the most amazing show EVER. (he's so hot.) a brand new episode. (yay!) guest starting janel maloney from west wing. (love her!) set during christmas. (i miss christmas music.) with an amazing storyline. (the ending was WICKED funny.)
http://www.tv.com/house/show/22374/summary.html
OMG. I'M OBSESSED.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
chaya brasserie beverly hills
as if nic's wasn't enough to make my night (thanks, kim!), i got to do dinner @ chaya brasserie beverly hills w/linds right after (thanks, linds!). (dani -- you totally missed out so we'll just HAVE to make another reservation.)
at first, i was worried that we might get there late, especially since neither of us had a clue where we were going. plus, does not EVERYONE in the free world f***ing hate the fact that there are TWO santa monica boulevards?! i mean, WTF?! the city planners couldn't have thought of some random OTHER name for one of them? geezus christ. at any rate, we made it there RIGHT at 7. and other than having to recover quickly from almost getting killed by another SUV as we were attempting to valet park, we were ready for dinner.
i'm not quite sure why the hostess asked whether we wanted happy hour, especially when our reservation was for 7 and we walked in right at 7. perhaps we didn't look haggard and hungry enough? thankfully, she seated us right away, offering both dineLA and regular menus, which is always lovely. while i didn't get a chance to look all around the restaurant, what i did catch were some high ceilings (which always do it for me), some amazing mirrors (that made the room look even more spacious and splendid), a great bar scene (a cool vibe w/little to no skeez), and a whole lot of happy people at happy tables. it was just the right amount of noise, where you could still hear your dinner date as well as your own thoughts. so it was pretty much the perfect dinner atmosphere. (my one criticism is that the bathroom was TINY. i really don't know how a big-boned person would be able to get into any of the stalls. much less anyone w/a wheelchair. they should probably check their codes.)
so i'm soooooo glad that i figured out that the dineLA menus were online. (i don't really know how i missed the boat on that one, but i suppose i've had worst things happen.) b/c anyone who's a foodie should know how important it is to check out the menu options before you go out to eat. i mean, if the options are lighter, you'll know that you can eat more earlier in the day. if the options are heavier, you'll know to hold off on that extra slice of chocolate cake. i mean, seriously, right? (this was probably why i didn't enjoy simon LA too much. darn it!) thankfully, i checked out chaya's menu earlier today (passing it onto linds who seemed thoroughly excited) and i was totally and completely READY.
while m cafe de chaya is the one (of three chaya restaurants) known for macrobiotic cuisine, i noticed vegan options for every course on the dineLA menu, so i decided to go for it! (which explains why i chose to have quiche for lunch today -- see what i mean about balance?) for my appetizer, i had the soup of the day -- a yummy cauliflower puree with a few croutons, a little pepper, and ZERO cream. OMG. so delish. linds ordered the lobster ravioli (which she'd thought about all day) and it was yummy too. the ravioli itself was a bit thicker than usual, but the lobster was a pretty good consistency. (though nothing compares to the lobster ravioli i had at china grill in new york: http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/chinaNY/main.cfm. i mean, i don't like lobster OR ravioli. and yes, i'm hard to please. total shocker, i know.)
for my entree, i had the crispy tempeh w/sweet potato puree and tuscany kale. linds wanted me to order the fish so she could order the short ribs, but here's my attitude: you can't go wrong w/short ribs b/c no chef can go wrong w/short ribs. i mean, you throw 'em in wine, let them simmer FOREVER, and they fall off the bone. really, seriously, how simple is that? so if you're a nervous eater or you're just in need of some comfort food, do the short ribs. you'll inevitably be happy and full at the end of your meal. however, if you're a little more adventurous, you should try something that's a little more challenging for the chef. so linds order the sea bass w/braised greens, andouille sausage, and basmatic rice. mmm....
so here's what i thought.... i'd totally forgotten what tempeh tastes like (since my last excursion to native foods) and i kept thinking it was supposed to taste grainier, like quinoa or something. though i'm not even sure what quinoa tastes like anymore at this point, to be quite honest. in any case, it didn't taste like meat, but it didn't taste like veggies, so maybe it tasted like something in b/w. the important thing is that it tasted YUMMY. it had enough substance and texture, and it was encased in a crispy coating. i mean, how can you go wrong w/a crispy coating? the one thing i do have to say is that it was QUITE salty. i think the chef went buck wild w/the salt actually. b/c lindsay's fish, although perfectly cooked, was also QUITE salty. on the other hand, the sweet potato puree and kale were perfectly flavored and balanced the tempeh quite nicely. lindsay's sausage and rice was an interesting combo (cajun and indian) -- definitely a blend of flavors (much like the restaurant itself -- french and japanese). and pretty yummy regardless.
last but not least, dessert! linds was shocked that i chose the m lato (a macrobiotic ice cream) over the chocolate ice cream sandwich. but i knew she was going to order it, so why not try something random, y'know? i must admit that i preferred hers more (thank god she was so fabulous and shared half!) b/c i do like chocolate. (though we felt shortchanged on presentation and thought her dessert needed some sort of chocolate or raspberry drizzle to top it off. or maybe even a faint dusting of confectioner's sugar? i swear, we all watch way too much food tv.) plus the m lato was banana nut flavored (i think) with a few chunks of banana on the side -- and i don't really like banana (it's a convenience fruit). thankfully, it wasn't *too* sweet the same way that the entree was slightly *too* salty. but who wouldn't prefer choc chip ice cream (at least that's what i think it was) b/w 2 chocolate cookies? (yes, linds, you called it!)
all in all, the meal was FABULOUS. need i say more?
Chaya Brasserie Beverly Hills
8741 Alden Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.859.8833
http://www.thechaya.com/bhindex.htm
btw, the regular menu was amazing too, though i barely got to look at it, as we were conversing about some fascinating gossip that totally distracted me.
p.s. camelia says that m cafe de chaya is YUMMY (or good, or whatever normal people say) and GREAT for veggies. so FYI: http://mcafedechaya.com/
at first, i was worried that we might get there late, especially since neither of us had a clue where we were going. plus, does not EVERYONE in the free world f***ing hate the fact that there are TWO santa monica boulevards?! i mean, WTF?! the city planners couldn't have thought of some random OTHER name for one of them? geezus christ. at any rate, we made it there RIGHT at 7. and other than having to recover quickly from almost getting killed by another SUV as we were attempting to valet park, we were ready for dinner.
i'm not quite sure why the hostess asked whether we wanted happy hour, especially when our reservation was for 7 and we walked in right at 7. perhaps we didn't look haggard and hungry enough? thankfully, she seated us right away, offering both dineLA and regular menus, which is always lovely. while i didn't get a chance to look all around the restaurant, what i did catch were some high ceilings (which always do it for me), some amazing mirrors (that made the room look even more spacious and splendid), a great bar scene (a cool vibe w/little to no skeez), and a whole lot of happy people at happy tables. it was just the right amount of noise, where you could still hear your dinner date as well as your own thoughts. so it was pretty much the perfect dinner atmosphere. (my one criticism is that the bathroom was TINY. i really don't know how a big-boned person would be able to get into any of the stalls. much less anyone w/a wheelchair. they should probably check their codes.)
so i'm soooooo glad that i figured out that the dineLA menus were online. (i don't really know how i missed the boat on that one, but i suppose i've had worst things happen.) b/c anyone who's a foodie should know how important it is to check out the menu options before you go out to eat. i mean, if the options are lighter, you'll know that you can eat more earlier in the day. if the options are heavier, you'll know to hold off on that extra slice of chocolate cake. i mean, seriously, right? (this was probably why i didn't enjoy simon LA too much. darn it!) thankfully, i checked out chaya's menu earlier today (passing it onto linds who seemed thoroughly excited) and i was totally and completely READY.
while m cafe de chaya is the one (of three chaya restaurants) known for macrobiotic cuisine, i noticed vegan options for every course on the dineLA menu, so i decided to go for it! (which explains why i chose to have quiche for lunch today -- see what i mean about balance?) for my appetizer, i had the soup of the day -- a yummy cauliflower puree with a few croutons, a little pepper, and ZERO cream. OMG. so delish. linds ordered the lobster ravioli (which she'd thought about all day) and it was yummy too. the ravioli itself was a bit thicker than usual, but the lobster was a pretty good consistency. (though nothing compares to the lobster ravioli i had at china grill in new york: http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/chinaNY/main.cfm. i mean, i don't like lobster OR ravioli. and yes, i'm hard to please. total shocker, i know.)
for my entree, i had the crispy tempeh w/sweet potato puree and tuscany kale. linds wanted me to order the fish so she could order the short ribs, but here's my attitude: you can't go wrong w/short ribs b/c no chef can go wrong w/short ribs. i mean, you throw 'em in wine, let them simmer FOREVER, and they fall off the bone. really, seriously, how simple is that? so if you're a nervous eater or you're just in need of some comfort food, do the short ribs. you'll inevitably be happy and full at the end of your meal. however, if you're a little more adventurous, you should try something that's a little more challenging for the chef. so linds order the sea bass w/braised greens, andouille sausage, and basmatic rice. mmm....
so here's what i thought.... i'd totally forgotten what tempeh tastes like (since my last excursion to native foods) and i kept thinking it was supposed to taste grainier, like quinoa or something. though i'm not even sure what quinoa tastes like anymore at this point, to be quite honest. in any case, it didn't taste like meat, but it didn't taste like veggies, so maybe it tasted like something in b/w. the important thing is that it tasted YUMMY. it had enough substance and texture, and it was encased in a crispy coating. i mean, how can you go wrong w/a crispy coating? the one thing i do have to say is that it was QUITE salty. i think the chef went buck wild w/the salt actually. b/c lindsay's fish, although perfectly cooked, was also QUITE salty. on the other hand, the sweet potato puree and kale were perfectly flavored and balanced the tempeh quite nicely. lindsay's sausage and rice was an interesting combo (cajun and indian) -- definitely a blend of flavors (much like the restaurant itself -- french and japanese). and pretty yummy regardless.
last but not least, dessert! linds was shocked that i chose the m lato (a macrobiotic ice cream) over the chocolate ice cream sandwich. but i knew she was going to order it, so why not try something random, y'know? i must admit that i preferred hers more (thank god she was so fabulous and shared half!) b/c i do like chocolate. (though we felt shortchanged on presentation and thought her dessert needed some sort of chocolate or raspberry drizzle to top it off. or maybe even a faint dusting of confectioner's sugar? i swear, we all watch way too much food tv.) plus the m lato was banana nut flavored (i think) with a few chunks of banana on the side -- and i don't really like banana (it's a convenience fruit). thankfully, it wasn't *too* sweet the same way that the entree was slightly *too* salty. but who wouldn't prefer choc chip ice cream (at least that's what i think it was) b/w 2 chocolate cookies? (yes, linds, you called it!)
all in all, the meal was FABULOUS. need i say more?
Chaya Brasserie Beverly Hills
8741 Alden Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.859.8833
http://www.thechaya.com/bhindex.htm
btw, the regular menu was amazing too, though i barely got to look at it, as we were conversing about some fascinating gossip that totally distracted me.
p.s. camelia says that m cafe de chaya is YUMMY (or good, or whatever normal people say) and GREAT for veggies. so FYI: http://mcafedechaya.com/
nic's martini lounge
so anyone who knows me well knows that i absolutely LOVE palomino's happy hour (http://www.palomino.com/). mmm.... i mean, yummy food, great drinks (for those who drink), and impeccable atmosphere. (more to come at a future date when i go back and feel like blogging about it.) and in all my time here in LA (granted, yes, w/o a car -- shut up), i've yet to find anything that beats it.
well, HALLELUJAH, peoples! there's another option!
for kim's big 3-0 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIM!), we all shimmied over to nic's martini lounge in beverly hills. (only the best for the best, right?) OMG. OH MY GOD. loved it. loved it. loved it.
first things first, we walk in...GREAT mood lighting. not too bright, not too dark, and i know it was just a few hours ago, but i think i remember red. we got there about 5:30, and granted it was early, but there really weren't too many people inside. not that we minded though b/c we got to take over the big booth right by the window. plus who wants to be all crowded in anyways? (the one bad thing about palomino -- *sigh*) there were about 7 of us (while i was still there) and it was perfectly cozy.
next up, the martini list. OH MY GOD. yes, another OMG. i can't/don't even drink (yes, i turn purple) and i was thinking how i'd love it if i could just get some sort of allergy shot and be able to drink all of these martinis. the tall two-page menu was absolutely ridiculous. it was the most amazing martini list i've ever seen. (and yes, i know i don't drink, but don't you think i look?) everything sounded delectable by name (i can't even pull up the list online to show you, but trust me, you can't go wrong w/anything on the menu) and even more delectable once you read the description. the special martini for the night: a grapefruit ginger martini -- grapefruit vodka and just a bit of ginger essence. (don't we love how vodka comes in a billion and one flavors now?) i had a taste of kim's and it was soooooooo good. super easy going down and the ginger was nowhere near overpowering. DEE-LISH. (AHHHHHH!! why the alcohol allergy?!?!?)
before i go on to the food, let's just say that our server was great. she was this slightly older woman w/poofy blond hair and slightly overly done make-up. but then you thought about it, and she really did fit right in w/the old school vibe. i have no idea what a martini lounge *should* look like, but this place seemed just right. the best part was when this older dude came over and said he'd sing to us! but he reneged, which totally made us sad. i thought the guy might've been nic himself, so i asked the girls what they thought, and kim decided to beckon him over and ask (thinking he might even sing to us then!). and guess what? it was nic! unfortunately, he didn't sing, but when she told him it was her birthday, he treated her to a second martini special! i mean, totally sweet, right? totally.
as for the food, happy hour specials for $7?! can't beat it. the list was RIDONCULOUS (as soon would say). our picks for the night: pommes frites w/tomato aioli, hoisin marinated skirt steak (meat on a stick as referred to by kim - go kim!), crispy potato skins (go bacon and cheese!), smoked chicken quesadilla, cured salmon w/toast points (is that what they're called?), and grilled shrimp cocktail (OH YEAH). i was off to dinner @ chaya @ 7, so i kept myself from eating too much, but DANG IT, we ordered some GOOD stuffs. too bad we didn't get to try the octopus - yes, it's chewy, but come on! who ever sees OCTOPUS on the happy hour menu?! life's short. mmm.... chewy octopus.... next time, next time....
and yeah, there better BE a next time, b/c this place is FAB.
oh! apparently i'd totally forgotten that the lovely miss giada had featured nic's on her show, even stepping w/her hubby into the infamous 'vodka room' -- which is apparently as cold as an ice chest and requires that you don a fur coat (and hat, if you think your head might get chilly) before sipping mini-vodka shots. apparently, it's the thing to do. go figure!
next time you're in the area (or maybe you need to trek out just b/c), you absolutely *must* stop by the oh-so-fabulous nic's martini lounge. i promise YOU WILL LOVE IT. mmm.... mmm.... good....
