The “ETC” in CAFFE ETC IS WHAT MAKES THIS EATERY SPECIAL
By Rona Edwards
I’ve passed by this little unassuming coffee bar every day on the Cahuenga corridor for a while before finally deciding to stop in and try it out. Boy, did I get a wonderful surprise – the first evidence of a good coffee hangout is the smell when you walk in, followed by the first taste of java. At Caffe Etc, the taste is euphoric – certified organically shade grown from a co-operative and roasted weekly especially for the espresso bar. But Caffe Etc is much more than a coffee bar, it’s a restaurant full of delicious yet healthy food. Owner Viviana Benharoche Pollack takes great pleasure in making sure the food is good for her customers yet enjoyable. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she began taking macrobiotic cooking classes at age 16 before going to the university to major in graphic design. Travel took her to Asia where she took cooking classes in Northern Thailand, to France (where a fresh morning baguette with jam made an impression on her), and Italy when she became a makeup artist doing fashion and commercial shoots in London. Thinking she’d break into the movies, she moved into L.A., but hated the waiting around on the set. She found herself helping the caterers and realized she needed to open her own café. As soon as she made that decision, fate dealt its hand and everything fell into place. The original idea was to 
have espresso drinks, make fresh muffins and sandwiches but two years later, the café boasts Chef Jose Jose Maceira (formerly of Lola’s restaurant), a fellow Argentinean whom Viviana met by chance. Together, they developed a mouth-watering menu that also happens to be healthy dining.
“I want to share all the things I’ve learned in my life – how you can eat healthy with good quality and good flavor. Healthy doesn’t mean bland – you can eat great; simple but healthy.
Using La Brea Bakery bread, the paninis are scrumptious and might consist of Turkey bacon, caramelized onions and sun dried tomatoes. They have a whole line of vegan and vegetarian items guaranteed to satisfy even the most discerning foodie. The tuna and chunky chicken salad is made without mayonnaise and Chef 
Jose always has a special salad and/or sandwich for the day using only the freshest ingredients. On this day, I sampled a very creative and sumptuous salad with grilled chicken, wax beans, green beans, radicchio, cucumber, sprouts and yellow and red plums for $9.95. Breakfast is served all day and I’m a huge fan of the breakfast quesadilla, which comes with a remarkable tomatillo sauce. Their omelets are terrific. However, the #5 with goat cheese, chopped spinach, sun dried tomatoes, tomatoes, olive tapenade, served with a generous portion of fresh fruit explodes with flavor.
There’s usually a choice of 3 to 4 homemade soups every day including carrot ginger, eggplant, lentil, chicken, potato leek, vegetable and many more.
Viviana, a confirmed chocoholic, delights in her espresso specialty drinks and smoothies but also bakes most of the daily desserts. The scones, fresh muffins that she bakes fresh every day for the 7 am opening of the café, the fresh apple pie (more like a French tarte), palmiers, turnovers and a variety of cookies are only some of the delectable delights in store for the end of your meal. “Extra indulgences, extra pleasure,” she declares.
It seems a lot of people are taking pleasure as their catering business takes off serving studios and television networks including CNN.
As Viviana told me, “Don’t fill your stomach – fill your soul – food goes from your stomach to your brain to your heart and fills you up – your heart gets happy when you eat something good for you.”
CAFFE ETC Cahuenga Blvd (at the corner of Selma) (323)
Hours: 7 am – 9 pm 7 days a week; all credit cards accepted.
BEST BETS: Breakfast quesadilla, any soup, salads – the chef’s choice, Any espresso drink, turkey bacon panini, Chunky Chicken. Salads and sandwiches available in half sizes. Free delivery within a mile radius. Available for catering.
