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 ☺).