Bacari P.D.R. Boasts a Phenomenal Brunch

Bacari P.D.R. has me wishing I lived in the South Bay! Hands down, it is the best brunch I've ever experienced. The food is phenomenal. Every single thing I tried was delicious. And it doesn't hurt that the perfectly-decorated, hip restaurant is located in the small seaside town of Playa del Rey, CA. 

Upon entering Bacari P.D.R., you are greeted with vintage light bulbs, a ceiling covered in wine bottles, and an intimate atmosphere. The restaurant is small, but in good way that allows you to enjoy conversations with your table mates. The size didn't hinder our experience, but I hear it can get crowded. We visited for Sunday brunch and were seated right away thanks to reservations. Call ahead to be safe.

We started off with bottomless mimosas for $20 a person and were provided with jars of champagne and orange juice. No wait at all! We later switched to sangria, also part of the $20 deal. It was nice to have variety and drinks that were promptly replenished our entire meal. Bravo to the staff!

And then there was the food. The amazing food! Portions are on the smaller side, allowing guests to try a plethora of dishes. Two to three plates per person are recommended. With our group of four, we ordered about two items each and were able to try at least half of the menu. Check out the amazing dishes below.

Crab Cake Benedict

grapefruit hollandaise, sous-vide egg

Poached Shrimp

citrus chili, shaved radish, parsley, micro basil

Gravlax Pizza

cured salmon, avocado, pickled red onion, creme fraiche, crispy dough

Shakshouka

rustic tomato sauce, bell pepper, garlic, sous-vide egg, parsley, baguette

Bacari Fries

chef's sunflower, roasted garlic, lemon and smoked pepper sauce, fried egg

Incredible flavors! I'd say my food adventure level is a medium so some of the combos sounded a little weird and I was hesitant to try, but I'm glad I did because the ingredients work so well together.  Not pictured were a few more items that I didn't try because I'm pescatarian, but my friends said it was all delicious. I also forgot to snap photos of the veggie hash and chef's french toast. Even though I don't eat meat, I am not a big fan of fake meat. That being said, WOW was the veggie hash good! Didn't taste vegetarian at all. And I also don't care for french toast, I know, so weird!, but I was pleasantly surprised that I loved Baracri's. 

In all, I tried seven dishes and enjoyed each. Not just, eh that's OK, but really, really enjoyed each dish. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I look forward to my next visit and trying the remaining items!

If you are on the west side go to Bacari P.D.R. stat. If Playa del Rey is too far of a trek, check out their Glendale location, Bacari G.D.L. or Bacaro L.A. in Los Angeles. You can thank me later.

The Cliff in Laguna Beach is a Must-Visit Restaurant

I'm at that age where I still want to have birthday parties, but I'm a little old to celebrate in grand fashion each year. This year I decided to arrange for my girlfriends to all meet up in Laguna Beach for dinner. All I wanted was to sit near the water and take in the view. After researching, I decided on The Cliff. The main factor was reservations. None of the seaside establishments take reservations (I'm assuming because it's so popular during the summer), but The Cliff does take call-ahead seating an hour before arrival. I actually called a bit earlier than that, and they accommodated my request.

Before dinner, my friends and I arrived early and sat in the bar area as we waited for our "reservation" time. If you visit and there is a wait, this is a great option to sit and grab a drink. There are also little shops surrounding the restaurant that serve as a good time killer. It is a strange setup, so you have to navigate to find the restaurant seating, bar, and restrooms.

I was really impressed that they were able to seat us at our desired time, with a great view, and a party of nine. Seating is very limited, but there really isn't a bad spot since all tables are outside. The Cliff truly provides sweeping views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Our table, though, was right above the beach so we could see the sand, waves, and beautiful sunset.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any food photos because I was so busy talking and by the time we ate it was a bit dark. My only complaint was that it was so dark I could barely see my food. I had to actually pick my bowl up and tilt it to the side to try to see as I ate. Despite the low visability, everyone raved about their food. I regret not getting the clam chowder fries because I heard they were amazing. As for the drinks, they weren't the best but they were definitely strong. So that isn't such a bad thing!

