Produce Driven Fast Casual Comes to Culver City with Picnic LA

Last month Edible Skinny was lucky enough to experience the new delectable world of Picnic LA.  Picnic LA is a fast-casual, produce-driven concept by Brad Zions (Lemonade), Elliot Silver (Vice F&B), and Noah Ellis (Vice F&B, Red Medicine) located at the corner of Culver Blvd. and Duquesne Ave. in downtown Culver City.  From Roasted Beets with Cara Cara Orange, Black Currant, Fried Garlic, and Shiso (a fabulous combination with a super tangy bite to it!) to Mary’s Chicken Leg “Tagine” with Caramelized Lemon, Tahini-Leek Sauce, and Parsley this is the world of the craft flavor profile combination.    If Restoration Hardware ever decided to start a restaurant, Picnic LA’s food would be their dishes!

The blue and white bedecked restaurant features a menu of elegant foods prepared simply, with an emphasis on seasonal veggies and composed salads, along with roasted free-range chicken, beef, and other proteins.  Its menu is dynamic, seasonal, and features flavors seen across the diverse city we call Los Angeles.  

 

Chef and partner Alex Resnick (not to be confused with Alex Reznik of Top Chef) previously worked with Ellis at Red Medicine and is heading up the seasonal, largely market-driven menu full of ins and outs in flavors and styles.  Resnick takes food seriously the way an IRS agent would approach doing his own taxes.   For Resnick, it’s all about the details. 

My absolute favorite dish was their Green Lentils Du Puy with Spicy Mustard Vinaigrette and Crispy Shallots, while my guest (Miss Julia Reed Nichols) adored the Farro & Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pickled Shallot, Peanut, Thai Basil, and Mint.  These are dishes as intricate as the Alt-J song they’ll accompany at the Hollywood Bowl. 

The masterfully branded eatery will also feature a retail component with picnic kits and accessories, foodstuffs, wines, and other specialty items curated by Silver and Ellis.  Leveraging the latest in hospitality technology, the restaurant is designed from the ground up to make in-store ordering, order ahead, and pick, and delivery as fast and convenient as possible for guests.  “Picnics on Demand” are available for take-out and delivery, making it easy for guests to picnic at the beach, the Bowl, or the back yard.  

And don’t forget to leave some room for dessert!  Picnic LA’s Pineapple Clafoutis was fantastically moist and peppered with thyme for that perfect sweet savory combination.    Other sweet tooth offerings included Picnic LA’s Key Lime Pie Bar with Graham Cracker Crust and made with Sour Cream and Dark Chocolate Pot de Crème made with Valrhona single origin dark chocolate, toasted coconut, and crunchy feuillentine.  Yummm (with 3 Ms!!!)!

So if you’re looking for that perfect 20 minute meal (other than Chipotle…) or require the perfect symphony of flavors for your trip to the LA Philharmonic, Picnic LA just might be the local neighborhood spot for you!  

Beauties, Burly & Beer for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles at Angel City Brewery

It's time to get tipsy on glamour for a good cause!  

Saturday November 14, 2015 at 7:30 pm Angel City Brewery is hosting Beauties,Burly, & Beer, a Burlesque fundraiser for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles produced by Workin’ The Tease!

This one night only Burlesque Show will star some of the biggest names in the Los Angeles burlesque world including:

• Dixie Mae Rebel, The Dollface Dames

• Katie Johnson, Vaud & Villains

• Kirby La Brea, King of Hollywood Burlesque

• Kitty Kat DeMille, Workin' The Tease

• Pinup Julia, Pin-Ups on Tour

• Siren Noire, Hart Pulse Dance Company

• Sin Fisted, Sultry Sweet Burlesque & Variety Show

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles provides care to over 150,000 women, men, and teens at year at their 20 health centers throughout L.A.  Over 93% of the work they do is preventative, including life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and treatment, breast health services and health information and counseling.  Their education and community outreach programs reach 50,000 women, men, and teens in Los Angeles County each year.  

The burlesque empire Workin’ The Tease, which was founded by Miss Pinup Julia & Miss Kitty Kat DeMille, has been featured on the Huffington Post, Wifey.tv, and Buzzfeed.  Their Internet Burlesque channel, featuring all things Beautiful, Body Positive, & Burly, has produced over a 150 videos with a combined total of 500,000 views on YouTube & Facebook.  

Tickets are $40 for Admission to the Fun (General Admission) and $65 for the Best View (VIP ) and are available at:
http:/bbb4pp.brownpapertickets.com

BB&B guarantees to be a good time for a great cause!

Celebrating Oktoberfest Miele Style, Pretzels Made of Lye, & ES' Favorite Appliance

Last week Edible Skinny was lucky enough to attend German themed cocktail party hosted by the Deutsland based luxury appliance company, Miele.  The posh event held at their Experience Center featured a modern and upscale twist on traditional German fare and drinks just in time for Oktoberfest!   

