L.A. STORIES — AND THREE PLACES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT

What a week it’s been in Southern California.

We noshed, we played, we shopped and we relaxed, but the one thing we didn’t have for the last 5 days is something we all take for granted.

No Wi-Fi!

My 92 year old mother-in-law refuses to get on the computer highway, and it seemed rude and wasteful to spend a day in a cafe on my laptop.

Now back in Portland, there’s so much catching up to do and places to show you.

First up, we spent three days visiting my Mom and stepfather who live half a mile from here in Dana Point.

Our time together was a blur of  frozen yogurts, old movies on TV  — and lots and lots of card-playing.

Gin Rummy. Poker. Texas Hold ‘Em. And War.

We played cards for hours, just the four of us, and we had a blast.

Luckily competition wasn’t involved when it came to our picnics– just lots and lots of great grub.

And views everywhere you look.

And meeting new people — like this Romanian woman I started talking to.

She asked me to take her picture on her phone and we got to talking. She told me how sad she is about getting older, and uncomfortable she is in her body.

She was very proud of her book of poetry, though, and was eager to show that off.

It never ceases to amaze me the things people say to strangers.

The harbor is always so beautiful, and we spent hours there feeding the squirrels, checking out the boats headed out on whale watching tours and people trying to get the hang of SUP.

And then on our last night together, all her girlfriends invited me over for a special dinner.

Once a month one of them hosts the group, and they eat wonderful food, drink delicious bottles of wine and just catch up on their lives.

This time was Joan’s turn, and she’s both a fantastic cook and a beautiful decorator.

Here she is showing one of her favorite kitchen ingredients right now.

And here are a couple more of my Mom’s friends, all of whom welcomed me like one of their own: Leslie (and both Julie, Joanie and Eileen in background).

Joan’s house and garden are beyond gorgeous.

Hers is the beach house you wish you had — no detail is overlooked and it’s both very sophisticated (with silver, antiques and luxurious fabrics)

but also very, very comfortable with lots of light from the windows and sliding doors opening up to a patio with unobstructed views of the Pacific.

She made a wonderfully rich fresh ravioli dish with a salad

and one of the best apple crisps I’ve ever had; she claims the secret is a layer of sharp cheddar between the apple and crumb crust.

And then before you knew it, it was time for goodbyes to one set of grandparents, and time to go to visit my mother-in-law in Los Angeles.

Ruth has a condo in Beverly Hills, and when we’re there, it’s all about hedonism.

We always go shopping for essentials and enjoying window shopping for everything else.

We play Scrabble every possible chance we get.

And we eat out — at least once, sometimes twice a day.

We always hit Hirozen, our favorite Japanese restaurant on the first night — and we have a real blowout.

There was lots of shrimp tempura.

Eight different kinds of sushi (including fresh crab)

and Wagyu beef.

Happily, there were also three new food discoveries on this trip.

One. A.O.C.

It’s a lovely wine bar/restaurant owned by acclaimed chef Suzanne Goin (of Lucques fame) and we hit it for a special dinner out.

Look at the ivy-covered patio — a local magazine named it the most beautiful in L.A.

We ordered ten dishes for the five of us; a few were just okay, but others were pretty spectacular.

We loved the round of cocktails — some with blood orange, others with cucumber and basil, others still with fresh lemon and small batch vodka or homemade grenadine.

Also a hit was the hanger steak with crispy shallots and blue cheese butter,

the Farmer’s Market Platter with grilled bread, veggies and an assortment of spreads,

and perhaps the best dish of the night, her signature Short Ribs.

Should you find yourself in L.A, I recommend you try it for their brunch; the menu looked particularly delicious (and at half the price of dinner).

Next Up, Find No. 2.

Umami Burgers.

I’d been before but we’d only tried a couple things, but this time we ordered pretty much everything, and one thing was better than the next.

Their signature burger with roasted tomato and a Parmesan crisp was wonderful,

but their Truffled Burger was even more delicious.

And, if possible, even more amazing than these two supremely juicy sandwiches was the Seared Ahi Burger.

It was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had: luscious tuna and generous amounts of avocado with a gingery aioli and shredded carrot.

It’s the kind of sandwich you find yourself daydreaming about.

And then, My God, those fries!

The Truffle Fries have both truffle oil and melted cheese atop, and the Sweet Potato Fries have maple syrup and bacon lardons — easily the best version I ‘ve ever had of these, too.

They were both so crazy flavorful and crispy that I could have eaten them until I literally exploded.

Umami is now my favorite burger place anywhere (please come to Portland!).

In between all this eating, there was a once-a-year Car Show on Rodeo Drive.

Every year on Father’s Day owners of exotic and rare cars line up on this closed-off street to answer questions and compete for prizes; I’ve ever been anywhere with so many beauties in one place.

And lastly, my third food discovery.

Amorino.

I’d read and heard about this place in Italy and Paris, and was so happy to hear that they’d opened up a place right near my MIL’s.

Of course the gelato selection is pretty varied and beautifully hued

but what makes this gelato one of the most snapped on Instagram is their signature presentation.

The gelato rose.

You decide what size you want (this was a small for about $7) and then you pick a couple flavors, one of which will form the main scoop and the rest the petals.

It’s so lovely how they do it, and all around the crowded shop (it was 98 degrees, after all), people were balancing Iphones and cones and trying to capture the best angle and light.

Ridiculous, of course, but they were so beautiful you need to capture their allure.

(The gelato was delicious–isn’t it always?–but I think Pinolo in Portland is a wee bit better).

So a full week in L.A.

Treats galore.

Views everywhere you look.

Fantastic shopping and California dreaming.

And best of all, lots of family time, including our last night visiting my husband’s extended family at his cousin Richie’s wonderful house in Manhattan Beach.

They have the biggest deck in the entire town —  and at perhaps 30 by 75 feet long, it was an amazing place to spend an afternoon and evening catching up– and get some last views of the Pacific before heading back to Portland.

So an enormous thank you to all our wonderful California hosts and hostesses.

Everywhere we went, we felt welcomed and loved.

We can’t wait to come back!