Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Nostalgic day-cation in Los Angeles

Road trip up to L.A. post-COVID for deli fare, ice cream and more food finds.

Lifeguard chair at Malibu's Rosenthal Winery – just two hours north of S.D. without traffic.
Lifeguard chair at Malibu's Rosenthal Winery – just two hours north of S.D. without traffic.

Like most people hailing from Los Angeles, I have a healthy love-hate relationship with the city. I grew up a "valley kid" in the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley. Downtown, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, the LACMA museum and Griffith Park were regular outings for my friends and I.

Retrospectively, I can see why people thought that we were spoiled brats. I didn't know how good I had it.

Then I remember why I haven't moved back home: the death trap that is the 101 freeway, the stifling air pollution, and the rude-but-weirdly-vain people that call Los Angeles home. Alas, a certain je ne sais quoi keeps me coming back at least once a year. I thought long and hard about it; food and beverages tend to win my affection. It goes without saying that L.A. has an impressive food scene. But their wine scene?

Sponsored
Sponsored

I sated my curiosity with a trip to Rosenthal Winery in Malibu. Prior to imbibing, brunch is a favorite pastime for basic and "extra" Angelinos/Angelinas alike. Valley kids like myself will judge character based on whether you're a devoted patron of Brent's, Abe's, or Weiler's Deli. I am a die-hard Abe's Deli fan. You can imagine my dismay when my best friend informed me of the establishment's recent closure. A noble substitute is Brent's Deli – they're open post-COVID for takeout as of May.

They've spent the last 50 years perfecting their omelettes, pastrami sandwiches, and matzo ball soup. After fueling up for wine tasting escapades, stop by Salt & Straw in Studio City (currently open for pint pickup) for dessert. Their avant-garde ice cream flavors (think honey lavender, black olive brittle with goat cheese, and roasted strawberry) will knock your socks off.

Treat yourself and grab an ice cream for the road!

No one wants to be stuck on yet another congested L.A. freeway. Take Topanga Canyon to Malibu for a truly scenic route. Put on your fetching, too-large-for-your-face sunglasses, open the sunroof, blast your favorite pop songs, and cruise the canyon at your leisure. Take advantage of several lookout points along the way to snap a selfie. Before you know it, the canyon quickly meets the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Turn right off of PCH and about half a mile down the road, you will find Rosenthal Winery on your right. It's hard to miss the oversized blue lifeguard chairs complete with a giant wine bottle. Did I mention that the beach is literally across the street? With no shortage of Instagrammable photo opps, I can see why patrons host their wedding parties, baby showers and birthday parties here.

Start off your afternoon by spending some time in Rosenthal's tasting room. (Editor's note: NOT yet open as of mid-May.) They have ample seating and an expansive standing bar. My best friend and I chose the winery's white and red tasting course. We mutually agreed on the 2016 Albarino (a white wine) as our favorite.

Glasses in hand, we ventured out to Rosenthal's outdoor patio. The patio's casual ambiance is perfect for a Sunday funday, with plenty of picnic tables and lounge areas to catch up on the latest L.A. gossip. For those who would rather listen to music than to rumors, the live band is a refreshing alternative. Humble Crust has set up shop outside of Rosenthal's white picket fence. Their pepperoni pizza pairs brilliantly with wine.

Pepperoni pizza at Humble Crust.

My best friend and I had a great time imbibing, eating, relaxing, laughing, and catching up on life. That's the beauty of a low-maintenance day in L.A: being able to pick up right where you left off.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Pacific Beach – car thief's paradise

Take photos of your automobile and license plate
Lifeguard chair at Malibu's Rosenthal Winery – just two hours north of S.D. without traffic.
Lifeguard chair at Malibu's Rosenthal Winery – just two hours north of S.D. without traffic.

Like most people hailing from Los Angeles, I have a healthy love-hate relationship with the city. I grew up a "valley kid" in the suburbs of the San Fernando Valley. Downtown, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, the LACMA museum and Griffith Park were regular outings for my friends and I.

Retrospectively, I can see why people thought that we were spoiled brats. I didn't know how good I had it.

Then I remember why I haven't moved back home: the death trap that is the 101 freeway, the stifling air pollution, and the rude-but-weirdly-vain people that call Los Angeles home. Alas, a certain je ne sais quoi keeps me coming back at least once a year. I thought long and hard about it; food and beverages tend to win my affection. It goes without saying that L.A. has an impressive food scene. But their wine scene?

Sponsored
Sponsored

I sated my curiosity with a trip to Rosenthal Winery in Malibu. Prior to imbibing, brunch is a favorite pastime for basic and "extra" Angelinos/Angelinas alike. Valley kids like myself will judge character based on whether you're a devoted patron of Brent's, Abe's, or Weiler's Deli. I am a die-hard Abe's Deli fan. You can imagine my dismay when my best friend informed me of the establishment's recent closure. A noble substitute is Brent's Deli – they're open post-COVID for takeout as of May.

They've spent the last 50 years perfecting their omelettes, pastrami sandwiches, and matzo ball soup. After fueling up for wine tasting escapades, stop by Salt & Straw in Studio City (currently open for pint pickup) for dessert. Their avant-garde ice cream flavors (think honey lavender, black olive brittle with goat cheese, and roasted strawberry) will knock your socks off.

Treat yourself and grab an ice cream for the road!

No one wants to be stuck on yet another congested L.A. freeway. Take Topanga Canyon to Malibu for a truly scenic route. Put on your fetching, too-large-for-your-face sunglasses, open the sunroof, blast your favorite pop songs, and cruise the canyon at your leisure. Take advantage of several lookout points along the way to snap a selfie. Before you know it, the canyon quickly meets the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Turn right off of PCH and about half a mile down the road, you will find Rosenthal Winery on your right. It's hard to miss the oversized blue lifeguard chairs complete with a giant wine bottle. Did I mention that the beach is literally across the street? With no shortage of Instagrammable photo opps, I can see why patrons host their wedding parties, baby showers and birthday parties here.

Start off your afternoon by spending some time in Rosenthal's tasting room. (Editor's note: NOT yet open as of mid-May.) They have ample seating and an expansive standing bar. My best friend and I chose the winery's white and red tasting course. We mutually agreed on the 2016 Albarino (a white wine) as our favorite.

Glasses in hand, we ventured out to Rosenthal's outdoor patio. The patio's casual ambiance is perfect for a Sunday funday, with plenty of picnic tables and lounge areas to catch up on the latest L.A. gossip. For those who would rather listen to music than to rumors, the live band is a refreshing alternative. Humble Crust has set up shop outside of Rosenthal's white picket fence. Their pepperoni pizza pairs brilliantly with wine.

Pepperoni pizza at Humble Crust.

My best friend and I had a great time imbibing, eating, relaxing, laughing, and catching up on life. That's the beauty of a low-maintenance day in L.A: being able to pick up right where you left off.

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Coyote tracks in frail San Diego avocado grove

Second place winner in Reader neighborhood writing contest
Next Article

The Digital Currency Wave Hits the Shores of San Diego

Comments
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
May 19, 2020
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.