Sherman Oaks: Humphrey Yogart

Like a zombie for brains, I craved frozen yogurt last week. I did not want to go to my usual yogurt stomping grounds, but wanted to try some different “brains”. I searched online and found positive reviews for Humphrey Yogart in Sherman Oaks and that was all I needed to justify a trip to Sherman Oaks. The location is conveniently next to a Gelsons grocery store in a plaza. Although the reviews said parking was ample, the lunch rush made the lot packed. However, parking farther away is not as bad as having to find street parking, paying for parking, or waiting for someone to leave to find parking.

Humphrey’s is quite small inside and also sells sandwiches, salads, and random Atkins-friendly products (low carb, high protein of everything: bars, dressings, ice cream to go, etc). They have 3 standard “yogart” flavors: Sweet Vanilla, Tart Vanilla, and Chocolate (made from the sweet vanilla and premium chocolate). On a daily basis they rotate flavors of carbolite and sugar free. They also offer regular ice cream and a soy option. I sampled some of their carbolite yogurts, but opted for the regular nonfat yogurt. You select your ice cream “base” and choose a topping (they have over 30). The method of mixing them is not like Cold Stone’s or 21 Choices, but is all done by a machine. I chose the sweet vanilla with blueberries. The result was an icy textured refreshing delight. It is like a thicker Jamba Juice smoothie (when it is just prepared and still really icy) than it is creamy and smooth like 21 Choices. It was light and enjoyable, making me feel like I was being healthy. I would go again.

Humphrey Yogart
4574 Van Nuys Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Get Directions(818) 906-2490

September 5th, 1983

300 months (788,923,149 seconds) ago I was born.

How I am celebrating (not all in one day):

Osteria Mozza - Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali, and Joseph Bastianich’s restaurant

Red Lion Tavern - German beer garden

The Edison - 20s themed bar/lounge

Hopefully also: Father’s Office, Hungry Cat, and Scoops!

Intelligentisia: Cloud and Mist

Last time I was at Intelligentsia, I bought some tea to drink in the hours I do not drink coffee: the afternoon and evening. I chose a green tea called Cloud and Mist. It’s name comes from the cloudy, humid mountains of China in which it grows.This particular tea comes from Drum Mountain, found in the province Fujian. This tea’s distinct flavor results from the cooler climate causing the tea to grow more slowly than most other teas.

Body: Smooth, buttery
Flavor: Honey, baking spice, toasted almond
Finish: Sweet, lingering

Every adjective above is accurate in describing this tea. At first sip, I was able to distinguish the buttery body of the tea, which I have never experienced before in a tea. I am also able to pick up the almond and honey flavors, that not only leads smoothly into the lingering sweetness but also the desire to drink more. I am not able to compare this green tea because it is more complex than any tea I have had before (please note my limited tasting knowledge and experience of tea). I really enjoy the buttery feel to this tea and plan on buying this tea again, especially if I can find ones that were grown in a different provinces to compare with one another.

Cannibal Flower Show

Last Saturday, my boyfriend and I traveled downtown to the LA Firehouse to check out the Cannibal Flower Show. Sadly, the event has nothing to do with cannibals or flowers, but what it lacks in flesh eating flora it makes up for with crazy local art of all forms! The Cannibal Flower Show is a portable venue art exhibit that occurs once a month. It started in 2000, when a couple of artists solved the problem of dealing with conventional art gallery politics (slides, pitching, jumping through flaming hoops) by using alternative, transient spaces to showcase the underground art and music of the city. In 2006, they opened a walk-in permanent location, Thinkspace Gallery, which is now located on Sunset Junction.

We arrived before the event started, but they were kind of enough to let us in early (admission was eight dollars). The featured artist of the exhibit was Eric Montoya. His art makes your eyes do the equivalent to squats and lunges; seeing things in things is how I naively describe it. More specifically, seeing hidden faces in flowers and nature. It is pretty incredible. There was one painting of his at the exhibit that I was unable to see anything beyond the nature, making me wonder if it was done purposely to mess with the observer’s brain or if there was something there, but my eyes are just unable to perceive. Please look at a few of his pieces that have obvious hidden faces in them, like Introduction or Wistful, and then take a look at Carpe Diem and tell me whether I am:

a) Blind as a bat! It’s so obviously right there!

b) Super right! There is nothing there! (or we both need to see an eye doctor)

We left before the music started playing, because we are sometimes a boring couple. In retrospect, I wish I had stayed because apparently the event turns out to be a raucous party. Maybe next month!

Cannibal Flower Show
Los Angeles, California
(310) 397-2244
theirspace

Eagle Rock: Colorado Wine Company

I love the Colorado Wine Company. So much, in fact that I need to say it again… I love the Colorado Wine Company! I have been going there ever since it first opened in 2005. Not only are the owners, John and Jen, some of the sweetest and most friendly people, but anyone that has worked or currently works there, are also great people.

