#best french dip sandwich in Los Angeles

[regolithheart]

Love In The Time of Coronavirus: Chapter Two

Summary: One pandemic, one lake house, and two people who loathe one another. Will they be able to survive the outbreak...and each other?

MASTER LIST

Read on AO3.

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CHAPTER TWO:

FUCK! Fuck, fuck, fuck. 

Nesta was being punished—for all the horrible things she had done in another life. Probably for all of the horrible things she had done in this life. Would things have been different if she had volunteered more? Gave money to charities? Stopped calling people idiots?

Looking at the man standing outside of her car, grinning at her, confirmed that no, nothing would have prevented the universe from deciding to ruin her life.

“I’ll talk to you later,” Nesta grumbled and hung up the phone before Elain could respond. 

She narrowed her eyes at the figure watching her, trying to assess her options. If only she’d arrived five minutes earlier, she could have gotten the worse news in recent memory and turned her car around. She would have gladly driven all night, that six and a half hour drive in reverse, if it meant she could avoid the predicament she was now in.

But there was no point in wishful thinking. That wasn’t how life worked for Nesta. So she took another deep breath and stepped out of her car. 

“Nesta Archeron.” The voice was deep and much closer than she had expected. How he got to her car so quickly, she didn’t know. 

When he reached over to help her, she slammed the door shut. It was much more forceful than she had expected it to be, but being able to take out some of her irritation in that way gave her a little relief. 

The man’s eyes were still holding her face which made her want to ball up her fists, but Nesta noticed his grin falter a fraction before he twitched his thumb towards himself.

“Cassian,” he offered.

“I know.” She turned on her heels, but caught the reassuring nod he gave himself—the slightest movement of his chin—out the corner of her eye.

She popped her trunk open. 

He followed her. Of course he did.

“Need a hand?”

Nesta grabbed her suitcase and heaved it out in one fluid motion, then grabbed her work bag and slung it on her shoulder. 

“No.”

There was that insufferable grin again. 

“Looks like you do,” Cassian said and grabbed the bag full of books before Nesta could protest and closed the trunk with a firm hand. 

Nesta ground her teeth, but he was already walking towards the house.

“You coming, sweetheart?”

Nesta’s bag bounced and kicked up the gravel as she wheeled it behind her, but she refused to walk any quicker. 

Cassian had already turned the corner and she let herself pause for a moment to take in the scenery. Past the manicured lawn and white Adirondack chairs were stone steps cut into the gentle slope that wound down to a wooden dock nestled in the water. 

Tall oaks framed her view and Nesta saw a pair of swallows skim the rippling surface. She watched as they danced around each other, dipping, gliding, pulling apart and then diving close. 

She grimaced at the thought that one single cocky male with a man-bun no less, was the only difference between her idea of paradise and her idea of hell on earth.

Turning around to head inside, she saw Cassian standing there watching her and she didn’t know what agitated her more. The fact that one of his eyebrows was raised, amusement on his face, or that he was holding the door open, waiting for her. 

Nesta marched through the French doors, ignoring him completely. 

---------------

The house in one word was…beautiful. It was so beautiful that as she looked around, Nesta was only mildly irritated at Rhys. She had hoped that she would able to turn her scrupulous eye on it and tally up all the tell-tale signs of architecture-by-numbers and she was ready to use every ounce of that as ammo against him. 

She had almost stopped in the middle of the doorway when she saw the large white cedar dining table with the 180 degree view of the lake, not the live-edge walnut table with gaudy chandler she had expected to see. And her body hummed with pleasant surprise to see that the rest of the house was decorated in the same modest way with soft muted colors as to not compete with the surrounding landscape that could be appreciated through the large expanses of glass. 

Cassian cleared his throat behind her. “Would you like a tour?”

Nesta tried her best at a non-committal shrug and was glad that he didn’t comment. 

He set down Nesta’s book bag onto the counter of the breakfast bar and gestured wide. “Kitchen and dining room,” and nodded his head past Nesta’s shoulder. “Living room.”

Nesta eyed the double-height room and appreciated the openness of the living spaces. She followed Cassian down the corridor as he pointed out the butler’s pantry and half-bath. Next to it was the office where the two side walls were lined with bookshelves, flanking the large window that overlooked the lawn.

“You can work in here…if you want.” Cassian said, motioning to Nesta’s work bag which she still had slung on her shoulder.

She hummed and shrugged again, hitching her bag higher on her shoulder.

Across the office was the media room which housed a projection screen and what looked to be a custom made sofa big and deep enough for ten Cassians to lounge comfortably. Nesta eyed the array of pillows in varying shades of purple as she ran a hand along the arm of the sofa. Mohair. 

Next to the media room, as Elain had promised was a home gym. There were some weight machines as well as a treadmill and two Pelotons, which made Nesta roll her eyes. Free weights and yoga mats sat in one corner of the room and Nesta’s jaw nearly dropped to see an actual sauna across from the en suite bath. 

Cassian chuckled at the look on her face. 

“Believe it or not, it gets used quite often.”

Nesta had told Elain this wasn’t a vacation, but she made a mental note to take advantage of the sauna as much as possible while she was stuck there. 

“And here,” Cassian said, taking long strides to the French doors that clearly opened to the outside, “Is the back patio.”

It was a sliver of space that was sandwiched between the house and the sloping hill next to it, but it was big enough for a small lap pool, an outdoor shower and a Jacuzzi. 

“If you didn’t bring your own, there are extra towels and swimsuits for guests in the linen closet. Although…” Cassian’s eyelids drooped as he eyed her up and down, the tip of his tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth. “I’m not one for ceremony around here.” 

Nesta looked at him and took two steps closer. His grin widened, showing his canines. 

She tilted her face towards him, her smile matching his. “Eat shit,” she said and walked away. She heard his bark of laughter behind her.

