Foodie Friday: Pedalers Fork in Calabasas

Pedalers Fork in Calabasas

Dawn's Faves from Pedalers Fork

 

Dear Pedalers Fork Team,

BeautyFrosting editor, Dawn McCoy, and I had the delicious opportunity to experience a sneak preview of Calabasas’s newest epicurean jewel, Pedalers Fork. Whoever says you can’t have it all hasn’t been to Pedalers Fork! This is destination dining at its best! You’ve created a beautiful oasis for us to gather with friends and escape the hectic day-to-day, without having to pack a bag or board a plane!

A perfect balance of location and design, the stunning interior was inspirational.

Every window strategically placed inviting nature inside to co-mingle with the rustic reclaimed wood accents, and antique light fixtures. The vintage bikes perched in the rafters overhead are a reminder of the inspiration for this sanctuary you’ve created.

Pedalers Fork interior & patio

 

I was in heaven when I stepped out on the patio. Worthy of the “dream home” sketches I walk around with in my head, it felt like a cool tree house for adults, dining amongst the trees, watching the ducks, and listening to the choir of frogs singing the praises of Pedalers Fork. A truly tranquil feeling that reminded me to breathe, slow down and appreciate the moment. I felt the love that went in to every detail!

Your dream project is a bona fide triple threat. You truly have something for everyone. A coffee shop that brews fresh-roasted 10 Speed Coffee from Oregon for the early risers, a cycling boutique catering to the active enthusiasts, and a beautiful restaurant with a menu focused toward a health conscious lifestyle. You’ve really thought of everything! The use of ingredients from the best organic and sustainable local farms has created standout dishes that feed our souls as well as nourish our bodies, and allowed me to leave the table without feeling guilty. Ok, maybe a LITTLE guilty after devouring both the Berry Cobbler AND the delicious Flourless Chocolate Cake for dessert, but well worth it! Chef Dan’s extensive menu has a little something for everyone.

Pedalers Fork dinner menu, cocktail menu & beer menu

 

Rebecca's Fave Moments & Menu Items

Pealers Fork, Calabasas, California, restaurant, restaurant review, foodie friday, food, cyclists, family-friendly, family restaurant

Steamed PEI Mussels – Coconut green curry, crostini.

Baby Kale Caesar – Almesan, potato croutons, almond tofu caesar dressing.

Roasted Beets – Hemp seed crusted Soledad goat cheese, heirloom citrus, asparagus, baby lettuces, herb vinaigrette.

Kabocha Squash Lasagna – Broccoli, sweet pea, ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce. (Note From BeautyFrosting herself, Dawn McCoy: “I died when I ate this. Literally died for about 2 minutes. Which might explain why I kept calling the dish “my boyfriend” as in “Please leave my boyfriend and I alone in peace.” Yep, it’s that killer.)

Kabocha Squash Lasagna: A cheesy, tomatoey, veggie orgasm of a dish! (that's another quote from Dawn)

 

Pan Roasted Skoona Bay Salmon – Roasted cauliflower, kohlrabi, sweet peas, spring onions, kale pistou.

Braised DeyDey’s Grass Fed Beef – Celeriac, roasted asian pear, jalapeno, natural reduction.

Girmaud Farms Duck Breast – Red frill mustard, roasted beet, red quinoa, dried cherry, pistachio.

Flatbread – Wild mushrooms, montecito gouda, shaved parmesan, arugula salad, truffle vinaigrette.

Devils on HorsebackBlack dates, Pt. Reyes bleu, applewood bacon

Greek Yogurt Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta – Spring berry citrus compote.

Bittersweet Gluten Free Chocolate Flourless Cake – Cocoa nib and roasted pistachio milk chocolate crust.

Apple Berry Cobbler – Almond milk sorbet.
WOW, this is go BIG or go home at its best! Congratulations to owners Robbie Schaeffer and Time Rettele! Your dream to develop a place where people can enjoy life and celebrate community is realized. Thank you for having the passion to create an environment where we can meet to share a cup of coffee, a cocktail and a meal, but stay to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and friends. Pedalers Fork is inspired by the cycling culture, but I’ll tell everyone the mode of transportation is secondary. Run, walk, cycle or drive. Just get there!  

 

Just get there! if you do, you might be smiling as widely as these bloggers - Dawn McCoy, of BeautyFrosting, and Whitney Lader of hoopLA

With Love and respect,

 

Rebecca Meyer 

 

 

PEDALERS FORK

23504 Calabasas Road

Calabasas, CA 91302

 

818-225-8231

http://www.pedalersfork.com/

*We at BeautyFrosting want to extend a special THANK YOU to our friends at Pedalers Fork and Nicole Myden Public Relations for giving us the opportunity to experience such a delicious dining experience before the general public gets to delight in the healthy decadence of Pedalers Fork! Also, we want to mention that there are a number of scrumptious VEGAN, VEGETARIAN & GLUTEN-FREE options at Pedalers Fork, as well.

