AJ, Author at AJ Feuerman

New to Toluca Lake: The Continental

March 6, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

You would not know coming into the warm, elegant setting at The Continental in Toluca Lake that when the building opened in 1958, it was, in fact, an IHOP.

It has been many things since, but yes, it started as the International House of Pancakes. (And let’s all be thankful because I have a long, storied relationship with IHOP myself and if I never enter one again it will be too soon. But I digress. Stories for another time and after certain family members are dead.)

Onto the cocktails, though. OMIGOD. My favorite was the Christopher Oaxacan, a cocktail that is both fun to say (even though I can’t actually say it) and even more fun to drink. In addition to pineapple juice, lime juice and agave nectar, it has mezcal in it; which I recently learned the hard way is not Tequila.

Beer and wine have a presence on the menu but my money’s remains on all of the amazing cocktails. When someone puts that much effort into a craft cocktail offering, you almost have to honor their art. They even got me to try a Bourbon cocktail – something I never do. Bourbon sets my nose-hairs on fire. (You’re welcome for that imagery.)

May I recommend the patio for enjoying some cocktails? It was my favorite part of the renovated interior.

The new menu includes decadent, complex flavors in choices such as Thai Seafood Bouillabaisse, a stew of fresh shrimp, scallops, calamari and vegetables, cooked in a creamy coconut, lemongrass and kaffir lime broth. I had a tiny bite — it was not nearly enough. However my favorite amuse-bouche was the slider version of their Continental Burger, served with prime Angus beef, crispy pancetta, tempura-fried dill pickles and white cheddar cheese. I’m a giant sucker for white cheddar.

As a whole the menu is quite diverse and even changes things up for lunch. Some of the dishes manage to be both French and Thai inspired. They even manage Jewish-Vietnamese somehow as they feature their slow-roasted brisket in a Vietnamese Style Banh Mi. You’ll find salmon, chicken, vegetarian options, salads, sandwiches. I’ve said it before — the worst part about writing these posts is that they make me hungry and that’s never been more true than now.

You know, I could eat Brussels Sprouts every day. True story.

When the awesome staffers were not hugging me hello or introducing themselves, I stepped aside to admire the centerpiece of Continental’s décor, a new, five-panel/35-foot wide mural depicting Toluca Lake that wraps around the walls throughout the front rooms.

It’s a nice tribute to the history of the establishment and if you look closely at it, you will spot a tiny flag with a Mo’s logo — Mo’s was the most recent and rather cherished tenant of the space. The owner remains the same, though — so I am able to make peace with the transition.

Also because it is delicious. 😉

More:

Official website
All of the socials – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Street parking available,, which I would recommend first. The valet lot in the back is tiny.

P.S. (Congrats to them on landing on Eater LA’s “Hottest New Restaurants” list.)

WHAT’S IN MY POCKET FRIDAY

March 6, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

I save things in my pocket all week long and look forward to sharing the highlights and best of the web with you every Friday!

Pocket enables users to save something they find online for later. I find it especially handy as a Google Chrome extension — I only have to click a button to immediately save something to my pocket. Once something is saved, the content is visible on any device — phone, tablet, computer, and even offline.

I really liked this post from Inc., “What I’ve Learned From 20 Jobs in 20 Years”
Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say: This cover of Patrick Swayze’s “She’s Like the Wind” is pretty rad….
Click here for the complete guide to social media keyboard shortcuts – very handy!
Ellen rewarded the family responsible for “The Dress” with $10,000. I’m not sure they should have been rewarded, per se….
Disney recreated Frozen with emojis and I must say, it’s ADORABLE!
It’s time to stoppit with the Mason Jars. Seriously.
This is an old post from blog “Barking Mad, Magnificently Flawed” that a friend of mine just shared. It is sad and haunting and beautifully written.
Here are 45 people who only had ONE JOB but failed at it brilliantly
My friend Anne Hogan found some pretty amazing vintage recipe books. I look forward to trying her raccoon frittata soon.
All I do now is “Cute or Not.” I can’t stop.

