Go Greek!

Hello lovelies.
   I hope everyone is having a beautiful summer day. Two words: Frozen. Yogurt. You've heard them enough, right? Between Pinkberry, Yogurtland, Froyo Life, and the Bigg Chill, I think L.A. has seen it's fair share of "froyo" franchises come and go. However, Beverly Hills is bringing something new to the table. And this summer, you'll be going Greek.
   First, as a disclaimer, I absolutely detest Greek yogurt. I think it's gross, and not to "spoil" anyone's afternoon, but I think it tastes, well, spoilt. Punny, right? Anyway. Coming from someone who has tried countless Greek yogurts and has hated just about every single one, you need to keep reading if you're on the same page as me, or even if you aren't. Tests have come out with scientific proof that frozen yogurt has harmful chemicals in it, and unbelievable amounts of sugar! But have no fear, I have a solution.

   Go Greek! is a yogurt shop located in Beverly Hills that is solely based off of Greek yogurt flown in fresh from Greece every morning. But it's frozen. Everyone's favorite word! Imagine all of the health benefits of natural Greek yogurt squeezed into your favorite dessert. And here's the catch: the yogurt tastes like ice-cream. I kid you not. Though there is a bit of a tangy, berry-undertone to each of the flavors (my favorite: Chocolate) it tastes almost exactly like ice-cream, but better. Though they only carry 4 flavors at a time, the toppings are all natural (from carrots and olives to gummy bears and goji berries!) and you can spruce up your self-serve cup however you'd like.

   While making your own yogurt can be fun, the shop also offers pre-picked combinations as well. And it gets better. Each combo on the menu is aimed to help with the following: weight loss, energy, digestion, calcium-iron supplements, antioxidant, skin, healing, and so many more! Go Greek! also makes for the perfect pre or post workout snack, and even if you're planning on a sit-down dine-in experience, Go Greek! provides a truly Greek setting (complete with a market-shelf selling jarred preserves!)

   So, whenever you wanna crank out that sweet-tooth without absorbing all of the generous helpings of chemicals and sugar in your average yogurt, or even just need a unique meal, pop on over to Go Greek!- with their Greek hospitality, I don't need to tell you they'll be excited you're there... They'll do it for me. With absolutely nothing to critique about this very fine, fine cuisine, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. Greek yogurt lovers, greek yogurt haters, and anyone else... I guarantee you'll love it! 

  After a full cup of frozen-greek-yogurt, I'm gonna sign off here. Let me know in the comments below what you thought of Go Greek!, if you're interested in going, or when you're planning on it!

xx Kate

'Lette

Today, we (Alexa and Emma) decided to take a walk down Rodeo Drive for a nice Italian lunch and some sweets. After a great meal at Il Tramezino, we walked down to 'Lette. We walked into the cute and simple store and were cold instantly. We were hit by the cold air used to keep the macarons fresh and bombarded with the sweet smell of the croons.

We bought six macarons in our favorite flavors and we would love to share some insight with you, as we know it can be confusing when it comes to choosing the yummiest macaroons!! 

Pictured below is the box that we got. Starting from the left side: we got Madagascar vanilla, raspberry rose, Colombian coffee, Caribbean chocolate, coconut, and finally, sweet wedding almond. Our all time favorite and the store's most popular is the sweet wedding almond. 

We have both been on the hunt for the best macarons and we have to say, these may have beat Ladureé! 

We hope that you find these macaroons as authentic and delicious as we do! 

xx Alexa and Emma

Lady M

Good afternoon, all.
It's summer, and the natural dessert to default to is ice-cream. And cake-lovers may try to lure you to the heaven on earth that is Sweet Lady Jane, and no offense to that wonderful restaurant, but I think the L.A. cake community has a new queen (er, Lady) in town: LadyM.

Famous for their seasonal "crepe cake" (which is just as it sounds, up to 20 crepes stacked on top of each other with pastry frosting in between), LadyM also features a fruit tart, strawberry shortcake, red velvet cake, chocolate cake and many more.
I have been to LadyM twice now, and have tried the Checkers Cake (a vanilla-chocolate combo with an intricate design), the Vanilla Crepe Cake, and the Strawberry Shortcake. The simple decor and variety of flavors really make the experience, but I really do have to say that the famed crepe-oriented dessert was a let down. It may be because of it's acquired-taste, but it had a funky flavor to it that just didn't quite do it for me.
However, it was a totally different experience with the Strawberry Shortcake and Checkers Cake. The strawberry shortcake totally blew Sweet Lady Jane's out of the park. The cake is lighter, the frosting was airy, and the berries were sweeter. The Checkers Cake was unlike anything I had ever tasted. I got a different flavor with every bite, and the thin layer of thick chocolate frosting left the most delicious, rich aftertaste which couldn't have been more satisfying.

