real coconut kitchen

I love that there are so many fresh, healthy and flavorful eats in my area of Los Angeles. You can find tasty yet nourishing food almost anywhere you go, and that truly just makes my heart sing. Real Coconut Kitchen is a plant-focused, 100% gluten, grain, and dairy free restaurant serving up vibrant food in a chic Malibu setting. Their recipes truly define what it means to be a conscious kitchen- doing good for both your body and the world as a whole. Real Coconut sources organic produce, pasture-raised eggs and chicken, and wild-caught seafood from local farms and fisherman, and this quality commitment really shines through in every dish.

I’ve gotten to dine at Real Coconut Kitchen on a number of occasions now- from a quick smoothie & baked good to several lavish lunches on the outdoor patio, I’ve sampled quite a bit of the menu at this point, and there are many standouts. The fish tacos are light and crispy, with a zesty jalapeno radish salsa, served on housemade coconut flour tortillas. Seasonal salads are always a hit- can’t go wrong with nourishing veggies in my book! My bestie Rachel of Rachel Mcconn Wellness got us hooked on their Fried Chicken Bites (and even created her own version at home!)- the coconut buttermilk and grain-free plantain batter are anything but traditional, but super delicious all the same. I’m a big fan of their smoothies and shakes- from the Deep Green health infusion to indulgent-tasting Mint Choco Chip (sweetened with dates!), there’s something for everyone. My son thoroughly enjoyed his vegan blueberry lemon donut as well!

Besides the stellar food, another impressive aspect of The Real Coconut family is their focus on conscious food innovation. Their menus focus on low impact and nutrient dense hero crops: coconut, cassava, plantain, hemp, and marine phytoplankton to name a few. I love that they proudly support local & international farmers and agricultural programs, recognizing the impact each ingredient choice can make along the way. In addition, they continually strive to minimize their environmental impact, through reducing food waste, recycling and composting programs, repurposing cooking oil for biodiesel, and using low to no plastic, whenever possible. Talk about impressive! They also have a Market, where they sell some of their packaged items like plantain flour bread, cassava flour bagels, coconut yogurt, coconut flour tortilla chips, and more, so you can stock up your pantry at home as well! PS- the original Real Coconut Kitchen location is in Tulum. Perhaps a Mexico trip is in order soon?!

real coconut kitchen food

tartine bianco

I was so excited when I heard that the Tartine Bakery group was opening here in Los Angeles. I have a huge soft spot for this San Francisco-based restaurant and bakery, so to have one open so close to me was wonderful news. The Manufactory, as its known, is also conveniently located at The Row DTLA, which is a cute open-air facility with plenty of fun shops and restaurants to pop into. Whether you’re in the mood for a more formal sit-down meal, or looking to grab a quick coffee or soft serve to-go, The Manufactory’s got you covered. There’s The Market for tasty flatbreads and specialty food items, The Ice Cream & Coffee Window for drinks, baked goods and ice cream, Tartine Bianco serving seasonal Cali-Italian cuisine, and finally Alameda Supper Club for a more elevated private dining experience. All of that housed under one roof! The space itself is beautiful too- huge windows that allow light to flood in at all hours of the day- with a super modern, industrial feel, and a large, shared open kitchen.

On a couple recent visits, we’ve dined at Tartine Bianco, the all-day restaurant whipping up all kinds of delights with fresh ingredients from the farmers market. It’s very comparable to its San Fran counterpart, Tartine Manufactory, a place I’ve dined at and absolutely loved. One main focus of the menu is the famous Tartine Bread (duh!), and food good reason. Choose from toasts, smørrebrøds, and flatbreads, or just get the bread basket with a couple of dips and go to town. Oh my glory, it’s honestly some of the best bread I have ever tasted. Baked to perfection, doughy and chewy on the inside, with the perfectly crisp, crunchy crust. Do yourself a favor and order a loaf to-go as well so you can keep the enjoyment going for a couple more days! The rest of the meal did not disappoint either, from the grilled beets with chermoula to the lamb shank with sunchokes to the malted brownie sundae, you really cannot go wrong. And how pretty is that chicken liver toast?! It’s practically a work of art. Click through the slideshow below to check out the rest of our fantastic meal, and get ready to drool! I look forward to picking up some bread and pastries, and perhaps (read: definitely) making a pit stop at the Ice Cream Window for some delicious soft serve very soon!

