Filifera | Hollywood, CA

April 28, 2018 by Veronica Kablan in Los Angeles Restaurants

For someone new in town, the concept of “Hollywood glamour” might appear a myth, gone the way of silver gelatin film, a remnant of the movie business’ golden days. Walking down Hollywood Boulevard, only hints of classic-movie splendor remain; cement handprints of celebrities are set amongst a squeaky-clean tourist-friendly facade, well-polished stars bedeck sidewalks stretching through even the sketchiest parts of town. But those who live and work in this town know that the glamour is alive and well - it’s just well-hidden (Hollywood thrives on exclusivity, after all), waiting to be found. If you know where to look, a sparkly world of VIP rooms and upscale pool parties awaits. The glamour doesn’t end with velvet-roped nightlife, either - in Hollywood, even brunch can be taken in style. Case in point: the visually stunning Filifera, perched atop the trendy Hollywood Proper Residences.

Cozy Seating at Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Kelly Wearstler Interiors at Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers — Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Getting to Filifera can feel a little bit like going down the rabbit hole - a valet will take your car, a doorman will show you in, and a receptionist will usher you to the correct elevator. After your ears pop from the rapid ascent, the doors open on “R,” and suddenly you’re surrounded by jaw-dropping beauty. The view is something to behold - it’s a bit magical to see your city from a new perspective; we probably could have spent hours pointing out our favorite landmarks and finding all our old apartments. But the zen-like roof deck is stunning in its own right. With a narrow gleaming pool, cozy tucked-away seating areas, an impossibly chic bar, and lush greenery abound, Kelly Wearstler’s design oozes modern sophistication.

Brunch with a View, Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers — Brunch with a View, Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Brunch with a View, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers — Brunch with a View, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Corned Beef Hash, Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers — Corned Beef Hash, Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Iced Latte at Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

House Sangria at Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Beautiful Brunch Spread, Pool with a View, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers — Beautiful Brunch Spread, Pool with a View, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

The menu is just what you’d hope to find at an L.A. brunch - there’s a kale salad for that healthy friend, a tofu scramble for the vegan friend, and a hearty corned beef hash for the friend with a hangover. There’s also plenty to indulge in - we fell in love with the completely decadent Bananas Foster French Toast, for one. Topped with McConnell’s ice cream and caramelized bananas, this was a melt-in-your-mouth treat. We also adored the Fried Chicken Sliders, a fun take on the sandwich craze that’s sweeping the city - we only wish we’d ordered more! Don’t forget to order yourself a cocktail, as well - Filifera's day job is as a cocktail bar, while brunch is its new gig on the weekends. We loved the peppy House Sangria, which you can enjoy with your choice of red, white, or rosé wine.

Bananas Foster French Toast, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

Fried Chicken Sliders, Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers — Fried Chicken Sliders, Beautiful Brunch Spread, Filifera, Hollywood, CA - Brunchographers

When the daily routine's got you down and you need a little poolside old-school Hollywood-style glam, Filifera's got you covered. Whether you come to bask in the sun during brunch, or take in the sunset with a cocktail after work, you'll leave feeling refreshed and oh-so-fancy.

Thanks to Filifera for hosting us for this brunch! As always, all opinions are our own.

Filifera
1550 N El Centro Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028 USA

Tonkatsu Chicken Sandwich at Best Girl, Los Angeles, CA

Best Girl | Downtown Los Angeles, CA

December 11, 2017 by Veronica Kablan in Los Angeles Restaurants

While most change happens gradually, there are times when life pulls a Metamorphosis and flips your world upside down overnight. An example: one evening, you may find yourself dining in your hotel’s restaurant, enjoying a few gems found amidst an overall unremarkable menu. It’s not worth writing home about but it’s nothing to complain about either, and the place certainly delivers on the “cooler than thou” vibe that you were promised upon booking your room at the Ace. You go to sleep (maybe you dream about too-tough octopus, what do I know?), and you wake up to a note slipped under your door. It’s announces that the restaurant from last night now has an entirely different name, and an entirely different chef. Oh, and that chef is quite possibly the best in the city. When you wander down for breakfast, the place looks the same and sounds the same, but it now smells of bacon and possibility - and of that rare satisfaction of knowing you got to experience a cool new thing before anyone else did.

