YO! i am back in the SLC. can’t say i am thrilled to be back to the daily grind, but i did miss the fam.. so coming home wasn’t so bad.
i was in LA visiting eden & deb over the weekend. we had lots of good times that couldn’t possibly fit into just one post, so i have decided to break it down into three posts.. starting with the food, naturally.
friday.
i woke up bright and early to do my favorite thing! …not. i had a little work to do.
deb’s husband, derek (who we lovingly refer to as mr. smoothie girl) was kind enough to make me some toast+english bacon and deb whipped me up a protein smoothie (her specialty!) and some coffee. royal treatment, no doubt.
deb and i hit the gym friday morning and then strolled down venice beach—more on that later. we hit up 26 beach restaurant for a late lunch. they sat us in the garden room—it was bright and beautiful.
the menu was giant. 26 beach is actually the home of the sushi burger (i am sure you can figure that concept out yourself) but as i perused the menu, my eyes couldn’t stop going back to the napa burger: angus beef, avocado, heirloom tomato, goat cheese, mixed greens with mayo & dijon on a wheat bun. done and done.
it came with a side salad which was served with their house dressing—a delicious soy ginger blend made from scratch.
eden & deb both ordered incredible salads—the blueberry chicken salad and the ceviche salad.
the food was good, but the company was better!
friday night was all about celebrating miss eden’s birthday. it was on thursday, but didn’t you know birthday celebrations can last all weekend long? true story. we headed to eden’s dad’s house for a delicious home cooked meal prepared by the birthday girl herself. eden’s dad was the grill master—this man knows how to cook.
we dined on grilled chicken, eggplant and spaghetti squash plus two different salads. it was a delicious meal.
and, once again, the food was good.. but the company was better! 
the boos, deb & derek, eden & her dad and me.. my date was the giant unicorn balloon, but i let eden take a turn.
what? your friday nights don’t end with riding huge unicorn balloons? you’re no fun.
saturday.
saturday morning started out with another breakfast at D&D’s bed & breakfast—it’s the swankiest of the swank, don’t you know? i had scrambled eggs and toast.
the really delicious event occurred at 1:30 at the hollywood bowl, with a handful of the best bloggers in town!
eden, deb & the boos again.. plus sophia, jenn, lynn, ameena (+ her cute daughter) & mimi!
it was a potluck, so everyone brought something delicious to share.
pickled eggs~brie & smoked salmon plate~kimchi fried rice
french dip sandwiches~salmon salad~gluten free cookies
kale salad~quinoa salad~bacon wrapped dates
and my favorite part—home-brewed kefir something or other (sorry, i fail at technical terms) & kombucha from jenn!
it was so good and she promised she’d bring me some kefir grains & a kombucha scoby when she visits utah.. jenn, i am holding you to it.
a little of everything—not a single bite went uneaten. everything was so tasty. bloggers know their food.
oh, and isn’t deb so sweet with the houndstooth napkins?! she even let me have the extras.
it was so fun to get together with everyone! i wish there was a teleporter so i could hang with bloggers on the regular.
saturday night was spent out and about—after frozen yogurt and coffee (because i was so cold after the yogurt), i was left with little room for dinner.. but deb & i did eat some french dip leftovers when we got home around 9:30 PM for a late snack.
sunday.
sunday was the last day. i started my day with another breakfast from deb’s kitchen—this time it was greek yogurt, a peach and cereal. we went on a hike in malibu (more on that later) before meeting eden for brunch at coogie’s beach cafe.
i ordered the rustic italian egg white omelet.
it was filled with chicken, basil, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and jack cheese.
we surprised eden at the end of the meal with a banana blueberry protein cake—complete with candle. (much like the shenanigans that went down in palm springs!) we sang, she made a wish for a pony, and all was right with the world.
happy birthday, eden!
on the way to the airport sunday night, deb & i made our way into little ethiopia on fairfax to eat some new-to-me cuisine. i have ALWAYS wanted to try ethiopian so i was super excited!
deb started with some disappointing wine…
…but our spread of delicious food made up for it!
we ordered a split combo plate. it had:
- Doro Wot chicken stewed in red pepper sauce with an assortment of spices. served with injera.
