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A Trip Down Memory Lane

Reunions bring to the surface thoughts, memories and feelings that one would normally compartmentalize and store much like seasonal clothing. All these emotions come rushing to the forefront when one is faced with seeing ex-roommates, ex-boyfriends/ex-girlfriends and classmates with whom you once had strong all-encompassing friendships but with the passage of time and the natural evolution of life, have faded and dissipated into thin air. 

Unlike my high school years, I had a very close circle of friends and sadly, one of my college roommates had passed away days before our last reunion. I was too distraught and inconsolable to even consider attending at the time so this reunion was the first one without her. 

What eased the sadness and void were two high school and college friends who made the trek out to LA and stopped by our home for a pre-reunion toast. With many years behind us, it was hard for me to remember who we each were in high school, but I still had some fuzzy memories of our fun times in college. When I saw them, they looked exactly the same with just a few more years of experience and life behind them. 

Being back on college grounds jogged my memory, resurfacing the eager and naive ghost of my youth. Memories of sharing close cramped quarters, rotating kitchen and dinner responsibilities, pulling all nighters, simultaneously dealing with exams and heartbreaks came flooding back.


What I learned from on-campus and college life was the value and necessity of late night chats, on-campus socials and spontaneous late night group outings. The bonds we created and the lessons we learned from those experiences were equally as important as the actual education we received during those formative years.


Some of us have kept in touch over the years but seeing some of the people who were in my circle of friends made me smile and warmed my heart.

Though our time together was short and sweet, I am reminded that it is important to stay connected, to have real and meaningful conversations with friends and loved ones.

As life has shown us in recent years, there are no guarantees in longevity and time is a luxury we cannot afford to waste. 

Marvelous Meal at Margot

Marvelous Meal at Margot

For those in the know, this is not a write-up about a spinoff of the fantastically hilariously funny and witty Amazon series though just like the series it has a throwback, classic feel where you feel the lead character would fit right in with her chic outfits and witty charm. Rather, it is a celebration of a beautiful vibrant restaurant on the outskirts of downtown Culver City which manages to capture the mood and the vibe of the hippest, most popular restaurants and bars of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood with its retro vibe and its 180 view of the city’s skyline. 

Margot is where you go to see and be seen. It’s where pretty people eat and drink. Everything about it screams “notice me” but in that subtle nondescript Culver City way. There are people of all ages who come to eat and imbibe, all fashionably dressed but in a subtle, refined and understated manner. Nobody is looking to stand out too much but there are a few with their bare midriffs and teeny shorts who are the exception. 
The interior design of the restaurant, its outdoor patio and its indoor and outdoor bars is a nod to the years of yesteryear, evident in their choice of nostalgic Moroccan inspired patterns for table tiles, and retro rustic lighting and furnishings. 
It was quite packed when we arrived. Luckily, we had made reservations on Resy and were whisked to the last indoor half booth/table before the outdoor patio. It gave us ample opportunity to people watch.
Our server was fabulous. She was attentive as one would expect at a top notch venue. Our food came out in batches. First to arrive were the asparagus a la plancha and charred broccoli. Of all of our orders, the asparagus was likely the weakest offering as it didn’t offer as much diversity in texture or flavor. It was served with ajo blanco, Marconi almonds and grapes. Perhaps the goal was to have a more subtle subdued flavor and if that was the case, then the dish was a success. The broccoli however was quite exceptional. It had a slightly smoky taste and mixed with the tzatziki sauce and feta, it had a creamy aftertaste. The pastas came next and were the stars of the evening. We ordered the cappelini with truffle and the tagliarini with seafood sausage. Both were spectacular in their different but complementary ways. The truffle, well it goes without saying, that it was light but powerful and decadent. The pasta with seafood sausage made from shrimp was surprisingly robust, had a bit more tomato base and definitely stood toe to toe with the truffle pasta.

The main entrees of whole grilled sea bream and American wagyu zabuton with fingerling potatoes were definitely quite good as would be expected. The fish was amazingly tender, subtly covered in tarragon aioli and salsa verde. The steak was exceptionally juicy and cooked perfectly medium rare and the accompanying fingerling potatoes had a nice crisp toasted outer layer which had a dipping sauce combo of horseradish cream and paprika butter. 
For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu tres leches. It had a strong coffee flavor with a creamy filling and tasted quite light on the tongue. It was the perfect way to end a perfect evening. 
Margot is definitely someplace I would spend all my special moments as it’s close to home and has a bit of class and a sexy vibe beckoning you in to partake in the beauty that is the Mah-velous Margot. 
Margot 8820 Washington Blvd., Suite 301 
Culver City, CA 90232

Grace Gambin

A Travel Foodie

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