Panini

I totally <3 paninis so I have wanted to try local chain Panini (clever huh?) for some time. I've only gone to the one in Marina del Rey, but I know there is at least one other location in West Hollywood. Breakfast is served all day, but I of course go for the lunch paninis. My first try was a turkey and brie sandwich with cranberry spread. So good! I loved the gazpacho even more - it tasted just like the one I make without the huge mess in my kitchen. Second attempt was equally as fulfilling with a prosciutto, goat cheese, and red pepper panini that was simply divine! Here's the only weird thing about this place - if you want your sandwich pressed, you have to ask for it. But isn't a panini by definition a hot sandwich? Maybe I'm wrong on this one though.... The Marina del Rey location has a nice little patio they share with the surrounding restaurants as well as a decent interior (think slightly above Panera). Panini is also a bakery with an entire counter full of baked goodies if you make it to dessert. I also should mention that next door is Marble Slab - a Texas treat! All organic ice cream gets mixed with toppings of your choice before being stuffed into a freshly baked waffle cone. YUM!

http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/151348/marina_del_rey_ca/panini_coffee_cafe.html

Milk

If you Google "Milk Los Angeles, CA" you'll get three results all within about 2 miles of each other. Two of those results are all about the baked goods, though Milk (a.k.a. The Milk Shop) has quite a bit more to offer. Milk rests in a corner spot on Beverly and Poinsettia and shares a parking lot with El Coyote, to give you some perspective of location. When you walk in, you are immediately greeted with baskets of baked goods and jams available for sale. Next to that stands a small refrigerator full of beverages, including fresh bottled milk (plus, if you return the bottle they'll give you $2 back!). As you move forward in the line, you have the opportunity to check out the homemade ice creams and gelatos as well as an entire fridge full of ice cream sandwiches. On the other side of the counter you'll find all of the baked goods, ranging from a few varieties of cookies (my favorite is the ooey gooey chocolate chocolate chip - rich but delicious), and a few cakes and pies as well. I'm always intrigued by the deserts they serve that change regularly. Once I remember seeing a blue velvet cake, Milk's take on the popular red velvet variety. I regret that I didn't try it though, as I couldn't tear myself away from my usual. Listed on the menu board are the scrumptious shakes and malts available. From fruity to chocolate-y these are pretty tasty. If you need a little something savory before diving into the sweets, Milk offers a small selection of sandwiches, salads, and entrees. In all honesty, I think the kid's menu sounds the best and I've tried a bite of the mac n' cheese, and it's pretty tasty. Kid's could also get their choice of an all beef hot dog or a grilled cheese. On the big kid menu are a number of paninis, from the Media Noche (pulled pork, manchego cheese, pickles, and roasted garlic mayo) to the grown up ham and Swiss (baked ham and Swiss with peppered greens) to the prosciutto and provolone (with arugula, potato slivers, onion, and black pepper cream). The salads are of garden variety with a Caesar, Chinese chicken, Cobb, and garden salad. Milk also serves one type of noodle bowl, which to me seems out of place, but to each their own I guess. If it's nice outside, the outdoor tables are pretty pleasant for people watching on Beverly. If it's not so nice out, I'd do to go if you're headed to Milk because there really aren't that many tables indoors. If you're going just for desert you can spend as little as $1 on some of the cookies (and trust me, they are rich enough that one might be enough) or you could spend about $10-15 a person and get lunch/dinner and desert. I only wish this place was open for breakfast, I'm sure it would be fabulous.

http://www.themilkshop.com/