- Yebeg Signa Alicha mild lamb stew, delicately spiced with garlic, ginger and other assorted spices. served with injera.
- Yatakilt Alicha steamed vegetables with onions, seasoned with assorted spices. served with injera
- Yemisir Wot split lentil in red pepper sauce, seasoned with assort spices. served with injera
- Tomato Fir- Fit
- Green Salad
- Cottage cheese with spices & butter
ethiopian food is traditionally served on a injera, which is a large sourdough flatbread.
it also comes with extra injera to scoop everything up—who needs a fork when you can eat your utensils?
we had a great time devouring everything. it’s more fun to eat with your hands.
not bad for a last meal—i left to the airport more full than i’ve been in a loooong time. in fact, they almost made me pay more for extra weight.
it’s official.. LA is delicious.
see you next time for the moves portion of my trip!
Qs~
1. what is your favorite type of cuisine?
2. what dish would you take to a blogger potluck?
Next Comments →
How did you capture such fantastic photos!
That balloon riding was the highlight of my entire year I think. I’ve always wanted a pony, and bull riding is SO….I dunno spanish?
I do ponies.
Now the pressure is ON! I have to post something fantastic.
PS: my dad loves you and will gladly grill anything and everything for you.
PPS: “Ice Cream” can be a type of cuisine. Right?
Re “pressure”… I’m leaving the recap posts to the professional bloggers ;-) I might do a workout or a muffin recipe post from this weekend in the next few days or years. ha.
Oh it looks like you had a blast!
One thing missing……the ice cream pics!! haha! Too sexy for the blog, bwahahaha!
Eden and Deb are beauties, and seem like very awesome girls!
The blog meetup, how awesome and what a great group of bloggers!
Jen is so Pretty! I think she rocks! How awesome you got to meet her! I bet that kombucha was great!
The pic of Eden and her dad is sweet!
Happy Belated Birthday to her ; )
Sorry, don’t mean to be an obnoxious commenter. I am such a loser I forgot to add another thing…..
I love Deb and Mr. SmoothieGirl and I’m glad he made a cameo here cause I don’t think Deb gives him enough pimping. I think he needs his own blog. Maybe he and ace can share one?
Oh and Jenn is freaking gorgeous!
ok I’m REALLY going into hybernation now.
Derek would rather poke his eyes out with purple sharpie pens than blog due to the fact that he did a short stint of blogging for his company’s 20th anniversary. He kept repeating: “I hate this! I hate this!” “How do you DO it?!!” and “I have so much more respect for bloggers now!” I think that the best blogger in the family is and always will be Ellie <3
So things I love.
1. How PRETTY you are! You are GLOWING lady.
2. How close you and Eden and Deb are :) It makes my heart smile!!!
3. Eden your hamstrings are BANGIN’!
Ethiopian is sooooooo goood! Looks like you guys had a blast… I can’t wait to meet the Boos at Foodbuzz!! :)
trip out, another Christin who spells her name right? awesome! just wanted to say hi and I like your name :)
SWEET! I’ve only met a handful of fellow Christins, and I’m certain that you are a badass based on name alone! :)
Good times!
Italian Cuisine (Hello, carbs??) hehe
I would probably bring my chocolate chip cookies…
i miss ya! i’m glad you had such a tasty time in my city – 26 beach is actually very close to my uncle’s beach house where i often house sit & is now on my must-eat list!
If you ever venture there, I’ll gladly go again! Preferably for brunch. They have smores french toast!
injera Injera INJERA!! I love the stuff.
this looked like SO much fun, I’m healous (hella jealous) of the whole weekend.
a sign I’ve been online too long today? I hovered over the picnic photo, to see tagged names, like in facebook. *sigh*
and I’m not really making up words. healous was a misspelling. ;)
I can’t explain my craving for that burger now…goat cheese, I love you! And sushi…don’t even get me started on how much I miss it!