The only other room on the first floor was the master bedroom which was modest in size given what Nesta has need of the house so far, but it did open up to its own private patio with a spectacular view of the forest meeting the water. 

What wasn’t modest however, was the master bathroom and closet, which combined was the same size as the bedroom. Possibly bigger.

Nesta felt an odd flutter in her chest when she saw Feyre’s clothes neatly hanging in the closet next to Rhys’. She quickly left the room and almost ran into Cassian in the corridor. 

“The bedrooms are upstairs. You can have your pick,” he said.

She was surprised that he didn’t add any additional commentary when she nodded at him. 

She wanted to protest when he grabbed her suitcase on the way, but she found that her throat was dry, so she simply followed him up the stairs.

“So when are Elain and Gregory showing up?” Cassian asked. 

Nesta couldn’t tell if he was trying to make a joke or if he really forgot Graysen’s name. Either way, it was funny enough to take the sting out of the fact that Elain was still in Los Angeles and Nesta allowed herself a smile. 

“Not until tomorrow,” she answered stopping next to him on the second floor. 

He gestured to the first door which stood ajar. “This is my bedroom. Feel free to stop by anytime.” He nudged the door open further as he grinned at her.

Nesta looked at him and refused to let her eyes wander past his shoulder. That was exactly what he wanted and she wasn’t going to play his game. She held his gaze with a hard glare of her own and then continued down the hallway.

Cassian chuckled as he easily caught up with her. “Mor and Az’s rooms, but they’re not here to object if you take one. Guest bath, guest bath, guest room, and another guest room. This one actually has its own bath connected to it.”

“Great,” Nesta said, pushing the door open and dropping her work bag onto the bed. The fact that the bedroom had its own bathroom was a plus enough, but it being as far away as possible from Cassian was a little miracle that she thought the universe owed her. 

Cassian followed and set the suitcase down at the foot of the bed. “There’s one more floor…if you’re interested in seeing the library.”

He left the room and it irritated her that he already knew the answer before she even said it. 

Nesta debated whether or not to close her bedroom door and deny Cassian the acknowledgement that he knew anything about her. However small the insight was, it felt like a violation, especially since she hadn’t offered the fact willingly. 

In the end, her love of books won out and when she reappeared in the hallway, she saw Cassian leaning against the railing at the end of the corridor, waiting for her.

“Needed a moment?”

Nesta’s spine tingled with fire. “Your big ego was sucking all of the air out of the room. I needed to catch my breath.”

Cassian’s grin widened, but he didn’t provide a remark which Nesta thought was oddly out of character for him. He simply stood up, stretched his arms over his head which revealed a slice of bronzed skin between his jeans and t-shirt, and began to climb the stairs.

He was trying to rile her up on purpose and she refused to fall for the bait.

The entire third floor of the house was half terrace that looked like it doubled as an outdoor living space, complete with outdoor sofas and loungers, and even another dining table, and a library. Any wall that wasn’t lined with floor to ceiling bookcases was a window. 

The focus of the third floor, as was with the other floors, was the breathtaking view onto Lake Velaris, but Nesta was overcome by the stacks before her. Unlike the office where the bookshelves were all lined with trinkets and photos, the library was full of an extensive collection of books. 

There was all the classics, bound in leather. Some, to Nesta’s surprise were even first or second editions, just sitting there waiting to be touched. There were old Californian almanacs and all types of history books. There were large atlases spanning decades and art books featuring well-known and obscure artists alike. And a quarter of the books were in different languages. Nesta counted at least five as she scanned the shelves. 

She rounded one of the stacks and saw Cassian sitting in a window seat. His legs were stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. His arm was slung across the upholstered back of the seat and he was looking out the window, watching the trees rustle in the breeze.

His ear twitched when he heard her approaching and he turned to look at her. “Does it please the lady?”

Leave it to Cassian to ruin the first bit of real happiness Nesta had found since she had arrived. And no longer under the library’s spell, she crossed her arms. 

“Why aren’t you in France?”

Cassian raised his eyebrow, amused, but also a little perplexed. “What an odd question to ask someone. Why aren’t you in France?” 

Nesta did not want to play this game with him. “Why aren’t you in France with Feyre and Rhys and…the others?”

“Oh.” He scratched his chin and the sound of his fingernails against his five o’clock shadow grated on Nesta’s nerves. “I was never in France with Feyre and Rhys and…the others.” 

He grinned at her, then leaned his shoulder against the shelf next to him. 

“Actually, I was in France with them, but only for a couple of days back in February. Have you ever been to Taillé? It’s a bit pretentious, but the risotto was top notch. That reminds me…” Cassian was on his feet in one graceful movement and was leaving Nesta behind as he descended the stairs.

Nesta rolled her eyes. It was rich that he would call anything pretentious considering the fact that they were currently quarantining themselves in a lake-side mansion. 

She could hear him shuffling and moving things around on the first floor so she gave the library one final longing look, with the promise to return, and went downstairs.

In the kitchen, Cassian was putting things away. It looked as though he had been in the middle of doing so when Nesta had first arrived. 

She walked slowly around the grey marble island, taking stock of the groceries and nearly stumbled over a crate of wine at her feet.

“You never answered my question,” she said, plucking a grape from its bunch.

Cassian looked back at her.

Was he really this dumb or was he trying to get under her skin?

“Why aren’t you in France with…your family?”

He shrugged. “Rhys was there because Feyre was. I think he was using the time to look for some real estate opportunities, and since Azriel’s his finance guy, he needed to be there to bless any deals. And Mor…just does whatever she wants, but if you ask her, she’d say as vice president, her role was crucial.”

“Don’t you work for Rhys, too?”

Cassian paused at putting the eggs away. “My company works for Rhys’.”

“Your company? What does it do?” She had to admit, she was a little intrigued and paused to wonder if he had told her this before. Perhaps at some gathering or dinner she had been forced to attend.

