Category: Food & Drink

Lavender and Truffles ice cream features custom spices and organic herbs By Holly Jenvey Lavender and Truffles is an innovative, plant-based ice cream brand that opened a pop-up parlor in Venice on November 19. The non-dairy ice cream is made with five simple ingredients and is inspired by spices and herbs that are traditionally found in the culinary dishes of Asian cultures. Founder Alicia Liu, a self-taught cook who has over 20 years of experience working with luxury brands, decided that she would start making ice cream on her own during the pandemic. “It started with my daughter, she...

Santa Monica Brew Works’ limited-release IPAs celebrate iconic local establishments Santa Monica Brew Works’ limited-release IPAs celebrate iconic local establishments By Kamala Kirk During the pandemic, Santa Monica Brew Works has stepped up to support and help others in the community in a number of ways. In addition to supporting frontline healthcare workers and nourishing homebound neighbors with Meals On Wheels West in tandem with local artists Corie Mattie and Ruben Rojas of Beautify Earth, the Santa Monica-based brewery has created limited-release beers that celebrate iconic local establishments. “This year has challenged small companies like ours to dig deep,...

The Wee Chippy in Venice continues to thrive during the pandemic By Sara Edwards Nestled in a 110-square-foot space on the Ocean Front Walk in Venice is a little walk-up counter where the fresh-battered cod and hand-cut chips are sizzling all day long. The Wee Chippy, open since 2013, is a fish and chips booth where Glasgow native Joe Gorrie puts a unique twist on the classic Scottish delicacy. Prior to starting his business, Gorrie worked in television and media writing, and would travel back and forth between Brooklyn and Venice. His friends would always ask him to make...

A Venice consultant’s cookbook helps people become more turkey savvy By Sara Edwards Venice consultant Jessica Williams’ idea for creating a Thanksgiving cookbook started off with her writing recipes for her son and his cousins. After she told people what she was doing, they began to ask Williams to write her recipes down for them and what her shopping list looked like for Thanksgiving, which made her realize how much of an interest there was in the subject. “It then became this idea that maybe people could benefit from this, especially for what I call us hyphenated Americans such...

Get your fix this fall with festive coffees and cocktails from local spots By Kamala Kirk As the weather gets colder and the air feels crisper, many of us are looking for a little pick-me-up, and what better way to boost your spirits than with a tasty beverage? The fall season brings a variety of seasonal favorites and crafty coffees (including a few cocktails) that will instantly lift your spirits. They’re perfect for any occasion and time of day, not to mention that you’re supporting local businesses when you order one of these festive drinks. House Pumpkin Spice Latte...