LA Guide: Brentwood

Hello blogosphere!!

First of all, I would like to start this first post of 2014 by wishing everybody a Happy New Year :)

Those who follow me on Instagram probably know that I have been in LA for the past month and I really tried to take some time to disconnect from the virtual world!

It was amazing to spend some time with my family and just enjoy the million things to do in the city of angels.

In the coming days I will post different LA guides, trying to give you my insider tips and avoid the most touristy ones; starting with this first one on the neighborhood of Brentwood; known to be one of the most affluent districts of LA as well as being home to many high profile celebs, this charming neighborhood is well worth the detour. 

3 things to do in Brentwood:

Drive around: Get lost in the many picturesque streets without missing a tour of La Mesa Drive, just on the border between Brentwood and Santa Monica, this street and its unusual canopy of rare Moreton Bay Fig trees is just like no other.

Shop: like a local at the Brentwood Country Mart

Dine: at the one and only Katsuya (my favorite of all branches around LA)

*Cozy house & tree swing*

*La Mesa Dr.*

*Brentwood Country Mart*

*Brentwood Trading Post*

*Botany flower shop*

*Calypso St. Barth store*

*Turpan Store*

*Farm Fresh food market & restaurant*

*Sunset in Santa Monica on our way back home*

*Dinner at Katsuya Brentwood*

Spicy tuna on crispy rice sushi

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Every time that I go to L.A, one of my must do's is to go at least once to the japanese restaurant Katsuya in Brentwood, their crispy rice spicy tuna sushi is seriously one of the best I have ever tried!! 

Unable to find a close enough replica in any Japanese restaurants here in Singapore, I decided that it was time to try out this mouthwatering (and also healthy) dish. I searched the net for recipes and then I came across the perfect recipe on Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop blog, the recipe is tasty and full of flavors, I really recommend that you try it if you are a sushi/Japanese/raw fish fanatic like myself :) 

(click here for the recipe) 

Personal notes: 

*I couldn't find the Sriracha chili sauce so I used a local Thai chili sauce (see picture 5)

*For those who are not familiar with Japanese cuisine, Gwyneth's recipe uses Furikake to season the rice (picture 6). 

There are different kinds of Furikake seasonings some of the most common ingredients are seaweed, bonito flakes, sesame seeds and dried & ground fish. The Furikake I chose for this recipe also contained horseradish and powdered green tea.

*When frying the rice make sure that you cover your pan as the oil will splatter around and it can be dangerous.

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