New Restaurant Opening: Fig & Olive Spices Up West Hollywood

Fig & Olive Restaurant

Fig & Olive, the restaurant chain with four New York locations, has finally journeyed west and descended on Melrose Place (yes, that Melrose Place). I had the pleasure of attending last week's launch party, and it's doors formally opened to diners over the weekend.

Featuring riviera and coastal cuisine from the south of France, Italy, and Spain, the restaurant is the brainchild of founder and owner Laurent Halasz and Executive Chef Pascal Lorange. Aptly named and decorated (the interior designs features walls studded with glistening bottles of olive oil), the restaurant will present diners with an extra virgin olive oil tasting with their meal.

Halasz even goes so far as to pronounce olive oil the restaurant's "core ingredient, which we use in place of butter in our dishes."

Meatless Monday: Carrot Cake Muffins

Carrot Cake Muffins

I have a new food obsession to report--Carrot Cake Muffins.

And they're healthy, packed with carrots, walnuts, whole grains, golden raisins, and natural sweetener. It sounds too good to be true doesn't it?

I've always loved carrot cake for the rich combination of spices and fresh carrots, which somehow balance out the cake part. And now I have a way to enjoy it guilt free, thanks to Martha Rose Shulman. The recipe appeared in her Recipes For Health column in the New York Times last week.

My Fave Bites: 9021Pho

90210Pho Restaurant

If there's one thing that the L.A. dining scene is lacking it's good Pho, a Vietnamese soup usually made with chicken or beef. The soup includes noodles made of rice and is often served with bean sprouts, basil, lime, bean sprouts, and peppers that are added by the diner.

We're overrun with sushi joints, K-Town BBQ's, Thai shops, and Taco stands, but Vietnamese restaurants are far and few between. There's even been a ramen resurgence in greater Los Angeles of late (read about my addiction to Jinya Ramen).

Smoky Red Beans and Rice with Saag's Ragin' Cajun Sausage

Smoky Red Beans and Rice with Saag's Ragin' Cajun Sausage

Another day, another delicious sausage recipe.

I love living with a refrigerator full of sausage thanks to Saag's--it's like a domestic diva's dream come true. The Adorable Monster loves it, too. Although, he rarely gets to partake in the juicy, meaty goodness. Just lots of sniffing and plate licking.

For this recipe, I decided to take on the classic dish red beans and rice. It's a traditional Creole dish, and the perfect way to showcase Saag's Ragin' Cajun smoked sausage from their All Naturals line. I'm a huge fan of spicy, andouille sausages and couldn't wait to bust these out and give them a try.

Foodie Event: Truckit Fest Rolls into Downtown LA

What could be better than 40 of LA's best food trucks all in one location?

Try a monthly event in downtown's historic Union Station with food trucks, over 200 local designers and artisans, and a live DJ. It's called Truckit Fest.

Union Station

The brainchild of flea market veteran Philip Dane, the Grand Opening will be held this Sunday, March 6th from 11AM-5PM (a VIP pass will get you in an hour earlier plus other perks).

Participating food trucks include Komodo, Border Grill, Gourmet Genie, The Munchie Machine, Crepes Bonaparte, Barbie’s Q, Sweets Truck, Slammin’ Sliders, Del’s Lemonade, the Yummy One, Canter’s Deli, and Mandoline Grill.

I'll be in attendance on Sunday, and can't wait for a fun day filled with food, art, and music. Now what could be better than that?