The 1 has a way of feeling like it’s only yours while you’re on the road, even though the coastline is magic for everyone. Got so many DMs during this trip, so it felt like a good time to share.

Here’s how I like to do it:

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But you clicked!

Graza burst onto the scene in January 2022, taking something you’d only ever seen in a restaurant kitchen, the humble squeezy bottle of olive oil, and making it feel as natural on your counter as your salt and pepper mill.

Soon after, the collective lust for the B.O.H. bro (yes, chef!) helped boost brands like Graza that turned practical kitchen tropes into trends. Like Carmy, Graza was after that “sort of luxury experience” while also “taking some of the luxury out of it”… the exact high/low sweet spot food media loves to romanticize.

Your dirt-bag situationship puts olive oil in squeeze bottles, and now you can, too. Graza just did the packaging legwork for you, making it approachable and cute.

They sold out their first week.

But 3 years later, the packaging that made them iconic is now just one of many options… including the very glass bottle format they once set out to disrupt.

This is the story of how they innovated so far, tried to please every market, and ended up right back where they started: olive oil in a glass bottle.

By April 2023, just over a year after launch, squeeze bottles for sauces and oils were popping up everywhere. Graza was fiercely protective of their packaging. CEO Andrew Benin singled out Brightland’s “Pizza Oil” bottle in a LinkedIn post calling it copycat culture.

“While friendly competition was always welcome, I do view this as a blatant disrespect and am choosing to voice my discontent…” — Graza CEO

The internet (and other entrepreneurs) were quick to remind him squeeze bottles have been around… He posted an apology the same day, leaving his original post up with it.

Despite the drama, Graza kept landing in Target, Whole Foods, and every shoppy shop shelf. And while it’s more affordable than some other countertop-ready olive oils, the inevitable happened. People started refilling their Graza bottles with cheaper olive oil, an issue Brightland knows all too well. Same great bottle on the counter, refill at half the price.

The truth is, most people aren’t obsessively comparing cooking oils. We’re buying the ones that taste good enough, and bonus points if they look nice. Packaging becomes part of the appeal, a little lifestyle marker, an expression of identity. It’s why we refill our Aesop bottles, hang on to empty Diptyque candles, and yes, top up our Graza squeeze bottles with Kirkland. Not everyone shops this way, but when a product nails both form and function, it stands out on the shelf and sticks around in our kitchens.

And while that’s technically a retention problem for the brand, it’s also a sign they’ve made it into the “cool” tier.

May 2024 Graza starts teasing a new product and my group chats light up. Rumors swirl. Glass? A can?

They were really pumping up the marketing.

“We have a new product coming out that is revolutionary, and is going to shake up this world for a second time in two and a half years.”

Then I get tipped off that the new product was already live on Whole Foods’ site. I posted a screenshot to my story and my DMs exploded.

Snaxshot reposts it. Then suddenly Graza is watching my stories, and I get shy real quick. I congratulate them on a killer marketing lead-up, then quietly take the post down after a very nice DM from their team. That little taste of leak drama taught me one thing: I am not cut out to be Feudmoi.

(Emily posted the leak the next day to FeedMe anyway with the subject line: “Graza, don’t be mad at me.”)

Aluminum Refill cans. Nitrogen-sealed, eco-friendly, oxygen-blocking… actually kind of a good idea? They were intriguing, a little weird. They looked novel, and were funny to hold, lighter than you’d expect. A packaging format we’d never seen for olive oil before.

But the cans aren’t resealable, and they’re exactly the same size as the squeeze bottles, so your bottle better be completely empty before you refill or you’re stuck with an open can of olive oil. And what do you do with that? Clunky.

Next came Frizzle, a high-heat frying oil available in the squeeze bottle and a hefty, restaurant-style jug (which is what they could have done for refills from the beginning). They rolled out a string of collabs and kept brand awareness high.

Still, the comments kept coming: “But it’s in plastic…” And by April 2025, the microplastics conversation had really heated up. “Plastic is very polarizing… you have very vocal groups of people who hate it.” (Modern Retail).

June 2024, Brightland launches its Everyday Set in opaque, easy-squeezable bottles, $65 for the duo.

