Jolie Laide

tofu salad with smoky bonito flake, creamy tofu dressing, sesame, cabbage & carrot strips. butter lettuce, toasted walnuts, sliced dates, chevre, balsamic, evoo, shallot

If you decide to go to Big Bear Lake, the Iron Squirrel is one of the better dining choices... but if you have a choice, Arrowhead is superior.

I'm an east-side girl (won't go west of La Cienega). There are a dearth of good Mexican restaurants in LA (shocking, I know). Most are of the "hot plate" variety. Guelaguetza's branch in Korea Town (on Olympic) is very good. The squash blossom and/or corn fungi quesadilla are both excellent. For Indian, Electric Lotus on Vermont has great decor, but India's Oven on Beverly has far better curry (try the korma). Messob on Fairfax is the best Ethiopian on that strip. Everyone loves Mario's for Peruvian, but Don Felix on Virgil (by Fountain) is much tastier. Musso and Frank's is great for old Hollywood glam dining/drinking. Campanile (as mentioned previously) is terrific. Their produce comes from Chino Farms.