The color on Cassian’s ears made her think her suspicions were true. 

“Cyber security.” His answer was curt. 

So she could get under his skin. 

“Like in…hacking and stuff?”

“Something like that.”

Maybe not so dumb after all. 

“And your family asked you to stock the house with provisions in the anticipation of their arrival.”

“I volunteered.”

“But now they’re stuck in Europe and you’re stuck…with me.” It satisfied her to think he might be equally as unhappy as she was with this arrangement.

Cassian turned to her, closing the fridge door behind him. The tension in his shoulders was gone, or perhaps it was never there to begin with. Maybe she had misread his body language because his usual arrogant grin had returned.

“I like to think we’re stuck here together.” He picked up a box of rigatoni. “Hungry?”

There was the tip of his tongue again, poking out of the corner of his smile.

Nesta bristled. “No,” she said before grabbing a banana from the bowl in front of her and turning on her heels to march upstairs.

She hoped she wouldn’t have to deal with him for the rest of the night.

#acotar #nessian #nessian fanfic #nesta archeron #cassian #cassian archeron #feyre archeron #elain archeron #rhysand #azriel #morrigan #graysen #love in the time of coronavirus

[healthbetold]

Lizzo’s First 3-Minute TikTok Video Is Just Her Eating a Vegan Chicken Sandwich. And We’re Here for It. 

Users can now shoot three-minute videos on the TikTok social media platform and Lizzo uses the extra time to enjoy a vegan chicken sandwich. The music artist’s first three-minute TikTok video was dedicated to a vegan hot honey sandwich and fries from Lettuce Feast, a vegan food truck from the Los Angeles area. Lizzo spent the entire three minutes eating joyfully and praising her vegan food. When it came to the crinkle cut fries, Lizzo compared them all to “that Dorito that is perfectly seasoned in the bag”. In between bites, Lizzo announced that the sandwich – replacing the chicken with fried mushrooms – was seasoned and flavored to perfection. “They have no respect that nobody prepares something like that,” she says jokingly.

Lizzo’s first three-minute TikTok video was devoted to vegan food, and given her history of dedicated vegan food posts, it probably won’t be her last. For the past few weeks, the 33-year-old music artist has been using TikTok’s one-minute format to create humorous vegan food videos that follow the popular Super Mario Bros. trend on TikTok – where users have activity with the game’s soundtrack overlay. In one, Lizzo attacks foods from The Fat Vegan, another vegan store in Los Angeles, with power-up sounds while sipping various foods like orange cauliflower (a vegan variant of orange chicken), buffalo seitan wings, hot dogs, and Beyond devours burgers stuffed with meat. In another, Lizzo records tacos and goes through seven different types – with soundtracks from different levels from Super Mario – before stopping.

Is Lizzo Vegan?

Lizzo first publicly announced to her then 8.8 million TikTok fans in June 2020 that she was vegan – a following that has since grown by 16.6 million on the platform. In a 2017 interview, Lizzo stated that she experimented vegan for a year after eating a vegetarian diet for seven years. During her first life of veganism, Lizzo lived in Minneapolis, a city she praised for creative vegan options.

Last year Lizzo returned to veganism and announced the transition with a video with a vegan recipe she uses to cure hangover cravings. “So it was pretty easy to be plant-based and vegan, except when I’m hungover, I used to crave cheese eggs. So here’s my cravings substitute for when you have a hangover, ”said Lizzo, sharing a recipe for a vegan scrambled egg with JUST Egg and vegan pepper jack cheese, served with a side of crispy vegan bacon glazed with maple syrup .

Lizzo’s vegan TikTok

Lizzo has spent a good portion of the past year and a half creating recipes for unique vegan versions of her fast food favorites and sharing them with her TikTok followers. From Lizzo’s version of the McDonald’s McChicken sandwich to vegan ice-cream bread with Ben & Jerry’s Netflix & Chill’d dairy-free flavor, Lizzo wanted to show followers that veganism can be fun and easy.

While Lizzo started out with fast food copycat recipes, she quickly moved on to finding fun ways to celebrate vegetables. In April, Lizzo created vegan Brussels sprouts nachos out of a daydream. To create the unique dish, Lizzo air-fried the cruciferous vegetables, topped them with vegan walnut meat and sprinkled generously with vegan nacho cheese sauce from Mother Raw. This summer, Lizzo calls carrots the “new it girl” and recently created a vegan festival all about orange vegetables. Lizzo’s Carrot Festival included a TikToker Nasim Lahbichi-inspired carrot-based dip, carrot hot dogs, and carrot juice.

When she’s not making her own meals, Lizzo is the first to try new vegan foods. Last year, vegan brand Beyond Meat teamed up with restaurant chain and food company Golden Krust to give their 30-year-old Jamaican beef patty recipe a vegan makeover – and Lizzo was one of the first to try it. “I’m not exaggerating when I say that today may be the best day of my life,” said Lizzo as she ate the vegan patties, adding that Golden Krust’s version made her homemade Jamaican pies look “janky”.

Lizzo supports vegan companies

The star also supports her local businesses on important occasions like New Year’s Eve and the premiere of Beyoncé’s musical film Black Is King. Last June, Lizzo shared with her TikTok followers her multi-day vegan feast that she had hosted by black-owned vegan companies. On the first day of the celebration, there were carne asada tacos and pasta dishes from Compton’s Plate of Hue, followed by chicken tender, french fries, cheeky chicken sandwiches and coleslaw from Lettuce Feast. The musician kept the party going with mac and cheese, asparagus, corn, mashed potatoes, ribs, and beans from The Fat Vegan, and on the final day, she peeled vegan mozzarella sticks, sandwiches, and cauliflower wings from the Orange County, CA -based Munchies Vegan Diner.

During her vegan journey, Lizzo has shared food journals, favorite dishes, and unique recipes daily, along with an unwavering message of body positivity. “Love you at all stages of your life because you are who you are,” Lizzo said in a TikTok video she shared to celebrate her six-month vegan anniversary in October.

