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Hamachi at Fishing With Dynamite

When I heard that Chef David LeFevre opened a seafood-centric restaurant, I was excited. Not only is LeFevre’s MB Post a winner, but his stint at Water Grill proved his mastery with fish. And while Fishing With Dynamite is a welcome addition to Manhattan Beach, just up the street from MB Post, it didn’t wow me as much as I hoped it would. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy some of the dishes, though.

The chilled shellfish platter is a stunner. We made our own with Peruvian scallops, which were served raw with grapefruit, Prince Edward Island mussels, Atlantic lobster, an oyster sampler, and a special sea urchin plate that isn’t always available. While everything was tasty, the scallops were amazing, especially with the pop of citrus.

Chilled seafood platter

Sea urchin

Oyster list

Peruvian scallop

I also really liked the hamachi (pictured above) served with ponzu, avocado, red radish, serrano chili and shiso. Bright, bold flavors — just how I like my food.

What I really wanted to love was the New England clam “chowdah,” served here with Neuske’s bacon, Weiser Family Farms potatoes and house-made oyster crackers. The flavors were good, but I wanted the soup itself to be just a bit creamier and thicker; while the milk and cream were blended beautifully, the end result didn’t produce that thin coating on my spoon that, to me, means the perfect New England clam chowder texture. But I’m not telling Chef LeFevre how to make his chowdah!

New England clam chowdah

Chef David’s Mom’s Cape Cod Squash Rolls with rosemary butter were addictive (LeFevre’s biscuits are always good: see the cheddar buttermilk biscuits at MB Post), the seared diver scallops were cooked beautifully, and the crab cake was made with a lot of sweet meat. But overall, I wasn’t blown away. LeFevre gives a solid performance at Fishing With Dynamite, but if I had to choose, I would pick his MB Post for my meal.

Note: This meal was hosted.

Hayden Harnett x Stylyt Toughen Up Cuff

If you’re into fashion, then I’m sure you’ve toyed with the idea of creating your own designs, or at least tweaking an existing one to fit your particular style. That’s where Stylyt comes in.

Stylyt is an online community where you can customize designs from the likes of Lovers + Friends, Brandy Pham, Heet, and one of my personal favorites Hayden-Harnett, all with their blessings. Then, Stylyt members vote on their favorite designs, and the winning ones are actually manufactured and sold exclusively on Stylyt.com as limited edition pieces. The best part is, if you vote for the winning design, you get first dibs and a discount on buying it. And, if your design wins, then you get it for free. NICE.

That means you could potentially score a high quality piece like this Hayden-Harnett Toughen Up cuff made from American-tanned cow leather. It would look great with some leather leggings or a moto jacket. The eggplant color is gorgeous, too. One thing to note: it’s on the small side, even for me, and I have small wrists.

A new designer is introduced every week, so there are plenty of designs to play with on Stylyt. This is good news for anyone who has ever thought that a shirt, dress or accessory would be perfect if only one or two things were different — which is to say, just about everyone.

Hayden-Harnett x Stylyt Toughen Up cuff

Note: This cuff was complimentary.

Pinkberry peanut butter and jelly waffle sandwich. Photo courtesy of Pinkberry.

Pinkberry frozen yogurt is widely considered the standard by which all other tart-style frozen yogurt has been measured. But the froyo mainstay (as much as that can be said!) is shaking things up, not only by offering Greek yogurt, but also by having a secret menu.

Available only in Southern California stores starting tomorrow, Aug. 17, mention the words “old school,” and you can get a peanut butter frozen yogurt and jelly waffle cookie sandwich with a carton of milk for $3.95, while supplies last. These waffle cookie sandwiches have been available only in select stores until now, so this is a treat. It seems like a nice twist on the traditional ice cream sandwich.

And be on the lookout for new Pinkberry frozen yogurt flavors cherry and butter pecan, set to launch in stores next month.

Correction: Cherry is currently in stores, as is peanut butter. Butter pecan will be in stores beginning in September, when cherry will most likely phase out.

The Acropolis in Athens, Greece, at night

Greece.

So much of what has been in the news about this country lately has been negative — a bad economy, mass demonstrations, worker strikes, general ennui.

But what I experienced in Greece was nothing but nice, accommodating — and proud to be Greek — people, not to mention gorgeous views. Unfortunately, prices weren’t as low as I thought they might be (the euro was worth about a third more than the U.S. dollar). Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any strikes.

