endless color topanga

I love a local, neighborhood spot. Even better if it serves vibrant, deli and flavorful food! Endless Color Topanga is just that and more, serving up wood-fired pizzas and organic market plates, along with a nice selection of biodynamic wines and beer & hard kombucha on tap! They have a lovely outdoor patio where you can enjoy your eats, and hang with friends over a drink. What’s even more fun is the ambiance inside the joint- they have a stellar selection of records for sale. So feel free to peruse the albums while you wait for you pie.

The fresh, organic, market-driven plates vary by the season, and are on display when you order, so pick a few that look good to nosh on while your pizza is cooking. The brussels sprous with citrus and the roasted rainbow carrots are always a good move. When it comes to pizza, I’m a fan of the Super Greens, which comes loaded with spinach, leeks, mozzarella, goat & cheep cheese, or the Zucchini, which is a tasty combo of zucchini, confit tomatoes, goat cheese, fennel fronds, mint & arugula. Yum! They also serve classics like pepperoni and margherita for the purists out there. At Endless Color, all the pizza dough is made in-house using 100% Dark Northern Spring Wheat (grown in the deep volcanic soil of the Pacific Northwest), and is fermented for 72 hours to give it that perfectly crisp, yet chewy texture. And if you’re gluten-free, fret not- they also offer a gluten free dough using heirloom rice and millet flours, which is fermented for 24 hours! Don’t skip the homemade (gluten free!) cookies either! I’m partial to the double chocolate with cashew, or oatmeal with golden raisins & walnuts :)

For the longest time, Endless Color was only open in the late afternoon/evenings, which I thought was somewhat of a missed opportunity given the lack of decent food options in Topanga (but also understandable given the state of the world…). I’m happy to report that they’re now open all day, and plan to launch a full on breakfast and lunch menu soon! For now, I love stopping in for a coffee and pastry on my morning commute. Yay for delicious local spots!


nectarine grove

If you’re looking for fresh, flavorful, and healthy eats in the Encinitas or San Diego area, I definitely recommend checking out Nectarine Grove. Everything here happens to be gluten-free, in case that’s of interest to you. But after dining al fresco recently with my family, we found delish eats to meet please everyone’s palates. Nectarine Grove churns out food created with intent, love & your health in mind. Whether you’re paleo, vegan, keto, a health food enthusiast, or you just like good food, I bet you’ll find something up your alley. From grass-fed burgers to falafel tacos to roasted veggie bowls with butternut noodles, there were tasty eats for the whole fam to enjoy. I love that they use fresh, organic, local, and sustainable ingredients- that quality is really evident in each prepared dish. Everything was so tasty and flavorful! Nectarine Grove also has an impressive amount of beverages on tap- take your pick from nitro coffee and kombucha to biodynamic wines and gluten free beers! Yum! I can’t wait to go back and try some of their smoothies and baked goods soon- that cinnamon roll is calling my name!

pondicheri

Whenever I go home to Houston, Texas, there are a few spots that I simply must pop into for tasty eats. Pondicheri, an industrial-chic spot for unique Indian dishes inspired by the streets of Mumbai, is always at the top of that list. Come by for breakfast and enjoy some pumpkin chai oats or masala eggs, or stop in for lunch for one of their classic Mumbai street wraps (aka Frankies). The curries and thalis are not to be missed either- I’m partial to the vishnu thali which offers a flavorful mix of veggie options like green masala cauliflower, beet soup, smoked eggplant, endive slaw, and a saag sesame cutlet. Plus that carrot roti is to die for!

