Sunnin Cafe

Sunnin Cafe: Truly one of the reasons to live in Santa Monica is the access to a multitude of delicious restaurants/bakeries/etc. Found this Lebanese restaurant via yelp.com while looking for someplace to get takeout and was just blown away at how good it is. We couldn't decide what to order so I just asked the maitre d' and I am so glad that I did. The restaurant has parking, not too many tables, though around 6 pm there were plenty available, and is very casual with the chefs (linecooks? it's really not a pretentious place) almost in the center of the room, not hidden behind a wall. Got falafel, fool (fava beans in good olive oil), chicken kebab (oh my goodness the garlic...fluff(?) was amazing!, and the chicken was tender and tasty), beef kebab (great flavoring on the beef and the hommos was good too), and rice pudding (that first bite with the cinnamon/pistachio fading to cream and then giving way to a burst of orange water(?)...). The kebabs both came with an excellent little salad, and almost everything came with pickled radishes that were quite tasty. A pack of very thin pita bread was also provided. The result of so much good food was gorging and then lethargy and happiness, the way good meals ought to be. Furthermore, later on there was no immense thirst due to excess salt...it seems like maybe the falafel has quite a bit of salt, but the rest of the meal didn't seem to. I'll definitely be going back.

Science Center Cafe and Le Pain du Jour

Science Center Cafe: After a morning at the Natural History Museum, we had planned on eating at the food trucks. Unfortunately we were informed that they weren't going to be around today. Since the cafe was closed and they're constructing the food court, our only options were to drive back to Santa Monica or try the Science Center's cafe just down the block. Since the 10 W and 110 N were both packed, we went to the cafe though without much hope. When we got there it looked like they just had McDonald's and Taco Bell, but through a little door and past the Taco Bell desk, we found a sandwich/salad/soup...and Starbucks area. The chipotle chicken wrap had just a tiny hint of chipotle, so it was more like a chicken on salad wrap, but it was pretty good quality. I especially liked the fresh cilantro...in fact, I could've used some of that on my chili. The chili con carne had lots of meat plus a bit of cheese and red onion. I could've used more spice but it was really pretty good, especially for a cafe. All in all, thumbs up for a museum cafe.

Le Pain du Jour: This is probably the third or fourth time I've been here and I was specifically looking for a croissant but when I got there I realized the chocolate was too yummy sounding to pass up. Last time the chocolate croissant was lower quality than the all-butter (regular) croissant, but I am happy to say that this time they are both amazing. They also had french loafs right out of the oven and they are exquisite with a very clean flavor (just a taste of salt) and great crust. We also got two tarts, one strawberry/kiwi, the other pear. The crust is crisp and buttery, the custard is perfect, not too sweet, and the fruit is delicious and fresh. The best tart I've ever had.

Father's Office and Babalu

Father's Office: I've heard extraordinary tales of Father's Office over the past few months, the most impressive being how people have gotten layovers at LAX long enough to drive over and get a burger. Father's Office is not open for lunch, so it wasn't until today that I made it over to get a burger. I got there about 5:20. There wasn't any wait to place my order at the bar and everyone was rather polite. The place was pretty full, but there were a few barstools empty and it was only about a 10-15 minute wait. The burgers are pretty tasty overall. The cheese and carmelized onion topping is mellow and tasty. I wouldn't turn down a burger, but I don't think I'll be stopping by regularly because I think The Corner suits me better. The bun at Father's Office is white/tasteless and seems stale. I ordered two burgers medium and one medium-rare, but they all came basically medium-rare. The sweet potato fries are pretty tasty, though not super crispy, and the sauce that came with the sweet potato fries is excellent with a garlicky tart flavor.

Babalu: is right around the corner from Father's Office. The sign on the outside said restaurant and bakery, so I stopped in to check out the baked goods. Large cookies and about twenty kinds of cake were on display. The all looked pretty good, so I got a slice of carrot cake at random. I don't regret eating it, but I wouldn't buy another. I prefer carrot cake that's dense and flavorful with a tang to the frosting and that obviously has butter in the cake itself. This one is a bit too healthy tasting, and what I thought was coconut flakes on the top turned out to be white chocolate which confuses the slight tang in the frosting. I would be willing to try another cake/pie from here, but I won't go out of my way to do so.

