Happy weekend!
As promised, I’ve gathered up some highlights from my sojourn on the west coast last week. I’ve never been to LA for non-work purposes, so this was my first opportunity to explore the city for fun. That said, the real purpose of this trip wasn’t to visit cultural attractions, or to wander neighborhoods, or even to eat. It was to see friends. A few of my nearest and dearest are in the LA area, and I’ve owed them a visit for a long time now. It was wonderful to catch up with them, and in spite of the fact that I was gone for about ten days, the time felt much too short.
I hopped on the plane two weeks ago, full of excitement to be escaping a freezing cold day in DC. I’m fairly devoted to winter, as I’ve mentioned before, but I can’t say I wasn’t smiling at the prospect of 65 degree temperatures and sun.
…that was before our three hour delay on the tarmac. By the time I got to LA, it was too late to go to the newly opened Gracias Madre for a bite, which was my plan (I’ve been to the San Fran location, and it’s amazing). But I was greeted cheerfully at LAX by my friend Geoff, whom I’ve known since the publishing days, and ushered into the city, where he’d kindly offered to host me (and join me for some vegan dining adventures). We were excited to catch up, but after about twenty minutes of conversation, and the realization that my body thought it was 3 am, I decided it was best to get some sleep.
When I woke up early in the morning, I was greeted by this scene:
And as the morning rolled along, the mist burned away and the sun grew brighter and the skies turned clear blue. California.
One of my favorite things to do in any new city is to find a yoga studio to explore. I searched for a couple in walking distance and settled on Earth’s Power Yoga. Heated vinyasa is my regular practice (though I also love regular vinyasa and occasionally attempt astanga), so I was pretty sure I’d like the classes. I did, especially Sarah Demay’s class. I only got to power hours on the visit, which meant not quite enough time to build up an advanced flow, but I liked Sarah’s energy and sequencing a lot. The room was hotter than I’m used to–almost Bikram hot, per the photo below–but fortunately not enough to impede my practice.
After yoga, I was pretty hangry, so I took Geoff’s advice and went to Erewhon market for breakfast.
Good grief. I’ve spent a lot of time in health food stores in my day, and this is about as good as it gets. Erewhon not only offers a ridiculously expansive produce and grocery section, but it also features a ton of prepared vegan and raw food dishes, lots of pressed juices and smoothies, and a crazy good juice and smoothie bar. I was totally overwhelmed, but decided to go with a smoothie of banana, young coconut meat and water, kale, and medjool dates…AKA heaven. Can’t wait to recreate this at home.
I also picked up some pour over coffee at Andante Coffee Roasters, across the street. So good. A few folks asked me on Instagram if I tried Andante’s pressed juices. My response was that, while they all looked great, coffee is my morning priority 😉
I had a little work catch up time in the morning, and before I knew it I was off to visit my friend Jeff. I had lunch on the go: a raw spirulina wrap from Erewhon that was stuffed with cashew cheese, cabbage, kale, and a bunch of other veggies (the spirulina is in the wrap itself, not the filling). Best raw wrap I’ve ever had. For serious. I ordered it twice more before leaving LA.
Jeff lives on Topanga, which meant these majestic views on my way to and from his place. I’d never seen this part of LA before, and it is so beautiful.
After some lovely catching up, chocolate snacking, and conversation, Jeff and I headed into Santa Monica, where I finally got to check out Rawvolution!
I’ve had Matt Amsden’s book for at least five years, and I’ve enjoyed so many of the recipes (zucchini pasta, the seaweed soup, the onion bread, which is one of the few ways to make me really love onions). I’ve always wondered what his restaurant fare was like. Since I visited in an awkward time in between lunch and dinner, I didn’t want to order too much, but I decided I had to try his superfood soup (coconut water, cucumber, watercress, avocado, nori, superfood powder, spices).
Our server told us that it was her favorite, and she seemed to know what she was talking about. I was a little worried that I’d be bored, having eaten (and made) so many green soups in my day, but this was honestly terrific. Having just declared my wrap the best raw wrap I’ve ever had, I’m loathe to use another superlative, but this really was the best green soup I’ve tried. And this, unlike the wrap, is something I can try to create at home!