For the record, the above example is not at all what happened to us; your faithful Brunchographers were not on the premises the day Michael Cimarusti pulled a Lemonade and transformed the Ace Hotel’s L.A. Chapter into Best Girl overnight. But we are fairly accomplished when it comes to visualization, and we can identify with how exciting that moment might have felt for those who were there. In reality, we rolled up to the Ace about a month after the deed had already been done, fashionably late under the guise of giving the restaurant some time to “get its bearings” (sure, that’s it - our delay had nothing at all to do with the fact that schlepping downtown is such a process). Inside, the restaurant is as hip as you’d expect the Ace’s restaurant to be: cozy without sacrificing design, vintage with just the right amount of modern, and quirky without going over the top. Sure, the pencil-drawn caricatures on the walls may leer at you as you walk to the bathroom, but a pump of the high-end perfumed soap will bring you right back down to earth.

Rainbows over our menu at Best Girl, Los Angeles, CA

The menu at Best Girl is a departure from what Angelenos might expect from Cimarusti - rather than the elegant seafood-focused dishes he’s known for at Providence and Connie & Ted’s, the fare here reflects the more casual meals that the chef and his family prepare at home. Each item has ties to either Cimarusti or his wife (pastry chef Crisi Echiverri, who oversaw Best Girl’s dessert program) in some way, be it flavors borrowed from their families’ ancestral heritage or a riff on a dish they love to prepare for their son. In some ways, a perusal of Best Girl’s menu is like taking a look into what a great culinary mind’s day off might look like, whether it’s a quick and simple breakfast, a satisfying midday meal, or a relaxed dinner shared with friends.

Cozy seating at Best Girl, Los Angeles, CA

At brunch, a wide array of Best Girl’s favorites can be enjoyed, with options from both the breakfast and the lunch menus at your fingertips. You may want to begin with a cocktail, like the Lucky Girl, a tart and floral option that arrives with a paper fortune to help you plan your future. If something from a bottle’s more your thing, there are plenty of tempting options on the eclectic wine and beer lists. Or, if it’s one of those days (and it was for me), you may choose to stick with a classic cup of coffee, because it’s Stumptown, and its deliciousness will warm your heart.

Buckwheat Pancakes at Best Girl, Los Angeles, CA

As for food, the Buckwheat Pancakes both confounded our palates and satisfied that persistent craving for something soft, fluffy, and a little bit sweet. While these run a little thinner than the average pancake, their warm nutty flavor and light texture is as pleasant as it gets. On top, the blueberry compote tastes homemade and lends a tart, satisfying punch, while a drizzle of maple syrup offers mellow sweetness. But what truly sets these cakes apart is a mound of creamy butter that’s been smoked, offering a hint of campfire to every bite. It’s at first confusing, and then it becomes a little bit funny, and it finally settles in as charming, warm, and comforting. Hey, if your brunch isn’t sending you on a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster, you’re missing out.

Now, listen very carefully: you will be cheating yourself if you walk away from Best Girl without trying the Tonkatsu Chicken Sandwich. Please trust us on this. Between the two halves of a light and spongy sesame bun lies a flavor combination that is absolutely divine: a crunchy-yet-delicate crust envelops juicy and tender chicken, a swirl of yuzu koshu mayo offers tang and umami all at once, and a heap of miso cabbage is both creamy and tender. If we were doing a top-ten-things-we-ate-this-year list (and after this dish, we thought about it), this sandwich would be on it, and it would be very near the top. So just order it.

It is amazing to consider that a restaurant with a pedigree like Best Girl’s could open without an ounce of fanfare, and that one of L.A.’s most esteemed fine dining chefs could suddenly shift focus to create down-to-earth, comforting, everyday meals — but perhaps it’s this restaurant's sense of rebelliousness and willingness to challenge the status quo that makes the entire Best Girl experience so alluring.

