With the intention of celebrating a time-honored holiday tradition while staying true to modern sustainability efforts, Long Beach restaurant Roe Seafood is presenting a Feast of the Seven (Sustainable) Fishes dinner series from December 17-24, 2017. Chef/Owner Arthur Gonzalez is one of the area’s foremost figures in the sustainably sourced seafood movement. He is consistently innovating with his menus at Roe Seafood, a community fixture recognized for its elevated cuisine and convivial atmosphere.  

Until Friday, December 22nd, Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills has a Holiday Luxe Lunch three-course menu to celebrate the holiday season. For just $45 per person, you can enjoy:
Choice of First Course

• Oysters on the half shell
• Lobster bisque with sweet corn fritter (yes!)
• Ocean Prime House Salad with romaine, field greens, granny smith apples, goat cheese, walnuts and sherry mustard vinaigrette

Choice of Entrée

• Shellfish Cobb Salad with bacon, bleu cheese, gourmet dressing
• 6oz Filet Mignon with Garlic Shrimp, cream whipped potatoes and haricot verts (please!)
• ½ Dutch Harbor King Crab Legs with asparagus and drawn butter

Choice of Indulgence

• Chef’s Selection Hand Spun Sorbet or Ice Cream
• Five Layer Carrot Cake with cream cheese icing and pineapple syrup (okay!)

I like how they call the desserts a choice of indulgence because you know I will choose to indulge!
December 22 isn't too far away so you know the clock is sticking on this great deal at Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills :)

If you are planning on holidaying in L.A this month and next, or are from the area and plan to stay put, then Terranea Resort is a great option to indulge. The hotel just released their annual “Traditions” calendar, a festive lineup of holiday happenings taking place Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.
 
Located in Rancho Palos Verdes, Terranea is a 102-acre resort with ocean views, hiking and biking trails, kayaking, and multiple dining options, multiple swimming pools and spa. Here are some of the planned activities for the rest of the year:
 
Thursday, November 23 | Turkey Day Trail Walk – Join the resort’s resident naturalist for a guided hike including a visit to the Point Vicente Lighthouse, which is a local attraction.
 
November 1-30 | Friendsgiving – Using promo code “FRIENDS,” enjoy a holiday package that includes luxury accommodations, a private cabana at a resort pool, a s’mores kit for roasting by the fire, nightcaps at the Lobby Bar, valet parking, and more.
 
Ongoing | Holiday Dining – Indulge in a festive feast at one of the resort’s eight restaurants - mar’sel (the resort’s signature restaurant), laidback dining at Nelson’s, a refreshed menu at bashi, buffet selections at catalina kitchen and a resort ballroom, an in-room holiday feast, or turkey takeout from sea beans (the resort’s café).
 
Sunday, December 3 | Tree Lighting Ceremony – Live musical entertainment and holiday crafts for all ages, donations of unwrapped gifts for Toys for Tots, and a celebratory dinner at catalina kitchen afterwards.
 
Sunday, December 31 | “A Night in New Orleans” New Year’s Eve Dinner at mar’sel – Savor a three- or five-course tasting menu with live jazz band, vintage Champagne offerings, and parting gifts!
 
Sunday, December 31 | New Year’s Eve Enchanted Forest
Gather with loved ones in the Marineland Ballroom to bid farewell to 2017 with a 3-course dinner and dessert bar.
 
Sunday, December 31 | New Year’s Eve Extravaganza
A countdown to 2018 in the Grand Ballroom with package beverage offerings, VIP bottle service, a dessert and coffee station, and tunes by a live DJ. You might just find me there :)

If you've been to Terranea before, let me know in the comments about your experience!

Or at least, that’s as many reasons I know of for right now. I am sure there are plenty more. When my friends say they are off to visit Mexico, it is all the usual suspects - Mexico City, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or San Miguel de Allende and if they live close to San Diego then it is usually Tijuana or Tecate but Guadalajara?? I have never been to Mexico so any spot in the country is enticement enough for me but hearing that very few actually head to this city got me curious. If you don’t know where that is, Guadalajara is located in western Mexico in the state of Jalisco, and is the capital city. Here’s what I learned at the recently held Travel Massive LA event with Visit Guadalajara at La Cabana in Venice.

This was a long time in the works. Thanks to multiple cancellations due to our schedules and weather conditions, what was essentially my birthday gift from the husband ended up being an experience four months later closer to his birthday! The hot air balloon rides we opted for were available in Perris, California through a company called Adventure Balloon Rides. At $129 per person, we thought it was a decent birthday celebration for both of us to enjoy that didn't interfere too much with our work schedules. Since this was an early morning sunrise ride, we needed to be on location 6am. Perris is 2 hours away from Los Angeles so we drove in the previous evening and spent the night in an AirBnB property in the area. Folks at the home were great, we found a pretty nice Mexican place to grab dinner and we slept early so we don’t miss the alarm to wake up first thing! 

