As a non-LA resident, I didn’t know what to expect coming to Caltech. However, there’s been a lot of really great food! One of my new favorite food experiences has been going to Smorgasborg, a food market in the Lost Angeles Arts District. Free to enter, the market has not only had all kinds of food cuisines but also clothes, stickers, and more. My friends immediately got the latest Instagram food trend, Tanghulu, the sugar-coated fruit.

I tend to prefer savory things, so I chose four mini focaccias (Focaccia di Recco) with different toppings. I love bread, so this was the perfect treat for me. I got pesto, spinach and bok choy, olive oil with burrata, and mascarpone with pistachios and balsamic vinegar (dessert). I loved all of them, but my favorite was surprisingly the dessert focaccia di recco. It had a really nice kick of salt to it that helped mellow the otherwise sweet flavors.

I also got dumplings for dinner, which was a very good alternative to the limited dining options over the weekend. And of course, no meal would be complete without dessert. I didn’t get any, but a friend got rose baklava ice cream. She really liked it! From the small taste I got, it lived up to its name fully.

The market was huge and didn’t just have food but also vendors selling earrings, stickers, clothes, and more. All the food was absolutely delicious, and there were many different cuisines! I would definitely go back, as it was a super fun time and had lots of food options. Also, the market was very vegetarian and vegan friendly! I’m really happy I got the chance to check it out, and generally exploring LA has been a great use of my time at Caltech.