Gjelina – Venice, CA
I’ve had Gjelina’s cookbook on my kitchen bookshelf for a few years now and was so excited when I found out it’s just blocks from my girlfriend’s house who I was visiting in Venice. We went for brunch (great way to get in there if you can’t get a dinner reservation – just show up before 10am) and while the outside patio was already full, we got in no problem in the main dining room.
We ordered an absurd amount of food for the two of us but I couldn’t help myself and had to try a lot seeing as it was my first time. As generic as it sounds, the fruit plate is a must! You’re not going to find sorry looking honeydew and pineapple on it, rather nectarines, pink pearl apples, plums, etc. DE-lish! We narrowed their huge menu down to the soft scramble with squash blossoms, ricotta and mint, the king oyster mushroom omelette with gruyere, red onion, arugula and lemon and then had to share the lemon buckwheat ricotta pancakes topped with créme fraiche and blueberry compote. I wasn’t dubbed “The Good Eater” for no reason. No I’m just dying to go back for dinner!
The Good Eater 