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July 5, 2007

Fresh out of the rumor mill

A colleague who talked to somebody who knows something told them that there's a chance that Santa Clarita might get its own Porto's Bakery real soon. This colleague, a foodie in their own right, said that the Cuban bakery usually has a line around the block for its goodies.

Sounds good to me. Wonder if they'll have any sugar- or fat-free items?

And here's one bit of news that I heard from Jill Jackson, baker extraordinaire - Dessert Alert will soon have some lighter-calorie items so people trying to be good can savor her sweet concoctions. Call Jill at (661) 753-9269, or visit her Web site at dessertalert.com for online temptations.

Posted by crock at 10:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 2, 2007

The Westside sucks for people who hate to wait

So we go over the hill yesterday to enjoy a bit of time on the beach. And we've got to eat, no? Between Ilene and myself, we came up with a bunch of places on our long trail from Santa Monica to Venice, then to Westwood.

The Rose Cafe on Main Street and Rose Avenue in Venice -- too crowded.

Baja Fresh on Main St. in Venice -- We should've followed the firemen we see at every BF and eaten there. We figured that Mani's Bakery/Restaurant might be OK by 1:30.

Mani's on Main Street in Santa Monica -- too crowded, and there's pretty much a free-for-all there, meaning if you spy a table, you can grab it, but otherwise you're on your own (i.e. no "host/ess")

The really cool looking Euphoria Loves Rawvolution, 2301 Main St., Santa Monica -- raw food mecca. Same as Mani's -- except fewer tables and no relief in site. We got a "trio" of dessertish cookies (coconut ball, truffle and nutty cookie -- all excellent) for $5. I loved the free box of food we got from Rawvolution at the Daily News months ago and would've loved more, but after miles of walking, you want to sit down when you eat a $15 sandwich -- right? F'n right. I plan to return during a non-weekend day with a pile of money.

Real Food Daily on Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica -- too crowded (did I say I hate to wait?).

Then we drove homeward, stopping in front of the great Native Foods on Le Conte Ave. in Westwood. We barely missed about three street spaces, and with some film festival taking up most of the parking, packed it in.

So we headed back to the Valley, intending to hit the Good Earth on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, but right when we hit Fulton Avenue, Ilene had a great idea: the Sharky's burrito with tofu and a whole-wheat tortilla on the off-the-beaten-path location -- Burbank Boulevard near Fulton in Sherman Oaks/Valley Glen.

That's one kick-ass burrito ... with all the salsa you can use and a very fizzy soft-drink machine (diet Coke was needed to prop up one's head). As always, there were members of the uniformed legions of Los Angeles (this time the LAPD) eating at Sharky's -- if you want to know where to eat, ask a police officer or firefighter.

Final question. Is Santa Monica considered part of the Westside? I say yes.

Posted by Steven Rosenberg at 5:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

No doughnuts for me

I went to my new favorite Starbucks (Sherman Way, just west of Sepulveda, on the way to the Daily News from Lulu's school). There was a line.

I had time to ponder.

Doughnut. Or no doughnut.

After Friday's three-doughnut feedfest, I vowed to cease the eating of doughnuts, but by Monday, the craving was back.

Sugary, sugary doughnuts.

As I said, I had time to think.

I got up to the counter.

"Venti drip. Dark."

And that was all.

Pray for me, O readers (all three of you).

Posted by Steven Rosenberg at 9:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack