Alice Q. Foodie

My Trader Joe's Favorites

2012-05-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

Why hello there! Yes, it's been awhile, and though I feel a little silly coming back with something like this, it tells you something about where my head is right now. These days it's all about putting a decent, healthy meal on the table in the after-work hours without spending a fortune. Sound familiar? I am guessing it does. These "Trader Joes" lists go around periodically - usually focused on what tastes good, but I'm going to try to tell you the things we like because they're not only tasty, but economical and versatile too. I'll even tell you a little bit about what I do with them. Then I'll tell you about the things I buy because I just can't resist, 'cause there are plenty of those too, and everyone deserves a treat now and then...

Let's call this first group the meal staples:

organic baby arugula (pictured above) - the small leaves are tender and mild, and it lasts longer than the bagged lettuce.
bags of 4 avocados - reasonably priced at $3.49, and almost always ripe in a day or two. (Tip: if you need ripe avocados stat, try the guacamole kit.)
organic cherry/pear tomato mix - great roasted. just toss with olive oil and bake on a parchment lined sheet pan at 275 until they start to shrivel (about 1-1.5 hours.) Toss with pasta, put on pizza, mash on a panini, etc. store in the fridge in a jar covered with olive oil.
packaged cooked beluga lentils - great addition to a salad, or toss with chopped fresh vegetables, herbs, vinaigrette and a little goat cheese.
frozen mahi mahi - total lifesaver. Just thaw, pat dry & saute or bake - makes great fish tacos or put it in a salad. around $5.00 for a package that feeds two.
chevre (aka goat cheese) - the one in the 8 oz package with the brown and black label. It's nice and soft and always tastes good. Crumble in salads or spread on bread, or use to stuff sweet, hot cherry peppers.
whole organic chickens - they're not exactly cheap but they're a bargain compared to whole foods prices or the pre-cut packaged pieces. If I can't get to the Hillcrest Farmers Market to get one from Curtis (Womach) I'll pick a smallish one (under 5 lbs) and either roast it whole - dry brined ala Zuni in a cast iron skillet at 425 for an hour or so - or cut the breasts off and turn them into cutlets, and use the rest to make stock.
the Spanish olive oil - glug glug glug... all over everything.
The instant mushroom risotto - I was skeptical, but it's pretty amazing. No added fat - just broth.
the organic jarred marinara sauce - take half a cup of the pre-chopped onion (or onion/shallot/garlic mix if they have it) and saute in chicken broth or olive oil until soft. Sprinkle liberally with red pepper flakes, add a cup of red wine, reduce a bit. Pour in the jar of sauce and simmer a bit to let the flavors blend. Serve over spaghetti with turkey meatballs or sausage.

and this group will be the treats. Those things that are good, if not so good for you...

the 72% organic fair trade dark chocolate bars. They have many good dark chocolate options, but these are my fave. In the flat package with the green/brown box.
the salted blister peanuts. with a bourbon cocktail?? enough said.
cheese sticks. with champagne? again...
the Tarte d'Alsace or Tarte d'Champignon (pictured above) put one of those in the oven and pour yourself a glass of nice cold white wine at the end of a long day. You won't be sorry.
the Truffle Brownie mix - for years I went on and on about the perfect brownie. Yadda yadda. Since I tried this I have made brownies from scratch exactly once, using the Baked recipe - which is truly the best out there. True story.
the chocolate covered raisins. So good we don't even buy them anymore.
the ice cream - it's Double Rainbow, packaged with Trader Joes labeling. I can't get the mint chip, because I can't leave it alone, but we usually keep the vanilla on hand. The little baby drumstick cones are good too (esp. the chocolate.)
the Trader Josef's coffee cake mix - just discovered this one, but it's a keeper. Great fluffy texture, lots of nutmeg in the topping and no weird ingredients.
also for breakfast: the pain au chocolat - let them thaw for a minute or two on the counter, then separate and allow to rise in the oven overnight before baking (everybody knows about these now)
the chocolate macarons. Really.

So, there you have it - what we've been eating lately. (A whole lot more of the former than the latter!) I'll be back in a few days to talk about a couple of recent dining out experiences. Au revoir!

photo from instagram, where I've been spending quite a bit of time lately - user name aliceqfoodie (surprise!)

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

The other day I was fighting a craving for a milkshake when I came up with this slightly healthier alternative. It's just nutritious enough to be something more than a dessert, but super creamy and rich with all the flavors of banana cream pie. It's amazing how much difference one tablespoon of cream makes. If you don't already keep frozen bananas on hand for smoothies or baking, just take ripe bananas and break them in thirds, and freeze in a ziploc bag. If you're feeling extra indulgent, whip in a teaspoon of peanut butter too. It will make the transition from the debauchery of the holidays to new year's resolutions that much easier!

Banana Cream Pie "Smoothie"

3 oz frozen banana (75 cals)

1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (100 cals)

1 teaspoon granulated sugar (10 cals)

1 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream (50 cals)

1/2 cup nonfat/skim milk (45 cals) (you could also approximate the skim milk/cream blend with a blend of whatever you have on hand - lowfat, half and half, etc. )

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 shortbread cookie or graham cracker (check package for cals).

Fold a paper towel over the shortbread cookie or graham cracker and crush with the heel of your hand. Use the paper to dump the crumbs into a small bowl.

Place the frozen banana, scoop of protein powder, sugar, whipping cream, vanilla extract and milk in a blender or cup for a hand blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add about 1 teaspoon of the crumbs and pulse lightly just to stir them in. Pour the smoothie into a glass and sprinkle some crumbs on top. Drink with a straw.

makes 1 serving = 280 cals (plus crumbs.)

(one serving is the amount pictured, divided into two glasses.)

Underbelly - San Diego {Dining Review}

2012-01-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

I'm not very knowledgeable about ramen (or, let's face it, Japanese cuisine in general) but I am curious - so I was excited to try Underbelly, the new ramen-centric eatery in Little Italy recently opened by the folks behind Neighborhood and Craft & Commerce. It replaced the late Red Velvet wine bar at the corner of Kettner and Fir - on the west side of the same block as Bencotto and Influx.

The first thing you need to know about Underbelly, especially if you're planning to go at night, is that it's cold. Every surface in the restaurant is metal or glass, and the windows are kept wide open, even in the winter. It was sprinkling on the night we were there, and our table was actually one of the windows - so that half of our party was indoors and half was out on the sidewalk. They're also a little aggressive about their "rules." When I first walked in, the bartender/cashier/hostess/server barked at me that I needed to order before sitting down. I had to fend her off by explaining that my husband was already at the bar and we were meeting a larger party. The room is small and seating is limited, so I guess it makes sense that they would like for people to place their orders, eat, and get out relatively quickly - but it isn't a very welcoming approach.

We ordered almost every starter on the menu to try as much as possible. The "boiled peanuts" arrived first and I was afraid they didn't bode well for the rest of the meal. Soggy and strangely flavored, they were a definite miss. The "Ahi Tataki" was nice enough, sauced with a ponzu dressing and served over assorted bean sprouts - but I can't really say it was better than any other seared ahi I've been served in the past twenty years.

These rest of the starters followed in a similar vein - inoffensive, but nothing extra. The descriptions on the menu somehow made them sound much more interesting than they turned out to be. The little Kurobuta Sausages were ok - not too greasy - maybe they could have been hotter. The "house made kim chi" underneath seemed perfunctory. I didn't even remember it was there until I looked at the menu again just now. I liked the "Ginger Beef Brisket Mushu" all right - the sweet shredded beef wrapped in mushu pancakes tasted something like Japanese barbecue.

By far the best of the bunch were the Shrimp Gyoza. They had a nice crisp/tender exterior, good flavor, and the pea shoots on top were fantastic. I'm not sure why there are whole garlic gloves on the plate - I'm pretty sure nobody ate them.

The ramen options are a bit complicated. They offer several different set combinations, and you have the option to add just all of the toppings they offer - plus a few more - to any bowl. We tried three of their set combinations and shared them: the Underbelly, the Belly of the Beast, and Charred Kim Chi. The Underbelly was garnished with pork belly, bacon and the same sausage we'd had as a starter. The "Belly of the Beast" was topped with a brisket, and oxtail dumpling and short rib meat, and the Charred Kim Chi included shishito peppers, rainbow carrots and napa cabbage. I thought the Underbelly and Belly of the Beast were pretty tasty (and pretty similar, really) but I didn't much enjoy the Charred Kim Chi. I was expecting it to have some kim chi "funk" but roasted carrots were pretty much all I could taste in that bowl. Others enjoyed it more than I did. There were eggs in all three bowls and they were well cooked - runny and soft in the center.

You may have heard that Underbelly refuses to provide spoons to diners. This is ridiculous for four reasons that I can think of and possibly more. One, they should know their customers will want to use spoons to eat soup, simple as that. Two, you can't properly taste the dish using chopsticks. Trust me, you will want to pick up a little bit of meat, a little bit of egg, and maybe some scallions and take a bite with a little broth - but sorry, that's just not possible. Third, eating a soft egg with chopsticks is a pain. And fourth, the bowls are huge, and having to pick up the huge basin to slurp the broth is both messy and inconvenient. Underbelly has responded to this criticism by saying they wanted it to be "authentic." Get real. It's obviously not "authentic" in a thousand other ways. This is just a gimmick, like the "no ketchup" rule at their sister restaurant Neighborhood, intended to get people talking.

They do have a great tap craft beer selection (one diner in our party pronounced it the best thing they offer), and I did enjoy the meat based ramen bowls. I probably wouldn't make the cross-town trek for it again, but if I lived in the neighborhood, I could definitely see myself tucking a spoon in my purse and heading to the bar for a bowl of the Belly of the Beast or the Underbelly ramen. If you skip the starters you could easily get out of there for around $25. per person all inclusive - no mean feat in that part of town these days.

P.S. By the way, this thing about not being knowledgeable about ramen is something I plan to change this year - starting with a trip to Convoy for some groceries to try David Chang's recipes in the ramen issue of Lucky Peach. I'll let you know how it goes!

P.P. S. If you are also not as knowledgeable about ramen as you would like to be, there's a great primer here!

Underbelly
750 W Fir St (at Kettner)
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 269-4626
Menu here.

Goodbye 2011...

2011-12-31T12:51:00.000-08:00

Don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out!

Yes, 2011 was a bear in many ways - but as I look back, I'm finding it hard to complain too much. We traveled, we had lots of good food and great times with friends and family and generally enjoyed ourselves quite a bit. On the flip side, there was more sadness and loss around us than we are used to - both in our lives and the lives of some close friends. I hope that's not a continuing trend.

A few weeks ago, I saw a quote that really resonated with me: "Enjoy the little things, for someday you will realize that they were the big things." Late this summer, I had a mini health scare that gave me just enough pause to see the wisdom in this. The things that make my life great are the "little" things - like meeting a friend for coffee and a chat on a weekday morning, making and serving a killer dessert, showing my nieces one of my favorite movies or playing a game with them, reading a book to a two year-old, going to the farmers market or harvesting fresh vegetables from the garden, drinking a great bottle of wine on the patio, putting a vase of gorgeous flowers on the table, roasting a perfect chicken, going to a great yoga class... just being with the people that matter most and enjoying the moments in between the stressful, inevitable realities of life. These are the things that make life good, even when the big picture isn't so rosy.

Regardless, it still feels like it's time for things to start looking up in 2012, doesn't it? Let's hope so. Here's to better times ahead. Salud!

Holidays, 2011

2011-12-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a good week. We took a few days off before the weekend and spent some time with the girls (our 8 and 11 year old nieces). We played with the puppy, who is growing like a weed and is such a sweetheart we can hardly stand it. I did a lot of baking. Too much, it turns out. One can only eat so much peppermint bark.... (or should, anyway.) To cap it off, on Friday we brought back the now bi-annual Posole party - complete with killer margaritas.

Our Christmas celebration was low key. I received some lovely gifts. The tile is from a local artisan, and my friend Lisa gave me an autographed copy of the Chez Panisse book, and James got me the Clare Vivier tote I asked for. I also got the Milk Bar cookbook and the Chez Panisse menu book. Planning a post on those soon. The jars are Saba, a grape must product that is absolutely delicious, and a small bottle of fine balsamic vinegar - from my personal trainer, because she is a huge foodie. I gave her the Mozza cookbook.

I just harvested the first basket of tangerines the other day. Usually they're ripe in time for Christmas, but not quite this year. We also have Meyer lemons coming in. I've been doing some dining out and need to write up a few new places, and have a year end post in the works so stay tuned...

I hope your holidays were filled with joy and peace and your new year is as well. See you soon!

Holiday Treats!

2011-12-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Jora and I were busy little bees this weekend. Have you ever done your holiday baking with a friend? I highly recommend it!

Sweets: clockwise from top - Peppermint bark, mandelbrot (made by my mom), Mozza's chocolate hazelnut maltagliati, vanilla bean fleur de sel caramels, and caramel pecan shortbread.

Savories: (not pictured) cheddar cayenne crackers, blue cheese and walnut crackers, bourbon soaked cherries, and Nancy Silverton's roasted almonds with salt and olive oil.

Pizzeria Mozza and the Mozza Cookbook

2011-12-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I took a day trip up to Newport Beach with a friend to do a little Christmas shopping at Fashion Island and have lunch at the new Pizzeria Mozza up there. It's an easy day trip from San Diego, and the food is just as good as the Los Angeles branch. We started with the caprese salad and toasted bread - a first for me. They roast the tomatoes lightly on the vine, and serve them over a bed of fresh burrata with pesto and olive oil. This is simple enough that it is all about the details, and this version was divine. I tried making it at home using the instructions in the cookbook a few weeks later, but the same magic just wasn't there. The one thing that was just as fantastic was the bread - grilled in the panini press with garlic olive oil and sea salt. HIGHLY recommend recreating it at home if you have one of those fabulous devices.

We split the salad and an order of the squash blossoms (a must) and moved onto the mushroom pizza. I hadn't tried this particular one before - I've been stuck on the goat cheese, scallion and bacon pizza - but it was really good, with the same puffy crispy edges, an assortment of mushrooms, good cheese and lots of garlic.

For dessert we split two of our favorites - one of which is the Caramel Copetta. It's a sundae of caramel ice cream, marshmallow fluff, caramel sauce and spanish peanuts with a pizzelle cookie on the bottom and a liberal sprinkle of sea salt. I think that's why I like it so much - all that salt and caramel.

Our other favorite is the Butterscotch Budino - the most popular dish at either of their restaurants. It's a deep butterscotch pudding, topped with the same caramel as the Copetta, with a dollop of whipped cream and creme fraiche on top. It's worth every bit of the hype.

Just after this adventure, a friend of mine went to Nancy Silverton's book signing at Chino Farms and got me a copy of the new Mozza cookbook (autographed to Alice Q. Foodie - awww!) Opening it up, I immediately wanted to make everything in it. I was thrilled to see that it included the recipe for my favorite cookies they sell in their to go shop - Chocolate Hazelnut Maltaglieri, the Torta Della Nonna, pizza dough, pasta dough, their composed mozzarella crostini, salads, etc. It really is a complete compendium of almost every dish at Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza.

Unfortunately I haven't had the best luck with the recipes. The instructions for the caprese suggest roasting the tomatoes for way too long at too high a temperature. Mine broke down during the process and I didn't cook them as long as the instructions suggested (on the plus side, they're great in pasta!) I also tried the budino right away for James' birthday last week, since it's pretty much his favorite thing ever. The first time it set up too soft and super grainy. It calls for an outrageous amount of cornstarch (2/3 of a cup!) and three cups of whipping cream, where most pudding recipes call for just a few tablespoons of cornstarch and whole milk. I tried again with a half recipe (which was plenty for us - it makes ten servings!) but as I cooked the custard it turned grainy and lumpy again. This time I used a hand blender to smooth it out again - but the recipe doesn't say to do that, it just says to strain it. It worked pretty well, but it still wasn't perfect. The flavor wasn't quite right either - it was more "butterscotch" than theirs - not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was after. I'm determined to get it right. If and when I do, I will post a recipe.

The Chocolate Maltaglieri and the Torta Della Nonna were a success, luckily. Will post about those later. The baking times were still off - for the cookies it was too short and for the tart it was too long, but I was able to figure that out on my own. I guess it also depends on your oven somewhat - there is a little natural variation there. All in all, it's a lovely book and I would definitely recommend it - but my advice would be to take matters into your own hands if it appears necessary!

Amended: I have made the pizza dough twice and it's fantastic!

Pizzeria Mozza
800 W Coast Hwy (toward Balboa Island)
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 945-1126

parking is impossible, just plan to valet. It's not as hard to get a reservation as it is at the LA branch, but it's still a good idea - they are on Open Table.

Meet Lucy.

2011-12-06T10:16:00.000-08:00

Well we didn't exactly plan to get a puppy again so soon, but you know how they say the dog chooses you... This little girl picked us at an adoption event this past Saturday. She's a black lab mix and she is ALL sweet baby puppy, all the time. She does look like Lola, but she is a different breed mix, and she seems to be a bit less feisty and stubborn - for better and worse. :) Bart is adjusting - he was six years younger the last time we brought a puppy home and was a bit more tolerant, but he started playing with her this morning which is a good sign.

