Author: Nicole Isaacs

MANUEL’S ORIGINAL EL TEPEYAC CAFE, LOS ANGELES

Published by Nicole Isaacs

HOLY GUACAMOLE. GET READY FOR THIS! You may have heard about Manuel’s Original El Tepeyac Cafe from Travel Channel’s MAN VS. FOOD. It is home of the famous FIVE POUND BURRITO- “Manuel’s Special”. Authentic Mexican food at it’s best. Burritos the size of your face……take it back—burritos the size of a BIG, FAT newborn baby. Mayor Villaragoza who was raised in the Boyle Heights area, made El Tepeyac Cafe his last stop on his campaign tour for his reelection which was televised locally. This tiny Mexican hole-in-wall has gotten recognized in many press outlets, and is now a famously known Mexican spot in LA. At El Tepeyac Cafe in Boyle Heights/Downtown LA, you get the real Mexican food experience. I don’t want to say it’s in the “ghetto”, but let’s just say it’s not in one of the nicest of areas in LA. Always busy with a line, you can either eat in the tiny restaurant, or for faster service you can order on the side of the restaurant from the window and sit at the …

ARTSY DAY IN DOWNTOWN LA! SPITZ RESTAURANT, GEFFEN MOCA MUSEUM, & ANGEL CITY BREWERY & ART EXHIBIT

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I had a great day in Downtown LA recently. Went to the Geffen MOCA Museum, which is an “urban street art” exhibit, then went to lunch at Spitz, and went to Angel City Brewery for some freshly brewed beer. The Geffen MOCA Museum was cool. All urban street art. It’s something cool to see if you are ever in the Downtown LA area and you are into art. It gives you a lot of history about how “tagging” became a popular form of art in big cities, and hundreds of pieces of art from famous street artists. Me in front of the Geffen MOCA in a window lol After the MOCA, stopped by Spitz for some Doner Kebab sandwiches. I’ve heard about Spitz so when I walked by it, I wanted to give it a try. It has been written up in several LA Magazine’s and voted “LA’s Best Sandwich” by Los Angeles Magazine. Spitz is a Doner Kebab spot in the heart of Little Tokyo. I used to live in Berlin, Germany and …

LOMBARDI’S PIZZA, NEW YORK CITY

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I’ve done a couple posts about pizza in NYC already. I was on the search for the BEST pizza in the city, so had to try all the famous spots. Lombardi’s is special because it was the FIRST PIZZERIA ever to open in America in 1905. To this day, Lombardi’s is still known for being “one of the best Pizzerias in America”, and also according to many magazines & newspaper articles, the best pizza in New York City. I went to Lombardi’s and was so excited to try authentic New York Style Pizza. This place is legendary in New York City. I had the BEST pizza I ever had in my life in Brooklyn (at Di Fara’s, check out my blog post about it), so I was curious to see how Lombardi’s was going to match up. I went around lunchtime, and the place was packed. There was a line out the door, but thankfully service was fast and efficient so I didn’t have to wait long. Lombardi’s is located on Spring Street in SoHo, next to all …

LAUREL TAVERN, STUDIO CITY

Published by Nicole Isaacs

Laurel Tavern in Studio City is a great place to go for happy hour and drinks. This charming, rustic, and always packed tavern is on Ventura Blvd. in the heart of Studio City, next to a bunch of bars and restaurants. I’ve been hearing about their menu for a while, and wanted to go for some food and drinks with some friends. I went around 8:30pm, and the place was packed. We actually had to wait outside before even being let in because the place was over capacity and there was no room. When we were let inside, my friends and I ordered a couple of glasses of Dr. L 2009 Riesling white wine, (which is my favorite wine by the way- fruity, light, and smooth), and we waited for a table. The place was so loud and crammed, but once we got a table it was great. Ok, about the food. The CHORIZO SLIDERS are amazing! I swear I was in heaven. It had SO much flavor, and tasted even better than the regular Laurel …