I tried to think of the main reason behind why I enjoy Colorado Wine Company, but found that I am unwilling to settle on just one. Instead, I have made a list:

- I already mentioned that the owners/staff are amazing (but it is worth repeating).
- The atmosphere is organized, intimate, and cozy.
- The prices of wines by the glass are reasonable.
- I am always able to find a great bottle within my 8-15 dollar price range.
- I am always able to get a great recommendation for the aforementioned bottle; very knowledgeable people!
- Nobody judges your palate, there is “Wine For Everyone.”
- The art on the walls is constantly changing and showcasing talented, local artists.
- I always make a new friend while I am there; the people who I meet are laid back, friendly, and fun.
- Parking is rarely a problem.
- They send out witty newsletters and have a beautiful and active website.

This past Friday I went to their weekly tasting with my roommate. The tagline to the tasting was “Happy Thoth Day!” in celebration of the first day of Thoth, the ibis-headed god of knowledge, in the Egyptian calendar. The best reason to raise your glass! Here is the list of the wines in order of how they were served:

1. Tangent Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Edna Valley, California
2. Mr. Riggs Riesling 2006, Clare Valley, Australia
3. Lonardi Valpolicella 2004, Verona, Italy
4. Wisteria Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, California
5. Earthworks Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Barossa Valley, Australia

I am not going to go into great detail about how each one tasted, but instead want to stress that they were all delicious! These are the quick notes I wrote later in the evening about the wines: Favorites are 1, 3, 5. Tangent was sweet, perfect to start the tasting. Mr. Riggs was not as sweet as I expected for a Riesling, but quite satisfying. The Valpolicella was great, light in taste. Wisteria was good, but where does it come from? Earthworks was full bodied and pleasant, could drink a lot more of it.

The Co Wine Co is one of the remaining reasons, aside from a few friends in the area, that I return to Eagle Rock. When I am on that side of town, I always try to stock up on some inexpensively priced wines. I am willing to pay more here than I would at Trader Joe’s because I know that John and Jen have put a lot of time and effort into choosing amazing wines and I fully trust their judgment and selection (in comparison to me just choosing wines by which one has the cooler label). I came home with bottles Tangent and Valpolicella from the tasting, and two other bottles that I found around the store that looked good.

Whether to pick up a bottle, sit down for a glass, or have a cold one from their impressive beer selection (No Bud Lite here), I encourage everyone to visit Colorado Wine Company! Check out their website (also sign up for their newsletters) to see what event works best for your schedule. I have included information on two of their weekly tastings and their hours of operation, but I know they offer events on other days so it is best take a look at their event calendar.

Friday Wine Tastings (5 wines; 15 dollars) - 5:30-8:30pm

Lazy Sunday Tastings (4 wines; 12 dollars) - 1:00-4:00pm

Store Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday & Wednesday: 11:00am-9:00pm
Thursday-Saturday: 11:00am-11:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am-5:00pm

Wine Bar Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday & Wednesday: 4:00-9:00pm
Thursday-Friday: 4:00-11:00pm
Saturday: 1:00-11:00pm
Sunday: 1:00-5:00pm

Colorado Wine Company
2114 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 478-1985

Mo’s Bacon Bar

I have always been hesitant in defining what type of snacker I am: savory or sweet. That was until I found Mo’s Bacon Bar, which has helped me realize that I can enjoy the combination of both. More specifically, I enjoy chocolate with bacon or bacon with chocolate. It is a chocolate bar made with real applewood smoked bacon. The people at Vosges haut-chocolat are on to something big. It is the love child of two wonderful foods and this baby is delicious. Go to their website and find out how you can get your hands on one because you will not be disappointed. Also, check out their flying chocolate pigs. (If you are a vegetarian, try some of their meatless chocolates such as the Naga bar, it tastes like sweet Indian curry).

For those of you in Los Angeles, you can definitely find Vosges chocolates at Whole Foods, Intelligentsia, and Mel & Rose Wine & Spirits.

21 Choices

Last Thursday, I visited 21 Choices with my roommate and friend. I was so happy to see that this time they had all six flavors and none were of the tart variety on the menu! I’m tarted out.

The flavors of the day were:

French Vanilla (98% fat free)
Dutch Chocolate (Made with semi sweet dark chocolate)
Iced Bailey’s (Made with coffee and Bailey’s; 1% alcohol)
Blushing Peaches (Made with peaches and strawberries; nonfat)
Junior Mint Chip (Made with Junior Mints, chocolate chips, and mint)
Oatmeal Cookies (Made with granola, cookie dough, and cinnamon).

They were also offering organic bananas and strawberries for toppings. I ordered the Oatmeal Cookie with chocolate sprinkles. It would have been even better if I chose cookie dough as my topping, but I figured the cookie dough taste was already in the mix. It was exactly like eating an amazing homemade oatmeal cookie. Thankfully, an oatmeal cookie without raisins. I also sampled the Jr. Mint Chip and had a tough time not ordering it. Ultimately, I decided that it was great as a sample, not overbearing in mint taste, but having more might be too much mint for me. Besides, it is hard to beat anything with cookie dough.

Note: Don’t be deceived by it’s sloppy look, it was delicious.

21 Choices

85 W Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91105

Get Directions(626) 304-9521