Omg what a FUN POST! And fun meetup. You all look like you had a blast…what a great group of ladies. When I lived in Phoenix, I met Jenn and even though Deb and I live so close, we haven’t met. And haven’t met up with many of the other LA ladies other than at Foodbuzz…must change that.
So happy you had a great time!
Squee! I love the pony ride!
What a great party – Eden’s dad looks great and I am so proud you all got together there.
Love, love, love the blog picnic – well, I actually love it all. Deb and Derek are so fabulous and gracious – just the greatest. All the bloggers look great and the food of course looked wonderful (I wouldn’t have expected any less!)
Fro-yo is my favorite cuisine. And I don’t qualify for a blogger picnic – but if readers are allowed, then I would probably bring my lowfat veggie pizza bites or cool whip cookies.
Ohhh, I love all your pics! What type of camera do you use? I’m in the market for a new one!!!
Vacation is always so much fun and takes a good couple days to get back into the daily grind once you return home! But it does always feel good to sleep in your own bed!
My favourite type of food is Asian! It can be either refreshing or comfort food but it is always yummy!!!! :)
And I would probably bring a fancy pants salad of some sort to a blogger potluck!
Omg yall had some good eats! I love the blogger meet up. I think id bring fruit and fruit dip to a meet up. The unicorn is hilarious-hot date!
1. I’m so happy you enjoyed your entire weekend! How could you not with Eden and Debs!
2. Kefir is correct. Water kefir would be exact. :-) I’m so happy you liked it and I will bring you grains and a scoby for sure! I’m practically a bacteria pusher. ;-)
3. Indian food is my favorite but I’ve eaten Ethiopian once and it was on Fairfax too. I enjoyed it but not like Indian food.
4. Most importantly, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed finally meeting you in person! SO. FUN. Love you!
Looks like a great weekend! I love greek food, its my favourite :)
Omg…I LOVE your coffee cup. That is SO me!
Etsy?!
it’s actually deb’s! i dunno where she got it.
England.
At least now I feel better knowing I’m not the only one who dry humps unicorns on Friday nights. Whew!
Anyway, the only thing I want to know is what D&D would charge per night for their B&B, as that pretty much looks like my dream vacation. Not even kidding.
Bhahah on the unicorn dry humping!
D&D’s B&B is F-R-E-E to friends. That includes you. However, you will have to pay your way by participating in slave labor: brushing our demanding feline divas (is the male version of a diva, a “Divo” or is that just a band that I used to love way back in the day?”
Come visit. Seriously.
I will refer back to this post and hold you to that–the feline gang initiation jump-in–and visit when I get some funds. But I’m hesitant to come, as I know I’ll never want to leave.
the first thing i noticed was that amazing bird cage wall paper. i need it in my life! i’ve never actually had ethiopian food before even though there are like 2 places within 2 miles of me. whoops!
ahh blogger picnic…pickled eggs + smoked salmon are two of my fave food items in life. i eat them both many times a month at least 2x weekly! i would bring charoset to a bloggie picnic :)fave type of cuisine is prob moroccan.
i think you could classify that trip a serious food blogger celebration! I love it all. And i think Eden’s dad just might be the highlight. So COOL to see him hugging his sweet daughter!
I’m not so sweet….I’m sour!
well sweet and sour make sassy in my book.
;)
You are just a stud blogger. Derek just said to me “Janetha already got her post up?!” (I guess things move a little bit slower ’round these parts. After all, we are running a B&B!!)
I’ll just comment on the food since that’s the topic of today’s post (Yes, Derek there are TWO more to come: JBean is a pro!)
I’m glad that you got to taste the english bacon sandwich the first day- sooo smoky & yummy. Seriously, I coerced you eat the two favorite things in my book: Philippes sandwiches and Ethiopian food. Without question. Philippes is da bomb but I may be partial to it because I’ve been going there since in utero. Ethiopian is rad, just because it is. You know what I’m talking about. (moan, moan moan!)
It was such a joy having you visit- you are easy breezy and so dang much fun. You are invited back to the B&B any time <3
What a tasty trip so far! That injera looks so good!
