 323.933.9211


Parking: FM lot - 2 hours free with validation; $3 for 3rd hour, $1 for each additional 20 minutes $15 max. Without Validation $2 each 20 minutes, $20 max
The Grove: 1 hour free. 2 hour validations from select Grove merchants

Website: farmersmarketla.com
Twitter: twitter.com/Farmersmarketla
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The Market at Santa Monica Place - Artisanal Marketplace, Oceanside

Imagine some of your favorite lesser known, local food producers and neighborhood market / restaurant finds, gathered in their very own permanent place, steps away from the ocean.

That is The Market at Santa Monica Place - a well curated collection of artisans bringing their passion projects to the fore. Kind of defying the concept of artisanal, by being placed at the top of a high profile luxury shopping complex - but somehow it works. I love a great underdog story, and it's like the underdogs have made it, finally getting the recognition they deserve with a platform to broaden their reach to a more mainstream audience - both of their wares, and of the larger message that local, sustainable, handcrafted is in demand, and has 'arrived'. Soaring almost literally over the heads of 800lb gorilla chains, and a tendency for mass consumption of goods of the lowest common denominator. And foodies everywhere across the city are cheering them on.

Much comparisan has been drawn of The Market to San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace - while the concept is similar, I feel the vibe and offerings differ a bit.  Ferry Building caters in general to a more upscale, sophisticated crowd, with creme de la creme artisanal offerings from traditional teahouse service of exquisite hand-picked teas, to exotic mushrooms/truffles to pristine oysters, delicate desserts, cheeses and wines, while managing to avoid any feeling of elitism. The Market has a more whimsical side befitting its more casual beach-going / La La Land drawn crowd, with a retro-cool ice cream purveyor whose marketing hook involves servers 'in character' as 50s pin-ups being one of the first 'stalls' you see - and signs like the one pictured at left emblazoned with fun foodie philosophy / catchy food-inspired one-liners adorning its walls.
  

Holding to the philosophy of 'dessert first' - sweets are truly what you will see first when you enter The Market.  To the right inside the entrance, next to Beachy Cream ice cream, you will be greeted by Rockenwagner, another dessert purveyor (ok, baked goods but predominantly sweet ones) with a sense of humor and touch of Hollywood.  I would describe their decor as understated whimsy - overall the space has a clean, streamlined look, but is embellished with unexpected pieces from faux grass-covered seats to a tomato mosaic wall hanging that on closer inspection is made of stylized images of LA icons including Bob's Big Boy.  A mannequin is dressed with an outfit made of chocolate covered pretzels; a table display is adorned with lawn gnomes. Rockenwagner's specialty is their made-to-order, from scratch, souffles.  I tried the passion fruit w/ honey-orange ricotta 'dip' - it was not as great as I expected, a little too light and foamy and single note in flavor.  They also offer various pastries, and a few token savories like sliders and paninis.

Moving down the row, there is a coffee/tea place and stall with 'farm-sourced' organic skin care (Benedetta is actually also in the Ferry Building!) and Magical Blooms for breath-taking floral arrangements, before hitting you with more sweets (love it!). One that I am glad to see at The Market is L'Artisan du Chocolat, easier and more central for me to get to now than their Silverlake boutique (in terms of having other stores around, so I can make an afternoon of a trip to The Market, after the beach or shopping, versus having to drive out to Silverlake specifically just for my chocolate fix).  Love their hand-painted chocolates with wide range of flavors from matcha to mango-wasabi to bacon to shitake and korean garlic (flavors available vary).

There is also a trio of Italian eats under the banners of Primi al Mercato and Norcino Salumeria.  Primi al Mercato is in two parts - on one side, you can buy everything you need to make great pasta dishes at home, from fresh semolina pasta handmade on the premises (you can watch the lady making it at the marble counter at the window, if you go early enough in the day!) priced by the pound, to jars of the best sauces Italy has to offer.  In their words, the fresh pasta is 'life-changing' - after trying their fresh ricotta-filled semolina gnocchi ($5/lb) with San Giuliano pesto-basil sauce, I would agree.  I am now ruined for home-cooked pasta - once you go fresh you'll find it very hard to go back to dried! Plus, they make harder to find pastas like squid ink fettucini.  Those who can't wait til they get home, or aren't in the mood to cook, can taste Primi al Mercato's pastas right at The Market in their adjacent restaurant. 

Norcino Salumeria, across the way, offers case upon refrigerated case of beautiful charcuterie and cheeses.  You can try their cheese plate (any 3 cheeses from menu for $12, add $5 for glass of wine) at the bar, or sit in the deli to enjoy a panini made with their finest selection of cured meats.  I was delighted to see that they carry Sottocenere, one of my favorite cheeses laced with black truffle, swaddled in a beautiful edible grey vegetable ash rind - though the going rate was $35/lb there.