And now, August 2025, Graza has launched their glass bottle duo.

Really? After all that doubling down on squeeze bottles?

Now, 3 years after launch, their olive oil comes in three containers:

• Plastic Squeeze Bottles

• Aluminum Can Refills

• Glass Bottles

What started as the thing that set Graza apart has now become just one of several packaging options in their lineup. Don’t like microplastics? Here’s glass! Want to keep reusing your squeeze bottle? Grab an aluminum refill. Some might call it smart marketing, giving every type of customer a “yes.” I see it as losing the focus that made them special in the first place. Too many formats start to feel less like a brand statement and more like a packaging buffet. And honestly, I’d love to see the sales breakdown on those cans.

At the end of the day, I like Graza’s product. But the most interesting thing about their brand has never been the olive oil itself. It’s the branding ecosystem built around it. The irony of eventually circling back to the same glass bottles that olive oil has come in for decades, isn’t lost on me. Glass bottles feel less like the next big idea, and more like a full-circle moment.

Has Graza reached the end of its packaging innovation era now that they’ve gone through their big 3? Doubt it. I have a feeling the Graza team will be teasing another revolutionary product again in 6 months.

But what will it be?

24 Bites from 2024 —

1. Scallion Shitake Loaf + the Jalaneño Basil Cashew Spread from Oat Bakery, Santa Barbara: I enjoyed both at home with a jammy egg. Would absolutely looove if Courage Bagels or Mustard Bagels started using their vegan spreads… 👀

2. The Mushroom Smashburger from Heyday, Palm Springs: TBH, this is the only vegetarian smash burger I’ve ever had - but I loved it. Need to know who offers something like this in LA? And their Burger / Martini special for just $19.99? love.

3. Apple Pie and melted cheddar from Julian Pie Company: An apparently classic combination—though I’ve never seen melted cheese on pie before.

4. The Crab Louie at El Pescador Fish Market in San Diego: a classic, perfected.

5. Mushroom Nori Taco at La Corriente La Jolla, San Diego: sort of my dream taco. The nori adds that bit of ocean, while the mushroom has a meaty, fish-like texture. A clever take on a vegetarian taco.

6. Anything, but especially the Sicilian Crudo from Swan’s Oyster Depot in San Francisco. Bring a crisp $100 bill, go solo, hungry + curious. They will take care of you.

7. Every tinned fish, cheese + wine combo I had at Golden Sardine, San Francisco: This place was such a sunny spot for me last summer. Kept dreaming of chef friends hosting pop-ups there.

8. Green Beans + Crab noodles from Four Kings, San Francisco: The second little wax bean salad I’ve fallen in love with - the first was at Hippo in Highland Park. Do I love green beans or do I love sauce? I was expecting the crab noodles to come out in a big bowl - but once I realized how rich of a bite it was - slathered in butter and garlic - I understood. And such gorgeous presentation. I don’t usually look into menus that much before I go somewhere new, but for this place I’d study it a bit. They run a really fast paced ship, and I felt a little panicked to order.

9. This bowl at Yo También Cantina, San Francisco: “Yeah, I could eat this every day.” A great mixture of cold crunchy, warm hearty, and spicy. It was this jammy egg that inspired me to get a carton.

10. Tuna Taco’s from Gott’s Roadside, San Francisco / Marin: One of the very few circumstances I enjoy a crispy taco shell.

11. Spicy Tuna Salad at Blue Barn, Marin + San Francisco: I’ve said it before, but truly the only salad I think is worth the $20+ price tag. The heaping scoop of spicy tuna is WORTH IT. They don’t skimp. I’m glad we don’t have Blue Barn in LA because I’d justify this price point every time. Any place that has impeccable salads and McDonald’s style fries is a winner in my book.

12. Gin & Celery at ABV, SF: This was my introduction to celery in a cocktail, and now when I see it, I order it. It makes sense - celery is cool and slippery, a perfect balance to the burn of alcohol. (They have a similar drink at Republique in LA!)

13. Crudo from Flour + Water, San Francisco: This yellowtail was topped with a sort of pickle / caper tapenade - a really original pairing that I’m dying to emulate. Still haven’t had their pizza…weird I know.

