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It's a crime, I tell you! It's a crime, that there has been no decent deli in Calabasas proper until Lovi's came onto the scene! The Lovi family (Agoura's Famous Deli, Pickles Deli & Restaurant, and The County Deli in Chatsworth) is no stranger to the restaurant business! They've been serving great food since the 1970's. Service is with a smile, and sure the wait is a little long, but it's worth it. Start off with some excellent pickles. You can always tell how good a deli is goin to be by the pickles. Lovi's is no exception. Pickles are firm, crunchy, and salty; three necessary attributes in my book. The Matzah Ball Soup is a big portion with tons of broth and a giant well-seasoned matzah ball, plenty of noodles, and chicken. Pastrami on rye was tender, and lean. This is the Romanian style. For a lit bit of fat, try the New York style. Come on, it's pastrami, have a little fun! Bagel chips are some of the best I've enjoyed with garlic flavored taking home the blue ribbon. Lox, eggs, and onions, is a hearty portion, perfect;y cooked and served with hash browns and a bagel. Be sure to try the full bar with big screen tv's everywhere! Lovi's Deli 24005 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (818) 223-8777 Hours: Sun-Thurs: 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Friday-Sat: 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Pastrami, Matzah Ball Soup, Lox and Eggs, Bagel Chips.

Well, dear readers, it's finally happened! The day has come. Someone has outdone my famous mac and cheese. Yes it's true, and that someone is none other than Kelly Chapman, the owner of mac-o-licious, a gourmet macaroni and cheese paradise in Valley Village. What used to be a food truck is now home to the best mac and cheese in the city! A true southern cook, Kelly's recipes deliver! The warmth of Kelly's white, yellow and black little restaurant are so inviting, not to mention the mac and cheese throw pillows! Macaroni and Cheese is no afterthought side dish here, but instead, the star of the show. Kelly's mac and cheese takes the meaning of "comfort food" to a whole new level. Because Kelly uses only fresh farmer's market ingredients and top quality cheeses, you really can taste the difference. We started with the Just Baking Bacon Mac.($6.75+) This baked casserole has tons upon tons of cheddar cheese and hickory smoked bacon. Boost it with some Roasted Garlic Panko Crumbs ($1.50) for a dish you will never forget. True cheeseheads like me, simply must try the 5 Cheese Mac. ($6.75+). Asiago, Fontina, Gruyere, Parmesan, and Cheddar are blended together casserole-style to create a super cheesy delight! For you gourmet and gluten-free foodies there are Maine Mac ($11) with lobster and Gluten-free Mac ($7.75) made with elbow rice noodles. For lunch (a great deal at $11.50) you get a homemade cornbread muffin and meat alongside your mac and cheese. The Roast Beef is is slow roasted and chock full of flavor. Grilled chicken is free-range and well-seasoned. I cannot say enough about Mac-o-licious. Desserts include Butter Rum Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and Chocolate Decadence all at ($4.75). Now that I've divulged my secret, I hope I can still get a seat!  Mac-o-licious 5217 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Los Angeles (818) 814-6220. Hours: Tues-Sat 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Just Baking Bacon Mac, Five Cheese Mac, Corn Muffins, Roast Beef, Grilled Chicken. 

I am a big fan of downtown Santa Barbara dining and and use any excuse I can to take a dive up there. After every wine pick-up at Santa Barbara Winery (we got two great crisp chardonnays just in time for fall), we head out to lunch or dinner at one of Santa Barbara's finest eateries. Tonight we picked Finch & Fork, the modern American bar and grill at the Canary Hotel. Executive Chef James Siao, uses ingredients from local farmers, fisherman, and ranchers to create magnificent food! Make a reservation and enjoy one of the comfortable, pillow-cushioned, cozy booths. Start off with the Warm Citrus Olives ($6). Olives never tasted so good. An assortment of green olives are marinated in a citrus oil, then baked. They are bursting with flavor. If you ask for bread, you can dip it in the left over oil! We also had the skillet of Baked Macaroni and Cheese ($10) served piping hot with aged cheddar, bacon and breadcrumbs. How can that be bad? It can't. And it wasn't. It was my second favorite mac and cheese. To find out my first, read my blog from last week. For dinner my husband gobbled down the Rainbow Trout ($25) with pan roasted spaetzle, crispy pork, citrus butter, baby spinach, and shaved fennel. This was some of the freshest, most flavorful trout I have tasted! I had the Baby Back Ribs ($26) with local grits, cipollini onions, mushrooms, and a mustard glaze. I love cipollini onions. I'm not crazy about mustard or grits; but I have to say; this dish was fantastical! (I made this word up with the help of some very saavy first graders) The grits were the perfect partner to the tender fall-off-the-bone ribs. Mushrooms were perfectly seasoned and the portion was huge. For dessert I forced myself to have the Fire-Roasted Milkshake ($9). Was this an overindulgence? Yes. Is it on my last supper list? Yes. Take caramelized bananas, salted caramel and banana ice cream, graham crackers, and meringue on top. There you've got one incredible dessert. Share it; you must! Fitch & Fork 31 West Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara (805) 879-9100 Hours: Mon-Thurs: 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Friday 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Recommended Dishes: Warm Olives, Macaroni and Cheese, Rainbow Trout, Baby Back Ribs, Fire-Roasted Milkshake. 