Overall, my "meal" was delicious. While I only recommend trying the Crepe Cake to sophisticated palette holders, it still may not be the safest choice. However, these two are beyond yummy. And can we take a second to acknowledge the level of intricacy in that Checker Cake? How do they do it? It may be a mystery, but the delectable attraction isn't. Next time you're craving something sweet, there's nothing I'd rather recommend.
Let me know in the comments if you visited, what your experiences were, or when you're planning to drop in!

xx Kate

Bottega Louie

Downtown has to be my favorite place in the whole entire world. I can escape the (at times) pretentious, high maintenance Beverly Hills environment and the hustle of West Hollywood, and go somewhere that's a bit more laid back. I love the cool shops that line the streets and the moldings of the buildings. Both work and my moms love for fine architecture keep drawing us back to downtown Los Angeles. But this specific occasion, it was hunger that brought us back!


When I found out Bottega Louie was in Downtown, I was immediately drawn to going here. But I don't think Alena could have said it any better. Because on the West Coast, we really are crazy for 'croons!

I've never been to New York, but I've watched enough episodes of Gossip Girl to know what it looks like! And the Fashion and Jewelry Districts (where my mom works) reminds me so much of New York City.

Back to Bottega Louie. The restaurant is filled with light. And while I can admit, I was pretty ticked off that we couldn't make reservations, the wait was short, and just enough time to take a ton of pics for you guys.

As the appetizers we selected, I got bruschetta, because I mean, I love bruschetta, and my mom eating the light and dainty deliciousness she likes to get, ordered a grilled octopus salad with a lemony vinaigrette. The bruschetta disappointed, because the bread was way to hard and made it hard to eat and that leaf on top of the tomatoes… like what the heck was that? Because it definitely was not basil.

For a main course we ordered spaghetti bolognese which was definitely the most delicious pasta dish I've ever ordered (sorry Fred's Pasta!), mussels with peppers, chives, and toasted rustic bread, and a hangar steak cooked medium with sautéed carrots, bell peppers, and asparagus (and 'shrooms!)

And of course, you can't go to Bottega Louie and just ignore the huge Christmas tree of macaroons, sooooo we got macaroons. And kind of a lot.

Because originally, if you're going to ask me for my justification, I just got the box that fits the 13 macaroons. You know, to share. And then my mom asked what I wanted for dessert, and I just took one glance at the four macaroon choice (of any flavors) on the dessert menu and swooned. So I got that.

But I definitely want to go back. The sun filled, clean white, high-ceilinged restaurant (remember, my mom adores beautiful structures) just made me happy. I don't know what it is. Where there is natural lighting there is happiness. But jokes aside, it was such a yummy lunch and now I'm thinking about the pasta and it's eating me alive. Just like I want to do to the pasta.

See? This is what blogging does to me.


xx Carolyn

Mauro's Cafe

We (Alexa and Carolyn) practically grew up with Fred Segal. With our best friend's house thirty seconds away, we have sold lemonade there, shopped there, but most importantly, lunched there.


It's such a lovely location, right inside Fred Segal's leafy exterior. But the restaurant's presentation isn't nearly as good as their food! The food's culture is predominantly Italian, but the menu is a combination of foods from many places around Europe.

You feel almost magical if you head in for a dinnertime dining experience. They strung white Christmas lights into the ceiling boards, giving the room a glow. But we always stop by around lunchtime, because eating here is a tradition we have.

The menu is super cute too. Designed to look like a clipboard, it really does carry the look of Mauro's Cafe all the way through. We actually hit Melrose Avenue up for a bit of a walking tour. We started on Crescent Heights and Melrose, to eat at Mauro's, and slowly worked our way down to Alfred's Coffee and Kitchen, by Melrose Place and La Cienaga.

It was so good! I (Carolyn) always gets the same thing. I try to be as adventurous as I can with food, I'm trying to break my "eat the same thing every time you go to a restaurant' habit" but with Mauro's it's absolutely impossible to stray from  Fred's Pasta. It's penne paste in a pink sauce with chicken breast and peas.

Okay so fine, maybe I try to eat around the peas, which can be a pretty laborious job for somebody who just wants to devour the whole plate, dish included.

Alexa got Spaghetti Pomodoro. The sauce was smooth and creamy, just the way is always is and should be. The pasta was cooked to perfection, and to top it off, there was just a little sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

After we finished eating, we walked down to Sweet Lady Jane & Alfreds Coffee and Kitchen, but that's another story!

Until next time,

xx Alexa and Carolyn

Juice Crafters

So everyone's been talking about this so called "Acai Bowl" from Juice Crafters. I decided I needed to check it out for myself and decide i it was worth all this talk and Instagram posts. When you walk up to this small and organic storefront, you assume its just a place for healthnuts.. I dare you to check it out.

