Made in the US of A

Whenever my sister Lisa comes to visit, we try to find an interesting new place to eat. Last night was no exception. With the re-opening and renovation of Barnyard on Pacific Avenue, chef Larry Monaco has a hit! After working at Gramercy Tavern and Tabla in New York;serving as corporate chef for Nordstrom Cafes; and running his own successful catering corporation Monaco brings over 20 years experience to Barnyard. The rustic interior of the restaurant hints at what the menu offers. We started with glasses of Dourthe Sauvignon Blanc ($10), Brezette Rose ($12), and Smog City American Amber Ale ($8). The menu changes often as Barnyard relies on local farms for produce and local sources for meat and dairy. This week we lucked out! For a small bite, we had the house-made Grilled Ciabatta ($5) served (on the side) with mustard, fresh blueberry preserves and butter. This was, by far, the most amazing ciabatta bread I have ever tasted! We could have eaten about three orders, but I'm glad we saved room for dinner! For dinner we enjoyed the Fried Chicken ($26) with waffle batter, maple glaze, bacon braised collard greens and polenta. The chicken was fantastic with a sweet crunch and juicy; perfectly cooked inside. We also had the 7 oz. New York Steak ($28) with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. The steak was a nice portion with wonderful flavor. Our server, Paris, was amazing and recommended all of our dishes. We are so excited that Barnyard has re-opened! Barnyard 1715 Pacific Avenue, Venice. (310)581-1015 Reservations necessary. Hours: Dinner: Tuesday-Saturday: 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Happy Hour: 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes:Fried Chicken, Grilled Ciabatta Bread, New York Steak.

The gourmet grocery store and eatery finally made it's debut on Ocean Avenue and Olympic this week! And none too soon! Located on a rather mixed-development block amidst condos, office buildings, and a stone's throw from the ocean, I've been waiting for Joan's for months! Yesterday four of us ate lunch and sampled bakery goods and I'm here to tell you that I'm really excited! The spot is beautiful and the market has tons of gourmet goodies to buy. From olive oils to baked goods and everything in between; the market is a must see. We had the Chicken, Bacon, and Brie sandwich ($11.95) with caramelized onions on a baguette. It was fantastic and I definitely would order again. We also had the Short Rib sandwich ($13.95) with melted jack cheese, sweet red onions, and arugula on grilled country white bread. I'm not sure which was better, as both were amazing! The Oven Roasted Turkey Breast sandwich ($11.50) was flavorful and huge. The Grandma's sandwich ($12.95) is a take on the Italian sub. It's capicola, toscano, mortadella, provolone, spicy peppers, Dijon mustard and ranch dressing on a roll. You must, and I stress must try the "crack" potato chips. ($2.50/$6.50). Get the big bag, you definitely will not want to share these. Freshly brewed coffee is $3.50 and you can drink it from a cool Joan's mug. And the bakery...oh the bakery. Chocolate Chip ($3.25) cookies resemble mini flying saucers and as with all Joan's baked goods are prepared daily in small batches. Peanut Butter cookies ($2.95) are chewy and crunchy at the same time. Mini eclairs are the perfect size for a tiny bite of sweetness. We love Joan's and are so happy they are in their new Santa Monica home! Joan's on Third 1705 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica No phone listed yet. Hours not listed but they are open at breakfast.

Recommended: baked goods, Chicken Brie Sanwich, Short Rib Sandwich, Turkey Sandwich, Grandma's Sandwich, Potato Chips.

I may be new onto the scene for Mrs. Thinsters Cookies, but as they say, "Better late than never!" In this case, it's so true. Baked with love, these crunchy, crispy, thin cookies have me hooked! The story goes that the originator of this cookie was baking and had only enogh dough to put teaspoons instead of tablespoons of her favorite cookie dough on her cookie sheets. The result? Delicious crisp cookies! The cookies use only pure simple ingredient are non, GMO, use no corn syrup, are RBGH-free (growth hormones),and have no artificial flavors or colors. Maybe that's why I'm addicted to them! The Cake Batter are my favorites with Chocolate Chip close behind. Try 5 cookies for 140 calories! Available at Ralph's Markets $4.99.