This is what she looks like right now. I'm really not looking forward to the day when she discovers that all my shoes are just behind that curtain!

Camp Honey Badger

2011-12-03T10:04:00.000-08:00

First off, I just wanted to say thank you for all the warm and lovely expressions of sympathy about Lola. They made a rough week a little more bearable. Before we got the call that led to our early return, we were having a great time at Camp Honey Badger - the affectionate name given to this little annual Thanksgiving gathering at William Heise County Park in Julian. It was a beautiful setting - a little chilly but nothing a wool blanket, a camp fire and some ugg boots couldn't take care of. We had this great tent to stay in courtesy of James' family - it's hand made, y'all. Not as easy to put up and take down as a two man popup, but a great option for a trip of at least a few days.

This is pretty much how we spent our time - sitting around the blazing fire (which we kept going from dawn to lights out at 10 PM) and drinking something. Coffee, champagne, scotch, you name it.

On the first night we had Japanese food. I fried up karaage (Japanese style fried chicken marinated in soy sauce, garlic and mirin and dusted with cornstarch) by head lamp in the dark in our turkey fryer, while Andrew made ramen with tofu in a dashi broth, and Shihomi - owner of Azuki Sushi in Bankers Hill, supplied a delicious traditional beef curry and rice. Sake, Japanese scotch and at least a couple of kinds of wine rounded out the menu. It was the best camp food I've ever eaten, bar none. Afterwards there were Vosges S'mores - courtesy of Janice. That's right, Vosges S'mores bitchez. I said it. Boom.

We had a great kitchen set up going - here's James frying up some bacon for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning on our camp stove.

We had two other stoves, a small oven, a fryer and even a small portable dishwasher for the pots and pans and our dishware - and lots of coolers - though the temperature wasn't really a problem.

We took a nice little hike on Thanksgiving with Heidi's dogs - Ruby set a blistering pace. The scenery still shows the unfortunate effects of the brush fires that roared through here a few years ago - but it's lovely in it's own sort of desolate, scrubby way.

For the Thanksgiving meal, Andrew cooked up Jidori chickens - first on a rotisserie over the fire, and then directly on a grill. I had made cranberries and some pies, and we had dressing (which we rolled into balls and fried in the deep fryer - genius).

James had brought some lobster tails that he wanted to fry - so I whipped up a corn dog batter and fried those up as an appetizer with some champagne.

Janice and John prepared brussel sprouts with bacon and pecans...

And we feasted and drank rose in our cold weather gear.

My last photo from the trip, literally, is this box of Dallman chocolates that were passed around just after the meal - supplied by the owner Isabella, who had joined us that afternoon. Shortly after the meal we found out Lola had gotten into our other dog's blood pressure medication earlier in the day and eaten about 100 pills. We were fairly optimistic until the next morning, when she only seemed to be getting worse, and by midday the vet told us there wasn't much more they could do.

If we go back next year, we will seriously consider bringing our dogs with us. Not just so we can keep an eye on them, but because their body heat will come in handy on those long, chilly winter nights!

65 Things I Will Remember About Lola

2011-11-27T19:25:00.000-08:00

The way she would flop to the ground and sigh heavily when she laid down on the hardwood floor.
The squeaking noises she made when James came home every night - and the way she stood up on the counter to see his car through the kitchen window.
All her little snorty sounds.
The sound of her beating on the dog door, trying to get in.
The sound of her working the dog run gate back and forth trying to get it open.
That terrible, braying bark.
The snuffling sound of her hoovering the kitchen floor for tidbits.
The way she crossed her paws daintily when she laid down.
Her lady-like, soulful brown eyes.
Her refusal to come until promised a treat or a meal.
Her spinning happy dance as you set the bowl down at feeding time.
The sound of her tags hitting the bowls and her knocking the food bowls around on the tile as she licked them both clean hours after feeding time.
The way she would slide her nose under your arm if you hung it over the side of a chair, then walk your hand out to the point where she wanted to be scratched.
Her licking. Always with the licking.
The way she would lean full force into you with her rear and look over her shoulder pleading for a butt scritch.
The way she would lean back into your hand with all her might if you pushed on her.
Her terrible fishy breath.
Her soft, floppy ears.
The way she always beat me to the garden gate.
The way she jumped back in bed with me when I would sleep in.
The pawing when she got impatient while begging for food.

The way she used to lay on the back patio and watch the birds.
The bowing, barking and romping as we got ready to go for a walk.
The jumping. Always with the jumping.
The way she never seemed to sleep at night.
The way she would start pawing at the gate at regular intervals at dawn.
The spinning happy dance she would do when you came to get her in the morning.
The way she would paw impatiently at the door on the way out for a walk.
The way she and Bart (our other dog) nibbled each other constantly.
The way she would come and lay next to you on the sofa or in bed and just gaze up at you adoringly.
The way she would sneak over to Bart’s bowl and speed-eat any leftover food, hoping she could get it all down before we took it away.
The way she always insisted on walking right next to me on my right side on walks.
The way she adored Bart and would not let him out of her sight – even sitting next to the pen when he was locked up at doggie day care.
The way she liked to be kissed right between her eyebrows.
Her snuffling sighs.
Her farts. Yes, even those were charming.
Her ridiculous crotch licking.
The way she and Bart would spoon on the couch.
The way she liked to have her blanket pulled out to lay on at night.
The way she would almost take your finger off if you gave her a treat she really liked, but if you scolded her, she’d take the next one nicely.
The pig-like snorting as she took a treat or bite of food from your hand.

The way she sat for treats on day one.
The way she would jam her nose into your armpit at the breakfast table to beg for bacon.
All the times we caught her up on the counter (or just heard her paws hit the floor.)
The distinctive sound of her walk – created by her always too-long nails and ambling gait.
The way she would try to stealth lick babies from behind, even though she was afraid of them.
Her one pink toe.
Her soft pink belly.
Her long "handsy" paws.
Her little peanut head.
The way she hated it at first when I blew raspberries on her stomach, but eventually learned to tolerate it.
Her pretty girl silhouette with her long eyelashes.
The rolls she would get behind her collar when she got too fat.
The way her fur was always shiny, even though she had terrible dandruff.
The way she would lay on the middle of the sofa, in the pillows, until she heard me coming and would then slink off.
The sound of her slinking off the sofa, one back leg at a time.
The way she backed up onto the sofa to turn around near the coffee table.
Her Disneyland bear-cave snoring.
The sound of her pawing at the door to the garage when I came home.
The way she would run circles around it if I came home in James' car, because she thought he was supposed to be in there.
The long period of time when she absolutely refused to get in the car.
The way her little tail stub twitched back and forth constantly.
The way she would startle if you gave her a little puff of air - the only disciplinary tool that worked.
The way she would scrounge up every last bit of food on the floor and jump up on the counter to snatch the little stray bits at feeding time.
The way she always smelled good, no matter how dirty she was.

RIP sweet girl. We miss you like crazy.

Five Pies

2011-11-23T11:31:00.000-08:00

You've heard of Five Guys? Well, this is Five Pies. :)

We're off on our camping trip this morning. The truck is packed with the tourney pavilion (wait till you see this thing!) The pies and chicken liver mousse are waiting patiently in the fridge. Hot chocolate has been pre-blended so it can be re-heated on the stove, and the cranberries and other accoutrement are waiting to be loaded. It looks like we're moving to the mountains. I guess that's the dark side of glamping.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I will see you next week!

{p.s. I need one of these!}

The Indian Princess Party

2011-11-21T09:31:00.000-08:00

Juju contemplates her cake.

As I mentioned last week, I made the cake for a friend's four year old's birthday this weekend. The party was at the Rare Hare Art Studio in Normal Heights, a super-cool space for art classes and parties for kids and grownups alike. I'll let Jora tell you more about it, but I thought I'd share a few shots, and of course, let you know how the cake turned out!

Party guests - appropriately attired. :)

The birthday girl had requested vanilla cake, and I went searching for a new recipe since up until now, I haven't really found one I like all that well. This one from Bakerella fit the bill. I didn't have White Lily flour, which she said she had used, so I used a combination of two cups regular self rising flour and one cup of cake flour with one teaspoon of baking powder mixed in. The cake was tender but rich, and I really liked the flavor. I made my usual cream cheese frosting and tinted it pink, since I wanted it to look just like it does in her picture. :) I also upped the recipe by half so that I could fill three 9 inch cake pans.

