Say it IS Sno

SNO.  In L.A.   

Hold on to your hairplugs, Dallas Raines!  We don't mean this kind.

Nor do we mean the kind of "snow" we oftentimes suspect this city runs on (although, the kind we're talking about might prove to be equally addictive).

Nor do we mean the fake kind they sh*t-- errr... "sprinkle" all over The Grove every December that ends up wrecking your cashmere sweater.  

Not even the kind that gets a sorority banned from rush week and results in its slowly devolving into "the fat house."  True.  Same kind as aforementioned city fuel.

We mean SNOBAR SNO, the exquisite, palate-pleasing, shaved ice confection now being served up at a boutique dessertery right smack dab in the thick of West Hollywood (you know, that strip where the crosswalks make you feel like you're living in Frogger).  

If shaved ice conjures nightmarish childhood memories of purple-stained tongues, and brain freezes, and tooth pain, and wax-covered paper cones leaking sticky sadness down your arm, then SNOBAR will straight up Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind your snow cone associations.  SNO is definitely not your grandpa's shaved ice (unless your grandpa drinks a lot of frozen Margaritas… but more on that later).

So what is it?  Instead of pouring syrup over dentist-enraging ground ice, SNO, according to the company website, "uses purified water infused with flavoring before it is flash-frozen," then they shave it to order with a fancy machine that resembles something Rumpelstiltskin could probably jerry-rig to spin gold.  The result is a texture that has been compared to cold cotton candy.  Think of it like delectable ribbons of icy lace that melt in your mouth.  What's more, SNO is available in a tantalizing span of rotating flavors (and they'll let you sample any of them). 

Fun fact, every Monday night, SNOBAR holds an "all the SNO you can eat!" bonanza for $6 (with email RSVP).  Funner fact, the company also has a catering service so you can have SNO at your event!  Funnest fact, for those catered events, they'll even toss some booze into the mix on your request.  That's right.  Kahlua chocolate SNO.  Mango margarita SNO.  Et cetera, et cetera, pass out… call Grandpa.

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•WHAT: Shaved ice v.2.0
•WHERE: SNOBAR, 8717 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, 90069
•WHEN: Open daily, 12 noon to 12 midnight
•$$$: $4 - $6

The Hippie Hippie Shake

We understand.  Imagery of kale and imagery of shakes occupy different continents in the scheme of how your mind might organize potentially combinable ingredients.  So we understand that the notion of a “kale shake” sounds about as appetizing as a peanut butter and mustard sandwich on rye. 

Get over it.

And get over to Sun Café to order yourself a kale shake.  Apparently, the thing’s concocted merely out of kale, banana, cashews, and agave syrup.  But you’d never know.  You’ll end up with a chilly cup of pale green splendor that has the consistency of a perfectly blended, super thick milkshake and a sweet, downright dessert-like taste that might result in you crying when you realize your noisy straw slurping can vacuum no more.

In addition to the selection of smoothies and shakes, Sun Café (which recently shortened its name from Sun Power Natural Café) is a dine-in and take-out establishment offering some of the most innovative and tasty organic, vegan, and raw cuisine.  If the thought of hippie chow turns you off, it shouldn’t.  A glance at Sun Café’s online menu (featuring photos of most every item) will have even the most carnivorous salivary glands getting into gear.

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• WHAT: Vegan (and Raw) Cuisine at Sun Café
  
• WHERE: 3711 Cahuenga Blvd, Studio City
• WHEN: Mon-Sat 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
  
• $$$: Beverages $3 - $8, Food $6 - $14

The Oaks Gourmet - Delicious Fare, Free Nostril Massages

If you’re a vegetarian, prepare to have your nostrils violated— and prepare to like it.

Meat-eating or otherwise, when you walk into The Oaks Gourmet, every nerve in your body will instantaneously vibrate with one thought—hamburger.  The smell is downright rapturous.

Situated atop the corner of Franklin Avenue and North Bronson, The Oaks Gourmet practically stares down the Celebrity Center as its aromatic splendor announces, “Hey hipsters, now this is a religion you should get behind.”  One nose full and you’ll be a believer.  One bite and you’ll commit to naming your child things like Chicken Picatta (we dare you, Gwyneth Paltrow).  Hell, you’d willingly participate in a game of violent musical chairs if the prize was, well, anything off their menu.

Open since 2009, the joint was established “with the idea that a small, neighborhood market could serve high quality, delicious food and beverages at a fair price.”  Success.  In addition to an inventive menu covering breakfast, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas, The Oaks has a full coffee bar, the type of cheese selection that would make a stereotypical Frenchman keel over and die from joy, and walls lined with enough snazzy booze options to fuel the entire WGA.

If you’re lingering in line for UCB, make it a quality queue by picking up something to keep you warm while you wait.  House roasted coffee.  Individual brick oven pizza.  Vegetarian meatball sandwich.  You’ll find yourself at the epicenter of olfactory envy.

Open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight.  In other words:  Go.  Go now.

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• WHAT: Tastebud-rewarding food, wine, cheese, chocolate, coffee
• WHERE: 1915 North Bronson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
• WHEN: 7 a.m. to Midnight, daily
• $$$: menu items $7ish to $13ish