ITALIAN FOOD

I love ITALIAN FOOD. Well… really I love all food. I’m not a foodie by any means. I don’t seek out the fanciest, unique-est dishes. I just love to eat and ITALIAN may be my favorite cuisine right now.

My boyfriend (yes, I said it! The “new guy” is now the “bf”) doesn’t eat meat. He sticks to carbs and veggies and white fish. I, on the other hand, am a carnivore (Not exactly, but I do love meat)! We have found to make us both full to the brim and happy as clams (which I don’t eat BTW), ITALIAN FOOD is a FABULOUS choice.

We have eaten ITALIAN FOOD from Hollywood to Santa Monica and Santa Barbara to Catalina and I have enjoyed every pasta, pizza and caprese salad. Here are my favorite spots in LA right now…

LA VECCIA CUCINA (Santa Monica)
Northern Italian food at it’s best right in the heart of Santa Monica on Main Street. The tables are a bit close together, but the food is to die for. The chicken piccata was a delight and the caprese salad a must try.

LA SCALA (Beverly Hills)
I’ve mostly been to La Scala for lunch with my mom. Located on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, La Scala is old style Italian food in old style décor, comfortable with spacious booths (that fits my whole, big, happy family) and divine food. The Caesar salad makes my heart skip as does the chopped salad and I always steal some of Evan’s penne arrabiatta when he isn’t looking.

CAFÉ MED (West Hollywood)
You can’t beat Café Med’s outdoor patio right on Sunset Plaza. This is Evan’s favorite spot as well as my boyfriend’s. Great people watching, but even better food. The “bf” opts for the pizza with pineapples, Evan the penne arrabiata (again) and me… I can never decide between eggplant parmesan, penne arrabiatta, Caesar salad or the bruscetta. The list can go on and on….

TERRONI (West Hollywood)
Terroni is a very hip, traditional southern Italian pizza joint on Beverly in West Hollywood. They play old black & white movies projected on the wall, have a foosball table out front and the most delicious, thin crust pizzas around. They don’t take reservations so arrive early and bring your own pizza cutter because they don’t slice it for you (and definitely don’t ask for substitutions… the chef is a stickler). It is all worth it in the end, though… Delicious!

My advice when dining Italian…
- Be careful not to fill up on the bread and olive oil… even though it can be quite delicious. I always try to stick to one (or two pieces) pre-dinner. Hopefully, it’s warm! I always ask for parmesan cheese and vinegar to add to the olive oil. Ooo… what a treat! Ask them to take away the bread basket when you’ve had enough or you will keep picking till you are too full.

- I always like to start off by sharing a caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella) or Bruscetta. I keep the vinegar from the bread course and sprinkle a little on for the perfect appetizer.

- My favorite main courses right now are Penne Arrabiatta (tube pasta with spicy tomato sauce) or Chicken Piccatta (with angel hair pasta) or Chicken Parmesan (Yummers) or fussili alfredo with broccoli (and a squeeze of lemon). Also, you can also never go wrong with pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

Mmm… Now I am hungry!

Italian food is FABULOUS! I have to watch out though or I will end up at Fat Camp (I have already gained too much weight, which I lovingly call… My love chub) I think all new couples put on a bit of weight during the courting period and I am no exception (but it is totally worth it ☺).

SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL

Hug O' War

I will not play at tug o' war

I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses
And everyone grins
And everyone cuddles
And everyone wins.

- a poem I love by Shel Silverstein

KIDS VENICE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

This summer, I helped out a couple of times at the Kids Venice Basketball League (www.kvbl.org). My friend Nico, one of the founders, asked if I could be a part of the Natural Leader’s Empowerment Camp, a free day camp for under-privileged kids. I am an advocate for all children’s causes and so of course I said yes.

I went down to Venice beach for the first and last event of the nine-week camp to help teach the kid’s about healthy eating, yoga, leadership, teamwork as well as basketball skills.

We ate raw, vegan food for breakfast and lunch while discussing the importance of eating healthy (and believe or not, it was quite delicious). We stretched our bodies with yoga, sang about “One Love, One World” on the beach, swam in the ocean and of course learned and practiced basketballs skills (my hoops skills are less than fantastic, but I had fun).

After the camp the kid’s got to watch and be a part of the Venice Basketball League tournaments, which are intense street-ball competitions. The world’s best street-ballers battle it out every Sunday at the beach leading up to the championship and the grand prize. Summer Sunday’s in Venice are awesome! These guys truly kick ass in some intense basketball games. Watching from the side lines, you get to be right up in the action.

You could tell from the smiles on the kid’s faces that this was not only a learning experience, but also it was a super fun, once in a lifetime experience and I was happy that I was able to be a part of it. Kid’s Venice Basketball League is FABULOUS!

MOVIE IN THE CEMETERY

Last Saturday, My friend Pearl, her fiancé and my boyfriend went to a Cinspia screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. What better place to watch a movie in LA than lounging on the grass near a tombstone. I know it sounds strange to watch a scary movie while hanging with the dead, but let me tell you… this was a FABULOUS experience.

The line was long to get in, but we scored a sweet plot on the grass not too far from the screen. We had packed up a cooler full of dinner and treats (wine and cheese, sandwiches and cookies), blankets and pillows and we ate and drank under the stars till the lights went out and the movie began.

I’m usually not a fan of horror flicks. I am a bit of a scaredy cat, you know! But, when Pearl (my oldest friend – We’ve been friends since we were 5 years old) invited me to check out the Cinespia screening of American Werewolf in London, I agreed. I had ever seen the film and I had heard lots of fun stories about watching movies in the cemetery. I thought what better time to check it out!

An American Werewolf in London is a 1981 comedy/horror film, written and directed by John Landis. The movie won an Academy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup. Over the years, the film has become a cult favorite and I can see why. It was awesome. We howled at the moon, screamed to warn the actors that there was a werewolf behind them and laughed at the transformations and effects (Boy, have we come far since the 80’s). I wasn’t scared at all. It was actually hysterical

Watching a movie chilling on a blanked with glass of wine, yummy food and friends is FABULOUS!

There are only a couple shows left this summer, so head to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood) for a movie in this historic (and spooky) location. You never know, you may see a ghost of pop up next to you to watch the show.

A few tips …
1. Bring a picnic of dinner and drinks (alcohol is allowed)
2. Ticket Price $10
3. Park on the grounds for only $5
4. A DJ spins tunes before and after the show
5. Bring pillows and blankets (but no tall chairs or dogs allowed)

For more info visit: www.cinespia.org