Landing in LA is always a slightly surreal experience. For us it is made even stranger by the fact that we are exhausted and on the tail end of our Canadian adventure and we have an afternoon to check out L.A. before we head home. We hop into a taxi to the Venice area to Abbot Kinney Boulevard. I’ve got to do some last minute gift shopping and we’re a little bit early for our reservation so I thought I would see how much shopping I could do in an area with tempting shops a-plenty. On this stretch of road that we’re wandering down there are a proliferation of home ware stores and young designer fashion boutiques. They’ve certainly got a way with merchandising here with eye-catching window displays designed to lure one in and hand over the credit card. Well this is my story and I’m sticking to it 
Plantation
Remy the adorable French Bulldog. I want to keep him.
Venice has the chilled beachy aspect of Bondi meets fashionable Paddington. I go slightly crazy at Plantation where I buy three hourglasses and a Voluspa candle in what other flavour but “macaron” (a steal at $35!). Plus they have the cutest ever little French bulldog Remy who has the most charismatically soulful face. We hear from the helpful owner Ashley that he is about to grace the cover of a dog magazine!
Absolute essentials dahlinks!
And it was a given that I’d buy a macaron scented candle no?
We also visit Bountiful, a gorgeous shop overflowing with some absolutely arresting displays of cake plates, jewellery, candlesticks and matches among many other things. Matchboxes you say? Yes, matchboxes in every colour and design imaginable!
This is just a few of the matches…
And even more matchboxes!
Wheee pink!
Before I know it I’ve spent my time shopping, darting in and out of shops collecting boutique shopping bags and Mr NQN is getting fidgety at the amount of money I’ve spent in this short time so we make our way to Gjelina where we meet Robin. Gjelina is all about fresh and simple dishes and great pizzas with a very pretty but not intimidating crowd. Inside it’s all wooden tables with bowls of rubied red tomatoes and lush overflowing silver bowls as well as a lovely courtyard out the back. The menu tell us that “changes and modifications politely declined” and “we support local, sustainable & organic practices wherever possible.”
Courtyard
Watermelon and ginger Italian soda $4
The watermelon and ginger fizzy soda is refreshing (hey shopping is thirsty work!) with just the right amount of sweetness.
Kumamoto (Washington) oysters $16
We start with some Kumamoto oysters. I love trying oysters from the different regions that we visit as they vary so widely. Having said that, these are very close to the Sydney Rock Oyster! We take our waiter’s recommendations for other dishes and service is very friendly.
Salt and pepper frites with romesco and aioli $8
The serving of salt and pepper frites is enormous (those legendary American servings here). They’re fried very crisp and dry so that they aren’t greasy. It’s almost as if they’re coated in a super fine cornmeal or something similar that gives it an extra crunch.
Sweet corn with creme fraiche, smoked paprika and chive $8
I have a serious love for sweet corn and Mr NQN does not so I thought that I would get his share. Sadly not-he loved it as this corn is creamy and slightly smokey and spicy from the paprika with a delicate sprinkling of chives with the corn having a natural sweetness.
Wood roasted cauliflower with garlic, chili, parsley and vinegar $8
The florets of cauliflower and broccoli are roasted on wood with garlic, chilli, parsley and vinegar. The predominant flavour is garlic which is slightly blackened and almost bitter but stops just before it becomes too bitter and the florets have a slight crunch.
Pomodoro Pizza $12
The pizzas here have a great thin crust and a very light topping with a fat puffy crust (and I still can’t believe the prices given that this isn’t exactly an inexpensive area!). The topping for without cheese with fresh, sweet tomatoes, garlic, chilli, oregano and green olive oil. Extra chilli, cheese and oregano are given on a side plate and I enjoy adding chilli flakes to it.
House made chorizo pizza $15
The house made chorizo pizza comes with small balls of uncased house made chorizo which is a looser mince than the chorizo we are used to which is usually coarsely ground. The base for this is slightly wetter and I like the topping with the chorizo, tomato, cream fennel, chilli and basil which packs a flavour punch with a slight taste of aniseed from the fennel.
Grilled Monterey Bay Squid $12
The salad of grilled Monterey Bay Squid is lemony the squid soft and tender. At first we think that it comes on a baby spinach and cucumber salad but the cucumber is actually in fact honeydew melon (“Cavaillon” melon) with a piquant salsa verde which is refreshing and sweet when combined with the melon.