The day went quickly, and before I knew it, I was off to dinner with my college BFF, Jordan, for dinner at Real Food Daily. Before Jordan arrived, though, I had a chance to meet Jenni, who writes Hugger Food. I mentioned Jenni in this past weekend reading. She is a longtime CR reader and a thoughtful, strong fellow blogger. I told her that this trip was a little zany, but asked if we could have a drink, and she graciously said yes. It was so fun to meet her. As is so often the case when I meet up with a longtime blog friend in person, things got deep pretty quickly. We spoke about career change, eating disorders, and our paths to veganism. It was pretty great.
Not long after, my friend Jordan arrived for a bite at RFD before some long awaited catching up. I was so thrilled to see him, and I wish that pictures from our meal had turned out better, but the lighting just wasn’t working with me. What ordered, though, was terrific: a white bean and butternut squash soup, followed by the “great cardini” salad (Tuscan kale, romaine lettuce, garbanzo beans, red quinoa, roasted yam, croutons with creamy almond shallot dressing, avocado, spiced pumpkin seeds and macadamia parmesan). Again with the superlatives: one of the most awesome salads I’ve had in a while. And yet another item to try to create at home. I snagged a photo from Yelp, just so that you could peek. Credit to Carl B.!
As good as the food was, it couldn’t compare to the joy of seeing Jordan (Jordy, as I call him). We hang out rarely because we’re on different coasts–usually only once or twice a year. But when we spend time together, it’s always as if we’re Freshmen at Columbia again, buzzing with things we want to tell each other and ideas we want to share and observations that we’re sure only the other will understand. We stayed awake chatting as if we were nineteen again, sitting on my dorm room floor, ignoring our paper deadlines and talking into the wee hours. And it was as restorative and comforting and fun as I knew it would be.
There is, of course, a lot more to share from this trip, including adventures in Disneyland (!) with my friend (and fellow blogger) Kathy, lunch at Cafe Gratitude with Kristy, and a long train ride up the coast to see my friend Christina. But Saturday beckons, and I’ll pause here. See you all tomorrow for weekend reading.
xo
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How fun! Mmmm I LOVE RFD. I wish they would open a location in Northern California.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time with good eats and even better company.
If you are ever in the SoCal or NorCal area again, let me know as I’d love to meet you for a smoothie or juice if your schedule permits =)
I’ll have to try the spirulina wrap from Erewhon; it looks delicious and fresh.
I’m so happy we were able to squeeze in a visit while you were here! I know we could’ve talked for hours and I look forward to next time, whether it be in LA or NYC. Pretty please come back for another visit soon!
i live in LA and had not heard of erewhon market or gracias madre. both of which i will be visiting immediately. topanga is beautiful, isnt it. thanks for the leads gena ๐
All of that food–wow! Looks so delicious. I wish I could eat like that every day. That wrap especially…(!)
And, I’m sure you get this all the time, & I hope it doesn’t embarrass you, but you look like a 20 year old. (Take that as a compliment–lovely skin, & very youthful–more ammo for a vegan diet!)
Your trip sounds like a whirlwind of good friends & food, the best kind of stuff. Thanks for sharing Gena.
Wow, that wrap looks amazing! What was the base that the spiraling was added to, and was it a raw wrap or cooked? That expands my whole world of spirlina… It’s for so much more than smoothies! :). I feel so fortunate to be in southern CA with so many vegan restaurants. You, however, still have Pure Food & Wine! We need one of those out here….
The wrap itself was dehydrated. I really need to up my raw wrap game (I never have great luck).
As for Pure, it is indeed the most immense of luxuries ๐
Me too, on the dehydrated wraps. I’ve been wanting to try coconut-based wraps, which I haven’t done yet, but I’ve had some great ones in restaurants.
Awesome post, Gena! I’ve been to most of the places you mentioned in this post except Rawvolution. MUST try that place out! I’m very lucky to live in LA. I feel like most food places in my area cater towards the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. It has made my choice to be vegan a lot easier. Even my roomate is getting into it! I’m so happy you had a great time in LA and can’t wait for your next post.
