Taking over the former Capital Grille (RIP) in the heart of Brentwood, Bottlefish offers it's patrons delicious food with a gorgeous atmosphere. With everything from a full bar to an oyster bar, Bottlefish has got all the makings for a fun brunch with the gals or a dinner date with boo.

I'm down for dinner as long as they have the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes available. Probably the best thing I ate the entire meal. Super fluffy and flavorful.  

Can you believe that this is called, petite? I never used to be a fan of raw seafood, yes that include sashimi. This is shocking for anyone who's eaten with me in the last several years since I without fair always order some form of raw seafood for every meal. I'm glad my tastes have changed just in time to devour this tray. The ceviche and oysters were my favorite and my friend Jenn couldn't get enough of the shrimps!

Battle of the toasts! RICOTTA TOAST house-made thick cut brioche, fresh ricotta, orange-turmeric-ginger jam vs. LOBSTER TOAST avocado mousse, lemon chili dressing, radishes, toasted country bread. I really truly with all my heart wanted to love the Ricotta Toast but unfortunately, it was just too bready for me and the jam ricotta combo was too light in flavor to make it a tasty dish. That being said, the Lobster Toast won hands down. Deliciously large chunks of lobster over a light avocado mousse. Yes please.  

HOUSE CURED SALMON GRAVLAX house-cured, cucumbers, dill cream, capers, red onions, potato galette. I loved the creativity of the potato galette. Typically, you eat this with a thick bagel. The crispy potato really added a crunch element which was absolutely delicious!

CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS Thai vinaigrette. If ever there are Crispy Brussels on a menu, count me in. Literally. 100% of the time. Because of this, I feel like I know how I like my brussels. Crispy with a lot of sauce. And this was that. The Thai vinaigrette is absolutely delicious but if you're not a fan of salty, this  might not be for you as it is very strong in savory goodness. 

Which dish are you most interested in trying?

xo, Jenny

It's a rare occasion to see me driving from Santa Monica to Melrose on a weekday but for delicious market driven Italian food, I'll make the exception. Spartina is open for brunch on weekends and dinner seven nights a week. From pancetta pizzas to pork collar ragu, their menu epitomizes fresh Italian fare. 

Spartina | 7505 melrose ave. los angeles, ca 90046

Beyond having delicious food, the outdoor ambiance is literally stunning. Think backyard seated dinner with strung up lights. Inside, it is designed to feel like you're in someone's home kitchen complete with in home library and potted plants. Overall, a wonderful place to take just about anyone. 

xo Jenny

This year's Masters of Taste was a perfect combination of luxurious food & beverage vendors. I was lucky enough to sample all of my favorites an hour before the rain came down, HARD! 

“100% of event proceeds benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)(3) organization helping homeless adults and families rebuild their lives.”

— https://mastersoftastela.com/masters-of-taste/

Some of my favorite vendors:

Bone Kettle / 67 North Raymond Ave Pasadena, CA 91103

Hoke Poke / 801 S. Hope St Los Angeles, CA 90017

Kato / 11925 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025

Venice Whaler / 10 W Washington Blvd Venice, CA 90292

Belly Bombz / 11824 Artesia Blvd. Artesia, CA 90701

Milk + Honey / 2981 Bristol St Ste B6 Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Hamasuku / 11043 Santa Monica Blvd  Los Angeles, CA 90025

Dirty Cookie / 2493 Park Ave Tustin, California 92782

Food with a cause is something I can definitely get on board with. As a food blogger, I have the incredible good fortune of eating delicious food regularly. It's important to remember that there are people far less fortunate. When restaurants and causes give back, it means a lot to me. 

xo, Jenny

I got a chance to try Neptunes Raw Bar and it did not disappoint. I was in the area and knew that I HAD to stop by. I'd seen too many lobster roll and oyster photos to not take advantage of the opportunity. It is located in a plaza with ample parking. Huge plus. 

The lobster roll had HUGE chunks of lobster in every bite. They really don't skimp on the portions! I would say - I would have loved some kind of sauce or condiment to accompany the roll but overall - really good! 

Cereal Crusted Stuffed French Toast & Lobster Mac N Cheese.

The highlight of my meal was definitely the uni pasta. I'm a huge uni fan so keep that in mind for my next glowing remark. This dish features an uni cream sauce as well as chunks of uni. I've had uni pastas before but they often were too conservative with the urchin which makes for a very bland pasta. This one really doesn't. You get a burst of flavor in every bite. 

In the same plaza is a Cafe 86. By now, you must have seen their infamous flan topped ube cupcakes all over Instagram. With locations in Pasadena, Artesia, and Chino, this Filipino themed eatery has some very unique items. I of course had to try the flan/ube cupcake. I'm sad to report that I thought this was just ok. The flan was good but the cupcake lacked a rich ube flavor. Overall, I think it's more Instagram worthy than it is tasty. I did however really enjoy their boba. I'm curious to try other items next time!

xx, jenny