For a cute little brunch or lunch spot in Echo Park, you really can't beat Honey Hi. Their focus on nutritional integrity and sustainability really comes through in each fresh and vibrant dish. Just look at those colors! I love that they value collaborations with local farmers and artisans (organic and locally-sourced produce is used whenever possible), and the menu changes with what's available seasonally at the farmers markets. While the entire menu is inherently gluten-free, they believe in "radical inclusivity", meaning it is not vegan, vegetarian, or any one thing in particular. Honey Hi serves organic, humanely-raised animals and eggs from local farms, but you won't find any refined sugars, GMO's, or vegetable oils in any of their dishes. Basically, you can feel really good about eating here, and your body will definitely thank you for nourishing it with such high quality, delicious eats. There's truly something for everyone here, but so far I definitely recommend "that grain bowl" (I die for the cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes, za'atar tahini sauce & cashew buckwheat dukkah!), and I know my husband would go nuts for the "lambwich" (with grilled halloumi, turmeric pickled onions & date tamarind chutney). Yum! There are tons of tasty drinks here too- from pitaya smoothies to bone broth to medicinal 'shroom coffee, the options are endless. Don't skip out on the grain-free chocolate chip cookie for the perfect sweet ending!
kismet
Kismet was the restaurant I was most looking forward to trying once I knew we were coming to Los Angeles. This all-day café is totally up my alley- the menu reimagines Middle Eastern flavors for modern-day California cuisine- so basically everything I want in a meal. Before relocating to LA, chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson helmed the kitchen at Glasserie in Brooklyn, which is one of my husband's and my absolute favorite spots, so we had pretty high hopes for our meal at Kismet. I can say we thoroughly enjoyed the food, and although there are some similarities to Glasserie in that they both have Middle Eastern influence, Kismet is its own delicious beast. I love their focus on using small, responsible growers, and how much they value creating personal relationships with the farmers and producers. This passion really comes through in the food, as every dish really allowed the ingredients to shine.
My husband and I met another couple for dinner, so we luckily got to try a ton of different things, and honestly it would be hard for me to pick a favorite. The barbari bread by bub & grandmas was nicely doughy and chewy, but got even better when dunked into their super creamy tahini. Kismet creates some really flavorful combinations, like sweet potato with puffed rice and coconut vinaigrette, as well as kabocha squash with peanut and aleppo pepper, and I truly enjoyed all the unique flavors. Scroll through the slideshow to get details on all twelve (!) of our delicious dishes. I'm dying to return for brunch or lunch, as the Turkish-ish breakfast and broccoli toast are absolutely calling my name! The Kismet team also opened a more fast-casual falafel joint called Madcapra, so looks like I'll have to stop by Grand Central Market for lunch too!
nomad
Food always plays a big role in any vacation we take- I might even go as far to say we plan trips around eating (perks of being a #chefswife)! On our recent travels to Portugal and Morocco, I have to admit I was most looking forward to the food in Marrakech! After doing some research on local spots in the Medina, I knew I definitely wanted to visit Nomad. The restaurant serves simple, modern Moroccan cuisine with a focus on fresh, local produce. I loved their updated take on traditional dishes, as well as global dishes infused with a Moroccan twist. There's truly something for everyone here, with plenty of options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike!
Nomad opened a few years ago in an old carpet store just off the famed place de épices, and has a lovely rooftop terrace overlooking the square. You can even see the beautiful Atlas Mountain range during certain times of the year! My husband and I sat outside for lunch and enjoyed a truly fresh and flavorful meal- what a wonderful start to our trip it was! The lamb tagine with prunes and spices and the Moroccan affogato (I got mine with sweet pumpkin & saffron ice cream!) were highlights for me, but everything we ate really impressed us to be honest. Click through the photos for more details of each tasty dish. It was hard not to come back to Nomad for all our meals after this one, but we knew we wanted to see more of what Marrakech had to offer. I will definitely be back on my next trip, as I still think fondly of our perfect al fresco lunch!