A Grain Conference isn’t exactly how one envisions spending a beautiful Sunday morning in Los Angeles. Received an invite to this daylong event and thought it was intriguing – a whole day’s worth talking about grain? Then they added this was only the second year but the first time they were opening attendance to consumers. Any time a trade event opens doors to consumers – they are looking to educate and make aware. So I signed up!

Former attorney turned full-time baker and Chief PieSmithTM Brianna Abrams has launched Winston Pies in Brentwood. She previously operated from her home kitchen under the former online-only outlet, ButterCrust Pies. Refreshing to see someone leave a career as a high-powered attorney to pursue her passion full time!
 
Winston Pies offers handcrafted artisan pies featuring only the best seasonal, all-natural ingredients. Each pie is made from scratch by PieSmithsTM in small batches using an all-butter crust, so flavorful crusts and no soggy crust bases in sight. Take your pick from flavors such as Blue Ridge Blueberry Pie and Dixie Classic Cherry Pie available daily; a few chilled pies such as Key West Lime Pie, Banana Cream Pie and a Winston Pies original Cowgirl Pie: a handmade salted caramel chocolate pie with oat crust; and a rotating monthly seasonal option, such as the Orchard Peach & Nectarine Pie. 

Held at Verlaine, the event was a lovely evening do with some appetizers and drinks to start the networking hour followed by a sit down dinner hosted by the Greater Palm Springs CVB. The drink of the evening was an apt Oasis Blisstini with vodka, lime, yellow chartreuse and orgeat. While everything from the Soft fried black bean to the Melting chocolate cake was simply lovely for dinner fare on a pleasant L.A evening, the corn cake was the best part for me! Enjoy the pictures and video, and let me know what your favorite at Verlaine is, or if you have any recommendations for a trip to Palm Springs. Meanwhile, read all about my visit to Palm Desert here and all the things to see, do and have on your itinerary!

Beginning this Sunday, September 10, Ventura Boulevard’s new steak and seafood destination, SOCA, debuts a handcrafted Weekend Brunch ($9-22*) from Valley-based (and L.A.-lauded) restaurateur, Chef Aaron Robins. The new selection of bold and adventurous plates include French toast, flatbreads, and egg dishes accented by hatch chilies, chile verde, and house-made breads, for a diverse array of vibrant flavors every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-3pm. 

Also launching this weekend at SOCA is Sunday Dinner Service, which offers a three-course prix-fixe menu ($36) alongside half-price select bottles of wine from 5:30-10pm every week. Courses include Herb-Roasted Half Chicken with chimichurri roasted potatoes; as well as a Petite New York Steak dressed in sautéed wild mushroom demi-glace, among others.
Boneyard Bistro’s sister restaurant, SOCA (standing for Sherman Oaks, CA), brings globally-inspired steak and seafood to the heart of Ventura Blvd.’s restaurant row. The newly-opened dining destination from Valley veterans Executive Chef/Owner Aaron Robins and General Manager/Partner Rory Snipes offers a front row seat to the recent cultural and culinary resurgence of the San Fernando Valley with floor to ceiling glass windows opening to a 28-seat patio overlooking Ventura Boulevard. The coastal resort-style restaurant features distinctive Asian and Latin influences—including Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, French, and Peruvian flavors—complemented by an ever-evolving gin-centric cocktail program and an extensive, predominately French wine list. Guess you know where I'll be Sunday!

​It isn’t even the 10th of the month yet and I already have a never-ending list of place to check out…including this! Restaurateurs and chefs Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts have opened a second Small Batch artisanal ice cream shop on Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles’ burgeoning Mar Vista neighborhood.

The new shop is just a few miles from the couple’s other local concepts--Hudson House in Redondo Beach; The Tripel, the four-in-one beachside complex Playa Provisions, and Tripli-Kit in Playa del Rey; and Da Kikokiko in Playa Vista. They specialize in house-made, nostalgic ice cream flavors and novelties with a twist, with the new Mar Vista shop offering safe-to-eat cookie dough scoops, pints to-go, and fresh pastries from Playa Provisions.
  
Menu highlights include Birthday Cake, Banana Cream Pie, Vegan Chocolate Coconut, Fresh Sweet Corn, Lemon with Strawberry Pop Rocks, and Cereal Killer (a frozen take on Lucky Charms), alongside frozen novelties, such as Mint Oreo Ice Cream Pie, White Chocolate Thai Tea Pops, Fresh Raspberry Popsicles, and Chocolate Dipped Bananas with sprinkles. Custom sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, and slices of birthday cake are also available. For a real indulgence, order the Unicorn Sundae, inclusive of TEN scoops of ice cream, a variety of toppings, whipped cream, hot fudge, a cherry, and to top it off, a “uni-cone,” a chocolate dipped waffle cone with a sparkler on top, reminiscent of a unicorn’s horn. Cookie dough scoops include Chocolate Chip and White Chocolate Chip, while soft-serve flavors will soon be added to the menu. I need to find a friend with a birthday, and a party, to attempt eating this thing!