Get that Red Carpet Look at Tarzana’s Fantastik Fakes

BY KAREN YOUNG

If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then why are they so expensive? A real best friend shouldn’t be so costly. That’s why every woman’s new BFF should be Fantastik Fakes at Tarzana’s Alley in the Valley. Okay, so it’s a combination of sterling silver and fashion jewelry with the fake bling — but it shines nonetheless — and looks remarkably close to the real deal.

The force behind the store is owner Adele, and her husband Les, who were fixtures at the Valley Indoor Swap Meet in Canoga Park for 17 ½ years before moving to their current location 2 1 /2 years ago.

Adele says that “Fantastik Fakes was founded to satisfy that incredible urge that we all feel when we see fabulous jewelry, especially designer jewelry, and say, ‘Oooooh! I’d love to have that!’ When you say that in my store, I happily reply, “Now you can!”

The small, clean shop is the place to go if you need a special occasion piece or to add to your everyday accessories. No names can be named here, but you’ll know when you see them. Adele likes to say that they are “reinterpretations of famous designers” and she shops every week to make sure that her inventory keeps moving as styles change.

A watch that retails for $37,000 is a dead ringer at $60. Same goes for a clone of a renowned designer’s necklace and earring set selling for $30 instead of the real deal at $3000. You know those special key necklaces that can run up to $1500? Pick from an assortment of styles  at $30. Want a stack of eternity rings? They are $12 each or three for $30. Fancy cocktail rings are $12 -$40.  One especially grand one that is a hot seller replicates a certain female French designer.  Close out rings are $5.  There are .925 stud bling earrings  perfect for cocktail attire at $10-$20. A rare find is a good selection of clip-on earrings, especially for dressier occasions.

In addition to bling, there is a good selection of pearls, and the more earthy turquoise, coral and other stones. There are also select gift items at the store, such as elaborate perfumes bottles for $20, two sided enamel bejeweled mirrors for $22 and scarves for $10.

All the stones in the jewelry are 100% guaranteed, so if one does happen to fall out, just return the piece and Adele will have it fixed.

So, whether it’s for the red carpet, a black tie affair or everyday living, it’s worth it to spend some quality time with a new BFF.  And as for whether the jewels are real or not? That can be your little secret. After all, what are best friends for?

Fantastik Fakes is located in The Alley in the Valley 6000 Reseda Boulevard Space I Tarzana www.fantastikfakes.com Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 4pm. 818-996-5266 or 310-980-9991

Karen Young is the Publisher/Editor of My Daily Find.  Email: karen@mydailyfind.com

Say Cheese Please! The Grilled Cheese Truck rolls into the San Fernando Valley

BY KAREN YOUNG

I love cheese. No two ways about it. My basic philosophy is that life without cheese would be bad. Well, let’s just say that life without cheese and tomatoes would really bad.

Perhaps it goes back to those childhood memories of grilled cheese with a slice of tomato in the middle or grilled cheese plain paired with a bowl of tangy tomato soup. Good old comfort food.

Whatever it is — cheese makes me feel good.

So, when I heard there was a Grilled Cheese Food Truck roaming the L.A. streets a few months ago, I got pretty excited. I’d heard they had competed in the Grilled Cheese Invitational (now that is one sporting event I can wrap myself around) and were rolling out a truck.  I was ready and waiting. Only problem, like most of the food trucks, they take a while to get to the San Fernando Valley.

What? We don’t eat in the 818? C’mon, people—move those trucks!

Fortunately, the Grilled Cheese Truck was fairly quick on the draw and made its first appearance in the Valley a couple of weeks ago on Cahuenga Blvd. West in Universal City.  I’m hoping they can roll out to the West Valley very soon too.

I’d been logging into their Twitter feed and checking their website hoping that a Valley appearance would be imminent. I saw the date was set and then serendipity arrived a few minutes later when I was excitedly notified of the truck stop by a note on my Facebook wall by my friend Suzy, who is also a grilled cheese lover.

We agreed to meet at the truck that Thursday at 1 pm.

When I arrived, Suzy was already standing in a long line. People were buzzing and milling about.

We perused the menu in all its cheesy glory. Suzy decided to order two to bring home to her family and I ordered three.

