date in santa monica

I'd been craving a return to BP Oysterette for a while and Severo had Sunday off, so we did a little jaunt to Santa Monica to be gluttons and walk the Promenade.
Our first stop was Yummy cupcakes - I needed to pick up a vanilla/vanilla to sketch for my cupcake series. We ended up with four, which we took back to the car.

We then walked down to BP Oysterette.

4pm is a great time to go --
nicely situated between lunch and dinner and no wait.

We sat at the bar so we could watch the action in the kitchen.

Here's what we ordered:

caesar salad

steamed clams, fries seasoned with Old Bay

steamed clams, lobster macaroni + cheese

brown butter apple tart with cinnamon ice cream

After all of that, we were in dire need of a postprandial walk. So we did a little exploring of Santa Monica Place and then up the Promenade.
Altogether, a very fun afternoon.

What about the cupcakes? you ask -- see Cupcake Safari for details!

a greek feast

The Enabler texted me from Papa Cristo's:

YUM! A great dinner! 

THEN he pulled out the desserts:
Greek Yogurt with Sour Cherries (no photo) 
Then these 

left: shortbread, right: soaked on orange syrup

Then these 

don't know name of these -- a pistachio, an almond and a walnut flavor

 The next day, I made this great sandwich with the leftovers

tabouli, greens sprouts, taramosalata, feta, onions

 It was so good I made another on Saturday. 

Tabouli in a sandwich might be carb overkill, but try it!

garden

My "garden" has reverted to "pond" state from all the rain.

I'll replant more mustard, cilantro and mizuna after the water evaporates.
Still alive - chives in foreground, bay + olive tree in tubs.