The Better Website of the Week: Baublebar

I love sparkly things. Oh boy do I love them. Unfortunately, being a college student is a full time job with no salary; thankfully Baublebar has a good selection of jewelry that is fun and won't have me breaking bank. Here are just a few of the items I've been eyeing. As you can see my wish list is anything but short. I'll be sure to update with pictures once I narrow down my choices to a reasonable one or two (or three) items that I can purchase. 

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The Better Trip to Bottega Louie

The best part about living in Los Angeles is that absolutely everything you could possibly want (and didn't even know you wanted) is at your fingertips. Today I took a trip to downtown LA with one of my best friends from college, Rosie. We both needed to get dressed and go out since we had (happily) spent most of our winter break lounging in pajamas yoga pants and watching TV.

We chose Bottega Louie, a chic Italian restaurant/bar/bakery as our destination for the day. 

Rosie and I met through a mutual friend a week before we went off to college. Any time we got home sick we'd talk about our favorite LA spots, and she promised she'd take me to Bottega Louie when we returned to California. I am absolutely in love with this place! It's chic without being snooty, and it's luxurious without being overpriced.

This dessert was my favorite. It's a vanilla macaron with a Tahitian, vanilla crème brûlée sitting on top and covered in raspberries and pistachios. I was going to take half home to share with the family, but after the first bite my plan was tossed out Bottega Louie's floor to ceiling glass windows.

They also have a wonderful array of macarons. From top to bottom in my box: passion fruit, strawberry, lemon, salted caramel, vanilla. From the first few bites of dessert here I could feel the sugar coursing through my veins, but oh it was so worth it. Absolutely no regrets.

Rosie

As a self proclaimed foodie, I really appreciate the open kitchen that can be seen from the cafe and bar section of Bottega Louie. It treats the chefs like performers, and allows people like me to marvel at the what they make. 

BOTTEGA LOUIE

700 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90014

213.802.1470 

Monday	6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday	6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday	6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday	6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Friday	10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Saturday	8:00 am – 12:00 am
Sunday	8:00 am – 11:00 pm

The Better Martha Tries Liz's Blueberry Tart

Happy new year everyone! Can you believe it's 2013? It sounds so futuristic. To be perfectly honest I'm a little let down; where is my jetpack? I'd thought we'd be in hover cars by now! Disappointment aside, I created this blueberry tart when I was struck with a 2am urge to bake. I kept in mind that everyone is beginning their resolutions and trying to stay healthy so I chose a delicious sour cream tart with a buttery crust; it has some fruit on top so it's totally healthy, right? 

I'm so mad that I forgot to spray the foil with Pam! Granted it was around 3:30 in the morning so my mind was not at its sharpest, but still, I prefer smooth edges.

 

For tarts and lemon bars I always line the pan with foil so I can lift the dessert out with ease. This system is great because it makes clean up a snap and slicing easier when the dessert is not in a dish.