Hollywood sign, Los Angeles
It has been a while since we wanted to go to LA and finally decided to go for the Holidays, taking advantage of a warmer weather. The first day there, we booked a tour, like we often do, allowing us to see parts of the city we might not have seen on our own. I admit that we were also looking to see if there were celebrities around, and ended up seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger on his bike in Venice, the first area we visited. We walked around the beach, with the skate park, graffiti walls and market.
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
Venice Beach in Los Angeles
We then walk few minutes on Rodeo Drive, followed by a quick drive by Beverly Hills before stopping at the Original LA Farmers Market that is a giant food court a bit overwhelming for me as I would eat in each and every stall...
Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles
Bentley on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles
Beverly Hills sign in Los Angeles
We walked a little bit, not knowing what to get and finally settled for Nonna’s Empanadas, as they had few vegetarian choices for Jodi. Here is what we had:
Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
The mushroom empanada made with portobello mushroom, mozzarella, feta and onions. This was full of cheese but without overpowering the mushrooms. This is the perfect dish for mushroom lovers.
Mushroom empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
The Mac and cheese empanada, that was good but could have been creamier.
Mac and cheese empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
Mac and cheese empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
The beef empanada that was delicious. Made with beef, olives, red pepper, egg and onion, it was quite juicy and flavorful. I did not even need the Chimichurri sauce they gave.
Beef empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
Last was the Nutella empanada that was also made with Oreo cookies. I admit that I was expecting better. It was a bit dry on the outside and only started to be interesting in the center, where you could really taste the Nutella. I would pass next time...
Nutella empanada at Nonna’s empanadas at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
Next stop in the market was Fritzi Coop, a place that is for chicken lovers, serving fried or rotisserie chicken. I went for the stinger, their classic fried chicken sandwich, smothered with a buffalo sauce, and sitting on blue cheese dressed greens. This was superb: the chicken (dark meat) was moist and crispy, and the buffalo sauce delightfully spicy (they have a hot version of this sandwich and I cannot imagine how spicy it must be). The sandwich was really good but a bit messy to eat, falling apart at some point.
Fritzi Coop at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
The stinger from Fritzi Coop at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
The last stop was donuts at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts.
Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
Jodi went for the coconut one, a cake donut that we did not like, being dry and tasteless. However, mine, the Long John, that is...long with chocolate icing on top and a vanilla custard inside was very good: light (right), the vanilla custard was very well made and the doughnut itself soft. I definitely recommend it.
Coconut donut at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
The Long John donut at Bob’s Coffee and Doughnuts at the Old Farmers Market in Los Angeles
We left the market full and drove to Griffith Park with its observatory that we saw in many movies getting an exclusive view of the Hollywood Sign.
Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles
Hollywood sign in Los Angeles
The last stop was Hollywood Boulevard and its stars. Mine is not there yet, but who knows...Although it was very crowded, it was great to see stars from known artists. Same goes for the Chinese Theater and its hand and shoe prints in cement.
Jack Nicholson’s star on Holliwood Boulevard
Chinese Theater - Steve Mac Queen hands and shoes print in cement
That was a great day, but not the end as dinner was coming and we had a good plan...Stay tuned!
Enjoy (I did)!
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The original Farmers Market - 6333 W.3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90036
