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LA food guide feat

LA Food and Drink Travel Guide

LA, city of angels or city of cars…. Yes it’s sprawling, yes it’s dirty but boy oh boy does it have a lot to offer! From Food Truck Friday nights to markets full of good things there is so much to see, do and taste in LA.

Downtown LA is buzzing with shops like Poketo as well as the best place to get a German sausage but don’t be blinded by fancy restaurants and shiny hotels. With each district or area of the city so different in what it offers, be prepared to travel half an hour or more for a good feast and don’t be afraid to eat on the side of the street!

Brunch

Santa Monica’s Sonoma Wine Garden this is the loveliest place to sit on the patio, eat their delicious truffle fries and choose from four different types of Mimosas! The perfect Saturday spot.

Also in sunny and scenic Santa Monica, Snug Harbour is an authentic old school diner serving some great comfort food style dishes – think towering pancake stacks and French toast. Pretty reasonably priced for central Santa Monica eatery, it’s also open early so it’s fab if you need a place to kick start the day!

Dinner

Tar & Roses in Santa Monica is perfect if you’re going out with the girls…make sure to try and reserve the patio. Inside is more romantic if you’re trying to woo! Some of the things I tried were oxtail dumplings, squid ink fettuccini and the yellow tail crudo – all delicious, with excellent service.

For old style décor with dim lighting reserve a table at Hatchet Hall in Mar Vista. The menu does take some explaining – think dishes with plenty of nods to trendy in-house culturing, sorghum and tehachapi – but grab one of their whiskey cocktails while you read and enjoy.

Stick with me, this next one is vegan – Little Pine. Try it, I dare you and you’ll be really satisfied! Try to reserve a spot if you’re going over the weekend but the hosts will generally try to fit you in. It’s a simple spot with clean aesthetics but try the food. It will make you re-think veganism.

For a laid back dinner Butcher’s Daughter offers communal eating with a farm to table menu. It has a really slow farm type of feel, go with the intention of taking your time and you won’t be disappointed. Yes, service is slow, yes, it takes your time but the food makes up for it!

Drinks

Visit Ostrich Farm on Sunset Boulevard for cocktails and try the breads, the flatbread with caramelized shallots is amazing! It’s the perfect date night venue with dim lighting as well as great dishes to share and ooh and ah over.

At Gracias Madre in West Hollywood, sit inside, sit outside…but make sure you sit! This can be said to be some of the best Mexican in LA with great vibes, service, tequila cocktails and food. Make sure you try the pozole!

Akasha in Culver City is a fabulous spot for food but really shines on the cocktail front – get the cocktails every time! I’m not a chicken wing kinda girl, but the tandoori spiced wings were divine. Enjoy!

Last but not least, Republique is by far my favourite spot in LA. Firstly the floor tiles are as Instagram worthy as are the guys cooking by massive fires, then there’s the amazing deli and big glass windows. Service is pretty slow but the food is fresh, clean, easy and really good. Try it!

ARTICLE BY JETTE VIRDI

JetteJette Virdi is a Dublin-based food stylist and creative entrepreneur. With a portfolio including  clients such as Rozanna Purcell, Rachel Allen and Bord Bia, she’s  your girl if you need an evocative  image or event. Well known within the food industry, she consults with Irish brands to create and  style recipes, to design and  manage product launches and and hosts creative corporate workshops  that boost productivity and team performance in the workplace. For more information and to  contact Jette for a project go to jettevirdi.com.

For more recipes visit her blog.

Jette Virdi Jette Virdi
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