LUKE’S LOBSTER, NEW YORK CITY

Published by Nicole Isaacs

Luke’s Lobster is literally a hole in the wall with great fresh seafood in New York City. Known for their seafood rolls on warm buttery toasted buns, I swear their lobster roll is one of the best I’ve ever had. Their lobster roll was recommended to me by a friend, she swore it was the best she ever had, so naturally I made sure to make a stop while in the city. I of course have to put my readers up on the best food right?! Well, I never let you down, because this lobster roll at Luke’s was great. Left:Lobster Roll (cut in half) Right: Shrimp Roll (in half) (The shrimp roll is good, but lobster is way better!) This place is “bloggie” paradise. Like my new word lol? But it is. Luke’s Lobster has been written up in the New York Times, New York Mag, Wall Street Journal, a bunch of food blogs, and featured on the Today Show & the Food Network. It’s a great foodie spot because it’s a tiny, casual spot with …

VILLA BLANCA, BEVERLY HILLS

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I had the most beautiful dinner at Villa Blanca recently. This restaurant is so gorgeous. If I were to ever own my own restaurant, it would have a very similar vibe and look as Villa Blanca. So my style! I went on a warm night when the outside patio was packed and everything was lit with candles. Villa Blanca is all white and has a very romantic and elegant vibe. It is a fusion of Italian and Asian cuisine. Before going, I had heard the food was good, but nothing special, so my expectations for the food wasn’t high. Everyone was saying to just go because it is a beautiful restaurant. I must admit though, I was pleasantly surprised with the food. I had a great dinner. The place was packed on a Saturday night- I sat inside on the edge of the open door patio, and since it was a warm night, I felt the warm breeze throughout dinner and with the candles everywhere, it just had a great vibe. This is what was ordered: First …

BABY BO’S CANTINA, NEW YORK CITY

Published by Nicole Isaacs

Whoever said there is no real/good Mexican food in NYC, I am proving them wrong right now! Baby Bo’s Cantina in Murray Hill, NYC, was one of the best Mexican meals I’ve had in a long time. It was so good! I went with my sister and a friend, and it is the cutest little Mexican spot- total hole in the wall, but charming and cozy. It was packed when we got there, and when we sat at the bar, a couple minutes later we turned around to look at the door and there was a line of people waiting to be seated. This is what we ordered: ~Quesadilla Enorme with shredded beef- this was one of the best quesadillas I ever had! Inside was shredded beef, gooey cheese (the cheese was so creamy and amazing), beans, and topped with gaucamole, jalapenos, and chipotle sauce. I love my chipotle sauce, or any sauce for that matter! It was perfection. A quesadilla done right! ~*BBQ DUCK BURRITO- 3 words for this. I COULD DIE. It …

PINK’S HOT DOGS, HOLLYWOOD

Published by Nicole Isaacs

Pink’s Hotdogs in Hollywood has been a family-owned Hollywood institution since 1939. Located on La Brea Ave., you will rarely drive by this hot dog stand and NOT see a long line. It’s always packed with tourists to see what this famous hot dog stand is all about. I have heard many mixed reviews about this place. A lot of people actually don’t think it’s anything special. At least not what it’s hyped up to be, and my response……it all depends what you order. I’ve been to Pink’s many times, and have gotten it wrong many times. Everything I tried was just “OK”, nothing amazing that made me want to rush back. But when I decided to give it another try, I finally got it right. After waiting in line FOR AN HOUR, like, what was I thinking? lol, this is what I ordered and I won’t try ANYTHING else from this place. It’s a masterpiece. Ready??? My Pink’s hot dog masterpiece is: HOT POLISH SAUSAGE WITH CHILI, NACHO CHEESE, & BACON. It’s messy …

MALIBU KITCHEN & GOURMET COUNTRY MARKET, MALIBU CA

Published by Nicole Isaacs

I love good sandwiches and Malibu Kitchen has amazing wraps and sandwiches. It’s a tiny, cute market in Malibu Country Mart on Cross Creek Rd. right off PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). They have amazing goodies from cheeses, wine and fresh baguettes, to candy and a fresh bakery with amazing desserts. But I go for their deli-they make BOMB wraps. I always either get the tuna melt wrap grilled CRUNCHY (which is extra $), or the hot pastrami wrap with the tortilla grilled crunchy as well. OMG. So good! The tortillas are grilled crispy, flaky, and golden brown. This is what makes the wraps so amazing. Make sure you ask them to grill it crunchy for you 🙂 Today, I went on the most beautiful hike in Malibu with amazing waterfalls and after building up an appetite, decided to stop at Malibu Kitchen for one of their delicious wraps. They ran out of pastrami today, so ordered their homemade corned beef, which was just as amazing. Tuna Melt grilled with pepperjack cheese, guacamole, tomato & side of pesto …