Michelle Hammond is the new proprietor of the Munch Co., a long standing eatery on Mission in South Pasadena. Michelle took swift action on the popular eatery. She painted the massive wall white and contrasted it by painting the opposite walk chalkboard black giving the space a clean, yet comfortable feel. Her food is fresh and creative. She is one of the founding members of the South Pasadena Community Garden. She knows what fresh is all about. Her menu features some of the long standing sandwiches, but she’s added inventive new deli salads made with an assortment of grains and vegetables. She pickles carrots, jalapenos and other curious things you might find in the garden and displays behind the deli case. One of her current projects is colorful paletas that are beautiful to look at and very cool and refreshing to taste. Take a moment to check on Michelle’s Munch Spot. She’ll make you feel welcome and you won’t leave hungry.
MH: My inspiration almost always comes from the garden. I get excited first at the seed level, thinking what I’m going to plant for the season, trying new heirloom varieties that you can’t get in the stores, then waiting…You have to be creative as most of your initial plans have to change with the success and failure of what you are growing. Some of my best recipes come from a substitution of an original plan. I am always inspired and impressed by the cooking of my seasoned gardener friends who come up with inventive combinations depending on what ripens at the same time. 
MH: By far right now my most earmarked is “Dishing Up The Dirt” by Andrea Bemis. I’ve been following her blog for years, vicariously living through her farm to table life. So inspired by her passion for growing and food, and happy for her success with her first printed cookbook. Her food is seasonal, simple, and super tasty. I’m often reading through some of my favorite recipes to capture some of the same essence and turn it into a tasty sandwich or bowl.
MH: I take my coffee either iced and black or a dry triple cappuccino. When Im really feeling like a coffee treat I crave the Mocha from Cafe Zinc from when I lived in Laguna Beach. They use a really high quality cocoa without a whole lot of sugar. Lucky for me they opened up another location in the Arts District downtown so I can easily still get a fix.
MH: Negativity
MH: Toss up between my Birkenstocks and my Vans
Unheard Stories 