Brophy Bros, Santa Barbara

Today is National New England Clam Chowder Day, but any day is a good day to celebrate this bowl of creamy goodness. When the temperature in Los Angeles rose above 80 degrees in the middle of January there was one thing to do: head to the beach, but not just any beach, Santa Barbara beach. This small beach town is the perfect getaway for Angelenos. Santa Barbara is laid back, the air is cleaner, the drive is beautiful and enjoying a bowl of clam chowder is a must.

Brophy Bros has received the best clam chowder award for more than 20 years and draws in a crowd of locals and tourists. The best plan of attack is to arrive at 11 a.m. when they open to avoid the long wait, grab a table in the patio area, listen to the calm ocean, breathe in the fresh sea air and enjoy their award winning clam chowder. If there is a long wait, grab a drink in the bar downstairs, enjoy the gorgeous view and your table will be ready in no time.

Sourdough Bread
Complimentary
After you sit down and order, you'll be treated to a basket of freshly sliced sourdough bread. The bread is sour, but not overpowering. The crust is crunchy and the inside is sponge like, which holds up well to dunks in the chowder.

Oyster Shooter
2.75
Every shot contains a freshly shucked oyster topped with horseradish, cocktail sauce, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce and grated Parmesan cheese. The heat and tang highlight the flavors of the oyster and the Parmesan adds a nutty richness. The heat level might be a little much for those more sensitive to spiciness. Just be careful, because once you've had one, chances are you'll have at least one more.

New England Clam Chowder
6.50 for a bowl

When the bowl of chowder arrives, toss aside the packet of oyster crackers and go for the sourdough bread to soak up the goodness. The chowder has a nice balance of clams to potatoes and the right amount of creaminess. It's fresh, hearty and comforting. Having tasted many bowls of clam chowder while living in Santa Barbara, this is definitely one of my favorites.

Brophy Bros is a great way to start the day in Santa Barbara. The atmosphere is relaxing and the decor screams beach town. The prices are reasonable and the location is unbeatable. After a few oyster shooters and a bowl of clam chowder, you'll have plenty of energy to take a stroll along the beach, go for a bike ride or even jump in a kayak. Don't miss this hot spot the next time you visit Santa Barbara.

Brophy Bros
119 Harbor Way
Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Parking
Private lot, free 90 minute parking

La Monarca Bakery, Santa Monica

La Monarca Bakery opened its newest location almost a month ago in Santa Monica at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Euclid Street. The other two bakeries are located in City of Commerce and Huntington Park. The bakery is named after the beautiful monarch butterflies that migrate thousands of miles each year to overwinter in Mexico. The vibrant orange almost golden color of the butterfly is well represented at the bakery. I was first introduced to La Monarca Bakery at the Taste of Mexico press conference last year and very impressed by everything I tasted. After the Santa Monica location opened, I had an opportunity to visit and meet with co-owner Ricardo Cervantes to learn more.

The bakery is easy to spot and the floor to ceiling glass windows are very welcoming. The immediate feeling upon entering the bakery is warmth and comfort. The sweet aroma of treats baking in the oven is simply irresistible and automatically put a smile on my face. The table at the entrance has round metal trays and tongs for costumers to use in selecting items from the glass cases to the left.

There is a blackboard that explains the process, which is similar to a Chinese bakery.

Don't miss the case with enticing cakes and a display of cookies and cupcakes before getting to the cashier.


Once you arrive at the cashier, you'll be greeted with a variety of hand picked specialty items available for purchase, such as jam and stone ground chocolates. The most popular jam is coconut and they only had one left at this location.

There is also a display of baked goods for customers to sample. If the item you want isn't on display, simply ask a employee behind the counter and they would be happy to give you a sample. The genius concept of La Monarca Bakery is that customers can sample everything before they buy it, including cakes and jams.

About 80% of the pastry at La Monarca Bakery are typical Mexican pastry and the rest are specialty items from various regions of Mexico. Everything at the bakery is made fresh with all natural ingredients and absolutely no lard, preservatives or any prepackaged mixes. The bakers arrive at 4 am to make treats for the day and since no preservatives are used, items have a short shelf life. To prevent waste, the bakery works with the Salvation Army to make use of the unsold baked goods.

Apart from the large selection of baked goods, the bakery also has an extensive specialty drinks menu. It is worth noting all the coffee used at La Monarca Bakery is certified organic from farms in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Cafe Oaxaca
This drink is made with espresso, Mexican hot chocolate and steamed milk. Soy milk is also available upon request and the drink is available in two sizes: small or medium. The espresso and hot chocolate create a smooth and bold flavor. The amount of sweetness is perfect and the whipped topping lends richness to the drink without overpowering it.

Cafe de Olla
This is coffee is a specialty at La Monarca Bakery and one that I would recommend to everyone. The coffee is brewed with cinnamon and brown sugar which gives the coffee a hint of sweetness and spice. The coffee is light and makes for a great compliment to the sweet treats.

