Hi friends!

Have you ever been to Downtown Santa Monica? Alongside a visit to Riot Games last February (before the virus required visiting boundaries to be tightened, and restaurants to carry-out only), my crew and I were able to feast upon the deliciousness of what Santa Monica had to offer. Here鈥檚 what you can eat in a nine-hour day in Downtown Santa Monica.

10am SIDECAR DONUTS

10am SIDECAR DONUTS

鈥淢eet the world鈥檚 freshest donut鈥 and oh man, these gourmet donuts were light-years away from the typical ones you find in a grocery store or donut shop. We got the maple bacon donut and the Saigon cinnamon crumb one to share. The Maple bacon is caramely and savory-sweet, while the Saigon cinnamon packs a spicy ambrosial warmth.

12pm NOMS

12pm NOMS

provides lunch and dinner for their employees through the on-campus Cafeteria, Noms. Think Biola鈥檚 Caf but full-on five star gourmet food with top of the line organic ingredients. I couldn鈥檛 take a photo fast enough before we all dug in. Their kale and butternut squash salad (topped with pickled onions, my addition) was so good. That cookie you see there, too? That鈥檚 a vegan (you heard me) fruity pebbles cookie. It was wild.

4pm TSUJITA LA ARTISAN NOODLES

4pm TSUJITA LA ARTISAN NOODLES

Two of our crew knew about tsukemen ramen, two of us didn鈥檛. Ever had ramen before? Think noodles, meat and other vegetables all getting to know one another in a hearty meat broth. Now level that idea up to tsukemen ramen, where the noodles, meat and other vegetables are served on the side (cold!) with a thick soupy concentrated beef stock with onions and other pickled yummy things (hot!). To eat, you have dip the cold noodles into the warm stock and the outcome is a mouthful of wonder.



6pm Millet Crepe

6pm MILLET CREPE

What鈥檚 dinner without dessert? A dear friend at Riot gave us the tip to visit and try the Creme Brulee crepe, conveniently wrapped up and tucked into a cone for on-the-go eating. Their chocolate macaroon was sprinkled with cacao chips - a sharp, memorable touch.

If you鈥檙e ever in the downtown Santa Monica area for a day (or even a meal), I highly recommend all of these places. Each of them had their own distinguished flavors, showcasing off different culinary strengths.

Catch you around soon.

With light,

Lavender