Sky C.

Got kitty litter and raw frozen rabbit for the cat here. I like Whole Pets because they tend to have some of the more holistic products that we like for our animals. They happen to be next door to Whole Foods - related??? LOL. The staff is helpful and friendly and there is often a furry friend hanging out on the register counter which I enjoy! It's our go-to place for all things house pets!

Murdoch's carries all the gear and food products for ranch animals, and hence for our horse we are able to cover a lot of his needs. getting both gear and some of the food products there. They are super friendly and helpful when you need! If you have a horse or other ranch animals, it's a fun store to peruse all the isles and perhaps be amazed at what's available! We shop there at least once per month.

Running around doing errands and hungry at dinnertime - we went into Bodega Malbec. It's right in the heart of Toluca Lake on Riverside. Amazing that we got a parking spot right in front, and chose to sit outside on the covered patio by the sidewalk - nice ambiance, heaters to keep us warm. The wait staff was friendly and quite attentive; filtered water right away, they took our drink orders, the Chardonay was a good choice. I got the Branzino fish which was on their specials menu - quite good with spinach and potatoes. Cooked perfectly. My daughter got the shrimp and garlic and a side of asparagus, and I got their REMOLACHAS & PERAS salad - that's beets and pears, with arugula, blue cheese, toasted almonds. It was really good. We had a fun time chatting with the waiter at the end. This is one of those places where you can relax, have great food and it's a warm and cozy setting. Well worth it!

goop was created, if I'm not mistaken, by Gwyneth Paltrow. She has - or had - a TV show with that name. I had no idea until visiting that there was a restaurant. So, we ordered delivery - the half chicken dinner for two. It came with a choice of sides, so we went with the beet salad and the fingerling potatoes and the small crunch salad with maple vinegrette. Also choice of sauces - got the BBQ and garlic aioli. Goop is big on organic, recyclable packaging, etc, and we do organic where possible. i was so pleased - particularly the sides are huge proportions, so for two people it's great, even might be some leftovers. I loved the crunch salad - just a great blend of tastes and crunch and flavors. The chicken was properly cooked - not too dry as can happen at times. I would order from them again next time in Los Angeles - this is an easy, great choice.

Visiting for a few days, was in the mood for Thai and found that Grandma's Thai Kitchen (ok, quirky name, right?), had almost all 5-star reviews. So we ordered delivery - the Tom Kha Kai Soup, the Rad Nah and the Panang Curry. Interesting to note, in Boulder, our home town, these would be about $2-3 more than here. The portions were generous, but the food was fantastic. Each dish, and the soup, just the right flavors and temp and I thought, we need a Grandma's Thai in Boulder! LOL. . .If you like Thai food, this is a no-brainer, just order!

Shamane's is tucked away in a commercial area where you would never find it just driving around - you have to KNOW that it is there. But, there is a great reason to know about Shamane's. Their bakery goods are first class - some of the best in Boulder, Whether it is sweets or savory, they have it all. This time we got two chicken pot pies - and no exception here, they were great. If you are a croissant person, go in the morning before they run out. Really, a gem that stands out!

Zeal is the kind of place that I want to rate five stars, but it's too mixed an experience. What I love: They are pretty organic and clean, nice environment, friendly, have a nice selection and all. They are trying to be great and sometimes get there, but not always. Example: last night dinner - I had the salmon with vegies and "zeal" grains. The salmon was just a bit too dry, the sauce - not enough in the dish; my wife had the Zeal Beef Braise - which is actually a blend of beef and lamb, kind of a brisket. She felt it was so-so, she thought the meat was not high quality, too chewy. We also ordered the Mediterranean Pizza appetizer - made with chickpea flour. Seemed interesting, but it's too doughy. I suggested to the server that they should use long-rise sourdough, which would taste 10X better, and is generally still ok for gluten-sensitive people. She thought that was a great idea. To be fair, I've had things there that were great, so I think consistency is something that has to be upleveled with Zeal. I want them to thrive because they are on the right track!

LOVE their food! Folsom Thai gets a lot of 5-star reviews. We had the Panang Curry and the Pad Thai - and I give them 5 stars - they are so good! The place is kind of a hole in the wall, so we take-out and eat at home, but I don't think you can go wrong with anything they serve. They've been there for years, and I'm only sorry we didn't check them out long before. If you like Thai food, or if you're getting bored with Chinese food, go to Folsom Thai!

I could post a review of Natural Grocers weekly. . .LOL. We've been shopping there for 20+ years and it is ALWAYS the place for groceries before going to Whole Foods. Sometimes their regular prices are cheaper than on-sale pricing at Whole Foods. Main thing - they are way committed to organic - they don't sell any non-organic produce, unlike the big boys. Also, they will never take in chemically treated (think Apeel/Bill Gates) produce. They sometimes have new local brands that are super innovative and organic and clean. Boulder store is at Pearl and 28th, where we usually shop.

Wild Pastures is a burger place - but clean, organic, pasture-raised beef. They have seating inside but it is also a take-out place and that's the usual mode for us. They also have a variety of different kinds of fries, and of course the usual fountain drinks. I'm giving them 4 stars for being organic and clean, but I would say there is a bit too much salt in these burgers. Salt brings out the flavor but in this case too much. That said, still good!