Love the vegetable lifestyle just like we we? Get the best vegan recipes, to travel, Celebrity interviews, Product selection, and so much more in every issue of VegNews magazine. Find out why VegNews is the worldwide one No. 1 vegetable magazine by subscribing today!

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The post Lizzo’s First 3-Minute TikTok Video Is Just Her Eating a Vegan Chicken Sandwich. And We’re Here for It.  first appeared on Health be Told.

source https://healthbetold.com/lizzos-first-3-minute-tiktok-video-is-just-her-eating-a-vegan-chicken-sandwich-and-were-here-for-it/

[dorismercy]

3 Best Dishes to Eat in Los Angeles

It is not just the monuments and natural sightseeing that make up the best tourist destination. A tourist destination must have amazing cuisines and a wide range of places to eat. Los Angeles is one of the most admired cities in the United States when it comes to food thanks to its cultural diversity and inclusiveness. The city offers an unimaginable variety of global cuisines and has some of the most gifted chefs in the world.

Los Angeles is not only limited to international cuisines but also promotes vibrant regional dishes to bring more on its visitors' tables. Taste more of these culinary delights as you opt for the best of flight deals to Los Angeles for your family vacation.

Here are 3 delicacies that the Hollywood town does better than other American cities:

1.  French Dip Sandwich: Famously known as Beef dip, French Dip Sandwich consists of French roll served with sliced roast beef. Los Angeles restaurants make it more delicious by serving it with Swiss cheese, onion, and beef juice. Try out this mouthwatering dish at restaurants such as Philippe The Original, The Fat Dog, Westside Tavern, etc.

2.  Tacos: Made with several fillings such as vegetables, seafood, and chicken, Taco is a classic Mexican dish. Get high-end fusion tacos as you visit some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles like Tacos Tamix, Tacos Los Guichos, and Mexicali Taco.

3.  Smoked Salmon Pizza: You love pizza and salmon both? What about opting for Smoked Salmon Pizza? Spice up things on your Los Angeles vacation as you try out this awesome dish. The crunchy shell of this pizza renders a refreshing contrast to the soft salmon.

It is difficult for you to pick dishes in Los Angeles amid a plethora of food options, but you can certainly try these cuisines to complement your family vacation.

#food #foodlover #foodie #blog #food blog #food blogger #blogger #delicious #pizza #tacos #sandwich #flight deals to los angeles #los angeles #flights

[thebabrs]

Babr Part Deux

At 37 weeks and 1 day pregnant with my second child, a white Jeep full of teenage boys made a left turn into the setting sun and crashed into our car innocently going through a green light on the way to Target. Neither car was going that fast so no one was really hurt, but the front of our GTI was totaled, airbags had deployed, Paolo was scared and crying and I had some gnarly bruises forming on my safely buckled belly.

The ambulance came and I had to be taken to a trauma ER because of how far along I was and the bruising. Ultrasounds and blood tests showed that both baby and I were ok, but we still had to stay overnight for observation. I barely had fallen asleep by 1am and was abruptly awakened by beeping and nurses rushing in with oxygen masks because the baby’s blood pressure had suddenly dropped. Things normalized quickly but I didn’t really fall back to sleep after that, just counted down the minutes until PJ could come back with Paolo and bring me home.

Fast forward to 38 weeks and I woke up feeling like I either had severe night sweats... in just my lower half, or I had just peed myself. But I didn’t smell like pee and I didn’t really feel sweaty. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going on, so I cancelled my 9am Best Butt Ever class at the gym (even preggos gotta work that booty) and begged PJ to take me in to the hospital to check before he left for work. I never made any false labor runs with my first pregnancy so I felt like I had a free pass to be over-cautious this time. I was full prepared to be called out for wetting my pants and sent right back home.

I explained the situation to the nurse in Triage as I put on the hospital gown and she took my vitals. She kind of nodded her head and said it’s always ok to come check but yeah, most likely I’m just another pregnant lady peeing herself. There was a test that resembled an at-home pregnancy test pee stick that would show if infact there was amniotic fluid leaking and we waited a minute before the nurse glanced at the stick and started to say something. Then she stopped and looked again. Then she walked over by the window, where the light was better, and asked PJ, “Does that look like a line to you?” Yep, it was positive. “Well, nevermind, you’re not going anywhere!” She laughed and PJ and I just stared wide eyed at each other.

My water had technically “broken” but I wasn’t in any kind of labor yet. I had zero contractions and was still pretty much the 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced I was at my ob/gyn appointment the day before. My doctor had predicted it would happen in the coming week, and I had written in my journal that I was wondering about April 2nd. Well, April fools on me - this baby was coming now. We waited a few hours for my body to start contracting on its own, but since I couldn’t remember exactly when I first felt the leaking we didn’t want to wait too long. Eventually, I had to get Pitocin and while I was totally freaked out by the horror stories I’d been told about the pain of “induced” labor, the nurse assured me that it was no more painful than unassisted labor. It’s just when you start to have contractions at home they usually start slow and build up and you’re in the comfort of your own space and a little distracted. With induced labor you’re just waiting focusing on those contractions to just ramp right up from the getgo. And they did. PJ has taken Paolo home to pack up some stuff for us. We had no one lined up to watch him, so armed with an iPad and lots of snacks, the little guy was in it for the long haul with us.

While they were gone, I’m not sure if it was home or just wandering around the hospital getting lunch, I got an epidural. The contractions were getting serious and as the nurse helped me sit sideways on the hospital bed and the anesthesiologist worked on my spine I felt a whoosh of water and that dang slow leak seemed to burst like a south swell hitting the HB pier. I remember apologizing profusely and laughing but also crying and then just being very grateful for the drugs.