Nic's Martini Lounge
453 N Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.550.5707
http://www.nicsbeverlyhills.com/nics_2006/home.html
p.s. look for the painting that's on the home page. it's right above the booth by the window -- no way you can miss it. ok, unless you're blind...literally.
well, HALLELUJAH, peoples! there's another option!
for kim's big 3-0 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIM!), we all shimmied over to nic's martini lounge in beverly hills. (only the best for the best, right?) OMG. OH MY GOD. loved it. loved it. loved it.
first things first, we walk in...GREAT mood lighting. not too bright, not too dark, and i know it was just a few hours ago, but i think i remember red. we got there about 5:30, and granted it was early, but there really weren't too many people inside. not that we minded though b/c we got to take over the big booth right by the window. plus who wants to be all crowded in anyways? (the one bad thing about palomino -- *sigh*) there were about 7 of us (while i was still there) and it was perfectly cozy.
next up, the martini list. OH MY GOD. yes, another OMG. i can't/don't even drink (yes, i turn purple) and i was thinking how i'd love it if i could just get some sort of allergy shot and be able to drink all of these martinis. the tall two-page menu was absolutely ridiculous. it was the most amazing martini list i've ever seen. (and yes, i know i don't drink, but don't you think i look?) everything sounded delectable by name (i can't even pull up the list online to show you, but trust me, you can't go wrong w/anything on the menu) and even more delectable once you read the description. the special martini for the night: a grapefruit ginger martini -- grapefruit vodka and just a bit of ginger essence. (don't we love how vodka comes in a billion and one flavors now?) i had a taste of kim's and it was soooooooo good. super easy going down and the ginger was nowhere near overpowering. DEE-LISH. (AHHHHHH!! why the alcohol allergy?!?!?)
before i go on to the food, let's just say that our server was great. she was this slightly older woman w/poofy blond hair and slightly overly done make-up. but then you thought about it, and she really did fit right in w/the old school vibe. i have no idea what a martini lounge *should* look like, but this place seemed just right. the best part was when this older dude came over and said he'd sing to us! but he reneged, which totally made us sad. i thought the guy might've been nic himself, so i asked the girls what they thought, and kim decided to beckon him over and ask (thinking he might even sing to us then!). and guess what? it was nic! unfortunately, he didn't sing, but when she told him it was her birthday, he treated her to a second martini special! i mean, totally sweet, right? totally.
as for the food, happy hour specials for $7?! can't beat it. the list was RIDONCULOUS (as soon would say). our picks for the night: pommes frites w/tomato aioli, hoisin marinated skirt steak (meat on a stick as referred to by kim - go kim!), crispy potato skins (go bacon and cheese!), smoked chicken quesadilla, cured salmon w/toast points (is that what they're called?), and grilled shrimp cocktail (OH YEAH). i was off to dinner @ chaya @ 7, so i kept myself from eating too much, but DANG IT, we ordered some GOOD stuffs. too bad we didn't get to try the octopus - yes, it's chewy, but come on! who ever sees OCTOPUS on the happy hour menu?! life's short. mmm.... chewy octopus.... next time, next time....
and yeah, there better BE a next time, b/c this place is FAB.
oh! apparently i'd totally forgotten that the lovely miss giada had featured nic's on her show, even stepping w/her hubby into the infamous 'vodka room' -- which is apparently as cold as an ice chest and requires that you don a fur coat (and hat, if you think your head might get chilly) before sipping mini-vodka shots. apparently, it's the thing to do. go figure!
next time you're in the area (or maybe you need to trek out just b/c), you absolutely *must* stop by the oh-so-fabulous nic's martini lounge. i promise YOU WILL LOVE IT. mmm.... mmm.... good....
Nic's Martini Lounge
453 N Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.550.5707
http://www.nicsbeverlyhills.com/nics_2006/home.html
p.s. look for the painting that's on the home page. it's right above the booth by the window -- no way you can miss it. ok, unless you're blind...literally.
shoe blocking
as i was walking in my 2-inch heels to the office with ryan this morning, he described a brilliant shoe organization strategy conceived by his ex-girlfriend. (thank you, ex-girlfriend of ryan!)
maybe other folks are already using this, but i must share with those of you aren't:
organize your shoes by how many blocks you can walk in them before you feel pain.
i mean, how amazingly brilliant is that?!?! gosh darn it -- this method should be PATENTED!
maybe other folks are already using this, but i must share with those of you aren't:
organize your shoes by how many blocks you can walk in them before you feel pain.
i mean, how amazingly brilliant is that?!?! gosh darn it -- this method should be PATENTED!
Monday, January 28, 2008
tax season
FYI that tax season has been a pain in my tush the last few years b/c i've inevitably not paid enough taxes during the year which means i'm left owing a ton at the end of the year. that being said, i think of taxes like baby teeth -- the quicker they're out, the less annoying they'll be.
so for those of you (like my friend em) who leave your taxes until 4/14, shame on you! why suffer last-minute torture? just get them done already!
while this means that there will be less money sooner for those of you that owe taxes, at least you won't need to keep thinking about them. and for those of you that will be getting refunds, the only reason you should be behind is if you haven't gotten your W-2's in the mail yet.
at any rate, de'sha and i are big fans of H&R block's taxcut online. it's super easy and all you need to do is plug and play. as long as you have all your documents in front of you, the program takes you step-by-step through the entire process. you can even save and come back if you decide you can't sit on your butt for too long.
the best thing is that you can do both your fed and state taxes within the same program. granted, you can file CA taxes for free on the franchise tax board website. but if you're lazy like me, all it takes is a few clicks and all of your info is pulled directly from your fed forms and plopped into your state forms. so you only have to enter the info once. and doing both sets of taxes online costs less than 45 bucks!
so unless you really need/want one-on-one time with a tax expert, taxcut online should totally do the trick: http://www.hrblock.com/
btw, can i tell you how painful it is to owe $2700?! AUGH!!
so for those of you (like my friend em) who leave your taxes until 4/14, shame on you! why suffer last-minute torture? just get them done already!
while this means that there will be less money sooner for those of you that owe taxes, at least you won't need to keep thinking about them. and for those of you that will be getting refunds, the only reason you should be behind is if you haven't gotten your W-2's in the mail yet.
at any rate, de'sha and i are big fans of H&R block's taxcut online. it's super easy and all you need to do is plug and play. as long as you have all your documents in front of you, the program takes you step-by-step through the entire process. you can even save and come back if you decide you can't sit on your butt for too long.
the best thing is that you can do both your fed and state taxes within the same program. granted, you can file CA taxes for free on the franchise tax board website. but if you're lazy like me, all it takes is a few clicks and all of your info is pulled directly from your fed forms and plopped into your state forms. so you only have to enter the info once. and doing both sets of taxes online costs less than 45 bucks!
so unless you really need/want one-on-one time with a tax expert, taxcut online should totally do the trick: http://www.hrblock.com/
btw, can i tell you how painful it is to owe $2700?! AUGH!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
simon LA
while the rain continues to keep me in a mellower state than usual, restaurant week has kicked off with a bang. the first stop on this 2-week restaurant roll: simon LA.
situated inside the sofitel hotel, this place is a dream in terms of interior design. as soon as you walk in the main entrance, you make a right down a long hallway. strolling towards the restaurant at the end, you pass through the lounge, which looks like it's probably hoppin' most nights b/c it's just that cool. a cross b/w asian & modern decor, you automatically feel like you should have a vodka martini and a cigarette in hand. (and everyone knows i can't drink and i hate smoking. so it must be THAT impressive.)
the decor in the restaurant is just as interesting to the eye, with funky lights dangling over the tables and ornate metal dividers separating the booths from each other. while we were seated in a booth on the side near the windows, you could still see the semi-open kitchen. which is always cool b/c i love watching dishes being put together on the line. (there's just something about the speed and agility that makes the whole process really exciting.)
while i'd already mentioned it in my reservation, i made sure to let the host know that we'd come in for their dineLA menu (which all websites have specifically suggested to do). even though chiara and de'sha had yet to arrive, he seated lorelle and me right away. and as we were tucking ourselves into the booth, he even offered to store our soaking wet umbrellas. probably a good idea for the furniture's sake, but a sign of good service nonetheless.
rather than just giving us the dineLA menu, the host offered the regular menu as well. in jerry and teresa's opinion, prix-fixe options generally tend toward mediocrity. (which means that they've decided to forego restaurant week in san diego -- sadness.) while i concur w/their opinion, it doesn't necessarily stop me from going to restaurants i wouldn't have gone to otherwise. though it does somewhat mitigate the excitement of the experience.
thankfully, simon LA's dineLA menu wasn't too shabby. however, the options were still pretty basic. i ordered the endive/pear/walnut salad for my appetizer, the chicken & steak tacos (one chicken, one steak) for my entree, and the blueberry crumble for my dessert. though all of them were yummy, i have to say that i wasn't particularly impressed with the food.
what i WAS impressed by was the QUART of decaf that they gave me in a giant french press, as well as the "random" cotton candy (as articulated by lorelle) that came out at the end of the meal. i mean, who does that?! (supposedly, their gold bathroom was also pretty impressive. i didn't utilize the facilities, but i'm sure the ladies will have some comments to make.)
i suppose that brunch is a hard meal to do well. there's something about not having eggs that makes brunch incomplete. i suppose i might've responded better to the same exact meal as a weekday lunch? in any case, i felt like something was lacking, plus having dessert at the end of what i'd consider a semi-morning meal just did me in. i know i shouldn't have had it (or finished it for that matter), but who can pass up a blueberry crumble (WITH ice cream) that comes with a $22 fancy schmancy meal?
to be honest, simon LA wasn't stuffy at all. that might have to do with the fact that it's in the sofitel, so folks could just as easily have been coming to brunch from their rooms as from out in the rain. i suppose brunch is also more casual than dinner (which i'd love to try here at some point). it seems like chefs always try to do more w/dinner options b/c they're actually trying to impress. kerry simon looked great on the iron chef, but i'll have to wait and see what his dinner menu has to offer before i make any final decisions.
the lunch menu (dineLA and otherwise) is a bit typical, so check out the dinner menu instead. but be warned that the restaurant doesn't have its menus online, so you'll have to take a leap of faith and dive right into a dinner reservation.
Simon LA, Sofitel LA
8555 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.278.5444
http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/0937/fiche_restaurant.shtml
situated inside the sofitel hotel, this place is a dream in terms of interior design. as soon as you walk in the main entrance, you make a right down a long hallway. strolling towards the restaurant at the end, you pass through the lounge, which looks like it's probably hoppin' most nights b/c it's just that cool. a cross b/w asian & modern decor, you automatically feel like you should have a vodka martini and a cigarette in hand. (and everyone knows i can't drink and i hate smoking. so it must be THAT impressive.)
the decor in the restaurant is just as interesting to the eye, with funky lights dangling over the tables and ornate metal dividers separating the booths from each other. while we were seated in a booth on the side near the windows, you could still see the semi-open kitchen. which is always cool b/c i love watching dishes being put together on the line. (there's just something about the speed and agility that makes the whole process really exciting.)
while i'd already mentioned it in my reservation, i made sure to let the host know that we'd come in for their dineLA menu (which all websites have specifically suggested to do). even though chiara and de'sha had yet to arrive, he seated lorelle and me right away. and as we were tucking ourselves into the booth, he even offered to store our soaking wet umbrellas. probably a good idea for the furniture's sake, but a sign of good service nonetheless.
rather than just giving us the dineLA menu, the host offered the regular menu as well. in jerry and teresa's opinion, prix-fixe options generally tend toward mediocrity. (which means that they've decided to forego restaurant week in san diego -- sadness.) while i concur w/their opinion, it doesn't necessarily stop me from going to restaurants i wouldn't have gone to otherwise. though it does somewhat mitigate the excitement of the experience.
thankfully, simon LA's dineLA menu wasn't too shabby. however, the options were still pretty basic. i ordered the endive/pear/walnut salad for my appetizer, the chicken & steak tacos (one chicken, one steak) for my entree, and the blueberry crumble for my dessert. though all of them were yummy, i have to say that i wasn't particularly impressed with the food.
what i WAS impressed by was the QUART of decaf that they gave me in a giant french press, as well as the "random" cotton candy (as articulated by lorelle) that came out at the end of the meal. i mean, who does that?! (supposedly, their gold bathroom was also pretty impressive. i didn't utilize the facilities, but i'm sure the ladies will have some comments to make.)
i suppose that brunch is a hard meal to do well. there's something about not having eggs that makes brunch incomplete. i suppose i might've responded better to the same exact meal as a weekday lunch? in any case, i felt like something was lacking, plus having dessert at the end of what i'd consider a semi-morning meal just did me in. i know i shouldn't have had it (or finished it for that matter), but who can pass up a blueberry crumble (WITH ice cream) that comes with a $22 fancy schmancy meal?
to be honest, simon LA wasn't stuffy at all. that might have to do with the fact that it's in the sofitel, so folks could just as easily have been coming to brunch from their rooms as from out in the rain. i suppose brunch is also more casual than dinner (which i'd love to try here at some point). it seems like chefs always try to do more w/dinner options b/c they're actually trying to impress. kerry simon looked great on the iron chef, but i'll have to wait and see what his dinner menu has to offer before i make any final decisions.
the lunch menu (dineLA and otherwise) is a bit typical, so check out the dinner menu instead. but be warned that the restaurant doesn't have its menus online, so you'll have to take a leap of faith and dive right into a dinner reservation.
Simon LA, Sofitel LA
8555 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310.278.5444
http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/0937/fiche_restaurant.shtml
Saturday, January 26, 2008
jax vegan cafe
as i mentioned previously, i'll hopefuly be blogging about more veggie foodie adventures as sarah makes her (second) foray into veggie-ism! as a true foodie friend, i feel i must support this effort as much as possible, even if it means trying out a WHOLE new bunch of restaurants in LA. i know, life is hard.
that being said, our first veggie foodie adventure took us to jax vegan cafe. while this place might look like a hole-in-the-wall (not unlike the rest of the hole-in-the-wall places in its immediate vicinity) from the outside, it's actually quite spacious once you get in the door. the interior is also painted in sunny colors, so you feel happier just stepping inside.
although the menu isn't very extensive, all of the options looked quite good. and while salads were well-represented, i felt the need to order something i wouldn't be able to make or order outside a veggie joint.
while camelia (a true veggie) had mentioned that their sandwiches were a bit pricey for sandwiches, i found the cost of my veggie turkey club to be pretty fair. however, i do wish they'd given me more salad. there's just no way in hell that what they gave me (i.e., a *spoonful* of salad) could be considered appropriate accompaniement for my sandwich. i mean, why bother giving me salad at all? it's a total tease.
in any case, the sandwich itself was yummy. sarah and i both ordered it, and we found the turkey to taste pretty much like turkey. unfortunately, the bacon did NOT taste like bacon. it didn't taste bad, but if you're expecting bacon, you at least want something similar in texture. um, yeah, we didn't get that.
not that that slowed us down at all b/c we pretty much downed that first sandwich. i say first b/c sarah proceeded to ask for extra meat to go w/her leftover bread, and essentially had a second club sandwich. c/o of her remaining toasted bread and some extra slabs (i say slabs b/c i think the word slabs is funny) of faux meat. she done good!
along with the meal, i ordered a kombucha drink. now, for anyone who hasn't tried kombucha drinks, these things are HARDCORE. they're not for the faint of heart b/c they're feremented and contain some serious fermented flavor. i mean, you can FEEL the microorganisms.
seeing as how my first experience w/kombucha was quiet intense (close to barf-worthy), i was worried about trying it again. however, i decided to go with a milder-sounding flavor this time -- jasmine tea with essence of niagara grape. i mean, doesn't that just SOUND soothing? so i tried an 8 oz. bottle and it was quite good. i was happy for the small bottle b/c i'm really not a fan of anything carbonated. so this was a nice-sized dose. YUM. plus i feel healthy!
and as with every meal (except breakfast) since going off my low-carb diet, i had to end with something sweet. so i ordered a chocolate covered twinkie at the recommendation of the waiter. unfortunately, he pulled it right out of the fridge, which meant that it was cold -- not a good way to have dessert unless it's meant to be cold. however, it was a vegan twinkie, and at least now i can say i've had one. on the other hand, it's nothing to write home about. and we're not even quite sure what made it vegan.
in general, the service was decent. but considering that there were only a few tables, i was surprised that the waitstff kept getting the orders mixed up. it was especially funny when the waiter came over and started talking to us about milkshakes and then realized mid-sentence that he was addressing the wrong table. i mean, really, seriously. thankfully, they saved themselves when the chef raced after us to let us know that i'd left my fleece vest. that being said, sarah thought it was odd that he didn't bring the vest with him. (perhaps he hadn't been sure it was mine?) instead, he ended up sprinting back to the restaurant and then sprinting back to us to hand it off. i thought it was very sweet, plus he got a free workout!
all in all, good times. however, i tend to like more extensive and experimental options, so perhaps our next adventure could take us somewhere with a more substantial menu. (rather than the little paper takeout menus we were offered @ jax.)
if you're in the 'wood, stop by for a bite:
Jax Vegan Cafe
1783 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.478.7420
http://www.jaxvegancafe.com/
that being said, our first veggie foodie adventure took us to jax vegan cafe. while this place might look like a hole-in-the-wall (not unlike the rest of the hole-in-the-wall places in its immediate vicinity) from the outside, it's actually quite spacious once you get in the door. the interior is also painted in sunny colors, so you feel happier just stepping inside.
although the menu isn't very extensive, all of the options looked quite good. and while salads were well-represented, i felt the need to order something i wouldn't be able to make or order outside a veggie joint.
while camelia (a true veggie) had mentioned that their sandwiches were a bit pricey for sandwiches, i found the cost of my veggie turkey club to be pretty fair. however, i do wish they'd given me more salad. there's just no way in hell that what they gave me (i.e., a *spoonful* of salad) could be considered appropriate accompaniement for my sandwich. i mean, why bother giving me salad at all? it's a total tease.
in any case, the sandwich itself was yummy. sarah and i both ordered it, and we found the turkey to taste pretty much like turkey. unfortunately, the bacon did NOT taste like bacon. it didn't taste bad, but if you're expecting bacon, you at least want something similar in texture. um, yeah, we didn't get that.
not that that slowed us down at all b/c we pretty much downed that first sandwich. i say first b/c sarah proceeded to ask for extra meat to go w/her leftover bread, and essentially had a second club sandwich. c/o of her remaining toasted bread and some extra slabs (i say slabs b/c i think the word slabs is funny) of faux meat. she done good!
along with the meal, i ordered a kombucha drink. now, for anyone who hasn't tried kombucha drinks, these things are HARDCORE. they're not for the faint of heart b/c they're feremented and contain some serious fermented flavor. i mean, you can FEEL the microorganisms.
seeing as how my first experience w/kombucha was quiet intense (close to barf-worthy), i was worried about trying it again. however, i decided to go with a milder-sounding flavor this time -- jasmine tea with essence of niagara grape. i mean, doesn't that just SOUND soothing? so i tried an 8 oz. bottle and it was quite good. i was happy for the small bottle b/c i'm really not a fan of anything carbonated. so this was a nice-sized dose. YUM. plus i feel healthy!
and as with every meal (except breakfast) since going off my low-carb diet, i had to end with something sweet. so i ordered a chocolate covered twinkie at the recommendation of the waiter. unfortunately, he pulled it right out of the fridge, which meant that it was cold -- not a good way to have dessert unless it's meant to be cold. however, it was a vegan twinkie, and at least now i can say i've had one. on the other hand, it's nothing to write home about. and we're not even quite sure what made it vegan.
in general, the service was decent. but considering that there were only a few tables, i was surprised that the waitstff kept getting the orders mixed up. it was especially funny when the waiter came over and started talking to us about milkshakes and then realized mid-sentence that he was addressing the wrong table. i mean, really, seriously. thankfully, they saved themselves when the chef raced after us to let us know that i'd left my fleece vest. that being said, sarah thought it was odd that he didn't bring the vest with him. (perhaps he hadn't been sure it was mine?) instead, he ended up sprinting back to the restaurant and then sprinting back to us to hand it off. i thought it was very sweet, plus he got a free workout!
all in all, good times. however, i tend to like more extensive and experimental options, so perhaps our next adventure could take us somewhere with a more substantial menu. (rather than the little paper takeout menus we were offered @ jax.)
if you're in the 'wood, stop by for a bite:
Jax Vegan Cafe
1783 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.478.7420
http://www.jaxvegancafe.com/
gone baby gone
so it started out a bit slow.... it's one of those movies that opens with all these local shots of people sitting out on their porches and steps. not uninteresting, but not mindblowing either.
what's always interesting though is seeing the sides of a city you've never seen and may never get to see. those people and those relationships formed in what the movies make out to be the seedy underbelly. the poor areas that middle- and upper-class america don't have a clue about. (not that i do either, but at least i can say i grew up in the projects of new york -- and survived.)
gone baby gone is set in the seedy underbelly of baw-ston -- lots of think baw-ston accents, white trash outfits, and tough guy attitudes. at first i thought it was a bit overdone, but if i've never been exposed to it, who am i to say?
in any case, i thought the characters were fairly unreadable for most of the movie. except for casey affleck and his girlfriend, the rest of the cast was fairly emotionless. as i believe they were meant to be. this made for some great twists at the end, though i must admit i got a bit of whiplash.
at first, i thought the movie was going to end after 30 minutes. and then all of a sudden it was going again. and that's kind of how it went the rest of the time. you think it's over. but then it's not. it made for a bit of a choppy ride. as i heard someone say on their way out, the pacing wasn't the best. perhaps it's a reflection of how life is. or perhaps it was a reflection of how the director had no idea what he was doing. who knows for sure?
i'm not sure how this film was labelled -- action? drama? suspense? thriller? i'm not even sure if it knew what it wanted to be. it seemed to be a little of this, a little of that. in the end, i'm wondering if it just wanted to make some commentary on life.
that sometimes there's no right or wrong choice. but that every choice has its repercussions. and you can choose based on what you know to be right. but not everyone is going to have the same notions you have about rightness. i know that's a bit wordy, but it totally sums up the movie.
for those of you in the LA area, you must check out the $2 movies at UCLA. while the free sneaks aren't open to the public, the $2 movies totally are!
so join in the fun: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/cec/films.php
what's always interesting though is seeing the sides of a city you've never seen and may never get to see. those people and those relationships formed in what the movies make out to be the seedy underbelly. the poor areas that middle- and upper-class america don't have a clue about. (not that i do either, but at least i can say i grew up in the projects of new york -- and survived.)
gone baby gone is set in the seedy underbelly of baw-ston -- lots of think baw-ston accents, white trash outfits, and tough guy attitudes. at first i thought it was a bit overdone, but if i've never been exposed to it, who am i to say?
in any case, i thought the characters were fairly unreadable for most of the movie. except for casey affleck and his girlfriend, the rest of the cast was fairly emotionless. as i believe they were meant to be. this made for some great twists at the end, though i must admit i got a bit of whiplash.
at first, i thought the movie was going to end after 30 minutes. and then all of a sudden it was going again. and that's kind of how it went the rest of the time. you think it's over. but then it's not. it made for a bit of a choppy ride. as i heard someone say on their way out, the pacing wasn't the best. perhaps it's a reflection of how life is. or perhaps it was a reflection of how the director had no idea what he was doing. who knows for sure?
i'm not sure how this film was labelled -- action? drama? suspense? thriller? i'm not even sure if it knew what it wanted to be. it seemed to be a little of this, a little of that. in the end, i'm wondering if it just wanted to make some commentary on life.
that sometimes there's no right or wrong choice. but that every choice has its repercussions. and you can choose based on what you know to be right. but not everyone is going to have the same notions you have about rightness. i know that's a bit wordy, but it totally sums up the movie.
for those of you in the LA area, you must check out the $2 movies at UCLA. while the free sneaks aren't open to the public, the $2 movies totally are!
so join in the fun: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/cec/films.php
Thursday, January 24, 2008
fave foodie finds
if you're in need of the perfect foodie gift to send (especially for valetine's day), check out some of my fave foodie finds!
for bakery visitors:
http://www.getloafed.com/bakery.cfm
http://www.teacakebakeshop.com/
for chocolate lovers:
http://www.cocoabella.com/zen/
http://www.garrisonconfections.com/index.html
for cookie monsters:
http://www.elenis.com/
http://www.crrichdesign.com/index.html
mmm... mmm... GOOD!
for bakery visitors:
http://www.getloafed.com/bakery.cfm
http://www.teacakebakeshop.com/
for chocolate lovers:
http://www.cocoabella.com/zen/
http://www.garrisonconfections.com/index.html
for cookie monsters:
http://www.elenis.com/
http://www.crrichdesign.com/index.html
mmm... mmm... GOOD!
hillary for president
i'm not quite sure i agree with the NYT supporting any particular candidate(s), but i must admit that (deep down) i'm pulling for hillary. eek! (janet, don't hate me!) i hope folks don't stop reading this blog b/c i'm not rooting for obama. : ( but if the choice is b/w me and your political loyalties, i understand....