I know, I know, I've been on a brief hiatus, if you will. But I'm back with a vengance! Last night we took a ride out to Playa del Rey to the hip new eatery Dockside, at Playa Provisions. Now let me explain what Playa Provisions actually is. Top Chef runner-up Brooke Williamson and her husband, Nick Roberts opened a 7,000 square foot beachside eatery four months ago. The model includes four different restaurant concepts in one building, so to speak. For seasonal seafood, Dockside provides a  high-end dining space. Small Batch, the ice cream shop boasts, you guessed it, small batch, in house made ice creams that are out of this world! The back room is a Whiskey Bar called Grain, with a separate whiskey menu. Finally King Beach is a casual market counter open for breakfast and lunch. At $2, valet parking is a great deal too. Our server, Dee Dee, recommended a wonderful sauvignon blanc, a 2013 Le Grand Ballon ($8). The wine list is extensive and the bar scene is vibrant! Cocktails like Margaritas ($12) are creative and refreshing made with Mezcal, Tequila, Pineapple, and Lime. I can't say enough about the food at Dockside and what my favorite dish is, because everything we ate was fabulous! Let's start with the Garlic & Pepper Fried Calamari, Clams, & Rock Shrimp with Cocktail and Spicy Tartar Sauce ($14). It was plenty for two and the smell was intoxicating! We also had the Grilled Wild Alaskan King Salmon ($23) with Summer Squash and Cashew-Kale Pesto on the side. Salmon is cooked medium rare and is moist, tender, and juicy. Sourdough Bread ($4) is a good-sized loaf baked in-house, served piping hot with salted butter and roasted garlic spread. Need I say more? Umami Buttered Parmesan Dusted Corn on the Cob ($4) is over the top delicious. The Dungeness Crab Mac and Cheese ($14) is one of the best I've tasted. Big chunks of crab, pasta, and cheesy goodness make this killer dish one Dockside should be proud of! So what to eat first? All of it! Then eat dessert! Oh yeah, you won't want to miss the Frozen Banana Sundae ($9). Small Batch  banana ice cream is topped with a real frozen banana, house made ice cream cone, hot fudge, candied peanuts, whipped cream, and for us, two blueberries. We duked it out for the frozen banana and I won. I loved every single dish that we ordered. I already have my next meal at Dockedside planned. I'm having the Connecticut Crab Roll with drawn butter, Grilled Baby Romaine Salad with Cippolini onions, radishes, and breadcrumbs in creamy garlic dressing, and a half a dozen jumbo shrimp! Take a drive to Playa del Rey. This is one place you will not want to miss! Playa Provisions 119 Culver Blvd. Playa del Rey (310) 683-5016 Hours: Dockside: Sun-Thurs 5Pm-10 pm, Friday & Sat 5pm-11pm, Saturday & Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm, Happy Hour M-F 5pm-6pm

Grain Whiskey Bar Hours: Open Daily 6pm-2am

King Beach Hours: Open Daily 7:30 am-6pm (food served until 4pm)

Small Batch Ice Cream Hours: Sun-Thurs. 11am-0pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm

Recommended Dishes: Sourdough Bread, Calamari, Salmon, Corn on the Cob, Mac and Cheese, Frozen Banana Sundae.

We've been eating at Hal's since before our kids were born. Since 1987, Hal's, in the heart of Venice, has become a staple, if you will, of Abbot Kinney Blvd. American cuisine is never better than at this light, airy eatery that makes you feel so at home. The wine list is fantastic too. We love to come for Sunday Brunch or dinner, but don't miss Tuesday/ Wednesday nights! Wine is half off on select bottles. We all know, there's nothing better that a perfect glass of wine with Hal's outstanding cuisine! Even if you just come for a drink at the beautiful wooden bar be sure to try a Canteloupe Martini with Marie Brizard Watermelon Liquer, Vodka, fresh orange & lime juice!  For brunch we love Hal's French Toast ($9) served with maple syrup and butter. Thick, light, and crisp, my husband proclaimed it, "out of this world." He loved it so much, that I was only able to snag one bite. It was heavenly! We had some yummy smoked bacon ($3) and I had the Smoked Salmon Plate ($14). The salmon was so fresh and gorgeous. There was enough for two and good thing, because Mr. French Toast wanted some smoked salmon too. The toasted bagel was huge, whipped cream cheese was plentiful, capers were salty, and onions and tomatoes the perfect toppers. I would go back and eat it again today, it was that good! I also adore the fresh muffins and biscuits and butter that you get before your food arrives. The corn muffin is my favorite! For dinner try the Caesar salad ($7/$10) with romaine, romano cheese, anchovies, and garlic croutons), or the wedge ($10) icebreg, roasted beets, heirloom tomatoes, bacon, croutons, chives, chervil, tarragon, blue cheese, and Italian dressing. We also love the Roasted Wild Pacific Northwest Salmon ($32) and Braised Jidori Chicken Breast ($26). Hal's is one of our all-timeVenice favorites. Why not make it one of yours too?  Hal's Bar & Grill 1349 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice (310) 396-3105 Daily: 11:30 a.m.- 2:00 a.m.

Recommended Dishes: French Toast, Smoked Salmon, Caesar Salad, Wedge Salad, Jidori Chicken, Roasted Salmon.