When the boys came back, PJ was pleased to see I had the epidural (insert eye roll) and Paolo was wary of all the things I was hooked up to. He was loving the hospital and the snacks and the attention from adoring nurses but was noticeably distant from me. He was still nursing to sleep and sometimes for comfort at this point, but had zero interest in me or my boob. It was nice to see him so happy and having fun, but I was kind of sad he didn’t seem to need me.

PJ worked on his laptop, Paolo watched the iPad and napped, I think the nurse gave me a plain turkey sandwich at one point which I thought wasn’t allowed but I ate it because I was STARVING. There was nothing good on the staticky TV. (I remembered the television being much nicer with Paolo.) Some dumb movie, maybe with Melissa McCarthy, was on and I recall thinking I don’t want my baby being born to “Tammy” (or whatever it was) and then being relieved when reruns of the Office came on.

It felt like it took forever for my cervix to kick into action. Hours between 3cm and 5cm dilated. I think I had been hovering around 6-7 cm for a while when I started to suddenly feel pretty ready to go. The nurse came in to check again but was in the process of telling me just relax and it’ll happen eventually when her eyebrows popped up in surprise and she told me that wow, yeah I was basically at 10. The doctor rushed in, having been out at some event for her own kid (definitely not expecting to see me so soon) and PJ came to my side. Paolo was back on the iPad in ignorant bliss as I started to push and at 19:08 he had a beautiful, tiny, 6lb 11oz baby brother.

This was Good Friday (and truly it was great) but while every one was trying to rush us out by Easter Sunday, we were worried about leaving too soon. We’d barely stayed one night with Paolo and once we were home we realized he had jaundice and ended up having to go to a different, much less nice hospital for his 24 hour blue light treatment. We also hadn’t exactly decided on a name yet, much to the dismay of the intern, volunteer, assistant(?) who kept coming in every hour trying to get us to complete the birth certificate. Paolo had already been telling people for weeks that his brother’s name was “Enzo” so we were kind of stuck with that, but the middle name had eluded us. We texted friends and family members, frantically googled name meanings and combinations. Finally we decided on “Philippe,” (“fill-eep”) it was a beautiful French name, (like my own, Celeste) it started with the strong “Ff” sound I had been drawn to (I had considered Frank, after my great-grandfather, or Fisher, an ode to my surname which means “fisherman”), but when it comes down to it, we named him after a sandwich. Philippe’s is one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles and most likely originated the French Dip. It’s a really cool spot and the food is solid. Coincidentally, Philippe emigrated from France to the US via Buffalo, NY (PJ’s hometown) before moving to LA. Regardless, it was Enzo Philippe. We brought him home and everytime I think I know anything, he still surprises me, just like we surprised all those nurses along the way that day. Motherhood is just the best, hardest, wildest ride.

#mommyblogger #motherhood #mamasboy #boymom #birthdaybabr #birthstory #igavebirth #empoweredbirth #secondchild #birthday #philippe

[sohannabarberaesque]

As unlikely a chat as it can get over lunch at the storied Philippe's in Downtown LA

[Yes, THE Philippe's of the French dip sandwiches as are the stuff of Los Angeles lore and legend, situated close to Union Station, the downtown area and Dodgers Stadium ...]

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, over a French-dipped beef sandwich: Well now, isn't it impressive to have me talking to no less than a certain Peter Potamus, dive buff extraordinaire!

PETER POTAMUS, preferring French-dipped beef as well: And isn't it rather extraordinary that we could cross paths like this over French dip ... even as I get plans figured out for the Character Convocation at Rex Beach, and our role in same!

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND: You said "our role in same" just now; what exactly do you mean?

PETER POTAMUS: None other than my Travelling SCUBA Par-tay, as seen on TV! We happen to be planning some "taster" SCUBA diving experiences in Lake Betty, and will invite visitors to have diving lessons with some of the best in the game!

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND: Just remind me again of who this Travelling SCUBA Par-tay of yours is to little ol' Huck.

PETER POTAMUS: In addition to myself, there's Wally Gator, Loopy De Loop, Magilla Gorilla, Hokey Wolf, Breezly Bruin, Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har-Har and Mildew Wolf.

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, somewhat anxious: You mean THE Mildew Wolf as was forever chasing Lambsy?

PETER POTAMUS: Yup, the same Mildew Wolf. Only he decided to swear off chasing lamb and pursue SCUBA ... and he can have a real snarky sense of humour!

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND: I can believe that!

PETER POTAMUS: And Squiddly Diddly handles the underwater photography side of things!

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND: So how exactly did you get into the diving experience yourself, Peter?

PETER POTAMUS: It was somewhere in the remotest regions of Polynesia otherwise unknown to man ... I was about five years old at the time, and joined my late father on one of his expeditions into the unknown parts of Polynesia, and he encouraged some natives, naked and unafraid, mind you, to teach me a few pointers about diving ... eventually to join him on a decent little dive to about two fathoms underwater. Boy, what an experience that was, just wearing myself and feeling oh so wonderful in the process, no doubt setting me up for quite the love of diving!

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND: Pretty amazing story there ... and we're no doubt looking forward to your presence at Rex Beach over the summer!

PETER POTAMUS: And who wouldn't--especially when The Banana Splits AND the Cattanooga Cats are engaged to play the Rex Beach Casino during the summer?!

#vignette #hanna barbera #unlikely conversation #philippe's #french dip #huckleberry hound #peter potamus #diving #discover diving #hannabarberaforever

[donaldcariati-blog]

9 Secrets to the Most Fun Places to Eat in Los Angeles

There’s no place like Los Angeles. That certainly holds true when you look at the city’s deep and wide-ranging array of restaurants. L.A. eateries run the gamut from ritzy fine dining establishments to grimy hole-in-the-walls, and everywhere in-between. They also offer a dizzying array of cuisine from all over the globe. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience that no other city can offer, be sure to check out one of these fun hidden gems.