Pictured, is their famous "Acai Bowl". The bowl is made as so: freeze the pulp of the acai berry, blend it with various other fruits into a seriously thick smoothie. Put that blend in a bowl, top it with granola, fresh fruits, and a drizzle of honey. This could be the perfect meal!

Juice Crafters also has delicious smoothies. My favorite is the the "U Like Um", featuring strawberries, dates and almond milk! 

Another favorite smoothie is "divine start"- a mixture of apples, greens, coconut and dates. Don't shy away from it's color, because this smoothie is packed with nutrients! The employee at juice crafters even said that it was the healthiest smoothie they had! Added bonus? It tastes great, too.

Alongside their famous smoothies and acai bowls, Juicecrafters has great cold-pressed juices as well. Favorites are greens #3, and roots #8 (pictured above)!

Hope my healthy friends liked this post! 

xx Emma and Alena

Sugarfish

I had the pleasure of quite the exciting workout today at Soulcycle in Brentwood with a close friend of mine, and after sweating the most I think all of humanity has ever seen, I was hungry. As always.

Conveniently (you say pre-planned, I say coincidental), my favorite sushi bar was literally fifty feet away: Sugarfish. Now, if by any means you're a "sushi person" living in LA county, there's no way this place has slipped by you. However, if it has managed to do so, I highly suggest you get to your nearest location with an empty stomach.

by Kate Schrage

However, I'll need to slow down a bit with my speed-gun in hand and make sure you're at the proper sushi level to experience Sugarfish. If you classify teriyaki chicken, spicy tuna on crispy rice, Rainbow and or California rolls as sushi, I'm afraid this isn't the place for you. Sugarfish is a strictly traditional dining experience featuring simple sushi, sashimi, and occasionally the hand-roll. That's all.

 
Whoever is still with me here, I don't mean to criticize this place. Sushi is totally my favorite food. Sugarfish is totally my favorite place. It's just not for everyone. I truly think that if you're willing to sit down and eat fish, and only fish, for a nicely presented meal, it's a really great place.

In course order of the Trust Me meal, they serve a plate of sashimi, two plates (eight total pieces) of straight up sushi, and two hand rolls. The quality of the fish which is, yes, bought fresh every morning at the fish market, is absolutely incredible. Also, another issue which the sushi world is rice. If it's too sticky, it can be the grossest addition to a meal, tooth-residue and all. If it's not sticky enough, you suddenly have a lap full of rice. Sugarfish has just about figured out the whole darn game because let me tell you, they are on point. 

Anyway, I could continue to ramble on and on about my love for sushi and appreciation for a restaurant that finally serves it in a way that doesn't scream "American", but I will leave you with the advice to make your way to one of their locations and leave just as satisfied as I.


xx Kate

Sweet Lady Jane

Wedged between the sandwich bar, Inksack, and many chic little boutiques on Melrose, Sweet Lady Jane brings a well-needed sweetness to a quickly modernizing street. Sorry Diane von Furstenburg, we think your costumers might get some sourdough crumbs on your couture! :)

Antique wooden tables, oatmeal colored lace curtains, and crimson leather benches line the walls, but Sweet Lady Jane isn't old vintage granny- it's familiar and inviting. Little accents of floral print and the paper doilies in place of napkins add to Sweet Lady Jane's sweet little atmosphere.

While they rarely take a leap of faith, whether in presentation or in taste, their classic flavors and impeccable execution are just as enticing, if not more. They offer freshly baked breads, ranging from whole wheat baguette to a crusty loaf of sourdough, and a display case full of various goodies (cream cheese puffs and nutty brownies? Swoon.) are always fully stocked and leave a hungry line down Melrose Street.

But their cakes, oh, those cakes, are legendary. The combination of fluffy vanilla sponge sandwiched together by fresh, homemade whipped cream and sliced raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries never gets old. It seems to get better every. single. time.

They offer a standard collection of cakes, like German chocolate and cheesecakes, but they can customize it with lettering and frosted flowers to fit every occasion.
I for one, and a bit of a pie lady more so than I love cake, but I am impartial to both. I mean, if somebody handed me a slice of red velvet cake slathered in a thick coat of cream cheese frosting, I wouldn't turn away. I would just have a slice of pecan pie to go with it!

The pies are absolute perfection. The buttery crust that shells the sweet and crunchy pecan filling. Gosh, every time I have a slice of that pie, my taste buds die and go to heaven.

We've been going to Sweet Lady Jane since we were in Kindergarten, and it's been tradition for us to get a sweet treat after a day at school ever since. But going to a separate school, we haven't had time to stop by as often, but I we still love it just as much. Besides, we still get nostalgic every time we have a bite of whatever from Sweet Lady Jane. We like to reminisce back to my days in elementary school, stuffing my face with profiteroles. But the great thing about tradition is that there's always room for more.

I hope you make some of your own traditions at Sweet Lady Jane. They'll be ones you won't want to break.

xx Alexa and Carolyn