A Venetian State of Mind – Ca'Brea

The story begins in the heart

of Italy's Venice, set against

a picturesque backdrop of

ancient water canals, quaint

bridges, and unique

architecture, where Antonio

Tommasi (a six-year old boy

at that time) worked at the
kitchen of Venice's Cipriani
Hotel, with his father as the

chef. These days, Tommasi –
a scientist, culinary artist and
inflamed kitchen alchemist –
is a sort of Leonardo da Vinci
of L.A.'s Italian restaurant
macrocosm, making his own
prosciutto, salami, and wine
while applying traditional
cooking techniques to his
ingenious concoctions.

The Southern California
Writers Inc. proclaimed
Tommasi to be
"Restaurateur of the Year"
several times, awarding him 
three stars. Chefs in America
bestowed him the title
"America's Outstanding
Chef". For his exceptional
cooking skills he received
the "Epicurean Rendezvous
Award" and the "Five Stars
Diamond Award".

Framed by 3rd and 4th
Street, on a culture-loaded,
artsy-store-studded strip, in
the thick of a fashionable
Hollywoodish neighborhood 
where the movers and
shakers of L.A.'s creative
engine hobnob and pally, is
where this Venetian culinary
gem and cult-favorite dining
establishment is nestled.
Open since 1990, Ca'Brea
qualifies as golden vintage
among Hollywood's ever
changing restaurant scene –
for most restaurants in Los
Angeles this is already a
lifetime!

Step outside urban Los
Angeles and inside the rustic
doors of Ca'Brea, where
northern Italy is palpable to
all senses. Instantly a cordial
reception will snap you out
of Venetian reverie. This
romantic yet comfortably
rustic two-story dining
establishment features two
spacious dining rooms, a
charming mezzanine, a bar
area, and an enclosed
sprawling patio that perfects
the romantic vibe and evokes
the feel of a country villa
dinner amid a Venetian-style
ambience: Colorful artwork
by Yuroz, dark wood fixtures,
and imported Venetian warm
caramel plaster walls
surround intimate oakwood
booths, each set with an
impeccably arranged, white
linen-clad table. For special
occasions, the upper level
will serve with more private
space along with a quieter
atmosphere.

It's not only the exceptional
menus and the superior
service that has kept diners
coming back for the past 20
years to this reliable old
favorite: customers are
delighted to meet the chef
de cuisine and continuously
return to enjoy his presence
that brims over with sheer
enthusiasm and excitement.

Amidst a genial and warmly
welcoming atmosphere, a
mixed yet unpretentious
lively crowd soaks up the
flavors and aromas that
merge within the simple
yet sophisticated, authentic
yet innovative foods, and
frequently changing weekly
specials.

Lunch, dinner, and late at
night – the seats are always
filled at this fine La Brea
mainstay: Couples cherish
the tranquility and Italian-
infused romance wrapping
up the upper dining room;
large community tables
invite families and groups
to homey lingering, while
wine connoisseurs will
encounter some brilliant
Italian gems on the notable
wine list.

Tommasi's trademarks are a
vast open kitchen where he
is the master of a wide array
of down-to-earth, country-
style, solid Trattoria fare.
With his creative approach
to rustic and hearty cuisine
he guarantees for elaborate
dishes imbued with distinct
aromas and multifaceted
flavors.

Kick off the feast with
Polpettine di Gamberi – the
pan-fried crab cake comes
in a succulent onion confit
with a side of baby greens.
Salad fans will adore the
Insalata Riccia creation that
includes Venetian Gorgonzola
cheese and crispy potato
threads. Fish arrives at table
crispy backed in parchment
paper, tossed with roasted
artichoke hearts and eggplant
slices in a tomato-caper
sauce. A friendly garçon will
gladly assist you to unwrap
your meal.

For a taste-bud-blowing
dinner experience opt for the
baked goat cheese wrapped
in roasted eggplant slices
that come toasty served on
a bed of garlicky spinach
along with pumpkin ravioli
tossed in a creamy walnut
sauce. Finish with a
sumptuous slice of Venetian
Ricotta cheesecake richly
topped with vanilla custard.

 

Ca'Brea
346 South La Brea
Los Angeles 90036

Morning Bliss @ Vivian's Café in Studio City

Nestled on a busy stretch in Studio City, 
in the thick of Ventura Boulevard's hustle
and bustle, is Vivian's Millennium Café –
a quaint little dining gem that has been
ringing in Egg-o'-Clock seven days a week
since January 1st, 1963.

