I hate Terroni

This is upsetting for me. The one restaurant in LA opened by a Torontonian, I have to insult. But, I have no choice. My father in law came to visit so I chose a restaurant that many of those close to me rave about and patron on a regular basis. To be honest, the food was pretty good. The sad part is that the rest of the experience was so atrocious and infuriating I can't possibly see myself going back. I heard that their shtick is 'no substitutions, no additions, deletions, modifications, etc..." yadda yadda yadda. Ok, fine. But, in a business where the customer is always right, why would you go with a theme that makes people feel stupid? I'll list the idiotic details below:

1. We asked for balsamic vinegar to dip our bread into. Answer: NO. "Our olive oil is so delicious that it would be ruined by mixing balsamic into it. So no you can't have any." Wow. Its not like I'm in an Italian restaurant that uses balsamic in almost every dish. Oh wait! Yes I am and she just told me I'm an idiot and have the tastebuds of a neanderthal.

2. We don't like mushy bread. We asked for the bread to be toasted. Answer: NO. Hmmm, don't you cook food such as pizzas here and it would take you 2 minutes to make your patrons happy? Sorry!

3. We ordered a pizza. Apparently, somewhere in Italy its normal to serve pizza uncut, so for the sake of authenticity, the pizza came as one huge circle. Ok. I don't know how to shove a giant pizza in my mouth so we asked them to cut it. Answer: NO. And that no came with a giggle as well. That one put it over the top for me. Ok, you want to show everyone in AMERICA that you serve food like they do in ITALY. I live here and I don't care what dumb things people do across the world. I want you to cut my pizza - I'm paying for it! But no, why would I try to make my customer happy by cutting a massive piece of food to make it easier to eat?? By golly, that would be madness. So, I had no choice but to cut it. Of course I had a crappy knife and mangled most of the giant pizza. What an authentic Italian experience.

4. Finally, we asked for some parmesan cheese to be sprinkled on our pizza. Answer: NO. But it gets better - "We don't serve parmesan cheese on our pizzas." Strange, because there were about 12 parmesan cheese bottles on the table next to us for what seems to be, SERVING purposes. We didn't even get the reason behind this one but I imagine it would be something along the lines of "our chef will hang himself if he knew you were putting cheese on your pizza." What a joke.

So there. I won't even give you the address because I don't want you to go there.

Farragut North...Yes!

I love the theatre. Unhappily, I rarely get the chance to go. Luckily, in the past few months, I've had the pleasure and privilege of visiting the Geffen Playhouse at UCLA a couple of times thanks to a very lovely and close friend. The most recent glimpse into the arts that I had happened to star two very yummy men - Chris Noth (Mr. Big of Sex and the City) and Chris Pine (the very young, gorgeous and latest version of Captain Kirk). Farragut North is not your ordinary play. It is a tale of power and greed; a glimpse into the fast paced and secret world of politics. Variety sums it up best: "a crackling good entertainment set in the snowy wilds of an Iowa Democratic presidential primary". If you are a fan of a great story, strong characters and a seriously hot lead, you must get your booty over to the Geffen. Unfortunately, I believe I went to the second last show in LA, so check your local listings for its next stint. All in all, Farragut North is hot, sexy and current; something I rarely find inside a playhouse.

More Chocolate! Edelweiss in Beverly Hills

Today I had a very special treat. In honour of Sage's birthday (Happy Birthday Sage!), we took a stroll down to the best little chocolate shop in Beverly Hills. Edelweiss opened its doors in 1942 and has been a chocolate maker of delicious delights ever since. We had the pleasure of getting a little behind the scenes tour and watched them make chocolate baskets from a giant vat of melted chocolaty soup. We also saw the chocolate conveyor belt that was the inspiration for the famous I Love Lucy chocolate episode; Lucille Ball was a faithful Edelweiss customer. Some of you may not know about my obsession with chocolate, and to see firsthand a pool of chocolate made me a little crazy. For those chocolate lovers out there, take a stroll down Canon Drive and pop your head into this little piece of heaven. Every kind of chocolate you can imagine - the chocolate pretzels are my fave. Now I have to go eat some sugarfree chocolate (diets suck).

Edelweiss Chocolates
444 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.edelweisschocolates.com

Read Variety!

