First you guys, I just wanted to say I am so sorry for the duplicate posts that went out to the RSS feed! This weekend I moved all my recipes to the recipe section where they belong, in hopes that it will make searching for recipes more convenient. :) I am done moving things around now though, so it shouldn’t happen again! However, you may need to resubscribe to the RSS feed to continue receiving new recipe notifications. If you’re having any other trouble with the RSS feed or receiving email updates, please don’t hesitate to let me know so I can do my best to remedy it for you immediately. So sorry for the inconvenience!
Whew, now that that’s out of the way, first I have to tell you about this photo, lol! I left for Newport Beach the day after Valentine’s Day to spend a sunny girls weekend in California with my sweet friend and fellow blogger Jenny, from Picky Palate. Kevin had bought me a beautiful bouquet of roses for Valentine’s Day, and he knew I was sad to have to leave them behind when they had barely even started to open yet. So my first morning in OC, I woke up to a text with a gorgeous photo of my roses. How thoughtful, I thought! The next morning, I woke up to another text, but nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see! I nearly died of laughter when I saw this photo of Miley holding one of my roses in her mouth. At first I thought it was Photoshopped! How on earth did he get her to do that?! They both just crack me up, life is always full of smiles with these two around.
Okay, now let’s talk LA! :) On Friday Jenny and I drove into gorgeous Hollywood, California, down Sunset Boulevard, and headed straight for one of my absolute favorite breakfasts on the planet: The Griddle Cafe. I know I’ve told you guys about this place before, but I am completely in love with their famous, massive pancakes and french toast. I almost always get the “Recess Time” pancake, which is a decadent, fluffy pancake topped with a cinnamon brown sugar streusel. You can see a few photos of this seriously swoon-worthy pancake here, from my last visit. It is totally and completely out of the world. But the last time I was there, I took my friends Josh and Maria from Two Peas and Their Pod, and heaven bless them, they recreated this recipe and shared it on their blog! You can find their fabulous recipe here: Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes. It really does taste very close to the Griddle Cafe pancakes. So this time, since I can now make the cinnamon struesel pancakes at home, I decided to try a new pancake, The Black Magic Pancake. As you can see it is a sweet, light, and fluffy pancake stuffed with crushed Oreo cookies, topped with powdered sugar, whipped cream and more Oreo cookies. I nearly fainted when I took my first bite! Rocked. My. Face. Off.
And of course, I had to get this indulgent pancake with a side of French Toast. The Griddle Cafe’s “Mama’s French Toast” is hands down, the best French toast I’ve ever had. I don’t know what the secret ingredient is that makes this French toast so special, but I’ve never had anything like it. Ever since I first had it almost two years ago, I’ve ordered French toast at every single restaurant I can find it, and nothing even comes close to this French toast! I was a little worried after almost two years of taste-testing some seriously fabulous French toast dishes from all over — after all, the Cinnamon Bun French Toast from Another Broken Egg Cafe is hard to beat! — but when I had it again this weekend, it absolutely did not disappoint. My eyes closed with delight upon first taste! It was exactly how I remembered it. Yay!
Another place I always must stop in LA is Joan’s on Third. This is such a cute little cafe, with a seriously fantastic bakery case. There are always way too many delicious-looking treats to choose from! So after walking off our massive breakfast in Beverly Hills, we made our way here for lunch, and of course a few treats!
The one thing I always must get here is the Snickers Cake. This decadent, fudgy chocolate cake is stuffed with layers of light, fluffy chocolate mouse and topped with crushed Snickers candy bars. It is truly heaven! Jenny and I both love this cake so much, we recreated it in fabulous cupcake form as these Snickers Cupcakes with Chocolate Mousse Filling. Such a fun little cupcake! I seriously need to make those again soon.
We also tried a few new things this time, like this delicious looking chocolate chip streusel topped coffee cake. How fun is this cake? I might have to recreate this recipe soon… :)
And oh my gosh… this massive High Hat Cupcake!
Can you believe this perfectly pillowy soft frosting?! Combined with the thin chocolate shell and the soft, fluffy chocolate cake, this cupcake was just perfect. So fun!
After completely stuffing ourselves silly with LA’s decadent treats, we made our way back home to Jenny’s cute cottage in Newport Beach. We took an evening walk just at sunset, and this was our view.
I. Am. Never. Leaving. California.
That is all.
Thanks for looking! :)
I just wanted to say hello to a fellow Boston lover as Miley is completely adorable. I have a 7 mo old named Finley who keeps me completely entertained lol. I look forward to reading more of your blog!
Sounds like a great trip! And how adorable is Miley!! After reading this, I’m in the mood for pancakes, french toast and all of those amazing desserts… I need to give the cinnamon pancakes a try a.s.a.p!
I just moved away from California and I sure miss the food!
Flew back to New Orleans yesterday with treats on my mind… next time you head to LA stop by the Nickel Diner.. they have these crazy donuts and desserts.
These pictures are making my mouth water as usual.