This peaceful New York-style retreat with
homey backyard feeling, is where friends,
couples, families and dancers – from the
next-door dance studio – discover a
charming shaded patio after trespassing a
part of the kitchen area. Although offering
an inviting indoor space, breakfast and
brunch fans opt for a snugly patio spot to
kick back and while away the time.

Local hipsters sip at freshly brewed Lattes,
Mochas and Chinos while sharing stories
and laughter around rustic wooden tables
amid the patio's lush greenery. Couples
cherish each other's company along with
delightful moments with ample portions
of eggs, omelets, waffles, or pancakes
alongside.
Plentiful java is being served to unhurried
patrons, perusing the latest L.A.Times or 

fumbling with their smartphones. 
Universal Studios' top dogs pop in for
lunch and serious business talk while
picking on their Caesar Salads and
munching on turkey burgers. Hear
regulars to call the staff by name. A pet-
friendly service makes sure the doggy is
happy too. 

Hearty and tasty American breakfast
classics mingle on the extensive menu:
The Waitress Special includes scrambled
eggs with fresh spinach, mushrooms and 
crumbled feta cheese garnished with
sliced tomatoes and your choice of crispy
toasted bread. Finger licking! Omelets
come sumptuously stuffed with diverse
goodies, crispy on the outside, toasty and
buttery soft on the inside. Opt for the
Italian-style omelet which comes with
Italian sausage and Mozzarella cheese.
For the sweet-toothed among you: your
safest bet is the White Chocolate
Macadamia Pancake that will satisfy
your sugar cravings – mind-and-tastebud-
blowing! Body-conscious fitness gurus
will fall in love with the The Seven Grain
Oatmeal pancake sprinkled with walnuts
and granola.
Gourmet melts, crispy salads and meaty
burgers dominate luncheons and are
served until 3:30pm. The Tuna Melt
comes sizzling from the grill with your
choice of cheese. An extensive range of
fresh veggies topped with feta cheese
and a splash of olive oil/balsamic vinegar
dressing comes in a roasted wheat bread
and is a healthy vegetarian lunch option.
Burgers include succulent meats like
Angus, bacon or turkey enriched with
grilled mushrooms, onions, cheese or
home-made chili. Non-meat-eaters will
cherish the veggie burger. Popular salads
– like Tuna, Caesar, California Cobb,
Chicken or Beverly Hills Salad – perfect
the culinary repertoire. Refills of soda,
water, and coffee are being brought to
you by a friendly waitperson.

Vivian's Millennium Café
10968 Ventura Blvd Studio City, CA 91604

Mesmerizing Zuma Beach Sunsets @ Sunset Restaurant

Snuggled against an idyllic Malibu
bluff, on a picturesque stretch in
Zuma Beach, this secluded
sanctuary of coastal indulgence is
situated only a few steps from
crashing Pacific waves with only
a narrow path separating it from
a marvelous fine-sand beach.

Pleasently laid-back, this sense-
beguiling dinner destination offers
breathtaking sunset scenarios,
magnificent Pacific ocean horizons
along with the hum of endless
waters. Unmatchable southern
California romance conflates with
a tingling oceanic climate behind
the translucent doors. The two-
story building – bar below,
restaurant above – breathes with
space and light thanks to a curved
wall of large panoramic windows
on both stories, infusing the classic
beach bungalow's ambience with
sunset splendor.

A cozy lounge area features large
cushioned booths with oversized
cowhide pillows for comfortable
lingering. A fashionable crowd
rubs elbows at the stylish bar
amid a sleek, elegant setting:
Across from the expanse of
sunset-catching front-side 
windows the building boasts
crisp white walls while blue-and-
white patterned accents – to be
found inside and also decorating
the waterfront patio – give off an
oceanic vibe.
The most stimulating moment is
right before the sun sets: Start
the night with a Winnefred
Chardonnay and soak up the
inspiring vibe of southern
California life.

The main dining room is infused
by a ballroom-y atmosphere:

Impeccably arranged, beautifully
set dark-wood dining tables set
the scene for finest porcelain
and shiny glassware capturing
the glorious rays of an almost
ever-present sun. White,
beautifully folded, starched
napkins perfect the styling.The
curved back wall is lined with
understated charcoal drawings
and an extensive mirror reflecting
the Pacific scenery outside.