Best Girl
927 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Barbara Jean LA | Los Angeles, CA

November 12, 2017 by Veronica Kablan in Los Angeles Restaurants

There’s no denying it: life in the Information Age is exciting. Nearly every element of our daily lives has been transformed in some way by the Internet; from the obvious (light-speed communication) to the mundane (“life hack” videos showing us how to more efficiently fold t-shirts). For many, the most impactful changes have been through an internet-prompted progression in career: aside from a flood of new jobs in social media marketing, the path to success in nearly any profession need no longer follow the cut-and-dry avenues of our parents’ generation. It’s clear that this modern culture of connectivity challenges the structures that have long defined how our society functions, and for some, offers an opportunity to escape the bounds of a traditional career. The world can be anyone’s oyster, especially for those willing to get out there, break with tradition, and put in some hard work (though it must be said that unfortunately, some will have to work harder than others).

True to history, the revolution is led by artists - by and large, it’s the creators who are stepping outside the bounds and trying something new. In the world of food, chefs rebel against the pomp and circumstance of fine dining, replacing crisp white tablecloths and mood lighting with food from the heart served in unconventional locations. At pop-up dinners organized with the aid of the internet, some of the country’s most compelling meals have been served outdoors atop milk crates or in a willing participant’s cozy home kitchen. Yes, traditional fine dining still holds its own, but it is the new crop of modern rebels who are making the headlines. Take Chef Jason Fullilove, whose series of successful pop-ups featuring his modern and meticulously crafted take on soul food recently morphed into a permanent (if unconventional) setup on a bar’s back patio in the Fairfax district.

Fullilove’s modern rebel project, called Barbara Jean, is named for his mother - a rebel in her own right, who spent much of her life providing for underprivileged children in war-torn countries. The food that Fullilove shares with us at Barbara Jean honors traditional American soul food, and imbued with his years of experience cooking in fine-dining restaurants, offers a perfect middle ground between down-home comfort and elegant sophistication. Yes, these flavors will evoke memories of soul food in the south - the hush puppies brought me straight back to memorable meals of my childhood - but they will also challenge and delight the palate as much as a good fine-dining meal would.

Brunch at Barbara Jean begins with a selection of creative cocktails from the front of the house, leveraging off the restaurant’s roommate: a speakeasy-inspired bar called the Melrose Umbrella Company. With charming names and unconventional garnishes, it is difficult to pass up a pre-brunch tipple. We enjoyed a rainbow of sips: the Romance without Pressure, made with gin, passionfruit, and grapefruit; the Melrose Mule, a delicately sweet stunner garnished with a slice of dried blood orange that glittered like a stained glass window; and the Mezcali Me Banana, a fruity concoction brought down to earth with a smoky branch of charred rosemary.

The list of starters and sides at Barbara Jean may leave you dizzy - who could possibly choose between hush puppies and buttermilk biscuits? - but for the portion and price, sampling a healthy cross-section is well within the realm of possibility. Fullilove’s Buttermilk Biscuits are crisp on the outside and flaky on the inside, made substantial with hearty whole wheat flour and paired with a quenelle of fluffy-sweet butter. Hush puppies arrive in an artful wreath, placed atop a delicate, fragrant, and completely unexpected truffle honey sauce. They’re better than what I remember eating as a child; crisp like a well-fried donut outside, broken open to reveal a piping-hot, pillowy, sweet corn center. For a vegetarian alternative to Fullilove’s much-loved Curry Fried Chicken, there is a cauliflower version of the same dish. Crispy fried nuggets of tender cauliflower are arranged artfully atop a spiced aioli, and are decorated with tangy house-made pickled vegetables, creating a varied and compelling coterie of flavors that somehow achieves careful balance.