This is why its cool to have your own blog. You can say what you want and toot your own horn 'til the cows come home. Well, here it is. Yes, my company, Ten/Four Pictures, is on the map, and the article below proves it. This rocks.

Click here.

Chicken + Waffles = Heaven

Yes, we finally went. Rich has been dreaming about enjoying some fried chicken at this legendary LA restaurant for years now, literally. So, in an effort to entertain my sister Tzipora who was visiting this week, we took her along on our journey. Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles is DAMN good. I never thought this would be a winning combination, but I was never more wrong about anything in my life. We chowed down on some fried juicy chicken and chewy sweet waffles, which were smothered with so much butter and maple syrup, my eyes popped out of my head. OK, not good for my cholesterol, but heaven for my taste buds. I also had some scrambled eggs with onions and cheese, which was hands down the best eggs I ever had. The dirty bird has some serious competition.

Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles
http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/

Wow...MJ?! Rest in Peace...

How does a perfectly fab day go by and then this...Michael Jackson has officially left the building. Its incredible that www.tmz.com was the first website to announce the news...hours before cnn.com. Good for them. Well, its always sad to hear that someone died of course. MJ will be best remembered for his music, which I will love forever. The part that is tricky is all the child molestation stuff that makes his memory sorta iffy. In any event, I look forward to hearing more MJ on the radio for the next little while - its underplayed anyways!

ps - What is my favourite MJ song? I think the all time absolute best, and I'm obligated to pick my favourite because that is the theme of this blog - THRILLER. Go!

Let Them Eat Chocolat!

On my recent trip to Toronto, the gang decided to drink somewhere other than Hemingways - go figure! Instead, Sabina and Arie (mwah!) suggested another Yorkville spot called MoRoCo. And do you know what it was - a CHOCOLATE RESTAURANT. What?! Yes, you heard correctly. MoRoCo specializes in chocolate - using Valrhona chocolate (my favourite!), they make sipping chocolate, fondue and s'mores. The best by far is the dessert platter which includes (drumroll please): Spring Rolls (filled with chocolate, banana and peanut butter), Kiss Me Kake (dark chocolate cake with cream cheese filling), Brownie and Clyde (classic brownie with whipped cream) and MoRoCo Burger and Fries (with a chocolate mousse patty, cookie 'fries' and raspberry 'ketchup'). You can even enjoy a DJ'd brunch on Saturdays and Sundays on their lovely patio. For those of you in Toronto, enjoy some freaking chocolate already!! Mad at you.

MoRoCo Chocolat
99 Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
http://morocochocolat.com/

Ode to Toronto

Sooner or later you knew it was coming. I can't help it...I live in LA now, a world class city, but I still can't get the big T out of my mind. This always happens when I come back for a visit, see my friends and family, and hang out in my favourite area - Yorkville. For those of you who haven't been, go. This is just a general shout out to a piece of the world that puts a smile on my face, and those of you who are there that I miss so much. Go Leafs Go!

EAT: Smoked Meat @ Schwartz's

Rich and I had a lovely weekend getaway in Montreal...lucky for us my friend Yasmin got married so we had an excuse to feast on the most juicy and delicious pastrami I've ever had. Montreal is a world class city with an endless supply of gourmet and high class fare. Apparently that was not an important fact as Rich made a bee-line to the smoked meat within an hour of our arrival in the lovely french city. I tell you it was worth the trip - warm rye bread, perfect deli mustard, and super juicy sumptuous smoked meat...mmmmmm. Its excellent with some pickles, coleslaw and french fries. Ok, not so healthy but wow, it was worth every calorie :)

Schwartz's Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen
3895 Saint-Laurent Blvd
Montreal, Quebec
www.schwartzsdeli.com

GET: Smythson of Bond Street

In honour of my upcoming travels, I decided to feature an exquisite manufacturer of delightful travel goods (among other lovely things!). Smythson began creating luxury leather goods and stationery in 1887 in London. I came across this lovely brand for the first time not too long ago when I was taking a stroll along Via Rodeo. I was flabbergasted when I walked in - someone obsessed with stationery and leather goods should be careful in there! Imagine personalized leather notebooks that say things like "wine memoranda", "brunches, lunches, suppers, dinners" and "yummy mummy". Imagine incredible stationery made of the finest paper my fingers have ever touched. You should know that Smythson's clients have included the likes of Queen Victoria and Grace Kelly. But what gets me the most is their travel wallet - it comes in delightful colours such as peppermint and coral and has leather dividers for all your travel needs - tickets, passport, documents and other. It makes me crazy to even talk about it!

