since before the sandwich shop even opened, brandi and i were committed to supporting two of our favorite vanderpump rules girlies. ariana and katie. with brandi living in texas, i held out until she could do a trip to california that would be long enough to have both time in the bay and in la. let me tell you – something about her is absolute perfection.
as if the quaint shop wasn’t delightful enough, the customer service provided to us and other patrons by the entire staff, including ms. terri (katie’s mom), was second to none. from the wonderful recommendations to the swift service to the warm welcome for this couple with a dog that had to weigh about 100 pounds, it was clear that something about her was a place where anyone would feel right at home.
i ordered the cameron and when i tell you i still dream about this sandwich, that is no exaggeration. it is the only item on the menu where substitutions aren’t allowed and trust me: you would not want to make any.
the cameron
the cameron comes with salami, capicollo, mortadella, smoked provolone, sun dried tomatoes, banana peppers, red onion, fresh basil, italian spices, pesto aioli and salt & pepper served on focaccia. if i were describing sandwich in a few words, i would say: decadent, fresh and flavor-packed!
the cameron – take two
brandi ordered the voila and when asked to describe it in a few words, she said: savory, perfect crunch, warm (since it’s one of the few warm ones on the menu) and delectable.
the voila
the voila comes with oven roasted turkey, smoked gouda, sun dried tomatoes, shaved cucumbers, red onion, sriracha aioli and salt & pepper grilled on their signature sourdough. 10/10 would recommend!
while the bread is to die for, don’t fret if you are gluten free. they have both gluten free bread options and are happy to make any of the sandwiches into bowls. there are also salads and every dressing is made fresh in house.
we may have initially sought out something about her because of our shared love of vanderpump rules and wanting to support a female owned and operated business, however we will return because it’s the best sandwich spot in la.
there is something so beautiful about seeing someone you love pursue something that sets their soul on fire. that is precisely how i felt when dana told me she was going to start a supper club. that is how verde supper club came to be.
when i first met dana, we were in undergrad at scu and she and i shared many mutual friends from her sorority. she was the baby of our group but a piece of her always felt like home. it might have had something to do with us both being la girls or maybe it was that we both shared a love for bringing people together around great food. whatever the case, we have been friends since that very first dinner party back in 2010. i still rave about her mashed potatoes and dana has always loved my mac and cheese. while we both work in our respective fields, we wouldn’t be us if we weren’t pursuing things we were passionate about outside of work. for me, it is this blog. for dana, it is her supper club.
verde supper club is an intimate multi course dining experience with wine pairings. even with me not knowing a single diner, i had the best time. each supper club is held at a different location but all in the bay area (at least for the time being). there was something about it that felt both cozy and airy.
now, let’s dive into the menu.
verde supper club menu
i have to be honest – i was too caught up in conversation to take a photo of the amuse bouche but that doesn’t believe that i did not thoroughly enjoy two piping hot spam musubi bites with sriracha mayo and furikake. for many of us, it was this nostalgic treat – for me, it instantly took me to hawaii; for one of the great people i met, it reminded him of his childhood (as his mom prepared this for him and his siblings). initially, i thought french 76 was a misprint but it was their delightful take on a french 75 with an added mystery ingredient. it did not disappoint!
for our first course, we had hamachi carpaccio. i am a seafood snob – trust me when i tell you this hamachi melted in my mouth like butter! it was served with one of the best white wines i have had in a long time – leo steen chenin blanc 2020. i will be ordering a case before my next dinner party.
first course
next, we had a crab and corn enchilada with this flavor packed green chile sauce and a crema drizzle. multiple people at our table commented on how they had never had a crab enchilada and loved how much crab was stuffed into the tortilla. growing up in southern california, i often seek out crab enchiladas at mexican restaurants. this one stood up as a solid competitor against any crab enchilada i’d previously had. at this point of the night, i wondered if the menu had been created especially for me. dinner could’ve been over and i would’ve been satisfied – lucky for me, it wasn’t. the daou chardonnay the enchilada was paired with complimented it perfectly.
second course
what i loved most about our third course is that it is not an item i would have ordered if i read it on a menu at a restaurant. after the very first bite, i knew i would have been gravely mistaken. the smoked maitake mushroom reuben with beet brined sauerkraut was NEXT LEVEL. the stunning presentation and the variety of textures alone were enough for me to want to have this for lunch daily. i certainly will be asking dana how she prepared this. with the heatwave we’ve been having, this would be the perfect meal on a hot day. and the marine layer pinot noir it was served with? *chef’s kiss*
third course
i wondered if it could get any better than our third course and was assured it could once i had the first bite of lamb with the creamy goat cheese polenta. the orin swift cabernet sauvignon was one i knew i needed to commit to memory because my brother lives for full bodied cab and this was just that.
fourth course
i thought i might not have room for dessert but once i realized it was a cherry cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream, i quickly changed my tune. cherries don’t tend to be a fruit i seek out in desserts – i favor berries, lemons and peaches. after this dinner, my mind has been changed.