Homemade olive oil gelato $3
Honestly I thought LA people didn’t eat desserts, I mean have you seen the red carpet lately? Anyway, we were eager to try the olive oil ice cream. I’ve tried it a couple of times already and one time it tasted incredibly strongly of olive oil (probably too strongly) and the other time I couldn’t taste it at all. When our scoop arrives it has a drizzle of olive oil on top. I take a spoonful and lo and behold, it has got to be the best olive oil ice cream ever. The secret? Adding vanilla bean to it which enhances the dessert like quality while still being able to add enough olive oil to give it that distinctive taste.
Butterscotch pot de creme with salted caramel and creme fraiche $8
The waiter’s recommendation was one that had us all swooning. It was a silky butterscotch custard with small liberally sprinkled salt crystals and a scoop of creme fraiche. It’s delightfully good and perfectly balanced.
Black bottom banana cream pie $8
The black bottom to this banana cream pie is a thin layer of dark chocolate. The banana cream layer has fresh banana and custard which is light in texture and topped with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings. It’s good certainly but after the olive oil ice cream and butterscotch pot de creme it doesn’t seem quite as exciting.
But no time for dawdling as we have a flight to catch home to Sydney! But not before I show you a few more of the interesting sights.
So tell me Dear Reader, would you rather shop or eat? And what’s the shortest stopover you’ve made where you’ve left the airport and what did you do?
Oh how I’d love to live in America! Imagine getting your fortune told with your manicure?
NQN and Mr NQN travelled to Canada and Los Angeles as guests of Tourism Canada. They explored Los Angeles as a guest of LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, Los Angeles, United States
http://www.gjelina.com/
Plantation Design
1340 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, United States
Tel: +1 (310) 392 6888
Bountiful
1335 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, United States
Tel: +1 (310) 450 3620
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44 Comments | Add your own
oh i LOOOOOOVE LA and Venice especially! The last couple of times I’ve been we’ve stayed in West Hollywood but actually Venice strikes closer to home for me. Shame you only had one afternoon but at least you got some good shopping and eating in. And I’d totally take Remy home
I would rally love to get my hands on some of those cake stands, and I am sure that the prices are so much lower than in New Zealand…
You can even make dodgy American food look great!The shortest stopover would be Darwin where I went into town for lunch . On the way the taxi driver took me for a tour of the new hardware parking area and the NEW late night takeaway !
Wow! Love the shopping, the cute dog, those chips, food and the bike! I will be looking this post up prior to visiting the USA – hopefully next year! Great Post !!
All I can say is that I HEART the USA! <3 I love the place. There is no limit to food – there are just SO many good things out there.
I think I must have some of that corn! Oh my that looks delish… that and those fries. Looks like you had a great time.
Ohhh how exciting!!! That bowl of sweet corn looks amazing – paprika and chives… great combo! Looks like you had a great (albeit quick!) time in LA! Shop or eat?? Both, thanks!
that corn looks like a nice treat!
I’d want to keep Remy too! I fancy the olive oil icecream, which is odd at this time of morning. Gee, if I had to choose between shop or eat and I was hungry, definitely eat!
Looks YUMMY!! We often stay in Venice when we are in LA and I love the food options there. The shopping on Abbott Kinney is phenomenal – my favourite store is Alexis Bittar. Wonderful jewellery. I will definitely check out your recommendations when we are there next year! Very dangerous…
YUM! i wish i could try the butterscotch pot! a trip to canada got me addicted to salted caramel… you just cant find it in australia!
I definitely prefer to eat than shop. I do adore homeware and kitchen shopping though. They are my weakness.
I don’t think I’ve ever left the airport during a stopover but I have spent 30 hours in an airport once… that was not a pleasant experience.
We went to Gjelina twice in one week when I was there last year visiting my beautiful sister. Best restaurant that we visited, by far! Delicious food, lovely staff, great vibe. We either need a Sydney branch or subsidised airfares to LA.
You lost me with Remy! I want to keep him too!
Oh, My,
SO exquisitly exciting & overflowing with sensational food & andventure & desserts to die for.
The life of Lorraine
“Butterscotch pot de creme with salted caramel and creme fraiche” this is what I would order every single day for the rest of my life if I were skinny!
Do you like Americans? i hope so.
PS. I want to Shop & Eat. Don’t they go hand in hand? Xx
omgshhh yo’re in LA Lorraine?!!! This is sooo cool!
