Sometimes You Just Need a Lobster Roll

If it's one New England thing I miss the most (besides family), it's lobster. I grew up eating delicious Maine lobster, in fact, mum gave me my first taste when I was a mere 6 months old. From then on, I was an addict. Every Friday night during my growing up days, dad would bring home 3 little lobsters for us. So what do I miss the most? Lobster. Lobster anywhere else just isn't the same.

Luckily though, there are a few places I've been able to find a Maine lobster. One of the less expensive finds? Lobster Trucks. Luckily there are two scouring the streets of Los Angeles. The Lobsta Truck, and Cousins Maine Lobster. I've yet to try the latter, but The Lobsta Truck has been a Knight in Shining Armor for me.

Mmmmmmm. Seriously. Nothing compares.

Both photos by me. Personal recommendation: Find Abita Strawberry lager to accompany your roll. Perfect summertime combination!

Places to Eat & Drink - Public School 310

One of the many reasons I love living in Culver City is due to its dining out selections. I also have a love for gastropubs. Recently, Aubrey and I headed over to Public School because we had a craving for some tasty beer. Similar to Father's Office, they didn't disappoint and had a delectable selection of beer (and food).

We each had Dogfish Head Festina Peche which turned out to be the perfect hot summer afternoon beverage. It was so refreshing and light, with the lightest hint of peach. For food, we shared The Cutting Board - a selection of cured meats and artisan cheeses (they had Grafton Cheddar!!!), and we split the Colorado Lamb Burger.

There is inside and outside seating (also an outside bar section). We sat outside to enjoy the lovely weather (and we love people watching). The staff was nice, cheerful, and knowledgable about the beer and food selections. The beer list had pricing from $6 to $12 (per glass/bottle), with most of the selection being under $10. Our Dogfish Head Festina Peche's were $7/glass... but every sip was worth every penny, and it was a seasonal special that you won't get all year round (so we had two glasses each!)!

We'll definitely be back, and since it's so close, we might try biking over next time!

Photo 1, by me | Photo 2, by Aubrey

Photos 3 & 4 via +

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

It's an excellent weekend to eat the yummiest foods, go on picnics, hang out with your favorite people, or spend a night camping. What will you be doing to celebrate America? We plan on an evening picnic (to see fireworks) today, and the weekend will be sure to include hikes and adventure with some friends.

Enjoy the festivities and summer!

Summer Cocktail | Blueberry Pie

Lobster Rolls | Strawberries & Blueberries

Places to Eat & Drink - The York

The York is a gastropub located in Highland Park on York Blvd, and when you walk in, you receive this eclectic feeling of being in an older industrial building mixed with a British pub. Exposed brick walls, high ceilings, wooden beams, hanging bulbs, chalkboard menu, large windows, and a well stocked bar greet you upon entering.

The beer list is endless, and you'll have a selection of typical pub foods such as fish n chips, pulled pork, salads, and burgers. They also have a nice brunch selection on weekends.

Weekly Adorations - 5.31.13

Summer Entertaining

One of my favorite things about Pinterest is finding all sorts of wonderful ideas for entertaining. Especially during the summer. If I'm going to entertain, I want it to be a spectacular experience for my guests. Presentation is key, and the way you display your food and beverages expresses your style and who you are. It also defines your creative side. Below, I found some beautiful examples of a few ways to serve some foods and drinks.

Strawberries are one of my very favorite fruits, so serving a strawberry bruschetta would be ideal for any party I were to host. I also love the idea of mini salads, cups of fruit, and of course, a s'mores pie! For drinks, lemonade is always necessary, as well as pretty bottles for your guests to drink out of. Always serve water, but put some fruits/herbs in ice cubes to add a little flavor, and keep it chilled (they will also make the water look pretty).

{credits: foods | drinks}

Monday Mornings

Mondays are always hard, so I like to start the week off right and always give myself time to enjoy a delicious cup of french pressed coffee, or perfectly steeped british tea. To make morning coffee or tea preparation easier and less time consuming, I set up a little station on my counter next to the stove with one of my favorite tea trays, white sugar, brown sugar, and of course some pretty flowers for me to gaze at while I wait for the water to boil. The french press and coffee/tea selections are placed in the cabinet above for easy access.