There can never be too much pink on a four year old's birthday cake. At least that was my theory. :)

The decorations are fondant - that was the fun part. I had a grid mat and a little rolling pin, and cut them out with an exacto knife, pizza cutter and piping tip (the large end.) Funny thing - while I was making the decorations in the kitchen, James and my nieces were watching Romeo + Juliet in the living room - the modern version with Leonardo di Caprio and Clare Danes. Everytime I look at those teepees on the side of the cake I hear Shakespearean dialogue in my head.

The gifts from myself and the girlies - I could have happily kept them myself!

I picked up these gifts at the store at their school - the Snake and Lily. Are they the cutest or what?? I had wanted to get her a little Indian girl, but she already had one - so I contemplated whether to get the brave, or a mama with a papoose - luckily, she got the mama and papoose from someone else - so she has the whole set now. :)

Some Good Stuff - and Happy Friday!

2011-11-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to drop in and share a few fun things I spotted this week (mostly on Pinterest) and wish everyone a happy weekend!

1. This vintage Cartier watch.
2. J Crew's Spring 2012 line.
3. Language of Flowers tea towel from House that Lars Built (the calendar is gorgeous too.)
4. Tory Burch's Arelia tassel pump. Also, this one.
5. This great vintage shot of Angelica Huston.
6. The latest Closet Visit with Karolina Maskiewicz.
7. A birthday surprise from A Merry Mishap.

We are picking up our nieces today for a weekend visit - the cake is in progress, and seems to be turning out well so far. I'm starting to stress a little about preparations for our Thanksgiving trip, but one thing at a time, right? xoxo

Parmesan Crusted Chicken {A Recipe}

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

I just ate a bite of this straight from the fridge, and it was so good I was prompted to come sit down and write down the recipe right this minute, so I can do it exactly the same way next time - and of course, share it with you. This has always been one of my favorite dishes to eat, but it took me a few tries to get the formula down for my ideal crust, and even longer to remember to measure everything out!

For some reason, I had a hard time figuring out the right amount of salt. It takes more than you would think, but it really makes a huge difference. I use both flour and crumbs to form a nice crisp coating that won't slide off the chicken, and I like to add just enough cayenne or chile powder to wake it up a little.

I made this batch the other night as a special treat for James, who just ran his first half marathon on Sunday! We ate it with a simple salad of arugula and tomato dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. It's a little bit of a project, with the assembly line and the frying and all (another reason it's an every-once-in-a-while thing!) But it's pretty well worth it - especially if you make enough for leftovers. Which, by the way - did I mention? - are fantastic cold. :)

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Ingredients:

3-4 pounds of boneless and skinless chicken pieces (I used 2 thighs, 4 breasts + 4 tenderloins)

dry mix:

2 cups fine breadcrumbs

2/3 cup flour

2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt or kosher salt

1 cup (loosely packed) finely shredded fresh parmesan cheese

1 tsp cayenne or hot chile powder

a few grinds of pepper

2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

wet mix:

4-5 eggs

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

a splash of milk

2 cups vegetable oil for frying*

cut lemon for squeezing and more salt for sprinkling

Method:

Place dry ingredients in a medium-sized shallow bowl and toss with a fork to blend.

Crack eggs into a large bowl and add mustard and a splash of milk - blend with a whisk or hand blender to thoroughly incorporate the mustard.

Set up a work area with a plastic cutting board, a 2 foot long piece of saran wrap and whatever you use to pound meat. If you don't have a special tool, a flat bottomed heavy glass or small saucepan will work. (I use this and I absolutely love it, it's also great for cracking spices and smashing garlic cloves, etc.) Cut your breast meat into halves off center, since they are thicker on one end. Lay each piece in the middle of the saran wrap and fold the wrap over with a generous overlap (one piece should last you the whole batch.) Lightly pound each cutlet from the center outward just a couple of times in each direction - until each piece is uniformly just a little less than 1/2 inch thick. (Be gentle with the tenderloins, they will probably just need one very light tap.) As you finish pounding the cutlets, put them in the bowl with the egg/mustard mixture to marinate. They can stay there for an hour or so at room temperature and even longer in the fridge.

When you are ready to fry, pour vegetable oil to about half an inch deep in a large heavy frying pan or cast iron skillet. Heat frying pan over medium-high heat and line a baking sheet or large platter with a double layer of paper towels. If you plan to hold the cutlets before serving, turn the oven on to 250 degrees.

Set up your work station like an assembly line - with the bowl of cutlets and egg on one end, the crumb mixture next, then they frying pan, and the paper towel lined tray on the opposite side. Place your cut lemon and a little dish of salt by the tray.

To fry, pluck your first piece of chicken out of the egg mixture with one hand and lay it in the crumb mixture. Using the OTHER hand, toss crumbs and flour over the chicken to coat, and flip and pat it couple of times to get the coating to stick. (If you use the same hand for both, your fingers will soon have more coating on them than the cutlets.) Lift the first cutlet by one end and dip a tiny corner into the oil. If it sizzles, lay it down gently in the oil. If it doesn't - put it back in the flour and wait a couple more minutes until it does. Dip and coat two or three more pieces, as many as will comfortably fit, and set them gently in the oil too, making sure it sizzles but isn't burning or smoking. Let the pieces get nice and brown around the edges before flipping - they should cook quite a bit longer on the first side than the second. Using tongs, gently flip them once. When they are well browned on all sides, lay them on the paper towels to drain. Squirt with a little lemon juice and sprinkle with a tiny bit of salt.

Turn the oven down to 200, and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.

Serves about six - or fewer, with leftovers. :)

* optimally, if you are going to fry more than 3 batches, you should really change your oil - it will get lots of burnt bits in it and start to taste funny after that. I pushed it and did four, but that was definitely the limit.

Joan Didion's Blue Nights

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

“There were cucumber and watercress sandwiches, a peach-colored cake from Payard, pink champagne...”

I've had a minor obsession with Joan Didion since I read "Where I Was From" about 8 years ago. It was the kind of thing where I immediately picked up all of of her (non-fiction) books and read them back to back. I loved The White Album and Slouching Toward Bethlehem, and when it came out I devoured The Year of Magical Thinking - about the aftermath of the death of her husband John Gregory Dunne. The book itself was magical to me, with the raw edges of her grief rubbing against the evocative descriptions of their life together like sandpaper.

When I heard that Didion's only child had died at just 39 years of age right before Magical Thinking was released, I was horrified and captivated. I searched for more information on Quintana. What on earth had happened to her? And how on earth could Didion cope with another loss so soon after her husband's death? For better or worse, these questions are answered in Blue Nights. Didion tells the story of Quintana's life - from their admittedly boneheaded handling of her adoption and childhood in Malibu and Brentwood all the way through her illness and death - including her mental and emotional troubles and ill-fated contact with her birth family.

In recalling these events, Didion returns to certain flashes of memory again and again. Quintana's wedding, with its peach colored cake from Payard, cucumber sandwiches and pink champagne; the stephanotis woven in her braid; the bright red soles of her Louboutins visible when she knelt at the altar. She recalls the fried chicken eaten from a friends' fancy plates to celebrate Quintana's christening, the Chanel suits the women wore and the cigarettes they smoked, the hotels they stayed in when they traveled: the Kahala and the Royal Hawaiian in Hawaii; the Fairmont and the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco; the Ambassador and the Drake in Chicago.

It was a life of privilege to be sure, but there is an appealing pared-down simplicity to it as well. When they lived on the beach in Malibu, they lit fires in the fireplace to heat their home, she packed homemade fried chicken and strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar in Quintana's lunches and they had cucumber sandwiches for Quintana's sixteenth birthday lunch. Didion always packed the same list of simple necessities when she traveled. These small but intentional details aren't attributable so much to wealth as to taste - they're decisions and choices anyone could make.

Amid the shock and numbness of grief, Didion is eventually forced to confront her own mortality. She develops shingles, she loses consciousness in her apartment and wakes up in a pool of blood. A doctor accuses of her of making "an inadequate adjustment to aging." We might not all be so unlucky as to lose our entire family in the space of a few years, but if we live long enough, we will all get old. Didion writes about aging the way I expect to think and feel about it, which is both distressing and strangely satisfying, like seeing your worst fears come true. Unfortunately, she also confirms something else I've long suspected - that your cherished memories are not all that helpful when they serve primarily to remind you of what you have lost.

photo credits: Payard Cake from Martha Stewart, Blue Nights Cover from Amazon, Corvette photo via New York Magazine - Getty Images, shoes from Christian Louboutin, cucumber sandwiches via Victoria Mary Vintage, Didion's packing list from English Muse, family photo in Malibu via The New York Review of Books.