Rawvolution rocked! So glad I got to go.
oh my oh my I’m just desperate to do this trip! But no point until I’m well enough to make the most of it and your post really highlights that! Maybe come autumn…?
love to you g
h xx
I certainly hope you can make the trip soon, Hannah, and eat all the things ๐
I sometimes think we live on another planet – I live outside of Philly and I would love to be able to live in an area where all of these beautiful dishes were available to us. Hopefully you will recreate some of these dishes. Hope you’re having a great time!
Marcy, I will totally recreate many of them. I’ve heard Philly’s vegan scene is growing quickly — I know Vedge is amazing, and Hip City Veg supposedly has a lot of cool stuff, too! (http://hipcityveg.com/)
Itโs funny – I always go to Erewhon to shop but never to eat their prepared foods! My husband works up the street and lives off the salad bar, though.
That salad bar is dangerous, Lynn. I wanted everything on it!
Nothing tops CA for raw eats and weather! Can’t wait for my own trip in two weeks. I’ve been to Erewhon as well and sympathize with the overwhelming-but-amazingness of it!
I hope you have an incredible trip, Laura! xx
Such a great trip with amazing eats, how fun. I need to plan an LA trip soon especially after seeing all the Expowest pics this weekend, gah!
Nice! Looks like you hit all the boxes for a great trip. I am trying to hit up American cities while I am still living here and uncertain about LA. We think we’ll like it most for the food options but worried we won’t like the city’s vibe. I guess we’ll just have to find out ourselves. ๐
Janet, I actually loved the vibe. It’s big, sprawling, energetic, alternately gorgeous and gritty. All the stuff I like in a city. Definitely worth a trip.
what a whirlwind! you really packed it in while you were out there!! omg. please do recreate/share the raw spirulina wrap from Erewhon. i love raw wraps so much–i usually default to collard greens since i don’t have a dehydrator but i might cave and just purchase rawraps even though they are kinda $$.
after being in the philippines i am all about the coconut right now. water, meat, oil, butter. just all.of.it. as much as i can stand haha. i tend to get hooked on a flavor combo and incorporate it as much as possible until i get sick of it. then we take a break for a while hah, it’s a complicated relationship!
Your Philippines photos on Instagram were making me super jealous. All that coconut, all that sun!
Looks like a terrific visit! Holy yum your eats look good! I too am a fall/winter lover, but I wasn’t too sad to leave it behind for a little while this year either. Let’s catch up when you’re back on the East Coast! Don’t worry, it’s warming up!
Um, so all of this food looks amazing-could you try to remake at least a couple of these for the blog? ๐ Glad you had a good trip! I’m on vacation right now with my family in London and it’s so nice to get the time to explore and enjoy a different city, right?
I will, Emily, promise!
Oh man Gena!:) I’m totally jealous over your eats, your trip, and also elated you got to visit L.A.! I got to go when I was 18, far too young to truly appreciate the West coast. I’d give anything to go back since I’ve become a mostly raw, mostly vegan foodie:) Back then, I ate at a burger restaurant, a midnight diner, and a chicken place- yikes!
That salad and smoothie are seriously calling my name:) More than anything though, I’d love to visit the beach, which I didn’t get to do, and get in some good shots:) I did get to go to Disneyland though, which was awesome:) I loved that you and Kathy went together- so cute<3
By the way, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your hair!:)
PS- I don't like summer either, and everyone thinks I'm weird because I like winter:)
Ha, thanks about my hair, Heather. So long. And by now you’ve surely seen the Disney extravaganza ๐
Oh man Gena!:) I’m totally jealous over your eats, your trip, and also elated you got to visit L.A.! I got to go when I was 18, far too young to truly appreciate the West coast. I’d give anything to go back since I’ve become a mostly raw, mostly vegan foodie:) Back then, I ate at a burger restaurant, a midnight diner, and a chicken place- yikes!
That salad and smoothie are seriously calling my name:) More than anything though, I’d love to visit the beach, which I didn’t get to do, and get in some good shots:) I did get to go to Disneyland though, which was awesome:) I loved that you and Kathy went together- so cute<3
By the way, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your hair!:)
PS- I don't like summer either, and everyone thinks I'm weird because Ilke winter:)