food

Short Food and Beverage Guide: Los Angeles

This post is not sponsored.

Hi guys! Before we get to my Short Food and Beverage Guide in Los Angeles, I want to share some thoughts and say hello after a little hiatus.

What can I say...the past few months have been interesting. There is a time and place for everything and I truly believe everything happens for a reason. You may have heard me say this repeatedly but it's what helps get me through and maybe for you as well. There are some seemingly negative experiences that exist to teach us a huge life lesson and I am currently going through one, but with all of this comes major growth. So with a shift in perspective, the perceived negative is actually a positive. I am excited.

Manhattan Beach guide

Manhattan Beach guide

And because you don't hear from me as often on this space, you can always follow along on my Insta journey!

Now back to the juicy stuff - FOOD. I spent one week back in LA for a friend's wedding and to catch up on some quality friend and nature time (don't get enough nature in NYC.) I went back to old favorites which I didn't capture but I really enjoyed these new-to-me spots that are now up there as some of my favorites! Majority of breakfasts were kept simple and eaten at home so I am sharing a couple of lunches, dinners and delicious beverages in various areas of the wildly spread out city that is Los Angeles ;)

Short Food and Beverage Guide: Los Angeles 

Coffee and tea

Coffee Commissary in Burbank. This is a local coffee and food chain throughout LA. This location is beautiful, with a bustling indoor space or chill outdoor patio. LA's #1 coffee.

latte guide

latte guide

Alana's Coffee Roasters in Culver City. I immediately loved this cafe due to the name of course! The coffee is great and has an abundance of outdoor seating with a large backyard area (and puppies).

Iced coffee guide

Iced coffee guide

TeaPop in NoHo (North Hollywood). This tea & art shop is legit and something special. A fun selection of homemade teas and tasty snacks/baked goods - I got the kale & chickpea salad.

TeaPop guide

TeaPop guide

Tom's in Venice. The infamous shoe designer now has several cafes spread across the country, serving up their own roasted beans and teas. The outdoor patio had a lax vibe including blankets and pillows.

Iced tea guide

Iced tea guide

Brunch/Lunch

The Butcher's Daughter in Venice. This earthy, plant-based restaurant is filled with as much plants and Bohemian-chic home decor as it is food.

Avocado toast guide

Avocado toast guide

Coffee Commissary for both the coffee and veggie breakfast burrito/smoked salmon toast.

Burrito guide

Burrito guide

Little Ruby's in Santa Monica. This Aussie cafe serves both food and alcohol in a cozy indoor and outdoor space one block away from the ocean and pier.

Salad guide

Salad guide

Dinner

Beauty and Essex in Hollywood. Want to scope out some vintage jewelry and have a fantastic meal? This is the place. I suggest also sipping on a cocktail at the bar if you can.

Scallops guide

Scallops guide

Beauty and Essex guide

Beauty and Essex guide

Doughnuts

Sidecar Doughnuts in Santa Monica. This one deserved a category all on its own. So many original and classic flavors, along with coffee. Also, do you spell it doughnut or donut? I'm curious :)

Doughnut guide

Doughnut guide

This rounds up my short eating guide in LA! There were so many more eats that were had during the week but I chose not to capture and 'gram everything. I hope you get the chance to check these places out if you haven't already. Be sure to let me know if you do!

Have a great Monday and start to another fresh week!

San Miguel de Allende: What to Eat

Happy October! I welcomed my favorite season in Mexico and it was the best decision. I am sharing with you my travel guide for all things to eat in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.

The beauty that is Guanajuato was simply unforgettable. I knew San Miguel was going to be a looker but little did I know just how gorgeous it is. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get there but it's worth it. I flew into Mexico City then from there, had another hour-long flight to Leon and then a 1.5 hour shuttle drive from Leon airport to San Miguel.

Mexico

Mexico

I stayed at a reputable bed and breakfast, Casa de la Noche and I highly recommend it! The owners and management were very hospitable and made me feel at home. Not to mention, the building itself is an oasis and the epitome of Mexican beauty. Like most buildings here, you would never know just how big and far back they go from the outside but don't be fooled because you will be pleasantly surprised.