Indian Princess Inspiration

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine is throwing an Indian Princess-themed birthday party for her four-year old daughter this weekend, and I've volunteered to dust off my baking skills and make the cake, decorated with a teepee or feather motif. My nieces are also coming down to attend the party (they've become fast friends with the birthday girl and her brother) so I am hoping it will be a fun project for all of us!

I'm having a hard time coming up with photos of cakes for inspiration, but I did find a few for color and design. The birthday girl has specifically requested vanilla cake, so I've been looking at these recipes from Sweetapolita. If you have any beloved favorites, feel free to throw them my way! I have a go-to chocolate recipe, but have yet to find a vanilla cake that knocks my socks off.

Fingers crossed that it will turn out well enough that I can post some pictures next week!

Have a good week! xox

1. Feather Headdress via Style Milk Shop
2. Teepee from Svpply
3. Feather Cookies via The Kitchn
4. Indian Party via Sara's Party Perfect
5. Rug via Brittany Jepson on Pinterest
6. Window Decorations via Moccasin Telegraph.

Happy Weekend, Friends.

2011-11-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it's already been a week since I snapped this photo just before heading out on the town in Vegas. Happy Friday! I hope you have a good weekend, whether it's a long or short one.

It's also Veteran's Day today. I have many friends and family members who are veterans and their sacrifices and service are incredible. I think this quote sums it up quite well:

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers." ~José Narosky

I look forward to tipping a glass in honor of them and the rest of our veterans and their sacrifices at the Iron Fist Beer Lunch today at Farm House Cafe. Salud!

Dress: Banana Republic Clutch: Clare Vivier Boots: Trouve Cuff: Kora Designs

There and Back Again - Las Vegas Edition

2011-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've found myself becoming a true fan of the road trip. Some of our best recent vacations have been car trips - Big Sur, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, the Grand Canyon... Plus it's just so much easier in some ways. You don't have to worry about the size of your liquid containers, there are no backscatter x-ray machines or overzealous TSA agents to contend with. You can pack your own food - even throw a bottle of champagne or two in the car - or a couple of stowaways, like we did when we took our nieces along last year to the Grand Canyon at no extra cost. Like I said. Big fan.

With all that in mind, we decided to drive to Las Vegas this last weekend for a visit with friends. (I'm not sure what is says about us that they chose to fly anyway!) The two photos above were taken at The Mad Greek, a classic roadside stop in Baker, California. Baker is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, and the main street is lined with fast food chains, so at least this was something different. I wish I could recommend the food, but I really can't. The menu is strangely complicated and there must be something good on there, but it's not the Gyro or the Greek Salad, trust me on that. They did have some traditional pastries and cookies in their case that looked nice, and they serve espresso and gelato, so it might be worth a stop for a snack and to take a photo or two, but I'd stick with In n' Out in Barstow or Lynwood for lunch.

When we got to Vegas we checked into our room and went out for a little walk. I took this photo of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon through the window. We didn't eat here this time, but it's my favorite fine dining spot in Vegas. It's no more expensive than the other schmancy options around town, but I feel like they run a tighter ship somehow. They also have some less expensive menu options at the Mansion now - you can get a three course tasting menu there for $120.

We walked over to the new Cosmopolitan hotel to check out the "scene." It is sort of the newest hot spot - something like the Hard Rock or Palms. This is the "Chandelier Bar" - located inside a giant 3 story tall crystal chandelier. The restaurants are located upstairs in a mall-like area - and of course I wanted to check them out. By far the most happening spot was Jaleo - Jose Andre' Spanish tapas spot, which spilled out onto the upper level (below.)
We had plans to eat that night at Julian Serrano over in the Aria hotel next door, but we had a little time to kill so we ducked into China Poblano - the other more casual Andres restaurant there, for a taco and a cocktail.

When you walk in, there are two counters on either side of the restaurant. Behind one ladies are making fresh tortillas for tacos, and on the other side they are folding dumplings, making those little pleats one by one. The menu features Chinese and Mexican specialities, like dim sum, dumplings and tacos, and several dishes that blend both cuisines. Everything on the menu was appealing, and affordable to boot.

We started with a couple of margaritas, topped with Jose Andres' special "salt foam" - I am just starting to come around on salt with my margaritas, and I absolutely loved this. Mine was pomegranate, which I highly recommend. James had the plain.

We ordered two tacos, only one of which I remembered to photograph, and some Sui Mai dumplings. The taco below is "barbacoa" - the other was pork belly. I preferred the barbacoa - but the sui mai may have been my favorite. I only wished we could have ordered more. The gentleman to my right ordered several things that looked good, including a ceviche of tuna with amaranth seeds, soy sauce and pecans and what I think was the "Ocean Nest" - a dish of fried egg noodles with shrimp and other seafood. Our friends also went for brunch on Sunday and had a great meal.

Our dinner at Julian Serrano was good, but not great. It's not quite "fine dining" but it's a step up from casual, located in a swankily decorated room right off the Aria's lobby. I liked the style of the place, and a few of the things we ordered were very good - especially this scallop dish with romesco sauce.

We also liked the anchovy crostini, below. The jamon serrano with pan tomate was also good, but James couldn't help comparing it to the Pata Negra from L'Atelier (one of the drawbacks of being spoiled by that place!) The "Gambas al Ajillo" - a usual Spanish favorite of mine - were rubbery, and our server sold us on a strange house specialty of filet with cheese and honey that turned out to be a terrible waste of a really nice piece of meat.

The best thing we ordered by far was this relatively inexpensive Rioja, recommended by the sommelier. Seriously - do yourself a favor and remember this label. It was excellent.

Our friends arrived the next day, and we met Lisa for lunch at Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina in the Crystals shopping center in the new City Center complex. The mall itself is a little boring. It's quiet as a morgue, probably because it has only the most ultra high end stores - but we had a really good meal at this casual spot. My mussels were perfectly cooked and served in a little cast iron cocotte with lots of chorizo and spicy broth with just a touch of cream. James had the prosciutto and pesto pizza and Lisa had the potato pizza, both of which were nice - large with a thin crust and good toppings. We also shared a butter lettuce salad that was similar to a cobb, with bacon, egg, blue cheese and hazelnuts.

After lunch, Lisa and I strolled over to the Aria for coffee and something sweet from the Jean Philippe Patisserie. We went a little nuts and tried not one, not two but three things - a dulce de leche filled brioche (swoon!) a "snickers" pastry, and a lemon meringue tart. All were divine - I don't think they have anything that isn't.

It's a popular spot, located on the casino floor - hopping all day long with cafe customers getting breakfast, lunch, desserts and snacks.

We had breakfast from here two mornings in a row, and all I can say is deca-dent. It's a good thing we brought gym clothes.

Friday night's dinner was our usual standby - Lotus of Siam. I've written about it before here. They have expanded significantly since we were there last, at least doubling in size and adding a large wine vault.

We always love this crispy rice dish with sausage and lime juice, and we found another new favorite this time, these prawns - separated from their shells and fried - served over spicy drunken noodles and topped with a light chili sauce. If you go, I also recommend the green curry duck and the soft shell crab salad.

Dinner the following night was at Comme Ca - a French bistro back in the Cosmopolitan. We had originally had reservations at Twist, Pierre Gagnaire's restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental, but we decided we just weren't up for anything that fancy. Our meal at Comme Ca started out on the right foot with lovely appetizers - an excellent seafood "plateau" and a really nice beef tartare, but slid steeply downhill with the entrees. Luis' mussels tasted unpleasantly of dried herbs, Lisa's burger was cold, and both dishes were served with stiff, stale frites. I had planned to order the steak frites, but James talked me into getting the "Wellington for Two" at $99 (gulp.) Ordered medium rare it came out blue (to the point of impossible to cut), with soggy pastry and cold sides. I think I ate two bites. It was so bad we complained, and they confessed it was their first night serving it as a Saturday night special. I hope they work on that formula before they ruin too many other couples' date nights. They comped us one bottle of wine ($65) which was a nice gesture, but I would have rather they comped the more expensive inedible dish. We skipped dessert.

Lunch on the way back was In n'Out in Barstow. It always amazes me that their $5.45 cheeseburger combo (Animal style, add ketchup and mustard, fries well done and a side of chiles!) can be so much better than a $100. meal. In a strange way, I guess it kind of evens out in the end.

Recommended Spots:
China Poblano
in the Cosmospolitan - 2nd Floor
3708 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina
In the Crystals Shopping Center at City Center
3720 Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89115

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
in the MGM Grand
3799 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Jean Philippe Patisserie
two locations, in the Aria on the casino floor, and in the
Bellagio.
Aria - 3730 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV

Other Vegas Posts:
My Vegas Favorites, Otto - at the Venetian Shops, The Neon Sign Museum & Luv It Frozen Custard.

