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Why Did You Eat That: Xino

By |November 23rd, 2010|Los Angeles, Why Did You Eat That?|

So, last week our friends invited us to join them for dinner at Xino located inside of Santa Monica Place. I had yet to check out the newest shopping center in Santa Monica (I know… lame) so, I was pretty excited. Now, let’s just go ahead and be clear that the dining in this “mall” is not that of the typical suburban shopping center. Santa Monica went all out with their fine dining.

Xino is located on the top floor of the shopping center along with several other restaurants. It has both an indoor section which is decorated with modern furniture and art as well as a large outdoor section. We were seated outside in our own personal “cabana.” It was a bit chilly, so the heat lamps were cranking and we all huddled for some body heat.

Honestly, I don’t have a whole lot to say about this place. The portions are served family style and it is Asian fusion… aka it was a poor man’s Philippe. Not a bad choice for mall food though. Order the lettuce wraps and steer clear of the shrimp.

Xino

395 Santa Monica Place

Suite 308

Santa Monica, CA 90401

310-755-6220

xx,

WhyDid

WhyDid Wisdom: Vacation vs Evacuation

By |November 4th, 2010|WhyDid Wisdom|

Almost four months ago, I left the Big Apple for the City of Angels. I had really only planned on a weekend getaway (we can get into the specifics later), but once there, I never left.  While the weather is beautiful and the outlook is sunny, I didn’t stay in Los Angeles because I loved the city. Some would jump to that conclusion, but they’d be sorely mistaken.

As anyone who’s lived in Manhattan knows, that city can really wear you out. Just the day to day routine is terribly tiresome and not for the faint of heart. At times it feels as if you are in an abusive relationship. You sometimes hate the very same city you love so much. Cursing it one moment and cursing anyone out who dare speak a bad word about it the next. While the shopping, restaurants, beautiful and interesting people, and sheer energy are enough to make you want to stay, New York City is no joke. No one gets by in Gotham on just charm alone. After five years of pounding the pavement and surviving the city, I was running out of steam. So when the prospect of Los Angeles popped up, I was game.

I hadn’t been to LA since visiting my brother nearly eight years prior, but I remembered liking LA well enough. And who am I to argue with a free trip to sun, fun, and palm trees? So I hopped on that Virgin America Flight in July and waved fair well to my home.

I’m not going to spend time bashing LA (at least not today), but let’s just say that going from New York to Los Angeles is like Bambi trying to walk on ice.  It’s certainly an adjustment and at times can be awkward and hard to watch. I’m fairly certain the same is true for Angeleno transplants in NY. Bottom line: they are two very different beasts. Despite the fact that I lived for a couple of months with only the contents of a carry on, there were more growing pains than that alone.

Traffic, inflated egos, lack of a decent bagel, and laughable sense of community were not helping my homesickness. Had I not found a couple of good (read: the only) reasons to stick around (love and career), I would have been on the next flight back to JFK… and step on it! It became abundantly clear, that I was not meant to live in Los Angeles and no amount of shoreline was going to change that. But alas… I’d made my bed. Time to lay in it.

It’s kind of like when you have a fight or a rough patch with a friend or your mate. While you may feel like you need to pick up and run to the nearest exit, perhaps all you need is a little break. You’d better be pretty sure about your decision before you make it.

I still don’t feel like I live in Los Angeles and I haven’t given up my New York apartment just yet. I consider this an extended vacation/social experiment. I plan on enjoying all that I can about LA until it is check out time. Thankfully, there is light at the end of this tunnel and there are certainly far worse places to be.

Now that Manhattan and I are in a long distance relationship, I long for the little things I once took for granted. I guess it’s true what they say, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” and the grass is not always greener (especially since there isn’t any in Manhattan). The moral of the story is I may have been a bit rash in my decision. What I needed was a vacation… not an evacuation.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Eat That: Cha Cha Chicken

By |August 9th, 2010|Los Angeles, Why Did You Eat That?|
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What does one need more after a grueling day at the beach than some delicious food and serious refreshment? Okay, maybe some aloe, but probably much more of the former. I was delighted to be introduced to Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica a couple of weekends ago. Not only is it totally adorable, the food is a refreshing change from your average beach eats.
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It is true to the beach feel serving up Caribbean fare, so there is no need to gussy up or make a reservation. Just stroll up, take a gander at the menu, order, and find a table to enjoy. I am partial to the jerk chicken enchiladas with beans and rice and fried plantains. It’s just spicy enough without needing to call the fire department.
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You can not forget to wash it down with their fresh juices. I am a huge fan of the watermelon or strawberry ginger lemonade. We actually ended up combining both for an even more delightful drink.
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Cha Cha Chicken
1906 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-581-1684
Dress Code:
This is a beach crowd, so easy, breezy, beautiful would be my suggestion. Feel free to toss on a cute cover up over your ‘kini.