Alma Mater

Pepperdine University, Malibu, California

Why does the university we graduated from hold such a special place in our hearts?

Pepperdine University, my alma mater, the university that holds that special place in MY heart.
Everytime I go back and visit (which isn't very often), I get to relive my past. Its amazing how being in a place brings on a flood of memories of  "the way we were". Some good things, some not so good things, but generally its just an amazing walk down memory lane. I remember walking to my classes on the hilly campus (since I was in the communications section I usually had to go to the top of the hill for my daily classes...thanks for the thighs of steel!) looking out at the amazing view of Malibu and the beach. Pepperdine University is hands down one of the most beautiful campuses around.

The view i had to see every day....

Sure we had it good at Pepperdine....amazing weather year round, hanging out with the stars at Malibu Country Mart, a two minute drive to the beach, an amazing mix of international students. A very hard life....but we managed to get through it ok!

As I walked around the campus and took in the sites and smells and students that catapulted me back to my university years, I couldn't help but wonder how they're living their university years. Are they living the life I lived when I was there? Are they getting the most out of life in LA? Are they living the same "Malibu experience" we lived? To be honest I dont really think so...The Malibu (Malibu Country Mart) we know is the small town that had 4 shops in total....Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea leaf, Tra Di Noi (Italian restaurant), Taverna Tony's (Greek), Marmalade cafe, John's Garden (Tuna melt and Grilled cheese!!) and a few small things here and there but not much else.
Now, it has been transformed into a shopping haven, with some top brands owning/renting prime real estate!! That small simple "Country Mart" feel has totally been swapped for an up market, LA style open shopping mall....

Nobu and Mr.Chow have also opened shop (Nobu for a while now, though they moved to a beach location a while back).
So the moral of the story....places change, and evolve and become something they weren't...sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, but the Malibu I have in my head will be the Malibu I knew in college, and will remain with me forever!

A Taste of Heaven

Lunch at AXE

LA is definately a great place to eat. From all the organic restaurants to choose from to the popular and trendy vegan places that have sprouted left right and center. I never actually thought I would ever enjoy vegan food, but i must admit, the week in LA  did open my eyes and my appetite to some new experiences.

AXE (ă • shay) is a salutation borrowed from Yoruba (where Nigeria is today) that means, "go with the power of the Gods and Goddesses". 

AXE a little restaurant on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice Beach was definately one of the nicest discoveries on this LA trip. Such a cool relaxed vibe in the outside garden. I almost felt like I was having a light meal in the middle of the californian desert....Calm, peaceful and very zen.

The food, oh the food.....fresh, clean, organic, homemade, with some asian flavours thrown in... overall just plain yummy!!

My very satisfying basic bowl with housemade sausage at AXE

 One thing I noticed on EVERY menu in LA and NY was kale salad....I'm not a great fan, I mean i'll eat it, but I dont think i''ll ever crave a kale salad. I dont even think it ever crossed Kale's mind that one day he would be king of the veggies. Just goes to show you...one day you're up and one day you're down so take advantage of the limelight baby and enjoy your 15 minutes of fame!

So while some of them were eating kale salad....I had to have a taste of the Oxtail sliders at Eat Drink Americano in The Arts District of DTLA.

Oxtail: the culinary name for the tail of cattle....Logical right? Yeah! Does it sound horrible? well not to me, though it may to some! But when its cooked properly, it really does taste amazing.

                                                                         

 Its one of the cheapest cuts of meat you could say but when its cooked for a few hours, the meat becomes so tender and falls off the bone and its one of the tastiest things. So going back to my oxtail sliders...These little juicy meat filled pockets are just so tasty and satisfying (almost seems like you're eating pulled meat, for those who are still disgusted)  but so worth it!

Gracias Madre,  Our mission is to celebrate and serve the presence of the mother which resides above us, within our hearts, within the earth, and in all those who nurture us. We serve cuisine inspired by the kitchens of Mexico sourced from locally grown organic ingredients. Welcome to a seat at love’s table. Un lugar en la mesa del amor.

 Gracias Madre, a vegan mexican restaurant on Melrose Ave. that really surprised me. I was a bit sceptical at first, thinking that the food would taste bland and not be very satisfying, but i was wrong. It was so satisfying, that we went back to Gracias Madre twice in the same week! The Guacamole and chips were yummy, as were the Flautas de Camote, Enchiladas Verde and to be honest everything else we tried there. Only problem was this...(see picture below), but that sure as hell didn't stop us from eating!!


 

Dinner at Gracias Madre on Melrose Ave. as it rained on us

 

 

Across the Pond and over to the City of Angels

In the taxi, upon arrival in LA

First of all my apologies for disappearing....BUT I'm always active on The Hi Societys Instagram account. So if you're ever worried and think that perhaps i've stopped coming across beautiful things, do not fear, because you'll see the beautiful things I come across on Insta!

So I just got back from my yearly trip to the States. I Went back to LA after a 4 year hiatus, and I must say, it did me a world of good. LA can feel like a very over whelming city since its so immense and vast, but once you get the hang of it and get familiar with the areas, it starts to feel like the State with endless possibilites. One can go from a coffee downtown, to an amazing lunch on the beaches of Malibu, to an evening of madness in Hollywood. 

Perhaps when i was in university in LA a few years ago (not really a few, but it sounds better... no it actually makes ME feel better...) I didnt quite appreciate what the city had to offer as much as i would now. So in the end...LA you once again found your place in my heart! 

View of DTLA (Downtown LA) from the apartment rooftop

Where did I go? What did I do while being romanced by the City of Angels?? 

Endless breakfasts, lunches, drinks and dinners....Whenever I land in the States its like i'm a squirrel stocking up on grub for the winter...Anything I can eat, I eat. Anything I can take back with me, I take back with me. Anything I haven't tried, I make a point to trying. So basically I usually come back with a bit more meat on my bones and a bounce in my step from all the sugar, fat and endless food possibilities that I find under my nose. 
Now that ladies and gentlemen is MY AMERICAN DREAM!!! 

Chin Chin at Cafe Stella in Silverlake

Cappuccino and chocolate chip salted cookie at Lamill in Silverlake

Malibu Farm on Malibu Pier...The best burgers and quinoa oatmeal with coconut milk

Malibu Farm

More to come on this trip!!