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Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Whole Foods Market 365 Santa Monica

Whole Foods is no longer just considered "whole paycheck" because now there is Whole Food 365. A fun, light, bright, modern store with Whole Food's quality products, Whole Foods 365 has just opened their fifth location in Santa Monica and is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Located on the corner of Cloverfield Blvd and Pico in Santa Monica, Whole Foods Market 365 is a 30,000 square foot modern space with a shopper-friendly layout. They maintain strict ingredient standards and do not carry any products with artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated oils. The vegetables are organic and conventionally grown. All beef, chicken and pork are step-rated by the Global Animal Welfare Partnership and are raised without the use of antibiotics and added hormones. Seafood is also held to the highest standards. There are numerous grab-and-go options, bulk foods, frozen foods, supplemental basics and dairy. There are more than 400 wines, most priced between $10-$20, more than 200 beers and more than 50 spirits. All of this is available at great prices!

12 August, 2017

The New FIG Restaurant at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

FIG Restaurant has been serving up California Cuisine inside the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica for years. But some changes have taken place and now there is the NEW FIG Restaurant.

The space is still the same and the covered patio is flush with natural light. The decor now has a warmer feel to it with hanging plants adding life to the space. And there is a wood burning oven that has been added that you can see when you first walk into the restaurant.

At the helm of the new FIG Restaurant is the personable Chef Yousef Ghalaini. A native of Lebanon, Chef Ghalaini grew up in his grandfather's bakery where he first learned the art of the wood-burning oven. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and worked in Napa, Florida, Connecticut and New York before coming to FIG Restaurant at The Fairmont Miramar. At FIG Restaurant, Chef Ghalaini works with local farmers and fresh California ingredients to create his Mediterranean inspired menu that integrates the warm spices and legumes of Lebanese cuisine.

12 September, 2016

Just Put It In A Waffle at Bruxie

Typically we eat waffles for brunch. Or for a savory note, some eat chicken and waffles. But just about anything can be paired with a waffle. Next time you are eating a sandwich, why not put it in a waffle? That is what they are doing at Bruxie. Bruxie is a new take on the sandwich. Founder Dean Simon fell in love with waffles when he was in Brussels. He came back to California and since he could not find light, airy, crispy style waffles, he began testing recipes until he created a recipe that matched what he ate in Brussells. Then he put quality seasonal ingredients in them to make sandwiches, both savory and sweet.

Simon and business partner Kelly Mullarney, both chefs, opened the first Bruxie in the historic Old Towne of Orange in 2010 and it became the busiest restaurant per square foot in the nation. Now with six restaurants in Southern California and one in Las Vegas, Bruxie is showing people that waffles are no longer just for breakfast. Bruxie sandwiches are not sweet. They are yeast risen waffles that are light, airy and crispy and will remind you of warm toasty bread. But, they weigh only three ounces and contain 250 calories. They are rather guilt free....until you start adding the savory or sweet ingredients. But who cares when they taste so good!

02 June, 2016