Little French Bakery - Redondo Beach

Never say I won't go the extra mile for my child. I went an extra two miles to the Riviera with a 40-minute time restriction to get a baguette for my never-accept-anything-else toddler and emerged victorious. 

I must admit, the baguette here didn't have the chewiest crust, but the assortment of human head-sized pastries more than makes up for plain bread. I'm told the owner wakes up at midnight to bake, and the display cases are full of beautiful, flaky creations, both savory and sweet. 

The Apple Cinnamon Puff Pastry is perfection, stacks of fresh apples upon a pond of marzipan. 

The Caneles aren't as springy as others I've had, but the custard flavor is there.

The Chocolate Custard Brioche is one I had yet to see, an S-shaped indulgence streaming with custard, studded with chocolate chips. 

But I think basics are best. The Chocolate Croissant is perfect, with so many chewy layers.

Pretty yet elegant, executed with flair and solid skill, yet still practical whether you're just looking for a sweet start to your day or need a goody box to butter up your colleagues. 

Like it a lot, love it so much. It's not all perfect, but it has a personal touch that the bigger, more commercialized bakeries lost. 

Gabi James - Redondo Beach

Gentrification is gutting Redondo Riviera, and the fancy-schmancy has a firm foothold. I don’t even keep track of the fine dining lah-di-da anymore, but a happy hour got me to Gabi James. 

They have some outdoor seating in the street, garnished by green grass and heat lamps to make it pleasant, and the experience only improves when you see their selection of spirits. A rare specialist in gin, you get to choose from a curated collection ranging from sweet to dry. I got something bold, and I would have given them a 5 on that drink alone. 

The menu is a please-all kind of deal, appetizers that look appetizing, entrees that sound enticing, accommodating all diets and desires. 

I will say that the Roasted Mushrooms were not the best start. They could have used a sprinkle of seasoning…any seasoning, though that make the quality any less clear. The mushrooms themselves were juicy, and the egg yolk was nicely done. 

Same for the Tortilla Espanola, full of soft, thin layers of perfectly scalloped potato.

A slow start with the starters, but the Jamon Wrapped Dates were right on. A really pretty plate, with gooey dates full of bold bleu in Spanish bacon. 

All Day Oxtail Ragu has been braised to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, and I loved the contrast of a crispy trenne with all its hard edges. 

I got a bite of Paella from a sharing-is-caring friend, and I must say they made a delicious plate. A beautiful yellow sunset sprinkled with squid and shrimp…and I forgot to take a photo. 

I’ve had worse in the Rivera, and though I’ve yet to fall in love with anything new, I’ll admit, Gabi James got game. More importantly, Gabi James got gin, and I’d come back for more of what they got.