Smythson of Bond Street
In Los Angeles:
222 N. Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.smythson.com

WHAT?!

This is the new title I will use when I have an amazing DISCOUNT for my readers!! This is officially my first special offer, courtesy of lovely Dana who performed a perfect lash extension on me today! So here it is - if any of you are interested in magnifying the beauty of your lashes, print out this article, bring it to Verabella, and get 10% off! How lucky are we! Send this to all your friends and go get some gorgeousness! You're welcome!!



Verabella (ask for Dana - she's the only one who does the lashes)
301 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.verabella.com

GET: Anne Fontaine

There are few words to describe the love I have for Madame Fontaine and her designs. She is a genius of grand proportions. Walking into the small store, most are not impressed at first glance. But, once you put on a perfectly tailored white shirt, it just takes your breath away. Anne Fontaine is a master creator of ladies' blouses. Some are simple, others are so fantabulous with frills, flowers, ribbons and various other doodads that you can just freak out. She also has a variety of accessories such as belts, cufflinks and sometimes even surprise items like frilly collars and corsets. Its a wonderland of fashion - see for yourself. I love the boutique in Beverly Hills...and Vegas (in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace :)

Anne Fontaine
9525 Brighton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.annefontaine.com

GET: The Scrub of a Lifetime

Luckily, there is no shortage of Korean spas in Los Angeles. This experience, while delightful for some, is not for the faint of heart. The Korean spa is a very special place - the scrub and massage combination is delightful. The ladies scrub the &%$* out of you, give you a serious massage, wash your hair with delightfully smelling goo, and la piece de resistance - a mask of chopped fresh cucumber! As wondrous as this all sounds, you have to be cool with walking around in your birthday suit in front of a whole bunch of people. Not only that, you need to be cool with getting your lala and other private areas scrubbed in front of the other patrons (all the scrub/massage clients get their services in one big open room). If you can get over yourself, you can truly experience a very delightful spa treatment. Boys - there is also a men's spa and sorry, no peeking!

Aroma Spa and Sports
3680 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.387.2111

GET: Calling Cards for Kids

This is an example of a business card belonging to a 2 year old. It must be all the omega-3 that kids are ingesting these days that makes them entrepreneurial at such a young age. But really. I am a slightly ridiculous person so I think these are adorable. Its a wonder I have not ordered these for my little poopsie yet. In reality, I do see how they would be wonderful for moms who don't have a lot of mommy friends, so when you do meet someone cool enough to actually have a playdate with, what better way to make a fabbie impression than to present a social card on behalf of your toddler?? Here are some excellent sites where these lovely kiddie social cards can be ordered:

www.crane.com

www.felixdoolittle.com (Thank you Hillary!)

www.amyadele.com

Kate Spade makes adorable ones too...click here

GIVE: Los Angeles Diaper Drive

This is an amazing charity. I donated - I'm telling you this not to toot my own horn but because I believe it to be legit and a genuinely great cause. LA Diaper Drive raises money to provide diapers to low income families who cannot afford diapers for their babies. Doesn't that break your heart? It certainly breaks mine. Its hard to imagine not being able to provide such basic necessities to one's own child...if you agree, grab your visas and do a good deed. Even just $1 will provide diapers to a baby for a day. Check out their website to see what amazing things they do and to donate.

www.diaperdrive.com

DRINK: Caesars at Hemingways

This selection rightfully belongs in the Toronto "classics" category. For those of you that know me well, this is by far my favourite bar in Toronto. What's not to like? Its location, right in the heart of Yorkville, is excellent. There are four patios, which is priceless when the weather finally gets better (whenever that might be!). Best of all, its relaxed, the crowd is fun, and most importantly, the drinks are wonderfully strong. The most delicious by far is the Caesar - my American friends are probably not familiar with this exclusively Canadian delicacy. The Caesar was invented at the Owl's Nest Bar at the Calgary Inn (now the Calgary Westin Hotel) in 1969 (go Calgary!) and has been served mainly in Canada ever since. The cocktail consists of vodka, clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco, and is served on the rocks in a large celery salt rimmed glass garnished with a stalk of celery and a wedge of lime. What?! Yes, deelish. One other place the Caesar is served - Las Vegas (told you its perfect).

