Joans on Third (LV's LA)

I believe in love. I know you do too. There are some places that are, well, how do I say it? How about love at first bite. Yes, Joans on Third is a food lovers paradise. This cute little spot is an ultra posh deli, cafe and gourmet marketplace all in one. It is very reminiscent of Dean and Deluca in New York. Or if you have never been to Dean and Deluca, imagine if Williams Sonoma had a deli, restaurant and bakery inside of it.

Fresh salads, unique and flavorful salads, great coffee and mouthwatering desserts. This place has it all. I love taking my son to some of my favorite places and this is a place that is appropriate to take a child. The casual vibe makes it great to take a little one and the outdoor seating is great for relaxing under an umbrella of California sunshine. My son now loves Joans on Third as much as I do. This spot is one I have enjoyed for many years. There is always something delicious to try, but some of my favorites are: the chinese chicken salad, short rib sandwich. mac n cheese and many of the seasonal roasted vegetables.

Their short rib grilled cheese sandwich is the stuff dreams are made of. Crispy buttery grilled bread, tender shortribs, caramelized onions, arugula and cheese. Oh, you don't eat meat? me neither. Okay, I do every once in a while. This short rib sandwich made me cheat on my poultry and seafood. This is worth the occasional splurge and you can try the plethora of rainbow colored salads to make you feel less guilty.

 This is perfect any time of day. Breakfast, lunch,dinner.

This delicious salad corn, jicama and lots of fresh herbs and edamame was delicious.

Check out these veggies in the display case

So much to choose from

Fresh roasted artichoke

Roasted carrots

There is an amazing selection of artisan cheeses

 You will also find lots of great snack items

Of course we took a fresh baguette home. My little guy loves them

There is an amazing selection of gourmet food items and wines if you want to do a little shopping

 Freshly squeezed organic juices

If you need new cookbooks, there is a nice selection to choose from

this is an amusement park for foodies

The freshly squeezed lemonade is the perfect blend of sweet and sour

The grilled cheese sandwich is cheesy perfection

Gratuitous grilled cheese shot

So good my son has to close his eyes when he takes a bite. This is a foodie in training, LOL

Refreshing lemonade!

And this is what I had. The short rib grilled cheese

 The pickles are pretty amazing

 And there are plenty to grab on the way out

they are so good, you will want to take some home

This sandwich is so good

 I have been enjoying the food here since the mid 1990's and now I get to bring my son here:-)

Another happy customer

 If you are not too stuffed after your meal, head on over to the dessert counter and grab some treats to take home, or you can purchase it before your meal arrives.

Every sweet treat you can imagine. Don't these cream puffs look delicious?

If you are in West Hollywood, check out this cute little eatery. You will find lots of fresh vegetable dishes, salads and probably any craving you have will be satisfied here.

Be sure to grab a fresh baguette on the way out:-)

Joans on Third

8350, West 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90048

323-655-2285

Dindi

Happy Monday! How was your weekend?I know you are probably wondering what the blog post title means. Dindi is the name of a Brazilian jazz song that I love. for my fellow jazz aficionados this is a Bossa Nova classic made famous by Astrud Gilberto and has been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to El Debarge. It is soothing and relaxing and has such great lyrics which are usually song in Portuguese and in English. I listen to a lot of Bossa Nova and can carry a tune pretty well in Portuguese from listening to it for so many years. I have a quirky habit of listening to beautiful music in other languages:-)

 

Outside it is a little colder than it has been the past week and it looks gloomy, but my mood is peaceful and relaxed. Spring is a time of newness and I am looking forward to this season. The weather has been so nice lately and I am looking forward to going to a friends clambake that is coming up soon. Those are always a lot of fun! And I am planning a birthday party for my son who turns 7 this weekend. My how time flies!

Today I am wearing a good ensemble for unpredictable weather and a classic staple, which is a white shirt and jeans. Since the weather is starting to get warmer, I may have to put these boots up soon. Do you wear your boots all year round?

White Shirt: Macys, Jeans: Macys, Scarf: LA Fashion District, Bag: c/o Mimi Boutique, Boots: Matisse Footwear

I love this gorgeous croco bag from Mimi Boutique. They have such gorgeous accessories and the color of this bag pairs well with so many items in my wardrobe

I definitely have a scarf obsession to match my shoe and handbag obsession. Do you like scarves?

My friend that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago is continuing to do better and is home recovering from her hospital stay, so she is well on her way to being back to her usual self.  And lots of good things are happening in the lives of some of my other friends, so we have been having fun celebrating. I am just happy that they take me along for the ride:-) 

 

It is a blessing to have friends that want to be a blessing and want to see you reach your destiny. And there is no competition or jealousy between us only love and support. Those types of friends are very rare, but I am happy that I have them in my life. As you get older your inner circle does seem to get smaller, but it is quality over quantity. You may hear me brag on them from time to time, but they are truly the best!

 

 I am feeling good about this year. How has it been for you so far?

Have an amazing day!

Chili and Cornbread

Chili and cornbread is great comfort food. Chunks of seasoned ground turkey swimming in a spicy tomato broth with beans is a satisfying meal, but add a hunk of cornbread and some honey butter and that's some darn good eatin:-) If you are watching carb intake you can always omit the cornbread.

This is perfect for those days when you want something comforting and hearty, but completely healthy. There are some ingredients that give this a great dimension of flavor and you might not be accustomed to them in a savory dish. 

Unsweetened chocolate is very common in Mexican cooking and is usually added to moles.  I love the extra layer of flavor it gives this chili. Adding unsweetened chocolate adds body, color and flavor. The tiny hint of brown sugar balances the saltiness and spiciness of the chili. This chili also has three different beans and each one adds something special to the taste of the chili. The ground turkey instead of beef makes this quite a bit healthier than traditional chili. I always love to sprinkle some cheddar cheese and green onions on top or a dollop of sour cream.

Ingredients 
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
1 small green chili pepper seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 pound ground turkey
2 cups water
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes and the juice
1 15 oz can chili beans in spicy sauce
1 15 oz can red kidney beans
1 15 oz can black beans
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa 

Directions:
 Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and add onions, garlic, chili pepper and celery.  Saute until fragrant Place turkey in the pot, and cook until evenly brown.
 Pour water into the pot and add bouillon cubes. Mix in tomatoes, chili beans, kidney beans and black beans. Add  all seasonings: chili powder, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

Chili is one of those dishes where you have to taste and adjust flavors as you go. You can add more peppers to give it kick, or substitute beer for the water. Beer in chili is one of those things I can't explain. It just makes it taste good. And if you don't drink, don't worry about the alcohol because it will cook out only leaving great flavor.

Bon Appetit!

Spring is in the air...

 Happy Tuesday! I have been so busy lately that I barely had time to do this quick post. I love this time of year so much. Warm, but not scorching. Sunny and beautiful! I have been feeling in need of a blog vacation for a while, but am still on the fence about it. 

Please forgive me for being a little slow in responding to emails this past week. I am usually pretty quick in my responses, but I have been quite busy lately and feeling like I need a vacation. It is always great to step away from time to time to recharge. How is your week going so far? What do you do when you need to recharge?

Blazer: H&M, Shirt: Jones New York, Jeans: Old Navy, Pumps: F-21, Bag: Badgley Mischka

I love cuff bracelets and they always seem to give everything a little extra panache

I really love the way goldenrod looks next to camel. Bold and neutrals are always a nice spring look

 Have an amazing day!