House of Cards. Season Three. Who’s watching???
I started watching The Big Bang Theory when I moved into my new apartment, a few months ago, and am finally current. I was especially glad so I could watch tonight’s new episode and catch this sweet tribute card at the end:

What’s In My Pocket Friday

March 1, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

I save things in my pocket all week long and look forward to sharing the highlights and best of the web with you every Friday!

There was a Llama chase in Arizona on Thursday. A LLAMA CHASE. This is real life, you guys.
Someone very clever took the Harry Potter franchise and reworked it as an angtsy rom-com teen movie.

32 Kids Who Are Notoriously Picky Eaters
Ed Sheeran covered Christina Aguilera’s “Dirty” and it’s terrific. As all things he does are. I love the BBC Radio 1 cover sessions.
Also, this happened when Ice-T was on Jimmy Fallon. It made me giggle.

Are you into Pinterest? Here are some surprising Pinterest marketing facts.
I love finding something on another blog that evokes emotion — this post on “Britney. Herself.” is wonderful.
It is The Sound of Music’s 50th anniversary!
Someone mashed up the Seinfeld theme with a Limp Bizkit song and it’s oddly enjoyable.

That dress? It’s black and blue. Also? It’s ugly. So who cares?

EARLIER THIS WEEK:

A Love Affair: Tipple & Brine in Sherman Oaks

February 25, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

Does everyone know what “Brine” is? I had to look it up but I also asked a couple people and apparently y’all are smarter than I am. In any case, for the people on Team AJ, Brine is salt. Delicious, delicious salt.

Tipple is also super delicious. Because….

So we’re basically talking about a restaurant themed with LIQUOR and SALT. I like both of these things so I felt fairly confident going in that I’d enjoy Tipple & Brine, located in Sherman Oaks on a strip of Ventura Blvd. that has essentially become a hotbed of amazing, new restaurants.

Photo co. of Acuna-Hansen

Tipple & Brine manages to be rustic, trendy, casual and elegant all at the same time. Bonus points for friendly, knowledgeable staff. I was impressed that they don’t rely on their assigned stations as a crutch. If a server is walking by and sees you need more water, they get it. If another server sees you’re making the “come help me” face (you know that face!) they come right over. It really creates a nice vibe in the restaurant and I felt really welcome and comfortable.

The menu focuses on fresh, sustainable seafood – including an oyster bar – and hand crafted, classic cocktails. We began our evening with cocktails (we were just trying to honor the name of the restaurant, you guys). I had the “Strawberry Fields” which is Beefeater Gin, St. Germaine, Strawberry Purée, Lemon, Basil and Soda. It was sweet and refreshing and I’m glad I got over the hesitation I had about basil being in my cocktail. My partner in crime for the evening ordered the “Honey Badger” which is Dickel Rye Whisky, Honey, Lemon, Orange Bitters, Cucumber and Jalapeño. It had a nice tangy kick to it and some fire on the back end.

While the cocktail offering is pretty stellar, the food is out of this world…

Photos co. of Acuna-Hansen

They feature a few entrées on the menu but the real spotlight belongs to their “smalls and shares” and we decided to start with salmon tartare. It was creamy and flavorful with a great texture thank in part to the brioche they sprinkle over it. Also, make sure you include on of their toasts in your starters. We went with the bacon toast because, well, BACON. Also? Burrata. You can’t really go wrong with that, right? And they certainly don’t. It was mouth-watering-good. My only complaint is that it’s a small portion and I had to share it!

I’m super into Brussels sprouts so I had to order a side of those. The sweet chili vinegar and miso aioli drizzled over them are a perfect combination when you take a bite. We moved onto Mussels and fries next, which was completely delicious and ends up with a nice treat at the end — you get to drench the fries in the ale and creme fraiche.

There are only two desserts so – what the hell – we just got both. The carrot cake seems pretty standard with cream cheese icing and pecans until you realize there’s Bourbon Caramel Sauce on it. I mean, I could eat that with a spoon. But speaking of spoons, my favorite of the two desserts was actually a chocolate cremeux with homemade whipped cream and chocolate covered pretzels. It’s served in a little jar and is quite a treat, I assure you.