Traveling in Greece

Getting from point A to point B in Greece isn’t always a no-brainer. My husband Rory and I needed to go to a wedding in Stoupa, which is south of Kalamata on the Mani peninsula in the Peloponnese region. I thought it would be easy getting from Athens to this area since there’s an international airport in Kalamata, but apparently flights between Athens and Kalamata are inconsistent and not always available. Also, the only port that runs ferries to the Cyclades islands is in Athens.

Because we planned to travel around and because this turned out to be much harder than we thought, we went with Athens-based travel agency Fantasy Travel. Even though it was a bit tough making the plans given the 10 hour time difference between Los Angeles and Athens, the folks at Fantasy Travel took care of everything, including transfers to and from airports, rental car (which was delivered to our hotel!) and hotels. I just gave them my budget, and they made it work.

Staying in Athens

We started our trip in Athens and stayed for about three days at Central Hotel in the Plaka, the old part of the city at the base of the Acropolis with narrow, labyrinthine streets (some streets are so narrow that two cars cannot pass each other; we saw many a car backing up to let the other pass). It took us nearly the whole three days we were there to get our bearings, and we never did find a particular restaurant that supposedly served delicious lamb. But no matter; we had fun exploring!

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Pinkberrygreek cucumber, sunflower cracker, olive oil and chili combo

Pinkberry, the company that re-introduced frozen yogurt to the masses in 2005, is upping its game by offering a slew of interesting combinations featuring Greek yogurt. No, it’s not frozen, and yes, Greek yogurt is everywhere these days, but Pinkberry’s truly is in a league of its own.

Dubbed Pinkberrygreek, this version is creamier, smoother and less tart than some of the other products out there, including Chobani and Fage, both of which I eat on a regular basis (I did a side-by-side taste test, too). While the vanilla flavor is a bit too sweet for me, the plain is quickly becoming my new favorite Greek yogurt. What’s also attractive is the fact that the yogurt comes from one farm, Fair Oaks in Indiana, and every batch traceable back to specific herds.

There are a couple of topping combinations for the Pinkberrygreek that I really like. The first one is sweet, with raspberries, blueberries, chocolate granola and cinnamon-infused honey. This special honey, a punched-up version of the already interesting sage blossom honey used in all Pinkberry stores, is what makes this flavor combination. The second topping recipe is savory, one that’s really unique. The cucumber, sunflower seed cracker, olive oil and chili powder combo (pictured above) sounded strange at first, but it totally works and would make a great afternoon snack.

Pinkberrygreek berry, chocolate granola and cinnamon honey combo

Pinkberry is also going to start offering power bowls with acai, quinoa and oatmeal. My favorite recipe is, once again, a savory one, with Greek yogurt, quinoa, sesame crackers, oranges, pumpkin seeds and agave. The sweet and salty combo is the best of both worlds, and you get lots of protein to boot.

Pinkberrygreek power bowl with quinoa, sesame cracker, pumpkin seeds, oranges and agave combo

If you want to try some of these new flavor combinations but can’t find them in your local store, head over to the Brentwood location where all the new stuff is first introduced.

Note: This tasting was hosted.

Pineapple Royale at the Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar

If you’re a fan of tiki bars and haven’t been to the Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar in The Fairmont San Francisco hotel, then you don’t know tiki bars.

This Polynesian paradise, or “the greatest place in the history of the world” per Anthony Bourdain, is the perfect combination of kitsch and upscale dining. Not only can you get a ridiculously large, sugary and potent drink — preferably aflame — but you can also get contemporary takes on Asian and Polynesian cuisine while dining alongside a pool, periodic rain showers and a live band on a floating stage.

When it comes to strong drinks, this is the place. The Pineapple Royale, a huge portion of aged rum, brandy and fresh pineapple juice served in a hollowed out pineapple, is dangerously good (and fun!). You could easily share this with someone, and you might want to just to split the $17 cost. The Singapore Sling ain’t no slouch, either, with Tanqueray gin, Cointreau, cherry Heering, fresh lemon and pineapple juices, Angostura bitters, and a Benedictine mist.

The Quintessential “Pu Pu” Platter, with BBQ Kona pork ribs, shiitake egg rolls, chicken skewers, and coconut prawns, is a good bet, and the restaurant’s inventiveness comes out in dishes such as the Forbidden Blend Fried Rice, which features forbidden black, white jasmine, Bhutanese red and jade pearl bamboo rices.

Quintessential Pu Pu Platter

Forbidden Blend Fried Rice

The well-known Huli Huli Chicken — boneless fire-roasted chicken, grilled pineapple, red onions, sweet peppers and scallions — was too sweet for my taste, but it was cooked nicely.

Huli Huli Chicken

Check out Bourdain and Chef Chris Cosentino’s visit to the Tonga Room for “The Layover” to see some of the tiki drinks and the rain storm in action.

