Cupcakes and clams

After 48 hours of an overdose of L.A.'s glitz and glamour, we couldn't resist walking into the all white Bottega Louie in downtown L.A. As you walk inside, what looks like a pretty French patisserie, soon reveals a coffee shop, a bar and a sit down restaurant - a marble and brass victorian style ladies room too!

As my mind was wandering from the macaroons to the tarts and the exquisitely wrapped chocolates, the dramatic floral accent pieces in the dining area drew me there, and, before we knew it, I was debating between clam linguini and a brick oven arugula pizza.

The pizzas are baked in an open kitchen, with dramatic high ceilings, which serves as a backdrop to the dining area. Their creamy peanut butter terrine was a perfect end to the meal, and, we were more than happy to take a couple of chocolate eclairs to go. Just in case. You would rather stock up than crave!