News From Los Angeles 2
1. We are back in La La Land. After much discussion, we decided that we wanted to go somewhere where we could relax a little more and chill out. An expensive chill out!!
2. This blog should not be as active as previous ones, as we HOPE to take some days off, maybe even sit beside the pool once or twice.
3. A beautiful sunny day, it is warm, we are looking down on Sunset, the convertibles and tourist buses are going by and we are drinking Bloody Mary’s and Bubbly. The only thing left to do is to pray that we will win the lottery so we can afford the health care and move here permanently.
4. The cellphone is king here. Everyone carries there cell phone in their hand all the time. They are walking looking into their cellphone, the first thing when sit down at table is the check the phone and then every minute afterwards. They all drive and and use phones at same time some also holding their dogs. Men stand at urinal and text at same time. Figure it out!!!
Day 1
We are back! Up at 5:00 AM, out to the airport using Uber, and then to Toronto. Despite our fears about timing between flight, customs, etc, it went like a breeze. Five hours later, we land at LAX. It is like coming home: the same car service to West Hollywood, the same neighbourhood, the same apartment, the same supermarket etc. Nothing new to get used to!!!  After unpacking, resting a little, (Monique fell asleep on the couch) off to L’Etoile for dinner on Santa Monica Blvd. Again, like going to our favourite restaurant at home. Wonderful food, sea scallops to start, rack of lamb and swordfish in the middle and lava cake to finish. A little exploration afterwards. Our favourite pizza restaurant has disappeared, but our late night frozen yogurt place is still there. Then, after being up for 20 hrs, off for a good night’s sleep.
Day 2
Only in LA: “English muffin toast†for breakfast!!! Off to the car rental office where everything went smoothly until we got it into sun and found it was very dirty inside – will have to deal with it on Monday. Back to the supermarket to get the heavy stuff and a steak for dinner oh! and the mandatory flowers for Monique! Off to Barney’s Beanery for early lunch and the hockey game. Breakfast burritos, Cobb Salad and Margaritas. Left after the 2nd period with Senators down 3-1 and arrived home for the overtime!!!  Go Sens Go!!!! A BBQed steak for dinner, and being Easter weekend, watched the 10 Commandments on TV. And a retraction, Monique was right; our Pizza place is still there!
Day 3
It is Easter Sunday, so Brunch day, so our first trek up to Sunset Blvd and to Pearls. (Our favourite brunch spot from two years ago had closed, Pearls was our second). Along with the drinks, French Toast for Monique and Eggs Benedict with Fried Chicken for me. All the tourists in the buses were looking up at us, thinking we were maybe famous oops! Might have been looking at the old “Whiskey A Go Go†next door. Afterwards a leisurely walk up Sunset, and down to Santa Monica Blvd for a little frozen yogurt to top it off. Then, as is always the custom, sleep it off on the couch in the afternoon – picture was censored by Bill… Easter Dinner is hot dogs on the grill.
Day 4
First issue of the day was to deal with the car. Off to Enterprise, where we were treated very well by the Assistant Manager. He apologized for the inconvenience, and offered us an upgrade and as it had a back up camera, Bill jumped on it. As it had to be cleaned properly, we went next door to one of our favourite breakfast places – Kitchen 24. Their skillet breakfast includes hash browns to a Salisbury House standard. A little shopping and then, late afternoon, to Barney’s Beanery, for nachos, chicken wings, beer, margaritas and the Sens game. Bill woke up the place, with his yell, when they scored in overtime. Yogurt, of course, on the way home, and then the rest of the evening very quiet.
Day 5
Our friend Hubert was supposed to arrive around 11:00 but was delayed so we decided to go out and explore Larchmont Village. Larchmont is a densely populated, highly diverse, half-square-mile neighborhood in the central region of LA. Larchmont is notable for its quaint old-town shopping street and well-maintained historic homes.   LA, being LA, we started with a fresh pressed juice on arrival, at the low cost of $22. We did some walking, some shopping, and had lunch/dinner at Louise’s. Caesar salad, angel hair with a vegetarian tomato sauce for Monique and a seafood fettuccini with a cream garlic sauce for Bill. Before leaving the neighborhood, obligatory stop at Burger Lounge to pick-up Bill’s favorite, a turkey burger. A little supermarket shopping, when we got back, and then, an ancient vines Cline’s Zin and turkey burgers with snacks for supper. Hubert finally arrived, dead tired at about 10:00.
