The Original Katsu-Ya, Studio City

I just got back from a week in L.A., with a self-driven packed itinerary to try new spots, check places off my list, and make it back a few favorites. One place that I finally tried was the original Katsu-ya, in a strip mall in Studio City, in the Valley. Strip malls seem to have the best sushi anyways, and this was definitely the case here. It opened in 1999 and quickly became a local favorite by word of mouth, drawing all of L.A.'s foodies, and there are now several locations. Some have different owners but all menus were originally driven by Chef Katsuya Uechi. Try the baked hand crab roll with no rice, the spicy tuna with sticky rice, and the seared albacore with crispy onions.

The greatest thing about L.A. sushi scene are the prices - you can get fresh, truly delicious sushi for mid-range prices. In New York, I feel like it's either $500 for two people or really cheap and nothing I'd want to eat.

Montage Beverly Hills

The Montage Laguna Beach is one of my favorite resorts on the west coast but I hadn't seen the sister L.A. property until a recent whirlwind visit to L.A. I stayed two nights at the Montage Beverly Hills and it was relaxing and the perfect location for my business meetings all over L.A. My room felt like the best guest room at a Beverly Hills mansion. I paid, including tips for each time I needed my car, about $100 for two nights of valet parking, but there really is no other option. Such is L.A.

An outpost of Scott Conant's Scarpetta, which started in New York and is famous for the tomato-basil spaghetti, is attached to the hotel, and has a great bar. The hotel's Parq Bar is also nice but the most buzz is coming from £10 (Ten Pound), a discreet whisky bar above Scarpetta. You'll need a reservation to get in, which is tough to get. I missed it because it is closed on Sunday and Monday nights, when I was there.

I also loved having dinner with family at legenday L.A. Italian spot Dan Tana's, less than 2 miles from the Montage. I LOVE Showtime's The Big C, and one of my TV crushes, Reid Scott, who plays Laura Linney's doctor, was there having dinner.

F for Fitzsimmons on the pillow

 

Lobby

Los Angeles Love

Hiking Temescal CanyonI am that rare New Yorker that loves L.A. I dream of the Joan's on Third Chinese Chicken Salad and the Urth Caffe Spanish latte so I always stop and get both. I have rhapsodic love for the memory of my 4-hour dinner at Osteria Mozza, and have loved dinners at Bottega Louie, Tavern, Toscana, Terroni, Sushi Dan, and old-school Dan Tana's. I hate seeing movies in New York now after experiencing the ArcLight - you pick your seats, can roll in 2 minutes before showtime, and there's never more than 5-7 minutes of previews. I've become obsessed with Pressed Juicery and their "greens 2" concoction. I LOVE the hikes like Runyon near my brother's house and Temescal in Malibu. I even like flying to L.A. - on direct flights with WiFi and plugs, it's a chance to clear my inbox and catch up. 

My goal is to continue to have reasons to go 3-4 times a year!

Joan's on Third Chinese Chicken SaladWonderful independent bookstore - Book Soup on SunsetAddicting Hiking RunyonDowntown L.A. - the fabulous Bottega Louie Sunset at Shutters

Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula, Beverly Hills

I don't think anything can go wrong at afternoon tea. I'm not nearly as chic and civilized as the tradition is - but I definitely feel like I am when I partake. Last year, I traveled to India with a fabulous writer and we hadn't seen each other since saying good-bye at the airport. She lives in L.A. so we decided to meet at The Peninsula in Beverly Hills for tea. There was champagne, scones, tea sandwiches, a monogrammed napkin with my initial, and hours of catching up about new business projects and juicy gossip with a wonderful friend. The Peninsula is one of my favorite hotels in L.A. - one of the city's top suites is the Garden Suite with a newly redone 1,000 square foot outdoor area with comfy seating and a fire pit. I just hate leaving.

The outdoor area of the Garden Suite

L.A. Labor Day

I've had the best week in L.A. For the first time ever, I am not quite ready to go back to New York. I'm checking restaurants, hikes and neighborhoods off my list, spending great time with my brothers and sister-in-law, and seeing old and new friends. Here's the view from Runyon Canyon, a killer hike if you do the hard side and a nice walk if you don't. Hope you have the day off today - enjoy it!!