Showing posts with label los angeles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label los angeles. Show all posts
Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Easy Sundays: Brunch at Winsome
A simple outfit for Sunday brunch. It took me a while to get on the culotte train. They reminded me too much of gaucho pants when they first cropped up, which I was never a very big fan of. By the time I finally got on board with them, we were well into Fall, and I figured I shouldn't bother because winter was coming and the trend would probably fizzle out by springtime. Now here we are, nearly into summer, and culottes are still going strong. Styling them can be a bit of a challenge so I decided to take all of the guesswork out of it by going with a culotte jumpsuit from Boohoo (note: runs really small; I recommend going up two sizes). It's definitely perfect for those lazy Sundays spent lounging around; super comfortable and requires no thought to wear. However, because of the culotte silhouette, it still looks stylish enough to wear out.
Shop culotte jumpsuits:
I'd been wanting to try the brunch at Winsome, which is a fairly new restaurant in Echo Park (right by the edge of DTLA and Chinatown). We didn't have a reservation and had to wait about 20 minutes, so we grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and iced latte (and then we proceeded to take the above outfit pictures in front of their nice exterior). The cookie and latte were so good together, I don't think I ever want to enjoy an iced latte without a cookie again.
The agua frescas were really good! My favorite was the cucumber one with mint and green apple. Super refreshing.
The duck egg toast.
The potato rosti with sunny-size up egg, brisket corned beef and charred cabbage.
Both entrees were on the savory side with similar flavors. I kinda wish I went for something sweet instead, but overall it was a good meal and we'd be back! Especially for the agua frescas.
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Free Range LA
When I was in college, one of my favorite things to eat was the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich from Bakesale Betty, and it was definitely something that was sorely missed after moving to LA. Now, there are many places in LA claiming to serve up a "famous fried chicken sandwich," but only one that can fill the void for me: Free Range LA. I'll admit I was first attracted to their chicken sandwich because it has a similar look to Betty's with the spicy-looking mayo-free coleslaw. The flavors turned out to be quite different however, with Free Range's having a slight sweetness from the bun and mustard, but it turns out to be something that is equally delicious if not more so (and that is very hard for me to say because I am very loyal to old favorites and the nostalgia factor is hard to get over). The sandwich never disappoints; the fried chicken is always served hot, juicy, and tender, with all of the flavors of the sandwich melding together magnificently. Often times, Saturdays will find us searching out the truck at its usual Saturday location outside of Stumptown Coffee (locations can be found here or on their Instagram page) and the meal is never one to regret (except that one time that they were out of chicken).
I've tried a few of the different things on the menu. The avocado toast has an egg cooked into the thick slice of bread which is interesting. I've also tried the protein plate, which I ordered because I felt guilty about eating too many carbs (Bread Lounge is right down the block, so I can't resist getting one of their delicious croissants as well). But quite frankly, if you are coming to this truck for something other than the namesake fried chicken sandwich, you are doing it wrong!
One last shot of that juicy fried chicken for good measure.
Malibu, CA, USA
Winter Heat Wave
This past weekend we made the drive out to Malibu to get some bone-in ribeye from our favorite steak restaurant, Mastro's. We've gone to the Beverly Hills location before (which is super dark and kind of cramped) but figured we would check out the ambiance at the Ocean Club location which we've always driven past whenever we drive up Pacific Coast Highway. I thought that there might be a chilly breeze by the ocean and brought along a chunky sweater, but the weather was unseasonably warm. So, we spent some time by the beach watching surfers catch some waves.
I kept my outfit very simple by reaching for the classics that never let me down. I haven't been shopping much lately so sometimes it's hard to come up with a new outfit without a particular piece to build around. I've had this denim shirt from Madewell forever and it still gets a lot of love from me. Also my favorite black skinnies from Gap, which considering that I probably have at least 5 pairs of black skinny jeans, is kind of saying something. And if I ever feel like my outfit is a bit too plain, topping it off with a wool fedora usually does the trick. I also forgot about these nude ballerina flats ever since my Chicago trip where they hurt my feet kinda badly. But now I've got some shoe rub tape on them and they are good to go again!