Mexico

Mexico

Mexico

Mexico

I ate a home-cooked desayuno (breakfast) every morning outside in the patio (sometimes moved inside because mornings were chilly!). There was always fresh fruit, yogurt and homemade granola, fresh juice and a daily hot option. From huevos rancheros, chilaquiles to scrambled eggs - all delicious.

Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles

Mexican eggs

Mexican eggs

Picking up a pastry every morning from local panaderias became routine and it made me the happiest. Not going to lie, I ended up at Panio most days because they are the BEST. Not sure what could be better than enjoying a pan dulce with coffee in the garden, especially the concha vanilla. I love and miss it.

Concha vanilla

Concha vanilla

Although my bed and breakfast had good coffee, I ventured out to enjoy the best coffee in SMA, Lavanda Cafe. They are known for their lavanda cafes and lattes - pour overs and lattes infused with real, fresh lavender. I tried one of each and they are magical. This place was hoppin' everyday and I now know why.

Lavanda latte

Lavanda latte

Lunches and dinners were a mix of planned bigger meals to random findings and street food. Here is a list of the must-eats:

  1. Luna Rooftop Bar at Rosewood Hotel for tapas and cocktails

  2. Moxi at Hotel Matilda for full plates

  3. Don Taco Tequila for vegan Mexican

Tapas

Tapas

Sea bass

Sea bass

Don Taco Tequila

Don Taco Tequila

I ate some amazing Mexican street food, including chicken gorditas, tacos and burritos. Heads up - the burritos are half the size of American burritos (not a bad thing) and are crazy cheap. I had a burrito for $0.50 one day. Granted, that was a snack but still, food prices in Mexico are very reasonable.

Gordita

Gordita

You know I got my fill of desserts too. Churros weren't even a question but I really dug this helado de coco (coconut ice cream) at Dolphy's.

Helado de coco

Helado de coco

There were so many more places to eat and explore but I had a short 3 days so until next time, Mexico. I hope this guide is helpful and that you get the opportunity to check out San Miguel de Allende some day. The scenic views were incredible and people were friendly and accommodating. I left with a full heart and tummy.

This post is not sponsored. 

I'm Going to Blog Brûlée

My attendance at the Blog Brûlée is partially funded by Sponsors of the Blog Brûlée, and I received a discounted registration to the event in exchange for writing this post. Opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated for my time.” 

Hello all! Apologies for the lack of action here lately. As you might have already seen/heard, I've moved to the Big Apple just over a week ago, and things are still a bit hectic (but very good). I am thrilled to be moving into my new apartment and to finally feel settled. The food scene here is anything less than spectacular. I have been eating A LOT...but I also walk A LOT so it all balances out, right? I love eating out more than the next person, but I cannot wait to get into my own kitchen again with simple, nourishing meals/snacks.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Blog Brûlée. This small gathering of Registered Dietitians and healthy living bloggers is meant to "provide education and professional development opportunities". A discussion to power rocket your way through the blogging world, with hot topics such as social media strategies, food photography, niche development, monetizing and much more. The weekend will be spent in beautiful VT at Smuggler's Notch. The setting alone will make it such a rejuvenating experience.

I am honestly looking forward to learning about everything that will be discussed at Blog Brûlée, but also to build relationships with like-minded individuals who share an ongoing passion for food and health.

A huge thank you to our wonderful sponsors and speakers who make this experience as unforgettable as previous attendees have stated. And of course, this wouldn't be possible without the incredibly talented Blog Brûlée founders: Regan, Gretchen, Deanna and Robin - you ladies rock!

Stay tuned for a fun follow-up post later this month :)

Recent Eats

Happy March!!! The anticipation of spring is nearly killing me...I can feel it! Experiencing a brutal NY winter for the first time in a while after having lived in warmer climates for the past few years made me more appreciative of the little things in life. I hate to admit it but, the snow is kind of beautiful. Living somewhere with seasons also increases excitement for warmer weather, I almost forgot how great that feels :) 30 degrees basically feels like spring.