Amuse bouches included German pretzels, which should not be confused with American style pretzels because our European counterpart requires that said pretzels be dipped in lye.  Yes, lye as in the highly corrosive and somewhat dangerous ingredient found in drain openers and soap (see crazy ass moment from the movie Fight Club). 

These pretzels take dedication!  Chef Natasha noted that she had dress Walt White style with rubber gloves and fumigation masks during the cooking process.  Once dipped in ingredients requiring Meth cooking uniforms, said pretzels were then finished in a Miele convection oven for that perfect brown sheen and chewy doughy inside.  We have to admit that dangerous ingredients and high performance German cookware makes for some Fan-Tas-Tic pretzels especially when accompanied with Camembert cheese sauce!!!).  Other fun German offerings included spring pea spaetzle (for the vegetarian) and braised pig knuckles over sauerkraut (not for the vegetarian).  While we noshed on the carbohydrate heavy food offerings, Kelly and I were able to learn more about this high-end appliance company that strives to marry the world of form and function. 

Founded in Germany in 1899 with a single promise of Immer Besser, a phrase meaning Forever Better, Miele has dynamically grown to become the world’s largest family-owned and operated appliance company with more than 16,600 employees, 12 production facilities, and presence in nearly 100 countries.  Miele’s range of exceptional consumer appliances includes: vacuum cleaners; laundry systems; rotary irons; dishwashers; ranges; built-in convection, speed, steam and combi-steam ovens; cooktops; ventilation hoods; refrigeration; wine storage and espresso/coffee systems.  After taking an appliance tour (yes, we took an appliance tour and learned quite a lot as it was lead by the lovely Miele territory manager Lecia Schlesinger) we decided our absolute favorite appliance was the Miele steam oven (and yes we totally had a debate over our favorite appilance). 

 

Both a steam cooker and traditional convection oven this appliance announces health has arrived!  Steam cooking is a very European concept and after watching a demonstration of the potential both Kelly and I were ready to jump on H20 cooking bandwagon.  With fast and even distribution, Miele’s steam oven can accommodate simultaneous cooking on three levels without flavor transfer.  Plus because the oven is steam based it guarantees easy peasy cleaning!  Prost to that! 

So here’s to life being delicious, all your pretzels being lye based, and cooking with steam! 

Gottegrisar, a LA Swedish Candy Institution!

When I was in the college I dated a lovely gentlemen from Sweden!  During our courtship my roommates were constantly buying me Swedish fish as a joke.  If only Gottegrisar was around then…

Gottegrisar is a Los Angeles based bulk candy store that sells quality confection made exclusively in Sweden to the US market.   And these aren’t America’s versions of Swedish Fish!  Gottegrisar Swedish based wares are GMO, transfat, and corn syrup Free. 

Choices at the Pico Fairfax location include Bildäck, aka salty and chewy licorice tires, Colabåta, aka Cola Boats, and Sorbisar, aka sour Licorice and Raspberry Gummies.

So if you’re looking to extend your world of Scandinavian candy beyond Swedish Fish Gottegrisar is ticket to licorice tires and cola boats!

Here’s to life being delicious and candy to always being exotic!

Salt & Straw Comes to Abbot Kinney!

 

National Ice Cream Day was last month, but for Los Angelenos the celebration continues because Salt & Straw, the iconic Portland-based, family-run ice cream purveyor known for its artisanal, chef-driven approach to an American classic, has just announced plans to open a new scoop shop at 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd!

Come fall Venice residents will be able to savor Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Stumptown Coffee & Compartes Love Nuts at Salt & Straw's new home on the corner of Abbot Kinney and California Avenue.  Yummm!  (With 3 Ms!)

"We've fallen in love with the food community in Los Angeles, and are so thrilled for the opportunity to serve our new neighbors on Abbot Kinney," says Kim Malek, Founder of Salt & Straw. "We are so inspired by the artistic and creative vision pervading the neighborhood, and are so looking forward to becoming part of the fabric of this unique enclave of Los Angeles."

Like Salt & Straw's first Los Angeles outpost which opened in Larchmont Village in September 2014, the Abbot Kinney shop will offer guests a taste of Salt & Straw's staples like Freckled Woodblock Chocolate and Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache; LA-specific flavors like Avocado & Strawberry Sherbet and Black Olive Brittle & Goat Cheese; and monthly-rotating specials from Head Ice Cream Maker and Creative Director Tyler Malek that reflect the dynamic SoCal food scene and its artisans, as well as seasonal produce from area farmers. Recipes are created with 100% all-natural cream from a local dairy in-line with Salt & Straw's philosophy to source the best possible products available, and all ice creams are churned in a local kitchen in Boyle Heights to ensure optimal quality and freshness.