14. Garlic Noddles from Burmatown, Larspur: This is the restaurant we go to every time family gets together in Marin. We have our order down. There a few rotating items but the tea leaf salad and garlic mushroom noodles always get ordered. This is also one of the few spots in my hometown that has orange wine.

15. Mai Tai from Sam’s Anchor Cafe, Tiburon: Some of my favorite Mai Tais have been at the most unexpected places. I’m not usually into a fancy foam top, but this one is lilikoi and excellent. Being right on the bay with a view of the city isn’t bad either.

16. Wine tasting at Swick in Newberg, Oregon: Sometimes, you really can just ‘Call Taylor Up!” - or in this case, DM the winery in the off chance they’ll let 2 randos wander around their vineyard and taste everything. Really glad I got to share this day with my sister. I get into it more in BS Issue 52.

17. This cappuccino my Opa made me. McMinnville, OR: Made by the man who got me into coffee, and STILL offers me espresso the second I step through the door (he’s 91). Just when you think he’s finished, he’ll pull out a pocket knife and shave Dove dark chocolate atop for garnish. No cappuccino will ever compare.

18. Tuna + Rhubarb from Gem Wine, NY: If I were to live in a restaurant, this would be it. Unfortunately we only stopped on our way to dinner so we didn’t do a full meal — but we ordered a bottle of wine and I insisted on getting at least one bite. I’ve had a lot of raw tuna in my day, but this fatty / tart pairing was delightful. More on Gem Wine here.

19. Fries and curry from Superiority Burger, New York: The second I had a bite I knew I had had this curry before. S&B Golden Curry is an easy to prepare japanese curry mix that comes in roux blocks. It’s sold everywhere now, even Target. A past boyfriend of mine used to make big batches in a pressure cooker for quick weeknight meals, and for some reason I left it behind with that relationship. But we are SO BACK. I always have this curry in my pantry now. It’s the perfect way to use wilting orphaned veggies. I’d eat almost anything smothered in this liquid gold. More in BS here.

20. Cervos, New York: Vibe is just as great as the meal. A group of us jammed ourselves past the narrow bar into the very cozy back dining room. We stayed there as long as we could, avoiding the rain, dipping fries in the Manila clams soaking up every drop of vino verde…

21. Ravioli from Misi, Brooklyn: Sitting at this sunny table by the window, I was reminded that you don’t have to eat pasta in the dark on a date. In fact, I’d argue it’s almost more enjoyable when you can really see it — Especially laborious hand made pasta that’s been cared for all day. It deserves its moment in the shining sun. DIVINE.

22. I still think about this Whiskey and Shiso cocktail I had at Eavesdrop, Brooklyn.

23. Gazpacho from Mesón Andaluz, Lisbon: poured over a scoop of herby cucumber anchovy sorbet. The contrast in texture, flavor, and temperature was so unexpected. (This reel shows it better) Really interested in trying to recreate this…

    More of Lisbon in Issue 39.

24. Didn’t get a good shot of this, but the Ginjinha (Sour Cherry Liquor) in Lisbon was the perfect late night introduction to the city. I’m especially in awe of places / traditions that are super old. This bar opened in 1840…

Nothing is old in LA. Even the people don’t age anymore.

But after any weekend away, any international trip, I am still so glad to come back home to Los Angeles.

Best food city in the world.

Hope you found yourself some water to float in this weekend. I’m starting off the week sunburnt… which is sort of embarrassing as an adult. (Thanks Rach for letting me hit your pool while you were out of town! I left a couple Ghia Spritz in the fridge for you!)

…There are less ‘bites’ than usual since I put out Issue 51 so late.

Bites —

• Last July I made a list of places to eat when it’s HOT AF 🔥 [Issue 15] Reading past issues is like a little time capsule for me. You can’t even tell I was going through a breakup!

• Here’s one guy’s Top 10 Tuna Sandwiches in LA. I’m not as into melts as he is — Bub’s is my fave :)

• I read this Supersonic stack about ‘Why restaurants don’t have clocks.’ Some highlights:

  • ‘…the more time I spend in a restaurant the higher the check totals.’

  • ‘In a lot of ways, a restaurant is just a race against time…”  🕰

• BBR. Drooling over this Potato + Caviar pizza from Sei’s Pizza Omakase.