Off Vine

At first glance, Off Vine looks like a run-of-the-mill Hollywood bungalow, albeit one oddly out of place among the city’s high rises and traffic-clogged streets. Look closer, and it’s actually a cozy and charming little café inside what was once a craftsman-style home. You could drive right by every day and never even know it was there, but Off Vine has been serving their unique spin on classic, hearty American comfort food since 1989. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is comfortable and inviting, like if your grandmother’s house suddenly became a restaurant.

Dai Ho Restaurant

Some might shy away from Dai Ho Restaurant for any number of reasons. It’s cash-only, open during very limited hours (11:30 am to 3 pm, six days a week), and operated by a proprietor who has a reputation for being, shall we say, cantankerous. A sign above the register urges you to move along the line quickly, Soup Nazi-style. But it would really be a shame to skip this amazing Thai noodle joint in Temple City, and there’s a very simple reason. Their noodles are out of this world. Menu highlights like the fiery beef noodle soup and the sesame dry noodles are some of the best authentic Thai food in Los Angeles, which is really saying something.

Monte 52

You could be forgiven for not noticing Monte 52, a tiny sandwich shop nestled inside a neighborhood grocery store in Highland Park. But they slap together some seriously next-level gourmet sandwiches, all made completely from scratch. From brining and smoking the meats to pickling the vegetables, everything is done in-house, and it shows. Monte 52 has a small dining area for those who like to sit and savor, but they mostly focus on take-out, and they’re one of my favorite spots to grab a quick meal on the go.

Mirabelle Wine Bar

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Valley Village, Mirabelle Wine Bar has a spectacular wine list, along with an extensive menu of all things that pair well with their dizzying selection of reds and whites. With a fun, vibrant atmosphere, it’s a great place to grab brunch or a late-night snack. Wine and food aside, my favorite thing about Mirabelle is their collection of cassette tapes. Seriously — all the music you hear through the speakers inside the café is played from cassettes on a vintage tape deck.

Tacos El Negro

Asking someone from Los Angeles where to get the best tacos is like asking a New Yorker where to get the best pizza. There’s no right answer, but also no wrong answer. In a city with a taco truck on seemingly every street corner, you can’t throw a great taco without hitting another great taco. But for my money, you can’t go wrong at Tagos El Negro in Southgate. Their menu is simple — there are four kinds of tacos, take your pick — but this hidden hole in the wall stands up to any taqueria in town.

Otomisan Restaurant

The Boyle Heights neighborhood was once an enclave of Japanese immigrants when they arrived in America in the late 18th and early 20th centuries. Sadly, few of the family-owned Japanese restaurants that once lined the neighborhood’s streets still remain, but there’s still Otomisan Restaurant. Operated by the same family for decades, this unfussy eatery was founded in 1956, and has become a beloved part of its community. Not only is it the last Japanese restaurant standing in Boyle Heights, but it’s also one of my favorite places to get fresh and expertly-prepared gyoza, tempura, teriyaki and sushi in L.A.

South End

Los Angeles is famous for a lot of things. Pizza is not one of them. Apparently, nobody told the owners of South End, an amazing hidden gem of a pizzeria tucked at the end of a Venice strip mall. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but South End makes a strong case for not judging a book by its cover. Their rustic pies are absolutely delicious, with a wide range of fresh and unique ingredients. My favorite is the 1905 pie, made with Heritage pork salsiccia, crushed Roma tomatoes, Kalamata olives, fresh mozzarella, red onion, and marjoram. Their extensive wine list and tasty charcuteries are great when you’re more in the mood for a glass of wine and a snack with friends.

Cole’s Restaurant

No discussion of L.A. dining would be complete without mentioning Cole’s Restaurant. Founded in 1908, this staple of Downtown Los Angeles is the oldest restaurant in the city still in its original location. It’s a revered landmark, with a menu of classic American diner fare and tasty cocktails in a saloon-like atmosphere. Cole’s biggest claim to fame is being the originator of the French Dip Sandwich, an assertion that another L.A. restaurant (Phillipe the Original, also founded in 1908) will heartily dispute. Rest assured, you can get a great sandwich at either, and I highly recommend trying both.

Velvet Margarita

West Hollywood’s Velvet Margarita has a lot of things going for it, not the least of which is it’s spooky, Day of the Dead-themed decor. Another is its amazing menu of high-end Mexican dishes like Scampi Camarones (sautéed Mexican prawns in a spicy white wine beurre blanc and caper sauce). The restaurant shares its name with its signature drink, the Velvet Margarita, which is made with Herradura Silver and served inside a fresh pineapple. I’ll be honest though, I usually skip the fancy version and go with a basic margarita. It’s plenty boozy and delicious, and you can grab one during happy hour for just five bucks.

#los angeles #la #foodie #restaurant #travel

[topfygad]

Weekend Reccos | Pop Culture Picks on Food & Travel

Team NGTI cherry-picks movies and books rooted in travel and food.

Food + Drink Inspire Me! NGT Staff | POSTED ON: November 1, 2019

  A still from Julia & Julia, with Meryl Streep as Julia Child.

For our November’s recommendation list, we picked a topic that has a universal appeal: food and travel. From documentaries on sushi to food in a universe driven by magic realism, these titles sure had us salivating. We hope they tickle your taste buds too.

  Films

Jiro Dreams Of Sushi

Before hitting play, app-in some sushi. You’ll crave it, 200 per cent, at the end of David Gelb’s 2011 documentary, a cinematic ode to Tokyo’s unbeatable sushi crafter, Jiro Ono. Shot inside Sukiyabashi Jiro, the 10-seater three-Michelin-starred tucked in a subway station, the film rhapsodises about Jiro’s skills and his focused obsessiveness about moulding perfect lumps of nigiri every single day of his life, even at 85. Scenes from Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market and its singing tuna auctioneers add value, but it’s the montages that impress: Jiro’s wrinkled fingers flatten eels, sardines and tunas with the fluid dexterity of a conductor, orchestrating to Philip Glass’s score, which, though repetitive, crescendos, just like Jiro’s rhythm of making sushi. Even at my age, in my work, I haven’t reached perfection, he says in the film, and in saying that, Jiro exemplifies Japanese perfectionism.