Day 6
A lazy morning and an introduction of trendy restaurants to Hubert with lunch at Le Pain Quotidien, all had different types of tartines for lunch. After that, a leisurely stroll around West Hollywood, off to Barney’s and another Sens victory! We tried Bossa Nova, a Brazilian restaurant for dinner. Two different types of steak and cod for dinner and then a deviation from the norm, organic ice cream instead of frozen yogurt for dessert.
Day 7
Decided to try Griddle Cafe for breakfast. It’s on everyone’s Top 10 list for breakfast in LA. Believe that we actually tried it two years ago, but left because of the length of the line. Decided to bite the bullet and try again and the wait wasn’t bad, fifteen minutes and we were in. Well worth the wait!!! The best French Toast ever! and excellent French pressed coffee ! Even the other plates coming out of the kitchen looked incredible. Then on to Hollywood Blvd and the Walk of Fame. We took a tour called Turner Classic Movies Tour which visits movie locations you would find in classic movies. It was well done, as you arrive at the location, the actually scene is displayed on a large screen at the front of the bus. For dinner we re-visited Cafe Med, an Italian restaurant, we had gone to two years ago and remembered as being very good. Not this time, was mediocre at best. There was some debate as to whether Monique’s veal was actually veal… Oh well, can’t win them all. Finished the evening with the usual frozen yogurt. Watermelon this time. Yummy!!!!!
Day 8
Off to Santa Monica for a short visit. After a little walking around had a lunch of hamburgers,hot dogs and sea bass sandwiches on the Pier. A little more exploring and then back to West Hollywood for the hockey game. A cold dinner at home and then off to The Laugh Factory just as the overtime was about to start. Got the bad news when we turned our phones back on after the performance. However, we saw four great comedians. A nice angel food cake and fruit dessert when we got home.
Day 9
We had to go into downtown LA to the train station so decided to visit Santee Alley but got caught up in an anti-Trump rally so retreated to Olvera Street for chicharrones and beef burrito with margaritas for lunch – Monique fought us for the last one! Back in West Hollywood, Hubert went off to have dinner with friends while Monique and Bill made their 1st visit to their favourite pizza place – no yogurt tonight gelato!  Ended the evening with a nice cappuccino.
Day 10
Sunday but no fried chicken, waffles and Bloody Mary’s today. Hubert went off to brunch with his niece, currently in LA, and Monique and Bill went off to the Farmer’s Market in Studio City. The best Breakfast Burrito’s in town. A stop at Best Buy to get a new $99 tablet. (Bill’s had given up the ghost and nope, he has not gone to the “dark sideâ€). A trip back through Coldwater Canyon and then a couple of hours sitting on Santa Monica Blvd watching the world go by. Farewell dinner for Hubert at L’Etoile. Seared sea bass, meatloaf and the seared tiger shrimps and scallops for dinner. Had to sit inside and the service was a little iffy but the food incredible. Frozen yogurt for dessert.
Day 11
Hubert is leaving today so after breakfast headed into Beverly Hills and walked down Rodeo Drive. Monique saw a pair of Ferragamo sandals she may buy; a non-stick 10†All Clad frying pan that Bill has been dreaming about; and also saw the perfect picture for above the fireplace. Had lunch at a Deli called, believe it or not, Nate’s. A Ruben, hot pastrami sandwich and a hamburger for lunch. With one person having a glass of wine… Put Hubert in a taxi to Union Station for his 3 day train trip back to Ottawa. Dinner at home.
Day 12
Off to Le Conversation for breakfast of Eggs Benedict with Filet mignon and Eggs with Pumpkin Pancakes. Then a walk down Beverley Boulevard looking at the restaurants of the stars, getting a shopping bag at Ralphs, and to the Beverly Centre, a semi successful visit to Macys and Monique saw her Ferragamo shoes for $50 less then on Rodeo. A walk home, with a stop at the very trendy Zinque and lunch with actresses and actors, both real and wannabes. At five, back to Pearls, for Tuesday Happy Hour, $1 oysters and $5 champagne. A stop for a hamburger (Bill) and a salt and caramel cone (Monique); completed with a Starbucks decaf latte.