At the far end of The Market is Venokado, a wine & modern gifts market (that carries SQIRL jams and Bakelab treats! As well as wine paraphernalia, wine country inspired soaps etc.) and The Gourmandaise School which offers hands-on classes in their open kitchen-lab right in The Market!

Last but definitely not least, in the far corner is the restaurant that had me screeching to full stop the minute I spotted their blackboard specials. The Curious Palate actually has a location in Mar Vista, close to the farmer's market (they specialize in farm-to-table cooking), but is making its debut in the higher profile SM space here.  I loved the casual counter space with full view into the open kitchen, as well as their narrow strip of, but lovely, outdoor terrace seating that allows diners to enjoy the gorgeous SoCal summer / sea-air.  But it was the menu that really captured my attention - some of the magic words were "Black Rice Beignets with Santa Monica Sea Urchin" and "Lamb Sweetbreads".  So we had no choice but to stop in for a bite.

Sliding up to the long wooden counter - my first order of business was Black Rice Beignets with Santa Monica Sea Urchin ($14) seasoned with black olive salt and salmoriglio aioli.  I loved the creativity of this dish - substituting the toothsome black rice beignets for the usual round of sushi rice under the pieces of uni that tasted like it was plucked from the ocean just minutes before (quality of both the sea urchin and the plating /presentation was unexpectedly high for mall dining!).  There were four beignets for $14, a fairly good deal for a dish involving uni!   

Next up were Lamb Sweetbreads ($12) with corn pudding, fresh herbs and meyer lemon.  I also loved this dish, which was juicy, perfectly cooked so that the lightly crisped shell yields to a chewy but not tough interior, and packed with earthy and subtly sweet flavors.  I hope they keep this on the menu as I would definitely come back for it.  We actually had dinner reservations at Drago later that night so I wasn't supposed to fill up at The Curious Palate, but couldn't help myself!
 

My friend 'Designer' was with me, but not feeling the same bottomless hunger that is my constant companion, so she opted for the small plate of Macaroni and Cheese ($8).  This was a good enough dish, with light creamy cheese and a lovely crusted top - but otherwise overshadowed by the other amazing dishes. 

  
Perhaps I wasn't as subtle as I would have liked with the food paparazzi shots, but without us ever at all mentioning the blog, our super friendly server surprised us with a dish 'on the house' near the end of our meal: Razor Clams - ceviche, leche de tigre ($10).  This was beautifully presented in a glass jar with a side of plantain chips.  The citrus and onion flavors were skillfully controlled so as to neatly cut through the shellfish, while not overwhelm it at the same time - so that the freshness of the clams were highlighted, not covered, by the marinade.  I loved the smooth slivers of clams, which offered a nice chew counterbalanced by the crisp and fruity crunch of the plantain chips.  Loved this dish and would defnitely order it again the next time we're back.

All in all, so happy to have this exciting new waystation for affordable gourmet in the midst of the somewhat overpriced dining terrace offerings at Santa Monica Place. 
And so glad that I can now pick up my favorite foods for easy weeknight meals, as an easy stop on the way back from the beach, at The Market.  All this gorging and I can feel good about it, afterall, I would be supporting local artisans in their sustainable food efforts, even if I'm buying the gourmet goods at the mall.


***See my full set of 35+ photos from The Market at Santa Monica Place here ***

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The Market Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Ph: 310.260.8333
Website: santamonicaplace.com/market
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Lemonade - FRESH in Every Way

"I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis"
                                                    - 'The Most Interesting Man in the World'

That is how I feel about Lemonade, when it comes to salads. 

To me, salads have always been a necessary evil. They are something I *need* to eat versus something I want to eat. It's rare that I ever find a salad that excites me (foie gras with haricots verts and truffle vinaigrette at Petrossian under Ben Bailly's watch being a notable exception).  That all changed when a fellow juror introduced me to Lemonade (MOCA location downtown) a few months back. 

The name of the place is both appropriate and deceptive at the same time - you expect simplicity, clean flavors, basic ingredients, with that name - and Lemonade does deliver on these, but also offers so much more, without pretention in its casual space: fresh, creative takes on salads, mixing and matching global flavors, in an original marketplace concept that lets you choose any gourmet offering you want for one price.  You pay by 'portions' - 1 portion = 2 scoops of salad for $4 (two scoops $7.75, three $11) no matter which you choose. 

