Eat Out. Blue Plate Oysterette.

I love when a magazine interview says where it takes place. The May Vogue cover story--Reese Witherspoon--starts at Santa Monica's Blue Plate Oysterette. As if the lobster rolls weren't reason enough to try the seafood joint with an ocean breeze.

If you're a fan of Witherspoon's (and who isn't, really?), Water for Elephants is out Friday.

Blue Plate Oysterette is located at 1355 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Info: blueplatesantamonica.com, (310) 576-3474

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: blueplatesantamonica.com

Eat In. Fresh fruit salad with yogurt and coconut.

Whenever I'm trying to be healthy, yogurt and fruit are my first thoughts. Earlier this week, I got a small container of strawberries, blueberries, and mango at Whole Foods. I figured I'd split this between three mornings for breakfast, with yogurt.

I used Stonyfield Farm organic low fat french vanilla, but any favorite yogurt would work here. To make things a bit more delicious and interesting (and admittedly less healthy), I topped it off with some sweetened shredded coconut I had in the cupboard. This was a move inspired by the Fresh Fruit Salad at Malibu's John's Garden--one of my all-time favorite lunch spots. They also use chopped roasted almonds, which I may include tomorrow.

This is a great quick and easy breakfast, or a good sandwich alternative for lunch on a summery day--like the ones we've been having this week.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Food + Lab.

Silverlake surely isn't lacking another great brunch spot, but that doesn't mean they don't stop popping up. And I'm definitely not complaining -- especially when it brings us places like Food + Lab.

Food + Lab already has a location in West Hollywood, but opened up its Eastside branch just a few months ago out on Sunset, down a storefront from Dusty's. And it already fits in perfectly -- a casual joint that's friendly and has stellar cuisine. All the menu choices are scrawled on blackboards against the back wall, and filled with organic and vegan choices. But you also have your usual indulgences, and an overall balanced menu featuring delicious ingredients.

Above, you'll see potato, onion, gruyere and bacon omelette, which packed with goodness and the perfect sort of accent from the cheese. The sandwich was the organic chicken with gouda, sundried tomato aioli, and arugula on cibatta bread, of which the aioli was quite amazing. And I couldn't even fit our massive bowls of coffee into the picture. But overall, the food had rich flavors thanks to fresh ingredients, and portions were perfect -- filling but not overwhelming. I'm dying to try the sunny-side eggs and Australian speck featured on the website.

Yep, just another great brunch spot in Los Angeles. Us spoiled folk we are.
Food + Lab is located at 3206 West Sunset Blvd. in Silverlake.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Whole Foods teriyaki bowls.

This photo doesn't exactly do my teriyaki tofu rice bowl justice. There's some condensation going on because I drove with the steaming bowl sealed shut from the 3rd & Fairfax Whole Foods to Los Feliz last night. But, when I got in and ate it, it was still delicious.

I've had the chicken option for lunch, too, and it's very tasty. You can choose white or dark meat chicken, which is cooked to perfection and really delicious drenched in sweet teriyaki.

Recently I made the switch for the most part from white to brown rice, and with a meal like this, the brown rice adds substantial flavor. Like having an actual other ingredient rather than just filler.

Bell peppers and bok choy round this out to be a great option for lunch or dinner.

Well-priced too - $6.05 for the tofu bowl. I think the white meat chicken bowl is close to $8.

Click here to find a Whole Foods Market near you.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Check It. Gwyneth Paltrow's L.A.

Love her or hate her, Gwyneth Paltrow is without a doubt a Hollywood success story. The Oscar winner spent her early years in Los Angeles, and still knows her way around this town.

A few recommendations from GP, via her website GOOP:

Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows (I love the Fountain Coffee Room)

The London West Hollywood (the pomegranate lemonade is delicious - especially rooftop/poolside!)

La Scala (famous for their chopped salad)

Mozza (you really can't go wrong at the Osteria or the Pizzeria - Butterscotch Budino, yum.)

Chinois on Main (known for their catfish, and crispy spinach. delicious curry too.)

Cafe Luxxe on Montana Avenue (where she says "the lattes are not to be missed")

Intelligentsia Coffee in Silver Lake

Paltrow has a cookbook due out in April, which her pal/culinary travel companion Mario Batali (Babbo, Mozza, The Spotted Pig, Eataly NYC, etc.) wrote the foreword for.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: babble.com

Eat Out. Starry Kitchen.

You know people really love food when they start accidentally start a business selling food out of their apartment to their friends and friends of friends, and then get popular enough to get shut down because it's all illegal. I guess that also means the food must have been really good.

