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*Photo of Europane pastry, but not at the actual location
The breads are baked fresh daily; Baguette, Ciabatta, Sourdough, Rosemary Currant, Multi-grain… the list goes on and on. They have that authentic fresh-baked, homemade taste; you’ll know you’re eating bakery bread, not store bread.
The pastries are also delicious. Though Europane does carry favorites like bran muffins, eclairs, and lemon bars, the ones that set them apart are the rustic european specialties. Try a blueberry brown butter tart, or a miniature apple pie, or a french macaroon (not a traditional macaroon; they are small and round and come in all kinds of colors and flavors. They showed them in the movie Marie Antoinette… so maybe you’ve seen them). My personal favorite (aside from the macaroons that make you feel like 18th century French royalty) is the cinnamon roll (pictured above). It goes great with a hot latte.
If you’re in the mood for something a little more substantial, Europane has some great sandwhiches. The tomato feta, made from fresh juicy tomatoes is always a great choice. The egg salad (served open faced on your choice of bread) has been gaining popularity after a recent Food Network special on it. The secret? Maybe it’s the sun-dried tomatoes underneath the egg… or maybe the toasted bread. Either way it’s delicious. A secret that has not yet been discovered by the food network is the salmon salad, served with a refreshing mango salsa.
Europane has a laid-back atmosphere; its an ideal place to relax with a cup of coffee after school or work. You can enjoy a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant while chatting with one of the friendly counter servers.
Nothing tastes artificial or processed because…. well, nothing is. This place is definitely a favorite!
**If you can’t get enough Europane, a second location just opened up less than a mile west on Colorado Blvd.
Hours:
Mon-Sat 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sun 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
950 E Colorado Blvd
Ste 107
Pasadena, CA 91106
Neighborhood: Pasadena
(626) 577-1828
Brunch in Pasadena
Ambience and Great Food
I love L.A. I love it so much, if you say anything bad about it, I will kick your butt. That being said, sometimes we all need a break from the “hustle and bustle” – and by “hustle and bustle” I mean traffic, attitude, and restaurant/lounge identity crises.
Enter Pasadena, the calm, classy city 20 minutes away. And, if you’re looking for the calmest classiest place in Pasadena, then I suggest the Sunday Champagne Buffet Brunch at the Huntington Langham hotel.
Formerly the Pasadena Ritz-Carlton, this hotel has been around since 1865. It has beautiful architecture, a rich history and most importantly of all, delicious food.
The Sunday buffet brunch is like something out of a dream. It is served at “The Terrace” dining room, which has an indoor portion and a section actually on the terrace overlooking the pool and cabanas. Picture tables of innumerable delights. The seafood table: smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail, oysters (I hate oysters, but apparently they are extremely popular), smoked scallop salad… The dessert table: tiny chocolate cakes topped with gold leaf, parfait stacked with fresh berries. The Asian table: perfect steamed dumplings with chili sauce, fried pork dumplings, shiu mai.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention there’s a huge chocolate fountain, right when you walk in. You can pick what you want and cover it in chocolate (cake, strawberries, melon, even rice krispie treats). I wanted to just open my mouth and put my head under, but my parents said I would be asked to leave (just kidding people, I wasn’t REALLY going to do that).
They have all kinds of small plates, everything from fois gras to spicy tuna roll. They also have eggs benedict, made to order pasta, imported meats… and because it’s a buffet you can try it all. I can’t even explain it. You just have to see it. See, taste, and believe. And you will believe, I garuntee it.
I only had one complaint: the melon broth with caviar. It was so strange, I thought it must be good. Not the case.
The brunch is a little pricey so bring your wallet- or your parents (hee hee hee) – because it is totally worth it.
1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue,
Pasadena, California 91106,
T 1 (626) 568 3900
F 1 (626) 568 3700
Brunch Served from 10:00am to 3:00pm Sundays
Ma’Kai: Restaurant, Lounge
Ma'Kai: Patio dining area and fire pit
Ma’Kai is located in the best part of Santa Monica; on Ocean Avenue, facing the beach, nestled among all the other upscale fusions beach restaurants (think BOA, Sushi Roku, etc.)