Glamping over Thanksgiving

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

We just got back from a weekend in Vegas, which I will tell you about in a minute, but I'm already super excited about our next trip. We've been invited to join a few close friends to go camping in Julian over Thanksgiving. Have you ever heard of "glamping"? I think that's what it's going to be like. We're borrowing a canvas tent from James' family and our friends are setting up a camp kitchen (that's last year's set up in the lower middle photo above.) It will probably be cold (it could even snow!) but with enough bourbon, wool blankets and firewood, we should be able to hang. We'll take a few long hikes too - to warm up and work off all that food!

Everyone is being asked to contribute to the feast. I'm thinking about making a pate or terrine from the Piret's cookbook (finally, a chance to use the Le Creuset terrine I found at an antique store a while ago!) and a few pies. Not sure what kind yet. Will also pack some s'mores and hot chocolate makings, the aforementioned bourbon, and a few apples for snacking.

So how is everyone else celebrating Thanksgiving this year? Any "must have" dishes? C'mon, spill it! Good or bad, high or low - I know serious foodies who can't cope without Pillsbury crescent rolls, and my own mother makes her turkey gravy with cornstarch and yellow food coloring. There's no room for shame in holiday traditions! Or if your feast is impeccably gourmet, we want to hear about that too!

photos - top left, via Bliss, top right, found here, bottom left, found here. All others by last year's campers.

Tiger! Tiger! - North Park

2011-11-02T15:51:00.000-07:00

The first thing I noticed about the menu at Tiger! Tiger! was how much it looked like the menu at one of my favorite places to eat - the Hog Island Oyster Co. in San Francisco (at the Ferry Building.) They're not using Heath Plates and you're not looking out over the San Francisco Bay, but the front side of the simple menu offering oysters on the half shell, a clam and corn chowder, Oysters Rockefeller, and a few simple artisanal salads rang some bells in a good way.

I had heard about the restaurant the day before from some friends who attended their soft opening. When I saw the words beer, sandwiches and oysters, I hijacked already existing plans with my friend Vince and dragged him here instead of Cafe Chloe for their first Friday lunch. TT uses the same ordering system as Blind Lady Ale House, the other restaurant owned by this group of friends (two couples, actually.) You walk up to the counter, place your order and get a number to take to a table. The room has a classic "beer hall" layout, with two rows of long picnic tables with attached benches running the length of the room. Much of the food is cooked in a large wood-burning oven that dominates the kitchen area. (I don't know about you but I'm drawn to a wood-burning oven like a moth to a flame.) Like BLAH, TT offers a wide and ever-changing selection of beers. Since it was a work day, we didn't really indulge... much... but you'll find a great selection of local and artisanal brews to satisfy your thirst.
We started with their oysters on the half shell, served with lime granita, pickled chiles and micro-cilantro. Hog Island serves theirs with a cup of pickled chile mignonette, which these flavors echoed nicely. I tend to prefer for my oysters to come naked and add the condiments myself, but I thought the additions on these were well balanced. James went a night or two later and thought the lime granita was too much, so you will have to be the judge for yourself. The only thing I missed was some sourdough epi bread (Hog Island serves theirs with Acme.) They're baking their own breads here, so hopefully that will come along.
Next we were delivered a bowl of the corn, bacon and clam chowder - tender sweet clams and chunks of potato, in a light creamy broth studded with bacon and roasted corn kernels, served with a slice of house-baked levain bread on the side. The broth had a sweet, complex flavor and the clams were pretty darn perfect. It looks a little skimpy on the clams, but I think I had already plucked at least one off before I remembered to take the picture.
Then came the sandwiches, a pork bahn mi and a fried oyster po'boy. Nobody likes a good sandwich more than I do, and I was pretty excited about these. I did like the po'boy (though all that red onion was a little overwhelming) but the bahn mi was a bit of a disappointment. I think it was supposed to be hot, but the meat had cooled by the time we bit into ours, and it was missing the funky-sweet pickled root vegetables and sweet mayonnaise that are (in my opinion at least) essential to a bahn mi. Instead of the traditional baguette, it also came on a house-made torpedo roll. It's hard to quibble with housemade fresh bread, but I missed the crunch of the baguette crust.
All of the sandwiches are served with these exceptionally good fresh, housemade potato chips. You can't really tell from this picture, but there were both sweet potato and russet potato chips in there. They also offer several other sandwiches that sound intriguing - like the croque madame, served with an optional bechamel sauce and fried egg.
Overall, given that this was literally the very first meal they served to paying customers, I thought they did a fine job. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of their other sandwich offerings and the Oysters Rockefeller, which I hear are superb.

Tiger! Tiger!
3025 El Cajon Blvd (near 30th)
San Diego, CA 92104

Check out their Beer Week Schedule - November 3-9.
Dinner only. Closed Mondays. (They are starting lunch service Fri-Sat. soon, if not already)

My Little Black Book - San Diego {Edible Edition}

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned a while back that I was going to do an edible edition of my little black book. Sorry it's been so long in coming, but better late than never, no? So here goes... Mangia, mangia!

