Cheeky’s is the kind of place you might expect to find in one of L.A.’s laid back, beachside neighborhoods. Simple menu done in a typewriter font on a rectangle of recycled cardstock, freshly made aguas frescas and lemonades, local/organic/sustainable food… check, check, and check. Except you’re not in Santa Monica or Hermosa Beach. You’re in the middle of the desert. And in a place that’s dominated by tourist-friendly chains and, let’s be honest, old white people food, Cheeky’s is quite literally an oasis. They’re only open for breakfast and lunch, but they do both beautifully. I got a bacon, arugula, and heirloom tomato sandwich with a fried egg on top (I love dishes that combine breakfast and lunch elements, so this was a major win). Curt wanted to fuel up for our drive back to L.A. so he opted for the grass-fed burger on toasted brioche. I was so tempted to get one of their housemade cheddar scones, because hello it’s a pastry with cheese in it, but I was too full. Maybe next time.

- Jessica

We’ve been on a breakfast/brunch kick lately (mostly thanks to this), so we checked out BLD, a West Hollywood favorite, a couple weekends ago. BLD stands for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and while I’m told they do all three quite well, breakfast is definitely the star of the show. And, speaking of stars, apparently it’s a pretty good place to spot one (I’m 99% sure I saw Jena Malone on the way out). But enough about that. Let’s talk food. Curt got the bacon stuffed french and I got the eggs benedict. The food is rich and the portions are BIG, so make sure you have an appetite if you pay BLD a visit. Both were tasty, but our brunch bar had been set so high by Gjelina that BLD fell just a bit short. We’ll have to give lunch or dinner a try, just to see if it can truly live up to the hype. I’m looking forward to it!

- Jessica

Here’s a little nugget I forgot to share last weekend. We stopped by Thomas Keller’s mini-patisserie, the Bouchon Bakery, in Beverly Hills. I’ve got to say, we much prefer our local spot, Amandine, for all things Parisian (I honestly don’t know if you’ll find a better chocolate croissant anywhere). Still, Bouchon was a worthwhile stop, particularly for that lemon tart and the lovely packaging. They also make an absolutely velvety iced latte, if you like your sweets with a little caffeine. So, while it’s not necessarily worth a special trip, if you’re strolling down Rodeo Drive and feel a sudden craving for a nice chewy macaron, walk two blocks east to Canon and seek out the little bakery case, tucked behind the famed bistro. You’re sure to find a sweet that hits the spot.

- Jessica

Let’s see if I can write this post without drooling. Gjelina blew our minds. We shared a lazy Saturday breakfast that was outrageously, insanely delicious. Scrumptious. Almost… utopian. Do you see those pancakes? They were like clouds. Melt-in-your-mouth lemon ricotta clouds topped with fresh raspberries and real maple syrup. I can’t even come up with the adjectives to describe this breakfast adequately so I’ll just let the pictures do the talking…

Bacon date scone with housemade preserves and butter.

Smooth, velvety cappuccino. Side of Niman Ranch bacon.

Moroccan baked eggs with Merguez sausage, chili, tomato sauce, cilantro & spiced yogurt.

This is the kind of food that makes you feel good about life. I promise you’ll be blissfully content and ready to embrace the rest of your day… or maybe just sink into a delicious afternoon nap.

- Jessica

Howdy from the mile-high city! We’ve got plenty of pics from our Denver adventures coming down the pipeline, but in the meantime, here’s a little gem that’s much closer to home. We checked out Westwood newcomer Fundamental on one of our recent Sandwich Saturday outings, and it did not disappoint these two sandwich snobs. First of all, can we talk about how this place looks? It’s beautiful. Minimalist and clean, like an art gallery. Except the art comes nestled between two slices of bread.

The food is incredible. It’s expertly composed– proportion, flavor, and texture are all taken into account. Curt got the Chicken Torta- marinated shredded chicken, pickled jalapenos, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, and crema on mexican brioche. I went for the grilled cheese (thinly sliced nectarines and melting burrata cheese) and soup (sweet summer corn). The fresh lemonade was quite tasty as well. Their menu changes regularly, and word on the street is that they now have their liquor license AND they’re serving dinner. So, basically, we’ll be back. Often.