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/opinion/25fri1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/opinion/25fri1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
rain rain go away
it's amazing how some people i know just love the rain. kevin always says how much he loves running in it. and eri loves listening to it pitter patter against the window. i, on the other hand, become amazingly and wickedly depressed as soon as the sky turns gray and droplets start coming down.
i think it's something about being in LA, and having the sun shining on you all the time, that as soon as it gets gloomy, my entire mood shifts. everyone laughs b/c they don't understand how i could be from the east coast and get so distraught with rain. i mean, didn't i grow up with it coming down all the time?
i won't deny that that's true, but it's different when it comes down regularly. it's like you can't ever get too happy or too sad b/c you're alternating b/w sun and rain all the time. whereas in LA, you're happy go lucky all the damn time, and then BAM! the rain hits you. it's like a slap in the face or a punch in the stomach. you just don't expect it. (and no, the weather report doesn't help. it's never accurate.)
in any case, i'm like the wicked witch of the west (or east, i can never remember). one droplet hits me and i think i'm going to melt. that and the freezing cold just make me want to wither up and die. god i'm dramatic.
FYI that i don't let most people see me when i'm down and depressed. it's not a pretty sight. too bad it's going to rain into early next week. i feel for those people who are going to have to deal with me the next several days....
*sigh*
i think it's something about being in LA, and having the sun shining on you all the time, that as soon as it gets gloomy, my entire mood shifts. everyone laughs b/c they don't understand how i could be from the east coast and get so distraught with rain. i mean, didn't i grow up with it coming down all the time?
i won't deny that that's true, but it's different when it comes down regularly. it's like you can't ever get too happy or too sad b/c you're alternating b/w sun and rain all the time. whereas in LA, you're happy go lucky all the damn time, and then BAM! the rain hits you. it's like a slap in the face or a punch in the stomach. you just don't expect it. (and no, the weather report doesn't help. it's never accurate.)
in any case, i'm like the wicked witch of the west (or east, i can never remember). one droplet hits me and i think i'm going to melt. that and the freezing cold just make me want to wither up and die. god i'm dramatic.
FYI that i don't let most people see me when i'm down and depressed. it's not a pretty sight. too bad it's going to rain into early next week. i feel for those people who are going to have to deal with me the next several days....
*sigh*
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
heath ledger
is dead at 28. what is the world coming to?!
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/actor-heath-ledger-is-found-dead/index.html?hp
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/actor-heath-ledger-is-found-dead/index.html?hp
Monday, January 21, 2008
max karaoke studio
formerly of yuu yuu fame, this karaoke joint is just what you need on a holiday monday when you're trying to escape the tediousness of grad school existence.
even though this place has been renamed max karaoke studio (for some reason that we didn't care to ask about), the interior hasn't changed at all. there's still the same dude on the left as you walk in, stuck inside a mini-room where you can check in and pick up some pocky and popcorn before being shown into your own private room.
while some folks may prefer singing to strangers, the majority of us (i think) would prefer singing in the shower, or at most to people who won't hate us for belting out britney spears in the wrong key. (FYI that i've been to those open room karaoke places before and i swear folks practice hardcore before showing up dressed like aretha franklin -- and sounding like her too!)
unfortunately, i must say that the walls in this place need some serious soundproofing, especially when you can hear everyone and their mother through them. of note is this one girl that we passed by on our way in. she was in a room by herself and staring at the screen quite intensely. while singing alone is certainly nothing to look down on, let's just say that her pitch needed some serious work. (granted, who are we to say? we could just as well have sounded that bad ourselves. but it's so much easier to criticize than be reflective, no?) however, i don't think any of us would've known that if the sound hadn't come right through the doors and windows. in case any of you are particularly shy, be forewarned that there ARE windows. thankfully, you can easily turn your backs and not notice people looking in. (which is probably what the lonely girl did.)
the great thing about max is their huge selection of songs, all organized by artist as well as by title. plus they have all the latest tunes sorted by month as well. so if you're a fan of ryan seacrest and the top 40, you shouldn't have much trouble locating your favorite song. (we even found "way back into love" from that cheesy hugh grant/drew barrymore movie "music and lyrics" -- um yeah, we sang it...TWICE.) in addition, max is owned by asians (i think), so you should be able to find popular asian tunes as well. (unfortunately, we weren't up for singing in chinese or japanese today, so i can't fully comment on their selection.)
and for all those poor (and cheap) grad students out there, max is totally affordable. only $4 per person per hour during their happy hours -- 1pm-8pm, monday-thursday. and just a little bit more the rest of the time. it's a great bang for the buck, plus you get to sing on gold microphones. how much more rock star can you get?!
for the foodies out there, nijiya market is right next door, and sweet beard papa is a few doors down. plus across the street (the famous sawtelle) you have another strip mall lined with yummy eateries (including little hong kong cafe and this adorable hole-in-the-wall crepe place) where you can grab a few delicious bites before or after losing your voice.
a quick piece of advice: make sure to have a few tunes in mind before you get there. that way, you can punch in a bunch and get started w/o losing precious minutes flipping through the billion songs you'd almost totally forgotten about.
check it: http://www.maxkaraokestudio.com/index.html
so apparently, there's more than one, but this is the one i frequent:
Max Karaoke Studio
2130 Sawtelle Blvd, #101
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.479.1477
even though this place has been renamed max karaoke studio (for some reason that we didn't care to ask about), the interior hasn't changed at all. there's still the same dude on the left as you walk in, stuck inside a mini-room where you can check in and pick up some pocky and popcorn before being shown into your own private room.
while some folks may prefer singing to strangers, the majority of us (i think) would prefer singing in the shower, or at most to people who won't hate us for belting out britney spears in the wrong key. (FYI that i've been to those open room karaoke places before and i swear folks practice hardcore before showing up dressed like aretha franklin -- and sounding like her too!)
unfortunately, i must say that the walls in this place need some serious soundproofing, especially when you can hear everyone and their mother through them. of note is this one girl that we passed by on our way in. she was in a room by herself and staring at the screen quite intensely. while singing alone is certainly nothing to look down on, let's just say that her pitch needed some serious work. (granted, who are we to say? we could just as well have sounded that bad ourselves. but it's so much easier to criticize than be reflective, no?) however, i don't think any of us would've known that if the sound hadn't come right through the doors and windows. in case any of you are particularly shy, be forewarned that there ARE windows. thankfully, you can easily turn your backs and not notice people looking in. (which is probably what the lonely girl did.)
the great thing about max is their huge selection of songs, all organized by artist as well as by title. plus they have all the latest tunes sorted by month as well. so if you're a fan of ryan seacrest and the top 40, you shouldn't have much trouble locating your favorite song. (we even found "way back into love" from that cheesy hugh grant/drew barrymore movie "music and lyrics" -- um yeah, we sang it...TWICE.) in addition, max is owned by asians (i think), so you should be able to find popular asian tunes as well. (unfortunately, we weren't up for singing in chinese or japanese today, so i can't fully comment on their selection.)
and for all those poor (and cheap) grad students out there, max is totally affordable. only $4 per person per hour during their happy hours -- 1pm-8pm, monday-thursday. and just a little bit more the rest of the time. it's a great bang for the buck, plus you get to sing on gold microphones. how much more rock star can you get?!
for the foodies out there, nijiya market is right next door, and sweet beard papa is a few doors down. plus across the street (the famous sawtelle) you have another strip mall lined with yummy eateries (including little hong kong cafe and this adorable hole-in-the-wall crepe place) where you can grab a few delicious bites before or after losing your voice.
a quick piece of advice: make sure to have a few tunes in mind before you get there. that way, you can punch in a bunch and get started w/o losing precious minutes flipping through the billion songs you'd almost totally forgotten about.
check it: http://www.maxkaraokestudio.com/index.html
so apparently, there's more than one, but this is the one i frequent:
Max Karaoke Studio
2130 Sawtelle Blvd, #101
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.479.1477
veggies unite!
to support my friend sarah's foray into vegetarianism, we're going to start exploring some veggie foodie hot spots in the LA area. yay! it's tough getting carnivores to try these places, but i'm personally a big fan of veggies (though not enough to rid myself of evil meat). and i've been waiting forever to check out some of these local joints!
before i forget, if you're new to eating veggie (my personal shorthand for vegetarian), or new to eating *out* veggie, i found this great website:
http://www.happycow.net/browse.html
and of course, it's aptly named happy cow. who would've thunk? : )
so i must admit that this isn't the most polished website (the green/purple combo is cute, but the webmaster seems to have gone buck wild with the icons). nevertheless, all the info is right there. also, for those of you who aren't veggie but have veggie friends, this website is great b/c it also lists places that aren't completely veggie, but rather veggie-friendly. which means foodie fun for all.
of all the places mentioned within a 5-mile radius, i've tried 3 of them: native foods, california vegan, and juliano's raw. all pretty yummy. so here's a quick rundown:
NATIVE FOODS - this place is a bit cramped, which makes for a not-so-great dining experience. however, they're supposedly expanding into the space next door, which should hopefully ease the congestion. i think i went in the first time not too hungry, so i ended up ordering a salad with a *way* too lemon-ey dressing. puke-worthy, i have to say, and i couldn't finish it. however, my attitude is that if you're going to go to a veggie place, you really should get something you wouldn't be able to get at a non-veggie place. so the next time i think i ordered seitan skewers and a sandwich of some sort. (obviously, it's been a while. my powers of memory and description are tres weak.) both were quite excellent, as was the dessert we ordered at the end. (though i'm not quite sure whether we had tofu cheesecake or carrot cake. hmmm....) ultimately, we were squished upstairs at a little table, so i think i would've been able to retain more positive memories if i hadn't been so distracted by the lack of elbow room. in any case, movie stars are supposedly regulars, so perhaps that's another reason to stop by.
http://nativefoods.com/
CALIFORNIA VEGAN - this was a fitness excursion, which means that it was super fun and that i won't be able to say much else. as i've mentioned before, fun meals aren't so great for the foodie blog, considering that i'm usually so distracted by amusing conversation that i end up having little recollection of the food. (that being said, i promise to blog as soon after fun meals as possible going forward. that should help alleviate the situation.) what i do remember is that the food was really yummy. after elisa suggested the rolls, i believe we asked for two orders -- a good thing as these were quickly divided and conquered. for my entree, i think i ordered the spicy eggplant dish, which was immediately devoured. though i think dani beat me to the punch, so her dish must've been even better than mine! from the website, it seems like the restaurant is going for broad veggie appeal. but having been there, the ambiance and menu both seem to have a decidely asian feel. not that that's a bad thing of course....
http://californiavegan.com/index.html
JULIANO'S RAW - considering that my brother and i are fairly adventurous eaters, we decided to check out this place in santa monica. first things first, this place has got to get some serious lighting. yes, i know they were probably going for ambiance, but there are limits. as in, i want to be able to see what i'm eating. second things second, this place shouldn't allow waitresses with migraines to be serving. while i felt bad for her, our waitress was completely out of it and took forever w/everything. i mean, that just can't be good for ratings. setting ambiance and service issues aside (though those things can really f*** up a meal for sure), the food was actually quite yummy. considering that my brother and i are fairly talked out (having known each other for like a bazillion years), we tend to yak about the food as we eat. and from what i remember, we thought the food was pretty creative and yummy. we did have to order quite a few things to get us to that full feeling. but of all the things we tried, i believe the eel roll was the most memorable. it was all veggie, but it totally tasted like eel! i couldn't quite believe it. again, i can't remember what else we ordered (there's a theme here, isn't there?), but i give this place two thumbs up. the whole menu looks great and it's worth the $$$ to sample a bunch of things. be adventurous! it's all veggie, so it's not like you're eating any weird animal parts, right?
http://www.planetraw.com/index.php
eri and i were talking about how her bf thought it was odd for veggies to eat faux meat. like faux beef or pork or chicken or duck, made from seitan and other soy products. his attitude is that if you're going to stick to eating vegetables, why would you want to make them taste like meat? which, to some degree, i have to agree with. i mean, veggies make a choice to eat vegetables, in all their vegetable glory. however, i must admit that there's something cool and creative about transforming something into something else. and perhaps those who grew up on meat and converted for philosophical reasons still love the texture of meat. why should they have to give that up? particularly when food scientists have been inventive enough to make soy protein taste like ground beef or turkey breast! i say, to each their own.
my only advice is this: try something different and see if you like it before you judge it. i say BOO to the boring eater. you're missing out! then again, it's your life, so whatever makes you happy. but i'll still think you're a loser. so there.
