I recently went to The Penthouse, the new restaurant at the top of The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. While the food was a little less than spectacular, the view of the Pacific from that high up was pretty stunning. However, there was one thing I ate that got my attention, which was their Green Crunch Salad.

The mix of crunchy greens tossed with a spicy vinaigrette was awesome, so I decided to re-create it at home, with my personal preferences, of course. The Penthouse's salad was composed of fresh sugar snap peas, cooked regular peas, and steamed edamame, which I did as well. However, instead of lightly steamed asparagus tips, I used raw snow peas cut on a bias. I dressed my vegetables with a spicy balsamic vinaigrette (3:1 olive oil: balsamic vinegar + finely minced garlic + salt/pepper + crushed red pepper) and the result was good. In fact, I might say that I liked my version with the balsamic vinaigrette a little more than The Penthouse's Asian-inspired sesame dressing.

If you follow along in the burger world, then you might know about The Counter in Santa Monica, where their thing is BYOB - Build Your Own Burger. Alan Richman even named it one of the 25 burgers you must eat before you die in GQ.

Based on their list of topping choices, there are 312,120 different burger combinations, but at their new location in Palo Alto, Tim attempted to do it all in one shot. He ordered a 5 lb. burger with every topping available. At once. Served in a bowl, the burger almost looks like a sundae and it is not pretty. Neither is the aftermath.

Back in the day, when I didn't want to drive from the Westside all the way to Hollywood to go clubbing, I'd settle for a small club called Sugar in Santa Monica. It wasn't really "settling," as the small warehouse-y space was cozy but cool, the people were beautiful, and the bass was deep.

But I've grown up now, and clubbing isn't something I do all that often. Luckily, the space where Sugar used to be has grown up, too. It is now the second location of Bodega Wine Bar, a chic, sleek little wine bar whose older sister in Pasadena has a loyal following. They serve wine (obviously), as well as beer, sake, soju, and a bit of food so you can pace yourself. 

Bodega Wine Bar's westside location is at 814 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (310)  394-3504.

On January 14, Rockenwagner in Santa Monica will close its doors.

For almost 20 years, Hans Rockenwagner has been serving California-fied German food in a lofty space on Main Street. In more recent history, Rockenwagner changed its format a bit and built a restaurant within the restaurant, the small 30-seat "Rockenwagner Room" separated from the Brasserie by a few curtains and a lot of dollars. I'm not exactly sure why Rockenwagner is shutting down, but there are rumours that Herr Rockenwagner isn't completely bidding us auf wiedersen.

If you're in LA and you haven't yet been to Rockenwagner, there's no time like these last few days. Rockenwagner has a rockin' happy hour during which Hans' famous pretzel burger, along with a few other items, is only $5. The pretzel burger on the regular menu is three times that! Of course, dinner is great, too. I had the wild boar stew and thought it was almost a good as the weisswurst appetizer I had first. 

With Wilshire taking over Knoll's Black Forest Inn and Rockenwagner closing its doors in a few days, where in LA's westside am I going to get my spatzle fix?!? Hopefully not Schatzi on Main...