Foodie Friday: Lyfe Kitchen is loooovely!

Dear LYFE KITCHEN,

 

Lyfe Kitchen in Culver City

Thank you for opening your doors in Culver City and opening your kitchen and comforts to all of Los Angeles. Your chef, manager and staff were so friendly and concerned with customer care that it felt like you were opening your hearts to us, as well.

LYFE Kitchen stands for Love Your Food Everyday and if I could eat like this every day, I would.  As a gal who likes to eat healthy 80% of the time and allows 20% for those charming “cheaty” foods, I love that at Lyfe Kitchen, I don’t have to choose. While you have menus for the gluten-free/celiac crowd and the vegans among us, you also have a full-service and fully pleasing menu for all the rest of us. Best part? All of the dishes and drinks are on the low-moderate-calorie side at under 600 calories. And it marries the best of both worlds: sustainable practices and natural, healthy, whole foods.

I came in last Monday night with my dear friend – and foodie guru – Whitney of HoopLA. I had no expectations and was at the mercy of Whitney and your fine executive chef, Jeremy Bringardner, which was totally my pleasure.

Some of my favorites on your menu?

Just a few of my favorites from Lyfe Kitchen...

 

Starters & Salads: The grilled artichoke ($7.99) paired with garlic aioli and the vegan caesar dressing. Let me tell you, honey, that I will be back to buy a pint of that caesar dressing, it is so delicious. And, sir, I’m not even a vegan. Yes, it’s that killer. The chunky guacamole ($5.99) was the best guacamole I’ve had besides my Mama’s with that perfect amount of citrus, acidity and creaminess. Served with gluten-free, house-baked tortilla chips and salsa fresca, I’ll be back soon for a true taste of the border! And the Farmer’s Market salad ($8.99) was simple, tangy and delicious thanks to the blackberries, spiced pecans, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

Entrees:  Art’s Unfried chicken ($12.99) with roasted brussels sprouts, butternut squash, dried cranberries, cashew cream and dijon vinaigrette was again something that reminded me of something Mama would make. Terrifically tasty with a juicy, mouthwatering texture, it’s sure to please. And you also offered a Gardein “chicken” version, as well.

Desserts: Well, now this was just ridiculous. We were delighted with the vegan and gluten-free ChoColaTe Budino with pomegranate-soaked chia seeds and slivered almonds ($3.99) and the Apple and Quinoa crisp ($3.99). We realized that you really cannot go wrong with either one and I don’t recommend that anyone leaves there without trying at least one of these delicious desserts.

Drinks: I sampled each of their red wines and they were divine!

Setting & Ambiance: This is a perfect spot for everyone. With comfy booths, a bright feel and inspiring quotes on the wall, everyone will feel at home here. Great for couples, kids and singles alike!

Lyfe Kitchen is full of life!

Overall, Lyfe Kitchen converted me into being a believer that low-cal, vegan and gluten-free cooking cannot only be as good as its higher caloric, nutrient-lacking counterparts but that it can actually taste BETTER. Job well done.

 

xoxo,

Dawn McCoy

Foodie Fridays

BeautyFrosting

Cost: $

Lyfe Kitchen

9540 Culver Blvd.

Culver City, 90232

*Keep your hearts full and your taste buds happy, people!*

New Column Alert: Foodie Friday

While I know we have had “Foodie Fridays” before here on BeautyFrosting, we are starting a new chapter today. I hope you will join us for the ride!

A beautiful benefit of BeautyFrosting is that I get to experience so many excellent restaurants, try out new tastes and sample some of the best chefs in the world. It has always seemed like such a loss that I had no place to share this praise. Then it hit me. I have the perfect place to do just this! BeautyFrosting, of course. And, thus, Foodie Friday was reborn!

On Foodie Fridays, BeautyFrosting is going to bring you some of our favorite foodie finds, eats and drinks. While a lot of the fare will be based in L.A. and its surrounding areas, you might find us covering food from our travels, hometowns and more. So you can expect some tex-mex in there for sure from this girl! (I’m talking to you, Mi Cocina, in Dallas)

And I am so excited to have my foodie friend, Rebecca Meyer, along for the ride! Like me, she is a true foodie – a lover of food, libations and delicacies. Rebecca also had the oh-so-clever idea of using our mutual love of gratitude to serve as our template for reviews. As she said, “We get to go in, experience these delicious tastes and fall in love. It seems the least we could do is write a thank you note.” I couldn’t have said it better myself, Rebecca. Together, we can’t wait to bring you our old favorites and new-to-us delights!

If you have a place or product you would like for us to try for Foodie Friday, just comment below or shoot us an email.

Keep your hearts full and your taste buda happy, people!

 

xoxo,
BF