p.s. for those of you who want to check out some veggie-oriented writing, look out for michael pollan and peter singer, who make some strong arguments for becoming veggie. (btw, for those of you who don't know already, i'm most definitely carnivorous. but i must admit that the veggie arguments are actually quite fascinating and well-thought-out.)
before i forget, if you're new to eating veggie (my personal shorthand for vegetarian), or new to eating *out* veggie, i found this great website:
http://www.happycow.net/browse.html
and of course, it's aptly named happy cow. who would've thunk? : )
so i must admit that this isn't the most polished website (the green/purple combo is cute, but the webmaster seems to have gone buck wild with the icons). nevertheless, all the info is right there. also, for those of you who aren't veggie but have veggie friends, this website is great b/c it also lists places that aren't completely veggie, but rather veggie-friendly. which means foodie fun for all.
of all the places mentioned within a 5-mile radius, i've tried 3 of them: native foods, california vegan, and juliano's raw. all pretty yummy. so here's a quick rundown:
NATIVE FOODS - this place is a bit cramped, which makes for a not-so-great dining experience. however, they're supposedly expanding into the space next door, which should hopefully ease the congestion. i think i went in the first time not too hungry, so i ended up ordering a salad with a *way* too lemon-ey dressing. puke-worthy, i have to say, and i couldn't finish it. however, my attitude is that if you're going to go to a veggie place, you really should get something you wouldn't be able to get at a non-veggie place. so the next time i think i ordered seitan skewers and a sandwich of some sort. (obviously, it's been a while. my powers of memory and description are tres weak.) both were quite excellent, as was the dessert we ordered at the end. (though i'm not quite sure whether we had tofu cheesecake or carrot cake. hmmm....) ultimately, we were squished upstairs at a little table, so i think i would've been able to retain more positive memories if i hadn't been so distracted by the lack of elbow room. in any case, movie stars are supposedly regulars, so perhaps that's another reason to stop by.
http://nativefoods.com/
CALIFORNIA VEGAN - this was a fitness excursion, which means that it was super fun and that i won't be able to say much else. as i've mentioned before, fun meals aren't so great for the foodie blog, considering that i'm usually so distracted by amusing conversation that i end up having little recollection of the food. (that being said, i promise to blog as soon after fun meals as possible going forward. that should help alleviate the situation.) what i do remember is that the food was really yummy. after elisa suggested the rolls, i believe we asked for two orders -- a good thing as these were quickly divided and conquered. for my entree, i think i ordered the spicy eggplant dish, which was immediately devoured. though i think dani beat me to the punch, so her dish must've been even better than mine! from the website, it seems like the restaurant is going for broad veggie appeal. but having been there, the ambiance and menu both seem to have a decidely asian feel. not that that's a bad thing of course....
http://californiavegan.com/index.html
JULIANO'S RAW - considering that my brother and i are fairly adventurous eaters, we decided to check out this place in santa monica. first things first, this place has got to get some serious lighting. yes, i know they were probably going for ambiance, but there are limits. as in, i want to be able to see what i'm eating. second things second, this place shouldn't allow waitresses with migraines to be serving. while i felt bad for her, our waitress was completely out of it and took forever w/everything. i mean, that just can't be good for ratings. setting ambiance and service issues aside (though those things can really f*** up a meal for sure), the food was actually quite yummy. considering that my brother and i are fairly talked out (having known each other for like a bazillion years), we tend to yak about the food as we eat. and from what i remember, we thought the food was pretty creative and yummy. we did have to order quite a few things to get us to that full feeling. but of all the things we tried, i believe the eel roll was the most memorable. it was all veggie, but it totally tasted like eel! i couldn't quite believe it. again, i can't remember what else we ordered (there's a theme here, isn't there?), but i give this place two thumbs up. the whole menu looks great and it's worth the $$$ to sample a bunch of things. be adventurous! it's all veggie, so it's not like you're eating any weird animal parts, right?
http://www.planetraw.com/index.php
eri and i were talking about how her bf thought it was odd for veggies to eat faux meat. like faux beef or pork or chicken or duck, made from seitan and other soy products. his attitude is that if you're going to stick to eating vegetables, why would you want to make them taste like meat? which, to some degree, i have to agree with. i mean, veggies make a choice to eat vegetables, in all their vegetable glory. however, i must admit that there's something cool and creative about transforming something into something else. and perhaps those who grew up on meat and converted for philosophical reasons still love the texture of meat. why should they have to give that up? particularly when food scientists have been inventive enough to make soy protein taste like ground beef or turkey breast! i say, to each their own.
my only advice is this: try something different and see if you like it before you judge it. i say BOO to the boring eater. you're missing out! then again, it's your life, so whatever makes you happy. but i'll still think you're a loser. so there.
p.s. for those of you who want to check out some veggie-oriented writing, look out for michael pollan and peter singer, who make some strong arguments for becoming veggie. (btw, for those of you who don't know already, i'm most definitely carnivorous. but i must admit that the veggie arguments are actually quite fascinating and well-thought-out.)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
gardens on glendon
considering that i've lived right in westwood for the past 5 years, i'm surprised that i still haven't tried every single restaurant within a 5-block radius. but maybe i'm putting too much pressure on myself. there ARE a lot of them.
so for a restaurant that supposedly hosts movie stars on a regular basis, i would've expected gardens to have a much savvier website. as of now, the online menus are nothing more than PDF scans of the actual menus, which produce yucky, grainy quality images. (sooooooo not appealing.) but perhaps they cater to an older clientele that doesn't necessarily care too much about how a website comes off. that's my best guess b/c gardens is apparently owned by the same folks as kate mantilini (which i've also been to and seems to cater to an older set of famous people). in any case, the website is certainly not easy on the eyes. but setting that aside, the food options still looked quite yummy.
at lina's suggestion, i made a reservation for what she, ali, and i've decided to call a "lunner" -- a mid-way meal b/w lunch and dinner. while 2pm isn't necessarily an ideal meal time, i must say that it's great for getting 1000 points on opentable.com. plus i was tied up for a bazillion hours figuring out ACE CEC's and federal/CA taxes, so the timing ended up being just right.
so the service was nothing to rave about, particularly when it took forever for the waitress to remember the lemon for our water. however, the atmosphere was perfect for our ladies lunner. in particular, there's a big space in the middle of the main room where light comes flooding in from the skylight overhead. it's really quite lovely. (apparently there are side rooms that are more intimate, but probably more dark and claustrophobic, what with all the ivy covering the windows on the outside.)
food-wise, i was very pleased. at lina's suggestion (she having been the only one of us who'd ever been to gardens), we ordered and shared the fresh guacamole. the kind that the waiter makes right at your table. considering we asked for medium, it definitely wasn't spicy enough (now that i think about it), though it was quite delicious nonetheless. moreover, the last time i'd seen guacamole made fresh was at rosa mexicano in new york (more than 5 years ago!) so it was definitely time for another performance.
for my entree, i ordered the grilled trout, which came with a mini-crab cake and some sauteed veggies. perfect portioning, yummy flavors. (i really wish i could say something more elaborate, but i think it's tough when you eat out w/good friends. you're always too distracted by the fun conversation to really notice the food.) while trout has been (and always will be) my favorite fish, i don't think i've had it grilled in quite some time. and i must say that gardens did a pretty good job with it. the crab cake was a nice portion, but the best part was that it was mostly crab! as opposed to those yucky crab cakes which are 50% bread. gross. and CHEAP. yuck. kudos to the gardens for the crabby crab cakes. mmm....
since all 3 of us are in love w/sweets, we splurged and ordered dessert to share -- chocolate pecan pie. OMG. we're big sweets people, and unless they tell me otherwise, i thought dessert was fabulous. i'm a fan of the chocolate-nut combination. plus ali wanted the pie a la mode, so the blend of cold ice cream with the warmer pie in each bite (that's the only way to do it) was simply delicious. mmm....
the one bad thing i have to say is that some of the other patrons must think they're all that and a bag of chips, b/c they need some serious lessons on restaurant-going etiquette. for example, shut off your damn phone! (or at least turn down the ringer.) i mean, it's not like we were at some crazy happy hour where you couldn't hear yourself think. (and even then, vibrate would still be your best option.) i swear the customers on both sides of us had their cell phones on EXTREME high. and then one of them started barking into the phone at someone who was obviously hard of hearing. i mean, take it outside, lady! WHAT is your problem?! talk about being completely self-centered and inconsiderate. (sigh) ok, enough ranting.
while gardens is a bit pricey (what with sak's and acapulco's down the street), my impression is that it's definitely worth the $$$. the menu is quite extensive and i'd definitely be willing to go back to try some of their other items, including all of their yummy-looking salads! (FYI that cobb salad is another personal favorite.)
when you're up for a splurge:
Gardens on Glendon
1139 Glendon Avenue
West Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.824.1818
http://www.gardensonglendon.com/goghome.html
so for a restaurant that supposedly hosts movie stars on a regular basis, i would've expected gardens to have a much savvier website. as of now, the online menus are nothing more than PDF scans of the actual menus, which produce yucky, grainy quality images. (sooooooo not appealing.) but perhaps they cater to an older clientele that doesn't necessarily care too much about how a website comes off. that's my best guess b/c gardens is apparently owned by the same folks as kate mantilini (which i've also been to and seems to cater to an older set of famous people). in any case, the website is certainly not easy on the eyes. but setting that aside, the food options still looked quite yummy.
at lina's suggestion, i made a reservation for what she, ali, and i've decided to call a "lunner" -- a mid-way meal b/w lunch and dinner. while 2pm isn't necessarily an ideal meal time, i must say that it's great for getting 1000 points on opentable.com. plus i was tied up for a bazillion hours figuring out ACE CEC's and federal/CA taxes, so the timing ended up being just right.
so the service was nothing to rave about, particularly when it took forever for the waitress to remember the lemon for our water. however, the atmosphere was perfect for our ladies lunner. in particular, there's a big space in the middle of the main room where light comes flooding in from the skylight overhead. it's really quite lovely. (apparently there are side rooms that are more intimate, but probably more dark and claustrophobic, what with all the ivy covering the windows on the outside.)
food-wise, i was very pleased. at lina's suggestion (she having been the only one of us who'd ever been to gardens), we ordered and shared the fresh guacamole. the kind that the waiter makes right at your table. considering we asked for medium, it definitely wasn't spicy enough (now that i think about it), though it was quite delicious nonetheless. moreover, the last time i'd seen guacamole made fresh was at rosa mexicano in new york (more than 5 years ago!) so it was definitely time for another performance.
for my entree, i ordered the grilled trout, which came with a mini-crab cake and some sauteed veggies. perfect portioning, yummy flavors. (i really wish i could say something more elaborate, but i think it's tough when you eat out w/good friends. you're always too distracted by the fun conversation to really notice the food.) while trout has been (and always will be) my favorite fish, i don't think i've had it grilled in quite some time. and i must say that gardens did a pretty good job with it. the crab cake was a nice portion, but the best part was that it was mostly crab! as opposed to those yucky crab cakes which are 50% bread. gross. and CHEAP. yuck. kudos to the gardens for the crabby crab cakes. mmm....
since all 3 of us are in love w/sweets, we splurged and ordered dessert to share -- chocolate pecan pie. OMG. we're big sweets people, and unless they tell me otherwise, i thought dessert was fabulous. i'm a fan of the chocolate-nut combination. plus ali wanted the pie a la mode, so the blend of cold ice cream with the warmer pie in each bite (that's the only way to do it) was simply delicious. mmm....
the one bad thing i have to say is that some of the other patrons must think they're all that and a bag of chips, b/c they need some serious lessons on restaurant-going etiquette. for example, shut off your damn phone! (or at least turn down the ringer.) i mean, it's not like we were at some crazy happy hour where you couldn't hear yourself think. (and even then, vibrate would still be your best option.) i swear the customers on both sides of us had their cell phones on EXTREME high. and then one of them started barking into the phone at someone who was obviously hard of hearing. i mean, take it outside, lady! WHAT is your problem?! talk about being completely self-centered and inconsiderate. (sigh) ok, enough ranting.
while gardens is a bit pricey (what with sak's and acapulco's down the street), my impression is that it's definitely worth the $$$. the menu is quite extensive and i'd definitely be willing to go back to try some of their other items, including all of their yummy-looking salads! (FYI that cobb salad is another personal favorite.)
when you're up for a splurge:
Gardens on Glendon
1139 Glendon Avenue
West Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.824.1818
http://www.gardensonglendon.com/goghome.html
the bucket list
as we all know, i'm ALWAYS down for a good cry. and this movie TOTALLY does it.
the plot is simple. (no crazy turns.) the characters are basic. (jack nicholson, morgan freeman, and sean hayes are all quality.) and the target audience is older. (older and anyone who would label themselves sentimental.)
i think there's something about dying that compels people to start living. and i think it's sad that it takes people that long to get to that point. why can't we just get going a little earlier? my mantra is: life's short, so why not live it?
if you let it get to you (which you should), this kind of movie really makes you think about what makes your life fulfilling and who you want to touch in the process. and what kind of relationships you have and/or want to have with the people around you.
it also shows off all the wonderful things that you could do with your life, particularly travel and see the world. there's something amazing about technology allowing you to just pick up and go to some distant and faraway place. now if i could only get my own private jet...
