Caffe Primo - Santa Barbara

I don't normally take time throughout the year until the end because of how hectic work can be. And I honestly don't have anything planned for myself to begin with. I am ready to leave 2016 behind. It was tough, and for most of the hard times, it lingered for months like mold rotten behind a wall you don't know about. I just couldn't save myself from it and it sucked my soul for the rest of the year. Come 2017, I'm going to make sure I don't let that happen again.

We decided to take a short trip to Santa Barbara this winter. More so for the scenic route since I really didn't want to drive down to San Diego again. The drive is just not enjoyable. The weather was gorgeous in Santa Barbara and I immediately fell in Love with State street downtown SB. The buildings were pretty much all Spanish style. Super tall that it casted a shadow from the sun which was the only con I can give. Not really doing much research on restaurants, I relied on yelp to find a satisfying Italian place to lunch.

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Without much luck, a lot of restaurants were closed and some seemed like closed for good. That's when we stumbled upon Caffe Primo. Tall glass windows casting tons of soft light into the dining hall. It created such a warm welcoming vibe that I was ready for. And, Italian. Something I was craving. I just want to slather noodles in my mouth big bites at a time. It's one of those months. 

Each table was greeted with a small vase of fresh flowers. This easily enlightened the mood. Santa Barbara you are winning.

A lot of water was needed to stay hydrated throughout the day. Especially with all the coffee we've been drinking.

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Caesar salad. Delicious, but the wrong dressing was mixed. This was actually a balsamic dressing. I didn't want to return this because it would go to waste. And it tasted fine so we didn't mind.

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White truffle angel hair pasta. Succulent shrimp with a white truffle cream sauce. Everything was cooked perfectly. The sauce was nice and creamy. The avocado was a new twist, but added an extra layer of creaminess that worked well with the tartness of the tomato. The white truffle was subtle, but you knew it was there. I would definitely order this again.

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Short Rib Pappardelle. Braised short ribs that will melt in your mouth tossed in a red wine mushroom ragu. Topped off with Reggiano for that nice bite. This is so classic and excellent for the weather. Extremely comforting.

Done and

done.

516 State St Santa Barbara, CA 93108

The Attic on Broadway - Long Beach

The Attic reminds me of a restaurant I went to when I was in La Jolla. It feels very homey and beachy at the same time. Walking in is almost like walking through a small cottage, just with plenty of tables around.

Their menu is simple yet experimental. They are known for their hot cheetos mac and cheese. No, I didn't get it this time around due to a long day of activities. I am lactose intolerant so it was not the day to load up on cheese. They also have other selections like shrimp and grits, jambalaya, and ribs to say the least. They also have your classic eggs and bacon, waffles, chicken and waffles, and all the good stuff.

We ordered there: Short rib poutine, FGT Benedict (Fried green tomato), and Duck Confit omelet. 

Fried Green Tomatoes, andouille sausage and poached eggs on an english muffin topped with their signature cajun hollandaise and green onions. This was served with their house cajun potatoes and a mixed fruit cup. The tomatoes were tart which helps all the richness from the egg and hollandaise sauce.

Red onion, spinach, sundried tomato in an omelette topped with crispy duck, goat cheese, and cranberry gastrique. Also served with mixed fruit and cajun potatoes. I liked the touch of the cranberry gastrique. 

Hand-Cut fries, topped with braised short ribs, caramelized onions, mozarella cheese curds, red wine demi-glace, and of course, topped with red onion. This will go perfect with any time of day. If you are sad and depressed, eat this. Happy or mad? Eat this.. with Louisianna Hot Sauce. Definitely a fork stabbing food, but I couldn't help myself picking at it with my fingers from time to time.

They get pretty packed. I recommend you make a reservation.

3441 East Broadway Long Beach, CA 90803

562.433.0153

Osteria La Buca - Los Angeles

I got to visit Osteria La Buca during Sunday brunch over the weekend. Los Angeles. You would think the 101 is free or at least think people are at church. No. The 101 towards downtown will forever be filled with cars along with stop and go traffic. Oh the joy. Knowing this restaurant is located on Melrose is also another stinger to think you will need to drive into LA. Before I got all boo-hoo-crybaby-face. My gps told me my destination would be on my left in 1 mile. 1 MILE. Melrose blvd is no joke. But to know the restaurant is on the outskirts of the busy street was music to my ears.

