Bar Hayama, LA

by matchalove

Bar Hayama

1803 Sawtelle Blvd

http://www.bar-hayama.com/

Rating: I will definitely go back again if I can. Delicious and fresh ingredients. 

Africa with Love

A friend of mine made this stop motion video. It's too cool. Enjoy.

So Africa with Love is a valentines day special event IFGF Beverly Hills held. People who attend the church recreated or redesigned TOMS shoes for charitable purposes.

All photos by Julian Latif

Aren't they gorgeous? I can't get over how spectacular those designs are. And the best thing is, it's for a great cause!

Disneyland, LA

by matchalove

Could use some disneyland spirit right now. Nonstop studying can be a torture sometimes.

The Standard, LA

by matchalove

Hatfield's

Welcoming appetizer, Salmon tartare with yogurt sauce

Love their butter. Garlic, salt, pepper, some parsley maybe?

"Croque Madame" Yellowtail sashimi, prosciutto, sunny side up quail egg, grilled brioche

Part of the Prix Fixe Menu my friends got

Slow Baked Salmon, Spring Onion Confit, Crispy Pancetta, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Thai Basil

Buttermilk Steamed Chicken Breast, Yukon gold dumplings, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Brussel Sprouts, Butternut Squash

Wagyu Flat Iron Steak

Dessert from the prix fixe menu

Hatfield's. Named one of the Best 10 New Restaurants in America by Bon Appetit 2010. I went to this restaurant knowing nothing about it because it was a friend's choice to dine there. It was a pleasant surprise though. I walked in to a really fine and spacious interior. The place is classy but yet not very restricted. A lot of the good restaurants I've been to gives you kind of a restricted feeling like there is a certain manner you have to maintain. This restaurant has the appropriate noise level where you can just sit in, relax, and hold a decent conversation with your friends without the party next to you overhearing it. I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere a lot. Hatfield's also has an open concept kitchen, it was interesting to see what the chefs are doing, how the waiters interact with them. 

Of course, the food here is great. I didn't get the prix fixe menu because I am a little picky with my food so I ended up getting just an entree. Probably the two things that stood out the most to me were the butter and my steamed chicken entree. The butter was very appetizing, I don't exactly know what's in it but I could taste some garlic, salt, black pepper and some herbs. I ended up getting more bread which is something I don't do very often because I don't want to overfill myself with carbs. The chicken had such a great texture, it is cooked just right and to be honest, it doesn't really taste like chicken. I was expecting the chicken to be a little on a dry side as how most restaurants would make it. I was a little skeptical ordering this because I usually don't like how the chicken is prepared in most restaurants but I decided to go with it as it was a recommended dish. True enough, this was moist, soft and chewy. Definitely cooked to my liking. 

Overall, if you were to ask me to rate this restaurant, I would probably give it 7.5/10. Just because the quality of the food does match the price you pay for it. Great ambience, classy interior. Pretty much sums up a great dining experience. However, I still prefer other restaurants like Nobu, The Ivy, Joel Robuchon   etc. but that's just personal preference. 

Hatfield's

6703 Melrose Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90038

Sweet Lady Jane

triple berry shortcake, red velvet cake

red velvet cake

If you're ever around Melrose, do stop by Sweet Lady Jane for a drink and some sweets. They have one of the best red velvet cake, I can't even describe what it taste like. The best cake though, is the triple berry shortcake. I'm kinda weird as in I don't eat fruits. Yea really weird but this triple berry cake is so refreshing that I can't stop eating it. The cream is so sinful yet so yummy, not too filling but really refreshing. Oh and I forgot to mention that their signature cake is the triple berry shortcake.

Sweet Lady Jane

8360 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(323) 653-7145

The Ivy

tuna tartare

Lobster Ravioli

Seafood Risotto

The Ivy, known to be swarmed with paparazzi and celebrities, is the best restaurant in LA if you are craving for some Lobster Ravioli. I guarantee you that their lobster ravioli is the best of the best. I usually just get the lobster ravioli along with their delicious refreshing mint tea, but they decreased the portion this time round and so I shared a seafood risotto and a lobster ravioli with my friend. Their seafood risotto was surprisingly good, everything were fresh, tasted a little like the spanish paella but I enjoyed it. I love the tuna tartare, it has the lemony lime taste to it. Avocado created a different texture to it which was pleasing. Overall, a great place to dine. Food is perfect. Haven't found anything bad about it yet. The ambience is perfect indoors or outdoors. It is romantic enough for couples, soothing enough for casual dinners with friends, dressy enough for celebratory occasions. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in LA.

