Zenbunni
(1) 310 – 452.9605
2307 Main Street
Santa Monica, California 90405

www.zenbunni.com

Open Hours:
12:00 pm –  6:00 pm   Tuesday – Sunday

Located in Santa Monica’s Green Light District, the precious ZenBunni boutique adheres to green principles and is adorned with recycled and hand painted architectural remnants, vintage jewelry, curiosities and reclaimed objects.  The more time you allow yourself to captivated by the eclectic artistry of Zen & Bunni Nishimura, the more treasures you will find.

ZenBunni is a beautiful combination of shop and gallery created by two artists.  Collecting both their own works and creations by those they admire, a feel has been created that is unique.  Mediums that appeal to the senses are the guiding principle, with representations of Sight~ photography, painting, sculpture, Touch~ jewelry, furniture, clothing, Smell~ house blended incense from Indonesia, and Taste~ one of the best raw chocolates we have had!

Bunni is a fine art photographer shooting film and printing her own work – this physical approach is easily seen in her pieces.  The framing is a collaboration with Assemblage artist Zen and is remarkable in itself.

The chocolates followed the same pattern to the shop as the incense.  Personally used items that friends, family and customers pushed them into selling!  The raw chocolates came from their transition to raw foods and the lack of an acceptable raw chocolate.  Zen & Bunni then set out to create one for themselves with the help of a neighbor who was a raw chef.  Six months of tasting and tinkering has produced one of the tastiest (if not the best) raw chocolate bar.  Once in personal production, they were quickly in high demand and sold out!  Now taking it on as a product, they have packaged the perfectly creamy and delicious bar as a product in its own right with three flavors: Italian Almond, Black Lava Sea Salt, Rose Mint, Lavender Sea Salt, Gypsy Spice, and Haiku Coconut.  If you are into chocolate, let alone raw foods, – this is definitely for you! and you don’t need to go to Santa Monica, they will be available across  the US in the near future

On a personal note: I would like to express our deepest love for Zen & Bunni and what they have created.  We have yet to meet you in person,but already admire and adore you!

Raw

The Cheese Store Of  Beverly Hills
(1) 310  – 278 2855
(1) 800 – 547 1515
419 North Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90210

www.cheesestorebh.com

Open Hours:
10:00 am –  6:00 pm   Monday – Saturday
12:00 pm –  5:00 pm   Sunday

The Cheese Store is a lovely specialty food outpost smack in the middle of Beverly Hills.  From the location, one would expect it to be a bit expensive and have an excellent selection of items.  Well, I am quite happy to report I was correct on one account; The many local cheeses stand tall beside those from all corners of the planet while the prices were less then our local Whole Foods.  The Cheese store carries all sorts of excellent cheese companions as well, including honey, nuts, pickles, caviar, cold meats, chocolates, fruit & vegetable preserves, cornichons, truffles, smoked fish, pestos, olives, cookies, pastas, oils, vinegars AND a small but rich selection of wines.

The store also makes gift baskets and sells small serving objects, such as fondue pots, serving plates, wooden boards, cheese knives, mini cheese signs, cork screws, picnic baskets, etc.

Selling cheese since 1967, the staff is very knowledgeable and will give you detailed explanations, if you inquire.  We found The Cheese Store an ideal during our day of cookie cutter shopping and it is a great place to pick up some yummies if you are planing on going out for a picnic.

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Erewhon Natural Foods Market
(1) 323 – 937 0777
7660 Beverly Blvd # A
Los Angeles, California 90036

www.erewhonmarket.com

Open Hours:
8:00 am – 10:00 pm   Monday  – Saturday
9:00 am –   9:00 pm   Sunday

Erewhon is a true holistic supermarket, having one of the most extensive collections of health oriented specialty foods, which- in my experience- is only rivaled by Rainbow grocery in San Francisco.  Featuring  an extensive selection of raw foods along side vitamins, herbs and macrobiotic/natural  homeopathic remedies, nut butters, jams, local, foreign… and with some prepared foods Erewhon covers it all.

There is even a Tonic Bar, where you can get a custom remedy prepared for any symptoms you might have- just consult with the onsite juicer!

Erewhon is a bit pricy (though we found most markets to be more expensive on the West coast?), but totally worth the cost for the joy you bring to your body.  Many times after we left LA, we wound up wishing we had brought more healthier with us as we ambled north through the central Californian expanse.