— Humaira Ansari

  Julie & Julia

Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia is a gastronomical treat for the eyes. Failed writer-cum-comfort- food-seeker Julie Powell is bent on challenging her mundane life in modern-day New York, and finds solace in her childhood icon, French chef Julia Child, whose 1950s journey with food in Paris is the stuff of legend. Powell pledges to cook all 524 recipes listed in Child’s book Mastering the Art of French Cooking—in 365 days. As she whips up Child’s famous beef bourguignon, lobster thermidor and a Queen of Sheba chocolate cake, a gratifying journey with food begins—for both Powell and Child (epitomised by Amy Adams and Meryl Streep perfectly), as well as for the foodie watching each dish on display…with just a little bit of drool oozing out.

–– Sanjana Ray

  Tampopo

Random vignettes of actual food porn, a gourmet gangster, and the saga of a perfect bowl of ramen intertwine themselves into the narrative of this avante garde ‘ramen western.’ Directed by Juzo Itami, Tampopo is as 1980s as it gets…and then some. The overarching theme of this beautiful, batshit food flick follows the story of a trailblazing widow desperate to keep her late husband’s ramen shop up and running in Japan; but the film’s depth delves into smashing the patriarchy, the power food holds over people, and the beau ideal moment of creating something with all your heart and soul.

— Julian Manning

  Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat 

Ever wonder what it’d be like to eat to your heart’s content around the world? Samin Nosrat did exactly that in her Netflix documentary Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. In the eponymous cookbook, the 39-year-old chef and food writer journeyed places far and wide in search of elements that define good cooking. She discovered that good cooking is, in fact, universal. From tasting slivers of pork fat and cheese in Italy that melt like butter and the revelation of profound effects of sea salt in Japan, to the acidic surprises of oranges and Mayan honey in Mexico, and the power of heat to unlock flavours of food at home in California—the four-part docu-series is a visual treat bound to get appetites racing.

— Pooja Naik

  Ramen Heads

Every day except Wednesdays, a queue begins to swell outside a closed shopfront in the Japanese city of Matsudo at dawn. The doors open only at 11 a.m., and the hungry pilgrims are let in to eat bowls of Japan’s best ramen at Chuka Soba Tomita Ramen. The documentary Ramen Heads is a behind-the-curtains exploration of the discipline and obsession of Osamu Tomita, the chef who creates ramen so perfect that it’s edible art.

Tomita’s process of creating tonkotsu-gyokai dipping broth—rich with pig’s head, seafood, bamboo shoots and char siu—and slurpable noodles, is a recipe of pleasure. The film also features other iconic ramen chefs, gently simmering with insight on Japan’s fervour for the dish and the genius it inspires.

— Kareena Gianani

  Chef

Jon Favreau’s 2014 film, Chef,  tugged at heartstrings and made stomachs growl in equal measure. It is the story of a beaten restaurant chef, Carl Casper (Favreau), who leaves glittering Los Angeles to drive a food-truck across America and rekindle his relationship with his estranged son. The movie also features scenes which make viewers beg for a bite for the food Favreau cooks on-screen—whether it’s the succulent, oozing, gooey cheese sandwich or the Cubano sandwich he sells in his food truck. Food often acts as balm for relationships, and the scenes where Casper takes his son to eat the famed beignets at New Orleans’s Café Du Monde or 12-hour roasted brisket in Austin, show just that. It’s time to go make a sandwich.

–– Lubna Amir

  Books

The Gastronomical Me

Every food essayist owes some debt to M.F.K. Fisher, a writer with a gourmand’s relish for life. This prose collection is ostensibly a memoir, tackling childhood, marriage, sex and loneliness, all in her elliptical narrative style. However, culinary enthusiasts prize it for what it really is—a slow-burning journey of a woman’s passion for food. Right from her delight at swallowing her first oyster in America to stealing caviar-accompanied moments with her lover in France, Fisher practised good eating like a preacher, and in her vivid, sensual descriptions of food, made apostles of many a reader.

— Lakshmi Sankaran

  Like Water for Chocolate

An appetite for real emotions, and one for quail in rose petal sauce or fat Christmas rolls, is what you bring to the table when Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel throws a banquet named Like Water for Chocolate. This is the story of Tita and Pedro, young lovers hungry enough to swindle fate for each other, yet somehow always shortchanged by malevolent stars. Food features in the novel as heavily as love, cream fritters or Champandongo casseroles, complete with old-fashioned recipes laid down whimsically, an extension of the novel’s magic realism.

It is safe to say that Tita and Pedro’s cosmic love travels from the kitchen to the dinner tables to bedroom of Mama Elena’s family ranch, kindling both passion and devastation in its wake. Bound and freed by its surrealism, this is not your typical travel narrative. But if you’ve ever wanted to travel to turn-of-the-century rural Mexico, beautiful and explosive in its revolution, here’s the ticket.

— Sohini Das Gupta

  To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller India and National Geographic Magazine, head here.

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[marketerarena-blog]

Knife Skills Class at Sur La Table and the BEST Run and Food of September!

Hello! How’s it going? How was your month … last month aka September aka a few days ago?  Did you make October goals?

I did!

(Read as: I’m going to make them right now in an effort to get it together.)

But before we get into the best run, eat and repeat from September & new month goals… Let’s talk about chopping!

I took the Knife Skills 101 class at Sur La Table a few nights ago!! I don’t remember how I originally heard about it but I knew I desperately needed this class! And I finally have a friend and convinced them to take the class with me!! Boom.

