It’s about time I raved about the LA gems where we gorged ourselves over President’s Day weekend. I’ll admit, the Bay Area has turned me into a local, seasonal, sustainable food snob. But our southern neighbors are staying up to snuff.
I was most blown away by breakfast at M.B. Post in Manhattan Beach. I mean get a load of these sticky buns, honestly! Also pictured: eggs Benedict, bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits (severely addictive), and Frittata.
For a piece of New York in Downtown LA, I highly recommend Artisan House. With the adjoining gourmet market, I felt like I had stepped back into Eataly. But with a Prohibition-era twist. My favorite part of the meal was the table-side cocktail service, where we could choose from multiple Champagnes and liqueurs like Cassis and Elderflower, and the drinks were concocted right there.
Speaking of speakeasies, we snuck in for an after dinner drink next door at The Association. Hipster mixologists work hard shaking, chopping and peeling their way to refreshing, retro and dainty cocktails. Another NYC deja vu.
And if you find yourself on an afternoon beer crawl in Venice Beach, you can soak up those suds with a Bavarian pretzel at On the Waterfront Cafe, or a fireside pizza at Larry’s (where they have an endless beer menu – there’s literally something for everyone).
For an incredible view, I highly recommend a drink on the bluff at Nelson’s at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes. Oh and I can’t forget my girlfriends turned me on to a truffle salami from Bristol Farms. I could eat an entire log – thinly sliced, of course.