dessert
at no point did i want to add a dash of salt, pepper or any condiment whatsoever. dana found a way to make every single bite perfect from start to finish. there was something particularly special about our dinner having so many locally sourced and in season ingredients. it was abundantly clear that every dish was made with love.
while at the beginning phases, there typically are not repeat customers, i am eager to convince dana to let me bring out of town guests to the next supper club. it is something i think every foodie should experience at some point in their lives.
with dana’s birthday being on september 5th, it seemed fitting to introduce you all to her baby, verde supper club. dana – you amaze me regularly. i am incredibly proud of you and my love for you is endless.
yesterday, we celebrated my godsister’s birthday. while we started on the rooftop of ballast point in long beach, we knew ahead of time that we would want to enjoy some time at the beach. in trying to think about what snacks to bring that would be equal parts delicious, beautiful and easy to transport, there was a clear answer: drew’s boards.
i mean, come on. can we just take a moment to appreciate the vibrant colors and the variety of options?
the boards were so beautiful that initially, no one wanted to eat them. everyone was able to get over that eventually because who could resist? there were multiple meats, cheeses, veggies, fruit, honeys, jams and nuts. the variety of crackers and baguettes were amazing. drew also included disposable tongs and forks for the boards because he knew we would be at the beach. he truly thought of everything.
*it was quite windy so we had to weigh down the lids with wine stoppers, plates and utensils
whether you are doing a girls night in, a date night, a beach day, hosting a party or a picnic in the park, these boards are perfect for every occasion. they are totally customizable and priced based on the number of people being fed. i already asked drew if he’d be willing to do a board or two for my coachella group this spring.
you can find drew’s beautiful boards on instagram here.
yesterday, we celebrated my godsister’s birthday. while we started on the rooftop of ballast point in long beach, we knew ahead of time that we would want to enjoy some time at the beach. in trying to think about what snacks to bring that would be equal parts delicious, beautiful and easy to transport, there was a clear answer: drew’s boards.
i mean, come on. can we just take a moment to appreciate the vibrant colors and the variety of options?
the boards were so beautiful that initially, no one wanted to eat them. everyone was able to get over that eventually because who could resist? there were multiple meats, cheeses, veggies, fruit, honeys, jams and nuts. the variety of crackers and baguettes were amazing. drew also included disposable tongs and forks for the boards because he knew we would be at the beach. he truly thought of everything.
*it was quite windy so we had to weigh down the lids with wine stoppers, plates and utensils
whether you are doing a girls night in, a date night, a beach day, hosting a party or a picnic in the park, these boards are perfect for every occasion. they are totally customizable and priced based on the number of people being fed. i already asked drew if he’d be willing to do a board or two for my coachella group this spring.
you can find drew’s beautiful boards on instagram here.
have you ever cheered at the top of your lungs for someone you’d never met? that was me when hayet rida announced she was making her very own luxury candle. you all know how i feel about supporting small businesses, especially ones operated by black women. it was a no brainer. i immediately figured out how to preorder. before i even knew what the scent was, i knew i wanted to support her and my gut told me it would be a phenomenal scent. hayet embodies all things a rich auntie would vibe wise so i knew this candle wouldn’t disappoint. meet aïya candle co.
as soon as the box arrived, it was like christmas. i care about attention to detail and clearly, hayet does, too. from the moment i opened the box, it smelled like i walked through a rose garden in full bloom. from the colors to the handwritten thank you note to the white marble and gold snuffer, i was thoroughly impressed from start to finish. my only regret was not ordering two candles from then beginning. you can visit aïya candle co. here.
at the end of a work day, i am eager to create separation between work and relaxation. there are a few things i do as soon as i get home. i take off my shoes at the bottom of my staircase. i strip off whatever clothes i wore to the office. i immediately throw on an oversized shirt snd boxers or boy shorts. i grab one of three beverages (water, sparkling water, wine). and lastly, i light a candle. there is something about it that is both therapeutic and flips the work switch in my head off. do you have any rituals like this?
hayet graciously replied to a dm i sent her over the weekend regarding the next drop. she said while the release date is a secret, it is sooner than you think. pro tip: the best way to track it would be to follow both hayet and aïya candle co. on the gram. i even set alarms when she is launching different items since we are on different time zones (she is chicago based).
i have been drawn to hayet’s authenticity, her unapologetic evolution and her hustle since the first time i came across her instagram a couple of years ago. the older i get, the more particular i am about what i am taking in – that includes who i follow on social media. hayet is constantly dropping golden nuggets of wisdom and has a smile that can light up a room. with me working in mental health, i find myself drawn to people that don’t stray away from the complicated shit. hayet is a real one.
the candle being lit for 30 minutes has totally transformed my bedroom. hayet is working on a second scent. i not only want more of this candle but i know i will be ordering multiple when the second scent is released.
keep up with k.tap 