de maria
I've been following Camille Becerra for a while now. She's a female chef whose approach to creating beautiful food I truly admire. In the past, she would collaborate with other chefs on menus and host pop-up dinners, but I was so excited when she finally opened her own place. De Maria is an all-day hip café in Nolita serving up a contemporary menu full of vibrant and healthy dishes. Practically everything is up my alley, so it's really hard to go wrong when ordering. For breakfast, I recommend the banana bread with flax, ginger & coconut, or the tahini yogurt with apricot, sumac & urfa bieber. Housemade soft drinks like the carrot, cinnamon, and ginger tonic are super refreshing and not too sweet. For lunch, I love the summer dragon bowl with coconut grains, turmeric poached egg, sungold tomatoes, heirloom beans & tarragon tahini- it's so satisfying and just bursting with flavor!
I also got to host a group of friends for my birthday dinner at De Maria, and although I didn't snap any pictures, everyone totally raved about the food. The lemon focaccia is perfectly fluffy and chewy, and the halibut with pappadum, chickpeas, apricot-mustard chutney, fermented cabbage & curry cultured cream was to die for. Camille's tendency to combine unique flavors so seamlessly is truly impressive, and makes you question why you didn't think to do it yourself. Don't skip out on the simple, yet delicious desserts- the raw milk ice cream with almonds & lavender makes a wonderful finish to any meal. Click through the pics to read more about these tasty brunch dishes as well. It's safe to say De Maria has joined the list of my fave NYC restaurants, and I can't wait to go back soon.
loring place
Loring Place had been on my must-visit list before it even opened, and I’m actually embarrassed how long it took me to get there. Alas, my parents were coming to town, and in my opinion, that’s the best excuse to make a reservation at the new hotspot in town. Chef Dan Kluger, who previously ran the kitchens at the highly successful ABC Kitchen and ABC Cocina, branched off on his own to open his own place where seasonal, local, American cuisine shines. Loring Place truly is a celebration of all things local- you’ll find ingredients from New York all over the menu. Kluger has built relationships with many farms and farmers over the years at the Union Square Greenmarket, and it’s so great to see their bounty on offer at the restaurant.
I really enjoyed the wide range of market-driven dishes, just bursting with flavor and creativity. Fruits and veggies at their peak ripeness really stood front and center to me- I love that they’re such a focal part of the menu! The grilled strawberry salad with sungold tomatoes, and carrot-hazelnut romesco with roasted eggplant and pita really impressed, as did the roasted corn with shishitos and basil. The wood-fired grill and oven lend themselves to some freshly baked bread and pizzas (all the grains are milled in-house!), as well as some tender, juicy cuts of meat. The savory duck was perfectly balanced by sweet & tart cherries and crunchy pistachios. We ordered plenty, but obviously still finished with dessert- a trio of deliciousness that I won’t soon forget. A fancy take on a DQ Blizzard?! Yes please! Click through the slideshow for more details on our meal. My husband and I are already planning a return trip specifically for pizza, because we just couldn’t fit it in this time! Too many tempting dishes, which is a great problem to have- well done, Chef!
sauvage
I'd been looking forward to trying Sauvage ever since it opened across from McCarren Park and the ever-popular Five Leaves. Other restaurants have had trouble surviving in this location, but this place just seemed different. Months passed without stopping by, then my husband and I got word that his mentor and chef Damon Wise had taken over the kitchen, which instantly moved it to the top of our list! We dined with a good friend and enjoyed the fresh spring menu, which was full of seasonal favorites like morel mushrooms, strawberries, ramps, and asparagus! Each and every dish was well-balanced and full of flavor, it would be hard to pick a favorite. I loved the chef's unique take on vegetables, from the multicolor carrots with cloumage & ramps, to the roasted cauliflower with broccoli pesto & spicy pistachios, I could easily make a meal of all the appetizers! My black bass entreé just melted into its creamy but light buttermilk broth, and the morel mushrooms added a lovely earthy flavor. You know I love dessert (and usually order multiple), but after such a big meal something light and refreshing was all we could handle, so the yogurt granita was just perfect! Scroll through the slideshow to check out the rest of our ridiculously delicious meal! And full disclosure- since we dined at Sauvage, Chef Damon has left the restaurant and returned to the South, where he's originally from. But it's still his menu and the cooks continue to execute it with ease!
