Le Pain Quotidien

Driving down Ventura in Studio City we spotted a nice looking restaurant, and were hungry for lunch. I'm glad we did- the food was great and so was the coffee.

This is French themed place, but has some unique things about it. There's a central table for community style eating. The coffee was served in a metal flask instead of your cup. I've seen this in England before. And my sandwich was served on a plate that resembled a cutting board-- with a hole on one end, and completely flat.

All of the food on the menu is health and "organic", which is a far cry from the heart-clogging (but yummy) meals we had in France on a past trip.

www.lepainquotidien.com

Speaking of Starbucks

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Tom Hanks sure likes his triple venti latte.

The actor is attached to star in "How Starbucks Saved My Life," about an advertising executive who loses his job and family and has to work at the coffee chain to pay the bills. He befriends the young manager and learns about life and love.

Gus Van Sant is in negotiations to direct the Universal project. Hanks will also serve as a producer.

The project is based on a fiction book proposal by Michael Gates Gill, a former ad exec who co-wrote the nonfiction book "Fired Up! The Dramatic Truth of What It Really Takes to Move from Fearful Employee to Successful, Fired Up Entrepreneur."

Hanks next stars in "The Da Vinci Code," which opens May 19. Van Sant is attached to direct "The Time Traveler's Wife" at New Line. His credits include 2005's "Last Days."

Starbucks Coffee Giveaway!

Starbucks will host its first-ever National Coffee Break, inviting customers in for a complimentary cup of freshly brewed coffee, on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. In more than 7,500 stores, partners (employees) will pour tall (12-ounce) cups of coffee for surprised customers and delighted commuters.

See the press release on Businesswire.