Frosted

Frosted is a quaint cupcake store in Belmont Shores. There are only two stores so it doesn't have the chain feeling which is a nice surprise when it comes to cupcake stores. The first time I went it was hard to decide which flavor to get since there are so many pretty colorful cupcakes lining the display case. I ended up settling on the strawberry cupcake and I am glad that I did. It comes with a strawberry gummy on top! I've been back one other time and I had to get the strawberry again. The cupcakes are fresh and absolutely splendid. One of these visits I'll have to try their red velvet to see if it rivals Sprinkles'. Until then, I am off to another adventure :)

LA Girl

Open Sesame

Open Sesame is a delightful Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurant on 2nd Street in Belmont Shores. It's a small restaurant with a great vibe and awesome service. The hummus is amazing and so are the fried potatoes that everyone seems to order. They have hints of lemon and cilantro. The chicken shawarma is by far my favorite for lunch. The chicken breast and thigh meat are wrapped in a fresh pita with cucumber pickles and garlic sauce. Very tasty and satisfying.

Okay now on to the iced tea. Are you ready for this? They have green iced tea which is made with orange blossom water and is accompanied by a sprig of mint. UNREAL. So many flavors in one glass. Make sure you get the green iced tea.

The Coffee Cup Cafe

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The Coffee Cup Cafe is located in a trendy little section of Long Beach that is a must see. The place smells delicious and is delicious! I LOVE their BLT. The bacon is so crisp and the fries are perfect. The iced tea is flavored and very refreshing. After you go to The Coffee Cup Cafe venture over to Harmony's Cottage--a great little antique shop that has some whimsical finds. After that cross the street and get a Mexican Mocha at Viento y Agua. I am not a mocha person, but Vieto y Agua has made me one!

Scoops

Scoops is unique, Scoops is flavorful, Scoops is a celeb magnet, Scoops is well...tasty! You should know that the flavors are changed out every week. I tried the olive oil ice cream and guess what? It tasted like olive oil!!!! I tried the salt and honey ice cream and guess what?? It tasted like SALT. Never get ice cream that says it has salt in it. Best ice cream flavor that I got was strawberry oreo. mmmmmhmmmm. Great place to get away and cool off on a hot day. Also, you might see a celeb or two.

Off to another adventure,

LA Girl

Prado

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Found another Larchmont Village gem that you should know about. Prado is an infusion of Italian and Mediterranean/Caribbean food that will leave you wanting more. I've been there twice now and I have to say that I will continue to go back. The restaurant is quite charming with its colorful mix of miss matched chairs with white linens. Don't forget to look up at the ceiling for a pleasant surprise for your eyes--hey that rhymes ;)

The iced tea is tropical mango and to die for. I hate that saying but it applies! The gnocchi that comes with a salad is by far the best gnocchi I've ever had, darn now I want some! The bread and garlic/basil dipping sauce is heavenly and the caesar salad with sun-dried tomatoes is definitely a palate pleaser. A little on the pricey side but not atypical for LA. Make sure you try Prado next time you are wandering through Larchmont Village, you won't be disappointed.

The Bazaar

The Bazaar

Tres

Okay...so I know this is blog overload with all of the postings but I have to write about The SLS hotel's Bazaar. Spanish chef/TV host Jose Andres has hit the mark with this Beverly Hills hotspot.

The restaurant is filled with beautiful employees as well as attractive patrons who want to be seen. The decor is eclectic yet ultra chic and the food comes from another planet--yes it IS that good. Try the pan con tomate--bread with tomato, garlic, and olive oil. So simple yet so good. Also, try the caprese salad. It literally melts in your mouth! The mozzarella is impregnated with balsamic vinegar, how cool is that? The pastrami mini sandwiches were also awesome. I am not a fan of cow navel (sorry if you didn't know what pastrami was before reading this post), but in this case it was quite appetizing. The last dish we tried was the artichokes with shrimp. Hands down the best of the night, and that is saying something since all of the dishes were divine. If you want a one of a kind experience then head on over to the Bazaar, it will be one night you won't forget. The pictures are a little blurry--sorry.

Karaoke

Last month, I went to a friend's birthday party at the Brass Monkey in Korea Town. Let's put it this way, that monkey wasn't that funky. The highlight of the night was not the amazingly bad singing but the giant door knob that you have to pull to get in! The venue is quite compact and has an odd aroma. If you go there, you will have fun, however, I have to be honest-- the two drink minimum or your out rule that they live by does not sit well with me. $5 for a Coke is absurd!

Cafe Montana--Santa Monica

Cafe Montana is a modern/chic hotspot on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. I went recently for breakfast and I have to say the blueberry pancakes are out of this world--they were so light and fluffy. The blueberries added a perfect burst of flavor.

I know it's a bit strange but I did have iced tea with my breakfast. I give their iced tea an A!!!

If you want to get a table, arrive early. Also, parking's a bit tough so make sure you check the residential streets for additional parking options.

Moonshadows

After touring the Adamson House, I went to lunch at Moonshadows--a stone's throw away. First off, the view is INCREDIBLE. Second off, the food is so-so. I had the panko-crusted free range chicken sandwich. The wait for the food was long. I started to think they might have had to go catch my free range chicken.... Once it finally did arrive, I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised since the presentation was nice, however, it wasn't anything special. As far as the iced tea is concerned, it was strong, but not bad. Drink refills were aplenty, which I appreciated.

Lastly, our waiter was a little preoccupied with another table (chatting), so we had to wait until he was done to get the check and then he went back to chatting and we had to wait for him to come back so we could get change.

Overall, I think one visit is enough. Next time in Malibu, I'll try something different...

The Adamson House

The Adamson House is located on a quiet stretch of land in the heart of Malibu. This Spanish revival beach-front property is absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend taking a day and visiting the Adamson House. Go on a Friday and take the 10am Garden Tour and then the 11am House Tour ($5). Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside, so you'll have to take mental pictures ;) or buy the $18 book at the visitor center. If you love architectural details--then this is a place for you!

http://www.adamsonhouse.org/

Off to another adventure,

LA Girl