California - Malibu and Venice

With crystal clear blue skies everyday, how could I resist a trip to the beach during my California adventure?! Jenny suggested we head to Malibu for the day. The best part of Malibu beaches are the canyons you drive through to get to there. Canyon valley views, vineyards on hilltops, cliff side mansions, I was glad Jenny was driving cause I couldn't keep my eyes off the scenery. 

Before heading to the airport my last evening, we stop off in Venice. I learned Venice has many different parts. The colorful quirky beachfront is just a small portion of what this area has to offer. We stuck to the shops and restaurants on Abbot Kinney Blvd with a bit of wandering to the Venice Canal Historical District.

We decided on happy hour at Zinque. 

Located on the corner of Venice Blvd and Abbot Kinney Blvd, this coffee/wine bar has a lovely outdoor patio and inside that is bathed in natural sunlight.

Wanting to soak up all the sun I could, we perched outside and ordered a couple glasses of Rose.

The cheese board is not on the happy hour menu, but how could I resist. We also noshed on olives and mini sausage (both on the happy hour menu for about $3 each).

After we strolled over to the Venice Canals. The canals will originally constructed to help with water flow, but due to poor original construction they were deemed unusable. Over the years, the City of Venice has worked to reinforce the structure and clean up the canal waters. Now, as you stroll along the bridges and pathways, you are transported to another time and place. The area is picturesque and makes you forget you are in the middle of a major metropolitan city.

(Dress: ASOS / Sunglasses & Bag: Kate Spade New York / Necklace: Loft / Shoes: Top Shop)

Bon Voyage for now California. I'll miss your ocean breeze and sunshine. Back to the Concrete Jungle where dreams are made. 

xoxo

Pinchers with Bourgeois Bob

With the long Memorial Day weekend stretched before me, I made sure to get out of dodge. I had not visited my dad (aka Bourgeois Bob) and stepmom since before the Holidays, so a trip down to South Florida was the perfect destination. 

Big surprise, I was not the only person who decided to travel this holiday weekend. A mix of oversold flights and bad weather did not lend to an enjoyable traveling experience. My quick afterwork Thursday night flight turned into a Friday morning fight to an airport 2 hours from my actual destination and then a car ride across the Everglades. 

After cancellation, delays, detours and a few road bumps, I finally made it. I had just enough time to shower and throw on a sundress before my dad was ushering us into the car in order to make Happy Hour at Pinchers Crab Shack.

I love coming to Pinchers when I visit. You are guaranteed a great cut of fresh off the boat fish that is lightly seasoned with heaping side options. I hate when fish is over-sauced and spiced.

Unlike NYC, where we get excited about $1 Oyster Happy Hours, Pinchers has Oysters, Calms, Shrimp and Wings for $0.70,

I told you we rushed to make Happy Hour. We started with Oysters. Not as meaty as our Long Island Blue Points, but less salty and very tasty.

Next were the steamed clams and butter. I haven't had clams for the longest time, I had forgot how incredible they are.

I do not like wings so Dad and Denise took care of those.

I was almost too full to order, but then decided...what the heck, I'm on vacation! Dad and Den ordered the Crab Cake. They were in love with the coleslaw...another thing I hate.

I opted for the Blackened Grouper. My sides were string beans and homemade french fries. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Nothing was over sauced or salted.

The cool thing about Pinchers is it is also a fish market. Not the cheapest, but the fish is about as fresh as you are going to get.

Gosh the sun felt so good after months of frozen tundra.

Love my Daddio. More to come about South Florida adventures from Naturally Ginger and Bourgeois Bob later this week.

We may or may not have had a dinner party and invited this guy to come along.

I could just pinch your little cheeks. xoxo thanks for reading.

Toro and The (little) Mermaid Inn

There has been a lot of eating out the last couple weeks for me. Living in NYC it is very easy to eat out every night of the week. This though, is not healthy for my bank account or my waist line. When choosing to go out to eat, there are two markers for me to measure if it was worth the cost: food quality and the company.  I was lucky this week with not just great company, but great food!

Mer and I visited Toro. I have been wanting to try it since it opened, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Toro is a Barcelona-style tapas bar. There are traditional and modern dishes, all prepared with regional Spanish flavors and techniques, using the freshest ingredients. The decor is incredible! The same team that crafted up the interior at ABC Kitchen worked on Toro, and you can sense the similarity in vibe. 

It is a true tapas restaurant so you have to be up for sharing, and you have to order a lot to not walk away hungry. 

A majority of these pictures were taken with my iphone, so I apologize for the poor quality. 

Just a warning, I guess there is a tradition in Spain in which you pour cider into a carafe and then chug it. I don't think you are required to chug it, but you do pour it into your mouth via a spout off the carafe. We had a table nearby getting very rowdy and it took us a bit off guard. But once we learned about the tradition, we noticed a ton of tables around the room drinking the cider.

We started with the Atun Crudo, a yellowfin tuna with white soy, spicy cucumber, citrus and avocado.

Next came the Foie Gras y Piquillo, seared foie gras with piquillo pepper, cider vinegar gastrique and candied walnuts.

It was so much goodness in each bite.

These are Zanahorias, heiroom carrots, buttermilk, dill and harissa. They had a very smoky flavor, like they were cooked over a camp fire.

Next came Alcachofas de Sol, sunchokes with pickled plums, mint, shisho, and aioli. One of my favorites of the night. Sunchokes are similar to artichokes, but very seasonal so you can't always find them in stores.

These little nibbles are the Mollejas, crispy veal sweetbreads with blood orange, fermented black beans, peanuts and celery root. Now I've had sweetbreads before and was turned off by the texture, but these were crispy, flavorful and delightful to eat.

I told you we ordered a lot.

Next was the Panza De Cerdo, crispy pork belly with apples, squash, rutabagas and berbere. This was my absolute favorite of the night, I could have eaten multiple plates.

We also ordered the Abuon, abalone with brown butter, parsley and migas. It was so good I forgot to snap a picture. Abalone is a delicious meaty shellfish.

How could we leave without dessert?! They only serve three desserts and I can't remember the exact name of this one, but it was awesome. I remember it being salted chocolate mousse deliciousness.

In the Spring time mood, Mer and I had Rose with our meal. She ended the evening with this colorful cocktail (perfect for a hot summer day) and I had a beautiful Rioja. 

I highly recommend a visit to Toro. You won't be disappointed.

 

The next evening, I had plans to meet up with my beautiful friend Kristen for an early dinner. I recommended The Mermaid Inn. There are three locations throughout the city and each boasts a fish heavy menu. They have a killer Happy Hour every day of the week where you can get a variety of appetizers very cheap, $1 oysters and $6 glasses of wine. 

I learned, when we arrived, that you can make reservations, so I would suggest you do so if trying to go on a Friday or Saturday. We didn't, so we had to wait. Luckily, we sat before the end of Happy Hour and could reap the benefits.

I, of course, ordered a dozen oysters. They are Long Island's finest Bluepoints.

We also couldn't resist the hush puppies. They are balls of fried goodness.

Kristen opted for the Tuna Tacos.

The Mermaid Inn does not have a dessert menu, but they always give you a complimentary chocolate mouse with your fishy fortune.

Both our fish informed us we are passionate. 

Calories and conversation consumed, it was worth every ounce and penny. I am constantly amazed at the life I get to live and the people I get to do it with. I pray you all do your best to make the most of each moment and always choose joy.

xoxo