CAFE LA LA

 Tommy's Restaurant is located at  1150 W Riggin St, Monterey Park, CA 91754, in back of The Hat and a block east of East LA College, specifically the Vincent Price Museum of Art, where Steve Wong is now in charge off. This pix is of the Chile Verde at Tommy's and it was glorious. So good, with a hot coffee, is so perfect. I ordered it with the refried beans and hasbrowns with my eggs sunny-side-up. CLASSIC!!!

Cafe Scent Coffee and Flowers is located at    3680 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010 but actually, it's on Serrano off of Wilshire Blvd. If you know K-Town, it's across the street from the Radio Korea Building that is a famous skateboarding favorite. There's a indoor seating area and outdoor seating area. if you're riding your bike, the outdoor seating area works really well. Also, the ginormous golf range is right above. They have this breakfast sandwich that resembles that famous chain's breakfast sandwich but this one doesn't have that chemical after effect.  

  Located at  5904 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042, Kitchen Mouse is an eclectic, bright and popular hang. The food is vegan, fresh and rather bountiful. I finished everything I ordered and walked like a zombie fo several hours, albeit a healthy one, also, it was one of those extremely hot summer days. Although it was a weekday around 1;30 PM, the place was packed. luckily, there are lots of places to sit. I will warn you that this is slightly a pricey lunch, i think this ran close to $50. Having said that, I think I ordered enough for two, so the math is slightly off when it comes to my appetite v.s. norm. The Ginger drink was wonderful. Without it, i may have fallen asleep immediately afterwards.

Located at  1638 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026, one of the coffee shops to find a home in recent years in the Belmont High School Area or Carroll Street District. Parking is a bit of a challenge but we all need to walk more, so there's that. A specialty coffee, the Tumerric Coffee, was light and buzzy. The staff was very welcoming. There's a lot of signature goods on sale in the front, which gives it that gentrification aura. I guess there's no getting away from that fact so they are making the best of it. I like the very colorful almost psychedelic aesthetic and they have a nice set of sitting areas as well.  

Another place I have been eyeing for years. I finally had a moment and a morning hunger. Fried Catfish and Grits with one egg. I was all smiles the entire meal and the owner saw that and really made me feel special and welcome and I so appreciated that, appreciated this family-owned Alta Dena institution, appreciated the richness of not just the food but the dining experience. I am so looking forward to my second meal and so forth! lol.  2697 N Fair Oaks Ave, Altadena, CA 91001  

 I went to Kafana for the first time earlier this year, on a day that was slightly surreal and extraordinarily hot. My car broke down and so the repair afforded me an afternoon of walking. i started near Old Pasadena and made my way to Highland Park. Along the way, I peeked around places like the Brown House, Judson Studios, the Arroyo Stables, etc. I had a hat on, sunscreen, carried a bottle of water and not much in my backpack but by the time I was in South Pasadena, my brain was swimming through the vortex. Kafana popped up like a mirage. The server was so kind and the back and forth of bodies from the attached gym was a great dose of alive energy i needed. Sitting in the living room and gradually coming back to consciousness was a great way to enjoy my latte.    220 Pasadena Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030