Lodge Bread Company - Los Angeles

Carbs for breakfast, carbs for lunch. Carbs for dinner, have a bunch! 

I would eat every single meal of every single day at Lodge and never get bored. I would get fat, but I would never get tired of waking up to a Cinnamon Roll the size of a yoga block and swiped with some that the lightly-whipped, barely-cheesy, touch-of-citrus cream. Bonus that it’s big enough for 2-3 mornings.

A lighter lunch can be just a fluffy, crusty Focaccia. This one has ripe tomatoes, bold basil, and toasty cheese.

Their Hummus might be a must-have, but their Pita is the best bread in the world. It has the softest hint of sourdough and a pocket full of air. Pull it apart to reveal a most supple and chewy texture. 

Their pizza is basically pita with some toppings, and the world has never known a better crust. The Wild Mushroom has a creamy taleggio to surround fragrant mushrooms and pungent slices of sweet roasted garlic.

Switch it up with the Spicy Sausage Pizza: a smudge of tomato sauce, a touch of garlic, and a soft, sweet sausage with a little bit of sass.

Never leave without the Wood Fire Romanesco. It’s roasted with a sear and a char, and the creamy tahini is heaven. Golden raisins add some sweet, and a dash of lemon brings balance.

Have a charcuterie with the Country Loaf, have it as a side with soup, or eat it however the heck you want.

Bag up some cookies for after. The Chocolate Chip Miso is the best, the perfect sweet n’ salty.

The Everything looks like birdseed, but the nutty and savory notes are nice.

Double Chocolate Chip! A little bitter and burnt at the end, but it sure is pretty.

I don’t just like Lodge, I LOVE it! There is not a single thing that doesn’t blow my mind, and as much as I hate LA traffic, I’d gladly drive through it to go count carbs at Lodge. 

Clutch & Coffee - Torrance

So. Hipster. OMG I can't. 

No, for realz, I can. I loved their sidewalk seating during lockdown, and make a good Cappuccino. Just skip the lavender vanilla syrup. It's like a sip of Febreeze.

The Greek Yogurt & Fruit Bowl didn't impress the toddler, but you can't really go wrong with fresh fruit and a very legit granola over Greek yogurt.

The open faced toasts are a reasonable, finish-able portion for breakfast or a light lunch. A little pricey for a single slice of bread, but the ingredients are quality. The Pecan Pesto & Burrata was one I didn't expect to like, but somehow pesto with honey isn't weird. Must be the pecans. 

The Fried Egg Tartine is more filling, with a runny egg yolk to top it off. Less would be more, though - the avocado and artichoke get a little lost, and the breading on the fried tomato is rock-hard and unseasoned.

Tomato Burrata Caprese: Should be called the Pickled Onion. Can't taste much more than that and the balsamic.

I do like the Elvis. A few good, simple ingredients and a big YES to the candied bacon.

For a more traditional breakfast, split the Buttermilk Pancakes with a friend or two. I don't know how they make something so thick so fluffy, and this batter is a good one. 

Another traditional one, the 2 Egg Breakfast. Self explanatory, with potatoes that are quite good and an impressive choice of meat, ranging from sausage to beef gyro. We went with pork shoulder bacon, which is a really juicy, chewy bacon, and it's pretty great. No regrets but I'm pretty curious about their gyro. 

There's a Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle that's also good for sharing. Their breading is pretty unique, breadier and harder than most I've had, but it works. Plenty of toppings, but that sweet n' spicy jalapeno jam's my jam. 

The Country Fried Tri-Tip Steak and Eggs has that same hard breading, and it makes the perfect contrast to the gooey gravy on top. 

I don't know how often I'll come back now that their outdoor dining is off the table, but I'm by no means writing them off. Definitely down for a coffee to go, and as for the menu - my opinion seems split because I've had so many things. I do like some things more than others, but I also do like this place overall. 

SusieCakes - Woodland Hills

Cute, adorable, oh-so-pretty, but SO, SO sweet. Concentrated sugar, and a texture that's a little bit like Playdoh.