One thing to note is parking isn't great in Laguna and the valet was full by 6. It took us 20 minutes find a spot in a nearby structure (just under $12 for three hours). The walk was about five minutes though, so not too bad.

Overall, I would recommend The Cliff for a celebration or any meal. Just take advantage of the call-ahead seating and arrive a little early.

The Cliff

577 South Coast Hwy

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

P: 949-494-1956

Eating My Way Through LA

Last week I headed to LA for a taping of Chris Hardwick's @Midnight (I hadn't seen it before, have you? It was pretty funny!) and after made our way eating through various neighborhoods. I used to live in Hollywood so I always love going back to visit my favorite spots and try new ones. And yes, we ate at all of these places in one day. Oops!

Magpies
Neighborhood: Silverlake
Address: 2660 Griffith Park Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039

I'm not a huge ice cream fan, but this if you are you gotta try this place! There are lots of fun flavors that are ever changing like marshmallows, Thai ice tea, and peanut butter pretzels plus you can smother your cone or cup of softserve with chocolate covered honeycombs, candied pecans, and more. Oh and they also have cold brewed coffee floats that looked amazing!

Osteria Mamma
Neighborhood: Melrose
5732 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038

If you're in LA and you like Italian, this restaurant is a must! SO good. The pictures below speak for themselves - and at the same time don't even do the food justice - because the food tastes just as good as it looks. If you like eggs, prosciutto, and pizza, order the Filippo. You're welcome.

Guisados

Neighborhood: Echo Park

1261 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

While these tacos aren't as pretty to photograph as the pizza above, they tasted just as good! This tiny eatery is the kind where you walk up and order and grab a seat on the patio to chow down. I wanted to try several of the traditional homestyle braises wrapped in fresh, handmade tortillas so I opted for the six mini tacos sampler for just under $8 (swapping the chicharones for veggies). So much yum!

The Confection Co-Op 

Neighborhood: Hollywood

1200 Highland Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90038

Located in my old hood, this is my favorite cupcake joint! If you're in town visiting, it's located just two blocks from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I will literally drive 45 minutes to LA just to get my fix. With ever-changing flavors like s'mores, Early Gray Tea with honey in addition to the regular staples, there's something for everyone. They also sell minis, ice cream, and even dog biscuits!

I literally felt so sick by the end of the night but it was worth it because everything was worth the incalculable calories I consumed!

Travel Guide: Two Days in Vancouver

Today I'm bringing you a look back at my Vancouver trip from four years ago. In July of 2010 I traveled to British Columbia for the first time. I went for work and decided to stay a few extra days. It was my first vacation alone, and in a different country at that! I was scared and had some sketchy experiences - stay far away from East Hastings street! - but overall it was a really empowering trip. It's a great feeling to know you're independent enough to do big things like explore foreign soil on your own!

If you're planning on visiting "Hollywood North" as the city is often referred to as, and only have a few days, here are some places to check out/things to do that'll easily fit in the span of two days:

Moda - quaint, remodeled boutique hotel built in 1908. Located in Yaletown (a section of downtown).
Earl's - downtown rooftop bar serving delicious food and drinks. Very trendy, but not pretentious.
Cloud 9 - fancy rotating restaurant located on the 42nd floor with amazing views of the city.
Stanley Park - rent a bike a ride the paths along the bay to take in nature, history, and nautical charm.
Landsea Tours - all-day Victoria trip with Butchart Gardens included + hotel pick up/drop off. $190 Canadian.
Empress Hotel Afternoon Tea - $76 for tea and treats at the gorgeous hotel built in 1902. A must!

Be sure to check out my original Vancouver recap #1, #2, and Victoria post as well, if interested!