Poppy + Rose (LV's LA)

In Los Angeles we have elevated brunch to an art form. There is no shortage of great places to enjoy brunch in the City of Angels. Poppy+Rose is hidden in the flower district in downtown Los Angeles and can best be described as Southern comfort food with a California vibe. This is a cute cozy spot to fuel up before you go shopping downtown and has lots of great breakfast and lunch options.

Between the light fluffy pancakes, flaky buttery biscuits and breakfast scrambles, it is hard to make a choice, but you can put your money on the chicken and waffles. In their interpretation of this southern dish, crispy buttermilk fried chicken is served on top of a brown butter Belgian waffle with a dollop of whipped honey butter and maple syrup served on the side.

 

 The atmosphere is bright cheery and pleasant

 

Perfect spot to load up on a delicious flaky biscuit

Sometimes its ok to enjoy a few biscuits:-)

 

 If you are dining alone, simply order and sit at the counter

 

 There are plenty of healthy options such as the lox bagel sandwich with arugula onion and tomato

 

There are also plenty of fresh juices to enjoy

 

The market salad with mixed greens, seasonal fruit, pecans, Parmesan and Persian cucumbers is delicious and healthy if you want something lighter than some of the more indulgent offerings they offer

 

 

 

The fresh flowers on each table is a great touch

If you are not counting calories, definitely try the chicken and waffles at Poppy+Rose

Full and happy:-)

Delicious leftovers to enjoy later

The restaurant is open 6:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday. Allow plenty of time because reservations are not taken and service can be slow at times

Poppy+Rose

765 South Wall Street

Los Angeles, CA 90014

213-995-7799

 

 

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China Grill Contemporary Bistro

Sometimes, great discoveries happen completely by accident. Quite some time ago, a friend of mine and I were hanging out in Manhattan Beach and discovered this great Chinese Bistro and on a whim decided to try it. 

He treated me to an amazing lunch here and of course I have been back numerous times since that initial discovery and the food here never disappoints. I went here with one of my sister friends and we had an amazing feast of delights from the menu on a beautiful sunny day and enjoyed our meal Al Fresco. The vibe here is very casual and perfect for dropping in after a day of shopping or hanging at the beach.

We started with the delicious complimentary crunchy won tons and sweet and sour dipping sauce

 Al Fresco dining is perfect on the sunny bright and airy patio

The passion fruit lemonade was a great complement to the sweet, salty and spicy flavor notes in the different dishes we had

This hot and filling won ton soup could have been

 a meal all on its own

The Chopped Garden Salad was full of fresh vegetables and had a great flavor.The grilled Tofu, Kale, Broccoli Florets, cranberries, cashews, organic greens, green apple and Miso Vinaigrette was a definite flavor explosion

Orange chicken is one of my favorite dishes to order and this was one of the most flavorful I have had outside of the restaurants I frequent in China Town. It was sweet, tangy and had just the right amount of spice and heat.

The Mongolian Beef was spicy, tender and full of flavor. 

I don't think any meal at a Chinese restaurant is complete without fried rice or Chow Mein and usually I have both, but we chose to just go with rice and it was perfect with the two meat dishes and the salad

The China Grill Contemporary Bistro is great for a casual lunch or dinner and in close proximity to the beach for a nice stroll to enjoy the ocean breezes after your meal. The vibe is causal and you can always get a table right away, which is always a plus in my book. The prices are very economical and you get a great value for what you pay.

China Grill Contemporary Bistro

3282 North Sepulveda Blvd

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

310-546-7284

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Five romantic restaurants to try (LV's LA)

 I just love a beautiful, luxurious romantic restaurant. Valentines day brings out that part of us that craves, candlelight, crashing waves, fireplaces, cozy tables, amazing food and that special person. Southern California is home to some of the most beautiful restaurants and ambiance that makes us forget everything else except the moment we are in. If you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing the restaurants on my list of five, definitely give them a try and if you don't have a special someone in your life, there is nothing wrong with celebrating yourself:-)

II Cielo is a beautiful intimate oasis in Beverly Hills. Perfect for an evening of great food and conversation

II Cielo

9018 Burton Way

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

310-276-9990

The Penthouse in Santa Monica is the perfect mix of swanky and romantic. Perfect ocean view and lux white on white decor make this a perfect spot for a relaxing and romantic dinner

The Penthouse (located in the Huntley Hotel)

1111 2nd Street

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-394-5454

The Little Door is a  hidden French Mediterranean restaurant that will make you feel as if you have stepped into another time and place. Dark with the flickering glow of candles and a romantic vibe that will put you in a sentimental mood. There is no sign, so look for the wooden door that says 8164.

The Little Door

 8164 West 3rd Street

Los Angeles, California 90048

323-951-1210

The Royce in Pasadena is the perfect steakhouse for a change of scenery and a romantic setting

The Royce Steakhouse

1401 South Oak Knoll Ave

Pasadena, CA 91106

626-585-6410

I am always partial to an ocean view and Splashes in Laguna Beach is the perfect romantic setting and even if you dine indoors, the massive windows will bring the ocean directly to you. The view is the star here, so come with the expectation, that you will have an enjoyable meal, but it is the atmosphere that will put a smile on your face.