The entire experience was really a treat, in fact. Thank you so much, Tipple & Brine, for having me and my guest. I cannot wait to return.

More:

Official website
T&B is located at 14633 Ventura Blvd. They have a valet parking station in a driveway just west of the restaurant. On a weeknight, you’ll probably be able to find street parking.
You will find all their socials on the website but I especially enjoy their Instagram.
Very cool – they also have a “speakeasy” upstairs, Tunnel Bar. You enter through a discreet door in the back. (Thursday – Saturday, 7 PM – 2 AM only)

The Search For New On-Ear Headphones

February 23, 2015 By AJ 1 Comment

It’s time for new headphones. Again.

I’ve blown through two pairs of Beats Solo on-ear headphones in a relatively short period of time so I knew I wasn’t approaching that brand anymore. I do enjoy that they come in array of colors and I will concede that they provide great sound, especially bass, fair noise-reduction and they’re pretty comfortable, but one of the things that makes them great makes them a problem — they fold up for travel really well but I think the physical flexibility also makes them ephemeral. Or maybe I just beat the crap out of my Beats. And in any case, as I said, my love affair with them has come to an end.

When I’m going to spend a chunk of change on anything, especially an electronic device, I get rather absorbed in research. No joke – we’re talking days and weeks of obsessing. My go-to sites for researching headphones are Engadget and Sound Guys, and especially the latter because they also post a ton of video reviews of products which makes me feel more at ease (typically I hate vlogging but I like these guys). Cnet can be handy for research as well but I often get overwhelmed by their overly-cluttered interface. I also rely a lot on a few friends who always have great recommendations in this area.

I concluded I could get out of this for less than $200 and ultimately found myself considering three pairs of headphones.

Requirements

It took me a little while to learn I actually prefer on-ear to over-the-ear (sometimes called “around the ear”). I don’t like bulky headphones and I always get warm when my ears are fully cupped over. Noise cancellation is nice but not practical at the office so I just aim for “noise isolation.” I obviously want to get quality sound. Some headphones promise an amped up bass sound — that actually doesn’t matter that much to me but I guess it’s a nice perk. In this price range, with the top brands, you can rest assured you’re going to get great sound across the board so then it becomes about other preferences like style, comfort and customization (if that’s your thing). I am now on the hunt for durability since I seem to put headphones through torture. I like when they fold up and come with a sturdy case. I don’t care if they’re cordless. In fact, I prefer a cord because I hope they’ll have a mic and then I can use them for phone calls.

Fun fact about me – when it comes to earbuds, nine times out of 10 you’ll find me wearing the left earbud in my right ear and the right earbud in my left. I don’t know why but it’s always more comfortable for me.

Sennheiser Urbanite On-Ear Headphones

For about $199 you’re getting a solid pair of headphones from one of the most respected, oldest brands in audio. I was drawn to these because they get a pretty decent review across the board and they come in a unique shape in a wide array of colors (I like the plum best). I came really close to buying these but in the end, I came back around to te durability issue. The carrying case that comes with the Urbanites is just a fabric pouch. In addition, I was concerned that the headband part was made, in part, with fabric, as opposed to leather or even plastic. I felt like I’d beat the shit out of these pretty quickly. I also read a couple review citing they’re not too comfortable to wear for long periods and knowing full well I’ll wear these all day, every day at work, I couldn’t risk finding that out on my own.

Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones

The least expensive of the bunch at about $150. And who hasn’t heard of Bose when it comes to anything audio? Best Buy only puts a few headphone brands out to try in their stores; Beats, Skull Candy and Bose with maybe a few variances depending on location. So I could walk into the store and try them on. The around-ear model is more substantial than the on-ear which are really light-weight and seemed really flimsy to me. In some video reviews they twist and bend them to prove they don’t break but I’m just too skeptical. And in the end, once I put them on, I actually didn’t love the audio quality. I know it’s Bose, but maybe they sacrificed a little with these to make them more affordable than their usual headphones. And in addition – and I know this sounds weird – I feel like they look like airplane headphones.