Though it claims to be a restaurant, Ma’Kai… also claims to be a lounge. AND when I first arrived (at 9:30 on a Saturday) I was definitely getting lounge vibes. There was a bouncer at the door, and I found myself thinking “There better not be a guest list, becuase I’m going to be mad I’m not on it.” There was no guest list, but they did card us at the door.
I wanted a definitive answer on the lounge vs. restaurant status, so I called the next day and asked. Apparently, Thursday through Sundays, after 9 pm, Ma’Kai is 21 and up (they still seat at the dinner tables and serve food). During the rest of the week it’s a regular restaurant, and open to all ages. Even babies… I assume.
The ambience was nice, but more towards the lounge end of the spectrum; people standing around holding drinks, those little tiny lounge tables, and a legit DJ, no joke. The patio had a really nice dining area, and some of the tables even had fire pits (not sure if they were for cooking or decoration…)
Now lets get to the food, because after all, if we wanted to know about cocktails and who was spinning, we would be reading… Kesha’s blog or something.
The food was good. Lots of appetizers and small plates, all in the asian (ish) direction. Avocado and mango salad, sea bass with ginger sauce, etc. They have spicy tuna on crispy rice (which seems to be popping up all over this city) and as someone who has eaten this pretty much anywhere it is served, I can say that Ma’Kai’s was definitely in the “Good” to “Great” range. The cucumber sunomono salad was also delicious, although intensely sour… in a good way. And of course, the Kobe beef strip steak with mushrooms was so good I almost forgot how jealous I was that our table didn’t have a fire pit. It was just… covered in delicious mushroom sauce.
Aside from Ma’Kai’s identity crisis that made me feel like I was eating in a club, I was impressed. Nice décor, great food, amazing location. The whole club/lounge fiasco probably wont bother most people, and if it does, it can probably be solved by arriving at normal human dinner time.
Ma’Kai Restaurant and Lounge
101 Broadway Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 434-1511
info@makailounge.com
www.makailounge.com
Tue-Wed: 12pm-10pm
Thu-Fri: 12pm-11pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-11pm
Mon Ami Gabi
Delicious Steak Frites from Mon Ami Gabi
Mon Ami Gabi, in Paris… Paris, Las Vegas, that is.
I suppose it’s strange that my first post is about a Las Vegas restaurant when I’m supposed to be writing about Los Angeles, but what can I say; My three great loves are traveling, writing, and food, so this article is really like the perfect marriage of all these things.
Mon Ami Gabi is the quintessential upscale French restaurant located in the front of the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. It is the embodiment of all things French, and because it is largely a collection of stereotypes, Mon Ami Gabi makes you feel more like you’re in Paris than if you actually were in Paris.
It doesn’t go over the top with anything when it comes to the menu. The dishes are simple and well executed. You’re not going to find any of those crazy fusion entrees that are so hip right now (I admit I love them too), but you will find classic favorites- things you’ve probably had before, but never enjoyed quite so much. Beef Bourguignon with the perfect medley of flavors. Roast Chicken in a mushroom sauce, cooked just right so the chicken isn’t too dried out. Brie Cheeseburgers with cornichons on the side. And of course, the signature dish, Steak Frites. The frites are thin and amazingly crispy, and the steaks are delicious cuts of meat in any of several sauce choices. The portions are generous, so you won’t leave hungry!
You also get complimentary baguettes and butter- not just any baguettes; they’re still warm from the oven. They are so good, you will wonder how simple bread can be so perfectly crisp on the outside, and warm and fluffy on the inside. And then, if you’re weird like me, you can ask for an extra one, and try to stealthily sneak it out of the restaurant in your handbag so you can save it for later.
Mon Ami Gabi
Paris Resort & Casino
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.944.4224
http://www.monamigabi.com/vegas
Hours:
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Breakfast
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Mon – Sun
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7 am – 11 am
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Lunch
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Mon – Fri
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11:30 am – 4 pm
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Sat
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11 am – 4 pm
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Sun
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11 am – 4 pm
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Dinner
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Mon – Fri
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4 pm – 11 pm
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Sat
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4 pm – Midnight
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Sun
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4 pm – 11 pm
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Weekend Brunch
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Sat
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11 am – 4 pm
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Sun
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11 am – 4 pm
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