Julienne:Secret Spot in Santa Barbara:

Along with the breath taking views, incredible weather,and delicious treats; Santa Barbara can be noted to offer much more than just a little euro city-by-the-sea ambiance. This simply wonderful city can't help but give off a mini European vibe that not only attracts people from all over the world, but has also composed a selection of secret spots for anyone who is interested in a progressive dining experience. Julienne seeks to be one of the best kept secret food finds that offers a new twist on so-called "fine dining". They offer a variety of mini-plates that are based around what's available daily at the farmer's market in downtown Santa Barbara. There menu varies from delicious tomato-inspired salads, all the way to deserts made from one drop of candied oil on a bed of rock salt.. interesting. Recently, they featured an exquisite fresh Sardine and mixed veggie salad that just was to die for. This bowl of beautiful goodness, came stacked so perfectly in an over sized dish that was tossed with seared sardines, fresh green beans, and sliced yellow squash. And, as usual, there menu is fully equipped to suggest the perfect vino to complement the taste of every plate they offer. Located on the corner of Canon Perdido and Anacapa Street in downtown Santa Barbara, this local treasure is a MUST to anyone who seeks to find a modern take on yummy plates.

Tinga Bueno Mexican Food

Hey LA! We have a new foodie sibling to welcome to our sophisticated super scrumpalicious MEXICAN food guide.



Tinga is an awe~ inspiring Modern Fresh Latin flavored gem parked next to American Rag on La Brea~ Thank the Heavens.. we need more of this around town.. with Lotteria being best Mexican Food around Midtown-- it gets old parking at the Grove. La Brea is less populated.. parking is a mediation in the Power of NOW!

The menu has some veggie choices like the mushroom quesadilla--- fresh, robust, satiating to the end! Plenty of moo options too... like ribs, steak tacos and oink! Pricey for Latin Flavors, and worth it for you spice loving devils. These foodies like it hottt! Be mindful to be discerning about your choices~ A quesadilla is $9.50- $10.95 not so humble.. but very delicious. See it as an elevated Mexican food experience. Sweet corn is a must. It cools off the hot pallette, while chowing on the Papas Bravas Tacos. Go with an appetite the flavors or deep, robust, Hott and passionate. Pace yourself--





Tinga
142 South La Brea
Los Angeles, Ca 90021

http://www.tingabueno.com/

Mooi Raw Vegan Restaurant

Raw takes on a new meaning with the delicious delectable treats created at MOOI in echo park. You don't have to be a raw fanatic to enjoy MOOI dishes. Yummy and satisfying are first thoughts that come to mind and mouth. I think RAW typically associates cleansing diets, green bitter taste, skinny bone Jones culture.. Not here, in the fringe culture of Echo Park-- Chef Stephen Hauptfuhr seduces his foodies in the MOOI world with raw creativity and fresh ideas that provide a MOOI Raw adventure into a world of "bring me more MOOI".




His reasonable prices are approachable in a working class hood. This makes MOOI a community addition worth the investment.

Sliced Tomatoes with Pumkin Seed Pesto $5 is a tantalizing appetizer. It's warm weather Light on the tummy snack. A dish like this is power packed flavor and a bit of protein to satiate the hunger pangs. Greek Salad fresh, tangy and bountiful is one you can't beat at $7. Thai peanut noodles with mixed veggies rounded out the meal as our main dish for $9. Happily Satisfied, two of us completed our fancy raw food meal for $21. All that for a bit of haute RAW food education.








Mooi
1700 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Neighborhood: Echo Park

mooifood.com/

Eat At Forage!

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Might you be the Angelinos who want to raise your personal food consciousness in a delicious and most economical way? If so, then YOU must try Forage~ This group of foodies puts the love back into eating well without robbing your whole paycheck. YOU get edibles made with absolute love; high quality, good location, and down to earth community folk to connect. Forage Crew puts the authentic back into eating well without alienating the hard working Angelinos of our community. Come with us and Forage your meal with delight!

Forage
3823 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026-1529
(323) 663-6885

http://www.foragela.com/

Rivera Restaurant Downtown Los Angeles

Lunch called us to Rivera- The Latin Influenced menu of creative mixology spicing familiar food in unexpected flavors. We ordered all sides in anticipation to finish with the grilled veggie goat cheese chipotle pesto sandwich. We were so fulfilled with richness that we had to stop with the sides! ... kinda funny, and pricey for sides only lunch. A pretty interior in modern design and natural tones.

