An A for A-Frame

furikake kettle corn. buttered blazin' j's hawaiian style. tastes like clam chowder flavored popcorn and should come with warning label that says "highly addictive."

It's kind of unfortunate that I live so far from the Westside. Santa Monica and Culver City are home to so many great restaurants that are visibly lacking in my part of town. Though I've practically tried every restaurant in neighboring Los Feliz and often find myself in the heart of Silverlake, I still have a lot of exploring to do on the Westside. And that's exactly what I did last week at A-Frame. Brought to you by the owner of delicious Chego, A-Frame is housed in a cozy tiny space in the shape of, what else, an A. A-Frame serves up some novel American-Asian fusion dishes, and on a Saturday night, this place is perfectly dim, noisy, and crowded. But it's likely you'll be sharing your table with another party, so get ready to make some new friends while you grub. 

the grandaddy of all root beers.

baby back ribs. possibly THE best ribs i've EVER had.

double cheeseburger. tomato confit, pickled red onions, butter lettuce, hot sauce sharp cheddar, and sesame mayo on a buttered brioche bun.

12565 W. Washington Blvd. 

Culver City, CA 90066

Indulge LA

This weekend, my boyfriend surprised me and took me to Indulge LA, a heaven-on-earth chocolate and pastry show that features the top chocolatiers and pastry chefs in the world. Vendors ranged from Cupcake Wars gal Annette Starbuck to world renowned Parisian pastry chefs whose names are too difficult for me to pronounce. We spent an hour or so sampling everything from macarons to imported chocolates and even caught a first-hand glimpse of a candy-making demonstration. Our sugar highs eventually crashed, but sampling sugary treats for hours was, without a doubt, a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. 

japanese lemon macarons with chili flakes. unlike anything i've tasted.

spicy chili chocolate from ecuador.

handmade brittle. the pistachio mole was out of this world (and spicy).

cupcake wars table.

nothing bundt cakes. the fluffiest, lightest, and most moist red velvet i've had in a while. lemon and chocolate cakes in the back.

Lobsta Truck

When I was a child, my favorite restaurant was The Red Lobster. Their cheesy biscuits, popcorn shrimp, and fresh lobster was my idea of a perfect meal. Although my taste buds have developed since my baby days, I'm proud to admit that I still love The Red Lobster. When I heard the Lobsta Truck was close to school today, my boyfriend and I went on a lobster binge (naturally) and tried out their famous Maine rolls. Served with a creamy and rich mayo sauce or simply butta (cue Paula Deen impression), the Lobsta rolls are surprisingly light and satisfying. 

Seafood Shackin'

 Located on the PCH and only a few steps from the sand (and Cher's estate), Malibu Seafood Shack is home to some of the best fried seafood I've ever had. It's frills-free fresh fish. The servings are generous and the dishes are simple, most served with a side of tartar sauce. My favorites were the deep-fried shrimp and the bread bowl clam chowder, which didn't contain a single grain of sand. As far as ambiance goes, nothing about this place is fancy. It's a quintessential beachy hut where you're bound to bump into local surfers and LA folk looking to get their grub on.

clam chowder in bread bowl, seafood platter.

Study Recess

Who says only elementary school students get to enjoy recess? Now that I've matured into a law student, I say I'm entitled to a break every so often. I first tried Recess when it had just opened a couple years ago, and I witnessed its transformation from an upstart neighborhood spot into a booming and successful lunch mecca. The food is consistently good, the service is top notch, and the shabby chic decor is inviting.  I have no doubt Recess is on its way to becoming the next Porto's. 

st. ann's ahi tuna. seared ahi tuna, mixed greens, mango, tomatoes, avocado, grapefruit, ponzu mustard aioli.

scott rd. chicken breast, provolone, greens, tomato, pesto aioli. cucumber salad. dijon mustard.

shrimp spring roll. veggies, shrimp, peanut sauce and chili oil.

Recess Eatery
1102 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91202

Break Me Off A Piece Of That

My friend recently returned from a trip to Asia and brought back this sugary and sweet souvenir - Green Tea Kit Kat. It tastes like white chocolate-green tea ganache and dare I say, it might actually taste better than the original milk chocolate Kit Kat bar. It's that good. 

Food for Thought

"There is no oil without squeezing the olives, no wine without pressing the grapes, no fragrance without crushing the flowers, so when you are pressed, it is life bringing out the best in you."

-Anonymous

Day at the Getty Villa

As a self-proclaimed art lover, I was surprised that I'd never been to the Getty Villa. Aside from being an artistically inclined avid museum-going nerd, I spent an entire summer interning at LACMA. I'm no stranger to the museum scene. So naturally, the Getty Villa was on my summer activity to-do list. I'm usually not a fan of guided tours, but we went on a docent-guided Villa garden tour that left me inspired and in awe. The attention to detail is unbelievable and completely reminiscent of the Italian era and style the architects sought to replicate. And the herb garden -- not only did it make me hungry, but I think I've found inspiration for my own (future) herb and vegetable garden. Fig trees, tarragon, and all. 

grape vines. perfect
for foot-crushing  á la "I Love Lucy"

my favorite. waterlilies in a pond.

skylight from indoors. that's a glass window,
 not a painting.

Malibu(rger)

malibu pier

When I lived in San Diego, going to the beach was a simple and hassle-free activity. Things are a bit different in LA. The commute is more than 5 minutes, parking is always an issue, and finding a clean and crowd-free spot is a perpetual problem. Needless to say, I don't frequent LA beaches often. But today was an exception. My college roommate/bff/partner-in-crime and I decided to relive our San Diego days by trekking to Malibu, getting our tan on, and rewarding ourselves with a post sun-soaking meal at The Counter, which we heard was a contender for the top spot on the LA burger hierarchy. The verdict? It was delicious, but both of our burgers were a teeny bit dry. The award still goes to Father's Office and Umami. (But that's ok, because the fried pickle chips were mouthwateringly good.)

the counter menu

the counter burger with beef patty, provolone, crispy onion strings, lettuce, sauteed mushrooms and sun-dried tomato sauce.

custom burger with sauteed onions, beef patty, tomato, american cheese, and lettuce blend. fried pickle chips in the back.

The Counter
2901 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA

I ♥ DTLA: Skyline

Right when mother nature finally brought some serious heat to LA, summer officially ended for me last week when I started my second year of law school. I may be bitter that it hasn't exactly been a hot summer, and that I didn't visit the beach at all, or that I don't have a fabulous tan. But the looming end of summer means relishing the final warm nights of summer with good friends at an amazing view like this.

view from The Standard Rooftop Bar