Suzy ordered “plain and simple” with sharp cheddar cheese with an added sliced tomato ($4) as well as the Mac and Cheese Melt ($5). A grilled cheese and tomato aficionado, she gives the truck version a thumbs up as “excellent and definitely above average.” She added, “What sent it over the edge into the realm of excellent was the quality of the tomato. It was just the right thickness, sweet and juicy and not cooked and soggy.” As for the Mac and Cheese melt, she said “it was a layer of really well executed macaroni and cheese stuck between two pieces of bread and then grilled.” To get some additional perspective, she saved a quarter wedge of each melt for her two teenage sons, and although one ate them cold, and the other ate them heated up (for a couple of minutes in the toaster oven),  Suzy said they both gave the melts “resounding thumbs up.”

As for myself, I chose three melts that I wouldn’t ordinarily make quickly at home. The first was the Caprese Melt which was filled with fresh mozzarella, a slice of a red heirloom tomato, minced fresh basil and a touch of balsamic syrup ($6) — it was perfectly melted, and like Suzy said, the tomato on this melt was thick and not soggy. The mixture of the basil and balsamic made it taste a bit more like a very flavorful checca with cheese because the ingredients are more integrated than a traditional caprese. Next up was the  Harvest Melt with gruyere, roasted butternut squash, sauteed leeks, and balsamic and agave syups ($5) — a  perfect sweet and savory melt with thin slices of butternut squash on  grainy wheat bread. I was questioning whether to order it, but I’m glad I did. It’s richer than the other melts, but my personal favorite, especially because of the bread which matches the heartiness of the ingredients. My third sandwich was the Special of the Day ($6.50) — a roasted fennel melt with provolone, gruyere, arugula and tomato was deliciously original, although the fennel and arugula are strong flavors and overpower the cheese a bit. More cheese please.

And like Suzy, I took the melts home to share. Just a shot in the toaster oven and they were perfect. My teen daughter agreed.

But what good would any grilled cheese sandwich be without tomato soup? The Grilled Cheese Truck offers a tangy  tomato basil version prepared with a vegetable base and no cream. It’s sold by the shot (.50) or the cup ($2).

Add sweet or savory additions to your melt: BBQ pork ($2.50), Mac&Cheese ($2), bacon ($2), marshmallow ($1.50), nutella ($1.50), roasted banana ($1.50). Or order up some sides, like tater tots ($3).

“I feel very strongly about using very fresh ingredients in our melts as well as having choices that fit the needs and tastes of different people,” said Michele Grant, who co-owns the truck with Dave Dahni. Both Grant and Dahni are chefs and have worked in restaurants as well as gigs as personal chefs.

“We want to leave everyone with cheesy smiles,” said Michele.

I was surely happy with my Grilled Cheese Truck outing. And so was my friend, Suzy. Although, we didn’t get to the Dessert Melt with roasted banana puree, nutella and marshmallow ($6).  Next time…like tomorrow.  Who’s coming?

Note: Only five melts can be ordered at a time.  Be prepared to wait in line.

The Grilled Cheese Truck will be in Universal City on Tuesday, February 9 from noon -2:00. In front of VIVID PRODUCTIONS 3599 Cahuenga Blvd. West. www.grilledcheesetruck.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/GrlldCheeseTruk

Karen Young is the Publisher/Editor of My Daily Find

Kings Road Cafe: A city friend comes to the valley

BY KAREN YOUNG

Kings Road Café opened on Beverly Blvd. in West Hollywood the same year I moved from the City to the Valley. That was 1990. I spent a lot of time going back “over the hill” to Kings Road in those early days for meetings and to catch up with friends. I couldn’t find another cafe remotely close to it in the 818. It reminded me of my college years in Berkeley and time spent in San Francisco.

It was a relaxed kind of place where you could come alone or with a friend, eat a full meal, or just grab a small bite and a cup of coffee and read the newspaper (that would be the pre-laptop period). It had a kind of European, casual cafe vibe that was just beginning to take hold in L.A. artists, actors, writers, musicians and the like seemed to flock to it. Fun people watching, good food, and most of all, the best cup of coffee in town with beans roasted on the premises.

But as life happens, I stopped making the trek.

