Los Angeles Archives - Girls Who Brunch

September 26, 2016

Hiking Headband

Headband: Albion c/o // Sunglasses: Ray-Ban // Top: Adidas // Pants: Alo Yoga // Shoes: Nike

This past weekend, my friend Amy visited me from New York. She loves to be active, especially when traveling somewhere new. She asked if we could hike Parker Mesa Overlook in the Pacific Palisades. A little nervous about the hike (it was a 6 mile hike!), I obliged. I’m happy I did because the view at the end was incredible! This was honestly one of the most stunning views in LA. It overlooks the water, and you can see all of Los Angeles as well. It was well worth the struggle I had during the hike.

Normally when I hike, I like to just throw on whatever is comfortable and weather appropriate. Since I wore an all black outfit, I decided to spice it up with this super cute headband from Albion! It adds such a chic element to my otherwise very plain outfit. Lucky for you guys, my friends at Albion has given GWB readers 15% off any purchase using the code: ESTHERCOLLINS. So go check out out Albion. I’m absolutely obsessed with their stuff! I especially love this swimsuit, and these workout shorts (that also match the headband!).

April 6, 2016

Best Brunch Spots in LA

Croque Madame and the Regular Breakfast from Republique

This post is long overdue. Brunch is my favorite meal, hands down. I love it so much that I named my blog after it. So it’s only fair that I write a post detailing my favorite brunch spots in Los Angeles. Now the reason it’s taken me so long to write this post is because I didn’t want to just throw together some random brunch list. I wanted to take my time and try a bunch of different places and really figure out which ones were my favorites. Now, there’s always room for improvement and I’m sure I will discover another amazing brunch spot after posting this. However, that being said, these are my top 5 brunch spots as of today.

1. Republique

Oh. My. God. Why did it take me so long to try Republique? I love everything about this place. The food is amazing, and the vibe and interior decor is on point. Everything on the menu is fresh, seasonal and incredibly delicious. The only downside to this place is there is always a wait, but for good reason. This spot is not only my favorite, but also my friends. All of their pastries not only look fabulous but they all taste amazing. Be sure to grab one before you sit down and wait for your meal. Everything I’ve had here is great. My favorite: Croque Madame

2. Village Idiot

The Village Idiot has been my brunch spot of choice for the better part of last year. There usually isn’t a wait, which is great when you’re starving (or hungover) and in need of some quick, yet yummy breakfast. I have probably been to the Village Idiot a couple dozen times for brunch, and they never disappoint. Their fresh squeezed OJ is so refreshing. They also have the best breakfast sandwich in all of LA. Now I know that’s a very bold statement but I stand by it 100%. I like to sub out the sausage for bacon, and if you love bacon as much as I do I highly recommend it. My favorite: Breakfast Sandwich

The Bloody Royale from Franklin & Co.

3. Franklin & Co.

Franklin & Co. will always have a special place in my heart. It was where I discovered my love of Biscuits with Sausage Gravy. Not to mention their bacon is the bomb. Franklin & Co also happens to be known for their delicious Bloody Mary’s. This also happened to be where I discovered my love for Bloodies. All of their Bloody Mary’s are tasty, and if you’re adventurous enough to try their Bloody Royale…do it. My favorite: Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

Brunch Carbonara with a side of Crunchy French Toast at Blu Jam Cafe

4. Blu Jam Cafe

On the same block as the Village Idiot, is Blu Jam Cafe (they also have a location in the Valley). My friends and I have tried to go to Blu Jam numerous times, but there is always a long wait and we’re never prepared to wait that long. But finally, we planned and waited and got into Blu Jam. No wonder there is always a wait. This place is delicious. They have a couple brunch items that are not your typical brunch meals. I highly recommend you getting a plate of the Crunchy French Toast to share. It’s AMAZING. If you’re looking for something a little different, but extremely delicious go to Blu Jam. It’s well worth the wait. My favorite: Brunch Carbonara

Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset Choco Acai Bowls from Kreation

5. Kreation

If you’re in one of those rare “I want to be healthy” moods, Kreation is the perfect brunch spot for you. They have THE BEST Acai Bowls I have ever had. Their juices and smoothies are also great. My friends and I go to Kreation after we’ve had a very indulgent weekend. It’s the perfect place to hit the reset button and feel good about the food you are eating. Everything is organic and tastes incredible. My favorite: Choco Acai Bowl

What are some of your favorite brunch spots? Leave them in the comments below!

March 6, 2015

Food Fare 2015

Last night we went out to support Planned Parenthood at the 36th Annual Food Fare, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. We started the night out at the VIP reception where we were served a variety of hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and wines. Our favorite was the Strawberry Mango Mojito by Infuse Vodka.

After the reception, we entered the Barker Hangar. Inside were over a hundred booths set up by some of LA’s top restaurants and bars. We started at one end and made our way through the entire hangar, taking a bite of literally everything in sight. There was almost every cuisine imaginable from Japanese to Italian, American, Mexican and the list goes on.

Everything was so delicious that it was hard to choose favorites. However, if we had to pick; we loved the lobster sliders from Blue Plate, the ancini from Pizza Antica, the Strawberry Refresher from Ventura Spirits (the only domestic vodka distilled from strawberries – AMAZING) and the gelato from Pazzo Gelato. We also finally got the chance to try a Pink’s Hot Dog…and now we understand why the line is always a mile long down La Brea.

Overall the event was a huge success, raising tons of money and awareness for Planned Parenthood and making our stomachs happy. This was also the perfect way to spend my birthday, because who doesn’t love endless supplies of food and alcohol.