Day 13
A day to rest beside the pool and chill out and get ready for Monique’s delayed birthday dinner. This year, we had to compete with Delmonico’s in NYC, Boa Steak house in LA and Viva Voce in Rome. We did OK – Grill on the Alley just off Rodeo Drive. It has been there for a while and is apparently where the power brokers meet for a meal, at least at lunch. But it is a favourite of the older because half the people in the restaurant were older than us. Monique had the steak tartare to start, (Bill the Caesar salad), and then a surf and turf for the main. Bill foregoes a steak and had the double lamb chop.  Seven layer carrot cake for dessert. Over all the food is out of this world. The service is excellent, professional but friendly. Overall it passes the test. Like they say at the end of the Olympics, the best birthday ever!
Day 14
Decided to see how the rich and famous shop and eat, so headed to Brentwood Country Mart. Brentwood is a residential area west of Beverley Hills and east of Santa Monica. A family neighbourhood, rich families that is. The Mart is in a series of old buildings. The shopping was not great, expensive, and the food was much too healthy. Monique had a beet salad for lunch and Bill had burrata cheese with artichoke hearts and peas. The only concession to calories was excellent sour dough bread. Needless to say, we had a lot of that! After that, home to get ready for the Sens’s game at Barney’s. Beer, margaritas, jalapeno poppers and a Sens win!!!!! Go Sens Go!!!. Then home again to await the arrival of Monique’s friend Louise.
Day 15
Louise has arrived, abet at 2:30 AM. Our guests are obviously jinxed when it comes to Air Canada. Our day to finally visit Santee Alley. Pretty well a flea market that you see all over the world. Reminded us a little of the Patpong Market in Bangkok but much larger. Had lunch at Baby Lobster Seafood and Grill up on the roof. Bill with the shrimp in a spicy sauce and Monique had mini stuffed tacos. For dinner, we went off to Terroni’s, a Toronto Italian restaurant that has opened two spots in LA. Monique’s niece had taken us to the Original a number of years ago.  The grilled calamari and beef Carpaccio were excellent as well as the Quattro Stagioni pizza. A lemon tart with gelato for dessert. And OMG! isn’t the valet parking in LA a wonderful thing.
Day 16
As we are off to the baseball game tomorrow, it was brunch today. Au Fudge is owned by Jessica Biel, and is quite near to us, so decided to give it a try. It is very kid friendly, mostly families; they have a small day care, a tree house and kids everywhere. A couple of years ago, this would have driven us crazy, however a couple of years of Maeve, Paul, Juliette and others has made us much more tolerant. It was a very nice experience. Chicken with waffles for Bill, waffles with strawberries and sweet cream for Monique. There is an advantage to being in a kids’ friendly restaurant it had the best dessert menu I had ever seen. We tried the Churros sliders. Wonderful!!! After, Bill headed home to watch the hockey game, while Monique and Louise headed down Melrose Avenue and saw the “famous Paul Smith’s Pink Wallâ€. Two hours later, Bill texted Monique that the games was headed for overtime, so being near Barney’s, Louise and her headed there to watch the end of the game. Must have bought the Sens good luck!! Go Pageau Go!!!!!! For dinner went to the Shake Shack, an upscale hamburger fast food place. It is very crowded, you order you meal at the counter, and they give you a beeper. You can also get the app for your phone and order from there. An above average hamburger, mediocre fries and a McDonald’s/Wendy’s milkshake.  A stop at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf watching the night go by on the way home.
Day 17
Dodgers’ Day. Off the baseball game, Dodgers vs Phillies. Drove into town, were lucky to get a spot in a lot near Union Station and then took the shuttle to the stadium. We had paid more money for the tickets then last time and were right behind home plate. Boy does that ball ever move!! As it was 80 degrees, we were lucky because were in the 1st row of shade. Stadium food was of course over priced but good.  The game was enjoyable, lots of good pitching, some home runs and action on the base paths.  Unlike two years ago when we left after 8 innings and it was 0-1. This year left after the 7th inning stretch with the Dodgers leading 5-1. After the game a little shopping, we for went the usual margaritas on Olvera Street and headed home. Supper was Chinese at Chin Chin up on Sunset.
Day 18
Well after 6 weeks in Los Angles, we finally made it to Malibu. Visited Zuma Beach, saw some beautiful houses along the ocean front and, of course saw some surfers. Had lunch at the Fish Grill, across the street from the Malibu Pier. Fish and chips with wonderful fries for Monique and Louise and, a fish sandwich with rice for Bill. In the afternoon, we visited the Getty Villa. Didn’t look at much of the collection of the Greek and Roman antiquities (having spend a lot of time in NYC, Paris and Rome museums) but did enjoy the beautiful grounds. Finally with the trip home, it meant we have driven Sunset Blvd, from one end to the other, but have yet to discover 77… BBQ steaks at home for dinner and then a short walk to the Yogurt Stop and Starbucks.