• Girl Beer is here. hate it.

• Ever since I’ve gone to H.I.G.T.E, I’ve been getting targeted IG ads for Pepe’s in Montrose. NGL, it’s kinda working.

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Both Rhode and Summer Fridays are bringing back their coffee inspired lip products (tints, peptides, whatever) just in time for iced coffee season. I love a Plainsight-esque product shot as much as the next guy — I mean truly, these photos are stunning. I would have loved to be on set. But I think we’re all ready for some less redundant imagery? Maybe?

A coffee shop boom has hit LA again — Community Goods opened just over year ago. Telegrama felt like a fresh addition. K-town caught a wave. But now, it feels like a new opening is happening every week.

• H.I.G.T.E. — (aka How’s It Going To End) Not my favorite name for a coffee shop. Whether you’re typing it, or saying it aloud, it’s clunky… BUT it sure is pretty!

  The new Montrose spot was designed by @wrk_shp, the architects behind a ton of Blue Bottle’s spaces. The landscaping was done by @terremoto_landscape, who worked on some favorites of mine — The Walker House, Sea Ranch Lodge, Platform Park + Scribe. (I hear the coffee is good too. I think they serve Heart.)

• Camel — a popular chain from South Korea has arrived in Silver Lake, expect to wait an hour. Curious about their double cup method…

  

• Lil East — an 8’x8’ cafe started by pastry chef, Jocelyn Todd in El Sereno

• Ondo Coffee — (previously The OX LA) now in East Hollywood

• Loop Espresso Club — Tokyo inspired espresso bar in Eagle Rock

• Lumen — I used to walk by this spot on Fig all the time - been curious

• Flowgood @ Slowjamz — a weekend-only hi-fi retail & coffee shop in Arts District

• Dayglow — just opened another location in Larchmont

• Concierge — a Berlin coffee shop for concrete + wood enthusiasts. They came to LA because ‘the rest of Germany is just kind of boring.’

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with the options. At one time in my life, I would have made an effort to check out all the new spots promptly. But I’ve been leaning more into the mentality that ’the best coffee shop is the one closest to you…’ I simply can’t be bothered.

In addition to the coffee itself, and good coffee shop should check a few other boxes. Very few check them all. (I’d say even Maru is missing one…)

• easy to get to / park

• has a comfy place to sit

• interesting interior

• music that doesn’t suck (if you notice it, it’s either really good or really bad)

• entertaining people (for watching or eavesdropping)

• located on a decent block to walk around (or proximity to something else)

• a menu item to crave (something that keeps you coming back despite the lack of parking, available seating, etc.)

High turnover is essential to the business, so patrons can’t get too comfortable. But there has to be something in between a low backless stool and a la-z-boy right?

Civil Coffee in highland park has cushioned stools + chairs with backs. Can you think of any others with upholstered seating?

Leave a comment

Bites

• Fondry lines aren’t getting any shorter. I’ve heard they’ve been stocking Loquat + Kumquat with croissants on weekends — might be your best bet. 🥐

• Baker’s Bench pastries (vegan friendly) are now at Dada Market Fri - Sun. Their Alpine St. location is opening soon!

• Every time Good Luck Bar posts on IG, I think they’re going to reopen. ‘Stranger things have happened 🛸’

• Gran Blanco has ditched their faux Tulum interior, and entered their Izakaya Era.

• Another remodel — N/Naka got botox.

• Apparently Amazon has a secret war room to ‘crack Trader Joe’s and dominate everything’ — for those hit with the WSJ paywall, here’s a reel.

• Smart. Thingtesting shares their case studies publicly — like this campaign they ran for Sauz, converting over 350 new customers, generating $9,500+ in sales.

• Our Place made a cookbook, Dinner at Our Place ft. Woon’s Keegan & Mama Fong, DeVonn Francis + others. Ships in October.

• Priya Krishna wrote a cookbook for kids — this might be more my speed.

• No more leaky lids for Grillo’s Pickles — new design, same great pickle.

• Evie says, ‘Hot girls love brine’ and she’s right.

