What I'm excited about right now: Milo + Olive (Santa Monica)!

Can you even stand it!?  Yet another addition to the insanely popular family of restaurants tucked inside Los Angeles' Westside...welcome Milo + Olive(!!)

Seriously, owners Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan might possibly have the Midas touch when it comes to outstanding eateries...from Rustic Canyon to Huckleberry and my absolute favorite dessert spot Sweet Rose Creamery...I literally cannot get enough of their food! 

Their newest venture, Milo + Olive, is a casually modern bakery/pizzeria highlighting rustic breads like Lemon and Thyme and Three Cheese Cheesebread, rotating daily pizza options like the Roasted Potato w/ rosemary cream & parmigiano reggiano and the Burrata w/ prosciutto, tomato, arugula, olive oil & sea salt, as well as intriguing side dishes (Roasted Pumpkin w/ brown butter, sage, wildflower honey & black pepper) and desserts (Lemon Pound Cake w/ Lemon Glaze).  As per the usual, expect seasonal offerings, farmers market produce, and local ingredients.       

Cannot wait to try it (!) and if my past experiences are any indication, Milo + Olive will likely be no different than Josh and Zoe's other successes.

Hey...you can never have too much of a good thing!!


*Oh and between you and me...I just found out the owners go to my gym (ahhhh!). Would it be weird for me to run up and hug them during yoga? or maybe a spin class??  I mean, I think it's important that they know what their contributions to my mouth and stomach mean to me...


Milo + Olive www.miloandolive.com 2723 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90403


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Milo + Olive http://www.miloandolive.com/

El Camino Café: 2 to-die-for Pancakes and then some...

Sometimes you come across an unexpected place that just completely blows your mind.  I'm going to let the pictures speak for this fabulous new find that I like to call El Camino Café. 

It's one of those places where you have to know the right people to get in...it's so good you want to tell everyone about it, yet at the same time want to keep it all to yourself...and find yourself coming back to again and again because the food is just that good! 

 Mini-Chocolate Chip Pancakes topped with Fresh Banana

 

Perfectly Poached Eggs ( I love when food is served in cute little dishes!)

 Oh Bacon...♥

 The most divine pancake topping you could ever imagine...who would have thought, a little whipped cream, yogurt, and sour cream could be the perfect lite yet flavorful topping for a pancake!  

My dream pancake (!)...ultra-thin flapjack with baked in Chocolate Chips and Strawberries topped with the Strawberry Yogurt mixture and Fresh Strawberries...y u m!  The first bite completely throws your taste buds off...in the best way possible :)

From left to right: Top Sirloin Bolognese with Pebble Beach Porcini Mushrooms; Deep Crusted Sesame Bread topped w/ Fried Garlic and Manchego; Avocado w/ Balsamic, Olive Oil, Pepper & Salt; and Strawberry Arugula Salad tossed w/ Pine Nuts, Sweet Red Onions & Shaved Parmesan

The Night Capper...Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Dried Bananas

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Happy almost end of 2011...and thank goodness, what a year!

I'll be honest...I'm looking forward to saying farewell to 2011, it's been an interesting year to say the least, but with all things to be less than excited about...there are also things that were pure joy!  I am beyond grateful for those and wanted to share some of them with you!:

My Secret Santa, Felipe, and his amazing gifts of The Hangover 1 & 2 and sweet treats from Bottega Louie (from left to right: Raspberry Macaroon, Key Lime Custard w/ Toasted Lime Meringue, Cheesecake Tart, and Hazelnut Brownie)!!!

Thanksgiving with the Pettas Family

The first test shoot with my new camera at beautiful Big Sur

Root Beer Floats!

Old Friends ♥

New Friends!

The BCBG Holiday Party!

Hot Toddies ala Aunt Rosie!

 

Learning how to make perfect "Eggs in a Nest"...er "Toads in a hole"...er whatever you call it ;)

Dad's Christmas gift...no really, he shouldn't have ;)

Mom's Christmas gift :)

These insanely massive Lobsters at my parents house!

Finding Mini Philly Cheese and Milkshakes at Max Brenner in Vegas!

This family...I have no clue who they are but there was just something about them toting their hot chocolates while walking down to the coast in perfect height order...made me smile :)

Homemade Chicken Soup w/ Stars and Whisky-Cheddar Grilled Cheese!

My amazing family!

 

Christmas dinner in Virginia...Prime Rib, Mashed Potatoes, Crescent Rolls, Lobster Mac N' Cheese, and Green Bean Casserole = yum!

Aunt Rosie's fresh Honey-Butter and warm Biscuits...the perfect way to wake up when you're on vacation!

The simple (and uber cheap) goodness of the Cookie Sandwiches at Diddy Riese in Westwood

The first time I ever enjoyed eating Lamb...leave it to a Michelin star chef to do it right!

Building a Gingerbread House with my nephew George...no matter how HUGE the mess!

So looks like I actually had a pretty great year!  Thank you to each and every person that has touched my life in some way...old friends and new, the amazing girllovesfood fans, family, co-workers etc...♥ you all!

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Clementine (Century City): Who doesn't love a Sloppy Joe?!

I love it when I stumble upon a refined version of one of my childhood favorites!  Who doesn't love a Sloppy Joe (!).  Summertime at one of my fave local spots, Clementine in Century City, brings this glorious nostalgic handheld meal to all us Westsiders longing to reminisce on simpler times when our greatest worry was how we were going to fit our entire Barbie collection into Barbie's dream house.

I had just returned from a trip to visit my family and seeing the Sloppy Joe on Clementine's menu was like a little gift from baby Jesus! 

SO MUCH BETTER than what we were used to eating from the little can of Manwich!  The saucy and slightly tangy ground beef is the perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.  Topped with shredded sharp cheddar cheese and served on a soft brioche bun...I think I actually closed my eyes for a moment after I took the first bite...incredible!  (They also serve their perfectly sweet and crunchy housemade Bread & Butter Pickles on the side!)

At Clementine, everything is housemade and seasonal...so the menu changes 5 times a year (that's the nice way of me telling you to get your buns over to Clementine asap to try this Sloppy Joe because Fall is just around the corner!)



Clementine www.clementineonline.com 1751 Ensley Ave Los Angeles, CA 90024


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My Summer Vacation...from my mouth's perspective: Prospect Park BBQ!

It was insanely hot and humid but somehow we made the most of a beautiful Summer holiday in NYC.  Here's a visual tour of my 4th of July festivities @ Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY

These Bratwurst (fresh from the Union Square Farmers Market) were marinated in this sautéed onion/oil mixture for 2 days!

 

Chef David at work



Kind of cool how the onions formed a crust on the Brats!  YUM...Bratwurst on fresh Italian rolls.

 

David's Asian inspired Coleslaw (Cabbage, Mangos, Carrots, Sesame and a few secret ingredients!)

 

I don't even like coleslaw but this was amazing!

Bryce ready to show us how Chef's do bbq burgers!  This was the first time I had no opinion of how my burger was to be cooked...when a chef from a highly-acclaimed NY restaurant is cooking...just trust that your food will come out perfectly!

 

I couldn't wait!



Grilled to perfection!

and of course all bbq's must have fresh Summer berries ala Jen!

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