Posts in FOOD
ARTESIA: NEPTUNES RAW BAR & CAFE 86

I got a chance to try Neptunes Raw Bar and it did not disappoint. I was in the area and knew that I HAD to stop by. I'd seen too many lobster roll and oyster photos to not take advantage of the opportunity. It is located in a plaza with ample parking. Huge plus. 

The lobster roll had HUGE chunks of lobster in every bite. They really don't skimp on the portions! I would say - I would have loved some kind of sauce or condiment to accompany the roll but overall - really good! 

 

Cereal Crusted Stuffed French Toast & Lobster Mac N Cheese.

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The highlight of my meal was definitely the uni pasta. I'm a huge uni fan so keep that in mind for my next glowing remark. This dish features an uni cream sauce as well as chunks of uni. I've had uni pastas before but they often were too conservative with the urchin which makes for a very bland pasta. This one really doesn't. You get a burst of flavor in every bite. 

In the same plaza is a Cafe 86. By now, you must have seen their infamous flan topped ube cupcakes all over Instagram. With locations in Pasadena, Artesia, and Chino, this Filipino themed eatery has some very unique items. I of course had to try the flan/ube cupcake. I'm sad to report that I thought this was just ok. The flan was good but the cupcake lacked a rich ube flavor. Overall, I think it's more Instagram worthy than it is tasty. I did however really enjoy their boba. I'm curious to try other items next time!

xx, jenny

EVENT: CRAVE EXPO + OOTD

What started as a Bridal convention, has now transformed into a food festival featuring eats from Los Angeles to the OC. Crave Expo was held at the The Phoenix Club in Anaheim this year and featured the likes of Belly Bombz, Halal Guys, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams & more. I attended the VIP hour from 11-1PM which means that all the vendors give you a free deluxe sample. Some vendors weren't participating in the VIP hour which I found a bit odd - but others like Califa Farms totally made up for it.

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Clockwise from top left, Norigami Tacos, Burger Monster, & Street Churros. The churros was absolutely delicious. It was a cold day so the fresh & warm sugary treat was definitely a great start to the morning. Burger Monster had delicious sliders. We got their Mighty Melt (Caramelized cheddar inside our white brioche bun, tempura onion strings, bacon, more cheddar cheese, coleslaw and BBQ sauce) & Carnivore (Hand sliced New York Deli Pastrami, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, OC sauce and Sriracha-Garlic on an angus patty).

Clockwise from top left, The Lobster Shack by Sunset Catering, Belly Bombz, Swami's Sandwiches, & Mad Dumplings. The mac & cheese was delicious so I was a little bummed it was a tiny spoonful. Nonetheless, delicious! I didn't get to try the Pork Belly Longanisa dumplings from Mad Dumplings but I did try the Vintage which I thought was ok. It had turkey & Chinese Chives. 

Clockwise from top left, Okamoto Kitchen, Califa Farms, & Helados Pops. Okamoto was serving up Katsu Sandwiches while Califa Farms was sampling their delicious Almondmilks and Cold Brews. The very nice guy working the Califa booth sent me home with 3 Almondmilk cartons and 3 cold brews. Bless you.

I've been following Helados Pops for a while now and was so excited to finally try their delicious ice cream and meet the brothers behind the brand. I ended up loving the Lucuma flavor, which is a subtropical fruit native to Peru, Chile & Ecuador. It tasted like a sweeter, orange avocado. 

It was a bit of a gloomy day so I opted for my F21 New York Never Sleeps Sweater + Tan Coat + Zara Ripped Jeans + Comfy Adidas Originals. My bag is from Topshop and my clear frame glasses are ZeroUV

Last, but definitely not least, I got to meet these two adorable pups who are in need of a loving home. They are currently at Best Friends Animal Society in Mission Hills. Jackson on the left is a calm senior dog who would be perfect for a family looking for a fellow couch potato. Baby on the right is a younger lovebug who enjoy playing and knows some basic tricks. Both did amazingly well with the large crowds and brought a smile to the Crave Expo patrons. Please share if you can!

x, jenny

DTLA: Gresescent, Midori Matcha & Pitchoun Bakery

DTLA has come a LONG way since my FIDM days. When I was in school, we had Subway across the street and Starbucks down the way. Now there are tons of options just blocks away. Here's a few spots you should check out.


1. Midori Matcha

123 Astronaut Ellison Onizuka St. #101-C, Los Angeles, CA

Matcha pastries exclusively for Midori Matcha by Pitchoun Bakery.

Matcha pastries exclusively for Midori Matcha by Pitchoun Bakery.

EXPERIENCE ORGANIC JAPANESE CEREMONIAL GRADE MATCHA & DESSERTS
— http://midorimatchatea.com/cafe/

Midori Matcha started with cold brew matcha and has now branched out to a brick & mortar that features premium matcha drinks. You can get anything from the classic matcha latte to iced matcha mimosas. Don't forget to try some of the delicious matcha themed pastries made by Pitchoun exclusivey for Midori Matcha. 


2. Pitchoun Bakery

545 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

PITCHOUN
(pronounced: “PITCH-OON”):
French affectionate term meaning “Kiddo” - from the old dialect in Provence and in the Southwest of France.
— http://www.pitchounbakery.com/

Made popular for their delicious French pastries, including the strawberry tart pictured above, Pitchoun features delicious French eat as well. My absolute favorite was the Croque Monsieur, traditional French cooked ham, gruyère, bechamel sauce, butter, sandwich bread topped with a runny egg. 

Pitchoun features fast casual dining with house made from scratch recipes. A perfcect lunch spot across from Pershing Square.


3. Gresescent 

850 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

GRESESCENT
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
(gres-uh-suh-nt) adj. Delightfully thick, creamy and vanishingly dense; the magic of ice cream
— http://www.gresescent.com/

Gresescent just opened its first brick & mortar store and it's really worth the visit. At this point, it's hard to have not seen their beautiful ice cream bouquets all over social media. For $9, you get to pick 5 flavors and they turn your choices into a beautiful bouquet. Their artisanal flavors are unique and delicious. My favorites were the Sea Salt Chocolate Ganache and the Grilled Pineapple & Bourbon Caramel. 

Let me know if you get a chance to check these out!

.jenny.

SANTA MONICA: Lattes at Espresso Cielo

Working in Santa Monica has its pros and cons. Traffic is not my friend but the cute eateries and Wednesday's Farmer's Market help alleviate my pain. Espresso Cielo remodeled their Main St location and opened it's second location, on well, Second St. 

The owners of Espresso Cielo source pastries from local artisanal bakeries and frequent farmer's markets for their delicious & healthy food. We got their famous avocado toast with the most orange yolked egg on top, soup & salad, and kale salad. 

The recent LA gloom has me wanting a hot latte & fresh baked pastries. They also serve the Melrose favorite, Neveux Artisan Creamery ice creams. Yes.

If you're in Santa Monica and need a coffee date, hit me up!

.jenny.