Jaipur, Zen Bakery, Le Pain du Jour, Funnel Mill, Bread and Porridge

Jaipur: This is the second time we've had food from Jaipur, but this time we were at the restaurant for their Saturday champagne buffet. The lentil dumpling in yogurt sauce was extremely good...complex flavors and heat covered in minty coolness. The chicken (masala and tandoori) were very flavorful, not fake-pink colored, and probably the second-best I've ever had (the best being Tamarind Bay in Boston). The chai was ok though a bit bland. One of the three desserts was yummy, sweet, carroty mash/shred. The other two were unfortunately not so flavorful...the previous, catered, experience had wonderful dough balls in rosewater primarily due to the cardamoms bobbing alongside and it was disappointing not to revisit the experience. I might go back. It was an ok buffet experience, but I wouldn't take my friends.

Zen Bakery: Just down the road from Jaipur was this little bakery. The name was intriguing but when we got inside the only thing on the menu was muffins. The sign said some were from a Trader Joe's mix. Not auspicious, but I picked up an apple bran muffin. Almost no flavor (apple or otherwise) and a relatively heavy/leaden texture.

Le Pain du Jour: I've known about this bakery/patisserie for months; it's mostly well liked on Yelp. Unfortunately it's in a poor location and there are only a few nearby parking spots. Today I finally broke down and now I wish I'd been going for the past 6 months. It's a small shop with a view straight back into part of the kitchen. The butter croissant is amazing with wonderful crisp exterior, intense butter flavor, a slightly toothy interior, and and overall memory of croissants in Europe. The raisin "roll" was very crisp with a sweet, almost caramelized outermost layer and good raisin flavor. The almond croissant had wonderful almond smell/taste, though it was relatively dense and therefore not as "must-eat-more". I also picked up a loaf of 7-grain that is fine, though without the nuttiness I was hoping for. Unfortunately cash only...not necessarily a big deal, but I rather dislike having my pastry cravings limited by cash on hand. They also had various desserts, custards, and little brightly colored cookies. But I'm not sure there's room in my stomach for anything except those croissants...hm, maybe after I buy them out of croissants that's what will be left for other shoppers? I've heard that they have sold out early in the morning on many occasions.

Funnel Mill: Another Yelp find. This is the best coffee/tea experience I've ever had. There's metered parking, free wi-fi (see below), comfy chairs, a quiet crowd, and the absolute best coffee I've ever tasted (the tea was pretty good too). I had the Java Estate and it was mild but not tasteless, just the tiniest hint of sweetness without that cloying oil sensation, very hot but not scalding, and beautiful in the large mug/tumbler. Does this have something to do with the syphones (their spelling)? I also had a flower tea that was super flavorful and just overall pleasant. The coffee came with a little snack dish of trail mix. I don't think I can resist going back. I kind of wish I was there right now. The only downsides are 1) paying the meter, and 2) the wifi in the comfy overstuffed leather couch was only at 50% meaning it took multiple tries for anything to go through...though now I'm beginning to think that's my laptop's fault and not their fault. Well...and each drink is at least $4.50 and some are over $6. I have to mention the poo coffee beans (Kopi Luwak) here so I can mention the poster on the wall. Also, it's just a block from Bay Cities, though it was closed today (Monday).

Bread and Porridge: After two absolutely amazing experiences in one morning I decided to go for the hat trick and tried this place that I've been wanting to try since we moved to Santa Monica...just based on the name and appearance. Skip it...the menu was boring and my brisket sandwich was fine but forgettable. The meat may have been cooked a long time but if it doesn't have a smoke ring it's not barbecue to me. And barbecue sauce is supposed to have more flavor. The coleslaw had too much mayo, though I did like the sharp pepper flavor. The baked beans were weird...a bit too liquidy and again low on flavor...baked beans are supposed to be more brown sugary whereas these tasted more like beans.