Places to Eat - Father's Office

Recently, Aubrey and I headed over to Helms Bakery District to have lunch at Father's Office. It is a nationally acclaimed gastropub in Los Angeles (there are two locations; Culver City and Santa Monica) that was founded in 1953.

Their main priority is to offer a wide selection of craft beer (and wine) on tap and pair your chosen beverage with delicious food. Their staple is the Office Burger, which is what I had, and it was probably one of the most amazing burgers I've had in my entire life. It consisted of a beef patty with caramelized onions, gruyere and maytag cheeses, apple-wood smoked bacon, and arugula served on a soft roll. If you're going all out, get the sweet potato fries, and save room for dessert! You can get a ice-cream cookie sandwich that's made by the bakery (there is usually a food truck with bakeries close by)!

The setting is casual, and it's the perfect place to go to hangout with a few friends, or for a nice little date. Most of the seating is outside, which allows you to enjoy the lovely and sunny California weather.

Recipe - Potato Salad

One of my favorite side dishes for summer meals is potato salad. Growing up, we always had some readily prepared, to go along with all of our grilled/BBQ dinners. My parents usually made a basic potatoes, hard boiled eggs, + mayo recipe, but since I started cooking myself, I began experimenting. Last summer I think I managed to finally perfect my recipe and I thought I'd share it with you!

Ingredients

Rainbow potatoes

Miso Mayo

Regular Mayo (I use Hellmann's with Olive Oil)

Scallions

Hard boiled eggs

Salt & pepper to taste

*Note: With any sort of salad recipe, ingredient amounts depend on taste preferences and amount of servings needed. To serve 3-4, I used 5 small potatoes, 3 eggs, 3 scallion sticks, and mayo to taste.

Directions

1. Cut potatoes into cubes, boil for 10-15 minutes (stovetops vary).

2. Boil eggs to desired texture preference, let cool in fridge.

3. Chop up scallions and mix with drained potatoes.

4. Crumble eggs into mixture then add mayo and miso mayo to preference.

5. Let chill, then serve!

Enjoy!!

St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hope you were able to enjoy some Corned Beef and Cabbage or a Guinness Float today!

Corned Beef | Guinness Float

Places to Shop - Monsieur Marcel

Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market is one of those places where I could probably spend thousands of dollars (just on groceries alone). The marketplace holds all the wonderful items you would find in a real french or European market. Actually, while browsing the aisles, I'm reminded of when I was in France, wandering about the plethora of markets full of delectable foods, spices, herbs, condiments, and teas that were always readably available.

There are a few restaurants scattered around Los Angeles, but the market is located at The Farmers Market next to The Grove in LA between Beverly and 3rd Street, just off Fairfax. If you're looking for palatable European foods, fancy wines, fine cheese, or an array of herbs and spices, this is the place to go.

A very appealing Easter display for adults.

Lavender infused dark chocolate and an abundance of flavored sugars.

Toast catered just for cheese! And an endless stock of jams.

Of course, the market would be incomplete without a cheese shop!

Places to Eat - The Edison

This past weekend, Aubrey took me to The Edison for our Valentine's Day date. This was my second time there, and I can definitely affirm that it's one of my favorite places to go for dinner (or drinks!). It's a lovely atmosphere for a date night, or to have a little get together with friends (I wouldn't mind having a birthday bash here).

Architecturally, it's exquisite. It was downton Los Angeles' first private power plant (the sub-floor of the Higgins Building, built in 1910), and has been faithfully restored into a splendid, three-story restaurant/speakeasy. Its style is a combination of Art Nouveau to Industrial Gothic, celebrating invention and imagination. There are wonderful silent films projected on the large walls, and screens scattered throughout, including an array of George Melies films and shorts, and occasionally a cabaret show!

Remember to dress up, too! Wear your favorite fancy clothes, or if you're feeling especially daring, dress as a flapper!

Below is a sample of what The Edison offers in terms of drink and food. They have a full bar but specialize in their signature drinks (my favorite is 'The Mistress'). Also, you better leave room for dessert and order The Elvis. You'll thank me later.