V-MODA XS On-Ear Headphones

A friend told me about V-Moda, which is a really popular brand with DJs but not as well-known to the common consumer. They use words like “military grade” and “Kevlar” whenever they describe the construction of the headphones and sell every pair with not only a two-year warranty, but a buy-back program for when you want a new pair. They also have some cool customization options like colored, steel plates you can change out on the sides and even engrave. And despite all those heavy-sounding ingredients, they are supposed to be rather light-weight and are pretty unanimously reviewed as comfortable for hours and hours of wearing. Also unique to these – the output port for the cable exists on both sides, so you can move the cable from your right ear to your left ear. That’s kind of handy if you don’t always keep your phone in the same pocket. I like their “Mind the Gap” slogan which is in reference to the bit of sound you always sacrifice to the gap between the actual earpiece and your ear. These are supposed to kick-ass sound-wise and while I never considered it at all before, I thought it was cool they’re based here in Los Angeles.

Are you guessing which pair I’m choosing? I saved the best for last. At about $180, I think I am going with the V-MODA XS On-Ear Headphones. I’ll let you know how it turns out soon!

TeaPop LA Comes to NoHo

February 22, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

TeaPop LA has joined the ever-evolving NoHo Arts District in an attempt to redefine what we all think of as traditional tea time. It’s a welcome addition to the neighborhood, which is rife with small theaters, bars, restaurants, second-hand stores and other kitschy businesses but still has room for plenty more.

While most of the NoHo commerce seems to be swarming around Lankershim and Magnolia Boulevard, TeaPop went into a storefront on Vineland, which borders a colossal residential neighborhood part of North Hollywood. I don’t think it will feel too lonely there for long. There’s a lot of real estate along that road. For now, it’s sort of isolated on a corner but just to ensure you don’t miss it, the front is all giant windows and the exterior side-wall is covered in bright, brilliant graffiti art.

Inside, it’s pretty bare-bones. The space doubles as an art gallery and is available to rent as a venue for a multitude of purposes, so it’s really just whatever they’re featuring at the time on the walls and some really basic benches, chairs and tables sort of randomly strewn about. But that’s all secondary to a really spacious and rather unique back patio that should prove pretty popular on nice days.

The cafe serves fresh-brewed imported and organic tea in a very simple presentation. Nothing is expensive.

Of course, the best part is that, thankfully, it’s walking distance to where I live and the tea is delicious. I’ll walk over there for an iced almonilla milk tea anytime. The first time I went, the nice girl working the counter recommended it to me and it was a shrewd business move. She earned them a loyal customer at first sip!

P.S. (No Almonilla? Ok, fine… I’ll “settle” for the salted caramel black tea….)

Bloggers Guide to Event Coverage

February 19, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

As both a blogger and publicist, I find myself feeling conflicted at media events because I empathize with both sides of the coin. I understand the pressure the event planners are under to execute everything successfully and I understand the fervor a blogger might feel, being at such an event with VIP like access to information, a product or person. So I decided I needed to put event coverage tips and tricks into a post for bloggers.

Whatever passion and excitement you may feel does not mean common sense goes out the window. And because I’m in the position I am, I pick up on a lot of shady behavior and sometimes find the biggest conflict I feel is whether or not to slap someone on the forehead, wag a finger at them and shout “STOPPIT.”

The Invite

A publicist or other brand rep invites you to an event. Please, I beg you, read the whole thing thoroughly. Let’s say, for example, they ask you for your name and e-mail address but having only skimmed it, you merely put your e-mail address. Or let’s say you’re just so excited to have gotten the invite that you immediately hit reply and ask “what information do you need?!”

Publicists are people too (well, some more than others). They are as judgemental as the next person (again, some more than others). When you do little things like that, they’re rolling their eye. Just keep that in mind. Don’t be the eye-roller blogger! They’re professionals so be professional back.

