Bottega Louie (LV's LA)

Do you like great architecture? How about sugar?

Bottega Louie has gorgeous marble floors, whitewalls, gold trim, stunning high ceilings, a beautiful open air setting and plenty of sugar. The restaurant is stunning aesthetically and they have the most beautiful display of sugary confections, which include all manner of delicious things that make our jeans too tight.

I digress

 Bottega Louie is one of the best restaurants in downtown Los Angeles and has a great selection of Italian food and pastries. This loud, energetic and gorgeous space is a combination of restaurant, patisserie and gourmet marketplace.  The marketplace section of the restaurant reminds me of Dean and Deluca in New York and Williams Sonoma. 

At the front entrance is a rainbow display of decadent dessert’s and Macarons in every color of the rainbow. Every dessert you even think you want, I am sure they have it. Loud, energetic and lots of people watching make this a fun spot to indulge in Italian food and sweet treats. If you are looking for quiet and romantic, this is not the spot, but if you want LOUD, Lively and festive with good food, this is it. If you choose to dine during peak hours, expect crowds and long lines. 

Perusing all of the delicious possibilities

  

We started with the Modena salad  with butter lettuce, candied walnuts, goat cheese, shallots and balsamic vinaigrette. It was a delicious way to start the meal and the salad was fresh and had the perfect mix of savory and a hint of sweet crunch from the walnuts

 

 Our server brought this delicious piping hot bread and whipped butter. I could have eaten about five more of these loafs

 

 For the main course we had shrimp scampi with grilled giant tiger prawns, yukon gold mashed potatoes and white wine marinere sauce and to satisfy my carnivore craving, we also had short ribs that were prepared with landon ragu,white polenta, sage and ricotta. Both dishes were very tasty and flavorful

 

Such a beautiful space

Bottega Louie is bustling with people every time I go. So expect it to be very LOUD

with the open kitchen, people watching and Parisian vibe, you will never have a dull moment

 

 After a sumptuous meal. The desserts started calling

 

 I told the cakes, cookies and this fresh berry tart that I wasn't home

 

The desserts kept calling

I tried to say no

so tempting

really tempting

They have such an amazing display of packaged gift items. I always leave with a box of macarons or some other sweet treat

You can treat yourself or someone you love to something sweet:-)

 

The desserts kept calling, so I finally answered. We indulged in warm Beignets and coffee by candlelight. The Beignets were served with Nutella and a raspberry dipping sauce. Both of them were absolutely divine

 I can't think of a more perfect way to end a meal

 

Well, the only thing that tops coffee and beignets, is to buy a box of macarons to take home so you can munch on them later with coffee and a good book

 

Reservations are not taken at Bottega Louie, so unless you go during non peak hours, expect a long wait, but the sugar rush from dessert will make you forget how long you waited for your table:-)

Bottega Louie

700 South Grand Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90017

213-802-1470

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huckleberry Cafe (LV's LA)

Huckleberry is a Santa Monica eatery known for using high quality ingredients and fresh produce from local farms. This is a farm to table restaurant where everything is made on site. Organic flour, Vahlrona Chocolate and lots of produce from local farmers. Everything is fresh and delicious, but there is a price to pay for the high quality of food.  It is worth the splurge every once in a while because the quality of food is so superb.

Food lovers can enjoy fresh baked bread, pastries, and savory dishes in a rustic inviting atmosphere. Like most great eateries, Huckleberry is always crowded, especially on the weekend. This is a pay first, find a seat after establishment. You pay and they bring your food to you. They have a policy that you cannot have anyone hold a table for you, so if you come during peak hours it can be a challenge. The challenge is increased if you have a child with you because you have to scramble around hoping you find somewhere to sit. Don't come here if you are in a hurry because you will definitely wait in line.

The Thursday night family dinners at Huckleberry are a great way to enjoy a meal here with your kids. The meals are $30.00 and include appetizers an entree and dessert. Kids eat for half price and if they are 5 and under they eat for free. The menu constantly evolves with the seasons and the fresh produce available from local farms find its way into the many different dishes. The Thursday night dinners is a great concept with some pretty amazing food, although some of it might not be palatable to a child's finicky taste buds. But if you are lucky enough to come on a night when there is fried chicken or fish n chips, it will please even the pickiest of children:-)

Their is a great selection of pastries.

Definitely a great place for a sugar fix to go with your coffee

Decisions Decisions

 Doesn't this look delicious?

This lemon poppy seed cake was so moist and delicious. Every bite was bursting with lemony goodness. Would it be wrong to buy a whole loaf and have it for dinner?

This roasted brussel sprout salad was flavorful and a great complement to the rest of the meal

Turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with spring salad. Fresh and Delicious

 If you are in Santa Monica, this is a great place to grab a bite before you hit the beach or the many shops in Santa Monica. Make sure you get some treats to take home and enjoy. I promise that around midnight when you can't sleep and are channel surfing, you will thank me when you reach into that bag and find something tasty to munch on.

Huckleberry

1014 Wilshire Blvd

Santa Monica, CA 90401

310-451-2311

Culina (LV's LA)

There are some places that just make you want to be outdoors . Culina is one of those places.  Located in the heart of Beverly Hills and a part of the gorgeous Four Seasons Hotel, is an enchanting Italian restaurant. Culina is gorgeous inside and out, but the tranquil patio beckons you to indulge in an Al fresco dining experience. The lush outdoor patio is a garden oasis with fresh trees,tropical anthuriums and the scent of fresh flowers. This is what dining in Southern California is all about. Blue skies, lush landscaping and delicious food.

So many choices

 The party got started with this tasty Pina Colada mocktail

I have enjoyed lunch here, but coming here early evening was a different experience. The candles cast a soft glow over the patio and the vibe is laid back and relaxing.

It is easy to get swept away by the scenery

Especially with beautiful touches like this bubble chandelier

absolutely lovely to look at, but the food, yes, the food, is worth taking note of.

 The menu offers a nice balance of Italian favorites and some modern twists on favorites. We started with the delicious Tricolore salad, which is a blend of wild arugula, treviso, frisee, grapes,  white balsamic vinaigrette and parmagiano reggiano

 Another salad we tried had Proscuitto, frisee, radicchio, canteloupe, pine nuts,gorgonzola and wild arugula brought together with a lemony dressing

The freshly baked  Foccacia is always perfect and absolutely addicting

Cheers to the good life!

These beautiful Anthuriums remind me of Maui

And the star of the night was the Lasagna Bolognese. This dish had the perfect blend of turkey, ricotta cheese, spinach and tomatoes

 Such a gorgeous space to relax and enjoy a nice dinner

Doesn't this look scrumptious?

And this cheesy goodness is what lies beneath the surface

 The fire pit and candle light on the tables make the ambiance inviting and romantic. Perfect for snuggling next to that special someone while a trail of stars watch from above 

The Chocolate Tortino dessert is a rich molten chocolate cake with salted caramel gelato.

This amazing looking dessert is the Afogato, which is vanilla bean gelato, expresso, cotton candy and pinoli cookies

The expresso is poured over the cotton candy and vanilla bean gelato. If you love coffee flavored desserts, this is perfect!

 Such great service here and a great indoor and outdoor space. This place is one of my best kept secrets...but not anymore:-)

Culina 

300 S. Doheny Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

310-860-4000