February 2015 – Page 2

More Than Caffeine at Compañía de Café

February 10, 2015February 10, 2015Leave a comment

If you couldn’t tell, I spend a lot of time on Instagram. I have my favorite foodie, lifestyle, and coffee accounts that I follow, and I turn to them, more than I do Yelp, to build my list of must-try destinations. This is how I found Compañía de Café! All of the photos looked absolutely amazing! One problem: it was all the way in the San Fernando Valley. Don’t get me wrong, it seemed worth the drive, but would be difficult to convince someone to drive all the way out there with me for a cup of coffee. Little did I know, this place is so much more than coffee. A couple of weekends ago, I happen to see a post on Instagram from Compañía de Café, but this new account referenced a new location in South Gate! Still not around the corner, but definitely a lot closer to my home! I was able to convince my dad to accompany me after I hyped up how much I wanted to visit. The moment we stepping inside and he took his first sip of coffee, all he could say was, “I feel like I am in Mexico City.”

He couldn’t have been more correct.

They have an extensive coffee, tea, aguas frescas, and food menu. There are so many choices it can be overwhelming, but in the best way possible! I got the Abuelito Mocha infused with house-made chocolate ganache and cinnamon! It was decadent without being overly sweet.

My dad and I shared the Sweet Chipotle Chicken Empanada and Dulce de Leche cookies! Both were amazing! This is one of many empanadas that they have, and I wish I was hungry enough to try them all! It had a perfect filling to crust ratio.

The cookies are sizable and the perfect pairing with your cup of coffee or latte. In addition to these cookies, they have several other creative sweet options for you to choose from.

Obviously, we couldn’t come home empty handed. We took a Guava and Goat Cheese pastry to-go along with individually wrapped signature cookies, and a perfectly brewed chamomile tea. They also have a great center table filled with gift items including house-made goods, cookies, dulce de leche, saucers, mugs, and much more!

The story behind the brand is also truly inspiring:

I encourage you to read more here.

I can’t wait to visit again and pick up some one-of-a-kind gifts for my friends and family. For more information, visit http://companiadecafe.com/

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

February 8, 2015February 8, 2015Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly and some guys have a problem narrowing down the perfect gift for their sweetheart. Well, I created a fool-proof guide if you need some ideas to impress your lady friend.

1. Pinterest

First and foremost, I recommend that you try and get access to her Pinterest account. Don’t be scared; it’s not all engagement rings and expensive shoes! Chances are, she has recently pinned a bracelet she likes, a cute knit sweater, or some dinner recipes to try out. This is a great way to see what she likes and surprise her with a very personal gift or date night. Pinterest is also a great place to browse even if you don’t have access to her account. She will be blown away if you give her a cute flower/card/candy DIY that you found and made especially for her!

2. Julie Ann Art Cards

The card aisle at a majority of the stores is especially vomit-worthy this time of year. If you don’t want to give your girl something too mushy or serious, try these cards. The one I pictured above is one of the more tame cards, and they are all absolutely hilarious!

3. Starbucks gift card

If you’re relationship is new and you don’t want to get something too serious, a gift card is perfect. It’s not super personal, but still thoughtful, and what girl doesn’t love coffee? Starbucks has these adorable ‘sweetheart’ themed gift cards right now that will get some extra points!

They are also hosting an event on February 13th called #StarbucksDate! Click here to find out more: http://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-and-match-to-host-the-worlds-largest-date

4. Target Handbag

Target has been stepping up their game lately. Their swimwear line, shoes, and handbags have been ON POINT. Speaking of handbags, if you hate your girlfriend’s current purse, this is a great opportunity to get her one that you won’t hate holding for her when she asks you too. They have a variety of trendy colors, and best of all, they look a lot more expensive than they are.

5. Compartes Chocolatier

Every girl wants chocolate for Valentine’s Day. If she says she doesn’t, she’s lying. You don’t have to get her the life-sized chocolate bar that she will never eat in front of you, you can opt for something cuter and much more creative. That’s where Compartes comes in! They have super innovative flavor combos handcrafted in Los Angeles. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and makes the perfect chocolate addition to any gift!

6. Ashley Brooke Designs ‘I Woke Up Like This’ Mug

If you’re girlfriend is as much of a coffee fiend as I am, these mugs are the perfect gift! They all come with cute sayings in bright colors. They even have his and hers mugs if you are at that level in your relationship.

7. Ban.do Thermal Mug

Again with the coffee theme, this tumbler is great for a girl on the go! I commute to work and stay for long hours, so this is perfect to always take with me when I need a mid-day pick-me-up (or two)… This online shop has a bunch of great gifts perfect for any girl!

Grand Central Market Favorites – Pt. II

February 7, 2015February 7, 2015Leave a comment

I already did a post on Grand Central Market awhile ago, but there is so much changing and too many vendors to try that I wanted to highlight more of my favorites!

I have been eyeing DTLA Cheese on my last couple of trips, but was always too full by the time I made my way back to them. I finally tried one of their signature dishes, and I’m so glad I did! The Burrata Toast comes with a large serving of the creamy cheese, two small pieces of toasted bread, arugula, and the most amazing sun-roasted tomatoes I have ever tasted! This dish is great to share with friends, but I highly recommend springing for some extra bread.

Next stop, Belcampo Meat Co. for some meaty goodness! The varietal menu makes it a difficult choice, but luckily, I had some help. My boyfriend highly recommended the Lamb Belly sandwich, so I had to give it a try. The pulled lamb belly comes with harissa aioli, arugula, and cilantro. I’m kind of picky when it comes to lamb because once you’ve had a perfectly cooked lamb dish, all of the rest pale in comparison even if they are good. This lamb sandwich is right up there with the best of them! On weekends, keep in mind, they have a brunch AND lunch menu that they change over quite late in the day, so know what you want and go at the right time.

Now on to the Piece de resistance. Wexler’s Deli literally changed my entire world view on Pastrami and Corned Beef! It’s not that I didn’t like it before, there was just nothing that ever blew me away. Until now. These sandwiches are melt-in-your-mouth amazing! The line is always long, but the service goes by quickly and it is definitely worth the wait!

I recommend visiting the market on a weekend for lunch. This way, everything is open and it’s great for people-watching. For more information, visit http://www.grandcentralmarket.com/.