Here's to life being delicious and every day being Ice Cream Day! ;-)

Something to Check Out: 5th Annual LA Food & Wine Festival

Movie stars in Los Angeles are a dime a dozen, but once a year the culinary stars from across the country descend on the City of Angels!  Edible Skinny is dusting off our shades the 5th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival.

Taking place August 27-30^th, the event is a star studded list of James Beard Award winners, and Food & Wine Best New Chefs including Tyler Florence, Curtis Stone, Thomas Keller, and Michelle Bernstein.  Produced by Coastal Luxury Management and presented with founding partners FOOD & WINE and Lexus

Our favorite event hands down is the Lexus Live on Grand featuring tastings from over 30 chefs and 100 wineries. This year Lexus Live will feature a live performance from The Roots, and later that same night the band will be joined by band mate Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson as the festival’s headlining musical entertainment.  Culinary icon Thomas Keller will also be on hand, making an appearance with Chef David Hands and Bouchon Beverly Hills.

Here’s to life being delicious and your food and wine being star studded! 

Edible Skinny Does Angel City's Avocado Fest!!!

Edible Skinny was at Angel City's Avocado Festival yesterday and boy did we have a blast!!!  The creamy beer was perfect for beer lovers (Read: Kelly) and non-beer lovers (Read: Me)!  We documented our fabulous time there!  Enjoy!!!

Treehugger Living at the Walnut Residence with the LA Design Fest West Side Home Tour

Edible Skinny was at the Los Angeles Design Festival a few weeks ago and we saw some of the most visually stunning homes West of the 405 on their West Side Home Tour.  

One of these houses was the Venice located Walnut Residence designed by Modal Design.

                                                                              

This 2,700 square foot single family residence utilizes a backyard pine that is nearly five feet in diameter with a canopy over sixty feet across.  Rooted near the back and growing dead into the center of the lot, this pine tree was the most dominate feature of the site when planning the Walnut Residence.  

Thus Modal Design explored the space through the exterior of the structure itself, allowing for expression of the client’s character and taste as well as sculptural qualities of both nature and the architecture.  

Here’s to life being delicious and everything, including trees, being works of art!  

Finding Mindfulness with John Sahakian at Hotel Casa Del Mar and Shutters on the Beach

Stress has been called “the silent killer.”   The word finds its root in Latin (stringere: to draw tight) and conjures up the feeling of being sealed inside a plastic bag while having a herd of cats taunt you into an asthma attack. 

And with that in mind Hotel Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach recently debuted the ability to reconnect body and soul through group sessions with Santa Monica’s John Sahakian, a world-renowned meditation and stress-management guru (along with being an absolute dreamboat…).  

 Sahakian crafted AIRR (Automatic Integrative Relaxation Response) exclusively for both of these iconic Santa Monica beachfront hotels.  This mindfulness retreat is the perfect seaside sojourn for Los Angelenos as our fair metropolis is one of the top three most stressful cities in America (New York and Chicago also share our surging cortisol levels…). 

John Sahakian, C.Ht., is the founder of Three Circle Flow™ Hypnotherapy, along with being a certified yoga teacher, life strategist, and transformational breathing therapist, celebrated for blending age-old practices with contemporary, peer-reviewed scientific studies. 

Sahakian’s philosophy is that “peace is not about doing, it about being.   During a demonstration session that Edible Skinny experienced nestled in Casa Del Mar’s meeting room, Sahakian taught multiple exercises that guide you back towards a lifestyle path paved with peace and well being.

Both Hotel Casa Del Mar and Shutters on the Beach’s sessions offer a uniquely designed activity for corporate and leisure groups; from executives looking to bring mindfulness into their meetings to bachelorette parties that want more than shots of Patron surrounded by penis balloons.

Customized AIRR sessions, which can take place in the hotels’ meeting rooms, suites, poolside, or out on the beach, include instruction on principles of body, environment, and mind, as well as practicing a range of relaxation methods and breathing exercises.

Sahakian speaks of being present and learning to respond to stress and life’s challenges in a healthy, life-affirming manner.  “Most of the time we rely on default mechanisms, but if we slow our movement down substantially, through acts of meditation, we can over come our defaults.”  Sahakian suggests that one be mindful of all actions, no matter how mundane or routine, whether washing dishes, brushing teeth, or bringing the phone to our ear.  

Photo by Lisa Romerein

“Our awareness is like a beacon.   At our core or deepest level of being we experience either a feeling of safety or fear – that all our needs are being met in the moment, or the need to protect ourselves.   Comprehension and application of this principle to daily life enables you to realize that the experience of a psychological attack on you at an emotional level is not something to get upset over.”

So if it feels like those herds of kitties are constantly taunting, ask yourself what would John Sahakian do?  Then take that moment and recognize mindfulness starts within… but heading over to Casa Del Mar and/or Shutters never hurts either!

Here’s to appreciating every moment and that making life delicious!

Veggie Yummm (with 3 Ms!!!)

Courtesy of the Mar Vista Farmer's Market!