Best gourmet food stores: LA's best places to shop and dine

Marta Teegan brings her green thumb (the master gardener is the author of Homegrown: A Growing Guide for Creating a Cook's Garden) and kitchen experience (she also owns the nearby Cortez) to this Echo Park storefront. While the name suggests a collection of titles for foodies—yes, there are cookbooks for sale—the main draw is the impeccably stocked local produce at the peak of its season and ready-to-eat ripe. There are also dry gourmet goods: breads from Downtown's Bread Lounge and housemade sandwiches and pastries from elegant—we prefer the canelés—to rustic. The killer Meyer lemon cake is not to be missed.

This Franklin Village retail store/cafe is where locals drop in for an early morning caffeine fix, late-night cravings and everything in between. Salads, sandwiches, pizzas (a gluten-free crust can be subbed for $2 extra) and baked goods are served alongside an all-day breakfast—try the Oaks bacon breakfast burrito ($7.25) with eggs, bacon, cheddar and spring onion or an Italian breakfast sandwich ($7.95) with fried egg, pancetta, mozzarella, garlic oil and basil on sourdough. Don't miss weekly specials such as Wednesday grilled cheese and Friday tacos, and stock up on gourmet food items from retro sodas and artisanal beef jerky to cheese and wine and coffee supplies. Boozehounds can browse the extensive, impeccably curated craft beer, small-catch liquor and wine and sake selections. (Extra credit: Join the Raisin Hell wine club that gets you discounts on wines and monthly wine tastings.) We love this one-stop shop for year-round picnicking and summer Hollywood Bowl-ing.

Owner Chris Pollan has been supplying the hipster hood with high-quality imported and domestic cheeses since 2002 (fun fact: Pollan is the ex-tour manager for acts like Van Halen and Billy Idol). Fresh-baked bread, affordable wines are on offer alongside local and artisan-made olive oils, jams, honey and confections. Take a number (and a basket) and stock up on meats and cheeses for a stylish summer picnic.

Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne's the Larder opens its third location (other locations span the Westside in Brentwood and Beverly Hills) in the swanky new 8500 Burton Way complex. With an extensive menu—there's breakfast, lunch and dinner—and a full selection of baked goods, retail food stuffs, to-go items and full-service items, this Cal-Med bakery/café is the perfect stop in between meals and to break up your Westside-Eastside commute.

A restaurant, bakery and market all in one, Brentwood Country Mart's Farmshop is the ultimate food paradise for Angelenos with an expense account—from Brentwood moms to all of Hollywood. Brunch, lunch, and dinner—at the helm of Thomas Keller's ex-right hand man Jeffrey Cerciello, who never fires a misstep—focuses on seasonal, local ingredients. Brunch is standup—try the French toast: thick brioche slices topped with seasonal fruit or housemade pastrami and eggs—while to-go items like Sunday fried chicken and pre-made sandwiches are perfect for a gourmet picnic. A California-heavy wine selection covers mid-range, small-production bottles, while other goodies—from Heath ceramics and grass-fed beef to jams and farm fresh eggs—pay homage to the Golden State's farmers and artisans.