Commit to the sip
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WORK • Thursday Routine
Scoop’s on
ADRIENNE BORLONGAN • co-owner and founder • Wanderlust Creamery
Neighborhoods you work in: Atwater Village, Fairfax, Pasadena, Sawtelle Japantown, Tarzana, Venice, Irvine, Costa Mesa
Neighborhood you live in: The Valley
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’m toggling between the kitchen table and the garden. One hand is answering emails, the other is pinching tomato suckers. Somewhere in between, I’m sourcing bulk ingredients for our next seasonal flavor run on my phone, usually with dirt under my fingernails.
I’m the co-founder and chief flavor creator of Wanderlust Creamery. Our office isn’t exactly a cubicle farm. Sometimes it’s a production kitchen, more often than not it’s the parking lot of a Kumon while my kids are in there, and other days it’s me in the backyard wondering if the nasturtiums blooming in my planter box will work in an ice cream.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today’s flavor development day, which means I’m elbow-deep in research and development for three bespoke collabs: a private, very hush-hush birthday flavor for a certain A-list celeb; a drop for a boutique fashion brand with a cult following; and something Scandinavian for a global clothing company.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
These days I lean into places that feel transportive or comforting and not overly scene-y. A few recent (and recurring) favorites: I’ve been obsessed with Apey Kade, a Sri Lankan spot in Tarzana. The lamprais is a must (banana leaf, everything delicious, unwrap and inhale), and their kottu roti is one of those dishes you think about for days after. It’s basically a stir-fried noodle dish in a creamy curry, but imagine the “noodles” are julienned crispy rotis. I also love Hurry Curry of Tokyo in Santa Monica. I’ve been coming here for decades (it used to be on Sawtelle). I get the chicken pasta — basically, fried mochiko chicken on a bed of Japanese mayo-dressed pasta — and menchi katsu curry, extra spicy. Another go-to is Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano — it’s worth the weekend pilgrimage. We order everything, no regrets.
Any weekend getaways?
When I need a recharge, I head five minutes up the road to Topanga. Some of my off-the-beaten-path, family-friendly favorites include Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park: Hikes that even kids can manage, plus sweeping views that remind you you’re not that far from Malibu. Also Endless Color: A wood-fired pizzeria tucked into the hillside that also sells vinyl. Fermented sourdough crusts topped with seasonal ingredients (like mortadella and pistachio) and record bins stocked with everything from Ethiopian jazz to shoegaze deep cuts. It’s laid-back, with a beautifully weird patio, and pure Topanga magic.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I inherited an old La Marzocco from the last tenant of our Venice shop. Had it lovingly restored. Haven’t bought coffee outside the house in five months — and I don’t miss it.
What store or service do you always recommend?
A massage from the Chinese massage place. You know the one. No robe. No scented candles. Just a thin curtain and a “hurts-so-good” shoulder reset that makes you walk out straighter. If I’m not slightly in pain, the massage didn’t hit.
Where are you donating your time or money?
With everything happening in LA right now, I’m supporting Jesús Morales’ Echándole Ganas Foundation.
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Bistro redux
The Skinny: Chef/owner Dave Beran’s five-year-old Santa Monica favorite Pasjoli just underwent a major menu overhaul alongside a minor interior makeover. The restaurant’s previous iteration — known for inventive, whimsical takes on French cuisine — has given way to a more approachable, traditional bistro menu with subtle, creative flair.