Category: Food & Drink

Jeni’s Free Market has the scoop on the art of ice cream By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Jeni Britton Bauer sees ice cream as more than a treat. Ice cream is her art, and she shares it through Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. “At first, I felt eating the ice cream was delicious,” Bauer says. “The first time was a pleasurable experience. “However, you can use ice cream to tell stories. I was studying art and we were using paint or poetry. Ice cream uses scents. Scents are most of the flavor. You taste the sweet, and you feel the cold. Once I realized that, I was off and running.” Midwest-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams now has scoop shops around the United States, as well as Jeni’s Free Market at Runway in Playa Vista. Her market stand is her fifth Los Angeles location. This year, Bauer has dropped new flavors like White House chocolate chip, everything bagel, buttercream birthday cake and a Dolly Parton collaboration, strawberry pretzel pie. Wedding cake was launched on June 8 and features vanilla cake with lemon, blackberries and buttercream icing. Parton’s strawberry pretzel pie is just one of many collaborations, none of which are paid. “We do have literally countless people approaching us about collaborations,” Bauer says. “We like to hand pick the people we partner with. You never know who’s next. They’re always amazing people—amazingly talented,...

Provenance Meals heal and nourish from the inside out By Kamala Kirk As a certified holistic health coach, entrepreneur and mother, Caroll Lee understands the challenge of maintaining a daily diet that is clean and nutritious. She recommended recipes and meal plans to her clients to help them reduce their weight, increase energy and become the best version of themselves through nutrition. Lee noticed that as long as she was actively coaching her clients, they were successful at reaching their goals. But when they stopped eating nutrient-dense food, they would revert back to unhealthy routines. In 2012, Lee created Provenance Meals, which provides clean, organic, sustainably sourced nutrition, to help people achieve their wellness goals, nourish their bodies and replenish their spirits. “The No. 1 request I received was, ‘I know what I’m supposed to eat, but I just can’t find the time. Can you help me find the food?’” Lee said. “Because nutrition is the foundation on which health is built, I know that the fastest way from Point A to B in anyone’s wellness journey is the food we eat three times a day. I realized that by providing convenient meals prepared with delicious and nutritious ingredients, I was able to help my clients stay on the path toward health and longevity. So, I made it my mission to create and provide meals that met my incredibly...

Loqui brings taqueria-inspired cuisine to Playa Vista By Kamala Kirk Founded by longtime friends Ari Ampudia and Cameron Wallace, Loqui originated in 2013 as a weekly pop-up at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. The team spent three years preparing recipes that brought unique Mexican tastes to life before relocating to Los Angeles in 2016 to establish its roots and open its first brick-and-mortar location in Culver City. For the past five years, Loqui has expanded its footprint across Southern California, opening a second location in DTLA’s Arts District in 2019 followed by Playa Vista in 2021. It is located at Free Market Playa Vista, an open-air retail collective that houses experiential boutiques, restaurants and event spaces at Runway Playa Vista. Loqui’s Playa Vista location features an open-flow concept that reflects the taqueria’s Mexican heritage. It is accented by plants and pots mixed with textures, organic materials and terra cotta tones. Diners are greeted by an eye-catching floor-to-ceiling mural and can enjoy their meals and Mexican craft beers on a spacious outdoor patio that has ample seating and is shaded by a large overhang. “Loqui is a taqueria serving honest Mexican food on signature scratch-made flour tortillas,” Ampudia says. “Loqui offers a casual approach to tacos embodying the charm and flavors of some of Mexico’s favorite taco stands.” Loqui takes a casual approach to tacos that brings Mexican tastes to...

Recess partners with Alfred Coffee to create limited-time beverage By Kamala Kirk Consumer wellness and lifestyle brand Recess has partnered with Alfred Coffee to create the ultimate mood-boosting summer drink. Made with peach blossom white tea, orange syrup, milk and Recess Mood Powder, the limited-time Spotlight Drink special will be offered at select Alfred Coffee locations in Los Angeles including Abbot Kinney. Recess Mood Powders help relax and hydrate with a functional blend of magnesium, passionflower, L-theanine, electrolytes and active B6 – everything your body needs to boost mood and mental energy. Made with natural true-to-fruit flavors, no sugar and zero calories, the power can be added to any Alfred’s beverage. The drink is available until July 22. A 16 oz drink costs $6 and a 24 oz drink costs...

Culver City’s Juicefly delivers upscale alcohol to local doors By Elizabeth M. Johnson Delivery services have thrived during the past year as the coronavirus pandemic kept people at home. At the same time, demand for alcohol also increased. Three young entrepreneurs saw the opportunity to provide a needed service and take it to a new level with Juicefly Wine & Spirits Alcohol Delivery in Culver City. Juicefly founder Melo Pamuk and his brother, Met, have extensive experience in local e-commerce and on-demand delivery businesses. They partnered with Miguel Prado, who brought expertise and a passion for good wine and spirits to the team. With European backgrounds (the Pamuks are from Turkey, Prado from France), the partners created a product list that highlights a global selection of wine, beers and liquors. “Demand for alcohol has been huge during the pandemic, but supply is limited and everyone carried the same things,” Melo said. “Our team has curated an amazing selection of hand-picked products from around the world. We have something for all tastes and all different price points.” He added that third-party delivery services charge high fees, especially for alcohol delivery. In contrast, Juicefly offers customers fast and often free delivery throughout the city. Delivery is free on orders over $50 on the Westside in under 30 minutes and on orders over $100 in all of Los Angeles in under one hour. While fast...