Denim shirt, Madewell. White tank top, Fabletics. Black skinny jeans, Gap. Nude lace-up flats, Zara. Mini bucket bag, Mansur Gavriel. Wool fedora, Zara.
My favorite steak!! We also tried the lobster mashed potatoes for the first time, which a lot of people rave about, but I thought it was just ok.
Wrightwood, CA, USA
Snow Day
TNA Griffith parka and Wilfred Haus scarf, Aritzia. Hyperwarm tights, Nike. Short duck boots, Sorel. Socks, Madewell.
The warmer temps and drought of the past few years has meant little to no snow falling on the mountains surrounding Los Angeles. So, after last week's back-to-back rainstorms, I jumped at the chance to check out the first good snow season in years. We drove up past Mountain High resort in the San Gabriel mountains and found a beautiful picnic area covered in two feet of snow. It was all fresh and untouched and so serene, with little kids all bundled up and sledding around like a scene from a Christmas movie. So much fun!
Also exciting was getting the chance to test out the parka I purchased recently from Aritzia. When it comes to dressing for cold weather, I can't help but trust Canadian brands for obvious reasons. This jacket is a 3-in-1, with an inner jacket that can be removed or worn alone in warmer weather. I figured a transitional jacket would be more useful in the Southern California climate than a warmer parka. It surpassed my expectations; well-made with great construction details, and water-resistant as well. For temperatures in the 30s, it held up really well. One of my best clothing purchases so far this winter!
Downtown, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Vista Hermosa
Vista Hermosa Park is one of mine and my boyfriend's favorite spots in LA, and it's still quite under-the-radar which is the best thing about it (although it's definitely gotten a lot more crowded compared to when we first discovered it). Situated on a hill, it's a true urban oasis with stunning views of Downtown LA's skyline. A must-visit if you're visiting Los Angeles. When we awoke to agreeable weather this past weekend, we knew we had to make the most of our day by indulging in one of our favorite pastimes--picnicking.
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Lunch at Trois Mec
Inconspicuously tucked away beneath an old "Raffalo's Pzza" sign is a cozy little restaurant you would never be able to find unless you were looking for it--Trois Mec. Trois Mec has long been on my list of restaurants to try; their dinner tickets must be purchased beforehand and are known as being one of the best foodie experiences in town for those lucky enough to score a ticket.
While they typically only serve dinner, they occasionally have weekend lunches that can be booked exclusively through Mastercard Priceless and Gilt City. Since lunch was less than half the cost, I jumped at the chance!
We sat at the bar so we could get a good view of all the action. It was a perfect way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon, with a playlist of ambient French music setting the mood. Chef Ludo himself was in and out of the kitchen, presumably between here and his other restaurant next door, Petit Trois.
The first course was a salad of butter lettuce, boiled eggs, fingerling potatos, and a mayo-based dressing. The eggs with the mayo dressing was a bit like deviled eggs--yum! alt="lunch at trois mec"
Bread basket. I've never had bread that was served in a basket full of hay before, so I had to take a picture.
While dinner tends to feature more exotic dishes intended for a refined palate, lunch is billed as a "family event." The dishes are more hearty and straightforward. This roasted chicken with grilled vegetables was juicy, tender, and delicious!
Dessert was an amazing napoleon with strawberries. I never met a napoleon I didn't like, but this one was extra special because the custard had a subtle lavender taste to it. Very nice!
After we finished our meal, they gave each party a parting gift--an autographed copy of Chef Ludo's cookbook! Considering that the whole experience was only $45 per person including tax and service, we thought this was super super nice and really made the whole experience even more worthwhile!
Trois Mec
716 N Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
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