Something else to consider about these reps. They work on more than one project at a time and often invite bloggers to events without being able to really, truly vet them for appropriateness. I’m not saying that’s okay, I’m just saying it happens. And a lot of the time, it’s justified with the thought that hopefully a blogger will know what is appropriate for their site. Should a fashion blogger be attending a foodie event? Should a mom bloggers be at a cocktail hour for single ladies? Yes, there are always going to be exceptions, but my point is: DO NOT JUST GO TO EVERYTHING. Seriously. It doesn’t make you look “cool” and it’s not earning you bonus points. And frankly, it’s not making you look too great in the eyes of your fellow bloggers. Find your voice, find your identity, and find blog content to match. Give it serious thought. And don’t make yourself crazy if you can’t get to something — there will be many more opportunities.

The RSVP

Often times bloggers are invited with a +1, often times you just have to ask and permission is granted to bring a pal. Sometimes, you’re invited solo and please know this is not necessarily the publicist’s wish or fault. Sometimes, the rep is held to the whim of a client or the frustration of a tiny budget.

Again, read the invitation thoroughly. Be mindful of RSVP deadlines. And while you may want to share the invite, best to ask the rep if it’s okay to do so, first. They may have had to get their invite list approved and again, they may be confined by budget restraints — just come from a place of wanting to help their brand and ask first.

And please, if you RSVP you are going to attend, then ATTEND. Think that seems like common sense? You’d be surprised… No-shows and last-minute cancellations never go unnoticed. Do not be surprised when people stop inviting you to things or doing you favors. Imagine how you’d feel if you’d planned a party and no one came. You’d cry. I know I would cry. That’s basically my worst nightmare. (Also? Clowns. I effing hate clowns.)

At the Event

Arrive on time. If you know in advance you’re going to be late (or may leave early), let the rep know in case that won’t work for their event’s strategy or schedule. What if they are trying to stick to a precise headcount and three people leave halfway through?

Do not show up with people you did not clear with the reps in advance. Just don’t. Friends, significant others or kids. If they were not part of your RSVP and confirmation, do not do it.

Take pictures and take notes. Because you may not write your post right away and you’ll want to be able to talk about who you met and caption photos correctly.

Bring business cards. Not only for the brand reps but for your fellow bloggers! Every opportunity to cover an event is also a terrific networking opportunity. These are your colleagues, not your competitors. There are enough events, products and brands to go around. After the event, you may not remember something and need to ask a question… Befriend your fellow bloggers and hopefully they will return in kind.

After the Event

When you get home, grab your iPhone and shoot off an email. Say thank you. A little thank you goes a long way.

Post about it. For the love of all that is holy, post about this event. Perhaps no one asked you to. But unless they specifically said (and this goes back to reading everything thoroughly) PLEASE COME AND DO NOT POST ABOUT IT, you should just give it a write-up. To kiss up if anything. Show your gratitude. And try to get the post up in a reasonable amount of time. Unless something else has been discussed, I’d try to have that post up within a week of the event.

DO NOT KEEP YOUR GIVEAWAY ITEMS! This has become one of my biggest pet peeves — I find it so unethical. Did you attend an event where they gave you something to, in turn, give away on your blog? Then give it away! Don’t keep it! And what’s more, don’t be tacky and enter to win the same item on someone else’s blog. That’s not what a brand rep wants. They’re trying to spread the word about something to the public. In this circumstance, consider that you are NOT part of the public.

Think about reporting. Consider the brand rep is undoubtedly putting together a report of some kind to prove the value of the event you just attended to their supervisors and clients. If for no other reason than to be able to have more of them. So it only benefits you to post quickly, post pics, show gratitude and send your links to the rep for inclusion. Here’s a good tip – impress them by sending not just the blog URL, but the links to the corresponding tweet, Facebook post, pin, instagram pic — anything. They are screengrabbing this stuff, I promise. They appreciate it. And if anything you posted got a lot of traffic, RTs or shares, point it out! They should know so they can brag about it. And then you can rest assured more invitations will come your way! Everybody wins!

National Holistic Institute – A Great Massage No Longer a Secret

February 18, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

I’m spilling the beans on a secret kept far too long. Or perhaps I am just the last to know.