Fishmonger - I have to confess, I haven't actually bought anything here yet myself, but I know people who do it all the time, and I hope to soon! Catalina Offshore Products is a wholesale seafood warehouse - they sell to all the best restaurants (including the top sushi bars) but they allow walk ins to pick up order from 9-2 on weekdays and 9-12 on Saturdays. More info here. When I want something quick that I can't get at Whole Foods, I usually head to Point Loma Seafoods. Nijiya, the Japanese market on Convoy is also a great source for sushi-appropriate seafood items.
Produce and bulk quantity ingredients - Specialty Produce is primarily a restaurant supplier but is also open to the public. They're located down in the Middletown/Midway area, near PCH and Washington. You walk in, register at their desk and you are free to shop. They have just about every kind of in-season produce imaginable, micro greens and edible flowers, bulk cheeses and dairy, and a large selection of non-perishable items like oils, vinegars, condiments, grains and rice, spices, herbs, etc. It's an especially great resource when you're having a party.
Catering - For high end catering, I would head straight to Campine, the new company owned by James Brennan of Stingaree fame with Andrew Spurgin (formerly of Waters) and Brian Malarkey. In the short couple of months they've been open, they've already become the top choice in town for money's-no-object type parties. If your budget is a little tighter, I think the French Gourmet does a pretty decent job at a bargain price. For casual catering - say a business lunch or picnic type thing - Saladstyle will prepare buffet sized versions of their delicious salads, and Mama's Lebanese does really nice platters of mezze.
Kitchenwares - When I need a special pan, a new knife or a specialty baking ingredient, I head straight to Great News in Pacific Beach. It's as well equipped as Sur la Table with better prices and nicer staff. They also offer a wide variety of cooking classes. In a pinch, I also have a soft spot for Williams-Sonoma at Fashion Valley - it's a California company that started out as a small business in Sonoma, and unlike Betty Crocker, there really is a Chuck Williams - even if he hasn't owned the company since 1978.
Cheesemonger - The most convenient choice is Venissimo. They now have three locations - the original in Mission Hills, an East Village shop just a block west of Cafe Chloe, and a North County branch in the Flower Hill mall. They carry a phenomenal selection, are great about letting you taste as many cheeses as you want, and they even keep track of your purchases so you don't have to try to remember what you like. Gina, the owner, is delightful. They also sell a $5.00 cheese sandwich for lunch - your choice of any cheese on a baguette or roll from Bread & Cie. As much as I like Venissimo though, I usually buy my cheese from Mary (Taste Cheese) at the Farmers Market - either at the Little Italy Mercato on Saturday or Hillcrest on Sunday. It doesn't require a special trip for me since I'm already there buying my produce, and Mary knows what I like. This week's purchase was a round of sharp creamy muenster, and a wedge of salty, crumbly, blue-veined Cabrales. :)
Bread Bakery - I really want to love Bread & Cie, but they're not making it easy for me lately. The bread just isn't what it used to be, and the service at the Hillcrest cafe ranges from barely polite to downright dismissive. I like their sandwiches and pastries though, and it's always crowded so obviously a lot of people love it. Con Pane in Point Loma is not super convenient for me, but I like their sandwiches for lunch, and I pick up a loaf whenever I go in. I actually buy a lot of my artisan bread at the organic bakery inside Whole Foods. It may not be the most exciting or original choice, but it's organic, it's pretty darn good, and it's convenient if you're already there shopping.
Produce/Farmers Market Stalls - My favorite Farmers Markets are Saturday in Little Italy and Sunday in Hillcrest. Sage Mountain Farm, Schaner Farms (only at Little Italy), Womach Ranch (only at Hillcrest) and Suzie's Farm are some of my favorite vendors. I'm also currently addicted to something called "Bitchin' Sauce" which a local company is selling at every market in town. It's a vegan and gluten free dip made from a mixture of almonds, nutritional yeast, Bragg amino acids and seasonings like chipotle, pesto and garlic. It's amazing.
Chocolatiers - We have three very good local chocolatiers in San Diego. Eclipse, on the North Park/Hillcrest border, specializes in large, dipped truffles featuring bold flavor combinations and a variety of chocolate-centric baked goods. They also make great chocolate bars and carry some baking ingredients. Chuao has outlets in Del Mar and UTC. Their chocolates also feature some unusual flavor combinations. I shy away from some of their more odd-ball combinations like the olive oil and breadcrumb and spicy cabernet raisin, but I love the Parchita - passion fruit caramel, and the firecracker, a spicy caramel coated with poprocks. Dallman Confections rounds out the selection. They offer a beautiful assortment of classic chocolates that are as lovely to look at as they are to eat, and they feature both traditional and more adventurous flavor combinations, like curry and pb&j. They just opened a lovely new boutique in the Flower Hill Mall attached to the Pannikin.
Italian Deli - We don't have a branch of Eataly in San Diego just yet, but Mona Lisa provides a surprisingly strong selection of Italian ingredients at their shop on India Street. Their prosciutto (choose the domestic over the imported kind,) fresh Gioia mozzarella and ricotta, canned tomatoes and imported pastas are virtually indistinguishable from any the best you'll find elsewhere, and if you go around lunchtime you can pick up one of their sandwiches to go. I like to add prosciutto to the caprese. They also carry Italian cookies and candies, liqueurs, coffees and canned and bottled goods like sauces, olives and pickles.
Asian Market - Convoy in Kearny Mesa is packed with Asian markets and restaurants, and conveniently two of my favorites are located in the same shopping center - Nijiya and Okan. Nijiya is the market, and they carry a wide selection of organic Asian produce grown on the company's own farms, lots of organic baking products, a wide selection of prepared foods and sushi, and an absolutely fascinating array of packaged foods, the labels of which I cannot read, nor could I discern the contents to save my life. I especially love the wide selection of "beer snacks" - things like wasabi covered peanuts, spicy rice crackers, etc. I try to stay away from that aisle!
Mediterranean Market - North Park Produce - with locations in Normal Heights, Poway and El Cajon, this local chain is a great source for party foods - olives, yogurt and labneh, pita bread, mezze, seasonings, interesting packaged foods, etc. I also hear good things about the Balboa International Market over in Kearny Mesa, but haven't made it there yet.
Mexican Market - I've mentioned before how much we love Tortilleria Salsa Market in El Cajon. We usually get their stuff for parties and get-togethers. It's easy, inexpensive and everyone loves it. We kinda had to put the kibosh on keeping the chips and salsa around all the time - but they're always good. I also kind of like the fact that they have different varities all the time - the other day they had some creamy green salsa we'd never seen before, and the roasted salsa was the best I think we've ever bought there.
Italian Bakery - For my money, Cafe Zucchero has the best cannolis and Italian pastries in town. I think there is better gelato elsewhere, but their display sure is pretty. Great little spot for a date or afternoon tea (or espresso.)
Gelateria - Speaking of better gelato, Pappalecco in Little Italy is my favorite. The Lemon gelato (not sorbetto, gelato) is my favorite, and I normally go for the chocolate/caramel/nut flavors. The blood orange sorbetto is amazing too. They also have a location in Hillcrest now.
Coffee Bar - I'm partial to Peet's in Hillcrest because its conveniently located on my way to work, and I can sometimes meet up with friends there before work. When you get the right barista (and order a cafe macchiato instead of a cappuccino) it is possible to get a great espresso drink - no easy feat in this town. I think Pappalecco in Little Italy generally serves very good espresso and Joes on the Nose serves great coffee at their trucks at the Farmers Markets on the weekends - Saturdays in Little Italy and Sundays in Hillcrest. (I also hear good things from trusted sources about Caffe Calabria in North Park and The Lofty Bean in Encinitas though I can't vouch for them since I haven't been yet!)

So that's what I can think of right now - if you think I missed something or if you have something to suggest to me, please let me know! Oh, and Happy Halloween!

What I Did on my Summer-I-mean-Fall Vacation...

2011-10-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

preview of post to come on lunch at Tiger! Tiger!

Pinned up a storm - My love affair with Pinterest continues. If you are looking for me, chances are you will find me over here. (If you need an invite, let me know!)
Fretted about my garden - Though we did get quite a nice haul of tomatoes, cucumbers and salad greens this summer, the garden just has not been looking good for several months now. Early blight struck the tomato and cucumber plants so they looked dead even though they kept producing, and the peppers, squash and herbs just never took off. When I finally gave up and ripped out the plants, I discovered an infestation of disgusting fat, white grubs, which were probably eating the roots. I'm just about ready to give up.
Read the Game of Thrones books - After watching the HBO series, I became hooked and read the first three books back to back. I'm just now getting into the fourth one.
Took the nieces to Disneyland (again.) - We saw World of Color, which was fantastic, and went to the Halloween party, which was very fun and provided the girls with the opportunity to collect lots of candy. We also had some good rum cocktails and snacks at the new Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel. If you live in the OC you should definitely check it out!
Had surgery - In September I underwent surgery for removal of a cantaloupe - yes cantaloupe - sized ovarian cyst. It went very well. My surgeon, Dr. Tarakjian at Sharp and anesthesiologist Dr. Farrell took very good care of me and I was able to go back to work the following week. Needless to say though, during the approximately month-long period between the initial detection and removal, it was a bit of a distraction.
Learned to make friendship bracelets out of embroidery thread - I bought a huge bag of embroidery thread and learned to make them using this blog post. It's very meditative. Just need to learn how to make good knot and loop closures now.
Had some good meals at a few new restaurants - I finally tried Searsucker more than a year after it opened, and went to both Burlap and Tiger! Tiger! on their opening days. All were very good. We also snagged seats at the Cooks Confab Confit dinner at Farm House, which was divine, and I had a very good dinner at Starlite with some girlfriends. Hadn't been there in a while.
Said goodbye to a friend - Her illness was a tragedy, and her loss is unspeakably sad. She was a beautiful woman, inside and out, and a beloved sister, wife and daughter. Only 44 years old.
Contemplated the universe - I feel like I'm at a point in life now where I know what I want to do with my time and energy and I need to control it more carefully. I've been trying, but I'm surprised by how difficult it is. Most of the time, I feel like I'm bouncing off of obstacles like a ball in a pinball machine. The days go by so quickly, and before you know it, you've reached the end of another one. This will be an ongoing challenge, I fear.
Contemplated this blog - One of the reasons I haven't posted in a while is that I've been wrestling with what exactly to do here. I wish I could write about it all, but time is limited and I feel like the audience is a bit divided - the food posts definitely get the most feedback, and I always hear good things about the restaurant reviews - which I really like doing, but I like mixing it up with other stuff too. If you have any thoughts about what you'd like to see more or less of, feel free to let me know in the comments.

It's good to be back!

This Week's Fascinations

2011-08-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

I had a very busy week this week, but still managed to spend plenty of time thinking about my latest obsessions - chief among them, going to Sayulita, Mexico next year to renew our vows in one of these dresses - and renting out the Petit Hotel d'Hafa (and possibly their seven bedroom vacation home) for all our guests...

”The story about these girls is movie material. The family consists of nine brothers and sisters, some born in France and others in Africa. Their parents raised them in various places around the world, including St. Barth’s, which is where they got the idea to buy a seventy-five foot wooden boat, which they painted the Rasta colors of red, gold, and green, and then sailed around the world for a decade. They accumulated friends, lovers, and children along the way, and soon the gypsy family traveled in three boats, seeking out the best surf towns and forgotten beaches around the world. While the brothers kept sailing, a few of the sisters decided to settle in Sayulita, where they all live together in a building that also houses their boutique, Pacha Mama. It conveniently overlooks the best surf spot in town.” - Life Content via Luster.

You can read more about the sisters and their boutique, Pachamama on a lovely blog called Luster - where I shamelessly poached these photos. (For full photo credits visit the link.)

I also ran across and loved this photo retrospective of teen fashions from the 40s on Miss Moss.

Meringue desserts are one of my favorite things - and I was lucky enough to enjoy this one over the weekend, made by a friend.