Frijoles negros, calabacitas, quinoa +spinach, zanahorias and two soups in two bowls arrived at the table piping hot and zest-full of flavors, spices, richness. We were so fulfilled with the variety of taste, and quantity we had no need for the sandwich. It would have been way too much to eat for lunch. Black beans were blended into spicy/sweet puree mash that was initially a punch unexpected, then i needed to pace myself to keep up with the intensity. The calabacitas were a robust home cooked meal on their own. This fresh and lightness of this squash dish contrasted nicely in mixing frijoles negros spicy sweet experience. The quinoa + spinach sang sweet nutty notes of earth into the mix. The zanahorias aka carrot pureed, embellished the meal with additional carmelized sweetness that contrasted the spicy taste of the black bean dish. A very beefy black bean and earthy lentil soups started the meal on a room temperature note. Both brothy enough to wet our palettes yet heavy duty in robust flavor to ground our taste buds for takeoff.

If you love a heavy meat based menu, with flavorful sides then try Rivera, especially if you are visiting the staples center of LA Live Media center. Make sure you have a chunk of cash to invest in a small fortune for a complete meal with drinks.

RIVERA RESTAURANT
1050 S. Flower St. #102
Los Angeles, CA 90015

P 213 749 1460 F 213 749 7359

Hugos Restaurant West Hollywood

"Hugonouts" choose Hugos Restaurant for is amazing menu variety at all times to of the day. Comfort food is on hand for most any type of foodie ranging from body builder; yogi, vegan, raw, green, vegetarian, gluten free, fat free eaters. Ethnic, Middle Eastern, and Jewish Cuisine is handy as well. Hugo's Restaurant West Hollywood defines the 'here and now' of food culture. The core philosophy of Hugo's founder Terry Kaplan is simple : "share well being". The service and genuine concern for one's well being while dining at Hugo's is certainly mirrored in the wait-staff at Hugo's West Hollywood.

We had a most delicious breakfast special with poached eggs over sumptuous potato pancakes and roasted onion pepper zucchini mix. Hmmmm Hmmm .. that was so worth being hungry and suffering low blood sugar. Warm Pumpkin Pancakes with real maple syrup wrapped up our meal nicely.

Satiated and smiling we promised to return and try everything else on the menu... Cannot go wrong with that menu! Hugo's is the place to dine, even though its Westside, without the TUDE.

8401 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 654-3993

Monday - Friday
^{7:30 AM to 10:00 PM}
Saturday - Sunday
^{8:00 AM to 10:00 PM}

Cinnamon Vegetarian Restaurant

Highland Park surprised us with a Mexican food meets California vegetarian food eatery. Little did we know it was sitting there for almost four years. We stopped in for lunch to sample the menu. Convenient to the east side vegetarian population and a fairly practical price range made it a must see and try.

We promptly placed an order with helpful waiter. The menu contained a high volume of soy based, faux meat alternatives. I suppose that makes sense when Mexican food is mostly meat based.

Smoothies,fresh juices, and green drinks surprised us and made sense. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were covered in the traditional Mexican style influenced recipes. Alternative brown rice, tofu, seitan, wheat meat, and traditionals like Jamaica tea without the sugar.

In short it the whole experience was a 'clean' twist on traditional Mexican style recipes without the meat and them some familiar vegetarian staples like brown rice, tofu, and miscellaneous veggies dishes.

I would have love to see more veggie dished incorporated into the dishes in place of the faux meat. I for one don't eat faux meat, tofu, seitan, or any soy products for that matter. However there were plenty of choices to satisfy most any vegetarian.

We had the Back to life Cocktail, and the Green Veggie Enchilades with a fresh glass of Jaimaica.
Fresh, light, affordable and fast. In the end our hostess Esperanza offered us a fudge pie dessert on the house. What a treat to be welcomed and received with such warmth.



Back to Life Cocktail $6.25
Avocado, Tomato, Cilantro & Cucumber


















Enchiladas in Green Sauce $8.95
Your choice of cheese or vegetable
w| Spanish or Brown Rice
w| Refried, Whole Pinto or Black Beans







Jamaica, Iced Tea or Lemonade | $2.50


Cinnamon Vegetarian Restaurant

5511 N Figueroa St

Highland Park, CA 90042

(323) 982 9480