pacific restaurant

Cabo San Lucas is such a quick lil jaunt from Los Angeles, so it has been my husband’s and my getaway of choice whenever we can sneak away for a long weekend (like we did for our babymoon!). We have come to love the beautiful oasis that is Nobu Los Cabos, as it's far removed from the busy touristy area, and the perfect spot for those looking to totally chill, get pampered, and eat good food! Pacific Restaurant at Nobu Los Cabos is a fine dining Mexican concept, featuring lots of fresh seafood and local ingredients, along with traditional taco & mezcal pairings. So basically right up our alley… Fancy Mexican food is one of my husband’s all-time favorite cuisines (remember Cosme?), blending casual street food flavors he loves along with elevated techniques he was trained with. Pacific checks all the boxes, so it’s no surprise we’ve made reservations here every time we stay at Nobu Los Cabos. Not to mention the beautiful seaside views and sunsets you get to take in as you dine- so heavenly!

Now onto the food. We really haven’t had a bad dish here. Everything has been flavorful, well-executed, and truly memorable. From the light and fresh pacific style scallop aguachile with green apple, mango & spiced seeds, to the rich and hearty corn mini sopes with beef bone marrow, black beans & pork chorizo, the appetizers are always a hit. I loved my perfectly cooked branzino with green mole & pumpkin seeds, and both the bone-in short rib and baked peking duck leg were absolutely mouthwatering. My husband raved about our meals. And not to mention how picturesque is each dish?! Be sure to scroll through the slide show to get more details on our meals at Pacific- it’s definitely a feast for the eyes as well. I’m already looking forward to our next trip to Nobu Los Cabos, and you can bet that a meal (or two!) at Pacific Restaurant will be on our agenda!

little gordo creemee stand

I’m an avid soft serve and fro-yo lover, so I always jump at the chance to try tasty local spots when I’m traveling. On a recent work trip to Burlington, Vermont, I got the opportunity to try a local delicacy known as a creemee, and was not disappointed in the least! Creemees are a super popular treat in Vermont, I learned, and they’re basically soft serve ice cream, but with perhaps a higher butterfat content, making them super creamy and delish. Yes please! Maple creemees in particular are very common here, since high quality maple syrup is so plentiful in the region. Little Gordo Creemee Stand is a cute little spot in Burlington that I came across on Instagram, and decided I had to try it out! It was a wet, chilly, snowy day, but that didn’t stop my mom & I from making the trek over. After some deliberation, I went with a chocolate creemee topped with plenty of sweet & salty peanut brittle. So delish! I’m all about a mix-in or topping with my soft serve, and I loved the crunchy texture that the brittle added. My mom is more of a purist- she went for a straight up banana creemee, and was super pleased as well! I can say for certain I’m now a creemee fan, and hope to be able to enjoy more of them soon!

jeff's table

Who doesn’t love a good sandwich? I’ve been craving them like woah lately, so it seemed like the perfect time to write about Jeff’s Table. This unassuming spot churns out delicious sammies in a repurposed liquor store in the Highland Park neighborhood of LA. It’s essentially a modern micro deli- think elevated deli sandwiches with fun and unique twists on classics. On this particular occasion I went for a seasonal cauliflower sandwich for myself, and I got a banh mi for the hubby, which is always a fave of his. This vegetarian sandwich included spice-roasted cauliflower and charred scallion with a housemade hoisin glaze, fermented jalapeño ginger puree with preserved lemon, fresh goat cheese, shaved fennel, and wild arugula on a fresh sammie roll. Plus, you can make it vegan by subbing goat cheese for avocado if that’s your jam. The banh mi was filled with house-smoked pork shoulder ham, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers, herbs, shaved jalapeño, aioli, and the star of the show- a house fermented chili garlic hot sauce! Both were super flavorful and delish. The menu changes seasonally, so make sure to stop in or look online to check out the latest offerings. I can’t wait to go back soon- yum!

sutra

Although I’m not vegan myself, I’m always down for a tasty plant-based meal. I think everyone could eat more plants in their lives, and I make it a point to eat plenty! I’ve been a fan of Matthew Kenney restaurants for a while- the vegan pizza at Double Zero is super delish!- and was excited to try out one of his latest NYC openings, Sutra. I love the “modern yet mindful” approach to cuisine here, and was truly blown away by the variety of flavors in each dish. The creative menu focuses on elevated, refined, plant-based food, and sits atop the rooftop of the Alo Yoga store in NYC’s Flatiron district. It’s a beautiful urban oasis, and the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.

