endless color topanga

I love a local, neighborhood spot. Even better if it serves vibrant, deli and flavorful food! Endless Color Topanga is just that and more, serving up wood-fired pizzas and organic market plates, along with a nice selection of biodynamic wines and beer & hard kombucha on tap! They have a lovely outdoor patio where you can enjoy your eats, and hang with friends over a drink. What’s even more fun is the ambiance inside the joint- they have a stellar selection of records for sale. So feel free to peruse the albums while you wait for you pie.

The fresh, organic, market-driven plates vary by the season, and are on display when you order, so pick a few that look good to nosh on while your pizza is cooking. The brussels sprous with citrus and the roasted rainbow carrots are always a good move. When it comes to pizza, I’m a fan of the Super Greens, which comes loaded with spinach, leeks, mozzarella, goat & cheep cheese, or the Zucchini, which is a tasty combo of zucchini, confit tomatoes, goat cheese, fennel fronds, mint & arugula. Yum! They also serve classics like pepperoni and margherita for the purists out there. At Endless Color, all the pizza dough is made in-house using 100% Dark Northern Spring Wheat (grown in the deep volcanic soil of the Pacific Northwest), and is fermented for 72 hours to give it that perfectly crisp, yet chewy texture. And if you’re gluten-free, fret not- they also offer a gluten free dough using heirloom rice and millet flours, which is fermented for 24 hours! Don’t skip the homemade (gluten free!) cookies either! I’m partial to the double chocolate with cashew, or oatmeal with golden raisins & walnuts :)

For the longest time, Endless Color was only open in the late afternoon/evenings, which I thought was somewhat of a missed opportunity given the lack of decent food options in Topanga (but also understandable given the state of the world…). I’m happy to report that they’re now open all day, and plan to launch a full on breakfast and lunch menu soon! For now, I love stopping in for a coffee and pastry on my morning commute. Yay for delicious local spots!


tropical juice

For a refreshing juice or smoothie on the east side, definitely stop by Tropical Juice in Highland Park. This no-frills shop whips up everything from green juices to ice cream milkshakes to seasonal fruit bowls to Mexican style desserts out of its beautiful and brightly colored stand on Figueroa. The fruit cocktail- a bowl of diced cantaloupe, watermelon, mango, cucumber, pineapple, and coconut topped off with lemon, salt and chile- is especially refreshing on a hot summer day. I’m also a fan of the jugo verde- made of parsley, celery, cucumber, kale, pineapple and spinach- so healthy! Everything is super affordable as well, so feel free to add it to your daily routine ;) Can’t wait to stop by again next time I’m back in my old stomping grounds.

christopher's kitchen

Immediately before the pandemic hit, I got to travel to Jupiter, Florida for my best friend’s wedding. The weekend was truly memorable for so many reasons- from the beautiful venue to the delicious food to the gorgeous bride- and I’m happy to say the trip ended on a tasty note as well! On our way back to the airport, a group of us stopped by Christopher’s Kitchen in Palm Beach for a healthy, vegan meal. After a night of drinking (and perhaps more than one piece of cake), it felt good to flood my body with so many healthy ingredients. The pad thai and thai wrap were fresh and flavorful- I really loved the almond sauce for a unique take on the more typical peanut. But the sushi really stole the show- avocado, kale, almond ginger paté, cucumber, mango, red pepper, collard green, sprouts, all topped with almond crunchies!? Yum!

Of course we couldn’t pass on dessert, so we got a little sampling of their homemade chocolates and cookies to finish the meal on a sweet note. I love all the vibrant colors in these photos- such a great depiction of all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you get from eating fresh, plant-based food. Christopher’s Kitchen was the last restaurant I dined at before the pandemic caused us all to stay home. I feel lucky that it was such a tasty, yet healthy experience, and I look forward to returning, hopefully sooner than later!

superfood green smoothie

I love smoothies- for one, they’re delicious, but they’re also a great way to pack a bunch of nutritional ingredients into your diet in a jiffy! Plus they’re oh so refreshing any time of year. My superfood green smoothie boasts an exceptionally healthy profile thanks to fresh greens & spirulina, chia & flax seeds, plus fresh ginger & medjool dates, among other things. It not only tastes delicious, but is uber nourishing for your body as well. It’s perfect for those days when you feel you need some extra “health” in your life- maybe you’ve been noshing on a bit too much sourdough bread or pasta, and need to up your greens game, stat! Not to mention, it’s a great way to sneak veggies into your toddler’s diet if they’ve started to become a bit, ahem, particular…. Superfood smoothie to the rescue! I find smoothie recipes to be pretty forgiving, so feel free to make swaps and use what you have on hand. This one gets the majority of its sweetness from fresh fruit, but feel free to add a couple medjool dates or a spoonful of honey if you prefer things a bit sweeter. If I want to up my protein game, adding a serving of Sakara Organic Protein & Greens Super Powder to my smoothie to really kick things up a notch. I like my smoothies on the thicker side, where you could eat it out of a bowl with a spoon if you feel so inclined. But my husband, on the other hand, prefers a much thinner, easy-drinking smoothie, so feel free to add as much liquid as you prefer to get to your desired consistency. I’m happy to say that this smoothie satisfies not only myself, but also my husband AND baby! Winning! If you’re jonesing for more smoothies, definitely try my matcha coconut smoothie and turmeric sunrise smoothie as well! Enjoy :)

Superfood Green Smoothie:

  • 1.5 cups frozen banana slices

  • 1.5 cups frozen pineapple chunks

  • 2 cups almond milk (add more as needed)

  • 1 cup coconut water (or water)

  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt)

  • 2 cup fresh or frozen greens (spinach or kale)

  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen veggies (cucumber, cauliflower, carrot)

  • 1-2 tbsp nut butter (I like Nuttzo!)

  • 2 tbsp chia, flax, and/or hemp seeds (mix it up!)

  • 1 small nub fresh ginger, peeled

  • 1 tsp spirulina, optional

  • 1 serving protein powder (I like Sakara!), optional

  • 2 medjool dates (pitted) or 1 tbsp raw honey

  • ice, optional

To make your smoothies, add all ingredients to your blender (a high-powered Vitamix works best!) and blend away! Add protein powder for an extra protein boost, and extra dates/honey if you prefer a sweeter smoothie. More milk or water can be added to thin the smoothie to your desired consistency. Makes 2-3 smoothies. Enjoy!

Useful Tools:

trilogy sanctuary

On a recent day trip down to San Diego with the fam, we got to spend time with one of my best friends and eat some tasty vegan food in the process. I’d heard great things about Trilogy Sanctuary, a cute vegan cafe and yoga studio in La Jolla, so was pumped to check it out. We sat outside on the rooftop deck, overlooking Trilogy’s setup for Aerial Yoga (which looks both super intimidating yet relaxing at the same time), and enjoyed fresh, healthy, yet satisfying meal. The menu is huge- I already want/need to go back to try out more things- but once I finally narrowed it down, I decided on the raw coconut wrap filled with tasty things like roasted butternut squash, avocado and tahini drizzles, along with a green smoothie full of apple, avocado, cucumber parsley, fennel, ginger, and lime! Zingy and delicious! My hubby, an avid meat-eater, ordered the Beet Burger with fries, and chowed down. I think he just wishes it were bigger, as per usual… My bestie went the cauliflower route, and I have to say her buffalo cauliflower wings and cauliflower crust pizza were super impressive and flavorful as well! I definitely need to come back soon for a dessert sampling: the raw carrot cake, jumbo peanut butter cup, and warm fudgy brownie with date caramel are all calling my name! And who knows, maybe I’ll even try Aerial Yoga?!

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!