The Ivy

113 N Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048

(310) 274-8303

Abbot Kinney #3

@Jin Patisserie

High tea + Macaroons

Finally, the last stop. After chilling at Intellegentsia Coffee Bar, shopping or walking along Abbot Kinney, stop by Jin Patisserie for some good tea and macaroons. They have a huge selection and variations of green tea and other kinds of tea. On my first visit, I was really full from gjelina so I only ordered some macaroons. They were pretty good, the filling was just right, not too sweet but flavorful. I still think Ladurée has better macaroons though. Jin Patisserie's finger size sandwiches were amazingly delicious too. I had it on my second visit there. Overall, I thought the high tea platter was decent. You get a pot of your choice of tea, and mixture of sweet and salty snacks. They're not too heavy but a perfect size for a party of 5 girls. I didn't take a picture of the interior but it is a perfect place to chill and have a nice chat with your friends. And this puts an end to my day at Abbot Kinney. What an awesome area don't you think? =) 

Jin Patisserie

1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291

Abbot Kinney #2

@Intellegentsia Entrance

Interior

After lunch, I would walk a block down to this modern-looking architecture style coffee bar called Intellegentsia Coffee Bar. I don't usually drink coffee just because I think I should stay away from it to stay healthy. I'm a green tea person as you can see from my blog title but the coffee here is so different and special that I couldn't help buying a cup just by walking into the store. It's not like your regular starbucks coffee aroma, it's something much more unique and actually tastes like real coffee. So, apart from the coffee, I love their interior. It's so unlike any coffee place, it's like an open concept where you can see what the baristas are doing, you could see how the coffee is being brewed. On the sides, they have shelves of tea or coffee equipments for sale and on the far back is where you can just relax with your cup of coffee. I didn't take a picture of the back but it's rather cool as in, apart from the bar far behind in the picture above, there is sort of an elevated concrete surface, about two levels. You would take a cushion from the side and sit wherever you want. Sort of like sitting on the MET steps. I love it.

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Intellegentsia Coffee Bar

310.399.1233
1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd | Venice, CA 90291

walking along abbot kinney

cute area in a store

So this is sort of like something special about the stores in LA. I noticed they have a front store, then a middle resting area then another store at the back. I stumbled upon this cute store which sells cute, unique, modern everyday items imported from Japan. 

Abbot Kinney #1

Abbot Kinney

@Gjelina

Portobello Mushrooms, Truffle and Goat Cheese Pizza

gnocchi

Abbot Kinney, one of my bestfriend's favorite areas in LA has become one of my favorites too. Everything here is kinda artsy and has its own style. There are edgy fashion stores like Guild which carries brands like Alexander Wang, Maison Martin Margiela, Acne, Surface to Air etc. There are also stores selling vintage stuff and cute, unique and imported goods. I love this place. So I would basically begin my day here with lunch at Gjelina. They have one of the best pizzas. I'm not a fan of goat cheese, but the combination of portobello mushrooms, truffle oil, garlic butter and goat cheese hid the pungent cheesy taste so well that it was perfect! It's a nice chill restaurant, perfect for any kind of occasions.

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd
CA 90291
(310) 450-1429

A Beautiful Sunny Day on Westwood Blvd

by matchalove

Fresh seafood at Redondo Beach Pier

redondo beach pier

Grilled Shrimps 

photos by matchalove

If you're craving for seafood in LA, this is one of the best places to go. There are plenty of live seafood for you to choose ranging from crabs, lobsters, any kind of shellfish you can think of, sea urchins etc. Make sure you dress really casually when you get there, maybe a hoodie or something. You don't want crab juices splattering on your nice delicate clothes. Also, get ready to get your hands dirty because it takes some effort working through the crab but it's all worth it. Nothing beats fresh live seafood (: