Eatalian Deliciousness!

Eatalian Cafe

I have to thank my boyfriends mother Marilyn and her knowledge of unknown hip eateries! I gotta say, when we pulled up to what appeared to be a shabby establishment in West Compton, I wasn't sure what to expect. But I have to say, I was beyond pleasantly surprised by this bustling hidden gem of an Italian restaurant!

Inside they have an area where they make and process all of their own cheese and gelato!

The food was outstanding, just look at that Mozzarella Cheese! Oooh boy it was good...

I think this picture of the Butternut Squash Ravioli w/ Butter and Reggiano speaks for itself, but I'll back it up, it was daaamn good!

More baked temptations... 

Remember to always save room for desert... or in my case, 5. Between the Gelato and other fresh baked goodies it's hard to choose, so why bother?!

Eatalian Cafe
14842 Crenshaw Blvd. Gardena, CA 90249
Phone: (310) 516-0121

http://www.eataliancafe.com/

Lunch at Meet

Yesterday I joined some of my coworkers for a lady lunch at a local French bistro tucked away in the downtown Culver City stretch. We were situated right by the window and I have to say this place was quite adorable. I wasn't super hungry so I decided to have a "light" meal (that word has no business being at a french bistro)

Soupe A L'oignon Gratinee

French Onion Soup

with melted gruyere on a brioche crouton.

Anytime I see french onion soup on a menu (especially at a French restaurant) I make sure to order it, because I know it's going to be bubbling with cheese and amazing goodness unlike anything I could probably make myself. This soup was no different and even though it was small it did not disappoint, it was like a tiny cup of awesome covered in cheese and bread.

It was perfect and delicious!

Beet Salad

The other thing I ordered was this fancy beet salad. I am a HUGE beet fan and an even bigger fan of beet salads which involve goat cheese (I go insane for cheese, you will learn this about me if you don't know it already) I expected more salad than beet, but found the presentation to be very unique and pretty. Layer upon layer of beet with a layer of warm goat cheese on top. It was quite tasty indeed, and it's a great little spot to go delve into some french cuisine. A little on the pricer side, but none the less a great dining experience.

Meet French Bistro

9727 Culver Blvd

Culver City, CA

(310) 815-8222

Appetizer success!

It's football season which means it's time to dust off those tasty appetizer and h'orderves recipes!

All the ingredients were purchased from Trader Joe's and cost me less than $15. Using their pre-made pizza dough, cheese, and dipping sauce it was an instant success! My boyfriend and our friends were more than happy to be my guinea pigs for this tasty treat.

Garlic Bites

• 1 package pre-made dough (I used the garlic & herb kind from Trader Joe's)
• 1 block of Mozzarella cheese
• Garlic, minced or crushed
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• Marinara sauce/ ranch for dipping
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Olive Oil spray (also purchased at TJ's)
• 1 9" round baking dish

1. Preheat oven to 400-degrees

2. Cut Cheese into little squares, about 1/2"-1" in size

3. Take dough and roll into 1" balls

4. Wrap dough around cheese and pinch dough with fingers to hold the cheese in while cooking

5. Spray olive oil on baking dish (can also be used a bit on the dough to make it less sticky while handeling it)

6. Place the filled dough balls in the baking dish, it's okay if they're touching a bit, they will expand while cooking and can be pulled apart.

7. Take garlic and sprinkle it on top of each dough ball, then spray with olive oil, and top with parmesan cheese and a bit of salt & pepper.

8. Place in oven and cook for about 12-15 minutes or until top is golden brown and dough is cooked all the way through.

9. Serve with dipping sauce and voila!

Dinner with Friends

Last night my boyfriend Scott and I were invited over to a friend's house for an impromptu dinner party... The food was D-licious, the wine and the conversation was bottomless! It was so fun and turned out to be a great little saturday night! Below is some of the amazingness which took place.

Above Left: Chilian Sea Bass, Risotto, sautéed snap peas, Caesar salad, and cheesy garlic bread. Above Right: Bacon wrapped scallops with teriyaki sauce. Below: The beautiful display of the bacon wrapped scallops a la Davis!

Wilson Park Farmers Market

There really is something magical about a good farmers market. Something in the combination of a saturday morning, sunshine, being outdoors, and surrounding yourself with families, music, and fresh food goodness that really feels good to the soul.

This saturday morning we went to the Wilson Park Farmers Market in Torrance. I am a frequenter of this fantastic farmers market, it's a decent size, there's quite a bit of variety in the fruits & veggies for sale, and they have an AWESOME food court area where they sell things from Peruvian sandwiches to roasted corn and kick ass breakfast burritos! There's literally something for everyone.

Yesterday morning we decided to partake in some fresh corn tamales, a twisted garlic potato on a stick, and some Hawaiian donuts. All in all it was a great turnout, we left with 2 bags filled with fruit & snacks (and our full bellies) and only spend about $40.

Some people might consider that a pretty penny, but I feel like supporting local growers is well worth the cost! Plus, it gets you out and mingling with your neighbors in the sunshine... Not a shabby way to start your saturday!

TORRANCE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET

2200 Crenshaw Blvd. (between Sepulveda Blvd. and Carson St.)

Torrance, CA

Tuesdays, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

http://www.torranceca.gov/Parks/6620.htm

Lunchtime Deliciousness!

Samosa House

Yesterday for lunch I experienced the amazingness of the Indian grocery/ buffet! I have encountered several of these since moving to Los Angeles and I have to say I love them!

This particular store has a deal where you spend $7.99 and you get 3 main dishes, naan, and rice! Believe me when I say that it's more than the average person can take down in one sitting... I got a yogurt curry, paneer butter masala, and jackfruit, with garlic naan, and a potato samosa on the side. This was my first experience with jack fruit, it was quite tasty and apparently is frequently used by vegetarian restaurants since it has a similar texture to meat. I have to say I was skeptical, but it was quite delicious!

Restaurant info:

Samosa House

11510 W. Washington Blvd

Los Angeles CA, 90066

Phone: 310-398-6766

My first post

Hi there fellow foodies or foodie wanabe's like myself...

I love food... it's as simple as that. I live for good food and I figure, if I am going to enjoy it why not share it. So that's what I intend to do, one happy taste bud at a time. I will eat good food, take pictures, and report back to my faithful followers with a report of how amazing it was and where they too can find this amazing tasty treat. I started by just posting the pictures I took of the good food I ate to my facebook page, that was when I realized I sort of had a following, so why not give the people what they want and actually do this the proper way! So join me as I explore this world and indulge my ever hungry stomach.