And I got the ultimate VIP parking right in front. It was all luck and perfect timing coordination on my part. So Sunday, 12 PM, time to eat.

Aye Aye to a full bar. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever mood you are in, they will fix you up.

No cocktails for me that day. Played 9 hours of Final Fantasy XV the night before so coffee was definitely imperative that day.

California Toast - Toasted rosemary sourdough, avocado, soft scrambled eggs and an arugula herb salad. I loved the arugula herb salad. It was a nice touch and not something I expected when I took a bite. The eggs were perfectly soft scrambled for all the Chef Gordon Ramsay's out there.

Neighborhood pizza - Guajillo sauce, taleggio cheese, pancetta, pickled pearl onions and baked egg. What part of that do you not like? This pizza was delicious. I loved the pickled pearl onions touch. We keep a jar of these all the time and it's a great palate cleanser. The pickled onions helped by cutting the richness from the pancetta and baked eggs. The guajillo sauce and taleggio cheese was a nice touch. And Pancetta? Well, Pancetta.

Grab a slice, and swim it through the eggs.

The famous Bucatini Carbonara that I've been seeing everywhere. Made with house pancetta, poached egg, and freshly cracked pepper. The pasta was perfectly al dente that springs back with each bite. The egg was also executed beautifully with a soft runny yolk. The element that brought this home for me was the cracked black pepper. It gave it a nice heat element that warms your face and your throat as it goes down. It had great flavor too.

The steps to eat carbonara: Pop that yolk. Toss the pasta. Twirl your pasta from your fork in your spoon. Keep spinning. Eat.

Make your reservations.

 5210 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038

320 Main - Seal Beach

What I love about trying different restaurants is the different destinations it leads me to. 320 Main is located on Main street along with many small business shops to check out. It feels like the matured version of downtown Long Beach. Just a local friends and family gathering scene though I could be wrong during the evening Happy Hours.

We came to 320 Main during brunch, and it was such a pleasant surprise. 

Pimms Cup

What's a brunch without a cocktail? This simple mixture is nothing short on flavor. Pimm's with some lemon, ginger and cucumber. I had a cold, but this ironically made me feel etter. Must be the ginger.

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Creole Shrimp & Grits

These were jumbo shrimps cooked perfectly. Extremely plump and flavorful. Cooked with andouille sausage with some good ole cheese grits.

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Smoked pork chop

This dish was ridiculous. It's every pig lover's dream. A huge pork chop with seared crispy fat served with some potato hash, sunny side, and an apple fig jam with crunchy toast. This is what brunch is all about. Great to share, but I devoured this all by myself.

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They also serve great food to pair with drinks like duck poutines.

320 Main Seal Beach CA, 90740 562-799-6246

Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop - Glendale

There are a few Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop's located in SoCal, but the newest one that I am aware of is in Glendale. Being alongside with Shake Shack and Philz coffee on Brand, this street is going to be lit with hungry shoppers since there's not much offerings at the Americana. You can park at the structure located at the Americana for 90 minutes free, or you can cross your finger to find parking behind the restaurant (or front). But, there are plenty of parking arrangements in the area that are either free or affordable.

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They sell all kinds of beverages like infused water, espressos, and protein shakes like this Acai Berry with acai berry puree, strawberries, blueberries, apple and cranberry juices, banana & pure naked protein (great for on the go).

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Build your entree dinner options. Pick a protein and 2 gourmet sides. This is the flat iron steak with baked sweet potato fries with avocado pestp and pomegranate quinoa (they say pomegranate, but it's actually cranberries). 

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Huevos Rancheros served with over easy eggs, refried black beans, chipotle sauce, pico de gallo, avocado & crisp corn tortilla strips. One of my favorite things to order when I'm here.

Check out their menu here.

252 s. brand blvd., glendale, ca 91204