• 5 restaurant owners explain why they left the industry to the LA Times

  • “It’s just hard to justify being at work 12 to 14 hours a day and also not make any money.” — Spencer Bezaire, Eszett

  • ‘We can’t afford to be open. We can’t afford to be closed.’ Waxpaper owner Lauren Lemos said in another ‘State of Restaurants’ article.

• Speaking of closures, Gjelina Take Away is closing early June.

• I was wondering where Konbi’s dinnerware ended up… 🍽

• Former ‘Jiro’ Chef Nakazawa Now Dreams of Delivery-Only Sushi — I’ve heard it’s ‘fucking good.’ Watch out Sugar Fish!

• The chef behind the now-closed Angler has returned with an Italian-ish restaurant in the old La Brea Bakery space, Leopardo. Hella caviar.

PS. What’s up with this obscure restaurant-specific instagram trend? It’s like they all discovered collaging at once. Food pics with decent lighting aren’t cutting it.

More on restaurant’s IG presence in last week’s issue, Instagram 101 for Restaurants.

🗓 Coming Up…

• Neighborhood Wine, DTLA Events

• Lunasia is hosting ‘Summer Music Nights’ this June / July

• 6/02 Same Same Studio Yard Sale in Costa Mesa

• 6/03 Teotl Pop-Up at Cafe Troipcal

• 6/07 Baker’s Bench is opening!

• 6/19-6/23 Homage turns 8!

• 6/27 The Bear Season 3 (All episodes drop)

• Pierce Abernathy’s May / June NY Pop-Up Tour

• 7/01 California’s ‘Junk Fee Ban’ goes into effect.

More Content:

• What Makes a Summer Restaurant — James Jung for Supersonic

• Everyone’s Disrupting and It’s Exhausting — Alison Roman on Blackbird Spyplane

• Café Tropical is so back, The Angel reports.

• 🎧 📺 Splitting the bill like an adult, dining alone and finding food at the airport — Jason Stewart on Solicited Advice

• 🎧 📺 Robby Hoffman came in HOT on Solicited Advice the week before. Alison was 15 minutes late and Robby didn’t let her forget it. Do they uh.. hate each other? lol

  • ‘We can all be our own Sweetgreen if we just plan ahead…’ true.

• 🎧 Los Angeles Pizza King with Quarter Sheet’s Aaron Lindell — Taste Podcast

Recent Bites (hometown eats)

A weekend full of pasta, cae sals + spritz!

• Dinner at the Fontana Maisel’s — A perfect backyard dinner celebrating Jessie + Gabe :) The pasta was HOT, there were multiple sauce + salad options (caesar of course). Wine + Aperol flowing all night. We got lucky with an insane sunset. PS. it’s been decided. Jovial is the goated gluten free pasta option.

Piazza D’Angelo — a no frills neighborhood spot in the heart of downtown Mill Valley. The kind of place that splits portions for you if you say you’re sharing. I almost forgot about coursed out meals! Is it time to move on from the ‘last bite of the shared plate’ dance?

World Wrapps — This was a go-to off campus lunch spot in high school. Wraps are pretty easy to get wrong. If the last bite is looking like a mouth full of dry tortilla, I won’t be finishing it. World Wraps does a decent job keeping it all about the salad with an ultra-thin tortilla. Perfect. My order used to be Samurai Salmon but I decided to switch it up with a caesar to stay on theme for the weekend.

Gott’s Roadside — A classic burger place with even better tacos. Real one’s will remember it as Taylor’s Refresher. I’m thrilled they’ve expanded to Marin, but the OG St. Helena location will always be my favorite.

When I said I go to Burmatown every time I’m home, I mean it. The wait is never an issue with a bottle of Niepoort Redoma. I was super excited to see a shrimp toast listed under specials. (I dream about the one from Eszett all the time.) Unfortunately they were sold out, which probably means it’s good. I’m hoping my dad will report back. More Burmatown in Issue 41.

Stillwater — A little touch of LA in Fairfax. Oysters, natural wine… yuzu was on the menu thrice. Old bay fries! Could have been a cute date spot, but alas. My dad was loooving the playlist. Thanks for the suggestion, Andrew!

