In 2013, Caroline Juen launched Love & Loathing LA. The Austin-born, Bay Area-raised blogger has covered the best of the city’s dining, fashion, fun and more for a decade and she continues to fall in love with the city every day. What started as a post-college endeavor (she graduated in 2011 from Chapman University with a bachelor’s degree in art) to put her creativity to use has turned into a lifestyle blog with a robust following, a foray into the world of wine and a deep understanding of an always evolving city.
As Juen celebrates ten years of Love & Loathing LA, she opened up to Angeleno about her favorite spots around town, why she loves L.A. and her lifestyle-wine brand, Best Coast Beverages.
How has spearheading Love & Loathing LA guided your understanding of this city?
Los Angeles inspires me to live life to the fullest and my blog has given me a platform to share my joy in everything that’s quintessentially L.A.–whether that’s something as simple and grounding as going to the beach or hitting a trail, seeing a movie in a cemetery or enjoying a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
I don’t think I’ll ever fully master this city., and I kind of love that. It’s impossible to ever be bored, and there is so much beauty and creative energy all around us. L.A. is constantly changing and evolving, but my favorite places seem to be where time stands still. Where I really “see” L.A. through various cultures that manage to create a singular culture at the same time.
What are your favorite hidden gems in Los Angeles?
I go on weekly “Secret Stairs of L.A.” walks with friends and it's one of my absolute favorite L.A. rituals. There’s a great guidebook by Charles Fleming you can buy to discover them. It’s a fun way to discover a bit of L.A. history and they usually serve up some incredible views of the city. And it’s a great workout to boot. I love showing people the “walk streets” around the Hollywood Bowl, for example. So cool, so unique to L.A.!
Say you have a friend visiting L.A. and they can only eat at five places. What do you suggest?
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Gjelina perfectly exemplifies “California Cuisine” and having been around for 15 years, it’s beloved by all— most of all, by me. Mushroom toast, a pizza and salted butterscotch pot de creme, *chef’s kiss.*
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Mother Wolf is the finest example of where dining in L.A. is right now. It’s grand, decadent and trust me, you’ve never had cacio e pepe like this in your life.
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Broad Street Oyster Company epitomizes the quintessential L.A./CA culture. Plus, it’s a good excuse to drive PCH and hang around Malibu!
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Republique is just mandatory. It’s an L.A. rite of passage. From breakfast pastries to a candlelit dinner, it’s an outstanding experience morning through evening.
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L.A.’s sushi game is top-notch. You can’t come to L.A. and not have a sushi night. Sugarfish is the standard, but I’d suggest something a bit more unique and special like Sushi Note. The omakase is one of the best experiences I’ve had in the city, and they’re also actually known for being a wine bar as well! Two of my favorite things.
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I know you only wanted the top five, but I have to add a bonus happy hour on at least one rooftop. L.A. is bar none the best city when it comes to rooftop dining. My votes are Hotel Per La, The Proper (Santa Monica or DTLA) and The Hoxton DTLA.
Since you moved here, how has Los Angeles changed?
I’ve lived here 12 years now, and even though the cost of living still manages to get higher and higher… the ante on “experiences” and reasons for living here continues increasing.
We’ve backed off a little from the hyper “ocial media-driven experiences like The Ice Cream Museum and things in that vein, but what hasn’t seemed to go out of style is our taste for wanting to be wowed. Whether that comes in the form of design, art, food or nightlife, many of us (myself included) choose the L.A. life because it’s truly unlike any other. And the best part is that much of what makes L.A. so special is free. But you bet that whatever extra money we have, we’re throwing at unforgettable experiences. Even if it's just cocktails with the girls on a Tuesday night. We thrive on seeing and experiencing new things. Or is that just me?!
Last summer, you launched Best Coast Beverages. Of all business ventures, why do you feel passionate about wine?
I actually started developing the business two years ago and my official launch was in September 2022. The canned wine idea started with my desire to fill a void for something I myself wanted— a single serving, portable, fizzy, premium canned wine, which I couldn’t find in the marketplace. Wine has always been a love of mine and I am a firm believer in Elizabeth’s Gilbert’s mantra to “follow your curiosity.” One small curiosity led to another and before I knew it, I made my own label that I bootstrapped and funded entirely on my own.
There’s something spiritual about wine…it comes from the earth, it’s “bottled sunshine” (Mark Anderson), it’s art and, for me, it is just the embodiment of joy. So here we are, just trying to share a little joy, one fizzy can at a time.
You describe Best Coast Beverages as fine wine without the fuss. How does that capture the essence of California?
Like California, Best Coast is simultaneously laid back and luxurious. It was incredibly important to me to have the Best Coast brand and wine be approachable and high quality. I am a firm believer that quality doesn’t have to be overcomplicated. We grow our grapes in the Santa Ynez Valley, we let the fruit speak for itself and we can that delicious sunshine for everyone to enjoy.
With the approaching spring season on the mind, finish this sentence. Best Coast Beverages pairs well with _____.
“fun.”
Best Coast is celebratory and it’s here to enhance your joyful moments. Whether that’s a beach day, a picnic, an outdoor movie screening, a concert or a couch night, it’s all worth celebrating and if you’re feeling bubbly, we’ve got you covered.
What do you see for the future of Best Coast Beverages?
I am so excited to take Best Coast as far as I can. I have big plans for this brand. In the immediate future, we’re focused on launching the 2022 vintages (fizzy orange and fizzy rosé) this spring. Down the road, I envision launching new products and limited edition partnerships. Think spritzes and wine-based cocktails. I’m smiling just thinking about the possibilities; it’s going to be a blast, and a blast to share with everyone.
What do you love most about Los Angeles?
The ever-present sense of possibility. It’s palpable, encouraging and inspiring. The food, people, weather and landscape aren’t too bad either!
What other important things do you have going on in your life?
We are constantly working on limited drops of merch available on our website so always be on the lookout for new #TeamBCB gear (because Best Coast is a lifestyle after all).
And I would also love to make sure to express my immense gratitude for my winemaker Sonja Magdevski (Casa Dumetz, Clementine Carter, The Feminist Party). In my opinion, she is “The Queen of Santa Ynez Valley” and I still feel like someone needs to pinch me knowing that she is the winemaker for Best Coast. I am so unbelievably proud of our product and I have her to thank for helping me make this dream come to fruition. Pun intended.
See also: The Ultimate Los Angeles Neighborhood Guide
Photography by: Kelle Ramsey; Heather Frey
