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!

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. 

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!

I am off to my trip to India today and I have been looking forward to it! The last time I saw my family was in early 2015 so it has been a good while since I got to hug mom, sis, dad and bro. Speaking of which, this trip also includes a special event - my brother is getting married! So if you'd like a dose of South India, Chennai specifically, (and from a local's pint of view might I add) and like to check out a South Indian Muslim wedding, follow here on the blog. I am also excited to fly Singapore Airlines for the first time, if memory serves me right I've never flown that airline so hoping to experience the great quality of service everyone talks about. There will be a short trip to Mumbai as well, and possibly a trip to a third location that I am going to have to keep undisclosed for the moment! 

Heading home is always a thrill, and to have a wedding in the family added to that is simply wonderful. I look forward to showing you more of the city where I was born, studied some in, and finally worked in for a bit before I moved to the US. I can't wait to see what's new and what's changed. I can't wait to meet some of my friends who are still there. But, most importantly, I am just thrilled to pieces to see my family and hold them and love them and have long nights of conversation and food and fun. 

I will be gone for a month so rest assured there is a lot that you will have to keep abreast of. Follow me on Instagram mostly as I will be posting tons there. And sign up for my newsletter here or check in frequently to read more about my India adventures. Off I go now!

I’ve been a member of Travel Massive while I was in Atlanta and decided to join the group here in L.A as well. Much as I’d like to be a regular attendee, life takes over and the number of events I’ve been able to attend have been few and far between. This month’s event though was held a few blocks from where I live at posh co-working spot NeueHaus and I couldn’t miss it. Especially since the destination is Buellton, CA which is just about 2 hours’ drive from L.A and considered an underrated but promising area for wine lovers, city escapes and such.
 
I loved the cloth map bag attendees received at the entrance.  A great idea and a useful conversation starter as well. On the rooftop at NeueHaus, the event was set up such that wineries, breweries and distilleries had sampling stations where you could meet the makers behind these fantastic libations. I met a couple of interesting businesses and the images should cover a few – doubt I made the rounds to all to learn about their offerings.
 
The best part of the evening though – for me – was winning the grand prize via their Instagram contest onsite! I am now the happy chica who won the 2 night stay at their new Santa Ynez Marriott property along with a Bottlest winery tour and dinner as well as an area winery tour and ostrich farm visit. If you know me, you know how happy this makes me. Another travel adventure awaits. Stay tuned here to read all about that trip. Probably in a few months’ time!

Another fantastic event pulled off by the International Spa Association team! Attended as their guest for the first time last year and loved the experience. Was happy to be invited back again this year and got to try some of the treatments offered onsite by several spas and resorts. Not only is it a great experience meeting spa professionals in a casual setting but you are also in an event space and not at their workplace which gives you a whole other perspective on the folks that take care of your wellness and health, and the opportunity to converse with them at leisure, which might not necessarily be an option when you are at the specific spa or resort. Got to learn about new programs, treatments, industry trends and more. Read on!