Orejas (palmiers)
The orejas is huge and flaky with just the right amount of sweetness.

Trenzas jamon, queso y jalapeno (ham, cheese and jalapeno)
The layered pastry outside is soft and the ham mixture inside is salty, spicy and creamy. The chunks of ham gave the filling a nice texture. This was one of my favorite items.

Taquitos de guava (taco with guava)
The taquito is rolled in sugar and stuffed with guava. It's not overly sweet and nicely balanced by the tangy flavor of the guava. There are a variety of fillings to choose from including pineapple.

Conchas de chocolate (chocolate sea shell)
The concha is one of the more well known items, but it tastes nothing like the ones sold in other bakeries. The chocolate flavor is very prominent and the bread is light, but holds up well to a dunk in a cup of coffee.

Croissant de queso crema (cream cheese croissant)
The croissants here are a take on the traditional french croissant but with a Mexican flare. The sweet flavor of the croissant works well with the creamy and slightly salty flavor of the cheese. The filling is evenly distributed throughout the croissant.

Brioche
We also brought home some items that still tasted very fresh the next day. The brioche had a beautiful golden crust and the inside was dense, but airy at the same time with a subtle egg flavor. Great with some jam.

Croissant de chocolate (chocolate croissant)
The chocolate to croissant ratio was perfect.

Sweet Croissant
The croissant was buttery with a nice hint of sweetness.

Bunuelos This popular treat is usually fried, but at La Monarca it is baked for a healthier version. It is crispy and sweet.

The bakery will soon be offering sugar free items as well as new items like coconut candy. The closing time has not been set and management will be testing various times to determine the best time to close. Lunch is also in the works and might be available starting next Monday.

Overall, the quality of the ingredients used and the care put into making every item comes through in every bite. The fresh, natural approach eliminates the worry of eating something containing ingredients a few pages long and none of which I can pronounce. The sample everything before you buy it idea is brilliant and takes away the worry of customers buying something not to their liking. With the wide range of selections, it will be easy to find something for everyone. The layout of the bakery is inviting and the decor gives off a relaxing vibe. This bakery is a true gem and the residents of Santa Monica are lucky to have it in their backyard. The rest of us will have to make the worth while trek to the west side, which for me will be sooner than later. My stomach is already craving for another trenza and cafe oaxaca.

La Monarca Bakery
1300 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Parking
Metered street parking enforced until 4 p.m.

Al Noor, Lawndale

Al Noor has been one of my favorite lunch spots in the South Bay since it opened its doors in 1998. It didn't take long for this restaurant fill all its tables during the lunch rush and attract customers from all over Los Angeles. Now the restaurant has nearly doubled in size with glowing praise from people like Chef Eric Greenspan who appeared on "The Best Things I Ever Ate" raving about Al Noor's Chicken Tikka Masala and Garlic Naan. South Bay is no longer "home" to me, but I still make it a point to eat at Al Noor whenever I am in the area.

Mint Chutney, cucumbers, onions, limes
Complimentary
The mint chutney is a great palate cleanser. It's tangy from the yogurt, spicy from the serrano chili and refreshing from the mint. Pour some on top of a cucumber slice and it will get rid of any flavors in your mouth that might interfere with the flavors of each dish.

Plain naan
1
There are five types of naan offered at Al Noor and the plain naan is my favorite to eat with dishes. I always found flavored naan such as garlic or chili naan more enjoyable on its own. When the plain naan arrives at our table, it's almost too hot to handle. The texture is perfect: crunchy around the edges and soft and chewy on the inside.

Plain Rice
2.99
The rice is fragrant and ordinary. I would prefer another order of plain naan over the rice.

Mutton Qorma
10.99
The bone in chunks of mutton are covered in a rich onion sauce. The meat was very tender and almost falling off the bone. The mutton flavor was subtle and nicely balanced by the sauce. The best way to enjoy the left over sauce is to put pieces of pita bread in the sauce, allow it to soak up some of the juice and enjoy with a spoon.

Baigan bharta
7.99
This is a must-order-every-visit dish. The smashed eggplant mixed with all the spices and herbs is absolutely addicting. The eggplant is roasted in the tandoori and then smashed, which gives the dish a layer of smokey flavor. The consistency is of a thick chunky gravy, which is very spreadable on the pita bread.

Overall, The quality of food and distinct flavors of each dish is just as good as my last visit. There are three levels of spiciness offered and the spiciest level is tolerable but prepare to sweat a little. Although the restaurant has expanded, it still remains a no frills dining establishment with a focus on serving great food to its customers. The food comes out at a good pace and the service is friendly. The portions are on par with the price and the best deal is a order of plain naan and baigan bharta. This is the perfect lunch spot for every one who works or lives in the neighborhood.

4 out of 5 Stars

Al Noor
15112 Inglewood Ave
Lawndale, CA 90260

Parking
Parking is available in a private lot in front of the restaurant. The spots are very small and during lunch rush hard to find.