All posts filed under: Travels

PIZZA LOUNGE, LAGUNA BEACH

Published by Nicole Isaacs

      I went on an incredible quick little getaway this Christmas to Laguna Beach. 75 degrees, sunny and crystal clear, it was a beautiful Christmas Eve day on the beach.  A friend of mine recommended I go to this amazing pizza place in downtown Laguna on the main road (South Coast Highway) which lies right along the ocean. It’s called the Pizza Lounge. She specifically told me to try this “special peach pizza” that is not on the menu- you have to ask for it. So she being a Laguna veteran, I took her word for it. TOOK A WALK ON THE BOARDWALK IN DOWNTOWN LAGUNA ON CHRISTMAS EVE DAY BEFORE HEADING TO THE PIZZA LOUNGE FOR LUNCH- GOTTA LOVE SO-CAL!      Right upon arrival, we were quickly greeted by the friendly owner of the Pizza Lounge, who asked to take our order. You can order by the slice out of the options of pizzas already made on the trays shown in the glass window below, or you can custom order different size pizzas or choose from their specialty pizzas on the …

LITTLE NEXT DOOR, LOS ANGELES

Published by Nicole Isaacs

     For my work holiday lunch, my E! Fashion Police team went to Little Next Door in Los Angeles. The Little Door, located right next to the Little Next Door, is the fancier restaurant and is one of LA’s best gemspots- it’s French, very cozy, has a lot of charm, and serves great food. It’s on the expensive side-but they have Little NEXT Door which is the extension of the Little Door restaurant and it’s a more casual/cafe version of the Little Door. Is is not only a cute place to have lunch, but it’s also a bakery and wine shop. I just love the charm of both the Little Door, and Little Next Door. You feel like you’re at a cafe or cozy restaurant in France 🙂 This is what was ordered: MEDITERREAN SPREAD Baby artichoke dip, romesco, hummus, tzatziki, roasted garlic mushroom tapenade and pita bread FRENCH ONION SOUP So good! Highly recommended. Very cheesy and flavorful. ESCARGOTS DE BOURGOGNE Half dozen in garlic parsley butter I love Escargot! It was buttery and garlicy, melts in your mouth.   SKIRT STEAK …

THE LOCAL PEASANT, SHERMAN OAKS

Published by Nicole Isaacs

The Local Peasant is a gastrobub in Sherman Oaks with great food and drinks. There is no sign from the outside, so it’s easy to miss from the street. They have a great selection of unique beers and cocktails, as well as interesting and delicious finger foods. MAC N’ CHEESE W/ BACON & BLACK TRUFFLE OIL Pretty good Mac N’ Cheese! Love the truffle flavor, and it was perfectly thick and creamy. BLUE CHEESE FRIED OLIVES OMG so amazing! This was one of my faves of the night. It came with a chipotle sauce and it literally melted in your mouth. Don’t really love blue cheese because of the strong flavor, but these weren’t strong. They were perfection. Obsesseddd! CRISPY PORK BELLY W/ PICKLED WATERMELON RIND AND SWEET & SPICY TAMARIND SAUCE My other favorite dish of the night. I can’t even describe how much flavor this had. It tasted like the most flavorful, crispy, yet tender piece of bacon I’ve ever had. Pork belly is my new favorite thing lol. Never had a more …

CRUSTACEAN, BEVERLY HILLS

Published by Nicole Isaacs

Crustacean is one of my favorites restaurants in LA. It is also known as the “Home of An’s Famous Garlic Noodles”. This 5-star restaurant was created by the An family, a Vietnamese family who immigrated to the US from Vietnam. All of Hollywood’s hottest celebs have dined at Crustacean- from Oprah, to Shaquille O’Neal, the walls are filled with press and celebrity pictures taken with the An family inside the restaurant. Crustacean has a “secret kitchen” where chefs that are very close to the An family for many years are only allowed in. The An family until this day will not reveal the secret recipe of their infamous garlic noodles as well as other famous Crustacean dishes. This is what drew me to this restaurant in the first place…I had to see what the big deal was about these noodles. Crustacean is upscale and also very pricey, but well worth it! With a big aquarium on the wall with exotic, tropical fish right when you walk in, and a serpentine aqaurium pathway to lead you into the main dining …