Beach n' Wine

It's beach time and why not add some wine!

A recent trip up the pacific coast highway for fish tacos turned into having a bottle of wine beach side with some live acoustic music! Oh don't worry, we had some fish tacos too - see post on Reel Inn! 

Rosenthal Malibu Estate Wine has a tasting room and patio right off the pacific coast highway. A great little find in Malibu, CA!

On the weekend, I believe on Friday as well, they have live music on the patio. The weekend I was there was a solo acoustic guy playing covers from the 90s to now. My friend and I decided to grab a bottle and enjoy the view of mountains and the ocean air. We decided on the Surfrider Hang Ten Red... people who know me know I love my reds a little chilled... well people I didn't even need an ice cube for this red, it was smooth and medium dry blend of reds.

You are allowed to bring in your own food to snack on while enjoying your glass or bottle of wine! If we had only known! A food truck is there and if you like fish next door is Reel Inn! There was a great mix of groups on a saturday afternoon. Couples, people celebrating brides-to-be and birthdays, and groups of people just there to enjoy some wine!

If you need an escape from the busy LA scene and enjoy local wine stop by the Rosenthal Malibu Estate Wine Bar & Patio - but don't forget to bring some food/snacks with you!!! Can find some pairing recipes here: http://rosenthalestatewines.com/wines/wine-pairing-recipes/category/surfrider-red-dessert-wine/2


Cheers!! xoxo

Spiral those veggies!

Adding Veggies in a fun and delicious way! 

Healthier version of spaghetti where I can have more than one helping... yes please!

If you haven't seen or heard of the new trend of gluten/carb free pasta well here you go... to get these delicious veggie into spaghetti strips you can use a spiralizer (found at bed bath & beyond) and slice most veggies... I mainly use any type of squash for spaghetti but can also spiralize carrots, eggplant, cucumbers and more!

Once you get the veggies sliced there are three ways I suggest making your pasta: (1) raw, this mean you slice and add uncooked sauces such as pureed tomatoes and garlic; (2) boiled, slice and place in boiling water for about 3 minutes or less (depending on thickness of 'pasta') drain and add sauce of choice; lastly (3) sauteed, toss sliced veggie into sauce on stove.

The following pictures are just a few of the probably 20 ways I've made 'spaghetti' ~

Sauteed

Baked 'Spaghetti'

Sauteed 'pasta' in some olive oil and added garlic, mushroom and tomatoes (pictured left). Added 'pasta' to meat sauce in casserole dish and topped with mozzarella cheese and baked (pictured right). Boiled 'pasta' then added to homemade shrimp scampi sauce (pictured below)!  

Shrimp Scampi

With so many ways to spiral veggies there is endless healthy meals that can be made! Grab your own spiralizer and start cooking this healthy alternative!

Mmmmm now I may have to cook 'pasta' for dinner after writing this post!

Enjoy! xoxo

I've got Urth!

Urth Caffe

This post is wayyyyyy over due... Move over starbucks (okay not always) but this cafe is my favorite to grab a latte in Los Angeles! The espresso is beyond delicious and not that it has to be but it is also organic!

Santa Monica Location

I got hooked on this place about 5 years ago, back when I was studying for the CA bar exam. Urth Caffe does not have wifi so I would be forced to read my books and study instead of googling the internet. I've been to three of the locations: Santa Monica (most visited), Melrose (where they filmed Entourage), and Beverly Hills.

The barista always make fun designs - and as a food paparazzo I have many photos of designs i've gotten... here are two!

My go to order is the Honey Vanilla Latte with soy milk! You can choose between strong or mild espresso. If I want a kick I usually choose strong, however, when I prefer a sweeter latte I go for mild! Both are delicious! I've also tried their chai tea latte... I'm picky with my chai since I'm not a huge cinnamon fan... this one is spot on! The creamy froth on the latte is my favorite part and the espresso is not bitter! 

water w/ orchids & fruit slices

As for the food, I love the muffins (zucchini & blueberry), the ham & cheese croissant and the chocolate croissant. I have yet to eat their entrees but all look fresh!










This is a must stop if you are visiting Los Angeles... I bring every friend that comes to visit! Stop by the Beverly Hills location and people watch or stop by the Santa Monica location grab a to-go and take a walk on the beach!

Enjoy! xoxo

California Strawberry Festival!

Strawberry Time!

Back home in Florida I love to go pick my own strawberries! I have not done that here in LA, however, I found out about the California Strawberry Festival which is held in Oxnard, CA. Oxnard is about an hour north from West LA. California Strawberry Festival, held in May, was the perfect summer kick off! The festival not only had everything strawberries but live music, crafts and fair games.

I decided to use the free shuttle services and avoid the traffic and parking at the festival grounds. I parked at the Palms Shopping Center, once parked a shuttle pulled up and was ready to head out to the festival. The shuttle too about 15 minutes and dropped us off right at the gate! Arrived to the festival around 2pm, just in time to grab a drink (strawberry beer of course!) and go listen to some live music. I enjoyed the irish band - Young Dubliners!



After listening to some music I walked around to see what I wanted to try... strawberry pizza, chocolate strawberries, strawberry popcorn, strawberry shortcake, strawberry nachos, and more! I decided on the strawberry nachos since lately I've been a sucker for anything nacho related!

The strawberry nachos were AMAZING! The chips were flour based with cinnamon and sugar. One top of the chips were mashed strawberries, then cool whip and on top of that were whole strawberries!! Yumms!

After I ate the whole plate of nachos I walked around to see what else the festival had... the craft area reminded me of all the craft shows my mother and I have attended since I was young. There was a section of fair rides and even a section just for the kiddies... all who had strawberries all over their faces, so cute! As the festival was wrapping up I decided to check out the strawberry farm stands. It was probably 30 minutes to closing and I got a flat for about $11!! I will be eating strawberries everyday for 2 weeks but who cares so good!