Imagine my excitement when I saw a banner appear two years ago at Ventura and Rhodes in Studio City that said KINGS ROAD CAFÉ? And best of all, it was walking distance from my home. Well, two years passed and it still hadn’t opened. I had all but given up hope when I saw movement from within the building that formerly housed a clothing store.

Kings Road Cafe had its soft opening in early December serving breakfast and lunch and it’s now open for dinner until 9 pm (however they will be open later soon). There’s no liquor license yet, so it’s BYOB and no corkage.

This casual café is a welcome addition to the Valley with a choice of indoor or outdoor (sidewalk) seating. Be warned, however, it can get fairly loud inside due to the minimalistic design mix of concrete walls and glass windows.

First up, if you’re a coffee drinker, this is the place for you. Each cup ordered is individually prepared and it’s still one strong cup of ‘joe’ which looks creamed on top and is served in hefty, round, wide mouthed mugs. The beans are not roasted on the Studio City premises (they are roasted over the hill), but with a special barista brewing each cup, you won’t know the difference. You can purchase roasted beans for $12 a pound.

And the lattes? Well, they have perfect foam. There is also a good selection of teas for non-coffee drinkers.

Food-wise, Kings Road Café is most well-known for its breakfasts and signature paninis. Stand out breakfasts are the Whole Wheat Granola Pancakes with a choice of plain, blueberry, or banana pecan and served with 100% maple syrup ($8.95); the Breakfast Burrito is huge and slightly different than the usual with eggs, black beans, Spanish rice, mozzarella and guacamole ($9.50); the Breakfast Panini is a pretty perfect combination of fontina cheese omelette, fresh pesto and roma tomato ($9.25).

And of course, the omelettes are quite good and on the drier, rather than buttery side. If you order an omelette that includes avocado, ask if it’s guacamole or avocado because depending on the omelette, it might be guacamole (if it matters to you). Omelettes come with a side of roasted potatoes and toast.

Paninis are served on fresh focaccia bread from the Melrose Baking Company. The Chipolte Chicken Breast (grilled) with avocado, tomato, mozzarella and watercress is moist and delicious ($10.25). I’m not usually a fan of chicken sandwiches, but this stands apart. The Ahi Tuna Panini is prepared rare with lemon oil, roma tomatoes, onions and watercress. ($10.50). The Ahi is perfectly prepared and plentiful, although it needs a little more flavor, so I asked for the onions caramelized and aioli on the side.

If you’re a meat eater, try the Top Sirloin Steak Panini artfully blended with garlic aioli, caramelized onion, roasted tomato and watercress ($10.95). Vegetarian options include a fresh grilled vegetable panini (($8.50) and a fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil and cucumber panini ($8.50). All paninis come with a side of red cabbage slaw with a tart olive oil and lemon dressing, which is a nice switch from fries. They do have sweet potato fries that are more like chunks of grilled sweet potatoes for an extra $1.50.

The Baja menu is eclectic with such dishes as the rich and flavorful Vegetarian Quesadilla filled with mozzarella, sundried tomato, cilantro, cremini mushrooms and spinach ($7.95) and the Rosarita Beach tacos with a choice of lobster, jumbo shrimp, chipolte chicken, steak or lobster with a side of Caesar salad ($8.75).

The menu is also filled with Burgers (garden, beef, turkey, salmon $9.50-$10.75), Salads with chicken, salmon and ahi ($6.75-$14.95 & 1/2 portions available), Pastas ($11.50-$13.75), as well as various entrée dishes more appropriate for dinner, including fresh salmon, blackened ahi tuna, Cajun shrimp, rotisserie chicken and top sirloin ($12.50-$15.95). All include various sides such as garlic mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes and fresh grilled vegetables.

Of course, I haven’t tried everything yet, but intend to make my way through the menu. It sure is nice to have a familiar friend back in my neighborhood.

Kings Road Cafe 12401 Ventura Blvd Studio City, CA 91604 www.kingsroadcafe.com (818) 985-3600

Karen Young is the Publisher/Editor of My Daily Find

Natural skincare, gifts, jewelry and a block party Wine Hop TONIGHT at Lavender

BY KAREN YOUNG

“It’s said that the average woman consumes nine pounds of lip balm in a lifetime. If that’s the case, then it’s really important to go organic…think of the chemicals,” said Dianna Mandel,  owner of Lavender Natural Beauty in Sherman Oaks.