Amelia's Espresso and Panini

Amelia's Espresso and Panini: Amelia's is well-liked on Yelp, so today I hunted it down (near Jardis and Starbucks on Main). The owners are extremely nice. It's a small, clean, well-lit restaurant. Note, no computers allowed, so I didn't stay and work like I had been planning. The espresso was great, not bitter, but with that edginess and just a tiny bit of grounds at the bottom. The daily soup was lentil. I didn't try any but someone called ahead while I was there and reserved some because it was going to take them 30 minutes to get there and they were worried about it selling out. The meatball sub was very tasty: three large meatballs in a bell pepper laden sauce, with a leaf or two of basil. The sauce was midway between thick and smooth...nice and gloppy, with a bit of grease on top to make it a hearty experience. The bread was a ciabatta shaped like a bagel (no hole), and was covered in melted mozzarella. The side salad was fine. An enjoyable experience, this is a place I would be very happy to stop by were I in the area around lunchtime. I also picked up two pastries, both of which are made by the cafe: an all-butter croissant and a chocolate and cream pastry/croissant. The latter is an excellent flavor. Both are a bit the worse for being cold...they're not stale, but they aren't that perfect crispness/freshness. So obviously I need to go back when they're hot...as the owners invited me to do.

Laurel's Tavern

Laurel's Tavern: A friend from out of town was visiting and wanted to go here. We called ahead around noon to see if a 3 year old would be allowed in around 7 or 8 pm and the person who answered the phone said as long as he/she wasn't loud. So when we show up the valet says no kids after 7pm. So we talk with the manager and suggest sitting on the patio. A quick call to the owner and we're seated on the patio by the door. We then proceed to get amazing service and have lots of people oohing and aahing over the kid. Burger was pretty good (meat and bun were rather good, but the bbq sauce and lettuce were forgettable), fries were passable, mussels were hit or miss, the grilled cheese and pear sandwich was rather tasty, and the pork belly was so mouthwateringly amazing (glazed, on skewers, with lime slices...salty sweet and bursting with flavor) that they sparked a discussion as to whether any part of a cow was as tasty as standard bacon. All in all, a pretty good experience.

Georgian Hotel and Chef's Inc

Georgian Hotel: My second meal here, 1pm on a Sunday. A great time because there were a few other diners, but plenty of spaces available on the patio. Wonderful view of water, hills, sun, etc. Almost overshadowed by the food. Deep, slightly sweet French Onion soup...the gruyere was great. Mango and brie quesadilla appetizer with candied pecans and excellent guacamole with a touch of jalepeno. For a main course the salmon was recommended, with a salty crust, served over mashed potatoes asparagus and carrots. The potatoes and asparagus were fine (if a bit tasteless), and the carrots may have been slightly toothy at the core, but those are really just nitpicks so I have something to say...and the fish was so good. A bit of salmon flavor, extremely moist, perfect texture (especially when biting through the thin "crust"). A wonderful dish.

Also tried the Cobb sandwich. Like my previous visit (French toast/bread pudding), this is a reconstruction of another dish...so just imagine a Cobb salad on bread, minus the egg and much of the lettuce. The layering of flavors in a Cobb is key, and was pulled of extremely well (especially with the excellent bacon and avocado they used). I was excited to try it and very appreciative, but discovered that I really like the lettuce in a Cobb salad...it's the base that ties the flavors together and keeps it from being too heavy. On a sandwich without that bed of lettuce it's a different beast.

Oh, and the cappuccino hit the spot. It was a bit cool, perhaps, but had just that "edge" of coffee that you feel on the sides of your tongue, without being bitter.

Minor issue with soapy water glasses, but that was cleared up instantly and politely.

Chef's Inc: Took my first class of Beginner chef 101 at Chef's Inc. We made vegetable spring rolls with peanut sauce, chicken noodle soup (including the stock), rosemary chicken breast, herb roasted potatoes, caesar salad with pancetta, and apple crisp. An absolutely wonderful experience. Lots of fun in the kitchen. There were 17 students and four instructors. The food was excellent and easy. I learned several small things, including a different way to hold a chef's knife, a different honing technique, how to tell if meat is done by touching it, and that I need to get a non-slip pad to put my cutting board on. My highlight of the evening was being credited with saying that the peanut sauce would be better with more soy sauce, though really the whole time was entertaining and enlightening.