After a particularly grueling session of power yoga today, I decided to push myself on the healthy theme and pay a visit to Lemonade on Beverly in West Hollywood.  The sun had finally re-emerged after a long week of rain and 'freezing' (by LA standards) cold - and it was the first day where I didn't feel like my food had to bear the burden of raising my body temperature in addition to being tasty, giving me energy to get through my day etc.  I was ready for fresh fare, in the adorable, cozy little storefront / sun-bathed patio at Lemonade. (It's also casual dining, paper plates and all - so I didn't have to worry about being in my sweaty yoga gear.)

From the start of the cafeteria-style line, I nearly got whiplash looking over all the options behind the counter. There is a mix of classics reinterpreted, to unexpected combinations of ingredients, some of which I've never seen or heard of.

Besides their creativity, willingness to experiment, and fairly big regular and seasonal menu, the other awesome thing about Lemonade is that you can split 'portions', so that you can try a wider variety of their offerings (i.e. get different salads in each of your two scoops).  And their super friendly service is another big draw - they totally let you sample any of their dishes before making a 'commitment' - which was a good thing as there were a few that looked and sounded great, but I didn't end up liking - including a roasted heirloom carrot salad.

Anyways, I went for two portions, split, so that I can try four different salads for just $8:

1. Watermelon radish, ahi tuna, snap peas, black  sesame and ginger - This was the first time I'd ever seen watermelon radish, and I thought it was gorgeous! Loved the sesame flavors with the pickled radish - however, I thought the textures of all the ingredients were too similarly 'rough' (even the tuna, which was seared, but with the small bite-sized chunks the 'crust' was a bit too much) so that as a whole the salad did not have the best mouthfeel.

2. Israeli couscous, wild mushrooms, parmesan, lemon truffle - regular readers know about my truffle addiction, so it's no surprise that this was my favorite of the four! The lovely, al-dente couscous were perfectly balanced with the earthy, chewy, juicy mushrooms and the citrus blended with truffle flavors perfectly for an instantly addictive mix.  I could have scarfed down 3 full portions of this one!

3. Winter squash with white truffle, lemon vinaigrette and chives - I was drawn to this one as well because of the mention of truffle, and went for it without sampling.  Unfortunately, it was a little difficult to taste the truffle, though the winter squash with lemon vinaigrette and chives was a refreshing enough mix on its own.  In comparisan with the others, this one was just ok.

4. Orrechietta, tomato, perlini mozzarella, red pepper vinaigrette - my second favorite of the meal! This was lemonade's reinterpretation of the classic caprese, with pasta and a delicious red pepper vinaigrette tossed into the mix.  I loved the incredible, soft, fresh mozzarella, juicy, perfectly sized tomatoes, and how the orrechietta scooped up the vinaigrette and helped pack each bite with flavor.

On a previous visit, I had tried the lobster, soba noodle, lebanese cucumber, sesame and loved it - but wanted to give other items a try this time since they have such a vast menu.  Would definitely recommend the lobster salad though to anyone trying Lemonade for the first time. 

That ($8) plate alone would have made a satisfying meal - and I did end up taking leftovers to go.  But my friendly server tempted me with a sample of the soup of the day - mushroom ($4) - that I then absolutely had to have!  The soup was perfect - not too rich and creamy, and served with a piece of grilled rustic grain bread that could give LaBrea Bakery a run for its money. 

Barely able to fit all my plates on the tray, my last stop was at the cashier, which also served as the dessert / beverage station.  No meal at Lemonade would be complete without tasting of, of course, their namesake drinks!  Various fresh lemonades are on offer with some creative combinations from pomegranate tarragon to asia pear basil to blueberry mint. I opted for the Sugar Free Apple Jalapeno ($2.70) - sweet and tart with a kick!

I was way too full for dessert, but they have cases stocked with baked cookies, macaroons, cakes, cupcakes and custards and of course lemon meringue pie as well.

There were many other items that I need to come back and try - including toasted-to-order 'semi-traditional' and pot roast sandwiches, and hot foods at the 'braises' station from moroccan chicken to red miso beef short rib simmering in colorful pots.

All in all, though the selection of salads were hit or miss, I always enjoy seeing what the chefs have come up with, and the experience at Lemonade overall. And the salads that I loved were truly amazing.
So, in sum - I don't always eat salads - but when I do, I prefer Lemonade.  Thanks for making eating veggies / healthy an exciting / fun experience!

(P.S. - In addition to WeHo, Lemonade also has locations in Venice (Abbot Kinney), Downtown, at MOCA, and at USC.  Check website for details.)


On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 6 bites
Presentation - 6 bites
Originality - 6 bites
Ambience - 6 stars
Service - 6 stars
Overall experience - 6 bites
Price - $ (1 bite mark)
Probability of return visit - 100% 
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Lemonade
9001 Beverly Boulevard (at Almont), West Hollywood, CA 90048
Ph: 310. 247. 2500   

Website: lemonadela.com
Twitter: twitter.com/lemonadela
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