And I heard about Gjelina before! It seems like a great place and now thanks to you, possibly my next restaurant adventure. So when’s your last day in LA?
I arrived in LA just yesterday to visit my son, who lives very near Venice Beach. Will have to check out Gjelena on your recommendation!
What a hugely fun post
! Love the bistroish appeal of Gjelina – the Bondi/Paddo comparison is most appropriate [sorry non-Sydneysiders!]. The corn, the squid so moreish and would have loved the cauliflower! Could not have left the hourglasses either, 
, and would prob have ‘abducted’ Remy! I’d definitely rather eat than shop tho’! The shortest stay-away from the airport: so tired after a horrendous stormy long flight, checked in at a hotel for about 4 hours and was ‘out’ for the duration on some sort of a massage bed. Another long stage ahead and business straight on arrival – boring, but worked its magic.
I have never been to this part of California even though I live here but in the Northern end. I will tuck this aside in the event we get there. Yes, shopping and food go hand in hand though the food and the drink which I tried a similar one this year, just watermelon and it was a first and delicious. I could go for it now as it is near 100 here. What a great post.
Awesome! I think the hour-glasses are gorgeous dahlink! But the Butterscotch pot de creme w salted caramel and Creme fraiche looks divine!
Eating and shopping is so much fun (with you):-)
I need to go to that cake stand shop.
Such a fan of LA. I’m crazy about it. I think I had a super short stopover and we hit Venice Beach up. Was fantastic. I’m normally all about the food, but in the USA, I’m a shopper.
Olive oil ice cream!!!! Amazing!
I love visiting the US for all the reasons you’ve included in this post, Lorraine.
Like you, cannot get over how cheap the prices for what you ate were.
SSG xxx
Would love to wash down those salt and pepper frites with the watermelon & ginger soda!
When my daughter took me to new york, we found ourselves walking most of the time strangely enough, but after experiencing their diner breakfasts, we decided for the rest of the trip we would share our meals and so not end up the side of a barn! The eating was great over there, we loved the mexican meals, far more “authentic” than what we get here, but the shopping was ohh so good too! Too hard to choose Lorraine !!!
Amazing adventure. Banana cream pie!!! I love it. And olive oil ice cream – hey, if you can have wasabi ice cream, olive oil is definitely feasible. I love to eat AND shop – how can you have one without the other?! And if I am shopping, I like to have take-out latte on hand. Shortest stopover was for five hours in Singapore, when I was travelling to Melbourne, from Amsterdam, with my then-two year old son, Lukas. We dashed out and visited some friends, had a chin wag, went for a swim and managed Lukas’ meltdown (he didn’t want to get out of the pool). We were chauffered to the airport where I did some shopping. Both Lukas and I slept through to Melbourne, once we were in our seats on the plane. Gotta love the Singaporean efficiency.
Wow all of the food looks sooooo yummy! Especially those chips!!! *drools!*
I’ve never been outside an airport on a stopover as my parents always worry something will happen and we will miss our next flight! However I love to both shop and eat at airports! It’s always cool to see the things inside each city’s airports
I’m going to have to visit Bountiful the next time I visit my in-laws in Santa Monica:) You have the best job, Lorraine!
What I would like to know is, how are you going to get all that great stuff you bought home safely
Both, I love shopping for food!
I want all those cake stands- ALL OF THEM! I sure hope the hourglasses got home in one piece they look so pretty and delicate.
Please don’t make me choose between eating or shopping, but I guess if I had too….I need to fuel myself to be able to shop and if it’s that lovely fare all the better!
Hmm shopping or eating.. I really don’t think I could choose between the two. Surely there’s always time for both?
The shortest stopover I had was in Brunei. We took a taxi boat tour on the water village.
Hi catty-I wish we had stayed there longer to get a feel of it! It looked like lots of fun
Haha isn’t he cute?
Hi Alessandra-I know, aren’t they fabulous? If only I could have taken those home with me!
HI Tania-hehe I promise this wasn’t dodgy American food!
Oh that is so cute! 
Hi The Food Mentalist-OH cool! Well have fun there-there’s so much to see and do!
Hi Tina-Me too!
I know, there’s just so much to see isn’t there! 
Hi deana-Yes they were both so delicious! We had a great time
Hi jess-I kow, I really should recreate it at home! It’s simple but effective
Haha true!
