Gjelina with GuGu

GuGu and I before going out one night.

Guilana (GuGu) is one of my close friends on the tennis team.  This week she asked if I could give her a ride to Santa Monica for an appointment.  Luckily, midterm season was finally over, so tuesday quickly turned into an adventure.  After finishing up some of her business, near the Third Street Promenade, we decided to get dinner because traffic on the 10 was going to be horrible either way.  Although both of us weren't dressed to attend a 5 five star restaurant (SC workout gear), we were craving some quality food.  Actual Gjelina, was a little out of the price range for our casual tuesday night, but that didn't mean we couldn't enjoy some of the delicious food the iconic restaurant has to offer.
I have been to Gjelina before, once with my family and some friends for dinner.  Completely loved all of the small side dishes we shared with the table.  I believe I ordered a lamb dish for my entree, thinking it would taste somewhat like my mom's baby lamb chops (don't know what I was thinking).

Can see recipe here: http://gailsgalley.blogspot.com/2012/10/best-lil-lamb-chops.html  Although the dish was still delicious, it was a little bit to gamey tasting for me.  I will definitely have to go back and try again, which I am sure I will blog about in the future.  They did have some of the best apple pie I have ever tasted.  I'm pretty sure I ate more than half of my sister LuLu's dessert.
Gjelina Take Away is a restaurant I have visited many times.  With its easy access, somewhat quick service (when there's no line) and consistent delicious options, it is always my go-to on Abbott Kinney. For breakfast I had had the berry scones (moist, soft, but still filling) and lunch I have tried several of the side salads (much better and less oily than offered by Lemonade on campus).  I have also tried a blackened fish sandwich on brioche, that no longer seems to be on the menu, but it melted in my mouth.

GuGu and I were feeling some pizza, so we went with our gut instinct.  I ordered the Margherita Funghi (even though I'm not that huge of a mushroom fan, I love how veggies soak up all the flavors of the sauce on a pizza).  Gugu wanted the spinach pizza, but unfortunately they were out of it for the night, so she just went for the Margherita.

Margherita Funghi.  Three
types of mushrooms,
pomodoro sauce, basil,
mozzarella, sea salt, olive
oil, dried oregano.  

While we waited for our pies, Gugu and I discussed a future business plan. With her love of sweets (she probably has the biggest sweet tooth I have ever come across.  Mad props Gugu), she eventually wants to open up her own candy store or sweet shop of some sort.  As for naming it, she claims that she came up with GuGu's Candy Bar before Dylan Lauren, but I don't think that is going to fly.  Besides the naming factor, if I ever open my own restaurant, we talked about how we could combine venues and she could own the pastry shop or milkshake bar next door, which would also cater the deserts to my place.  We did think its was funny how "Gjelina" is basically a combination of our two names (Giuliana and Celia).  Maybe another inspiration?

My pizza was hot out of the wood burning oven.  And boy do I love that taste of thin burnt crust.  The mushrooms perfectly soaked up the spice of the pomodoro sauce and the just the right amount of mozzarella was placed on top (there should always be more sauce then cheese, can't stand Dominos).  I got a little excited and took a bite before I could get my camera out. Can't even really tell in the picture though.

I love sitting outside on the crates next to the restaurant on the side of the street.  Sitting under the leaf canopy and watching all the crowds walk past really gives a good illustration of the feel to Abbott Kinney.  After we finished our pizzas, in about 5 minutes, we started heading back to the car.  Even though Giuliana had made a bet with her roommate that she could resist sweets for a whole week, I convinced her otherwise.  Once we walked into N'ice cream, it really didn't take too much convincing.

Biscotti Gelato

N'ice cream is great because it is all organic homemade gelato and sorbet to with unique flavors.  Even though I love ice cream, gelato is better for you because it is made with more milk instead of just cream.  N'ice uses organic milk and their gelato is a little lighter than usual because they use all natural ingredients and less sugar.  Giuliana was quick to ask to sample several of the more chocolately flavors.  Her choice came down to chocolate hazelnut and hazelnut chip.  She said she went with the chip because the chocolate chips really added to the texture.  I wanted to try to the apple pie gelato, which was very fresh tasting, but after trying her flavors I was craving some chocolate too.  I ordered my usual flavor from there, the Biscotti.  Biscotti is actually one of my favorite cookies. I will never turn down a soft freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, but there is something about a classic tea cookie that always gets to me.  I love dunking them in hot chocolate, or my favorite tea (the Market Spice Cinnamon Orange from Pike Place Market).  The biscotti flavor of the gelato mirrors a chocolate chip biscotti dipped in hot chocolate and then frozen.  Still having that chewy taste.  I even found a chunk of a cookie in my cone (it was probably the highlight of the treat).

Overall GuGu and I had a great time on our tuesday night adventure.  Unfortunately we had to head back to campus by 8, me for accounting tutoring and she was meeting some friends to study.  We will definitely have to go on another sweet escapade soon.  (Possibly Sprinkles cupcakes again?)

Call me Type A

When I was younger, I didn't like change.  I liked to stick with what I knew, because that was what always seemed right.  What was comfortable to me.  Whenever my family suggested going somewhere new for vacation, or simply trying out a new restaurant, I always resisted.  I just really wanted to go to Plaza Garcia, the family mexican restaurant up the street from our house.  Even though I did enjoy the spontaneous trips we took to the Galapagos and trying out new restaurants in downtown Seattle, I still insisted the old way was the better way (even when I knew I was wrong).  My opposition to try anything new designated me as the "picky eater" of the family.  I was far from picky, compared to my elementary school friends who refused to eat anything but PB&J, chicken fingers, and french fries.  I did try new foods, and enjoyed them, I still just liked eating food I knew was good.

Eating my first Oreo.
I've always had a sweet tooth.

Part of my critical taste I blame on my mother.  As a amazing chef, a delicious, healthy, and full meal was put on the table every night of the week (besides the days we did decide to go out, or when I convinced the Pinczower clan to go to Plaza Garcia one more time).  Little did I know that her superb cooking every night was something I began to take for granted.  Because 99% of the time the meals were healthy, I would jump on the opportunity to eat pizza at my friends house whenever given the chance.  Now, after living out of the house for almost a year and a half, and being forced to eat in the vile dining halls, my attitude towards a good healthy meal has completely changed. Now, when visiting home, I would rather eat with my family, and then catch up with my friends for just the movie at one of their houses afterwards.  I now know that I would eat my mom's baby lamb chops and cucumber salad any day of the week over some greasy costco pizza and a box of dryers ice cream.  You can drool over some of her delicious home cooked meals here: http://gailsgalley.blogspot.com/.  After years of eating perfectly cooked chicken marsala and a carrot cake you will die for, I unknowingly became a food snob.

Now my "Type A Appetite" has nothing to do with being "picky".  I will try almost anything you put on a plate in front of me (as long as it is somewhat kosher... and nontoxic looking).  Especially with the amount that I work out as a D1 diver at USC, I'm always up for eating.  What I will not waste my time and tastebuds on is food that is not appetizing, high quality, or somewhat distinctive.

Since moving to the vibrant city of Los Angeles, I have spent much time researching and venturing to restaurants all over the area. My appetite is always up for trying something new, and my critical taste will not be afraid to share its opinion.  Here are some of my stories and adventures throughout Los Angeles with friends and most importantly, FOOD.