I got the pleasure of enjoying a solo three course lunch one afternoon, and really savored each and every bite. I started with a frothy and earthy turmeric latte, followed by the spicy carrot roll as my appetizer. The carrot pate and the jalapeno cream cheese nestled in nori wraps was so unique and tasty. For my entree, I went with the beet poke bowl, which featured avocado, wakame, macadamia nuts, edamame and cauliflower rice, and was both refreshing and satisfying. Never one to skip dessert, I had to try the deconstructed banana & coconut cream pie for dessert. Oh my glory- this was to die for. I was quite full by this point, but I just couldn’t help but going back to finish the entire plate. And how gorgeous was the presentation too?! If you’re in NYC, I definitely recommend stopping by for a nourishing, vibrant, and delicious meal.

the canyon bakery

I love when I find a cute spot with tasty eats in my neighborhood. Perhaps because there aren’t all that many options here in Topanga? The Canyon Bakery is a local bakery churning out freshly milled whole grain baked goods, naturally leavened breads, pastries & pizzas here in the canyon! They take online orders for Friday pick ups, but currently are only “open” as a weekend pop up, aka Sunday Fundays! After stalking their Instagram for a while, we finally made it over to try out the goods. Their freshly milled Hundo whole grain Sonora cinnamon rolls had caught my eye, so that was a must order, and it did not disappoint! The giant spinach & cheese spelt croissant swirl was flakey and delicious as well. Talk about up my alley!

If you’re a fan of freshly baked breads, definitely grab a loaf or two to take home. The sprouted ancient grain and the chocolate cherry rye loaves were both big hits in our house, whether turned into a sandwich or eaten alone! There are plenty of gluten free things on the menu as well, including bagels, muffins and a millet bread, so don’t feel like you have to miss out if you happen to have a sensitivity to wheat or gluten. I’m also happy to see that on subsequent trips, The Canyon Bakery seems to be expanding their menu a bit, to include exciting things like whole grain focaccias studded with purple potatoes & castelvetrano olives, apricot jam brioche buns with creme fraiche & mint, and roasted shallot & gruyere buns! Next on my list to try are their Hundo spelt pizzas! Yum!

surfrider malibu

If you are planning a trip to Malibu, I definitely recommend checking out The Surfrider Malibu. This boutique hotel is the epitome of chic, oozing with California surf culture, and is situation right on the coast with expansive sea views. As if that’s not reason enough to book your stay, their rooftop restaurant churns out some truly fresh and delicious local-inspired cuisine. The menus are Coastal-Californian with a focus on locally sourced, sustainable and organic produce, and strike a wonderful balance between farmland and sea. The drinks are not to be missed either, and include natural and organic vineyards and distilleries, Ayurvedic tea houses, local coffee roasteries, and a cocktail menu featuring local produce. The vibe here is as if you’re hanging out on the deck of your own Malibu beach house (if only we could all be so lucky), so relax and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch al fresco- no shoes required!

I’ve gotten the opportunity to dine here midday for a post-beach brunch, as well as for a nice dinner out with friends, and each time the food was thoroughly enjoyed, having us planning our return trip soon. I mean, seriously, how picture perfect are these dishes? The Gjusta bakery sourdough with burrata is never a bad way to start the meal, along with the fresh ceviche. I highly suggest ordering any of the fresh fish on the menu- in our case this was a wild caught, local catch of the day served in a balinese curry that was just to die for! And that flat iron steak (from local Santa Carota Ranch) was cooked perfectly and plated beautifully as well. My toddler and I were huge fans of the (gigantic) seasonal cobbler, which featured local blackberries, heirloom apples, coconut crisp & vanilla gelato, and was the perfect ending to our meal :) I’m getting hungry again just writing this, so looks like we need to plan a return trip soon!