Here's a look at some of my eats over the past few days - of course, not all are accounted for.

Breakfasts

A lot of overnight oats and hot oats. Getting low on nut butter is always a GOOD thing = overnight oats in a jar! The best.

Overnight Oats in a Jar

Overnight Oats in a Jar

One of my new favorite overnight oats is this Banana Almond Overnight Oats from Siggi's Dairy. Adding the super thick Icelandic-style yogurt really boosts the protein content and texture.

Banana Almond Overnight Oats

Banana Almond Overnight Oats

Lunches

Mushroom and Kale Omelet

Mushroom and Kale Omelet

I eat a lot of eggs for lunch and dinner, not so much for breakfast unless I'm craving it. This is a mushroom and kale omelet with tzatziki sauce.

Avo Toast

Avo Toast

I've been on a huge avocado toast kick this past week and it's not letting up just yet. Topped with sautéed mushrooms, asparagus and a poached egg.

Avo Toast with Sweet Potato

Avo Toast with Sweet Potato

More avo toast and a side of baked sweet potato topped with ghee, honey and cinnamon.

Dinners

Ok, so I only snapped one photo of dinner thanks to bad lighting, I'm really looking forward to daylight savings time!

Soba Noodle Salad

Soba Noodle Salad

This Soba Noodle Salad is from Giada's Feel Good Food cookbook and it's awesome. I used natural peanut butter instead of almond as that's what I had on hand.

Snacks

Picked up these new individual sized seaweed snacks from Wegmans.

Seaweed Snack

Seaweed Snack

I kept a large stash of my Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge in the freezer for times like these and/or for dessert.

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge via www.eatsrealfood.com

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge via www.eatsrealfood.com

Happy Monday and National Nutrition Month!

What I'm Loving Lately

Only one more week of February left...where does time go?! I am eagerly awaiting spring's arrival, I'm sure all of you north-easterners can agree. Looks like it will be another frigid weekend with more snow. I constantly remind myself how thankful I am...that I don't live in Boston!! Positive vibes and optimism are a must during winter.

Each week on What I’m Loving Lately, I will showcase some of my favorite recipes/inspirations from fellow RD bloggers and healthy lifestyle publications/bloggers.

Baked Coconut Curry Cod

Baked Coconut Curry Cod

Pea Mint Pancakes

Pea Mint Pancakes

Coconut Bacon

Coconut Bacon

Basil Pesto Rice Spaghetti

Basil Pesto Rice Spaghetti

Spicy Shrimp and Kale with Creamy Rutabaga

Spicy Shrimp and Kale with Creamy Rutabaga

Broccoli and Herb Falafel

Broccoli and Herb Falafel

Almond Raisin Granola Bars via www.eatsrealfood.com

Almond Raisin Granola Bars via www.eatsrealfood.com

What I'm Loving Lately

I am back with another "What I'm Loving" post today, after what seems like forever. It's been a bit sporadic over here on Eat Real Food lately - apologies! I made sure to give you some inspiration for your delicious weekend in the kitchen. I am headed off to D.C. for the weekend to visit my sister and I'm beyond excited. It has been far too long since I did some exploring in that area. Follow along on Insta if you want to see what I'll be eating!

Each week on What I’m Loving Lately, I will showcase some of my favorite recipes/inspirations from fellow RD bloggers and healthy lifestyle publications/bloggers.

Carrot Noodle Pad Thai via The Endless Meal

Carrot Noodle Pad Thai

Carrot Noodle Pad Thai

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Red Beans and Rice

Red Beans and Rice

Freekeh Salad

Freekeh Salad

Tempeh Stuffed Poblanos

Tempeh Stuffed Poblanos

Broiled Grapefruit with Coconut Cream

Broiled Grapefruit with Coconut Cream