Brunch mains run the gamut from breakfast staples to hearty midday fare. Our table was drawn to the savory options, though both pancakes and waffles nearly managed to capture our attention - there’s always a next time, I suppose. For our vegetarian friend, there was the Omelet of the Day, packed with vegetables, sweet winter squash, and cheddar cheese. While this dish is normally served with a side of bacon, avocado made for a pleasant meatless alternative. At the opposite end of the food spectrum, there is the Heritage Pork Belly: a yam latke topped with succulent chunks of pork belly, soft poached eggs, roast apple sauce, and sweet maple mustard. A perfect bite from this dish hits the flavor quaternity: salt, fat, acid, and heat - with a little bonus sweetness to bring it all home. Finally, we couldn’t have a comfort food brunch without sampling the Shrimp and Grits. Fullilove’s presentation is playful; the shrimp’s head and tail cheekily poke out from each end of the bowl as if it’s swimming through the creamy pool of grits. A plump tomato and whole clove of garlic poached in olive oil provide both earthiness and acidity, while a vibrant green drizzle packs in herbaceous flavor. The combination is comforting, complex, and satisfying.

At Barbara Jean, Jason Fullilove and his team are not bound by convention. They are flexible, adaptable, and free to have fun with food; a shining example of the innovation and originality that the Information Age can inspire. And hopefully, a labor of love like Barbara Jean is a herald of the food world to come: a welcoming environment replete with creativity, cultural and gastronomic diversity, and a serious appreciation for good food.

Barbara Jean LA
7465 Melrose Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90046

The Pikey | Los Angeles, CA

The Pikey

October 07, 2017 by Veronica Kablan in Los Angeles Restaurants

As the old saying goes, the only constant in life is change. Even things that seem to stay the same don’t really; with time they erode into dust-covered semblances of what they once were. In restless Los Angeles, the rate of change feels somehow faster, the streets morphing as quickly as a time-lapse video of a forest floor in spring. Here, where the oldest landmarks barely surpass 200 years of age, our sense of history is somewhat skewed. Perhaps that explains, then, the uproar that ensued when a dive bar called Ye Coach & Horses shuttered in 2010 after a 73-year run. Its regulars were devastated, creating a passionate Facebook campaign to save the dark, somewhat sticky former hangout of British expats like Richard Burton and Alfred Hitchcock. And, if legend is to be believed, where Quentin Tarantino and Tim Roth scribbled rich, provocative dialogue for Pulp Fiction on to bar napkins. But, like the fallen acorn on the forest floor, Ye Coach & Horses fell victim to the mighty force of change, and - in true Los Angeles style - was born again as a brighter, shinier version of itself.

In 2012, Ye Coach & Horses’ doors opened again, this time as “The Pikey.” Just as nostalgic as many of the bar’s regulars were, new owners Jared Meisler and and Sean MacPherson (Il Covo, Roger Room, Bar Lubitsch), took great care in restoring the space and retaining its charming English pub feel. In many ways, The Pikey is strikingly familiar: cozy red booths line bric-a-brac covered walls, a curving wooden bar offers a place to perch and enjoy a pint, a Union Jack presides over the festivities. Meanwhile, quite a few inarguable improvements have been made: a kitchen that was once the next-door Curry Palace is now the workspace of a Michelin-starred chef, a former storage space is now decorated with portraits of Maharajas and offers a place for both dancing and sports-viewing, and of course, those old sticky carpets have been replaced with crisp, clean tile floors.

Patio Seating at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

Hallway to the Maharaja Room at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

The Maharaja Room at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

As we learned on a recent trip abroad, English charm is also subject to the force of change: the food that gave England its once poor culinary reputation has been replaced over time with inventive, worldly, farm-to-table style fare - enough to make Jamie Oliver proud. So it’s only fitting that Meisler and MacPherson chose to hire Ralph Johnson, former Chef de Cuisine at The Spotted Pig - April Bloomfield’s legendary restaurant that, among other things, is credited with popularizing Britain’s gastropub phenomenon in the United States. Hailing from East Dulwich, London, Johnson creates food that proves that the British classics don’t need to be reimagined to be delicious, especially when prepared properly and with high-quality ingredients. His menu features quintessential British favorites from Shepherd’s Pie to Welsh Rarebit, all offered with a tall bottle of tangy HB Sauce on the side. If that’s not enough to make a British expat homesick, there’s even a proper Sunday roast each week, served with stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy - Hitchcock and Burton would surely be proud.