Equator Coffee — My typical order is an oat capp, but I tend to get more adventurous when it’s my second cup. The raspberry mocha was a little sweet, a little tart, but very subtle. It reminded me of Kumquat’s February special. A perfect post-lunch treat. (P.S. they have locations in Culver City + Laguna Beach)

🔗 Last Week’s Most Clicked Link

Michael McGregor is looking to ban kids at Capri Club, ‘It poses a significant risk to harshing the vibe of single people.’

Welcome back to the big apple. This is the second part of my New York series where I comb through 10 restaurants I went in April — mostly good, a couple disappointments. In the first issue, I wrote about Rule of Thirds, a modern Japanese restaurant in Brooklyn.

This week, I’m talking about Gem Wine a ‘choose your own adventure’ wine bar on the Lower East Side, and Superiority Burger, a vegetarian diner in East Village — where the fry menu changes depending on the day of the week.

Let’s get into it.

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Once I started writing about my trip to New York, I realized I had a lot to say about each spot (shocking, I know) — so I’m going to bless your inbox with several New York issues. ;)

But this is it guys... You knew it was coming. This is where I ask you to consider becoming a paid subscriber. Think of it like buying me one coffee a month. My usual order is an oat capp from Go Get ‘Em Tiger. It costs me $8.12 including a $1 tip. I won’t keep everything behind a paywall, but I gotta afford all this eating out somehow, right?  *If you were one of my OG subscribers when I first started in 2020, I already comp’d you 6 months. ;)

buy me an oat cap

ANYWAY, I’m going to pepper in my NY issues in the next few weeks in addition to my normal LA B.S.

I’ll first share a list of the 30+ places I went. Then each week I’ll go through 1-2 of my favorites in depth. A couple places didn’t live up to the hype. I’ll get to those too.

This week is all about Rule of Thirds. Next week will be about Superiority Burger + Gem Wine.

OK, now let’s go to New York…

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Keeping this issue brief as I’ve been BUSY OK!?

🗓 A few things coming up…

• 3/18 Yess at Dudley — celebrating the closing out of California’s spiny lobster and chanterelle mushroom season

• 3/24 Everson Royce Bar Wine Garden — wine flights, cocktails, music, mayhem + more

• 3/20 La Morra Pizza at Canyon Coffee

• 3/23 + 3/24 Barra Santos Bday Block Party

Snaxpo

“EXPO tends to be so cost-prohibitive to the actual new and emerging brands, so every year, Snaxshot has been putting together our own event that helps showcase and bring visibility to the newest of new…. As usual, our curation will feature international brands, emerging and pre-launch brands! 😍” — Snaxshot

This year they partnered with delivery app, GoPuff, who supports emerging brands with the dedicated category ‘Latest and Greatest’.

I’ve loved Andrea’s newsletter, 👁💌 tweets, and hot takes on food & bev for years now, so I was thrilled when Annie connected me to help with with some of the production details. Tables, candles… and a very last minute tablescape to support the ‘challah + sauce’ table.

For a 3 hour turnaround, I’d say it turned out pretty good!? I cleared Cookbook out of chicory and my friends really came through with the silver platters... (We literally might start a small prop rental company lol)…

I heard 80 brands were present. Insane turnout. I saw so many friendly faces... Finally met Matt from Taste Podcast IRL.

A few memorable sips + bites: Nomadica’s Boxed Wine through the ice luge, Monte’s Sauce from a literal fountain, Pistakio Butter, and Hot Rosé 🌶🍷 — which HEAR ME OUT… could be a great liquor sub in a margarita. Not really sure what else you would do with it? I made and try it too. But you’ll have to ask them what they think…

More Recent Bites

Sweetgreen — If you’re on set, and you’re ordering Chipotle, you don’t care about your crew!! Clean greens are the only answer for a long shoot day together. This time I ordered crispy rice with salmon. Really excited about this Whimsy shoot turned out too…

Civil Coffee — a classic breakfast for me, 3 sides orders. (Their gf bread slaps)

Dada Bar — Just opened behind Dada Market — home of Little Fish in Echo Park. I’m excited to see this place take form... Really cute crowd on opening day and the brothy beans were tasty.

