Although neither of us had a huge desire to spend time in LA, we both have friends there that we wanted to see and so picked the City of Angels as our launch pad. Knowing that we had a precious few days before heading South to start a serious detox Retreat, we decided to make proverbial hay and immerse ourselves in the all American food tradition.
During a great birthday dinner at Soho house, we picked the brains of friends Bob and Mariel on hot tips for a memorable LA Breakfast.
Mariel is a long time friend who has travelled the world and loves good food so was infinitely qualified to offer advice. We tried her suggestion first, co-oinciding neatly with a plan to explore Santa Monica. If you can ignore your Garmin and good friend's excellent directions and still find your way onto Wilshire then you are already on the right track...
Huckleberry
1014 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica
Website
How to Get There
I like green eggs and ham!
I do!! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat!
And I would eat them with a goat...
And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good so good you see!
So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!
Taken from 'Green Eggs and Ham' by Dr Seuss
Huckleberry is nestled in a very nondescript section of Wilshire and you'd definitely miss it if you hadn't been tipped off.
Thank your lucky stars for Mariel I say because this place is most definitely a keeper and we wouldn't have found it without her. It is a really beautiful bakery and cafe where everything is baked on onsite with the result that as you walk in, you are literally overwhelmed by the most delicious aromas. If you can actually make it to the counter without falling on your knees, then the selection of hand baked breads, delicate pastries and heaving bowls of berries will finish off even the toughest non breakfast heathen. Giant blackboards float above the counters offering event more temptation...breakfast smorgasbord (special dishes, side AND pastry options), sandwiches, salads, soups and more.
I found myself mesmerised browsing down the Breakfast Board past Granola and Niman Brisket Hash with fried Eggs, to find, to my absolute delight, Green Eggs and Ham. Now I don't know your personal relationship with Dr Seuss, but I wasn't weaned onto a bottle. I was handed The Cat in the Hat and told to get on with it. Retrospectively, I Sam-I-am, may possibly have started my love affair with breakfast purely because of Green Eggs and Ham
So naturally that was that, choice made. We found a table while I impatiently awaited my Green Eggs and Ham. Would it come with a mouse or a house or even be served by a fox in sox? Fiona, who had lost the battle with her very bossy sweet tooth, distracted me with the yummy pastry and the amazing home baked Apple tart she had chosen. Both delicious.
My breakfast duly arrived and Dr Suess himself wouldn't have been disappointed. The Green was a fragrant basil pesto drizzled over two perfectly cooked poach eggs, perched on a bed of spicy arugula, crispy proscuitto and warm buttery english muffins. Speechless.
If I hadn't been instantly smitten with the Green Eggs and Ham and as a result probably could never eat anything else should I be lucky enough to go back to Huckleberry one day, there are so many great options to choose. There are at least six completely unique egg dishes each with their own twist on old favourites. The Salmon platter looked amazing and even the Califriendly Health options looked fab. Although I think its safe to say you won't see me passing up a good fry up for the Quinoa, spinage, butternut squash and fried egg combo anytime soon...
Huckleberry is open every day except Monday's and breakfast dishes are available until 11am. So until 12am being one of my requisites for a perfect score, it didn't quite score 10 our 10, but for food this good I would get my lazy ass there in time for 11am any day. Plus there's always jet lag to get you up at 4am anyway...
Joan's on Third
8350 West Third Streetbetween La Cienega Blvd. and Fairfax Ave
West Hollywood
California
Website
How to Get There
So, having hit the jackpot on Day 1 we challenged Bob, Fiona's fabulous friend to raise the bar, which he did in style. Not only did he have a cheeky suggestion up his sleeve, but he invited us there for breakfast and a tour of his neighbourhood.
We arrived bright and early in a corner of West Hollywood I didn't even know existed, to find a little slice of quirky heaven. All signs of jet lag disappeared as we marvelled at gorgeous Deli's and restaurants rubbing shoulders with zany designer shops, jewellery havens and book stores. The street can even lay claim to one of Los Angeles's oldest Mexican restaurants which we've promised ourselves to go back to one day
Like Huckleberry, Jones is a Deli cum cafe also serving a range of amazing baked delicacies and deli selection as well as an organic supermarket. We stocked up on detox essentials while we were there before heading to the counter to order. As usual I opted for an Egg choice, selecting the Egg Basket Omelet served with a choice of fillings and sour cream. My filling pick was a healthy asparagus and goats cheese but I was sorely tempted by the Bonne Femme - potatoes, bacon, cheese and onions.
Fiona and Bob opted for the Buttermilk pancakes, granola and a side of toast to share. Feeling very righteous, we ordered ginger tea instead of our usual lattes which was delicious. The thing Fee and I really loved every where we went in California is that water, usually brought with a zest of lemon, orange, mint or cucumber is brought voluntarily to the table.
If I hadn't been laying the foundations for my body is a temple week, I would definitely have had the New York Breakfast Sandwich and a gigantic Latte. Sigh. Still I can always go back.
If Joan's wasn't enough on its own, Bob finished off our morning with a visit to Mimosa's - the LA branch of the cupcake bakery immortalised in Sex and the City. So now I know what Devilsfood tastes like...
Joan's pipped Huckleberry very slightly to the post purely because it offers Breakfast until 12 and it is in such a glorious neighbourhood you could make a morning's excursion out of it, but both are a fabulous way to start your day in Los Angeles (or to reward yourself for surviving a night of jet lag disrupted sleep!)
Other tips from this trip on LA: do yourself a favour and make time to spend at least half a day on Abbot Kinney Blvd, a treasure trove of a street named for the founding father of Venice Beach. It is about half a mile long and packed full of fantastic shops, galleries and eateries.
Oh and in case you didn't guess, it's in Venice...
A little more about it...
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