A little Los Angeles before the year ends

We came out to LA to get out of the cold and get a new attitude before the year ends.  Josh wanted to come out here for a week with his friend and eat his way around the city.  We will return again in January to stay thru the end of March.  This will be out third year doing this.  It takes time to get into the cadence of another city after living so many years in NYC.  Many people who have moved out to LA from NYC say it took took a few years to adjust so I am feeling in line with the norm.

We hit up a few favorites starting with Rustic Canyon our first night out there.  The food is always good.  My favorite of the evening was Pozole Verde with mussels, hominy, poblanos and tortilla strips.  It was absolutely delicious.  The flavors were layered but it wasn’t in your face.

The other fave from the crowd was the pork terrine.  Super rich.

The following morning we got up and went to the Eames Foundation.  Right off the PCH into the Palisades.  Just walking on to the property and seeing the beach below is breathtaking.  This house was built in 1949.  Charles and Ray Eames were the king and queen of modernism from architecture to furniture to design.

There are so many recognizable pieces inside.  The house sits on top of the area they call the meadow.  It is so worth going to see.  Favorite quote from Ray Eames “Always be Gracious”.  Couldn’t agree more.

Headed over to Mendocino Farms for lunch.  Had the Save Drakes Farm salad.  Great sandwiches too.

After an afternoon of activities which included a few calls and yoga we headed out for dinner.  Went to Echigo, one of our favorite local spots, for sushi.  One of the classic Los Angeles sushi endings to the meal is the warm rice crab meat salad roll.  So damn good.

The Bigg Chill is our dessert spot, post-sushi.  Always crowded, always good.

Back home for another day of sunshine.

 

Comments (Archived):

  1. Tracey Jackson

    Did not know about this. Thank you for the tip! Will go next trip. Merry Christmas to all The Wilsons!

    1. Gotham Gal

      you would love it!

  2. awaldstein

    Have a great new year!I’ll be in LA on the 9th.Big fan of the NY/LA lifestyle/

    1. Gotham Gal

      It’s the best of both worlds

    2. Donna Brewington White

      I still aspire to this lifestyle. :)Will reach out through other means in case you are free for coffee, etc., while in town.

  3. Dan Wick

    That firestick succulent is amazing. I have a small version of it. It gets bigger every year, but Minnesota winters will never allow it get as large as that beauty. Happy Holidays!!!

    1. Gotham Gal

      Amazing colors! Happy holidays to you too

  4. Bethany Scott Herwegh

    Welcome back to LA! I like that you come here to eat because I go to New York to eat! I am now a member of 37 Angels and had the most wonderful meal at Modern the last time I was there. So good!If you are ever in Manhattan Beach I highly recommend Manhattan House. And even though it is super old school, I always enjoy my meals at Valentinos in Santa Monica.

    1. Gotham Gal

      I actually just eat anywhere. Push comes to shove NYC is definitely the place to eat it allWill add this to the list when we return

  5. JLM

    .Good advice in all things — including elections — “Always be gracious.”Happy Holidays.JLMwww.themusingsofthebigredca…

  6. Twain Twain

    I love NYC but it’s worse than London, weather-wise, in the winter. One year I was staying in Carroll Gardens and woke up to about 6 inches of snow.My cycle is now SF-LDN. Looking forward to returning to SF in Jan, where I can go hike the Big Sur with my friends followed by a nice glass of vino. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…Sundays I can go to Brenda’s French Soul food on the nicer edges of the dodgy Tenderloin and enjoy the best crayfish beignets & Po’ Boys. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…And when I feel like a treat, it’s one of those pop-up restaurants like Ichido:* https://www.yelp.com/biz/ichttps://uploads.disquscdn.c

  7. Donna Brewington White

    Eames Foundation. I have passed this hundreds (thousands?) of times and been within steps away and did not know it was there. Funny how I learn so much about the town I have lived in most of my adult life through this blog. Adding Eames Foundation to the list.