Shaved Zucchini with Parm — Chloe made this Cafe Telegrama inspired salad for me an afternoon I was working with her. (Watch her make it for Toast on video! Shot + edited by Simi ;)

A Very British Supper Club — another perfect night at Chloe + Andy’s. This time I offered to assist BOH instead of dine. (but also ate everything ofc). She wrote all about it in her latest substack, which you should sub to if you haven’t already! 💌 This was my first time trying a vegetarian Scotch Egg and OMG. We need more pubs in LA! The whole meal was so comforting. Big love to these supper clubs.

The next morning I drove up to Marin. I’ve never seen i5 so green, or so many cybertrucks at once…

I stopped for a solo dinner right away.

Sushi Ko — Sometimes when you go back to a childhood favorite, it just doesn’t hit. That’s not the case with Sushi Ko. I went here a lot in high school with my mom. Sean Penn was often smoking a cig outside. (Probably the only one in the whole county who smoked publicly). I ordered shrimp shumai which is served with a spicy mustard I used to skip the mustart but now I get it. And of course, hamachi jalapeño. The first sashimi I ever loved.

Perfect bites. I was asked 4 times if someone would be joining me. Can’t a girl just eat alone at the bar?

The main reason I came up was for Jessie’s Bridal Shower! Her mom Lynn, and friend Ruth threw the sweetest garden party. The vintage milk glass place settings, pale pink tulips, quaint coffee station, the perfectly timed blooming magnolia tree… it was a dream. Catered by Comforts Cafe (which BTW…for how popular this place is, their online presence sucks?)

The Chinese Chicken Salad is PTA mom staple. The shop has an entire grab-n-go fridge full of ‘em (tofu too!). IYKYK

The celiac friendly cupcakes had me dead. (I won the ‘He Said / She Said’ game BTW) So excited to come back to Mill Valley for the wedding in a few months!!!

Burma Town — A neighborhood must every time I stay at my Dad’s. I started off with a glass of Cloud Juice - a reallly smooth orange that my family doesn’t hate. Every dish, just banger after banger.

We ordered the tea leaf salad, a bunch of bao, panko prawns, mushroom garlic noods, shrimp jalapeño chow fun, basil green bean stir fry, and a scallop special — which ended up being a table favorite.

For some reason we let cousin Jake take home the left overs.

Rulli — Another Larkspur classi. This Italian cafe opened in 1988 and hasn’t changed much since (for good reason). Get a cinnamon twist and a brioche bun (not to be confused with a croissant!)

Sam’s — the pics say it all, you know the vibes. Old bay fries, a buttery lobster roll, seared tuna salad. This spot has aged like fine wine.

Their Mai Tai was surprisingly one of the best I’ve had. Lilikoi foam float? OK Sam!

Love you Marin! Be back soon.

🔗 Last Week’s Most Clicked Link

Whole Foods heard out about the shoppy shop and wants in.

Lisbon is like the San Francisco of Europe - it’s super hilly, right on the water… foggy mornings tend to break into sunny afternoons. The Ponte 25 de Abril bridge looks strikingly similar to the Golden Gate. 🌁

I spent a week there with my family wining, dining, and walking (a lot). Pro tip: Go with your sister who travels every chance she gets and has been to Lisbon thrice.

I’m not calling this a guide — just simply sharing where we went.

• Coffee: The Coffee 

• Pastries / Breakfast: Camoba, Piriquita, Manteigaria

• Snacks: Sol E Pesca, Casa Portuguesa do Pastel Bachalau, Empanar

• Dinner: Mesón Andaluz, Lupita, Senhor Uva, Ponto Final, Bairro do Avillez

• Drinks: Mini Bar, By the Wine, Holy Wine, Ginjina Sem Rival

• For next time: Vago, Boavista Social Club, Oficio, Da Noi, Toca Da Raposa, Mini Bar + By the Wine for dinner (not just drinks)

I like to form a little routine when I travel. Maybe it’s taking the same walk each morning, or hitting the same 4pm happy hour a few times. Just a small thing to keep me grounded.

Finding a coffee shop walking distance from where I’m staying is kind of the best case scenario. With several locations in Lisbon (and 9 other countries) The Coffee became my routine this trip.