Brunch was born in 19th Century England after all, so it’s only appropriate that The Pikey would offer a British spin on L.A.’s favorite meal. While there’s something a little peculiar about walking through a heavy curtain and into a dark bar on your way to your morning meal, once you head to the right, you’ll find that the former-Curry Palace side of the restaurant offers plenty of light by which to sip your mimosa. Or, if you’re willing to accept a bit of noise from Sunset Boulevard, there’s a charming, flower-lined patio out front. On our recent visit, we found a perch in the restaurant side, just under a skylight, with a good view of Chef Johnson’s gleaming white-tiled open kitchen.

Open Kitchen at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

Skylight Cocktail Menu at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

Aperol Spritz at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

When brunching at a pub, a cocktail is a must, so we chose from the menu hanging in the skylight just above our heads. The Aperol Spritz was exactly what you’d hope it to be: bright, fizzy, and citrusy with just a hint of bitterness, in the prettiest pink-to-orange gradient. [Side note: can we please nominate this drink as the new Mimosa? It’s light enough that drinking it before noon still feels pleasant, but it’s got some serious depth of flavor - plus, it looks so much more glamorous.]

Crumpet with Honeycomb & Clotted Cream at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

Biscuit with Maple Butter at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

To begin, we’d wholeheartedly recommend a house-made pastry. For those missing the U.K., the Crumpet with Honeycomb and Clotted Cream is a must, if for no other reason than the dollop of absolutely luscious homemade clotted cream on top (why is clotted cream not a thing in the U.S.?). The pillowy crumpet comes to the table warm enough to soften the honey and cream on top, and the gently salted dough becomes a perfect sponge for all that sweet, creamy topping. If crumpets aren’t your thing, you can’t go wrong with the Homemade Biscuits with Maple Butter. While biscuits and butter feel more typical of an American brunch, The Pikey’s version is not to be overlooked: these are surprisingly crisp on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside, and are served with a hearty helping of creamy, salty-meets-sweet whipped butter.

Full English Breakfast at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

British Expats will appreciate the impressively authentic Full English: an absolutely gorgeous mess of fried eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, roasted tomato, and mushroom, served atop a thick slice of toast. The perfect bite has just a bit of everything - firm beans in a gently spiced tomato sauce, juicy sausage packed with fragrant fennel, perfectly crisp and salty bacon, tender roasted vegetables, runny egg yolk, and a bit of sweet, soft bread. Sure, there’s no black pudding, but we have a hard time imagining an Angeleno going for black pudding, anyway.

Full English Breakfast and Fish & Chips at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

Fish & Chips at The Pikey, Los Angeles, CA

We couldn’t walk out of The Pikey without sampling the Fish & Chips, perhaps the most wonderful of British innovations (after the invention of brunch, of course). This version lives up to the best of what we tasted in London - the thick breading was light and not at all greasy, and the fish inside was flaky, tender, and moist. On the side is a deliciously simple tartar sauce and a heap of wonderfully crispy thrice-cooked chips (rumored to be Heston Blumenthal’s recipe). We even loved the lightly dressed spears of romaine propped somewhat perplexingly on top - a bite of cool, crisp lettuce is somehow exactly what this indulgent plate of fried food needs.

Sure, the bar stool that Hitchcock once perched on is probably in a dumpster somewhere, and the napkin that played canvas for a bit about a Royale with Cheese is surely gone, but there’s still a palpable sense of history at The Pikey - enough to satisfy even the most nostalgic of Angelenos. Change may be unstoppable, but perhaps we can meet it somewhere in the middle with a cold pint of beer and a heaping plate of chips, under the storied ceilings of The Pikey.

The Pikey
7617 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Buckwheat Waffle, Seasonal Sangria, and Fruit Salad at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Akasha | Culver City, CA

September 30, 2017 by Veronica Kablan in Los Angeles Restaurants

It’s hard to imagine a time when words like “seasonal,” "local," and “sustainable” weren’t necessary bylines on every restaurant menu. In today’s market, concepts like these are all but obligatory - but just under ten years ago, when Akasha Richmond opened her namesake restaurant in the historic Hull Building in Culver City, things looked a little different. Healthy eating at the time often conjured images of alfalfa sprouts and mashed yeast, and thoughtful details like biodegradable takeout containers were enough to warrant commentary from the likes of S. Irene Virbila. But Richmond forged on, developing an organic, farm-to-table menu that remains both surprising and innovative, sourcing biodynamic wines and craft cocktails, and offering a robust set of options for vegans and vegetarians… any of that sound familiar?

