My Perfect LA Saturday

I have a new appreciation for Saturdays, Sundays and Fridays. You guessed it! For the first time, um, in a long time, FoodFlirt90210 has a full time, 9-5 J-O-B in the real world. And, it just happens to be in the only burgeoning industry around ... social media. Yes sir, (or madame) I spend all day on blogs, Facebook, & Twitter so my own personal online endeavors have suffered a wee bit. But the blog must go on, so on I will go ...

This past Saturday I rolled out of bed around 9:30 not wanting to waste my precious drops of weekend goodness, threw on some workout clothes and hit the street ... meandering. I sometimes go for walks, often go for runs, but rarely do I allow myself the unequivocal luxury of meandering. I strolled down Burton Way and crossed La Cienega, heading towards one of my favorite foodie spots in LA, Joan's on Third. The cafe au laits are smooth and made properly, with thick, creamy microfoam. (This is embarrassing but I had a dream last week that I was hired to visit every Starbucks in America to teach the baristas how to make microfoam and was appalled to learn most did not even know what that term meant.) Joan's offers so much more than some of the best coffee in Los Angeles. Think Dean and Deluca before they became a household name. Divine pastries, eclectic cheese, and charcuterie, all brazenly overpriced but somehow, sometimes, worth it.

Somewhere between home and Joan's I was side tracked by something I love so much about LA: Banana Trees. I just can't get enough of the tropical R&R vibe they give off 365 days a year. And have you ever seen a banana tree flower?! If not, you're in for a non-edible, calories free treat mon amie.

I finally made it to Joan's and ordered my much anticipated cafe au lait and a Maple Spice Cupcake.

While waiting in line I started snapping photos for this blog and got in trouble ... no pics aloud indoors at Joan's ... whoops! Better to ask forgiveness, am I right? To my au lait I add 2 teaspoons of the divine cocoa powder they have along with a dash of cold, whole milk and one raw sugar pack. Stir, sip, smile, sit and enjoy the people watching.

Post coffee and journal writing, I decide to save my cupcake and walk across the street to this tiny travel book store that looks straight out of a movie. I buy a birthday card for my ex-fiance and am not sure why I feel the need to do so. It read Ubuntu ... an ancient African word meaning, "I am what I am because of who we all are," and "Humanity to others." If you like this info read my other blog.

Card in hand, I took third street back home passing a few more of my neighborhood go-to spots ... Bread Bar for good coffee, great Alpine Cheese bread and friendly service. Third Stop for weekday happy hour, above par bar food, and LA singletons. And last, Cafe Angelino for simple, reasonable Italian fare. Very good pizza and Caesar salad.

Ah ... LA, I'm in love with you still after 6 years.

~XOXO~ Foodflirt

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