I Am Fortified

"I Am Present" Bruschetta - toasted whole wheat
baguette, cashew mozzarella, roma tomatoes,
fig-balsamic dressing, fresh basil

Until recently, I had a volatile relationship with vegan food. I'd had one too many bad experiences that left a bitter taste in my mouth (literally). But after giving hipster mecca Café Gratitude a second shot, I feel like a whole new woman. I first heard about Café Gratitude from my yoga instructor who insisted that eating vegan was the way to go. My carb and cheese loving self was naturally skeptical, but Café Gratitude is the perfect place for transitioning vegans or anyone who wants to give vegan food a shot. Knowing what to order can be tough, so I suggest you take along a vegan friend or simply order one of the many delicious bowls. (The "I Am Gracious" is my favorite).

"I Am Fortified" - sautéed seasonal veggies and kale,
brown rice, quinoa, sesame garlic-tahini sauce.

The up-lifting and self-empowering menu: each item
 is named after an affirmation.  

Villa Blanca

My best friend and I started a new tradition this year. Instead of giving each other birthday gifts, we agreed to treat each other to a day of fun on our respective birthdays. So this year, we kicked off our new tradition by trekking every square inch of LA, getting lost, missing freeway exits, pampering our nails, and feasting on some of my favorite foods. One of our stops was at Villa Blanca, a charming dining room in Beverly Hills that serves the best calamari I've ever tasted. After stuffing ourselves, we headed over to La Provence for, what else, macarons.

Life-like and sparkly Bvlgari advertisement spotted in Beverly Hills on our way back from Villa Blanca.

Sugar Overload

I've been eating very healthy lately...

salted caramel. matcha green tea. rose. earl grey. violet.

red velvet pancakes at Larchmont Bungalow.

pear, Meyer lemon, pistachio pancakes with vanilla creme at Square One.

fancy chocolate from Koko.