Japanese Melon Green Tea

You know Summer is coming with the arrival of new fruity loose teas that can be enjoyed iced down or warm. Le Palais Gourmet with its flagship store in Beverly Hills, California, has debuted this wonderful, Japanese melon green tea called, "Midori Sencha." It is certified organic and given a special distinction with a gold and white, "Special Reserve" label.

Not only is the loose green tea beautiful with orange and yellow flower petals set against the tea leaves, but the aroma has a sweet yet subtle fragrance that comes through even when steeped.The liquor color is pale green with no bitterness! Le Palais Gourmet describes this tea as using the finest lightly steamed organic Japanese Sencha and blended with two kinds of Japanese melons. It is truly amazing!

M Cafe - A Macrobiotic Destination

Let's stop for lunch at one of my favorite cafes in Los Angeles, M Cafe with locations in Beverly Hills, Culver City and the Melrose District (near Hollywood). M Cafe offers a unique menu of macrobiotic dishes with no refined sugars, eggs, dairy, red meat or poultry. Macrobiotics stresses the importance of whole, natural foods eaten in season and as minimally processed as possible.


I love their two salad fresh combo duo of scarlet quinoa and sesame soba noodles. They also serve an amazing kale-lemonade!

So, pull-up a chair in this relaxing euro cafe setting and join me at one of my favorite lunch stops in Los Angeles - M Cafe!

Hawaiian Organic Honey

Honey . . . a gift from nature. Think of all the work, our planet's endangered bees do for a single drop of honey. Some wonderful artisan organic honey from Hawaii has been earning rave reviews. In the mystical Ohi'a forest, high on Mauna Loa's slopes, finicky bees gather nectar from the Ohi'a Lehua blossom at its peak ripeness. This single floral honey has a thick and creamy texture, light & delicate and can be perfectly paired with your teas, herbals, yogurt, etc.

Rather than reaching for bleached white cane sugar, use healthier organic honey instead. There are many subtle flavors which are influenced by the micro climates where the honey is produced. It's also a pleasure to use a honey dipper spoon which reduces spills of nature's precious liquid gold.

Say Cheese !

Our V.I.P. tour continues today at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills!

Check out the Spring picnic baskets in their window! Let's go inside!

When you walk in the door, you'll be over-powered by the melange of cheese aromas!

Beautiful cheese displays to tempt you at every glance . . .

Be sure to ask for samples and say hello to Norbert, the owner of this marvelous cheese store! So when you visit Le Palais Gourmet (see 6/4/09 post) for your tea, be sure to stop here at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, only a block away.