Day 19
A quiet morning and then off to see Conan O’Brian (because we couldn’t get tickets for Jimmy Kimmel). You have to check in early so afterwards went off to Talleyrand for lunch. Fried chicken and a club sandwich. A great family restaurant with wonderful service. Conan’s guests were Kristen Chenoweth and Jonathan Banks (Mike on Breaking bad and Better Call Saul). It was a good show. Opened our phones right afterwards and saw the bad news! Pull yourself together Sens. Came back by Mulholland Drive. Off to Prova for Pizza for dinner. Then on to the obligatory stops at The Coffee Bean and the Yogurt Stop for Bill while Louise and Monique went to Salt and Straw for salted caramel ribbons ice cream cones.
Day 20
Started with breakfast at Kitchen 24 and then Monique and Louise spent the day shopping. In the evening, up to Sunset for dinner at Le Petit Four. Two years ago, we had been at a restaurant nearby and a lady had advised us to try this restaurant, and we never got around to it. We should have!!!! The food was excellent. Bill had had a late lunch so had the warm duck on a baguette, Monique had the calves liver (as good as her mother’s, a real complement) and for Louise, the steak and frites. The dessert tray was fabulous!! We will have to go back, just to get pictures!!!
Day 21
We woke up at 5:30am as Louise had an early flight. After she left with Uber, we went back to sleep for a couple of hours. Went to lunch at Joan’s on Third, a West Hollywood celebrity lunch institution. Afterwards, a little shopping and then to Barney’s for the hockey game. Left after the 2nd period with the Sens down 0-3. Rather than BBQ, we went to another West Hollywood institution since 1939: Pink’s Hot Dogs! Guess what we had for dinner???
Day 22
We are running out of steam! Got ready to go at about noon so went directly to lunch through a beautiful area of West Hollywood. A new trendy restaurant called Granville on Beverley. The new trend in LA is “bowls†which can be a type of salad, sushi, noodle, grain or rice based, but with many different kind of healthy ingredients and spices added. (Apparently, it can also be a soup, which is liquid based). Bill had the classic Poke bowl (pronounced Poké,) which was noodle/tuna based (He only realized that afterwards but it was too late).  It included sushi grade ahi, soba noodles, lemongrass, coconut nectar, mango, avocado, toasted sesame seeds, coconut crack, churrasco, green and red onion and basil. Monique has the “Get in my belly pork bowl†which had Ponzu Pork Belly, Fried Egg, Soba Noodles, Pickled Daikon & Carrots, Peri Peri Sauce, Peanuts, Basil, Green Onion and Broccolini. Both were extraordinary (and healthy). A small dessert, less healthy, was the chilled yuzu (lemon) mousse. Afterwards Monique headed to the Beverley Center to do some shopping and Bill went home for a sleep. Unfortunately for Monique the Ferragamo sandals she had had her eyes on, did not fit well.  Anyway her favorite part seems to be the walk back admiring the gardens along the way and she caught a bit of the Cinco de Mayo (annual Mexican celebration) on Santa Monica as well. A late dinner at the WeHo Bistro, Salmon in a creamy lemon sauce for Monique and Turkey Meat Loaf with gravy for Bill and a shared Bread pudding for dessert. (No pictures of the meal, it tasted a lot better than it looked).
Day 23
Cold and windy!! Headed to Hugo’s for brunch, without a reservation, on a Saturday, and managed to get in quite quickly, although outside on such a chilly day. While service was quite good, the French Toast was so so, but the Chipotle Scramble was good. The most disappointing thing was it was the worst bloody Bill has had in LA. Forgot our phones, so no pictures. After headed home, did a little shopping, some nice flowers,  and just caught the end of the Sens game. That made us to forget the bad weather! Dinner was at home.
Day 24
Our last chance for a LA brunch! We decided on Wolf, on where else… Melrose! We picked it out of a “best Brunch in West Hollywood list†and did we ever luck out. The service was excellent!!! The menu was quite varied, and Bill was caught between three choices and Monique two. We ended up with Chicken and Waffles and the French Toast. Both were superb!!! The fact that the chicken was dark meat and not the usual dry chicken breast influenced my decision. Bill’s 2nd choice would have been the eggs Benedict and when we saw them at a nearby table, he almost regretted his chicken/waffle decision. After 7 weeks overall in Los Angles and endless brunches, and after a terrible Bloody Mary the day before, Bill had the best Bloody Mary ever!!! To walk off the meal, we walked down to Beverly, through another nice West Hollywood neighbourhood, to do the most important thing of the trip. To get Fiona’s birthday present as well other gifts. About the same amount of money as an upscale steak restaurant!!! Uber to home to let the vodka wear off and then later, off to Mel’s DriveIn for a dinner of sliders and a hamburger.
