Brit gets comfy in Brentwood, beach
Julia Ormond has the big-screen / small-screen balancing act down pat. The Brit-born Brentwood resident has appeared in such recent theatrical releases as “Che” and “Benjamin Button,” and now she has the Lifetime Movie Channel drama “The Wronged Man,” based on the true story of a paralegal who wages a 22-year fight to free an innocent man from prison, airing Sunday night.
And on Feb. 10, HBO premieres her latest TV movie, “Temple Grandin,” costarring Claire Danes, Catherine O’Hara and David Strathairn.
It’s enough to make an actress take the weekend off.
Storming the castle
Weekends are always precious for me, and I always like to spend time at the farmers markets in Santa Monica and Venice. I’m usually limited in what I buy only by how much I can carry. I love picking out the fresh fruit and trying all the samples. And my 5-year-old daughter really likes to play in those bouncy castles if there is one. Going to these outdoor markets gives me a sense of community, just seeing the familiar faces.
After that, I might go to lunch at the Ivy by the Shore, but I also love the restaurant up the coast at Paradise Cove Cafe. It’s kind of funky and old, and although I don’t think it will be getting any Michelin stars, I love it. I’ll get the fish and chips, and they do a great mussels plate. You really can’t beat it -- it’s by the beach and just so relaxed.
U.S. vs. Britain
I’m British, but I think the fish and chips you get here in America -- or fish and fries, really -- are really just as good as back in England. It’s just that the portions are so huge here. And the oddity I bring to the table is that I like mayonnaise with my fries rather than ketchup.
I really don’t go out to eat trying to find places that remind me of England. I look for places that are typically American. The fast food in L.A. is tremendous. There’s a burger stand in Venice that’s great, but I can’t remember the name of it.
And there’s a place here close to home called the Brentwood -- kind of loungey, with great booths. I really like booths. We don’t have booths much in England. The Brentwood has great salads, burgers and fish and chips, a lot of American food. They have a bar with the TV playing at the same time. It’s not fancy as far as the atmosphere, but the food is really good.
A taste of Italy too
As you can tell, I really like to be relaxed and comfortable when I’m out, but every once in a while I like a smart restaurant, and we enjoy Toscana in Brentwood. Really excellent Italian food, and the staff and maitre d’ are very welcoming. It’s a very family-oriented place, especially earlier in the evening. I try not to order the radicchio ravioli, but I often do, and there’s a carciofi salad that I love, and the lamb is really good too. They have a counter where you can sit and watch them cook, and my daughter really likes that. Sometimes they let her make her own pizza on the counter.
Nature lover
We love spending time at Zuma Beach and Point Dume. I’ve even been known to go into the water, but only rarely. I try to stay away from the sun, but I do love the fact that L.A. is warm. And we always take our two dogs for hikes into the Santa Monica Mountains. We also like to go to the Long Beach Aquarium or the Santa Monica Pier. It’s all very kid-oriented for me now; I’m not much for the snazzy nightlife anymore.