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

J. Paul Getty Museum
(1) 310 – 440-7330
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, California 90049-1687

www.getty.edu

Open Hours:
10:00 am –  5:30 pm   Tuesday – Friday
10:00 am –  9:00 pm    Saturday
10:00 am –  5:30 pm    Sunday

At the J. Paul Getty Museum lives a fine collection of European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, European and American photographs aside rotating special exhibits.  However, they all take a bit of a backseat to the wonderful Platinum LEED certified, modernist complex that highlights both nature and culture.  Designed by Natural light architect Richard Meier, the “Getty” is a as much a park as it is museum.  A haven in the sprawling expanse that is Los Angeles.

Admission to the Getty Center and to all exhibitions is FREE.  This is such a wonderful  opportunity for people young and old to connect to art, architecture and nature.  The building and grounds are such a stunning park, we enjoyed our time outside as much as inside.

The adventure begins as you descend into the underground bond-like parking structure- spiraling down level after level. Then you ascend via tram to the high overlook, floating your gaze over the city- breathing air fresh blown from the sea.  Meandering the inviting pathways, there are scattered bins with sun-umbrellas to protect against the strong sun.

One wanders in and out of the relaxed buildings; never feeling hurried or watched.  The staff is helpful and polite.  Photo taking is encouraged (no flash please) and the experience is one of wholeness. The collection is not about volume, but about experience.  The complimentary colored galleries fill with natural light to create a bond between viewer and art; a bond that I didn’t know I was missing until I found it at the Getty Museum.

Lawrence Alma Tadema: Spring

Venus Reclining on a Sea Monster with Cupid and a Putto by John Deare

For more images of the Getty Center, please see our Flickr page.

Caffe Shakerato

Caffe Luxxe
Coffee shop
(1) 310 – 394. 2222
2925 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90403

www.caffeluxxe.com

Open Hours:
6:00 am –  8:00 pm   Monday   – Friday
6:30 am –  8:00 pm   Saturday – Sunday

Caffe Luxxe was by far the best coffeehouse we visited whilst in LA.  Their glittering Italian coffee machine creates wonderful cups of cafe bliss under the hands of their knowledgeable baristas.  Los Angeles, as compared to NY or SF, seems a bit behind the café curve.  A theory could be do to the lack of pedestrian neighborhoods where these types of specialty shops thrive, rather then the palate of the citizenry.  One of the few neighborhood type places is Santa Monica- and that is where we found Caffe Luxxe.  (There is a second location in Brentwood which we did not visit).

Tall ceilings top white walls which are covered with beautiful, framed coffee photography by Tom Benedek.  A few tables with silver chairs seat about 20.  The main L shaped counter is home to a display of pastries, chocolate bars and croissants.

The cappuccino was quite smooth, while the Caffe Shakerato (hand shaken espresso with milk and ice) was extremely yummy on a hot day!  The Caffe Nico (espresso, candied orange and steamed half&half) was quite strong and made a great dip for the light, airy macaroon.    I sampled an excellent drip coffee as well to complete the test trifecta.

The Caffe Nico

Caffe Shakerato

Cappuccino

Cappuccino

Macaroons

Kelp Cheezy Pasta

Planet Raw
Organic Raw Food Restaurant
(1) 310 – 587 1552
609 Broadway  (@ 6th St. corner)
Santa Monica, California 90401

www.planetraw.com

Open  Hours:
10:00 am – 10:30 pm   Sunday – Thursday
10:00 am – 11:00 pm    Friday – Saturday

We believe the Raw food world can be divided into two distinct camps- both of which have excellent representation in Santa Monica, California.  The first group is focused on the lifestyle of raw and is expressed well by many restaraunts; the second, spearheaded by Planet Raw, is a Culinary perspective.

At Planet Raw, the shakes were phenomenal.  Hands down the best we’ve ever had.   And add in an extra superlative for good measure!  We started with Kreamy Electrolyte Lemonade (lemons, honey, ginger, Strawberries, & electrolytes).  Then continued with the Vanilla Protein Shake (nut mylk, sapote, ice, honey and Juliano’s protein powder which consists of pumpkin & hemp seeds, super enzymes, maca, spirulina, blue & crystal mana, mesquite, tocos, sprouted buckwheat, bee pollen, bio culture and silica).  And then for dessert, the blueberry instant cleanse with blueberries, gogi berries, maca, bee polen  and we added bioculture (lactobacillus micro organisms of L. salivarus, & l. plantarum).  All the shakes we tried where topped with a granola and were just really special!

The Tahini Salad was full of tomatoes , seaweed, buckwheat sprouts, avocado, leafy greens and was topped with an excellent tahini dressing.

The Cheezy Pasta is made with kelp noodles; a nice change from the omni-present zuchinni strings- and much more comforting.  Combining excellently with the nut cheese sauce the dish was a true delight.  We followed the recommendation from our lovely waitress and ordered the side of marinated mushrooms to mix in.  Bliss, just bliss!

Everyone working at Planet Raw shown with the light of health. No gray wasted vegans here, only sun-filled smiles and hearts.  Having been tooling around the health food world for a while, it is easy to see places where the staff is under-nourished.  Here the food gave them all a joy and happiness that you want to tap into.  Our waitress shown with an interior sun that made us delve into the menu!

Juliano Brotman has created a truly delicious oasis of  texture and flavors.  He has also authored  Raw: The Uncook Book and The Complete Book of Raw Food; currently he is in the process of publishing a third.

In retrospective, the food was so good at Planet Raw that it helped us make the decision to return to LA- a trip that was  worth it just for another of the Kreamy Electrolyte Lemonades

Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla cream

Kreamy Electrolyte Lemonade & Mango Tango Shake

Special Mushroom Ravioli in Daikon

Tahini Salad

Kelp Cheezy Pasta

Maki S&M

Vanilla Protein Shake

Vanilla Protein Shake