girl-ish
Featuring Rachel Kim of rkimEATS Up until the age of 20, I only ate meat, bread and dairy and an apple here and there. Following a summer and one school year with two incredible chefs, my aunt and my Italian host mother, I learned that it was worth trying new and healthy foods like eggplant and raspberries. After 22 years of traveling all over the world and living in six different cities, my favorite place on earth is still Southern California, specifically Venice Beach. When I think of Venice, I think of warm afternoons and cool mornings, biking along the boardwalk, walking to the Farmer’s Market and best of all, eating amazing food. Venice Beach, in particular, is known for health conscious, fitness loving, relaxed locals and thus you can imagine that fresh and seasonal ingredients are of utmost importance! I discovered Another Kind of Sunrise (AKOS), while scrolling through Venice Instagram users. I spend most of my time on Abbot Kinney when I’m in Venice, but failed to turn into the almost invisible alley that leads to this adorable breakfast joint. AKOS consists of a couple low benches, stools and a booth from which you can order anything from a Brazilian Style Acai Bowl topped with paleo granola to a Buttery Brew made of raw coconut oil, grass fed ghee and fresh organic coffee. Once in a while, I like to skip the fruit and indulge in something special and thus I’ve come to love the Peanut Butter Cup. The Peanut Butter Cup, which comes under the sub-title “Not Your Grandma’s Bowl”, is “a perfect blend of peanut butter puffs and cocoa crispies served with organic sliced banana, peanut butter, and cacao”. AKOS is the perfect breakfast bar for you, your person of choice and your dog that does well in tight spaces. In my eyes, Gjelina is the heart of Abbot Kinney. It’s become extremely popular since the first time we dined there and for some may merely be a “cool place to be seen”, but to me it’s much more than that. Gjelina’s relaxed and rustic feel in addition to it’s fresher than fresh ingredients and creative dishes is addicting. My favorite time to go to Gjelina is when it first opens and there’s available outdoor seating. We always start with oysters and the Peach Burrata Salad when available. One of the reasons why Gjelina is so special and tasty is because its’ menu is seasonal. In the beginning we only ordered the Housemade Chorizo and Fennel Pizza, but over the years our must-order list has grown: Roasted Half Chicken with Braised Cavolo Nero and Cippolini Onions, Pan Seared Niman Ranch Ribeye with a Side of Frites and the Wood Roasted Cauliflower tossed in Garlic, Chili and Vinegar. Regardless of where you sit, the knowledgeable and incredibly attentive staff will make sure you’re always being taken care of! If you’re unable to snag a spot, go next door to the equally famous Gjelina Take Away (GTA) and eat your food on a milk crate like a true Venice local! If you love Gjelina, you’ll love its’ sister bakery: Gjusta. This is another gem I found by scrolling through my favorite LA blogger’s Instagram: Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere. In order to fully appreciate Gjusta, you’ll need to go for breakfast and lunch for seven days straight. From the outside, Gjusta doesn’t look like much, but the inside is divided into baked goods, cold cuts, ready-made salads and sides, hot sandwiches and soups and coffee and fresh-pressed juice. Like at Gjelina, the food is excellent and the service is impeccable. Off the bat, the coffee is dreamy, the chive cream cheese is ridiculously tasty, the chicken soup and minestrone makes me want seconds, their sandwiches are made with love and their carrot cake is made for sharing, but let’s be real. At Gjusta you can choose to stand at the bar or build your own table and chairs out of milk crates in their parking lot! Around the corner from Gjusta is Venice Beach Wines. The wine bar is located on Rose Avenue, which is home to another favorite of mine, Oscar’s Cerveteca. The metal tables are small and diners sit around the edges on one long wooden bench facing the middle so only go if you’re okay with an intimate space. Venice Beach Wines is open all-day, but I think it’s best during happy hour. Order a glass from their extensive drink menu and share a couple charcuterie and cheese plates served with warm baguette in addition to the deviled eggs or hummus and pita plate. The atmosphere is relaxed and the servers are super friendly. If I still lived in Venice, I would spend every day from 4pm to 6pm drinking, eating, chatting and people watching at Venice Beach Wines! Salt Air is one of the newest additions to my list of Abbot Kinney favorites. Since having my first Veggie Burger there, I have remained loyal diner. From the outside, it looks like peaceful with the words “Salt Air” painted in a navy blue next to a dainty seagull. When you enter, you’re immediately greeted by one of the a lovely hostess and are seated in one of the booths, tables or at the bar. At this point you can finally appreciate the minimalist, white, decor reflecting the sea theme and for this reason I prefer to go for lunch or brunch. Naturally, their oysters and Lobster Roll are popular and for good reason. I highly recommend ordering their soup of the day because it’s always delicious and is often served with foam and sometimes a few pieces of popcorn! I, personally, am loyal to their Veggie Burger made of mushroom, lentils, avocado, jalapeño and served with her fries and a crispy egg, which is a necessary addition. I’m not a fan of vegetables, but there is something magical about this Veggie Burger that I’ll even eat it without the bun! No matter how full you are, you owe it to yourself to try their Monkey Bread. Salt Air’s monkey bread is made of the most dense, but airy dough balls drenched in the most perfect crème anglaise. It taste like a cinnamon donut wrapped in a cinnamon bun, but a hundred times better. Imagine that! To balance out all the (healthy) eating, rent a bike in the morning and ride from Washington Boulevard all the way to Santa Monica pier or in the opposite direction to Marina Del Rey. If you’re feeling especially guilty, visit my favorite instructor Mary Miller at The Studio MDR before returning to your food adventures! Rachel is a 22-year-old Smith College graduate who spent half her life in Asia and the other half in the States plus a year in Italy. She’s dabbled in luxury wedding planning, experiential marketing and event design, but is currently working for a wedding and party inspiration blog and in her free time writes restaurant reviews for @rkimeats.
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