Aside from being a romantic
dining destination par
excellence – hosting weddings
and all kinds of parties – the
Sunset Restaurant and Beach
Bar is haunted by an interesting
mix of sandy sunbathers, laid-
back locals and Malibeauties that
create a stimulating, flirty yet
chilled atmosphere. A DJ spices 
up the vibe on weekends when
vibrant scenesters generate a
private party feel. Around that
time, celebrity sightings are
frequent. 

Elaborate Asian-influenced
Californian fare indulges
patron's palates with starters
like Fritto Misto coming with
crispy calamari, shrimps and
zucchini tossed in an aromatic
Marinara sauce. For entrée, 
diners mustn't miss the pan
seared Maine scallops with
Porcini mushroom, English pea
and caramelized lemon risotto.
A taste bud-inspiring salad
experience is certainly the
Prawn option coming with baby
fennel, orange supremes and
avocado tossed in an Orange-
Summer Tarragon vinaigrette.

Highlight your Malibu debauchery
with a warm bread pudding strewn
with fresh berries and a scoop of
finest strawberry gelato, or opt for
the delicate crème brûlée
garnished with Tahitian vanilla
beans and lush berries – taste bud
blowing! The wine list features
moderately priced products of
Californian wineries, yet is studded
with some international accents.
Truly impressive is the ample
organic wine list. All in all, the
kitchen does an excellent job.
Gracious servants are
knowledgeable, responsive and
professional.

6800 Westward Beach Road Malibu

The Malibu Goddess - Villa dei Papiri

With its abundance of glorious
sunny hours, an intoxicating
bright atmosphere, and a fizzy
ocean breeze, there is no better
location to amass incredible art
and antiquities collections:
17985 Pacific Coast Highway,
in Pacific Palisades is where
artifacts of Heracles, Zeus,
Achilles, and Dionysus reside
and stories of the Trojan war
are being retold amidst ancient
Greek, Etruscan, and Roman
treasures of culture...

Nestled on a bluff overlooking
the pacific, J. Paul Getty's
Romanesque villa is set against
a backdrop of epic architecture,
charming gardens and scenic
views. Constructed in the early
70' and modeled after the
partially excavated Villa dei
Papiri in Italy, J. Paul Getty had
this picturesque maison set right
next to his ranch house, when
later in 1974 it became home to
the J.Paul Getty Museum.
While being an educational
center and museum dedicated to
the study of ancient cultures, the
villa is as much about haute art
as it is about excellent
architectural work and
exceptional landscaping.

The Villa dei Papiri in
Herculaneum near Pompeii
(Italiy) served as a model for
the unmatchable esthetics of this
museum, and although only
parts of the original edifice were
excavated, architects were able
to reconstruct the dimensions of
the ancient Roman villa by using
its original floor plans. Several
other Greek and Roman
architectures supplied the Getty
Villa with details of floor and
wall designs.

Kick off your Getty Villa
experience at the quaint Herb

Garden which is situated right at
the entrance – inhale and excite
your senses. Take the stairs from
the Entry Pavilion and the Path to
Museum to reach the top of the
marvelous Outdoor Theater and
soak up the gorgeous view over
the Villa Entrance.
Imbedded between the Auditorium
of the Outdoor Theater and the
Museum's Store is a square pond
of black marble collecting waters
trickling from in between layers
of travertine, bronze, porphyry
stone and broad-formed layers of
concrete. Who knew that these
layers represent the strata of
volcanic deposits that covered the
Villa dei Papiri after a volcanic
eruption of the Vesuvius in AD 79.
The native concept of the Villa dei
Papiri is immortally captured: Up
in the Malibu hills, its historic and
archeological features are visible
and palpable in every angle and
every detail of the architecture.
An open skylight atrium fills the
room with natural light, while a
purling pool surrounded by lush
horticulture occupies center stage.
A gracious courtyard, embraced
by a columned porch, features
sculptures of deities flanking an
extensive fountain. Walk further
to discover another oasis of
tranquility: A sparkling pool amid
over 1.000 Mediterranean plants –
a true masterwork of landscaping.

29 galleries on two levels will
carry you off to ancient Greece,
the Roman Empire and to exotic
Etruria, inspiring you with
mythological heroes, luxurious
vessels, ornate glassware, awe-
inspiring, perfectly shaped gods
and goddesses. A mellow Reading
Room invites avid readers to revel
in catalogues and books related to
the Villa's history, its collection
and current exhibition. Two
interactive exhibits round off your
visit by visualizing interesting facts
and valuable knowledge about
ancient art and culture.

17985 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, California 90272