fiona bakery

Fiona Bakery was a cute little cafe in West Hollywood serving up seasonal dishes and baked goods that truly allow California’s bounty to shine. I say was, because unfortunately I just got word that they closed their doors for good this past Sunday! Such sad news, to be honest. But with crazy high rent costs and never-ending competition, the restaurant industry is a super difficult place to find success. Ever since I first spotted their sesame butter toast on Instagram, I knew I had to check it out. So when I stopped by for lunch with a good friend recently, the aforementioned bread was obviously ordered. I’m pretty much obsessed with anything involving sesame or tahini, and this did not disappoint. I loved the sweet and savory vibes going on- the sea salt honey was the perfect complement to the creamy sesame butters and chewy, yet fluffy brioche! After ogling over the beautifully impressive pastry case (and vowing to return to try more items soon), we decided to balance things out with a couple of their fresh salads. I loved the Vietnamese-meets-Cali-influenced menu- both the shredded cabbage & chicken salad and little gem salad were bright and flavorful. The menu also featured rice noodle salads and savory sweet potato pancakes- not to mention classic banh mi sandwiches that my husband absolutely adores! Those cookies stacked high in the pastry case (and the carrot cake!) continue to call my name to this day as well. Although I’m super bummed Fiona has since closed its doors, I remain hopeful the team will open another spot soon!

trois familia

When you're tired of the same 'ol thing, and really craving something outside the box, I highly suggest you head to Trois Familia. This French-Mexican fusion spot comes from Chef Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, and Vinny Dotolo, and is part of the highly acclaimed Trois Mec/Petit Trois family, so you know going in that it's got a lot to live up to. Just browsing through the photos above will show you how colorful and creative the dishes are, and I can attest that everything is just as flavorful and decadent as it looks. Some items on the menu may sound a little out there- beet tartare tostada? Parisian gnocchi? hashbrown chilaquiles?- and I wouldn't fault you for questioning if they'll work. Chef Ludo does what he does best, however, and blends the flavors and techniques of Mexican and French cuisines seamlessly. Each dish offers the comforts of what you'd expect, plus a surprising flair to make it something entirely different. The beet (not beef!) tartare tostada was a personal fave- the crunchy tostada was complemented perfectly from the fresh lime and avocado crema. Also, how much does it look like real beef tartare?! The mussels Marinière were packed full of garlic, white wine, and herbs, and the grilled bread was perfect for soaking up every last drop of sauce. Don't miss their signature tres leches birthday cake for dessert! 

al fassia

First off, I want to apologize for the photos in this post. The lighting at Al Fassia is pretty dim at night, but the food couldn't be more delicious! For some of the best traditional Moroccan food in Marrakech, I cannot recommend Al Fassia enough. This place, which is located in Gueliz (new city) as opposed to the medina (old city) where we were staying, came highly recommended by numerous people, and I now totally understand why. We hopped in a taxi one evening and ventured out of the medina in search of some tasty, traditional eats, and couldn't have been more pleased with our meal. After seeing a colorful assortment of small plates on many other tables, we decided to start with the selection of fine salads. This consisted of beets, eggplant, carrots, and tomatoes (among others) prepared in various ways, some fresh and marinated, and others cooked down into a dip or spread. Everything was just bursting with flavor, and was the perfect complement to the freshly baked bread. I loved the beautifully hand-painted plates as well! For our entrées, we both chose chicken tagines, which seemed to be somewhat of a specialty here. Mine came with caramelized pumpkin, while my husbands was topped with caramelized onions and raisins. Both came served in their own sauce from the tagine, with a side of simple cous cous to soak up all that juicy goodness! Glory, my mouth is watering just thinking about it all again now! This was a truly memorable meal in Marrakech, one that I hope I get to experience again in the future!

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lighthouse

I'm all about a seasonal menu with tons of healthy, fresh food- even better if it's got a slightly Mediterranean vibe! Lighthouse is all those things and more, with a focus on sustainability and local produce! I was excited to stop in for brunch with some girlfriends recently, and I love the laid back feeling of home you get from the moment you walk in. The whole place gets tons of light from the huge windows, and there's plenty of outdoor seating as well, which I'm sure makes the perfect spot for brunch or happy hour come summer. We started with their signature freshly baked challah bread with housemade tahini and pickles. There's not much better than fresh baked bread, except when it's slathered in rich and creamy tahini. We chose an assortment of entrees, and I loved all the bright colors involved! From vegetable salads to grilled chicken bowls to chilaquiles to ceviche, there's certainly something for everyone! I really want to try the charred eggplant bowl with green coconut rice and tahini as it sounds totally up my alley, and I think my husband would be all about the duck pita with calabrian chili! Guess we will just have to head back soon :) Make sure to click through the photos for more details on our delish meal!