The Coffee

‘The best of Brazilian coffee combined with the purity and perfectionism of Japan.’ They have a super streamlined ipad ordering process which I actually appreciated considering 1) I’m showing up pre-caffeine and 2) I don’t speak Portuguese.

Lupita

Lupita happens to be next to The Coffee — and came highly recommended by the barista AND by my friend, Annie. The garlic bread was insane, pizza — perfect, wine — natural. Get the chimichurri for dipping.

Senhor Uva

Pplant based food and natural wine — we fired the menu, went through 3 bottles and 4 dessert pours (thanks to our somm, Justin). Port is growing on me. Standouts were the jackfruit ceviche + the mushrooms.

Mesón Andaluz

Probably the most memorable thing I ate on this trip was this gazpacho — poured over a scoop of herby cucumber anchovy sorbet. The textural / flavor contrast was so unexpected. Really interested in recreating this… (This reel shows it better) Potato bombs + hot garlicy shrimp were important on the table too.

Páteo + Mini Bar at Bairro do Avillez

Bairro do Avillez is like 4 restaurants in 1 — Taberna (tavern); a Páteo where seafood and fish are king; Mini Bar, a restaurant and gastro bar; and Pizzaria Lisboa… All by the Michelin recognized chef José Avillez.

The grilled sea bass was delicious, but even more memorable was the smashed potato with olives and basil oil — almost like bed of gnocchi. I also had a stunning purist caipirinha here.

After dinner, Faby led us in to the not-so-hidden gastro Mini Bar in the back for one final drink. I could tell once we stepped in, we should definitely return for a full dinner.

Empanar

My sister and I came across Empanar walking along the funicular route. Cozy Argentinian spot for a quick drink + empanada.

Camoba

Bright little brunch spot… matcha pancakes, vegan options + lattes. Outfit pics are def taken here. Go in between breakfast and lunch so you can try things from both menus. We loved this galette.

Sol E Pesca on Pink Street!

Will go anywhere Tony has been, especially when tinned fish is involved. I actually liked the marinated beans more than anything — something I will making at home more.

Ponto Final Restaurante

We took a ferry across the river for this seafood spot. When you get off the boat, you follow the water along a ledge — about a 10 minute walk. That’s when you realize you can’t have too much to drink at dinner. You’ll have to walk back in a food coma, 2 bottles deep.

We probably over ordered. They don’t fuck around here, fish is served whole. My cod fritters came with the most comforting pot of rice and beans that truly got better the longer it sat. Oysters came served with lime — made me think of Loreto in Frogtown. Fun with a group, romantic for a date. Worth the little trek.

Casa Portuguesa do Pastel De Bacalhau

2 traditional Portuguese flavors, brought together in 1 bacalhau — a cod fritter stuffed with a sharp sheep’s cheese. A perfect afternoon bite, pairs perfectly with a glass of port.

Manteigaria Fabrica De Pastéis de Nata

I was told by multiple people that Manteigaria has better pastéis de nata than the original (and super busy) Pastéis de Belém. So naturally we tried both. I can’t say there was enough of a difference to feel strongly about it — so if you want to avoid lines, Manteigaria will more than satisfy your tart craving. Highly encourage the optional cinnamon dusting…

When I saw Bella Baxter eat a bunch of these in Poor things, I knew I had to try them.

Casa Piriquita, Sintra

(I liked these better than the pastéis de nata) Sintra’s very own pillow pastry, Travesseiro. Stuffed with a sweet, eggy almond cream and dusted with sugar. A perfect fluffy treat to enjoy with a coffee.

Holy Wine

A closet of a wine bar with similar curation to Baby Bistro or El Prado — I recognized a lot of the wines. Fun if you’re missing LA or want to stand on the street with a cig.

By the Wine

Unfortunately we didn’t have a full dinner here, but we did stop by for a bottle of bubbly. 80 wine references, a variety of tapas, homemade bread, Iberian ham, salmon ceviche… Great date spot.

Ginjinha Sem Rival

I love a late night street treat, and cherry liquor is a good one. Some places serve the Ginjinha in little chocolate cups — will have to try that next time.

This trip made me especially appreciate LA’s very own Barra Santos. If you’re craving a Portuguese hint without leaving town, head to Cypress Park for some bacalhau and a porto tonic. ;) 🥂