I'm sure I've walked past the Jamaica Bay Inn hundreds of times and noticed the Beachside Restaurant & Bar, but I'd never been in until yesterday. We took the water bus over from our house to Mother's Beach with my daughter and son-in-law and actually had a delightful 4th of July lunch/brunch here. The patio overlooks the beach where you can watch paddle boarders, look at sailboats, and enjoy the view of milions of umbrellas dotting the beach on a fabulous day. The waterfront eatery serves coastal cusine and is open for brunch and dinner. The emphasis here is on market-fresh seasonal fare, locally caught seafood, and thoughtfully-sourced meats. We started with a very tasty Bloody Mary ($6), probably one of the best I've had in the Marina. Breakfast Enchiladas ($13) are yummy scrambled eggs, roasted peppers potatoes, feta cheese, onion, chicken chorizo, red sauce, sour cream, pico de gallo, jack cheese, and avocado. The hearty serving was delicious and one of the restaurant's signature dishes. The1/2 pound Grass-fed Prime Burger ($15) with your choice of Maytag Blue, American, or White Cheddar and grilled onions served with julienne fries was very good too. Eggs Benedict ($11) was crazy delicious. We also had the Breakfast Sandwich with ham and eggs. It's a nice way to spend a morning watching the boats go by. Beachside Restaurant & Bar 14160 Palawan Way, Marina del Rey. (310) 439-3033. Hours: Weekday/Weekend Brunch: Daily 6:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Dinner: Sun-Thur 5:00-10:00 p.m., Fri/Sat 5-11 p.m. Happy Hour Daily 3:30-7 p.m. 

Recommended: Enchiladas, Grass-Fed Burger, Eggs Benedict, Bloody Mary.

New restaurants are popping up all over Westlake Village. The Gallery is definitely a keeper. Casual, yet elegant, this American gourmet eatery specializes in top quality service, food, and drinks. My dining experience was perfect thanks to our wonderful server Allison! This is one hot new place you won't want to miss! Have a drink from the full bar while you wait, but make a reservation; you'll need one! Cocktails and wine are very creative. Try one of the hand-mixed cocktails like The Violet Moon ($12) with Ford's gin, creme de violette, lemon juice, and a caramelized orange wheel or a Caribbean Mojito ($10) with Flor de Cana rum, muddled mint, lime, simple syrup, and Gosling's rum float. Or choose from the extensive wine list. We like the Peju, sauvignon blanc ($14) and the Whithall Cabernet ($17). Wines by the bottle are moderately priced ($36-$118). The dinner menu is perfect with enough choices for everyone. From the Seafood Bar enjoy Daily Oyster selections three for $9/ six for $16 served with house cocktail sauce, horseradish, and atomic horseradish, Try cherrystone clams three for $9/six for $18, or Yellowtail and Watermelon ($14), Littleneck Clams, Mussels, or a Large Seafood Platter ($85) with oysters, cherrystone clams, jumbo shrimp, tuna tartare, snow crab legs, and Maine lobster. It serves 4! The Starters and Shares are so good that you'll end up ordering more than one! New England Chowder ($8) is full of bacon,and littleneck clams. Don't pass up the roasted corn either! I don't know what they do to it, but it's crazy good! Served with herbed goat cheese butter, you'll be begging for more. The Gallery Burger ($14)is ground Kobe, whole grain Dijon, pickles, and Gruyere, cheddar sauce, crispy onions, and tomato jam. The bread is homemade too. French fries are crispy and perfectly seasoned. The 24 Hours Brined Skillet Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes ($24) tatses just like it's should. Crispy and crunchy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside, This dish is a sure-fire winner! For dessert we had the most amazing fudge cake with whipped cream and gelato from Tifa. I have to say, this is one of the top ten desserts on my list. All in all The Gallery is a big winner in my book! The Gallery 30768 Russell Ranch Road Westlake Village (818)889-1338. Hours: Lunch Daily: 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Dinner: Sunday-Wednesday: 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., Thursday-Saturday: 4:00 p.m.-11:00p.m. Entertainment Jazz: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Brunch

Recommended: Fried Chicken, Hamburger, Raw Bar, Roasted Corn, Chocolate Fudge Cake, Clam Chowder.