Leda’s Bake Shop

I had to bump this post up in line because of the few days left that you can actually get them. Last week my boyfriend and I went to the Valley to find some cupcakes. Driving down Ventura longer than I would ever think I need to (I am never in that area), we finally found Leda’s Bake Shop. As you can see, the facade is cute and the bake shop is small.

While sampling the numerous cookies and scones, I chose a couple of cupcakes. Of course the Red Velvet cupcake, which was vegan (probably use oil). It didn’t stand out to me at all, probably because of the vegan frosting not being as good as a dairy-ful / dairy-licious cream cheese frosting. Although I wasn’t too impressed by the Red Velvet, I loved the Peanut Butter cupcake. It was a peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting. Delicious. This place is notorious for having frosting that has a dab of filling (curd, ganache, cream) inside. A hidden gem (sorry no picture of that).

They have a plethora of cupcake flavors. I don’t know the gossip behind it, but they are shutting down cupcake sales in a few days (the 19th to be exact). Supposedly they will still sell cupcakes, but only for orders. I think this is a little ridiculous, because good cupcakes are a great cash cow. However, I do understand that it takes a lot of time and effort to make them (especially the little ones!). But - to stop selling something that people obviously enjoy, is like making alcohol illegal. Exactly like the Prohibition. I don’t know.. it’s 7 in the morning, you get what I’m trying to say.

So if you’re a fan of them already, this is a reminder to go get some. If you’re not a fan and live close enough, this is a recommendation for you to go try some. Or order some.

Leda’s Bake Shop
13722 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
818-386-9644

Caffe Luxxe

Sunday morning I was faced with a delicious coffee dilemma: Iced or Hot coffee? Fortunately, I did not have to think too hard about it now that there is a website that answers the simple question: Is it Iced Coffee Weather? You type in your zip code and in big bold letters it tells you either Yes or No. On Sunday in this area it was a Yes. My boyfriend and I headed over to Caffe Luxxe (not a great website) on Montana. It’s a small, classy coffee shop.

I ordered the iced espresso drink with milk. I forget the name because it is Italian and their website doesn’t list their drink menu (!) and nobody picked up the phone when I just tried calling. My boyfriend ordered a simple Mocha. My drink looks creamy and milky, but it maintained a dominate espresso taste  - which I loved!

We also got some cookies because that is a staple in my boyfriend’s diet. We chose the Dulce de leche cookie, vanilla and walnut cookie, and a little bag of muffins. All the pastries Caffe Luxxe  come from the Breadbar, of which I have never had before. My boyfriend really enjoyed the muffins, but I preferred the dulce de leche cookie. It was a soft cookie and the caramel melted in my mouth. Yum. It paired perfectly with my drink.

While we were sitting, the place got a little crowded and a rather long line formed. I couldn’t help but think how lucky I am going to be when the new Caffe Luxxe takes over the old Dutton Bookstore Cafe. (It’s supposed to open in a few weeks). Although I am still sad to see such a great bookstore gone, I am happy that a great place is coming into the neighborhood. With a Starbucks, a Coffee Bean, and a Peet’s Coffee all zigzagging across from one another on San Vincente, it’s nice to know that we will have a non-corporate option. And it’s even better for me because I can walk there. I will no longer have to travel to Silver Lake area for good coffee beans! (Especially when an Intelligentsia opens up in Venice).

Caffe Luxxe
925 Montana Ave
Santa Monica CA 90403
(310) 394-2222

Diddy Riese

If you are willing to drive and hunt for parking, Westwood is a great place for ice cream/frozen yogurt. Diddy Riese is a popular place for their inexpensive but delicious treats. You wait in line (there is more often than not going to be a line), make your order, quickly receive your order and then pay. It’s fast paced and there is very little seating in the small establishment, but that’s okay because Westwood is the type of place you can wander around. They use Dreyer’s ice cream and have the following flavors: french vanilla, cookie dough, rocky road, mint chocolate chip, strawberry, chocolate, espresso chip, butter pecan, strawberry cheesecake chunk, peanut butter cup, chocolate chip, and cookies & cream. They make fresh homemade cookies everyday: chocolate chip, chocolate chip with walnuts, oatmeal raisin walnut, sugar cinnamon, white chocolate chip, peanut butter, double chocolate with nuts, candy, chocolate with white chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut. For $1.50, you can purchase an ice cream sandwich. In the picture above is one chocolate chip cookie hugging peanut butter cup ice cream while reaching over for it’s dissimilar friend the chocolate white chocolate chip cookie. Best friends forever. In the picture below is on the left two chocolate chip cookies and espresso chip ice cream and on the right is two chocolate white chocolate chip cookies and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Cash Only.

Diddy Riese
926 Broxton Ave.
Westwood, CA 90024
(310) 208-0448