CALIFORNIA | Sweet Leisure

Category Archives: CALIFORNIA

CJ’S CAFE and SWEET FRIED PLANTAINS

CJ’s Cafe on W Pico in Los Angeles is a long loved restaurant that serves a Mexican dishes, traditional American food and soul food. Their sweet fried plantains are about the best ever. Recipe included.

Luna Luna Forgotten Fantasy Los Angeles

Once in a blue moon, an art exhibit offers such magic as Luna Luna Forgotten Fantasy in Los Angeles. The exhibit showcases a collection of artist-made carnival fun that first operated in Germany in 1987. Lost, rediscovered, restored, the exhibit will enchant the entire family.

¶ Posted 26 February 2024 † Susan Manlin Katzman § ART § GERMANY § LOS ANGELES ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: André Heller, Arik Brauer, Daniel Spoerri, Forgotten Fantasy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Los Angeles, Luna Luna, Salvador Dalí

BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD AND HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKET

The salad was freshness itself. Crispy and sweetly tender butter lettuce leaves wearing a light dressing that glistened like dew. I sampled the salad as a first course at a Sunday night dinner prepared by Scott Manlin (influencer, restaurateur, and my nephew). Scott credited the salad’s perfection to the Hollywood Farmers Market, where he shops […]

¶ Posted 07 February 2024 † Susan Manlin Katzman § FAVORITE RECIPES/FAMOUS PEOPLE § LOS ANGELES § LOW CALORIE § RECIPES § SALADS ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: butter lettuce, Farmer's Market, Hollywood Farmers Market, Los Angeles, salad

SPARTINA, STEPHEN KALT, BREAD PUDDING

I’m crazy about Stephen Kalt. At least I love his L.A. restaurant, Spartina, especially at happy hour when the prices are discounted. Apparently, I’m not the one and only. Critics rave. Influencers gush. Stephen and his restaurants have been called the best by such prestigious publications as Esquire, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure. He […]

¶ Posted 07 July 2023 † Susan Manlin Katzman § DESSERTS § LOS ANGELES § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: bread pudding, Los Angeles, Spartina, Stephen Kalt

Ta-eem Grill, Hummus Fava Beans

Ta-eem Grill in Los Angeles draws a crowd for It’s kosher Mediterranean dishes. Owner Sylvie Kraizberger shares the recipe for authentic Hummus Fava Beans (Ful).

¶ Posted 22 July 2022 † Susan Manlin Katzman § APPETIZERS § BEANS § ENTREES § IMMIGRANT CHEFS § ISRAEL § LOS ANGELES § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § SIDE DISHES § VEGETABLES ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: falafel, fava beans, hummus, Israeli foods, kosher restaurant, Los Angeles, Ta-eem Grill

DOSA AND MAYURA INDIAN RESTAURANT

Dr. Aniyan, or Padmini as her friends call her, greets guests at the door of her south Indian restaurant with a smile as brilliant as the gold trimmed sari that she explains is her “work” uniform. The Ph.D professor of business management and accounting and her restauranteur husband, Aniyan Puthanpurayil, immigrated to the United States […]

¶ Posted 14 September 2021 † Susan Manlin Katzman § APPETIZERS § BREADS § BREAKFAST § GLUTEN FREE § IMMIGRANT CHEFS § INDIA § KERALA § LOS ANGELES § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § SIDE DISHES § Uncategorized § VEGETABLES ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: California, Culver City, dal, dosa, Gluten-free, Indian restaurant, Indian-style crepes, Los Angeles, Mayura, vegetarian

EDOBOX MODERN JAPANESE RESTAURANT, SANTA MONICA, CA

Disclaimer: Scott Manlin is my nephew. As far as I can remember, he has always appreciated fine food and good restaurants. When he was barely an adult and living in Chicago, and I was a James Beard Foundation restaurant judge and couldn’t get to all of the nominated Chicago restaurants, I asked Scott for advice. […]

¶ Posted 27 August 2021 † Susan Manlin Katzman § BARS § BEACH § COCKTAILS § ENTREES § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § SALADS § WINE ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: bento boxes, California, Carlos Couts, Edobox, Edobox House Salad, fried shallots, Makoto Okuwa, Miso Aioli, modern Japanese cuisine, saki, Santa Monica, Scott Manlin, Sky Strouth, sushi

BEAUTIFUL LIVING FROM CAL-A-VIE

I don’t know Terri Havens, but I am astounded by her creations. Everything that Terri touches seems imbedded in splendor. I love the georgous Cal-a-Vie Health Spa that she and her husband own in the lavender-scented hills of Southern California. I adore the spa’s majestic setting, the flowers, the French antiques, the bedrooms, the public […]

¶ Posted 18 March 2021 † Susan Manlin Katzman § ACCOMMODATIONS § BOOKS § CHOCOLATE § COOKBOOK REVIEWS § DESSERTS § DIETS § RECIPES § RESORTS § SPAS § Uncategorized § VISTA § WINE ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: avocado, Beautiful Living, Cal-a-Vie, CHOCOLATE, Chocolate Mousse, health spa

PORTO’S BAKERY & CAFE AND ROPA VIEJA

California’s iconic Porto’s Bakery & Cafes are now selling frozen goodies nationwide. These Bake at Home treats delight and we are grateful to have them available when not able to get to the bakery in person. On the other hand, the favorite Cuban dish, Ropa Vieja is only available in the cafe, but you can also make it at home as Porto’s gave us the recipe.