Beyond the delicious savory eats, a visit to the upstairs Bake Lab & Shop is absolutely necessary as well. From honey mesquite cake to cumin cheese buns to chai pie to various flavors of mithai (chickpea fudge), there’s endless options for something sweet to end your meal. Or stop by for a coffee and pastry in the morning! Either way, you won’t be disappointed. I love their use of traditional Indian spices alongside more Texan-inspired flavors- it makes for some truly unique baked goods! There are several vegan and gluten free options as well if that’s your jam. Grab a crack ball or two for the ride home!

sushi zo

If you’re in the mood for an epic dining experience featuring some of the freshest, tastiest sushi, look no further than Sushi Zo. The omakase multi-course tasting menu at Sushi Zo is designed to allow you to experience the essence of traditional sushi. That means the menu changes day to day depending on market availability, only the highest quality fish is served, and it’s all hand selected each morning by the chefs themselves. It’s not cheap, but good quality sushi shouldn’t be, so save it for a special occasion or celebration of sorts. But trust me, you’re in for a treat when dining here. Each dish is beautifully presented, and the flavors are so well balanced. If I could remember each of the (20+?!) plates, I’d give you a more detailed recap, but feel free to scroll through the slideshow to relive the experience a bit. From the sashimi to the sushi nigiri to the fresh roe to the hand rolls, it was all so delightful and flavorful. If you plan a meal at Sushi Zo, I hope you enjoy the experience as much as we did. It’s truly one we won’t forget. Just don’t forget the sake to pair along with your omakase!

cali cream ice cream

My family loves a good ice cream spot. Even better when there’s endless flavors with seasonal and dairy-free options as well! We got the chance to visit Cali Cream Ice Cream when we were visiting Encinitas recently, and it did not disappoint. They churn out all homemade flavors made in small batches at this location as well as in San Diego. Although I do get slightly overwhelmed when there’s so many choices (57?!), but the employees were awesome and let us try several flavors to help make our decisions. I ended up with a cup of Graham Central (graham cracker-flavored ice cream with graham ripple and chocolate covered honeycomb crunch) and Coffee (dairy-free, but still super creamy and delish)! My husband went for a couple super chocolatey options as per usual- Oreo Dough, a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream with large chunks of Oreo cookies was a huge hit. My son Dylan even got a free kiddie cone for his birthday! Yum! I definitely need to go back ASAP for the S’mores, Praline Pecan, Almond Joy, Coconut Cream Pie, Gooey Fudge Brownie…. You get the idea, let’s just say there’s a lot of flavors on my list to try. And now there’s likely seasonal holiday options as well? Yes please!

qué padre

Mexican food is a fan favorite in our house. While there is some debate as to what style or rendition is best- my husband is from New Mexico, I’m from Texas, and we live in California- we can definitely appreciate a good taco, margarita and some chips & guacamole! From super casual to fine dining, you can really get good Mexican food across the board these days, and I was pumped to try a new spot in our area called Qué Padre. Specializing in street-style tacos, this coastal cantina packs its menu with the freshest of flavors from all over Mexico. There’s a bit of Cali influence thanks to the locally-sourced ingredients, and I have to say I really enjoyed this modern take on all your Mexican favorites. Located in Palisades Village, the atmosphere at Qué Padre is totally chill and laid back, allowing you to sip on some tasty tequilas while dining out in the sun. Totally up my alley! Not to mention it’s adjacent to the grassy, park area so kiddies can play as well.

My boys and I got to enjoy a delicious taco feast soon after the grand opening, and we all left completely satisfied- and perhaps a bit too full! If you like a fun beverage, I definitely recommend browsing the cocktail & drinks menu. So many unique offerings (whether you’re in the mood for an alcoholic beverage or not)- from horchata (spiked or kid-friendly) to aguas frescas to an extensive tequila list to refreshing cocktails and more! I can’t resist a negroni, so tried their tequila version, which was super smooth and totally hit the spot. My hubby went the more traditional route, and was also quite pleased with his spicy margarita. Now, on to the food! Do yourself a favor and order the scallop ceviche, plus the lobster en nogada, camarón, and carnitas tacos. The little details (think mexican coke-braised pork, charred pineapple, jalapeño ash, poached lobster tail, morita black bean purée…) really allow the quality and flavors to shine through. So delish! You can totally taste the difference in the house-made corn tortillas too. And of course, since no meal of mine is complete without dessert, we had to indulge in the Mexican chocolate churros and the tres leches flan. My son & I couldn’t get enough of the chocolate dipping sauce. Heaven! Feel free to click through the photos for more details on each dish, and next time you’re in the Palisades, be sure to swing by Qué Padre for a taco.