at any rate, the ending to the bucket list was just surprising enough to make you want to bust out crying all over again. (go nanci!) so make sure to bring tissues. (sniff, sniff)
the plot is simple. (no crazy turns.) the characters are basic. (jack nicholson, morgan freeman, and sean hayes are all quality.) and the target audience is older. (older and anyone who would label themselves sentimental.)
i think there's something about dying that compels people to start living. and i think it's sad that it takes people that long to get to that point. why can't we just get going a little earlier? my mantra is: life's short, so why not live it?
if you let it get to you (which you should), this kind of movie really makes you think about what makes your life fulfilling and who you want to touch in the process. and what kind of relationships you have and/or want to have with the people around you.
it also shows off all the wonderful things that you could do with your life, particularly travel and see the world. there's something amazing about technology allowing you to just pick up and go to some distant and faraway place. now if i could only get my own private jet...
at any rate, the ending to the bucket list was just surprising enough to make you want to bust out crying all over again. (go nanci!) so make sure to bring tissues. (sniff, sniff)
jimmy dean
the commercials from the last blog made me think of my favorite commercials of 2007.
and the winner is: JIMMY DEAN!!
if you have no idea what i'm talking about, you MUST watch the videos:
http://jimmydean.com/sitecontent/videos/2007/10/10/cold-and-wet.aspx
and the winner is: JIMMY DEAN!!
if you have no idea what i'm talking about, you MUST watch the videos:
http://jimmydean.com/sitecontent/videos/2007/10/10/cold-and-wet.aspx
Friday, January 18, 2008
the OG
so i know that the olive garden is nothing to rave about, but i'm a pretty savvy commercial watcher. and i've gotta say that their commercials have been pretty damn good the last few months. every time i see a "limited time special" from them, i just start drooling. and considering that i don't even like italian food, i'd say their advertising/marketing department deserves a medal -- and a serious bonus.
after failing miserably to convince eri to join me for an olive garden adventure, i must thank lucy for a delightful lunch at the oh-so-fabulous OG. (thanks lucy!)
for the first time in a long time, i had BREAD. and yes, i'll admit to being a low-carber for a loooooooooong time. and no, i won't be made to feel bad about it! to be quite honest, i've just never been a big fan of carbs. it just takes up all this space in your tummy -- space that could be filled with way more yummy things. but i digress.... what i'm trying to say is this: if i'm taking in any sort of carbs, they better be damn good carbs!
for the most part, bread usually falls short of this damn good threshold. other than challah and cheese bread, not much else does it for me. however, today's breadsticks were warm and yummy, and just substantial enough to soak up the absolutely DELICIOUS sauce left over from my perfectly done venetian apricot chicken dish. it was chicken breast, and i was seriously worried that it'd be over done and therefore ruin my OG escapade. but guess what? it was perfect! perfectly cooked, perfectly flavored, with just a little broccoli on the side. mmm...
the funniest part of the whole meal was when i asked for my salad with no dressing. the waittress stopped short and looked stunned. as if i'd slapped her across the face. or started speaking in tongues. she even offered oil and vinegar, and i had to give her this "ewww..." face and tell her no once again. i mean, really? seriously? as it was only the start of the meal, i let it go, but it was TRES odd. she obviously didn't get that the customer is always right. looking shocked by my order won't get you good tips, missy!
nevertheless, the meal ended splendidly with the most delicious lemon cream cake. as lucy described it: "angel food with cheesecake in the middle." which is TRES accurate. well, perhaps the middle wasn't quite as dense as cheesecake, but otherwise it's a perfect description. unfortunately, i found out that lucy loves sweets after i'd already eaten 3/4 of the cake in less than 5 minutes, which means i definitely owe her dessert next time. this thing was CRAZY yummy. the epitome of "good carbs" as i define them.
i'll admit to loving my fine dining, but when it comes down to it, food's food. if it's good, it's good.
find the OG nearest you:
http://www.olivegarden.com/default_f.asp
p.s. as if you didn't already know that westwood is the home of star sightings, we passed mrs. 90210 (wife of dr. 90210), her kids, and their grandmother on the way out! i guess *they're* not above the OG. hmph.
after failing miserably to convince eri to join me for an olive garden adventure, i must thank lucy for a delightful lunch at the oh-so-fabulous OG. (thanks lucy!)
for the first time in a long time, i had BREAD. and yes, i'll admit to being a low-carber for a loooooooooong time. and no, i won't be made to feel bad about it! to be quite honest, i've just never been a big fan of carbs. it just takes up all this space in your tummy -- space that could be filled with way more yummy things. but i digress.... what i'm trying to say is this: if i'm taking in any sort of carbs, they better be damn good carbs!
for the most part, bread usually falls short of this damn good threshold. other than challah and cheese bread, not much else does it for me. however, today's breadsticks were warm and yummy, and just substantial enough to soak up the absolutely DELICIOUS sauce left over from my perfectly done venetian apricot chicken dish. it was chicken breast, and i was seriously worried that it'd be over done and therefore ruin my OG escapade. but guess what? it was perfect! perfectly cooked, perfectly flavored, with just a little broccoli on the side. mmm...
the funniest part of the whole meal was when i asked for my salad with no dressing. the waittress stopped short and looked stunned. as if i'd slapped her across the face. or started speaking in tongues. she even offered oil and vinegar, and i had to give her this "ewww..." face and tell her no once again. i mean, really? seriously? as it was only the start of the meal, i let it go, but it was TRES odd. she obviously didn't get that the customer is always right. looking shocked by my order won't get you good tips, missy!
nevertheless, the meal ended splendidly with the most delicious lemon cream cake. as lucy described it: "angel food with cheesecake in the middle." which is TRES accurate. well, perhaps the middle wasn't quite as dense as cheesecake, but otherwise it's a perfect description. unfortunately, i found out that lucy loves sweets after i'd already eaten 3/4 of the cake in less than 5 minutes, which means i definitely owe her dessert next time. this thing was CRAZY yummy. the epitome of "good carbs" as i define them.
i'll admit to loving my fine dining, but when it comes down to it, food's food. if it's good, it's good.
find the OG nearest you:
http://www.olivegarden.com/default_f.asp
p.s. as if you didn't already know that westwood is the home of star sightings, we passed mrs. 90210 (wife of dr. 90210), her kids, and their grandmother on the way out! i guess *they're* not above the OG. hmph.
sunset ranch
so i went horseback riding with a bunch of alums a while back and it was one of the coolest experiences i've had in LA. i mean, seriously, who goes horseback riding in LA? i had to sign up if only to say i'd done it. (which is honestly why i do a lot of things. b/c life's short, so you might as well live it.) in any case, it was VERY cool, despite the fact that we were TOTALLY freezing half the time. (note to self and others: bundle up and BRING GLOVES.)
so sunset ranch is up in the hollywood hills, and miss d totally thought we were heading up the wrong way since we were whirling and twirling up in these majorly residential areas. thankfully, we made it all the way up to the tippy top w/o too much trouble. but let's just say that you're going to run into some serious anxiety if you drive stick. and make sure that emergency brake works too.
after signing a waiver (so that they're not responsible if you fall off your horse) and finding the right helmet (it's OK -- they accommodate big heads), they assign you a horse and you're pretty much on your way. i got margarita, which is simply perfect since i have zero tolerance for alcohol. (thank goodness we got along then.) and apparently she drank more than i did (or so they say) at the mexican restaurant for dinner (more below).
so we went for a night ride up into the hills and the views were absolutely spectacular. it was a pretty large group and i was in the back, so i could barely hear what the guide was saying at the front of the line. not that it mattered since we got to chat with the guide in the back keeping us moving. plus i loved the chance to revel in my own thoughts and the light mist.
i mean, why do people always feel the need to talk in a group? i'm far from anti-social, but why can't folks just enjoy the moment? plus it was just downright difficult to have any sort of conversation when we were supposed to be traveling in a single file up the side of the hill. this means you were either talking to the back of someone's head or someone was talking to the back of your head. let's just say that it wasn't a conducive environment for small talk (or big talk).
at any rate, the night ride included a pitstop for dinner at this mexican joint near the equestrian center. having eaten at really yummy mexican places, i have to say it was a bit BLAH. granted we were all starving and stuffed ourselves on chips and drinks (FYI that they have these monster margaritas in monster glasses -- as big as your head!), but when the food's not that great, you know it. tamales are one of my favorite things in the world and i inevitably order them whenever i have mexican. and the ones i got at this place were dry and icky, and the meat was stringy! ewww.... i got better ones from costco! (costco tamales are WAY yummy. look for them in a costco near you.) needless to say, i was disappointed, but for sustenance, it was good enough. at least it was edible.
our guides dined outside with the horses while we ate inside the restaurant. which i think was pretty cool on their part. they could've just as easily tied up the horses and hung out with us, though we probably weren't as interesting as the horses. in any case, i liked the idea that they didn't just treat the horses like cars and leave them out there by themselves. yeah, i know, i'm cheesy like that.
on the ride back, we really had to steel ourselves against the chill. it was november in LA, but we were also up in the mountains. i think i even remember seeing my breath! if you avoided thinking about possibly freezing to death, it was quite beautiful and serene riding underneath the stars. you could see the outlines of the hollywood sign and the rolling hills, and all the twinkling lights below. yes, it was THAT romantic. well, minus the group of 10-12.
by the time we made it back to the ranch and tipped our guides (they're volunteers so make sure to tip 'em good!), we were ready to head home. horsebackriding is NOT easy. it's really not as bad on your inner thighs as people make it out to be. but when you're trying to sit up the whole time with your back flat and your abs engaged (thanks elisa!), you're definitely feeling it. and yes, you're walking a bit bowlegged for a while.
btw, our windows were completely frosted up when we got back to the car, so make sure your de-fogger things (shows you how much i know about cars) are working before you head up there for some riding fun.
so sunset ranch is up in the hollywood hills, and miss d totally thought we were heading up the wrong way since we were whirling and twirling up in these majorly residential areas. thankfully, we made it all the way up to the tippy top w/o too much trouble. but let's just say that you're going to run into some serious anxiety if you drive stick. and make sure that emergency brake works too.
after signing a waiver (so that they're not responsible if you fall off your horse) and finding the right helmet (it's OK -- they accommodate big heads), they assign you a horse and you're pretty much on your way. i got margarita, which is simply perfect since i have zero tolerance for alcohol. (thank goodness we got along then.) and apparently she drank more than i did (or so they say) at the mexican restaurant for dinner (more below).
so we went for a night ride up into the hills and the views were absolutely spectacular. it was a pretty large group and i was in the back, so i could barely hear what the guide was saying at the front of the line. not that it mattered since we got to chat with the guide in the back keeping us moving. plus i loved the chance to revel in my own thoughts and the light mist.
i mean, why do people always feel the need to talk in a group? i'm far from anti-social, but why can't folks just enjoy the moment? plus it was just downright difficult to have any sort of conversation when we were supposed to be traveling in a single file up the side of the hill. this means you were either talking to the back of someone's head or someone was talking to the back of your head. let's just say that it wasn't a conducive environment for small talk (or big talk).
at any rate, the night ride included a pitstop for dinner at this mexican joint near the equestrian center. having eaten at really yummy mexican places, i have to say it was a bit BLAH. granted we were all starving and stuffed ourselves on chips and drinks (FYI that they have these monster margaritas in monster glasses -- as big as your head!), but when the food's not that great, you know it. tamales are one of my favorite things in the world and i inevitably order them whenever i have mexican. and the ones i got at this place were dry and icky, and the meat was stringy! ewww.... i got better ones from costco! (costco tamales are WAY yummy. look for them in a costco near you.) needless to say, i was disappointed, but for sustenance, it was good enough. at least it was edible.
our guides dined outside with the horses while we ate inside the restaurant. which i think was pretty cool on their part. they could've just as easily tied up the horses and hung out with us, though we probably weren't as interesting as the horses. in any case, i liked the idea that they didn't just treat the horses like cars and leave them out there by themselves. yeah, i know, i'm cheesy like that.
on the ride back, we really had to steel ourselves against the chill. it was november in LA, but we were also up in the mountains. i think i even remember seeing my breath! if you avoided thinking about possibly freezing to death, it was quite beautiful and serene riding underneath the stars. you could see the outlines of the hollywood sign and the rolling hills, and all the twinkling lights below. yes, it was THAT romantic. well, minus the group of 10-12.
by the time we made it back to the ranch and tipped our guides (they're volunteers so make sure to tip 'em good!), we were ready to head home. horsebackriding is NOT easy. it's really not as bad on your inner thighs as people make it out to be. but when you're trying to sit up the whole time with your back flat and your abs engaged (thanks elisa!), you're definitely feeling it. and yes, you're walking a bit bowlegged for a while.
btw, our windows were completely frosted up when we got back to the car, so make sure your de-fogger things (shows you how much i know about cars) are working before you head up there for some riding fun.
group rides are the best deal, but i think couple rides are super cute. do it, do it. you don't want to miss out!
check it:
restaurant.com
so amy and i weren't sure how this website makes any money. but honestly, who cares?!
when it comes down to it, you can buy a $10 gift certificate for $3 and a $25 gift certificate for $10, to dine at a bunch of different restaurants. i mean, are you SERIOUS?! what a steal!
