Foodie

My love for wine is always overflowing but more recently probably due to that I am pregnant and can’t have any.  I dream about my first sip after being dry for almost nine months.  I wouldn’t call myself a sommelier but I have been drinking it for most of my life.  I grew up in an Italian Spanish household where drinking a glass with dinner was a normal day thing to do.  My father is that one guy that can tell you what wines are the best and what country makes good ones and what pairs perfectly with them.  So I guess I have to thank my father for my appreciation and love for this special sippy sip of a drink I love.

If you’ve ever walked into a store on the hunt for a great bottle without breaking the bank and get overwhelmed by the prices, branding, and choices?  Here’s a quick and easy list to get you through a great night of fine wine for yourself, friends, or a gift for someone special.

JUSTIN CABERNET PASO ROBLES

Justin is one of my favorite reds for a couple of years now.  It’s great solo or paired with pasta or steak.  One of the best things about it is that it’s just under $22 dollars and available at Trader Joe’s.

There are clear notes of earth, vanilla, and slightly toasted oak, complemented by strawberry, raspberry, and blackcurrant aromas. The wine has a soft entry, with balanced acidity and tannins, along with strawberry, earth, toasted oak, and vanilla flavors.

DAOU PESSIMIST RED BLEND, 2018

Such a good value for its bold amazing taste.  This was my go-to wine for dinner parties and got all my friends into it.  Interesting name, amazing taste.  ‘The Pessimist Cuvee by the Daou Brothers is always a good value for those who love opulent fruit, and the 2018 offers loads of sweet blue fruits, white chocolate, violets, and toasted spice aromas and flavors… it’s full-bodied, decadent, and rich while staying light.’ (Winemaker Notes)

2017 MOON X RED WINE

Okayyyyy.  Let’s get to it.  My all-time favorite wine for years now.  It’s chocolatey, berry beautiful taste is just what everyone wants in a Red.  Not only will you love the way it tastes but it literally sells for $7.99 at Trader Joe’s.  Yep.  I KNOW. I’m actually a huge fan of all the MoonX wines but this one tops the cake.  It compliments almost everything and it’s a perfect amount of sweetness, boldness, touched with a bit of oak.

‘This juicy, super-dense wine is inspired by the total blackness of a new moon – a lunar phase occurring when the sun, earth, and the moon are all aligned. Loaded with intense flavors of blackberries, black cherry, and dark chocolate, MoonX is the perfect wine to enjoy with roasted meats, barbequed anything, chocolates, or just by itself.’ (from the bottle)

CARSON RIDGE CHARDONNAY CENTRAL COAST

I just recently got the hots for white wines again and I must say this is my fav.  It’s clean, crisp, and goes perfectly well with seafood or a salad and or any so called light lunch.  Its fine fruity flavors make it complimentary with any fresh food and or dessert too.  I love this wine on a summer afternoon with a side of oysters. 🙂

Central Coast, CA- Fermented in stainless steel, the fruit flavors in this Chardonnay shine. Tropical fruits meld together into a medium-bodied wine with a lingering finish.  Only $11.99.

Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rose 2019

Rose, yes way.  I absolutely love Rose wine, prosecco, and or sparkling wine.  Not sure if it’s the subtle taste or the beautiful color, but it has my foodie heart.  I find it hard to find a really nice Rose under $15 dollars but this one is just below $25, selling for $24.99.  It pairs well with almost any food and dessert.  It’s clean, crisp, and perfectly smooth.  Your girlfriends will definitely appreciate the look and taste of this one.

Created by Sacha Lichine following his acquisition of Château d’Esclans in 2006, his vision was to create the greatest rosés in the world igniting the “Rosé Renaissance.” Sacha introduced new and innovative winemaking techniques to Provence which revolutionized the styles of rosés being produced from this region. This led to the creation of Whispering Angel, a world-class rosé which presents both ease and accessibility making for enjoyment and pleasure. (Winemaker’s Notes)

Now I’m thirsty, X CP

I have an addiction. An addiction I’m ok with but not sure my bank account is.  My addiction is Wholefoods or any health food store.  I enjoy taking long walks down the aisles.  I love healthy food and snacks but I also love finding new companies out there that are good for you but also tasty.  Having to be picky about what I put in my body because of my breakdown of food issues, I have found some of my favorite healthy go to brands that I think you will like too.  Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Sprouts have a host of great products for busy people including plenty of amazing snacking options. Whether you’re looking for something salty or something sweet (or maybe a little of both), there’s no doubt you can find it at these places.

Chomps Free Range Turkey Sticks

My favorite high protein, low calorie clean snack go to.  Real ingredients and they are super tasty.  I always have some handy because they are so easy to track around for a high protein kick.  All other flavors are good too but these are my favorite.  10g of protein // 60 calories

Bhu Foods Protein Bars

Bhu (pronounced “BOO”) is a Sanskrit word that means “of the earth.” It is a sacred trust: honoring the earth that supports all life.  Not only do I love this company because of what they stand for, and their role in not using GMO’s but the taste of their bars are incredibly tasty.  They are clean, non gmo, high protein, soft and chewy.  Just how a protein bar should be.  11g of protein // 200 calories

 

Siete Queso Dip

If you don’t already know, get your car keys ready because you’ll want this in your refrigerator at all times.   What I love about this queso dip is that it only consists of real ingredients, it’s dairy free,  low calorie and it’s incredibly delicious.  I like to eat it with siete chips or crackers but I also love to cut up raw veggies for the best healthy snack.  I can honestly say that Siete family story is so moving but also every single one of their products is worth the talk.  Buy them. You’ll love them. 