Note: This meal was hosted.

Junk Food Platter at L.A. Market by Kerry Simon. Photo courtesy of L.A. Market.

National Junk Food Day is Sunday, July 21, and it’s the best snack food day of them all. You know why? Because it’s all-encompassing. You could eat just about anything to celebrate!

L.A. Market by Kerry Simon at the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE gets it. That’s why the restaurant offers the Junk Food Platter ($17) with coconut Bounty, Snickers cake, banana Nutella macaroons, baby churros, red velvet whoopie pies, brownies, cookies and cotton candy (and maybe popcorn, if you’re lucky?).

And then, because you’re already at a hotel, why not crash in one of the J.W. Marriott’s rooms with views of the downtown skyline? There’s also a rooftop pool to lounge by while enjoying even more junk food, if you’re so inclined.

So pig out! Why not? It’s summer.

J.W. Marriott Junior Suite. Photo courtesy of J.W. Marriott.

Oxygen Pur serum. From Oxygen Pur.

Oxygen Pur serum is billed as a cure-all of sorts for the skin. The idea behind the clear, fragrance-free gel is to saturate the skin with dissolved oxygen to help circulation and “revitalize, regenerate and rejuvenate.” So, does it work?

I tried it out in different circumstances. First, I brought it with me on my recent trip to Greece. While it was suggested that I use it after traveling many hours on an airplane, I always get really oily when flying, so I opted to try it out after spending lots of time in the sun. Then, I started using it regularly — morning and night — and really started seeing results.

My skin is smoother and plumper when I use Oxygen Pur serum. It actually looks and feels healthier. And I think it does aid in the absorption of other products. It doesn’t seem to react with any of my other products, including my prescription rosacea cream. That’s good news for people with sensitive skin like I have. It’s also not greasy, which is nice since I have oily skin.

According to the product’s website, nitrogen is removed from water and replaced with oxygen, which is then infused and stabilized to deliver dissolved oxygen directly into the deeper layers of the dermis. This high concentration of oxygen supposedly promotes skin cell renewal, stimulates collagen and elastin production, and reduces the effects of free radical damage, among other things. It also claims to be hypoallergenic and free of parabens, fragrance, phathalates and sulfates.

Time will tell if this product continues to satisfy. Considering its hefty price tag — $80 — it better work, right? But, so far, so good.

Note: This bottle of Oxygen Pur was complimentary.

The back patio at Cliff’s Edge

Cliff’s Edge, the Silver Lake gem of a restaurant and bar tucked away at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Edgecliff Drive, is holding an Instagram photo contest. Through July 31, the image with the most likes will receive a $40 gift certificate. Just make sure to tag your photos with #cliffssummernights and #cliffsedgela. With beautiful and tasty creations from Chef Vartan Abgaryan, formerly of Public Kitchen & Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and Wednesday night guest bartender Matt Biancaniello, formerly of Library Bar also at the Roosevelt, getting a good shot shouldn’t be too tough.

Abgaryan’s agnolotti with English peas, mascarpone, morels, ramps and parmesan cream is a good choice, as is the skate served with fennel, lemon, capers, brown butter and marcona almonds.

Agnolotti

Skate

When it comes to drinks, Biancaniello’s Hanky Panky, made with Bols Genever gin, lovage, page mandarins, Aperol and ghost pepper salt, is a show-stopper. But watch out — it’s pretty spicy!

Hanky Panky

Note: Photos are from a hosted meal.

Hotel Preston in Nashville. Photo courtesy of Provenance Hotels.

Ever since I visited the Music City last year, I’ve been smitten with Nashville. So when a television show popped up about the place, of course I started following it (no matter how cheesy it can get!).

And when I heard that Hotel Preston is now offering a Nashville Dreaming getaway package, giving guests the chance to experience some of the best of Music City, then of course I was interested.

Located outside the city center and close to the airport, Hotel Preston is a modern-yet-comfy place where you can get unique amenities, such as in-room lava lamps, rubber duckies and pet fish (no, you don’t get to keep the fish). And with the Nashville Dreaming package, guests will get two tickets to a backstage tour of the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, and a shot at the mic in the Ryman’s recording studio to record a professionally engineered song to take home on a customized Ryman Records CD. Guests will also get a $25 gift certificate to The Bluebird Café to see a show at Nashville’s most famous songwriter’s venue. And, if that’s not enough, guests will get two tickets to the Country Music Hall of Fame and copies of Volumes 1 and 2 of the “Nashville” soundtrack.

The special package is available through Dec. 30, 2013, and priced from $219, plus tax.