i think the basic idea is for these restaurants to get more traffic. and while the selection is limited and restrictions apply (sometimes you can only use the gift certificates on certain nights), the deal's still a steal. particularly if there are restaurants listed that you go to all the time. plus, the website's national, so you can always look for places even when you're on the road. last but not least, it's *super* easy to purchase and print. which means that you can save a *ton* of money dining out. ulimately, these gift certificates make great gifts -- for yourself or anyone else!
when it comes down to it, you can buy a $10 gift certificate for $3 and a $25 gift certificate for $10, to dine at a bunch of different restaurants. i mean, are you SERIOUS?! what a steal!
i think the basic idea is for these restaurants to get more traffic. and while the selection is limited and restrictions apply (sometimes you can only use the gift certificates on certain nights), the deal's still a steal. particularly if there are restaurants listed that you go to all the time. plus, the website's national, so you can always look for places even when you're on the road. last but not least, it's *super* easy to purchase and print. which means that you can save a *ton* of money dining out. ulimately, these gift certificates make great gifts -- for yourself or anyone else!
atonement
ok, after this, i think i should be caught up on all my movie-going from the past few months. i've actually been on a bit of a netflix binge, but i don't think we want to devote this WHOLE blog to my movie-watching. that'd get boring real fast. (if it's boring already, keep it to yourself, i really don't need to know.)
ummm... all i can say is that atonement is totally overrated. i pretty much had decided opening weekend not to watch this movie b/c i really don't like keira knightley nor am i james mcavoy's biggest fan. (her features are too bony and he's just too short.) plus, i'm one of ian mcewan's biggest fans and i wasn't pleased by how his characters got cast. i don't have a problem at all with his books being made into movies, particularly given that "enduring love" was AMAZING (both book and movie). i'm just not fond of how the casting turned out for this film. aside from the scene in the library (which was AWESOME), i just wasn't all that moved.
so i ended up seeing this movie after all b/c my hosts in arizona were up for it. and at that point, i didn't mind b/c i was actually interested to see whether my interpretation of the book's ending was accurate. (there's a bit of a twist at the end and i was never quite sure i got it when i read it. again, i tend to like fuzzy endings, and even though derek kept pushing me, i really just didn't want to think it through.)
other than figuring out my interpretation of the ending was correct, the rest of the movie was kind of a bust. i have no idea why it'd be up for a golden globe or an oscar. i mean, it was just so BLAH. if anything, the book is what deserves a prize. the movie is nothing more than a distant runner-up.
ummm... all i can say is that atonement is totally overrated. i pretty much had decided opening weekend not to watch this movie b/c i really don't like keira knightley nor am i james mcavoy's biggest fan. (her features are too bony and he's just too short.) plus, i'm one of ian mcewan's biggest fans and i wasn't pleased by how his characters got cast. i don't have a problem at all with his books being made into movies, particularly given that "enduring love" was AMAZING (both book and movie). i'm just not fond of how the casting turned out for this film. aside from the scene in the library (which was AWESOME), i just wasn't all that moved.
so i ended up seeing this movie after all b/c my hosts in arizona were up for it. and at that point, i didn't mind b/c i was actually interested to see whether my interpretation of the book's ending was accurate. (there's a bit of a twist at the end and i was never quite sure i got it when i read it. again, i tend to like fuzzy endings, and even though derek kept pushing me, i really just didn't want to think it through.)
other than figuring out my interpretation of the ending was correct, the rest of the movie was kind of a bust. i have no idea why it'd be up for a golden globe or an oscar. i mean, it was just so BLAH. if anything, the book is what deserves a prize. the movie is nothing more than a distant runner-up.
juno x 2
as you can tell, i'm trying to get out all my movie commentaries before i completely forget all my amazingly witty remarks. (yeah, i know, it's too late.)
in any case, i must say that JUNO certainly tops my list in terms of best movies of 2007. (the other is LARS AND THE REAL GIRL -- if you haven't seen it, FIND IT AND SEE IT.)
so juno was TOTALLY worth seeing TWICE. and even though i didn't have to pay for it the second time (thanks rocco and wendy!), i would've. and yes, it's THAT good. trust me.
there's just something so endearing about the characters that you can totally feel their ups, and even more so, their downs. ellen page is absolutely AMAZING. her lines were perfectly done. her expressions were hilarious. and her portrayal of juno was totally riveting. i mean, with her look, she could totally play 16 or 30. but in this movie, you could totally feel her teen angst.
michael cera is utterly adorable (as always) and is probably the main reason so many goofy guys are now getting some play. knowing what happens at the end, i swear i cried every time he was on screen when i watched the movie the second time. you just can't help but love bleeker in all his tic-tac glory. (sigh)
the rest of the cast was also fabulous. i swear there wasn't a single bad actor in this entire film. allison janney was in full form, particularly when she bitched out the sonogram technician. (GO BREN!) and jason bateman is nothing short of HOT. (how can this BE?! isn't he OLD?? drool, drool.)
furthermore, there wasn't a single pointless scene in this entire film. everything fed into the character and/or plot development. and every single moment really helped make this film what it was. and the funny thing is, you didn't even realize it was such a short movie. b/c you just got totally wrapped up in all that was juno's life. crazy how that happens.
btw, FYI that music lovers should be quite amused by the soundtrack. i mean, i think it might even be worth buying my roomie the CD (seeing as how my music tastes supposedly suck -- FYI that i like britney, so enough said). very folks-ey and totally cute. great lyrics.
needless to say, i have no bad things to say about this movie, seeing as how it's one of my top two for the year!
in any case, i must say that JUNO certainly tops my list in terms of best movies of 2007. (the other is LARS AND THE REAL GIRL -- if you haven't seen it, FIND IT AND SEE IT.)
so juno was TOTALLY worth seeing TWICE. and even though i didn't have to pay for it the second time (thanks rocco and wendy!), i would've. and yes, it's THAT good. trust me.
there's just something so endearing about the characters that you can totally feel their ups, and even more so, their downs. ellen page is absolutely AMAZING. her lines were perfectly done. her expressions were hilarious. and her portrayal of juno was totally riveting. i mean, with her look, she could totally play 16 or 30. but in this movie, you could totally feel her teen angst.
michael cera is utterly adorable (as always) and is probably the main reason so many goofy guys are now getting some play. knowing what happens at the end, i swear i cried every time he was on screen when i watched the movie the second time. you just can't help but love bleeker in all his tic-tac glory. (sigh)
the rest of the cast was also fabulous. i swear there wasn't a single bad actor in this entire film. allison janney was in full form, particularly when she bitched out the sonogram technician. (GO BREN!) and jason bateman is nothing short of HOT. (how can this BE?! isn't he OLD?? drool, drool.)
furthermore, there wasn't a single pointless scene in this entire film. everything fed into the character and/or plot development. and every single moment really helped make this film what it was. and the funny thing is, you didn't even realize it was such a short movie. b/c you just got totally wrapped up in all that was juno's life. crazy how that happens.
btw, FYI that music lovers should be quite amused by the soundtrack. i mean, i think it might even be worth buying my roomie the CD (seeing as how my music tastes supposedly suck -- FYI that i like britney, so enough said). very folks-ey and totally cute. great lyrics.
needless to say, i have no bad things to say about this movie, seeing as how it's one of my top two for the year!
august rush
it's all a bit of a blur, but i probably saw this flick around the same time as i saw the last flick. b/c they're all of the same genre and they're all responding to the same hormone shifts. so there.
in any case, this one was definitely more watchable, though not by very much. i actually really like kerri russell. (go mickey mouse club!) though i'm iffy about jonathan rhys meyers. (he just doesn't do it for me.) and robin williams is definitely still on a downslope. (what is going ON with him??) the little kid was actually pretty good, though a bit too skinny. (do child actors get fed??) and terrence howard is always compelling.
the plot was pretty simple, but i liked the twists that kept the characters from finding each other. at every turn, you're like: COME ON! THEY'RE RIGHT THERE! ugh! a bit aggravating, but at least you know you're into the movie when this happens. the last scene is priceless with the two characters walking up towards the stage. i think the whole movie is worth it for the last scene. i think i cried. (WARNING: i cry at EVERYthing.)
in any case, this one was definitely more watchable, though not by very much. i actually really like kerri russell. (go mickey mouse club!) though i'm iffy about jonathan rhys meyers. (he just doesn't do it for me.) and robin williams is definitely still on a downslope. (what is going ON with him??) the little kid was actually pretty good, though a bit too skinny. (do child actors get fed??) and terrence howard is always compelling.
the plot was pretty simple, but i liked the twists that kept the characters from finding each other. at every turn, you're like: COME ON! THEY'RE RIGHT THERE! ugh! a bit aggravating, but at least you know you're into the movie when this happens. the last scene is priceless with the two characters walking up towards the stage. i think the whole movie is worth it for the last scene. i think i cried. (WARNING: i cry at EVERYthing.)
p.s. i love you
um, yes, i saw it. (about a month ago.) um, yes, i know what you're going to say. (over-the-top chick flick.) so stop. (i mean it.) it was good for what it was -- a mid-day flick to deal with those monthly hormone shifts. totally cheesy. GREAT irish landscapes. GREAT irish accents. the plot? not so great. the acting? not so great. i seriously wish i liked hilary swank, but she has this way-too-sharp-cheek-bones thing going on that's just really not pretty. so i think she ought to steer clear of romantic comedies and stick to dramas. plus i still don't get what happened with her and chad lowe!! sadness.
teeth
let's just say that this movie wasn't exactly what i was expecting. mmm... it was clearly NOT a true horror flick based on what i'd consider true horror flicks. but given that i've never been a big fan of dark comedies, this movie definitely made me re-think my attitude towards them.
my roomie had mentioned that critics had mentioned that "teeth" had quite a bit of gore to it. and i'd say -- not so much really. i mean, the gore wasn't really gore and there really wasn't much of that even. a couple of flying body parts certainly doesn't constitute GORE in my book. i mean, come ON. there must be a lot of wusses out there. but then again, i loved "hostel" AND "hostel 2" so let's just say i have skewed reference points for gore.
that being said, i still thought "teeth" was pretty darn good! and the audience at melnitz obviously agreed because they were laughing up a storm tonight. the character expressions were priceless. and the plot was definitely worth all the chuckles.
the whole "vagina dentata" concept is totally bizarre. while this movie took a comedic spin, it could just as easily have gone way more dramatic, way more psychological, and way more horrific. i'm thinking it may have been more interesting to go with something more mental. as it was, there really wasn't enough depth. and honestly, i was looking to be FREAKED OUT. and this flick really didn't live up to expectations. sadness.
btw, did i totally just contradict myself?? clarification: the movie was good for what it was, but not for what i was expecting it to be. make sense? if not, think some more.
my roomie had mentioned that critics had mentioned that "teeth" had quite a bit of gore to it. and i'd say -- not so much really. i mean, the gore wasn't really gore and there really wasn't much of that even. a couple of flying body parts certainly doesn't constitute GORE in my book. i mean, come ON. there must be a lot of wusses out there. but then again, i loved "hostel" AND "hostel 2" so let's just say i have skewed reference points for gore.
that being said, i still thought "teeth" was pretty darn good! and the audience at melnitz obviously agreed because they were laughing up a storm tonight. the character expressions were priceless. and the plot was definitely worth all the chuckles.
the whole "vagina dentata" concept is totally bizarre. while this movie took a comedic spin, it could just as easily have gone way more dramatic, way more psychological, and way more horrific. i'm thinking it may have been more interesting to go with something more mental. as it was, there really wasn't enough depth. and honestly, i was looking to be FREAKED OUT. and this flick really didn't live up to expectations. sadness.
btw, did i totally just contradict myself?? clarification: the movie was good for what it was, but not for what i was expecting it to be. make sense? if not, think some more.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
down times
check it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/business/17cnd-stox.html?hp
does this mean we should spend more to help the economy??
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/business/17cnd-stox.html?hp
does this mean we should spend more to help the economy??
modern art
this just in: http://www.artfairsinc.com/artla/2008/index.html
time to check out the latest in modern art!
surprisingly, i never used to be a big fan of modern art, but i have derek to thank for changing my mind. i felt like i just didn't get it. it took me a while to realize that there wasn't necessarily anything in particular that i needed to get. which is why i love going to museums by myself and wandering around on my own time. and trying to figure out what it all means -- to me. i can just soak it all in, without wondering whether the person i'm with is behind me or ahead of me or waiting forever for me to meander my way through every last piece.
for art lovers and museum goers out there there, i'm a big fan of...