The National Holistic Institute (NHI) on Studio City is a massage therapy college. It is not Burke Williams or even a spa at all. But it is a pleasant, clean space where you can get a bangin’ massage for a bargain price. While a rather posh, “five star” spa might require more than $100 for a 50 minute session, you will find at NHI you can enjoy a 50 minute session for a mere $25 and a fabulous 100 minute session for $50.

They don’t even accept tips, relieving you of that additional pressure at the conclusion of your session.

Let me be clear so no one is surprised! The only way I can think to describe the setting is that it’s like a hospital corridor. But I don’t mean that negatively. It’s just that it’s similar as in there are several massage tables in a large room, separated by curtains. Mind you, the curtains close all the way and physically, you have a very private space. It’s just that you are not in a private room with a closing door. You won’t find a spa lobby or locker room or sauna. Instead you will drape your clothes over a chair. (Yes, it’s a co-ed space but I promise, curtains drawn, no one can see you.)

You will be able to hear the other customers around you. More so if you wind up next to a “talker” but once you’re blissed out by the treatment, you’ll pay no mind to it. There’s some gentle music playing and it’s pretty soothing but you won’t even hear that eventually.

The massage I received was AMAZING. The massage therapists are in training, of course, but that never showed. My experience was wonderful and at the end, I had to make sure I got her name so I could keep track of where she ended up at the conclusion of her training.

In any case, what it boils down to is, you’re still getting top notch, five-star quality of service for an unbeatable value. If you find yourself feeling tense and dreaming of a nice, long massage but are always feeling hindered by the potential expense, this is a clear solution for you. And even if you can afford a Beverly Hills five-star spa, why spend the money there when it equates to five visits to NHI?

They have seven locations. Please check their website for additional information and to book an appointment.

Worth the Drive – Brunch at Michael’s Pizzeria in Long Beach

February 17, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

Brunch at Michael’s Pizzeria? Well… When someone mentions the word “brunch” my mind typically drifts to thoughts of bottomless mimosas, a blood mary bar, eggs benedict or hash browns. I wouldn’t necessarily gravitate toward pizza or lasagna and I certainly wouldn’t normally consider a drive from my home in The Valley down to Long Beach.

And yet one wonderful morning spent at Michael’s Pizzeria has changed everything.

EVERYTHING at Michael’s is made fresh, on site. Even the Mozzarella. They serve Napoli-style pizza. Wood-fired. In fact, everything is prepared in their wood-fire oven (I didn’t even get to the wood-fired frittatas!) and it shows in the remarkable flavors.

I ate some more “traditional” breakfast foods.

Cast-iron cinnamon rolls with a rosemary maple drizzle. Think is sounds weird because of the rosemary? So did I. Don’t worry, you’ll be licking your fingers. They do have kind of an…. earthy taste to them but they’re unique and delicious. By contrast, the french brioche toast is sweet as sweet can be and in addition to strawberry and nutella on top (well not on mine — I am allergic to nutella), it has the BEST whipped cream I have really EVER tasted. Which, yes, they make on site. I dream about it at night.

It wasn’t until after my meal, when I was chatting with my dad over the phone about how the restaurant was, and I dropped the name of the chain, that my dad excitedly told me Michael’s Pizzeria had been named the top pizzeria in the country by Zagat. (Yes, my dad knew that off the top of his head — he’s a knowledgeable foodie!) I guess that didn’t really surprise me. They served me two pizzas to try and they both BLEW MY MIND.

The first, a basic Margherita. But there was nothing basic about this pizza. The second, the Carbonara with provolone, house-made mozzarella, pancetta, asparagus, and two eggs.

I mean…. LOOK AT THE CRUST. Can we just take a moment for this?

It should be noted that a day, two days and three days later, a little reheated, that pizza was still G.D. AMAZING.

I had a really unique lasagna as well. I am normally not a lasagna person but I found this to be perfect for my taste because it wasn’t swimming in sauce, it wasn’t overrun with one ingredient above another, and the pasta layers were sort of crispy on the edges. During lunch it comes with a side salad with a wonderful, light dressing. I also enjoyed two scoops of housemade sorbet – strawberry basil (surprisingly good!) and salted caramel. The perfect way to end this egregious feast.