My favourite cuisine is Thai! I love the hot, sour and sweet flavours.
BUT if I had to take a dish to a blogger meetup I would take…cupcakes! Perfectly transportable, and I have a majoy sweet tooth for frosting!
Seth and I once went out for Ethiopian, and it was so DELISH. We got mean looks from them though when we ate all our injera and asked for forks :(
i drove down fairfax to get to the grove!! there were TONS of ethiopian restaurants. i have only had it once so i def want to try again. and yes, i agree LA honestly has REALLY good food!!
Looks like you had such a great trip! I’m jealous of the giant unicorn balloon. I get a kick out of silly stuff like that. I don’t really have a favorite cuisine, still exploring everything. Thai is currently winning right now. I’d probably take a 3-bean salad or buffalo chicken dip to a potluck as I’ve had success with both of those in the past. :)
What a fantastic recap! You are amazingly talented at saying so much in such a cohesive post…I am impressed. And your photos are great too!
It was so nice to meet you Janetha! I look forward to reading your blog!
Glad you had a good time in my hometown. Favorite cuisine is easily Mexican. It’s not just because that’s what I grew up eating, but I also know it better than other cuisines and am well aware of the variety. For a blogger potluck, I’d take a Mexican shrimp cocktail (coctel de camarón) served with a side of tostadas. It always goes quite fast whenever I take it to potlucks.
what a fun weekend, j! you got so much variety in there…awesome. i love that deb found you those houndstooth napkins…too cool. the meet-up looks like fun!
i would love to try ethiopian. to a blogger meet-up, i would bring something store bought. just bein’ honest!
looking forward to reading part 2!
dude. how freaking fun.
favorite cuisine? indian. delish.
to a blogger potluck…ooh that’s hard. Probably my momma’s homemade bread with some sort of homemade honey butter.
So fun and I’m so jealous!!!!! Come to Michigan, I need some fun in my life :)
I’ve never had Ethiopian food, but it looks really good!!
Fave cuisine: Tie between Thai and Mexican. Can’t go wrong with either in my book.
Looks like a great trip! All of the food looks really good. Love the huge unicorn balloon!
My favorite type of food is Mexican most definitely! :) I really would like to try other types of cuisines. I’m dying to try Indian food.
Oh my goodness….fun and good-food overload! I want to be scooping up that injera with food into my face.
looked like a wonderful weekend!! Eden is a lucky girl to have great friends like you and Deb!! wish we could of joined to help celebrate
xoxo
Pretty awesome recap, Janeetha! Love seeing you with all of these fabulous ladies.
Looking at your latest pictures, I noticed you’ve gained a lot of weight. I’m afrais you’re eating way more than you say in your blog. Just wondering
Do you read regularly? Because I actually dont post my daily meals or what I eat on a day-to-day basis. It’s rare that I ever post a full day of eating. That’s not my blogging style. With that said, I don’t weigh myself… But hey, all my clothes fit and I’m healthy and happy. I’ve put on a lot of muscle the past 6 weeks with my training program. I wouldn’t be surprised if I weigh more than I did 6 weeks ago. Thanks for chiming in that you think I look bad.
I was gonna sa how great she looks! She never posts every single morsel. Thank goodness for that cause how boring would that be?! And whats wrong with a little weight gain anyhow? Muscle weighs more than fat!
You should have seen the jeans shorts and boots number she rocked on Sunday- hot hot hot. Great gams to the moon and back. Not sure we have a photo of it, but the girl is gorgeous- inside and out.
Wow, I can’t believe this comment! Are you for real??
And here I was thinking ”jeez, does Janetha ALWAYS order egg white omelettes for breakfast?!” …
wow.. seriously?!
i was gonna say you look great too, janetha! i seriously owe it to you and your blog getting me on the right track of eating healthy and exercising!
anddd my fav cuisine is thai! yum!
anddddd you, eden, and deb look like you had a great weekend! glad you enjoyed yourself!
Oh NO YOU DIDN’T, “Maura”! Step off!
