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The Market Of Santa Monica Place: 12 Fun Finds

PHOTOS: 12 Unusual Finds At The Market Of Santa Monica Place
Lien Ta
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By Lien Ta

Finally, The Market is open. The Market bears less resemblance to that other famous market in Santa Monica (the Wednesday and Saturday morning one just a few blocks north) and a closer, humbler resemblance to San Francisco's Ferry Building. We're happy to report that you can absolutely get fed here -- and take a few things away (but not a head of Little Gems lettuces, just to clarify). To get to know The Market a little better, here are the 12 most unusual discoveries found:

Photos by Lien Ta

Pretzel Dress at Rockenwagner(01 of12)
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Rockenwagner's infamous pretzels are baked fresh daily. Even if it's to make a dress (or necklace, bracelet and sandals) for this here mannequin which does a good job at welcoming patrons to The Market.
Soufle Bar(02 of12)
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Ever heard of a souffle bar? This is a souffle bar. Chef Hans Rockenwagner is known for an impressive crab souffle with lobster sauce at Three Square in Venice; now he offers a watch-it-bake souffle bar (with lawn-like seat cushions!), offering both savory and sweet souffles.
Eggo Waffle Lookalikes at L'Artisan du Chocolate(03 of12)
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A Parisian chocolatier -- oui, oui! Beyond perfect macarons and death-by-chocolate truffles, L'Artisan du Chocolat boasts a play-sized chocolate fountain behind the counter, the brown sauce of which covers strawberries and these waffles pictured above. It's oddly comforting that they look exactly like frozen Eggos.
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches at Beachy Cream(04 of12)
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If you frequent Malibu, it's possible you've put your paws on a Beachy Cream ice cream sandwich before (like at Malibu Seafood!). Its mantra is sweetly simple: all-natural ice cream made in small batches with locally-sourced organic ingredients. Key Lime Cowabunga and Ginger Wipe Out are wildly popular, but for the dairy-free and gluten-free Angeleno, the Da Kine is just for you.
Expressive Tanks(05 of12)
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Wear the three-word mantra of Beachy Cream on a tight white tank top.
Spiced Lamb Belly Sandwich at The Curious Palate(06 of12)
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Lamb belly is making its clandestine way onto LA menus -- but this might be the first in sandwich form. The Curious Palate, which already boasts a fierce following at their Mar Vista spot, is introducing a luxe spiced lamb belly sandwich with pickled onions on ciabatta bread for $15.95.
Cooking Classes at The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories(07 of12)
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The Gourmandise School was formerly a sweets-only endeavor; now for its first brick-and-mortar spot in The Market, cooking demonstrations will now feature savories, too -- from baking the perfect quiche to assembling sizzling Japanese izakaya tapas. While classes, typically three hours long, are in session, marketgoers can easily spy the instructors torching off creme brulee or through the glass walls.
Flavored Milk at The Cookie Guru(08 of12)
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The Cookie Guru is one Aurelie Vacheresse, who not only is shilling freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with the highest quality of organic ingredients, she offers the perfect pairing: A 12-ounce glass of milk. And not just plain ol' milk (call it "naked") but flavored milk. Available flavors: vanilla, chocolate and caramel.
Shrink-Wrapped Cookies at The Cookie Guru(09 of12)
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But back to the cookies: Of course, you're free to purchase cookies a la carte. But say, if you want to enjoy six cookies later (even if "later" is just 20 minutes later), The Cookie Guru offers shrink-wrapped cookies that are a five-minute-bake away from warm ooey-gooey chewiness.
Not-Very-Local Ingredients at Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar(10 of12)
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From painted walls in the parking deck to passed literature, you cannot escape The Market's mission statement of eating and buying local. So it is a little odd that the Norcino Salumeria Cheese Bar flaunts products all the way from Italy, for example. But alas, I guess we can make un-local concessions for French cheeses and Italian prosciutto for a quick afternoon fix of a charcuterie/cheese plate (for the record, there is a copious amount of Cowgirl Creamery cheeses, which is at least a product of California).
Wine Flask at Venokado(11 of12)
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You're an adult now, and therefore, your flask contains not Smirnoff but damn fine wine. The $19 flask, of stainless steel hardware, is in the guise of a small camera. (As you say, "Cheese!" you also take a swill of a hard-to-find Rhone blend.) It's the second incarnation of Venokado, but unlike its first wine-cum-gift shop on Fountain Avenue, this one boasts outdoor patio seating for, of course, sipping wine and taking in the ocean air.
(12 of12)
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This wine rack reflects the plant life prevalent in Southern Californian deserts. Totally local.

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