Trattoria I Trulli ----- 830 South Coast Hwy. 101 ----- Encinitas CA ----- zip 92024 --- tel 760.943.6800
http://www.itrulli.signonsandiego.com/

Truly excellent trattoria featuring the truly Mediterranean food from Puglia (that's the region of the 'heel' in the Italian peninsula's 'boot'......trulli are in fact a traditional, odd-shaped conical house made of stone in Puglia)..........not cheap (about $12---18/entree) but really really really delicious. The owners are two younger Italian guys, very friendly, homemade pasta, super good seafood risotto, great wine list not over inflated. Definitely among the best Italian food I've ever encountered outside Italy; though Encinitas is definitely worth a stop by itself, the classic beachside non-LA California town, real peaceful + pleasant, flower-growing center just north of San Diego.........this restaurant made it tip-top. Highly recommended if you're ready to skip the sandwiches-three-times-a-day budget way for a night : )

La Perla del Caribe ----8023 Beverly Blvd. ----- Los Angeles ---- tel 323.653.3525, fax 323.653.3011

Stopped in here because we slept a few nights in the Beverly Laurel Motor Hotel across the street (where they filmed Swingers coffee shop scenes in the.....coffee shop!). Never did go inside that coffee shop but the motel was real nice, pretty expensive but worth it, clean, good management. This little Cuban restaurant (a true rarity on the West Coast) in a nondescript mini-mall directly across Beverly really impressed us, delicious + inexpensive. HUGE menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, Cuban sandwiches ...all the traditional favorites (rice, yucca, pork, chicken, shrimp dishes galore) plus some funkier items (plaintain omelette mmmmmm). Nothing over $10 a plate except a few special seafood dishes (like the paella, must order in advance). They were just opening when I was there last fall, did not have a beer/wine license (necessary to drink Hatuey beer with Cuban food) yet; however they were getting one I think.

These places both deserve a visit + your money + your support. Keep on truckin' + viva la (travel) revolución