I LOVE how they designed that 26 restaurant. With all of the bird cages on the wall? Uh, divine!
EFF MAURA! I’ve been following you for a LONG time, and I think you’re lookin’ right flyyyy, little lady! Enjoy your EATS!
It took me five solid minutes to explain this to my husband: What “eff” means and what “Flyyyy” means. Just thought I would share :-)
PS My husband is still confused because apparently he ‘googled’ flyyyyy with four “y”s and nothing came up. . Send help. He’s reading “fly is zipper or awesome” . hahah
quinoa salads are my go-to potluck dish.
anddddd i don’t think i have a fave cuisine!
MEXICAN is my favorite!!! That being said, I think I’d bring a seven layer dip. Yea, I know I would :)
Looks like a super fun weekend and love the picture of your eats!!
SO jealous of your playdate. can’t you come to ny and bring deb and eden and play with meeeeeee!
It’s just a matter of time before I “need” to accompany Derek on a business trip to New Yawk. Watchout- I’ll be hounding you.
I never have ever commented on a blog, although I read them all the time (it makes me awk for some reason). I just wanted to let you know I made your sweet potato shepherd’s pie last night and it was honestly one of the best dinners I have ever made–and I cook all the time. How that recipe has not hit the healthy living/cooking blog world by storm is beyond me. Thanks for the great recipe.
Thanks for commenting and for the kind words about the recipe! We LOVE it at our house–actually just had it last week!
Oh, gosh! That looks like such fun. And such great people and such great food. :D
To a potluck, I’d probably take some form of dessert. Most likely blondies. It gives me a good excuse to bake. ;)
Fun! One of the best things about having an English husband- the English bacon! His dad smuggled 5lbs of it on his checked bags a couple of weeks ago when he came over for the wedding. We get English bacon for weeks now on Sunday date breakfast!
Those omelettes, omlets, omelets, eggs with stuff in them look amazing! I wish I was there with you.
xoxo
OMG my husband (Derek, who’s british- the one sitting on the table above) smuggled some back about 15 yrs ago and got BUSTED by one of those adorable beagles at the airport. Now he just goes to Fresh & Easy and buys it- perhaps you have one near you??
No Fresh & Easy in SLC :( But we do have a British Market. Jess have you guys checked there? I am coming over to eat your bacon.
Haha oh no! It just goes to show how important English Bacon is!! I might have to call you to ship it over haha ;)
Janether, why haven’t I heard of this British market? Is it a place or an event that happens? SHOW ME and my husband. To be honest, most things English I don’t like. But the bacon is the jimmy-jam! I love it.
And chocolate digestives. And vienetta. And elderflower water. And caramel shortbread. Haha. But that is about it.
You can come over this Sunday! We will make breakfast for you xoxo
How fun! And you ate SO well. Yum. And I’m excited for you that you got to meet other bloggers – especially Sophia. I <3 her.
Sounds like SUCH a fun weekend, Janetha. Love that you and Deb and Eden are such good friends :D :D I’d love to try Ethiopian food some day too!
Paige, just so you know deb and I talk about how gorgeous you are!
-Eden
Thanks Eden. I’m flattered! You’re a couple of hotties yourself ;)
Also, it better not be at a blogger meet up, US Weekly style ;) ;) haha
Looks like a fabulous weekend filled with great food, friends and fun!! Glad you had a nice time :)
I love Mexican food…I can eat it any day!
Hmm potlock meals…I’d probably bring a buffalo chicken dip…it’s always a crowd pleaser :)
holy deliciousness overload!!! amazing trip and I love that you were able to experience different types of food including ethipoian which I have never tried before!!
i LOVE greek or middleeastern food! oh I could eat it everyday!
Hubby and I went to LA in August and holy moly the food was good!! It did remind me a lot of Austin with all the unique/hole in the wall places. And girl…you have me DYING of laughter with that picture of the unicorn balloon!!!!!!!!
I had a blast riding it! Janetha always manages to capture the pee-in-your-pants worthy photos.
Swooning over that burger…
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