Please note, you guys, the Manager was not only a nice guy but her was above-and-beyond generous. He and his lovely staff brought me a lot of food. You’ve probably noticed that while reading this post. So I just want to clarify that NO, I did not eat ALL OF IT. I took bites and pieces and brought the rest home. And like I said about the pizza – days later, warmed up, it was still just as delicious.

More:

Michael’s Pizzeria website
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Pro tip – The Long Beach location I went to is on a Promenade so don’t solely rely on Google Maps to find it. You’ll get lost on all the one-way streets in Long Beach pretty easily. Keep an eye out for signs like this and park close to them:

P.S. If the weather’s nice, sit outside. Especially at brunch time when they have live music. I particularly enjoyed watching all of the people walking their dogs. 🙂

The Venice Whaler – A Fabulous Beach Side Brunch

February 15, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

After re-launching this summer with a new owner, chef, bar manager and new menus, the historic Venice Whaler did us all a tremendous favor by adding a weekend brunch menu to their arsenal.

It’s a smart move for them. There are tons of places lining Pacific Coast Highway where one can enjoy a beach-view brunch but down in Santa Monica and Venice, it is actually more challenging to find a spot with views like those you get when you’re enjoying a Crab Shell Bloody Mary. Brunch is all about indulgence and decadence so ideally, we should all be staring out at a perfect blue ocean during it, right?

Oh yes, that Bloody Mary is THE BOMB. Of all the things I am allergic to, thank goodness I am not allergic to shellfish. I loved it. I’m not gonna lie – I had two (thankfully, Alyssa drove). I may or may not have also tried the sparkling sorbet cocktail and the watermelon mojito (hint: I totally did but don’t worry, just sips)!

That sparkling sorbet cocktail…. OMG. Alyssa really liked the watermelon mojito. I am not a watermelon fan but even I had to admit it was refreshing.

But enough of that because I haven’t even mentioned the food yet, which is a crime against humanity at this level. The menu is wonderfully varied and every bite we had was delicious. It was hard to decide what to get, mind you. The breakfast burrito was tempting. And we could have had Whaler Burger (with a fried egg!) or the fish tacos (seemed like a god beachy choice) but in the end, we ended up with these three plates on the table. (And a side of bacon. Because bacon. DUH.)

Eggs benedict is my favorite brunch dish all all time in the history of the world and I appreciate a good spin on the old classic. Here, it’s served on slices of Brioche and in lieu of Canadian Bacon, you’ll get sausage patties. It’s really yummy. It’s a fantastic savory twist. Also wonderfully savory? The chicken and waffles. And may I just recommend the side of bacon for this dish alone, because it’s a wonderful compliment to the syrup and fried chicken.

The favorite for me, though (while we liked them all, Alyssa, I believe, picked the Benedict as her #1), was the CHALLAH FRENCH TOAST. I could eat that every day. EVERY. DAY. But I won’t. Because that would be unhealthy. Like, more unhealthy than I already am. And even I have my limits.

So any flaws? Not really. I will say if you’re looking for a traditional, indulgent brunch setting, you might be a little caught off guard here. It’s not a space with traditional tables and chairs. It’s very communal, more like a bar, and you’re sitting on stools (which, to their absolute credit, are nice, big ones and even I was super comfy on them with my big booty). But there’s also live music – a DJ – and some TVs, and the staff is super friendly and attentive, so it almost ends up feeling like a brunch party, which I enjoyed! It made for a really nice change!

AND!!! Fun fact – the new chef? None other than Nick Liberato from one of my favorite guilty pleasure shows, “Bar Rescue” (see him in action)! I was so excited! Thankfully, the Venice Whaler will never need rescuing. They’re in terrific shape.

More:

Best bet for parking: The beach parking lot the street dead-ends into. The steep $9 is worth the convenience.
The Venice Whaler’s official website
All of the socials! Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

P.S. Since you are paying $9 for parking, why not make the most of it and spend some additional time on the beach? Go for a walk on the pier. It’s right there!