Recently a good friend of mine was in town from Boston and in need of a major Mexican fix. The flavor I was bringing was simply not enough, my homegirl needed a taco like no other and so we headed down to Guisados, Boyle Heights. For you non-Spanish speaking readers, guisados translates to a dish of meat (typically) that is cooked by simmering. Having already been a major fan of the owner’s other fine establishments, Dorados Ceviche Bar and Cook’s Tortas, I was almost certain my friend and I were in for a treat!

Your best bet is to order the taco sampler, a plate stacked with their most popular tacos: Steak Picado, Bistec en Salsa Roja, Tinga de Pollo, Mole Poblano de Pollo, Cochnitia Pibil, y Chicharron. With this colorful dish, your taste buds are allowed a variety of Guisados’ taco talents and experience a variety of true Mexican flavors. The corn tortillas are freshly made, just like abuelita used to make, and you can taste it. The meats aren’t like your typical taco stands in L.A. (which I love) but reflect more of what I have tasted in Mexico. The Cochnito Pibil and Mole Poblano tacos were my favorites, for two very different reasons. The former had the spicy burst of flavor I so desired, while the mole had a smokey cream-like consistency that made my mouth tremble with delight.

Get to know your city better and take a trip to bustling E. Cesar Chavez Avenue. Don’t forget to order up a refreshing agua fresca and tell them I sent you!

Guisados
2100 E Cesar Chavez Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 264-7201

Last week I joined the living and finally bought an iPhone. A big thanks to all my friends who coached me into my purchase and assisted me with user tutorials. Everyone I know expressed to me this sentiment: “you are the person who needs to have Instagram!” Obviously that was the first app I downloaded and I am officially addicted. That’s right, the official Fashion Intel Instagram. ADD ME: FashionIntel

photos left to right, top to bottom: Banchan at The Corner Place, Chico (my dog), flowers at my local nursery, Korean BBQ at Road to Seoul, venison meatballs at Red Hill, gel nails, various strip club passes, & scarves galore

I went to the desert to rid myself of the bad mojo that was lingering in December and to jumpstart my mind, body, and spirit. You had no idea I was such a hippie, did you? If any of that made your eyes roll I don’t blame, but that is seriously what I did.  I have found that integrating these kinds of breaks into my life really recharges me and keeps me focused.  Since I had hiking, soaking up the sun, and sipping on freshly pressed juices, why not eat the tastiest whole ingredients I could get my hands on. Healthy eating Palm Springs is what I had in mind. We made a few meals here and there at the condo, but going out was fun and the food delish!

One of our destinations was Palm Greens Cafe, located next to Revivals thrift store on S Palm Canyon Drive. Specializing in vegan and vegetarian dishes, but offering omnivore-friendly meals, I was excited to try the spot I always saw on my way to thrifting. I ordered up a tall glass of lavender lemonade and with one sip I knew my taste buds were in for a treat.

I ordered the Indonesian Salad made with avocado, cucumber, carrot, bean sprouts, sugar peas & peanuts tossed in a sesame ginger dressing with salmon. When the plate arrived at our booth I was underwhelmed with the presentation but that didn’t mean much once I began nibbling on the delicious greens and veggies. The flavors were vibrant and all the ingredients fresh. If I didn’t think I could be happier, my friend Natalie A. gave me a bite of her delicious tacos!

Palm Greens Cafe
611 S Palm Canyon Dr
Ste 6
Palm Springs, CA 92264
(760) 864-9900

One of the best health shops I have ever laid my eyes on is Nature’s Health Food & Cafe on Sunrise Way. This beacon of greatness made such an impression on us, we almost became regulars. Their shelves were stocked with beautiful African baskets (spot one in my Joshua Tree post), coconut water, and chia seeds. The cafe offered a vast menu, packed with delicious vegetarian dishes, and nothing appeared to be over $10 which meant we were amped. We ordered up a fragrant faux-chicken curry and falafel burger, both which were packed with incredible ingredients and flavor.

I cannot wait to return to the desert so I can order up another delicious dish at Nature’s. Trust me when I say that this is the spot!

Nature’s Health Food & Cafe
555 S Sunrise Way
Ste 301
Palm Springs, CA 92264
(760) 323-9487

No trip to the high desert would be complete without a stop at Joshua Tree National Park. About 1 hour 15 minutes from Palm Springs, this desert landscape filled with spikey tree-like beauties is a vast place to explore. We hightailed it into the park with bright eyes and bushy tails. Wearing appropriate clothing for hikes is a must and I have realized that it is time I invest in some hiking boots! Nonetheless, Natalie A. and I hit a couple small trails in our tennis shoes and enjoyed every ounce of the journey.

I live for National Parks and feel grateful for having visited so many in my short life. If you live in California, there is no excuse not to visit this magical place! I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking.

Joshua Tree National Park
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, California
(760) 367-5525

The sun was setting as we sped down HWY 111 headed towards Slab City, home of Salvation Mountain. We began to cheer as we spotted the vibrant heap in the distance, as we knew our final destination was approaching. I jumped out of Natalie’s (yes, 2 Natalies) car and ran straight to the incredible site. Salvation Mountain had long been a place I yearned to visit and the day finally came while in the desert last week. Though religious by no means, I was excited to see this creation of peace and love, constructed by local artist Leonard Knight. Slab City is completely off the grid, may I even suggest bat-shit-crazy. These are these are the magical places I love to investigate.

Salvation Mountain boasts a height of 50 feet and 150 foot breadth, made entirely of local adobe clay and donated paint. As I climbed the mountain I saw large clumps of human hair, a possessed dog who I was convinced was sent to knock me to the ground and a vast desert filled with RVs of folk who didn’t want to be bothered. The colorful mountain was everything I expected and more. If you enjoy a good adventure, then add this spot to your next desert trip. Definitely not for those who don’t like to go off the beaten path and get a little dirty!

Salvation Mountain
Take Highway 111 to Niland.
Turn left (east) on Main Street (look for a stone house)
Travel for a little over 3 miles. Look to the East. You absolutely cannot miss it.

My fascination with the Salton Sea goes years back when I read something about this spot at my local library. Then I caught a clip of the John Waters narrated film, Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea and knew I had to visit this desert site. Each time I found myself in Palm Springs I promised to finally drive down to this destination but time always escaped me. My last desert romp lasted almost a week, meaning there was no excuse to not visit this abandoned oasis off HWY 111.

No doubt the first thing you will notice about the Salton Sea State Recreation Area is the smell. The overabundance of salt combined with the equally matched rotting corpses of tilapia fish is enough to flare up anyone’s nostrils. Don’t let the smell factor detour you from this journey as it only adds to the gnarly experience. Pay $5 at the entrance, park your car, and take a tour of the visitor center, which upon my arrival was being run by a lovely couple in from Canada. Make sure to spy the white board listing all the birds that have been spotted at the Salton Sea, with over 400 species reported! Since I am talking numbers, I was shocked to learn that this 35 mile long man made sea houses over 400 million tilapia. Think what you’re walking on is sand? Take a second look a realize you are walking on are the skeletons of the lives who once inhabited the sea.

A big thanks to one of my dearest pals, photographer Natalie Arriola for sharing a mutual interest in all things out-of-the-ordinary. She was also kind enough to share some of her incredible photos of our adventure, which are credited below. Check out her site for even more stunning images.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Arriola

Photo courtesy of Natalie Arriola