Hemingways
142 Cumberland Street
Toronto, ON M5R 1A8
Canada
416.968.2828
www.hemingways.to

EAT: Bouchon at the Venetian

Everything is perfect at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. You can probably gather that my feelings for Vegas are abnormal. Well, be that as it may, the Venetian is not only fab for its huge suites, dazzling casino, and feeling like you're in Venice (ok, sort of!), it truly has delicious restaurants. Brunch is my favourite meal of the day, and where better to have it than Bouchon, a French bistro by Thomas Keller located in the Venezia Tower at the Venetian Hotel. Delight in the most refreshing yogurt parfait you've ever had, or treat yourself to sourdough waffles with bananas, candied walnuts, maple syrup and Tahitian vanilla bean butter - mmmm. Don't forget to try something from their baked goods selection like the chocolate bouchons or the banana nut muffin. Magnifique!

Bouchon Las Vegas
The Venetian Las Vegas
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.414.6200
www.bouchonbistro.com

DRINK: Mojitos at Moonshadows

Yes, this is the bar where Mel Gibson got wasted, got a DUI and then proceeded to spew anti-Semitic garbage from his drunk mouth. However, this is also the bar that serves the best mojitos in the city. Located on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, the best time to sip those minty cocktails are on Sunday afternoons on the patio, listening to the DJ spinning some tunes. For those of you who haven't experienced the mojito, it is a refreshingly cool and sweet combination of five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime, fizzy water and fresh mint - heaven!

Moonshadows Malibu
20356 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
310.456.3010
www.moonshadowsmalibu.com

EAT: American Girl Cafe

This weekend I ventured into the doll emporium known as American Girl Place. If you haven't heard of it (like me, because we don't have this in Canada), its a company that makes dolls for young ladies that either look like your daughter, or you can choose from an array of historical characters. At first the store is a little creepy (as my husband Rich so eloquently noted while walking through the store) because its full of dolls and thousands of outfits to dress them up in. I think its pretty damn cool because I would have loved to dress the same as my dolly when I was a little girl. But it gets better - you can take your doll to this store and have her hair done (no joke), you can take her to the doll hospital (weird, I know), take professional photos with her, or best of all, take her to lunch. The cafe is divine; I walked in and actually was kind of jealous I didn't have a dolly to dine with. The dining room is beautifully decorated. The girls were being served high tea on multi-tiered trays with various treats. No soda - only pink lemonade will do. Best of all, "treat seats" are provided so your dolly can dine right alongside you. I mean, why didn't I think of this??

www.americangirl.com

GET: Letterpress Stationery

I am obsessed with paper. I adore stationery, fonts, colours and fine textures. The most divine form of printing is known as letterpress, which dates back centuries. Letterpress was first invented in the 1400's, and remains the finest form of printing. A true delight in life is to have personalized stationery, a form of expression that says so much about a person. Whatever happened to sending a handwritten note? Emails, texts, bbm's are so impersonal and quite frankly are just plain ugly. Consider exploring an art form that endured for centuries - check out some of my favourite letterpress printers:

Elum
www.elumdesigns.com

Paper Source
www.paper-source.com

My friend Keetgi recently started her own letterpress design studio...
www.monkeybusinesspress.com

Sugar Paper
www.sugarpaper.com

DRINK: Kir Royale at Bar Nineteen 12

The name says it all, no? Champagne is my favourite beverage. Wonderful on its own, but is equally divine mixed with various juices and liqueurs. The Kir Royale is a champagne cocktail consisting of a glass of champagne with a dash of Creme de Cassis - a liqueur made of blackcurrant. Its a very popular drink in France, and is typically served before lunch or dinner. I, however, will drink it at any time of day, or night. This cocktail is particularly delicious at Bar Nineteen 12 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Besides having a delightful outdoor patio and a killer Kir Royale, the bar serves two excellent "desserts" that will knock your socks off: chocolate flavoured jelly shots that are so darn strong you'll forget your name and "martini popsicles" that are self-explanatory and absolutely delicious.