Day 25
We are running out of steam but have to move. So we head off to the shopping centre of the stars, The Grove. And it is! Monique sees Reece Witherspoon. We don’t drive; we take Uber -$11.00 both ways!!!  What are we doing with a car???   A couple of hours of shopping, and then lunch/supper at La Piazza, a nice Italian restaurant. Carpaccio and prosciutto and buffalo to start and then rigatoni carbonara and tagliolini with lobster and a dessert definitely to share! Head back home, much too full and settle down for the evening.
Day 26
4It’s our anniversary. Thirty-six years!!! Watching our favourite channel in the morning we see an ad for La Quinta Resort Waldorf Astoria near Palm Springs and we say why not!! Forty-five minutes later, we are on our way. Three hours of freeway driving later with lunch at Baker’s, a Mexican and American fast food chain, we are there. A beautiful resort, not many people Coachella had just finished. Mostly a couple of small conventions.  We explore a little and then settle in to watch the Sens/Rangers. Have to leave as the 3rd period starts to sit outside and drink our Cadillac Margaritas. We check the scores and the Sens have won. Let’s celebrate with another giant margarita. For dinner, we pass on the signature restaurant, despite our anniversary, because for Bill the smallest steak available is 14 oz and for Monique 12 oz. At the same time the most inexpensive bottle of wine is $110US. So we take 2nd best, Twenty6 but with a little apprehension as the reviews are not good!!! As it turns out, the reviews were wrong. We had a wonderful dinner, a shrimp cocktail (with a very different presentation) and tomato soup to start, perfect steaks (Bill’s steak was 12 oz so he only had to leave 2 oz instead of 4/5) with great sides. A wonderful dessert of chocolate cookie sundae. A great anniversary day!!!
Day 27
Breakfast at the La Quinta. Wonderful Eggs Benedict (with avocado, tomato and a hot salsa for Bill and an excellent waffle for Monique. Then off to look at one of the golf courses before heading back. Traffic was great and took us about 45 minutes less (75-80 mph in the commuter lane) but still had to move over occasionally to let people pass. Monique went off for her hair and nails and we had dinner at home.
Day 28
Our last full day! Off to the Polo Lounge, at the Beverley Hills Hotel for breakfast which will probably cost the same amount as dinner this evening. A beautiful hotel and a marvelous setting. The rich and famous are all tucked into little alcoves. French toast for Monique and Bagel and Lox for Bill. When we win the lottery, this will be our go to breakfast place.   Afterwards, we take the car back, grab a burger and a last small yogurt and head home to start departure procedures. Monique remembers she has to go to Macys to pay her bill, so Bill works on his reviews. Our last meal in LA, what to do?   We decide on one last walk up to Sunset and the Le Petit Four. The owner/managers recognizes us and we are treated like royalty. A shared calamari, Monique returns to the liver while Bill tries the sea bass. Everything is marvellous and then of course there is the dessert platter to choose from. Then, one last walk down Larrabee to home and to get ready for a long day tomorrow.
Day 29
Up early, Bill goes to get coffee, final adjustments and weighing of suitcases and off to the airport. Both suitcases are 2 lbs under, probably because all the heavy peanut butter is in the carry on. Skippy Peanut Butter, which bought out Squirrel, is no longer available it Canada. Apparently, they don’t want to bother with the different labels. Monique’s Priority Pass actually gets us into the Air Canada lounge. The flight leaves a little late but not a problem. Uneventful to Toronto and Nexus allows us to get through customs in a flash. We do not have to pick up our suitcases in Toronto. That’s new! Bill is still trying to figure out what customs would do if they were suspicious? Pull your suitcases off the line in Toronto or wait until you get to Ottawa…. We cannot remember the last time our connections in Toronto went smoothly, this time we are about an hour late leaving. Luckily, the bar was across from our gate.  Home and in bed at 1:30 AM.
TIME TO START PLANNING FOR NEXT YEAR!!!!!!
