So much for health conscious California!

So I've benn in L.A for 5 days & am CRAVING healthy veggie food. We all know the stereotypes about American food, huge serves, greasy, over processed etc.. well, sadly it's true. I've searched high & low for the so called healthy California cuisine with limited success. Suffice it to say I am looking forward to San Francisco & the foodie mecca that it is. I also think I may revert to vegetarianism when I get home.

However, I did stumble across a little gem yesterday. A mere 30 minute walk (yes, this city is ginormous & if you don't have a car sadly long walks in blistering heat is the only option) from our hostel was a little diner on Sunset called "California Vegan" all vegan food, with a massive $7.95 lunch special. Miso soup, a veggie spring roll, big garden salad, brown rice & a main of your choice. Fabulous value. You first choose the sauce you want, I went for a mint, chilli & garlic combo, then you pick your fake meat of choice, I went for good ol' tofu as, even when I was vegetarian, I hated the faux meat substitutes. It was delicious and healthy & just what I was looking for. My room mate Kate & I went & ordered the veggie dumplings to start & then got stuck into our mains. 

Delicious shitake mushroom, cabbage & carrot dumplings. 

The Lunch Special :) 

The hostel I'm staying in is absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend it. USA Hostels at 1624 Schrader Blvd. Hollywood. We're in between Hollywood Blvd/Walk of fame & Sunset Blvd. Whilst I think L.A is a once only place ( I don't care much for it at all) I have enjoyed my time here as everyone is so friendly, met great friends, awesome staff, clean, quiet and so convenient. They have all sorts of activities here, Pub crawl on Wednesday night was only $10. We went to 3 bars in & around Hollywood Blvd  & got thoroughly trashy. They also do a $6 hike up Runyon Canyon to see the Hollywood sign, for $25 a stretch hummer ride around town complete with oodles of champagne & vodka, a walking tour of Beverly Hills. There's a lounge upstairs that has movie nights, the bar in the lounge opens at 6.30 & has $3 corona's or $2 plastic tumblers of wine. Bargain! Needless to say most of us prefer to stay here most nights & drink & socialise. 

I only did the pub crawl & took the free shuttle bus on Thursday morning to Venice/Santa Monica beach. I'm staying at their sister hostel in San Fracisco & fellow travellers here have said it's even better. the general consensus amongst everyone here is that L.A is just somewhere you go to either come in from O.S or to leave from, however all agree SF is brilliant & their favourite place in America. I'm very excited! 

Last night Kate & I, after an epic day of shopping at Amoeba music (greatest record store on Earth!) & a massive shoe warehouse, headed to Hollywood Blvd for food. We ended up at a little place across from Schrader Blvd called Little Devils. Lovely gourmet burgers, ribs & pizzas, much in the style of Grill'd back home. 

We shared a gorgeous bottle of Nappa Valley Pinot Noir & I had a sublime Turkey & rosemary burger with bacon, white cheddar & beer caramelised onions with a side of sweet potato fries & a herbed aioli. Delicious. Plus is they make their own bread which was very light & use only free range organic meats, with the beef burgers having a choice of Angus, Wagyu or Prime organic local beef. 

I am off now to finish my laundry before checking out tomorrow and heading off on my camping trek :) 

Speak to you all when I'm in Las Vegas! :)