Bar Nineteen 12
The Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 Sunset Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.273.1912
www.barnineteen12.com

GET: Viktor & Rolf for Samsonite

Another obsession of mine is travel gear. When I saw this line of luggage at Neiman Marcus, my eyes nearly fell out of my head when I realized it was by Samsonite. Apparently, Samsonite Black Label teamed up with fab designers Viktor & Rolf and created an insanely cool line of luggage. Inspired by the early jet set years of the 50's, the bags are decorated with vintage airplane prints and patent bows and belts. What more could you want in a suitcase? Available at www.bloomingdales.com.

GET: Vilebrequin

With Father's Day coming up in 2 weeks, I'll be posting some gifts that may tickle even your dad's fancy. Vilebrequin, a company which originated in St. Tropez, has been making luxe men's swimwear since 1971. The trunks come in a vast variety of colourful florals, patterns and solids. The cutest part is that dads and their boys can get matching pairs - they make all their trunks in kiddie sizes (sizes 2-16). There is just one catch - they cost a small fortune.

www.vilebrequin.com
Also available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

PLAY: Poker Room at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas

I love poker. I love playing cards and most of all, I love Las Vegas. But, believe it or not, before last weekend, I had never ventured into the abyss known as a poker room in Las Vegas. This time, I am proud to say that I conquered my fear, and came out with a new addiction - poker in Vegas. Its nothing like playing in your living room with friends - its quiet, scary and exhilarating. Best of all, you can sit for a good few hours without losing your shirt like most do playing other favourites like blackjack and roulette. Try it if you haven't yet - and make sure to order some Bloody Mary's - they are especially delicious at the PH poker room.

Poker Room at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Las Vegas
3667 Las Vegas Blvd., South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.785.5555
www.planethollywoodresort.com/gam_poker_room.php

EAT: Sushi Inn

As a native Torontonian, posts that feature my all-time favourite Canadian spots will rear their canuck heads regularly. Sushi Inn, located in the heart of the Yorkville district, is where I delight in the freshest sushi in town. Perhaps its the location in the best shopping district in Toronto, or maybe its the lightning speed with which your food is served. I never visit home without having sushi here at least twice, or thrice. Try the spicy kani maki, or if you're on a diet, the salmon salad roll (rice free!). Also, they have the yummiest salad dressing ever. You'll thank me for this one.

Sushi Inn
120 Cumberland Street
Toronto, Ontario M2R 1N6
Canada
416.923.9992
www.sushiinn.net

DRINK: The Mimosa

Ok, so I like to drink. This will likely be a recurring theme on this blog. Of all drinks, I find the mimosa delicious, refreshing and lovely. It is a perfect blend of three parts champagne (yummm) and two parts chilled orange juice (freshly squeezed preferably). It is traditionally served in a tall champagne glass, which of course adds to its wonderful elegance. Perhaps what makes it all the more magnificent is that it was invented at the Paris Ritz - how grand. Last weekend I spent many hours gambling in Las Vegas and my drink of choice was the mimosa. Its delicious - try one if you haven't already. In fact, I'm going to have one now! (does it matter that its midnight?)

GET: Lash Extensions at Verabella

I am obsessed with my eyelashes. Never do I dare to leave the house without some mascara. With that in mind, you can imagine my reaction when I discovered the magnificent service provided by the best facial spa in Beverly Hills - Verabella. Vera Kantor has been making women beautiful and radiant for years - her spa is often featured in the pages of In Style and People. I am a regular at Verabella for facials; I am a huge fan of the Champagne and Caviar Facial and the Fall Facial (smells like pumpkin pie!). Verabella's Dana does an excellent job of beefing up an already fantastic natural set of lashes - I have twice the volume and length. For about $200 you will be a new woman with the best lashes on the block. All I can say is I am gorgeous. Period.

Verabella
301 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.278.4733
www.verabella.com

EAT: Phillipe The Original

Today I visited a Los Angeles legend. My husband, Rich, has a goal to visit all the Los Angeles restaurants featured on the Food Network. So, our quest began with visiting the home of the original french dip sandwich. If you like fresh sliced roast beef on a bun soaked in "jus", you will delight in this sawdust covered blast from the past. Make sure you pair your sandwich with some coleslaw. I had my french dip with some wine - "a votre sante"!

1001 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.628.3781
www.phillipes.com