Do you ever have those moments in time when you are just straight up grateful? I am not sure if it is the time of year, the turquoise blue water of the Pacific Ocean, the company of one of my best friends, incredible food and wine or just the fact that I am getting older or more sentimental, however whatever it was, the few hours I spent at Malibu Farm yesterday made me grateful. This restaurant is truly one of the best kept tucked away secrets in Southern California. Malibu is known for high end big named restaurants like Nobu, which don't get me wrong has incredible food, however if you want to sit and enjoy the sun, surf and the beauty of the West coast, Malibu Farm is my choice any day.




I have lived in Southern California for 10 years now, this week is actually the anniversary of my move. I remember moving down here like it was yesterday, the long drive from Nor Cal to So Cal, the rain on the windshield of the Uhaul truck, moving on the 23rd and realizing that after 30 years it was my first Christmas away from home and unpacking the Uhaul truck in 80 degree weather in December in shorts and a tank top. I moved down here to chase love and to chase a career, but at the end of the day my life has turned out nothing like I expected and for that I am grateful. The love and the career have changed and the last 10 years have been a roller coaster of life lessons, heart breaks, celebrations and those moments like yesterday that just leave you grateful.


Malibu Farm is on the Malibu Pier. Yes, Malibu has a pier. It is often an overlooked pier as it is overshadowed by the more famous piers like Santa Monica or Santa Barbara, however it still juts out into the beautiful Pacific Ocean.


The restaurant occupies the two buildings that are located on the pier. There is one at the start of the pier and one at the end, both with incredible views, amazing food and a relaxed, beachy and classy vibe.


One of my best friends and I decided to escape the holiday craziness yesterday and spend the afternoon enjoying each others company, a bottle of wine and exploring some good food. Malibu Farm specializes in farm to table ingredients, local sources, organic fruits and vegetables when possible and whole ingredients. The food is simple yet creative, decadent and comforting all at the same time.

We started the afternoon, after walking the pier, with a bottle of local wine from Malibu. We decided on the 2013 Dolin Chardonnay and it was perfect for a warm sunny winter afternoon. It was crisp with a hint of citrus and light oak. We sat on the patio, yes in December, which has glass to shield the wind, heaters although they weren't necessary until the sun started to set and blankets.


The waitress gave us incredible food recommendations and we pretty much let her dictate our menu. She was super relaxed and allowed us to soak in the ambiance, talk about life and still not feel neglected. We started with the smoked salmon lahvosh, which was kind of like a giant pizza cracker with salmon, capers, arugula and some type of cheese. It was perfect with the wine and it was fresh, flavorful and light. The waitress also recommended the Swedish Meatballs, although we didn't try them, as she said the owner was from Sweden and they were her specialty.


The next thing we tried was the Veggie Paella, however we added some grilled steak. The paella was not made in the traditional fashion as it was made with Israeli couscous instead of the traditional rice. It also had incredible grilled veggies such as sweet potatoes, beets, artichoke and green beans. It was topped with a combination of tofu and grilled steak, which was cooked perfectly. The flavors were perfect, not overpowering, but exotic.


Finally, we ended the meal with lattes and Lavender Coffee Cake and yes that is actual coffee on the top of the cake. The lavender was subtle, however the coffee cake was heaven as it was served with a side of toasted pecans and whipped cream.


It truly was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. Actually I should say we ended the meal by watching the sunset over the ocean, celebrating our friendship and recognizing all that we have to be thankful for during this holiday season.


Here is the info on the restaurant. I promise you will not be disappointed! https://www.malibu-farm.com/about-malibu-farm/

Thank you to all of those people, places and things that touch my life on a daily basis. My life has been filled with an incredible family and friends, an ongoing life adventure, moments that capture my heart, places that make me celebrate being alive and for that I am just grateful. Happy Holidays!