Linda Rosa Meat Market: Off Colorado - Pasadena

Well summer is officially over. I have to say that I've had some great grub throwing some BBQs over the last few months. Due to the scorching heat, I usually like grilling fast and what better than carne asada. And being the lazy efficient person that I am, I checked out a few carnecerias for pre-seasoned meats.

My go-to place is called Linda Rosa Meat Market in Pasadena - a hole-in-the-wall small grocery in the back of a sad looking parking lot. They have a meat section in the far corner of the store and this is the best carne preparadas and pollo preparadas that I've found in the area.

Linda Rosa Meat Market
1827 E Villa St. Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 449-8698

Mignon Chocolate: Off Colorado - Glendale

I was on my way to Fish King, driving up Verdugo and I saw a chocolate shop so I stopped out of curiosity. Very cool find.

A brief history gathered from the website: This is a family run business that was first started as a bakery in the Ukraine back in 1910. By 1935, they moved to Tehran, Iran. In 1962 they started getting into chocolate making. And in 2003 they openned up shop in Southern California. The chocolates here are made in their own chocolate factory in Van Nuys. Willy Wonka step aside...

If you're a chocoholic, this is paradise. The display case is stacked full of beautiful chocolates of all shapes and flavors. It is almost too much choice! I got a handful of random selections and they were all awesome - but I can't remember what flavors they were. And the prices seemed low to me.

They have an attached cafe and some seating so its a great place to stop by for a sweet pick-me-up.

Mignon Chocolate
315 N Verdugo Rd, Glendale, CA 91209 (866) 443-2474
mignonchocolate.com