Splashes

1555 South Coast Highway

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

866-348-8940

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The Yellow Vase (LV's LA)

I love a great cup of coffee and I love beautiful places. Paint that with a yellow paint brush and ocean breezes and you have "The Yellow Vase." This bright cozy eatery is adorned with bright yellow flowers, yellow walls and decor that feels bright and cheery.

 

 I discovered this South Bay eatery during my nature walks and jogs around the Palos Verdes Peninsula more than a decade ago. There are now a few more locations around the South Bay area.  I like a little ocean with my food and this  beachy gal  always loves a great spot by a scenic body of water. This cute coffee shop eatery is a nice place to sit and enjoy coffee while you hear waves crash and is a great backdrop to have a cappuccino and a treat with friends or a light lunch or dinner. I have been to all of the locations and enjoy each one for different reasons, but they are all in beach communities, so you can't go wrong with any of the locations.

Everything is yellow and bright:-)

The french toast comes warm with a dusting of powdered sugar and a side of maple syrup. The turkey and avocado panini shown at the beginning of the post and many of the other items are tasty, but what keeps me coming back is the delicious coffee and the view of the ocean. I much prefer the drinks over the food. The newest location is not as close to the water, but still has a great vibe and is relaxing and cozy.

This is the perfect spot if you want to be hidden

 away and enjoy some solitude and it is just as great for gathering with a few friends

 

Fresh flowers are always the perfect touch to a 

great dining experience

 

I can never resist a good red velvet cupcake

Delicious vanilla latte

 

 Delicious coffee, teas, cappucino, latte's and the ocean breeze around you. What's not to love?

 

The Yellow Vase 

51 Malaga Clove Plaza

Palos Verdes Esates, CA 

310-378-0013 

 

The Yellow Vase

28902 South Western Ave

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

310-833-1313 

 

The Yellow Vase 

1805 S. Catalina Ave

Redondo Beach, CA

310-541-0013

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Bottega Louie (LV's LA)

Do you like great architecture? How about sugar?

Bottega Louie has gorgeous marble floors, whitewalls, gold trim, stunning high ceilings, a beautiful open air setting and plenty of sugar. The restaurant is stunning aesthetically and they have the most beautiful display of sugary confections, which include all manner of delicious things that make our jeans too tight.

I digress

 Bottega Louie is one of the best restaurants in downtown Los Angeles and has a great selection of Italian food and pastries. This loud, energetic and gorgeous space is a combination of restaurant, patisserie and gourmet marketplace.  The marketplace section of the restaurant reminds me of Dean and Deluca in New York and Williams Sonoma. 

At the front entrance is a rainbow display of decadent dessert�s and Macarons in every color of the rainbow. Every dessert you even think you want, I am sure they have it. Loud, energetic and lots of people watching make this a fun spot to indulge in Italian food and sweet treats. If you are looking for quiet and romantic, this is not the spot, but if you want LOUD, Lively and festive with good food, this is it. If you choose to dine during peak hours, expect crowds and long lines. 

Perusing all of the delicious possibilities

  

We started with the Modena salad  with butter lettuce, candied walnuts, goat cheese, shallots and balsamic vinaigrette. It was a delicious way to start the meal and the salad was fresh and had the perfect mix of savory and a hint of sweet crunch from the walnuts

 

 Our server brought this delicious piping hot bread and whipped butter. I could have eaten about five more of these loafs

 

 For the main course we had shrimp scampi with grilled giant tiger prawns, yukon gold mashed potatoes and white wine marinere sauce and to satisfy my carnivore craving, we also had short ribs that were prepared with landon ragu,white polenta, sage and ricotta. Both dishes were very tasty and flavorful

 

Such a beautiful space

Bottega Louie is bustling with people every time I go. So expect it to be very LOUD

with the open kitchen, people watching and Parisian vibe, you will never have a dull moment

 

 After a sumptuous meal. The desserts started calling

 

 I told the cakes, cookies and this fresh berry tart that I wasn't home

 

The desserts kept calling

I tried to say no

so tempting

really tempting

They have such an amazing display of packaged gift items. I always leave with a box of macarons or some other sweet treat

You can treat yourself or someone you love to something sweet:-)

 

The desserts kept calling, so I finally answered. We indulged in warm Beignets and coffee by candlelight. The Beignets were served with Nutella and a raspberry dipping sauce. Both of them were absolutely divine

 I can't think of a more perfect way to end a meal

 

Well, the only thing that tops coffee and beignets, is to buy a box of macarons to take home so you can munch on them later with coffee and a good book

 

Reservations are not taken at Bottega Louie, so unless you go during non peak hours, expect a long wait, but the sugar rush from dessert will make you forget how long you waited for your table:-)

Bottega Louie

700 South Grand Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90017

213-802-1470

 

 

 

 

 

 

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