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!

cali cream ice cream

My family loves a good ice cream spot. Even better when there’s endless flavors with seasonal and dairy-free options as well! We got the chance to visit Cali Cream Ice Cream when we were visiting Encinitas recently, and it did not disappoint. They churn out all homemade flavors made in small batches at this location as well as in San Diego. Although I do get slightly overwhelmed when there’s so many choices (57?!), but the employees were awesome and let us try several flavors to help make our decisions. I ended up with a cup of Graham Central (graham cracker-flavored ice cream with graham ripple and chocolate covered honeycomb crunch) and Coffee (dairy-free, but still super creamy and delish)! My husband went for a couple super chocolatey options as per usual- Oreo Dough, a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream with large chunks of Oreo cookies was a huge hit. My son Dylan even got a free kiddie cone for his birthday! Yum! I definitely need to go back ASAP for the S’mores, Praline Pecan, Almond Joy, Coconut Cream Pie, Gooey Fudge Brownie…. You get the idea, let’s just say there’s a lot of flavors on my list to try. And now there’s likely seasonal holiday options as well? Yes please!

qué padre

Mexican food is a fan favorite in our house. While there is some debate as to what style or rendition is best- my husband is from New Mexico, I’m from Texas, and we live in California- we can definitely appreciate a good taco, margarita and some chips & guacamole! From super casual to fine dining, you can really get good Mexican food across the board these days, and I was pumped to try a new spot in our area called Qué Padre. Specializing in street-style tacos, this coastal cantina packs its menu with the freshest of flavors from all over Mexico. There’s a bit of Cali influence thanks to the locally-sourced ingredients, and I have to say I really enjoyed this modern take on all your Mexican favorites. Located in Palisades Village, the atmosphere at Qué Padre is totally chill and laid back, allowing you to sip on some tasty tequilas while dining out in the sun. Totally up my alley! Not to mention it’s adjacent to the grassy, park area so kiddies can play as well.

My boys and I got to enjoy a delicious taco feast soon after the grand opening, and we all left completely satisfied- and perhaps a bit too full! If you like a fun beverage, I definitely recommend browsing the cocktail & drinks menu. So many unique offerings (whether you’re in the mood for an alcoholic beverage or not)- from horchata (spiked or kid-friendly) to aguas frescas to an extensive tequila list to refreshing cocktails and more! I can’t resist a negroni, so tried their tequila version, which was super smooth and totally hit the spot. My hubby went the more traditional route, and was also quite pleased with his spicy margarita. Now, on to the food! Do yourself a favor and order the scallop ceviche, plus the lobster en nogada, camarón, and carnitas tacos. The little details (think mexican coke-braised pork, charred pineapple, jalapeño ash, poached lobster tail, morita black bean purée…) really allow the quality and flavors to shine through. So delish! You can totally taste the difference in the house-made corn tortillas too. And of course, since no meal of mine is complete without dessert, we had to indulge in the Mexican chocolate churros and the tres leches flan. My son & I couldn’t get enough of the chocolate dipping sauce. Heaven! Feel free to click through the photos for more details on each dish, and next time you’re in the Palisades, be sure to swing by Qué Padre for a taco.

oneg bakery

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve drooled over Instagram photos of the chocolate babka from Oneg Bakery (now called Williamsburg Heimishe Bakery by Oneg) in Brooklyn. The babka looked absolutely to die for- like rich, gooey, chocolate heaven. It honestly felt like a tease being so far away in LA, so on a recent trip to New York, I knew I had to stop in. This unassuming classic Jewish bakery in South Williamsburg has gained quite the reputation for its decadent chocolate babka. Sold by the weighted slab, you can buy as much or as little as you want, and indulge that sweet tooth to your heart’s desire.

I walked over one afternoon with my son, and could hardly contain my excitement. There are a few other tasty looking Jewish delicacies available as well- think challah, rugelach and hamantaschen- but I was on a mission for babka! One extra thick slice of ultra chocolatey babka, please! We took it to go, and I am mediately dug into it upon getting back to the apartment. Wow, just wow! I hardly have words. This babka is not for the faint of heart, and only for the truest of chocolate lovers out there. Doughy layers overflowing with gooey chocolate, with a nice crisp crust. What could be better?

To no one’s surprise, my son was a huge fan as well. I loved watching him dive right in, becoming a total chocolatey mess in the process. He kept saying “more”, I finally had to cut him off for fear of a sugar crash. PS, Oneg’s babka freezes well too, so don’t be shy about getting an extra large piece so you can enjoy delicious babka for days on end. Yum!

tahini chocolate chip blondies

tahini chocolate chip blondies (gluten free, paleo, refined sugar free)

I’m obsessed with any and all things tahini. I eat it multiple times a day, whether it’s drizzled over roasted veggies and lamb meatballs for dinner or spooned into Medjool dates with chocolate chips for a sweet treat, tahini is the jam. It also makes for a delicious baking ingredient! Its creamy, fatty, smooth texture makes it a wonderful butter, oil, and/or nut butter alternative in many recipes. Plus, tahini and chocolate is such a tasty combo. This recipe uses wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients, but still tastes oh so rich and decadent. Tahini chocolate chip blondies that are gluten & grain free, paleo, and refined sugar free as well? Sign me up!

Tahini Chocolate Chip Blondies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8x8 inch square baking pan (double recipe for 13x9 inch pan) with parchment paper and grease with coconut oil or nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl or base of a stand mixer, whisk together eggs, maple syrup, tahini, and vanilla extract until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix together almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just incorporated, careful not to over mix (it will be thick!). Fold in the chocolate chips. Add batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for about 25-26 minutes until edges are just slightly golden, but center may seem slightly underdone. Check using a cake tester- if it comes out mostly clean, they should be ready. Don’t overbake as grain-free baked goods will continue to set in the pan. Let blondies cool in pan for about five minutes before removing and allowing them to cool completely on a cooling rack. Sprinkle with flakey sea salt and drizzle with tahini, if desired. Cut into bars and enjoy!

*Adapted from Paleo Chocolate Chip Tahini Blondies by Ambitious Kitchen.

sweet laurel bakery cake shop

I had been plotting my visit to the Sweet Laurel Bakery Cake Shop over in the Palisades for quite some time now. I’m a huge fan of Laurel herself (and her cottage is to die for), as well as her delectable baked goods! But as well all know, the pandemic hit, and so I really haven’t been out & about all that much. In the meantime, I’ve been baking up a storm from the cookbook, and boy are there some tasty recipes to be had! Sweet Laurel recipes are all gluten, grain, and refined sugar free, and many are also vegan as well, making them a great choice for anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions. My bestie Rachel McConn (an amazing nutritional therapy practitioner & natural foods chef, by the way) came up from San Diego to hang for a night, and since she has Celiac Disease, the bakery has been on her must-visit list as well. We headed out on a (safe & socially distanced) mission for sweets, and we were not disappointed.

The star of the show was the ice cream sandwich- snickerdoodle cookies with chocolate ice cream. This was so delicious, not to mention all vegan & gluten free! It totally hit the spot on a hot summer day. I can never say no to carrot cake, so had to get a slice of that as well. This one is lightly sweet, and studded with walnuts and raisins. The probiotic cashew cream frosting is super unique and provides such a nice tang! Even my one year old got in on the sampling, and he was definitely a fan. I can’t wait to return to try some of their super food lattes and keto frappes- yum! And lastly, don’t miss Laurel’s new savory cookbook, which is now available for preorder!