Ok, um… yum! Wish I was there!
Wow. You lucky woman, ha ha sounds like so much fun tasting so many amazing treats! I am dying to have one of those high hat cupcakes!
Thank you for your recommendations last weekend — I was with Erin Conn, showing off my new hometown for our own girls weekend! Bouchon warranted 2 trips for their fab macaroons… still dreaming about them!
Amanda…. YOUR DOG! I just want to squeeze him.
Looks like you had a delicious time–now I’m craving that cupcake.
I’m somewhat of a French toast aficionado myself, and that looks DIVINE! I’ll put it on my bucket list. ;)
Glad you had fun! Loved following your Instagram photos! I need to go back to try that Oreo pancake! You always find the best spots:)
If you ever want a beautifully done pastel pet portrait of your cute friend Miley. I’m your gal. Check out my Facebook page at remember me pet portraits. Or from the link on my Facebook page under Jackie Wood Drawing these loving friends is my passion.
so jealous! we were in newport for our honeymoon. i wanna go back!!!
We found The Griddle Cafe when we were out there last summer and I agree it is to die for!!! I had the nutella/banana stuffed french toast…YUM is all I can say…you have to try it next time!!!
Totally ironic that my most favorite french toast ever lives in Newport Beach…Mutt Lynch’s – I love that place so much. Too bad french toast does not justify a trip there from Indiana!
YES!!! Although, Alabama is my home, I absolutely love California too, Amanda. The Griddle Cafe is also one of my favorites!! We went there back in June from a friend’s recommendation and were very impressed!
Your pictures are fabulous and make me want to go back to CA!
How funny! I too was in Newport/Los Angeles this weekend (a getaway from Fresno) and stopped at BOTH The Griddle (nom) and Joan’s on Third. Add in Lemonade, and you’ve got my trifecta of favorite LA foodie stops :)
PS Recess Time is my fave as well!
Sounds like you had an unbelievable trip!! Great food – great friends – – what more can you ask for?
P.s – – I am now SO hungry from your gorgeous food pictures ;) lol
So fun! Glenn and I are in LA for the next few months so we’ll have to try out a couple of these places. We hit up Mozza last week in Hollywood – so fun. :)
The high hat chocolate cupcake looks like the ears of a boston terrier. You could put circles on the cake part for the eyes! I have two boston terriers and I may have to make them!
I love that opening shot of your sweet pup holding the rose. What a good dog! It looks as though you and Jenny had an amazing time. I may have gained a few pounds just reading this post.
how fun!! all that delicious food looks insane!! Wishing I was on my way to CA!
Oh wow, that cupcake is insane, but in a good way. I’m dying to try those pancakes, and that picture of Miley is too cute!
I just saw you have a story about how you lost weight. Now I wonder how you have achieved all these dul is so good you do. I’m going to leeer history, but also follow your recipes: D
What a sweet husband and a great photo!!
My dogs would never do that, heck, I can barely get them to sit still for a photo!
This all looks amazing! Yum! And your puppy is just the cutest thing ever… I love him :)
Next time you head out that way there’s a place you need to go. If you go to vegas there is a food truck, but they hve a restraunt in LA. Its called Fuku Burger. Its amazing how creative these guys were in their food truck… wewaited in a long line to try it, but it was so worth the wait! :-)
Looks amazing! I’m heading to LA in October so I’ll definitely be adding The Griddle Cafe to my list of necessary meal stops :)
So I was impressed at the massively tall pile of chocolate frosting on that cupcake. But then when you sliced that puppy open? I died.
Don’t even get me started on the pancakes and french toast.
Excuse me, I need to go consume 15,000 calories.
i forgive you :) honestly i just kept drooling over the cupcakes every day – it was a good reminder to get into the kitchen and make stuff!
and california? yes please, i would like to live there. minus the living expenses :)
Girl, your metabolism is so enviable! ;-) I’m bookmarking this because I can’t wait to take the Mr to CA. I spent my summers there as a teen and I’m sure everything is completely different (they do still have the Hollywood sign right? HA!) so I rely on good research by you and others to point me in a good new direction for my eventual return! That pancake place will be at the top of our list!
I loved seeing and following all of your decadent food travels with Jenny last week on Instagram. It seems like whenever you two get together you take sweetness to a whole new level! Thanks for sharing your trip and I sincerely hope I can get to CA someday to try some of these scrumptious treats for myself.
…and since today starts Lent and I give up the usual no chocolate, no baked goods, no sweets… I. AM. (DROOLING. DYING. CRYING. DREAMING OF SMASHING THESE GOODIES IN MY FACE) INSIDE. Ugh.
PS: Sweet Sweet Miley. SUCH a charmer! SWOON!! :)
I think you should move here! You love it, there are plenty of CA bloggers (me included) who would love to have you here, you’d be closer to Jenny, and closer to all the bakeries and restaurants :)
And I knew you were up to things with your blog and doing a migration or merge or something with all the posts. No biggie.