So if you’re keeping track here is the current score on life stuff:

1. make friend – done

2. learn something – done and done

3. maintain friendship – tbd

4. put new skill to use – tbd

  Most Sur La Table stores have cooking and kitchen skills classes. There are 2 locations near me in south Orange County and I took the class at the South Coast Plaza location.

South Coast Plaza is a very fancy mall in Orange County with super high end stores that I don’t actually go into because of fear I’ll accidentally wipe my germs on a pair of socks that costs $5000 and then be asked to pay for it or be arrested for being poor or something.

Anyway.

I managed to try and act cool long enough to enjoy a glass of wine at one of the restaurants with before class. And they gave us fancy bread which is important and notable.

It’s a good idea to drink before learning how to use super sharp knives, right?

Sur La Table Knife Skills 101

This 2 hour class is $65 per person. It’s a fairly small group – there were 8 people in the class and 1 instructor. And it’s hands-on so we chopped different vegetables using different techniques as we went along. Then, we put it together at the end with a Green Goddess Dip (the instructor made in front of us) and a Roasted Red Pepper Soup.

Everything I know about cooking and food prep I’ve learned from the Food Network. Also – everything I know about eating I learned from Guy Fieri.

So I really needed this class!

  Highlights of the Knife Skills 101 Class:

Learning how to sharpen your knife

The onion chopping hack that keeps it together

Rubbing your hands on stainless steel gets the garlic smell out

Me laughing at myself and almost drooling on the veggies I was chopping which we were using for the dip platter

That you’re supposed to always hold a knife down and at your side when walking through the kitchen

Oh, and say ‘knife!’ when you’re walking behind or past someone so they don’t bump into you

Don’t say “KNIFE!!!” when you’re home alone while making a stabbing motion as this encourages an eventual spiral into insanity

Don’t arrive dressed like a ninja thinking the class is about fast sword skills

  I liked the class and would definitely want to take another class. I want to go to cooking school now!

Or maybe buy Julia Child’s Master the Art of French Cooking cookbook and do all the recipes and blog about them.

Awww. Someone already did that?! Never mind.

The dip and soup were amazing. The soup was my favorite!! And the recipe is in the handout packet we got!

I loved it!

It was fun and I learned something and Gordon Ramsey didn’t say I was a crap sandwich or something.

(I don’t know if that actually happened on TV… him calling something that, but I feel like it did?)

Okay wait… I looked it up!

Anyway.

I definitely want to take another cooking class or go to culinary school or maybe enter an eating contest… 

Now let’s talk about the best running and eating from last month! If you want to take a cooking class or get more info check out your local Sur La Table.

This isn’t an ad or sponsored – I just know I’m going to get questions and want to share in case you also want to be fancy and cook-y or choppy. And I looked for a Groupon and coupon code for it and couldn’t find one – but I just saw there’s one for October! Select Classes are only $46 with code: CLASSES46 – See details

  So I’m randomly charging my Garmin running watch right now and since it’s here I looked up my mileage for the month. I rarely do this so I’m excited about the timing!

September Running Stats:

Total miles run: 229

Days run: 24

Hours run: 34

Calories I burned: 24,147

Calories I ate: 2,988,248

I’m most excited to see I ran 24 days out of 30. I was concerned that I wasn’t taking enough rest days but I took 6 for the month. Boom.

  Favorite RUN:

This was a hard call because – I didn’t realize I ran 18 miles on Sept 1st…!

I was talking to Janae ( Hungry Runner Girl ) the other day and talking about marathon training and how not ready I am for my next marathon. I said I hadn’t run more than 16 miles since last year. Well, I didn’t realize I ran 18! Ha! What is my deal? Is it my memory? Am I just a space cadet?? What is a space cadet???

(from my instagram not a blog post)

But the winner is the Lexus Lace Up Half Marathon in Irvine – it was fun and my mom went with me and ran the 5K!

  And I thought I had a hole in my shoe but I didn’t. Random! But hear that story on Podcast episode 94 – How Runners Can Prevent and Defend Themselves…

Check out the Lace Up Irvine Half Marathon Recap here.

Check out all the new discount codes here.

Favorite EAT:

Yogurtland and Chipotle date!! This is my favorite.

Favorite post I’d like to REPEAT:

My love letter to my cat Vegas…

This makes me sad. But it also makes me… well, still sad…

but eventually grateful that I had him and that I have you to share that with. I really appreciate you following along and I feel like we’re friends and it feels nice to have this place to share my life with someone. Thanks.

  Race Discounts and Coupon Codes

Fall running season is upon us! If you want to run a race this year – register, train, do it!

I have discounts for you on so many fun races!! Tell me if you’re in!

Revel Big Bear – Oct 14

Lace Up Ventura – Oct 21 – code: RER10

Rock N Roll Los Angeles – Oct 28

$10 off with code RERLA10

$5 off 5K with code: RERLA5

* Rock N Roll Los Angeles Race info and Registration *

Rock N Roll Las Vegas – Nov 11

$10 off with code RERVEGAS10

$5 off 10K or 5K with code: RERVEGAS5

* Rock N Roll Las Vegas info and registration *

Lace Up Palos Verdes – Nov 17 – code: RER10

Lace Up Riverside – Dec 1 – code: RER10

Run for a Claus 5K in Orange County Dec 2

$5 off with code : RUNEATREPEAT5OFF

Revel Hawaii – March 9 2019

  Check out the Race Discounts Page for more!

  If you’re a race director or represent a race or running group and are interested in sharing a discount or promotion code for your run – please contact me for more information.

I love to pass on running or fitness discounts to my virtual fitness buddies! Please email – [email protected] Thanks!

        What was your favorite RUN or EAT from last month?

Are you running any races before the end of the year?

The post Knife Skills Class at Sur La Table and the BEST Run and Food of September! appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

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#fitnessgymfatlossweightloss #weightloss