Foodie Friend #3 came up with a swell adventure called The Blending Lab where a group of 10 people blind taste wines, learn lingo to identify characteristics & then make their own personal blend. It was totally fun getting buzzed with eight outrageously different women, and to top it off, we were in another emerging and, (to us), undiscovered neighborhood: West Adams. What fun to find artsy businesses abutting auto repair shops up and down West Adams Blvd. We tucked into the Red Rooster Bakery  for a latte before “class” and salivated over the gorgeous scones, croissants and artisan breads on display. The barista was charming, the coffee just right and, intriguingly, there was a wine bar on the other side of the space. This kind of full-service place I’d love to have in my neighborhood.

Of note, the brain behind this little gem is super-chef Bruce Marder. And while I can’t say I’d make a special trip, it’s a definite “if you’re in the neighborhood” visit.

I will say the same about our lunch spot afterward. Vicky’s All Day is a casual, funky blend of mostly Mediterranean-inspired fare. My lox toast with a nicely-poached egg, tangy labneh and a super-bright herb salad was quite heavenly. FF3 wasn’t thrilled with her Impossible burger, (an option that wasn’t even on the menu), but we agreed the shakshoukas and pizzas we saw around us looked divine, and it’s enlivening to be in a truly age, color and class-diverse environment for once.

Full disclosure: I ate at the one closer to home, but there was a Mizlala  right next door to Ms. Vicky, so I’ll throw in a word about it here. This one is by far the more attractive, comprised mostly of a lush garden patio. Like Vicky’s, it features a Mediterranean menu, though Mizlala skews more toward the Middle East. A big thumbs up on the beautifully-marinated and spit-roasted chicken shewarma plate, ix-nay on the alafel-fay & a solid yes on the baba ganoush. The real stars, however, are the accompaniments. The tahina, tart pickles and amba sauce elevated every dish we sampled. Again, not a must go-to for me, but when in West Adams, (and I do recommend a field trip there), stop in at all three.