And it still is. That was the story of the beginning of Starry Kitchen, headed up by self-professed foodies Nguyen and Thi Tran. It all started from their apartment in North Hollywood, but now they're legally and officially set up right in downtown in the Grand Performances Plaza, mostly serving up for lucky businesspeople in the area for lunch. But due to even more popular buzz, the restaurant started opening up for dinner on Thursdays and Fridays.

So with great hype comes great expectations, but I'd have to say Starry Kitchen passes the test. It's Asian (Vietnamese) soul food at its simplest -- it's mainly a lunch joint and you shouldn't expect more. But the attention to the food is admirable, and the flavors work in all the right places. Get ready for a great comfort meal here.

The menu, the staff warned us, changes every week, so stay tuned to the website for the latest dishes. But overall, the process is the same: pick a protein, a vessel (banh mi sandwich, salad, or wrap) and a side, and you end up with a boatload of food. My date and I were able to enjoy what seemed like regular favorites, including the lemongrass chicken and pork belly, both in banh mis and with pineapple fried rice and glass noodles. I don't even like lemongrass chicken that much, but the Trans totally hit the right spot with it, and the pork belly was super flavorful.

Simple, friendly, and full of good food. Just like home.

Starry Kitchen is located at 350 S. Grand Ave. in the Grand Performances Plaza in downtown. Open for lunch every weekday 11am-3pm, and for dinner on Thursdays and Fridays 6pm-9:30pm.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Louks truck.

The oh-so-popular food trucks in L.A. are kind of hit-and-miss. While Kogi and the Grilled Cheese truck are consistently good, others are unsure bets. I had the Gourmet Greek lunch truck Louks for the first time yesterday, after hearing good things, and it definitely lived up to its rumored goodness.

The veggie gyro was fresh, hearty and delicious. Packed with lettuce, cucumber, tomato, feta, french fries, and falafel (an optional ingredient that adds $1 to the reasonable $4 lunch), it was really satisfying. Served on warm flavorful bread, it really couldn't have been better. What was also nice--it came in a little bag with two quality napkins, a fork, a Louks business card, and a magnet.

I also got a drink, which was $2, so my total for a really great lunch was $7, but could have only been $5 if I'd brought my own beverage. They have a nice selection of Izze, Orangina, sodas, and water, so if you're thirsty, they're certainly well equipped in that department.

When you see this truck, get in line!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. La Brea Bakery.

With Chef Mark Peel at its helm, La Brea Ave.'s Campanile gets a lot of deserved attention for its delicious cuisine. But at $18 for a grilled cheese and $12 for a tomato soup, it's not exactly affordable dining for most of us.

But don't stray far; in fact, just look next door to the La Brea Bakery. Indeed, this spot right off of Miracle Mile is the origin of the delectable baked goods you may find popping up in local restaurants and even the supermarket shelf, but what many don't seem to know is that it also serves as an actual cafe too, complete with salads, beverages and yes, hot sandwiches and paninis made with that infamous fresh bread.

The salads are pre-packaged (though I know people who have enjoyed them) and I have yet to try their coffee or teas, but this is about the bread anyway, right? And these sandwiches truly deliver. They're under the counter when you walk in, but definitely ask for them to be heated up in their panini press, and you'll be all set to go in gooey delight. Think smoked ham and gruyere with balsamic onions and arugula on a rustic roll, or marinated artichokes, ricotta and pesto on olive bread. All top-notch ingredients, all packing a flavorful punch, and at $8 each, a pretty good deal for gourmet-style eating.

While you're waiting for the sandwiches to heat up, grab a bite or two from the basket of bread samples they always have out. And if you're extra nice (which the people who work there are), you may even get to sample some of their artisan cheeses or win some extra pickles to go with your meal (like I did, above). Then head outside to grab a pleasant sidewalk table, where you might catch a celeb or two walking out from next door, if you're not too busy wolfing down your sandwich, that is.

La Brea Bakery is located at 624 La Brea Ave. in Mid-City.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Chameau on Fairfax.

A lot of really delicious restaurants in LA are named after very unappetizing things in French (La Poubelle on Franklin comes to mind), and Chameau is no exception.

Recognizing its Moroccan roots, this delibar's name means "camel" in the language of love although it is no reflection of the quality of food in the deli.

I hate cooking Moroccan-style couscous, it requires a lot of watching and expensive spices. At Chameau you can get the real deal, infused with different flavors and peppered with nuts and raisins at a reasonable rate.

Recently converted from a posh restaurant to quick deli, Chameau is still serving up their Middle Eastern eggplant dip, couscous, and marinated olives while also making paninis, wraps, and DIY sandwiches.

Prices range from $6-$11.

Chameau Restaurant & Catering is located at 339 N. Fairfax Ave.

-- Lauren Williams