Akasha Restaurant in the historic Hull Building, Culver City, CA

Café space at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Indeed, Akasha Richmond was doing all those things before they were cool; even at the risk of being labeled “crunchy-granola.” And when you dig a little deeper into Richmond’s past, it's apparent that such a title wouldn’t be so far off the mark: while she’s a self-taught cook who learned her craft at home under the guidance of family, Richmond’s love affair with cooking truly began while living at an ashram and working for Yogi Bhajan at The Golden Temple, a famed vegetarian cafe that once catered to Hollywood’s elite. So it’s no wonder that a healthy dose of crunchy-granola makes its way into her cuisine, though when set amongst a well-rounded menu with influences reaching as far as India and the Middle East (a result of her extensive world travels as a personal chef to the stars, no doubt), it’s hardly noticeable. Especially when that granola is really, really good.

Even today, when the restaurant landscape is saturated with responsibly-sourced, healthful options, the cuisine at Akasha remains relevant. There’s no question that a nourishing, healthful meal is what our bodies need - and by crafting thoughtful, elevated cuisine using those healthful ingredients, Richmond is able to translate that need into a want. At dinner, farmers market vegetables are paired with fragrant herbs and luxurious cheeses, pasture-raised meats are enhanced with exotic spices, and onion rings are made impossibly crispy using only gluten-free and vegan ingredients. At brunch, farm eggs are served alongside grass-fed steak, house-made granola is submerged in fresh almond milk, and buttermilk pancakes are made hearty with whole wheat flour. The result is a menu packed with all the favorites you’d hope to find, made with ingredients you can feel good about.

Lemon Bird Preserves available at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Patio at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Bar area at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Prosecco Fizz (front) and Seasonal Sangria (rear) at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA — Prosecco Fizz (front) and Seasonal Sangria (rear) at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Even the cocktail list at Akasha is infused with choice produce - our Prosecco Fizz came topped with a dollop of vibrant fresh sorbet, and the Seasonal Sangria is garnished with chopped peaches and plump raspberries. If your cocktail doesn’t meet your daily fruit quota, the Fresh Fruit Salad will fill the gap - apples, berries, and mangoes are married with just a touch of local honey, and optional greek yogurt is available for an added burst of protein.

Seasonal Sangria at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Fruit Salad at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Shakshouka at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

If vegetables for breakfast are your jam, then look no further than Akasha’s Shakshouka - two eggs are baked to jammy-perfection in a sea of saffron tomato sauce and tender braised greens, accented with a hint of spice and dotted with salty, tangy feta cheese. On the side, two slices of lightly charred ciabatta offer a vehicle for leftover sauce - and are especially useful for scraping up those stuck-on bits around the edges (in our opinion, the very best part).

Seasonal Sangria, Buckwheat Waffle, Prosecco Fizz, Fruit Salad, and Shakshouka at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Buckwheat Waffle at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Perhaps the most perfect example of sinful-meets-healthful can be found in the Buckwheat Waffle. Here, a crispy-on-the-outside, warm-and-fluffy-on-the-inside waffle is made wholesome with buckwheat, offering a texture that feels both substantial and comforting. On top, a lightly salty cinnamon butter gently melts beneath warm caramelized bananas and luscious salted caramel sauce, filling the waffle’s nooks and crannies with a melt-in-your-mouth ambrosia. Maybe we’re suckers for that moment when sweet meets salty, but to us, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Buckwheat Waffle at at Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA

Whether it was all that time spent practicing with Yogi Bhajan or just some natural sixth sense, Akasha Richmond somehow knew what was next for Los Angeles’ food scene long before we did. By achieving decadent flavors with natural, responsibly-sourced ingredients, Akasha meets us at the intersection of what we want and what we need.

Akasha
9543 Culver Boulevard,
Culver City CA 90232