Within the week I started making random strawberry dishes, here are a few... Strawberries Mashed on Cinnamon Toast, Wild Rice with Strawberries and Balsamic Glaze (pictured below), Strawberry Salsa (pictured below).

more photos of festival: 

Young Dubliners

 


Check more out here: http://strawberry-fest.org/

Enjoy! xoxo

Purple People Eater... or Purple Food Eater!?!

Do not let your eyes fool you, all the food... okay not the meat... is purple! Yes, purple!! My favorite color!

I happen to go to the farmers market the week before Easter and saw the prettiest colorful brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. My first thoughts was not to make all in one meal, I mean when do you see purple brussel sprouts?!? This was a first for me. Purple cauliflower was also new to me when I first moved to the LA area,  in Florida we've only ever been exposed to the usual white cauliflower, but here in LA there are many more. There is cauliflower that is orange in color, also there is romanesco which looks like cauliflower that is green with spikes... so cool and delicious! Anyways, I digress. 

How to cook purple veggies for an all purple, again minus the meat, meal? This is how...

Cauliflower Horseradish Mash, grilled Buttered Rosemary Carrots, and grilled Brussel Sprouts and of course some added protein dry-rub Steak!

For mash cauliflower you basically follow the same recipe you do for mashed potatoes.

You will need:

1 Head of Cauliflower
Pot filled with water or stock
Garlic
additional ~ horseradish, onions, milk/non-dairy milk

Wash and cut the cauliflower into medium sized pieces and place in water or stock to boil until tender. Once cauliflower is tender remove and drain (if used water, if used stock drain and set aside the stock) and place in blender. First blend the cauliflower until finely chopped. Next, add liquid of choice - I normally use chicken stock, you can use milk or non-dairy milk even can use some of the liquid from boiling cauliflower. Then add in seasoning: garlic, horseradish, salt & pepper, cayenne pepper, or whatever your heart desires. Top with some chopped green onions.

That is all... super simple and delicious!

Roasted Vegetables are super simple and deliciously fresh tasting as well. For this meal I placed carrots on foil and grilled them with lemon, butter and rosemary. The brussel sprouts were grilled and drizzled with olive oil and salt & pepper. Viola!

What colorful meal can I make next?

xoxo Enjoy!

Nacho average nacho!

nacho average nacho!

I love cheese! I love avocado! I love salsa! I love nachos! However, as time goes by I have finally noticed I cannot just eat any and all I want these days and well as you know California is known for its healthy twist on fatty delicious comfort food! Nachos was not much of a task to turn into a healthy snack. Why, you ask well the healthy alternative to any carb... Zucchini! 

Want to make a healthy nacho alternative?! This is how I made zucchini nachos ~ 

Will need: 

Zucchini

Cheese of choice

Tomato

Jalapeno

Onions

Guacamole

Plus additional toppings: beans, meat, peppers, bacon, etc. 

Slice fresh zucchini at a diagonal - this makes the 'chips' longer, especially if you have tiny zucchini - and brush lightly with olive oil. Place each slice on the grill, grill on each side for about five minutes on high, giving the grilling marks to each slice of zucchini. Flip each slice over and add choice of cheese and let cheese melt.  

While zucchini is grilling this is a great time to chop up and get your toppings ready. Since nachos can get messy chopping your toppings finely will make them stay on top of each slice. Grab your chopping knife and get to work. I finely chopped up cilantro, tomato, peppers, and jalapenos. There is so many fun toppings you can add... beans (cooked my own black beans shown in pictures), chicken (shown in pictures too), steak, avocado, and plenty more.

Once cheese is melted, remove each slice of zucchini from grill with tongs onto serving plate. Grab toppings and sprinkle on top of platter of zucchini. 

This snack is very versatile... you can bake the zucchini and add cheese and even add the toppings and bake - that makes for sum warm fresh just-out-of-the-oven nachos! Add a splash of lime juice right before you take a bite and enjoy the flavors!! Yumm!!!

A healthy snack I can enjoy every day... okay every week! 

xoxo Enjoy! 

It's my way NOT through LA!

I recently took some time away from the west coast to head back east... the next few posts will be my adventures back in my hometown of Orlando, Florida. Headed away from the land of Disney to the world of Disney, my favorite resort park to visit! Yes, I'm biased I was one of the lucky children who grew up going to disney every week and still do whenever I can!

Winter Park, FL Farmers Market

Now lets get into it... I missed visiting the LA Farmers Markets so when I tried to find a suitable market with more than one produce stand and failed, my mother and I decided to start our own little garden.

We started with a bed of red leaf lettuce, arugula, and romaine. All three grew so rapidly we were unable to eat or share it before it became too bitter. First success!

Next we tried cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, tomatoes, and green beans. Brussel sprouts take forever to grow! Only thing ready to try within a week or two was the cauliflower and oh boy was it very tasty, picking the cauliflower from the garden made the taste extremely fresh and flavorful. We made mash-cauliflower and cauliflower pizza, both were delicious!

While waiting for the rest to grow we decided to bop over to the Winter Park Farmer's Market, where my mother would take me as child. We would usually go when she needed to find caterpillars for her kindergarten class.



This market has a huge area filled with plants and trees to purchase. The rest of the market is made up of three produce stands, Florida orange stands, prepared locally food stands and an inside area that has fresh cheeses, baked breads, morning coffees and bagels.

As I have mentioned before, every farmers market offers something unique... Central Florida's markets may not have a wide variety of produce stands but the vibrance of the community and sense of gathering for whatever the state has in season makes it a great one!

         

xoxo Enjoy!!