Ingredients

Water, Cashews, Tomatoes, Nutritional Yeast, Onion, Green Bell Peppers, Distilled White Vinegar, Jalapeños, Sea Salt, Flax Seed, Fermented Extract (Oregano, Flax Seed, and Plum), Coconut Milk Powder, Lactic Acid, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 30, Total Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 0.5g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 200mg, Total Carbohydrate: 2g, Dietary Fiber: 1g, Total Sugars: 0g, Protein: 1g, Vitamin D: 0%, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0%, Potassium: 2%

Good Culture Cottage Cheese

I’m so happy to brag about this brand because they believe in eating good, feeling good and surrounding yourself with good.  I’ve always been a huge fan of cottage cheese but I couldn’t find one that had clean ingredients and tasted good.  High in protein, low in calories, thick and creamy.  They never use preservatives, gums, or anything artificial, and a portion of their sales goes to a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting regenerative agriculture. 14g of protein // 80 calories

 

 

LA is a mix of different cultures and traditions, and you can have different types of food in every little neighborhood. Those of you that know, this city is like no other when it comes to food.  There are so many places to eat and over plenty of options from different areas and countries of the world to a specific diet you may have.  And while a lot of them are good, we want to make sure that you have all of the great LA beachside restaurants on your radar.

Breakfast

The Fig | The Fairmont Santa Monica

FIG is a beautiful breakfast/brunch destination with its selection of food that has all your morning taste buds covered, including the yummiest of all bloody mary’s or sangria.  Plates are pretty big for one so split the insane Chilaquiles Rojo: Served with cage free eggs, pulled chicken, queso fresco cilantro & red onion.  Sit outside and take in the beautiful surroundings of the most beautiful palms and poolside villas while you eat the freshest and yummiest of foods. 

Lunch

Cafe Gratitude // One of my all time favorites and it NEVER disappoints! They strive to source the highest quality, nutrient dense ingredients from local farmers and the best artisan producers. They believe food is medicine and you honestly eat so great here… taste wise and health wise. You’ll love it.

The Rose // The Rose Venice is an iconic restaurant in the heart of Venice, serving locals and travelers alike since 1979. The community knows and loves the seasonal, globally influenced cuisine. The aesthetic of the restaurant is also to die for. Please note: If you cannot make it for lunch make it for dinner because the evening menu is also damn good.

Gjusta // First things first, this place is amazing. Like the Venice neighborhood itself, the terrace is both comfortable, chill, and beautiful. Pull up a seat at a mismatched common table and just enjoy good company over really, really delicious food. Gjusta is the bakery arm of Venice Italian restaurant Gjelina, (one of my favs) there’s plenty of gluten-free options too if that’s what you are looking for. I would definitely choose this place if you’re looking for a trendy space and also a satisfied belly.

Erewhon // The supermarket of my dreams right here. You will probably spend more money than ever before but it will be so worth it. Here, you can walk down the aisles of this health store and you don’t have to read a single nutrition label. You can freely throw items in your cart, fill it up and know that there is not one single drop of processed sugar, artificial flavor or corn syrup (high fructose or otherwise). Everything you could possibly purchase is clean  and as close to the source as you can get without getting your clothes dirty. The next best part of this place?! You can eat there too. Fresh, Clean, Colorful Healthy yummy food. Makes me hungry even talking about it.

Cava // If you want a quick and easy stop for a meal, go here. Simple. Fresh. Good stuff is served at Cava. The best ingredients that include farm fresh veggies, meats, and sauces are made here and you can make your bowl out of them. Definitely my go to for a quick healthy bite with flavor satisfying food.

Dinner

Yours Truly | Abbot Kinney

I don’t even know where to begin with this place. Absolutely my favorite restaurant right now and I’ll be surprised if someone beats the no.1 status anytime soon. Every single thing we ordered was spectacular and every single bite was better than the next. From the most simple tomato salad and house bread to their perfectly cooked buttery scallops on top of sunflower risotto, was mind blowing. You know that moment where you eat your first bite of something marvelous and you never forget about it?! That’s how every single item on the menu is like. We were so amazed by everything that we instantly were like, yup. This place is LEGIT. So please if you live in LA or are visiting, put Yours Truly on the very top. Your food baby will be worth it.

Being a local to Santa Monica, it’s hard to find one or a couple of favorites because there are so many great restaurants in this town.  I grew up being a foodie so living here is definitely a good place to be if you’re me.  I like places that make their dishes with real organic goodness.  Not that I won’t eat bad here and there but these places below make healthy dishes yet super tasty.  Next time you are in Santa Monica, try these.  You’ll love them!

FLOWER CHILD

UPLIFTERS KITCHEN

BONDI HARVEST