“Almost 60 % of what you put on your skin goes into your central nervous system, so that’s why it’s important to think about using organic and natural products.”

Mandel has built her four-year-old business based on selling natural body and skin products, aromatherapy, and facial beauty treatments that are healthy for your body inside and out.

The store itself has an intoxicating allure — a sleek, modern, zen-like space, with displays of beautiful products, all with clean and refreshing scents. It’s a welcome and peaceful escape from the fever pitch of Ventura Boulevard.

With striking good looks, Mandel is poised and articulate — and really serious about her business. She can recite every ingredient of every product in the store. She’ll tell you which product works for a particular skin type and why. Ask a question, you’ll receive an education.

Mandel should know since her passion for natural skincare arose from her own pursuit.

“I had terrible cystic acne through my teens, 20s and even into my 30s. I became very frustrated by the lack of improvement in my skin, despite the medical treatment I had,” said Mandel, whose pursuit resulted in beautiful clear skin and the evolution of her store.

“I often use the word ‘joyous’ instead of a ‘ritual’ when it comes to taking care of skin,” said Mandel. “I like to think of it as more of a sensual experience.”

Mandel’s mission is to find “holistic solutions to help people” — and she wants her customers to be happy. And that’s not just a catch phrase — Mandel will gladly accept a return if her customer is not happy, however, that doesn’t often happen because Mandel is generous about giving samples so products can be tried before purchase.

Best selling products include top-seller Naturopathica (which she attributes as being the initial remedy in helping to repair her own skin); Jurlique — made from flowers grown from farms in Australia has a full line of products for evey woe, including Calendula which is known as “nature’s antibiotic”; Hamadi Organics haircare created by celebrity stylist Jamal Hamadi is made from 100% organic essential oils and is paraban free; Keys, a gluten free, pharmaceutical grade, vegan products to treat skin disorders, sensitve skin and skin cancer; Boscia, which is made in “clean” rooms that is said to restore skin; Juice Beauty, which uses the same basic ingredients as Dr. Perricone at a lower price point; and Messiance which is the world’s first extensive range of internationally certified products, which includes aloe vera deodorants that are safe for cancer patients. Also, a real find is the Larenim line of 100% mineral make-up (Larenim is mineral spelled backwards!). No talc, dyes, oils and chemicals — ingredients used that usually cause pores to enlarge.

Gift items are a large part of Lavender’s business with a price point that starts at five dollars for small soy candle travel tins. Soap stone aroma lamps made in India are $6-$12.  Add a pure essential oil for $6 and you’ve got a lovely gift for someone’s home.

Or check out  Er’go Soy Candles ($22-26), make-up bags ($10), Himalayan Salt Lamps ($12-$60), Soap Rocks ($7.50), travel skincare kits ($32-$50), stone soap dishes from India,  Healing Heart Stones ($12), babycare products ($15-$40), various jewelry items (including stunning solid  silver pieces from designer Juan Pablo Valencia $60-$250), porous handcrafted clay aroma pendants infused with pure essential oils, made by local Topanga artisans.  Custom  gift boxes are available.

Also on site is a Shannon Brown, the lead Esthetician, who offers an array of facial treatments using Jurlique and Naturopathica to address specific skin care needs for both men and women.

Mandel keeps all her stock on the floor and only orders as much as she needs at a time. “Body products are like food. We have to be careful of expiration dates,” she said. “You shouldn’t keep anything more than a year because they lose their efficacy.” To further the point, she elaborates that in Japan, they make tiny product sizes so that there are no wasted products.

Mandel is truly never at a loss for imparting information — and that knowledge makes shopping at Lavender a rather enlightening experience.

DON’T MISS THE WINE HOP BLOCK PARTY!

Visit Lavender on Thursday evening, October 15 from 5 – 9 pm for a special Open House that includes chair massages, handmade sugar-free chocolates (made with agava) that you’ve got to taste to believe, Hamadi hair demos & a gift with purchase. It’s all part of a Wine Hop block party on the 13500 block of Ventura Blvd. (between Ventura Cyn and Alcott). Be there!

Lavender Natural Beauty 13559 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. (818) 986 1280 www.LavenderNaturalBeauty.com

Karen Young is the Publisher/Editor of My Daily Find.