Here's an 8-pack for $38.50, they're tiny little cupcakes at nearly $5 each. The Strawberry Lemonade is seasonal, and I do love the chunks of roasted strawberry inside. The other flavors are standard flavors, and their copious use of food coloring doesn't make them any less full. Chocolate is chocolate, Chocolate Vanilla is that, and Vanilla is vanilla. Vanilla has the doughiest texture and taste, and dyeing the icing pink or blue doesn't change a thing. 

You can do worse in cupcakes, but these are nothing special and so overpriced! I could have made something better at home, and I only got them because Sprinkles couldn't deliver. Won't be making that mistake again. 

Calf & Chick - Torrance

Sh*t, these sandwiches! Sub-size and sub-style, these carefully-crafted creations are crazy-good.

Check out the cheese in the Hot Grilled Beef. They add onion and green pepper, and the shredded beef is all juice. It channels a cheesesteak except they make the meat like they care. 

Try the Chicken Garlic if you’re looking for something whiter because that garlic paste does not make it lighter. It’s a balanced sandwich overall, but it’s the pickles that leave an impression. I've never had such crunchy, fresh-tasting pickles, and the brine has a unique tartness that is simultaneously more sour and less acidic. Great sandwich; I'll just take a jar of pickles.

Grab an Egg Sandwich for a breakfast plate between two slices of bread. All three eggs are over medium so the yolks ooze gooey without the mess. Turkey bacon tastes like hot ham, tomato adds the acid.

It’s not all about the size, but their Cinnamon Roll is far from compensating. Its feather-light layers encase a cavern of sugared cinnamon topped with a graze of glaze. Easily the best I’ve had this year.

Take a scavenger hunt for breakfast, lunch, or brunch. Calf and Chick is concealed behind a Wendy’s with a drive-thru, but believe me, they're worth getting out of your car for.

Yamari - Torrance

Don’t ya want a, want a matcha? 

Answer carefully because this may not be what you think. This isn’t green tea flavoring, this is MATCHA. Dark and bitter, this powder is a biter. The Matcha Latte is a powdery punch in the mouth, earthy and thick, smooth and soothing with a texture that feels forever dry.

The same flavor is infused in their soft serve, which swirls well with a diplomatic hochija. Neither is sweet, but the hochija is warmly roasted, an aromatic tea. 

They sell out of the parfait pretty fast so grab one before it’s gone. The Premium Mixed Soft Serve is a close second, missing only the matcha jelly. A scoop of sweet azuki adds a spoonful of sugar, and mochi balls bring on a textured chew.

Do ya, want a, want a matcha? If you like matcha, abso-f'ing-lutley.

Blufish Sushi & Grill - Torrance

4.5 stars on Yelp? Did we eat at the same place?

It's not bad. Good enough for the most part, but nowhere near 4.5 stars good. They mark up their prices on Ubereats, turning I'll pay into no way. I paid the extra because I thought it would be worth it, and I honestly didn't realize just how much they marked it up. 

Price aside, some things just aren't that good. The Mango Salmon Roll, for example, had salmon that wasn’t very fresh. It wasn't spoiled and seemed safe to eat, but you knew it wasn't a new delivery.

The Hawaiian Roll is alright, a thin layer of tuna covering a California. Worth the $6 menu price, but $8.75 on Ubereats is pushing it.

The signature rolls are where they get ridiculous. The Lemon Roll had so much potential as salmon and lemon do go togehter, but add a sauce of SALSA, and you have something that's bizarre. Not worth $14.50, and definitely not worth $18.75.

The King Dragon Roll is good. Gotta love the eel. But $15.50 is an outrageous price for this, and $19.75 is highway robbery. 

No complaints about the Blue Crab Hand Roll. It's baked warm and covered in a not unreasonable amount of mayo.

I rarely complain about the price of things, but I've cited every price here. I know third-party apps skim off the top, but increasing your prices by 30% is a horrible way to punish customers who can't get carry-out. Never mind the prices - quality is invaluable, but literally none of this was all that great.