Hi Betty-It was moreish!
Hi Cakelaw-I think he is a little star
hehe true true, but I bet I could do both! 
Hi Sian-Oh I missed that place. Maybe next time!
Haha indeed!
Hi kay-Oooh that was really good!
You can find it at some French patisseries, particularly for macarons if you’re missing it 
Hi Claire K Creations-I know, I can buy so many homewares! they don’t require changing in a changeroom! Eeek that sounds terrible!
Hi Bess-It’s great I agree
Haha yes totally although I suspect I’d prefer to fly there! 
Hi Maris-haha isn’t he a cutie?
Hi Kim-Haha yes there’s always lots to see in front of me!
I love Americans! That’s also why I want to live there! 
xxx
Hi Ellie-hehe not any more I’m afraid! this was the end of our Canadian trip last year
Hi Vicki-Oh wonderful! how serendipitous! I hope you like it
Hi EHA-Thanks Eha!
haha yes I ended up buying three hourglasses! 
Haha you and I could have abducted Remy I think! Such a cutie 
Oh wow sounds like a good way of coping! 
Hi Darlene-Ahh I see!
Yes it’s definitely worth a visit 
Thank you!
Hi Marilyn-Thank you so much Marilyn dahlink! Haha thank you!
Hi Linda-Yes we need one here!
Hi Anna-hehe sounds like we had the same plans!
Hi Michelle-It is SO good!
Hi SSG-heh thanks! yes the shopping is fabulous isn’t it? xxx
Hi chopinandmysaucepan-hehe yes it’s very refreshing!
Hi linda-Oh good idea! Those serves can be huge can’t they?
Yes the range of Mexican is huge isn’t it? 
Hi Anne-Thank you!
I know, and this one was a really good one-just enough vanilla and just enough olive oil too 
Wow it sounds like you fit in everything you needed to! 
Isn’t efficiency wonderful? 
Hi Kimberley-Thank you! Yes they were really good! I know, when an airport is good the time passes quickly. sadly LAX isn’t very good!
hi Sue-Oh yes! there is so much to buy! Hehe thank you
Hi Girl About Town-I got it home just fine
Hi Nuts about food-hehe me too I must admit!
Hi InTolerantChef-I know! Aren’t they fabulous? Imagine the possibilities!
Yep they got home in perfect condition as they gave us the proper boxes which was great 
Hi Phunk-Hehe I know, it was crazy of me to ask
Oh cool! That was time well spent! 
Hi Lorraine, fantastic post can’t decide if I am more excited about the food or the homewares! If you ever want to sell the hourglass let me know
sounds like you had a good time
Isn’t Venice a hoot? There’s no place quite as quirky. I’ll write down the name of the restaurant for my next visit!
As far as eating and shopping? Hmmm. Eat first, shop later.
What a whirlwind of a trip! The pizzas do look nice and thin and of course Lorraine..a macaron scented candle?! LOL
I feel you about the stepping into LA after the long flight…you depend on adrenaline ALOT!
Awesome food there! The desserts: the olive oil ice cream and butterscotch pot de creme sound quite delightful!
Yummy! Shortest stopover would have been Frankfurt, where we caught the train direct from the airport and had about three hours in the city. It wasn’t nearly long enough!
I Love LA! I’m headed back in three weeks and I can’t wait!!
My shortest stopover was last time I flew to the States. We had a five hour layover in Fiji so my new plane seat buddy and I jumped in a taxi and saw some of the island and had dinner on the beach watching the sun go down. Now that’s the way to start a holiday
*incomprehensible sound of wantingness*
The reason, my dear, that this experience was particularly surreal is that you didn’t take me with you, and we all know how horribly wrong that is!
Also, of course you wanted Remy. He’s almost a pug
Aaaaand…. corn and roasted cauliflower and butterscotch and almost-banoffee pie?! Cruel world!
Me oh MY! I read about Jamie Oliver raving about this place! I absolutely cannot wait to try this for myself someday!:)
That is truly a cake fit for a king! happy birthday to your lucky husband!
Hi Lorraine, I’m not sure if you’ll be heading over USA-way any time soon but if you do, you should check out a place called ‘The Boiling Crab’.
Back 5 years ago we stumbled upon this tiny place in southern California and now it’s become a chain. You’ll be queuing up to get in but the juicy finger lickin seafood is absolutely worth it. http://www.theboilingcrab.com
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