And finally, you must be living under a rock if you haven't already seen this video - but it is one of the best things I have seen in a long time so I can't resist sharing it. Juno the 8 year old beluga whale, dancing to a serenade by mariachis. At the end you'll hear his caretaker say "Thanks guys, he really enjoyed it." People taking care of animals like this just makes me really, really happy.

I am working on that edible edition of the Little Black Book I promised you, and have a few other things to share when I have a spare minute or two. See you soon!

My Little Black Book {in San Diego}

2011-07-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Having lived here for a good long while, I've had a pretty good chance to suss out the places I like to go to get things done. Some of these people have become friends by now, but none of them have paid me to plug them - nor would I do so if I didn't sincerely believe in their services! This is just my way of sharing my insider information, such as it is, in the hope that both you and they can benefit. :)

Shoe Repair - Leather Magic in Point Loma - Hugo and his wife Ana do fantastic quality work for a great price. In fact, he was recently listed in Town & Country magazine as one of the top cobblers in the world. I took him a Hermes Kelly bag that I'd had worked on by the official Hermes repair person, and he did a better job. True story.
Florals - Carlos at Green Fresh Florals has a gorgeous shop in Hillcrest, I can buy armloads of flowers there for no more (and sometimes even less) than they cost at Whole Foods. Also can't quibble with Adelaides in La Jolla - it's where I get my mom's Mother's Day flowers every year. Occasionally I will also stop by Che Bella, but I don't think it's been the same since they moved.
Dry Cleaner/Repairs - I go to the Hangers Dry Cleaner in Fenton Plaza (the Ikea shopping center) in Mission Valley. They use a non-toxic cleaning process (no perchloroethylene) and it's worth the little extra money to me to avoid the poisons. I think their cleaning process is harder on some silk fabrics than the traditional method, but they've never lost my stuff and they give me a 10% loyal customer discount. They're also pretty good at getting stains out, and they have a seamstress on site for repairs.
Alterations/Seamstress - For more substantial alterations, I like Charlie's Alterations on Adams Avenue. They can also replicate clothing items if you take them the fabric and the item.
Personal Trainer - For the last year and a half, James and I have been going to Fitness Zone, a personal training studio in Kearny Mesa a couple of times a week. James has lost almost 100 pounds in that time, and I've lost around 20. I'm in a lot better shape though. Rob, Kris and Heidi can make you hate life and love them at the same time which is quite a feat - they have a great Pilates studio too.
Yoga - I've been doing yoga off and on for a while now, and over the years I've been to most of the popular studios in town. My favorite instructors teach at Prana, La Jolla Yoga Center and The Little Yoga Studio. Gerhard Gessner is the owner of Prana, Sara Deakin teaches at Little Yoga Studio and Prana, and Carolina Vivas and Amanda McCarroll teach at La Jolla Yoga Center. I usually go to the Little Yoga Studio since it's just up the hill from my office downtown, but La Jolla Yoga Center is beautiful - like a spa - and has a wide selection of classes. Prana is a little more basic, but Gerhard, the owner, teaches one of the best classes in town. Jeannie, the owner of La Jolla Yoga Center used to teach there before she opened LJYC. The Little Yoga Studio is tiny, but the effect is cozy, and it has the distinct advantage of being downtown (on Cortez Hill) just a few blocks from my office.
Salon - My relationship with Rebeca and Raquel - the owners of Sashay Salon - goes way back. We're talking early 90's. (We also went to the same high school, though not at the same time.) When I moved back to town from the Bay Area in 1998 I started seeing both of them exclusively, and they opened their own salon on Adams Avenue shortly thereafter - I haven't been anywhere else since. Adam has been doing my hair for the past couple of years, since Raquel got sick, and Rebeca does nails and skin care. Love love love them.
Cakes - When I need a birthday cake (or someone else asks me for a referral) Jenny Wenny Cakes is my go-to source. She does fantastic party cakes with great decorations and does not sacrifice one whit of flavor or quality for appearance. (She even uses Schaner eggs!) She's in the process of launching her cake business, so please support her if you can. You will not find a better cake for a better price!
Gifts - I like to keep a little stockpile of gifts on hand, but when I run out or need something quick, I usually head to Pigment in North Park, Vocabulary in Little Italy, or, believe it or not - Extraordinary Desserts in Little Italy. They have cute kid and baby items, tableware, hand creams, candles, etc. Not cheap, but good stuff. Pigment is great for hip housewares, and Vocabulary is a sweet little boutique with good prices - bonus, it's just around the corner from Pappalecco. :)
Gardening supplies - When I need garden goods, I head to City Farmer in City Heights. It's a nearly endless wonderland of plants, animals, seeds, soil, pesticides and fertilizers, and just about anything else you could need for your yard - all of it organic. It's a great place to take kids - they have a veritable barnyard on the property and there are lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Bill, the owner, is wonderful and full of sage advice. I'm told he'll "taste" your soil to tell you whether it's in balance and if not, what you need to add to it. I haven't taken him up on it yet, but I might!
Veterinarian - And one more late addition to the list - our veterinarian, Dr. Dorian at Market Street Veterinary Clinic. We first met Dr. Dorian at the Windansea Veterinary Clinic in La Jolla. We adopted Bart at the La Jolla Farmers Market, and they handed us their card. I had no other resources or recommendations, so I called them up. They turned out to be fabulous, and since then our favorite vet there, Dr. Raffy Dorian, has left and opened his own practice downtown on Market Street. It's getting harder to get an appointment when you need one, but they are worth the couple of week's wait. Not many people I talk to say they love their vet. We've only been to one, but we wouldn't go anywhere else.

p.s. - I'm going to do a food version of this list soon, with my favorite farmers market vendors, kitchen ware sources, cheese shops, bakeries, etc. Stay tuned!

On Feeling Oddly Inspired.

2011-07-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been a real bear, for reasons I won't burden you with - but something strange is happening at the same time. When I should probably be feeling unhappy or sorry for myself, I haven't been at all. Instead, I've been feeling especially lucky to be here, spending my time doing things I want to do with the people I love. I've also been unusually inspired by all of the amazing things that come my way each day through the wonders of the internet. Pinterest has been a real boon for finding amazing things to look at and think about each day - and it only takes a minute, unlike blogs which can lead to hours and hours of poring over posts.

Not that blogs aren't inspiring me too... I've fallen head over heels for Diana's blog Miss Moss, not to mention her Tumblr - which is magically updated with about eighty inspiring images a day. I'm also completely sucked into her other Tumblrs - BKFST, chronicling beautiful breakfast meals from around the blogosphere, and Home is Where the Couch Is - where I find many of the pics for my "Casa Encantada" board on Pinterest.

Joslyn's recent post about this blog chronicling the daily routines of artists, writers and other prominent people also captured my attention. The accounts are utterly fascinating, and have prompted some serious examination of my own routines (or lack thereof...)

Then there's the phenomenal display of skill, style and strength that went into the renovation/construction of The Pantry at Delancey, as described in Brandi's post about the process on her charming blog I Made That! I have fantasized in that past that if I were to suddenly lose my job, I would take on some serious construction projects around the house. I harbor this secret belief that I am handy because I inherited it from my grandfather - though I've never attempted anything more strenuous than screwing a picture hanger into the wall. I kind of doubt this theory will ever be put to the test, but it would be interesting.

Next, the beautiful, utterly magical wedding of Luisa Weiss, which recently took place in Italy. Both she and Molly of Orangette wrote posts about it that have stuck with me for a couple of days now. It strikes me as the perfect celebration. Not overly precious (no cupcakes, balloons, mason jars, or mustaches - thankyouverymuch) just lots of family, friends, fantastic food and a stunningly beautiful setting - not to mention the gorgeous, glowing couple. Read more about the details here. Photo by Molly of Orangette

And finally, last but not least, I was reminded earlier today of how much I am dying to see the Bill Cunningham New York movie by Victoria's post about going to see it at the Castro (if only I still lived in the Bay Area!) I missed it when it was at the Ken, and it's not coming out on DVD until September. I'll keep checking pay per view in the meantime, but I bet it will be a while. The preview is beautiful - I've already watched it twice today. I love the part where he says the key is to not take any money. It's both completely insane and utterly brilliant - with a huge dose of charm thrown in. Just like the man himself I suspect.

{photo collage: clockwise - image from Home is Where the Couch Is; Cafe Stella in LA on 7.3.11; Intelligentsia coffee on 7.2.11; salmon sandwich from BKFST; bar set up at our house last Sunday, 7.10.11; brunch at Farm House Cafe on Sunday, 7.10.11; Peanut Butter cheesecake brownies, made with leftover peanut mousse from this on 7.10.11; Pizza at Pizzeria Mozza on 7.1.11, and us on a hike in Griffith Park in LA, 7.2.11}