- Jessica

If you appreciate artisanal ingredients and culinary surprises, get thee to The Market. This place is amazing. AMAZING, I tell you. Want a tasty gourmet sandwich on a freshly-baked pretzel roll? DONE. How about some small-batch organic ice cream? You betcha.

There are plenty of super-yummy lunch options at the Market, but the sweets are where it’s at. Ice cream, gelato, handmade chocolate truffles, and those incredible cookies from Aurelie the cookie guru. Heaven. Go now!

- Jessica

Part 2 of our Foodie Friday adventure was a quick stop into Hotcakes Bakes. We were craving something sweet after finishing the savory sandwiches from Earl’s, so cupcakes were definitely in order. We’ve been disappointed by many a cupcake here in L.A., but Oh. My. Goodness. Hotcakes does it right! Their cupcakes are moist and delicious, with amazingly real flavors and the perfect cake-to-frosting ratio.

Our cupcakes (clockwise from top left): Strawberry, Vanilla with Sprinkles, Tres Leches Spicy Mango (their winning recipe on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars), and English Toffee.

So glad we found a great cupcake spot–and it’s right down the street! Also, it turns out our dear friend Jen has a particularly soft spot in her heart for Hotcakes, since that’s where she and her husband Josh got their wedding cake. Love!

- Jessica

Last Friday we both got to leave work early, so we grabbed Beans and hopped in the car for a quick foodie adventure. First stop was Earl’s Gourmet Grub in Mar Vista. We had a groupon, but forgot to use it when we ordered–oops! We must have been too distracted by the menu. My croque monsieur was the perfect meaty/salty/cheesy/melty comfort food. I love me a fried egg on a sandwich! Curt nommed on a turkey sandwich with pickled red onion and maytag blue cheese. Yum! Plus crunchy chips and real Mexican cokes in the glass bottles. We like you, Earl’s. We like you a lot.

Stay tuned for Foodie Friday part two!

- Jessica

Yep, that’s “Caffe” with two Fs. Our new friend Matt works there and he invited us in last week for the royal treatment. It was amazing. The food is sooooo good. Matt calls it “gourmet short-order,” which I think pretty much sums it up. It’s a casual place, but the food is a bit more upscale than you’d expect (mushroom crostini, filet mignon, fettucini carbonara). Take a look at these good eats…


Ok, first up: the appetizers. On the left you’ve got fresh, super-local mushrooms on toasted bread. On the right, kalua pork monte cristo eggrolls. OMG. incredible. They came with a trio of dipping sauces, too. I want more!!!

Next, the pastas. We all nommed on the mac n’ cheese (I ordered a salad to justify the insane carb consumption). Stephen and Katie shared one of the pasta specials, which looked and smelled delicious.

Curt had the Guy Fieri-approved Fuego burger. Pepper jack, bacon, avocado, and chipotle salsa! And then, the crowning glory… Matt whipped up some beignets for us. They were hot and crispy and sweet and spectacular.

If you’re down in the South Bay, stop by North End Caffe for some amazing food! And say hi to Matt!

- Jessica

Last weekend we ventured out for Sunday brunch in our new neighborhood. We were craving a very specific breakfasty mix of savory and sweet. I’d driven by Huckleberry a couple times and it looked pretty promising, so off we went!


The pastries were insane. Honestly, if you go to Huckleberry, you don’t really need to bother with the actual breakfast dishes. Just get some OJ or coffee and a plate full of pastries. That chocolate croissant was the lightest, flakiest thing ever…with a nice thick smear of dark chocolate inside. I could have easily eaten 3 or 4. No joke.

The fried egg sandwich was ok, but lacked flavor. It was kinda boring. Again, we would have been better off stuffing our faces with more pastries.

One more tasty treat: the maple bacon biscuit. Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like. And it is delicious.

Did you know that we’re on Yelp? You can read my full review of Huckleberry (and all my other awesome reviews) here!

- Jessica