* bergamot station, with its bazilion galleries and the cutest paper store ever (hiromi paper international). the last installation i saw there that i loved was this exhibit of little metal climbers, hanging off the walls and dangling from the ceiling. it'd take forever to get through all the galleries, and some works are definitely more amazing than others, but it's definitely worth the drive to santa monica. perhaps on the way to a yummy lunch? if your tummy's rumbling, i've heard the gallery cafe on premises isn't too shabby.
http://www.bergamotstation.com/
* the getty center, which has OK works of art (the last exhibit i really liked was a man ray exhibit many MANY years ago), but more importantly, wonderful architecture, landscaping, and food. the tram is lovely, but it's actually a nice walk up and down the hill depending on your fitness level. if the smog has skipped town for the day, the view from the getty is pretty amazing. i was struck at first by the WHITENESS of the buildings, but i've decided that i actually really like the stark look of them. the metal sculptures outside are quite fascinating. and the gardens have a funky modern/post-modern quality to match the buildings. i've only snacked there (because my tummy's always been full), but the food options have always been worthy of moi. let's hope i can save my appetite next time! before i forget, the last time i was at the getty was for a first fridays event (at least i think that's what they're called) in the summer. totally geared towards younger museum goers, with great music, drinks, and munchies. now i just have to wait for next summer to roll around!
http://www.getty.edu/
* LACMA, which regularly brings cool exhibits to LA, including the fabulous magritte exhibit i saw last spring. totally amazing. with bowler hats on the ground leading straight from the ticket window to the gallery entrance. i'm sure the exhibit's probably set up the same way at museums across the country, but it was just cool to have it here. (when you're used to the MET and the MOMA, nothing lives up. you end up just having to take what you can get.) which means totally awesome. btw, i'm hoping to check out friday night jazz once it starts up again in april. it's too bad they don't have it year-round. you'd think they'd consider heat lamps or something.
http://www.lacma.org/
* the hammer museum, with its funky taste in modern art and pretty cool events. i think the last exhibit i really liked was a video installation. i'm usually not a fan of that stuff, but who really knows what they're a fan of anymore? in any case, this one was quite fascinating because the artist just took a video camera into a correctional facility and filmed inmates. he or she (i forget which now) just had each of them stand against a bare white wall and she just filmed them standing there for about 5-10 minutes. you might wonder whether you can tell anything about anyone by just staring at them. but you'd be surprised how much goes through your mind making up stories about people. it's not even a matter of reality, but more so what you think you can tell about someone by just looking at them. it was all quite fascinating. the hammer also hosts interview events (i saw one with margaret cho) and music events (sometimes a bit too funky, but covering a variety of musical genres), all of which are pretty darn cool. last but not least, i'm still waiting to try the food! the cafe there is run by clementine (whose grilled cheese sandwiches i still need to check out) so it should be yummilicious. but we can't rely on reviews, right? we must take on the challenge!!
http://www.hammer.ucla.edu/
time to check out the latest in modern art!
surprisingly, i never used to be a big fan of modern art, but i have derek to thank for changing my mind. i felt like i just didn't get it. it took me a while to realize that there wasn't necessarily anything in particular that i needed to get. which is why i love going to museums by myself and wandering around on my own time. and trying to figure out what it all means -- to me. i can just soak it all in, without wondering whether the person i'm with is behind me or ahead of me or waiting forever for me to meander my way through every last piece.
for art lovers and museum goers out there there, i'm a big fan of...
* bergamot station, with its bazilion galleries and the cutest paper store ever (hiromi paper international). the last installation i saw there that i loved was this exhibit of little metal climbers, hanging off the walls and dangling from the ceiling. it'd take forever to get through all the galleries, and some works are definitely more amazing than others, but it's definitely worth the drive to santa monica. perhaps on the way to a yummy lunch? if your tummy's rumbling, i've heard the gallery cafe on premises isn't too shabby.
http://www.bergamotstation.com/
* the getty center, which has OK works of art (the last exhibit i really liked was a man ray exhibit many MANY years ago), but more importantly, wonderful architecture, landscaping, and food. the tram is lovely, but it's actually a nice walk up and down the hill depending on your fitness level. if the smog has skipped town for the day, the view from the getty is pretty amazing. i was struck at first by the WHITENESS of the buildings, but i've decided that i actually really like the stark look of them. the metal sculptures outside are quite fascinating. and the gardens have a funky modern/post-modern quality to match the buildings. i've only snacked there (because my tummy's always been full), but the food options have always been worthy of moi. let's hope i can save my appetite next time! before i forget, the last time i was at the getty was for a first fridays event (at least i think that's what they're called) in the summer. totally geared towards younger museum goers, with great music, drinks, and munchies. now i just have to wait for next summer to roll around!
http://www.getty.edu/
* LACMA, which regularly brings cool exhibits to LA, including the fabulous magritte exhibit i saw last spring. totally amazing. with bowler hats on the ground leading straight from the ticket window to the gallery entrance. i'm sure the exhibit's probably set up the same way at museums across the country, but it was just cool to have it here. (when you're used to the MET and the MOMA, nothing lives up. you end up just having to take what you can get.) which means totally awesome. btw, i'm hoping to check out friday night jazz once it starts up again in april. it's too bad they don't have it year-round. you'd think they'd consider heat lamps or something.
http://www.lacma.org/
* the hammer museum, with its funky taste in modern art and pretty cool events. i think the last exhibit i really liked was a video installation. i'm usually not a fan of that stuff, but who really knows what they're a fan of anymore? in any case, this one was quite fascinating because the artist just took a video camera into a correctional facility and filmed inmates. he or she (i forget which now) just had each of them stand against a bare white wall and she just filmed them standing there for about 5-10 minutes. you might wonder whether you can tell anything about anyone by just staring at them. but you'd be surprised how much goes through your mind making up stories about people. it's not even a matter of reality, but more so what you think you can tell about someone by just looking at them. it was all quite fascinating. the hammer also hosts interview events (i saw one with margaret cho) and music events (sometimes a bit too funky, but covering a variety of musical genres), all of which are pretty darn cool. last but not least, i'm still waiting to try the food! the cafe there is run by clementine (whose grilled cheese sandwiches i still need to check out) so it should be yummilicious. but we can't rely on reviews, right? we must take on the challenge!!
http://www.hammer.ucla.edu/
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
looking for culture
as mentioned previously, it's almost impossible to find culture in LA. yes yes, i KNOW i don't have a driver's license. but if you need a darn driver's license to find culture in a city, that's just pathetic. and it means that people who don't have access to vehicles (for sadder reasons than mine) are out of luck. which is WRONG i say, WRONG!!! but enough of my crazy ranting....
i've found out about some great opportunities (in LA, NY, and elsewhere) through the following websites, so make sure to check them out when you get a chance:
http://www.goldstar.com/
http://www.theatermania.com/home/
http://www.socialdiva.com/
http://www.urbandaddy.com/home/la
and no, i don't get a commission. for those of you who are new to this, it's called SHARING.
i've found out about some great opportunities (in LA, NY, and elsewhere) through the following websites, so make sure to check them out when you get a chance:
http://www.goldstar.com/
http://www.theatermania.com/home/
http://www.socialdiva.com/
http://www.urbandaddy.com/home/la
and no, i don't get a commission. for those of you who are new to this, it's called SHARING.
foodie frenzy
after years of waiting and waiting and WAITING, LA has finally realized the need for RESTAURANT WEEK!! (i mean, how much gosh darn longer were they going to make us moan and groan about this?!) in any case, it's COMING!! 1/27 to 2/1 and 2/3 to 2/8 (does anyone understand why they left out poor 2/2?).
take a look: http://www.dinela.com/data/restaurantweek/
so if you haven't already booked ALL possible lunches and dinners, please make your reservations NOW.
as in RIGHT now: http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m=6&ref=2954&pid=268
the list may not be as long as new york's, but let's take what we can get at this point and start moaning and groaning AFTER we eat our fill!
here's where you'll be seeing me during this two-week foodie frenzy: simon LA, chaya beverly hills, one sunset, 3 on 4th, and table 8.
i know, i lead such a charmed life....
take a look: http://www.dinela.com/data/restaurantweek/
so if you haven't already booked ALL possible lunches and dinners, please make your reservations NOW.
as in RIGHT now: http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m=6&ref=2954&pid=268
the list may not be as long as new york's, but let's take what we can get at this point and start moaning and groaning AFTER we eat our fill!
here's where you'll be seeing me during this two-week foodie frenzy: simon LA, chaya beverly hills, one sunset, 3 on 4th, and table 8.
i know, i lead such a charmed life....
nike resolution runs
as a new nike ambassador, i must take a quick post to promote the nike resolution runs going on in LA throughout january. it's a great opportunity to get your run on with some cool peeps. plus you get to try on some cool nike shoes, pick up some free nike gear, and y'know what else? you even get fed! what could be better a way to relax after a long day at school/work?
check it: http://insidenikerunning.nike.com/2008/01/15/join-the-nike-resolution-2008-2/
i'll be working the 1/31 event in beverly hills, so if you show up, make sure to come say hi!
btw, this whole nike plus system is way cool. a chip in your shoe that takes all yours stats? with a link to your ipod nano? oh, the brilliance that is technology....
gotta love it: http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/
check it: http://insidenikerunning.nike.com/2008/01/15/join-the-nike-resolution-2008-2/
i'll be working the 1/31 event in beverly hills, so if you show up, make sure to come say hi!
btw, this whole nike plus system is way cool. a chip in your shoe that takes all yours stats? with a link to your ipod nano? oh, the brilliance that is technology....
gotta love it: http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/
R.R.R.E.D.
for those of you who are new to LA, i've found that this city lacks some serious CULTURE. talk about a place that seems completely VACUOUS. ugh!
ok ok, maybe it's not THAT bad, but being the new york snob that i am, nothing (and i mean NOTHING) beats the big apple.
nevertheless, i'm stuck here until this heinous dissertation gets finished, so i might as well take advantage of what i can, right?
so i went to see my friend's friend's musical this weekend. i know. totally random. (btw, i think random is my usual state of mind, in case you haven't figured that out yet.) in any case, the musical is called R.R.E.D. and it's about how the recessive gene for red hair is going to disappear by the year 2100 and how redheads must sleep with as many other redheads as possible in order to save red hair from becoming extinct. a random (there it goes again!) concept indeed, but who wants boring and prosaic, y'know?
check it: http://www.rrredthemusical.com/
in any case, the voices were AMAZING. i've heard my friend's friend katie thompson (who wrote and starred in the show) sing at her own gigs before and she's AMAZING. she actually moved out to new york to do the music thing. and has OBVIOUSLY been very successful, having performed R.R.E.D. in new york before coming back to LA for just a two-week run.
you must seek her out: http://www.katiethompson.com/katiehome.html
the best part about seeing a show at a small venue (the mccadden place theatre) on the last night of a limited run with less than 60 people is that you get to hang with the likes of jenna leigh green (of "wicked" fame and who sat in the front row) and ryan gosling (who is AMAZING in "lars and the real girl" and who sat in the row behind me).
ok ok, so sue me for liking my star sightings. but at least i didn't OGLE them or anything. it was just cool, ok?
either way, the show in and of itself was fabulous. again, there were some parts that i was just scratching my head over. (is that my M.O. or what? that and the constant asking of the questions, of course.) thankfully, they didn't take away from the show. they just made it that much more quirky and memorable.
and FYI that patrick livingston (katie's co-star) was absolutely spectacular. great voice and totally adorable. *sigh* if only a cute boy would sing to me like that!
before i forget, i must mention the duplex! it's a great piano bar and cabaret in new york, and it's the second place i heard katie sing. it's also the first place i heard jenna leigh green and eden espinosa sing -- all up close and personal. it was AWESOME. totally different than seeing them from hundreds of rows away.
you gotta do it: http://www.theduplex.com/index.shtml
ok ok, maybe it's not THAT bad, but being the new york snob that i am, nothing (and i mean NOTHING) beats the big apple.
nevertheless, i'm stuck here until this heinous dissertation gets finished, so i might as well take advantage of what i can, right?
so i went to see my friend's friend's musical this weekend. i know. totally random. (btw, i think random is my usual state of mind, in case you haven't figured that out yet.) in any case, the musical is called R.R.E.D. and it's about how the recessive gene for red hair is going to disappear by the year 2100 and how redheads must sleep with as many other redheads as possible in order to save red hair from becoming extinct. a random (there it goes again!) concept indeed, but who wants boring and prosaic, y'know?
check it: http://www.rrredthemusical.com/
in any case, the voices were AMAZING. i've heard my friend's friend katie thompson (who wrote and starred in the show) sing at her own gigs before and she's AMAZING. she actually moved out to new york to do the music thing. and has OBVIOUSLY been very successful, having performed R.R.E.D. in new york before coming back to LA for just a two-week run.
you must seek her out: http://www.katiethompson.com/katiehome.html
the best part about seeing a show at a small venue (the mccadden place theatre) on the last night of a limited run with less than 60 people is that you get to hang with the likes of jenna leigh green (of "wicked" fame and who sat in the front row) and ryan gosling (who is AMAZING in "lars and the real girl" and who sat in the row behind me).
ok ok, so sue me for liking my star sightings. but at least i didn't OGLE them or anything. it was just cool, ok?
either way, the show in and of itself was fabulous. again, there were some parts that i was just scratching my head over. (is that my M.O. or what? that and the constant asking of the questions, of course.) thankfully, they didn't take away from the show. they just made it that much more quirky and memorable.
and FYI that patrick livingston (katie's co-star) was absolutely spectacular. great voice and totally adorable. *sigh* if only a cute boy would sing to me like that!
before i forget, i must mention the duplex! it's a great piano bar and cabaret in new york, and it's the second place i heard katie sing. it's also the first place i heard jenna leigh green and eden espinosa sing -- all up close and personal. it was AWESOME. totally different than seeing them from hundreds of rows away.
you gotta do it: http://www.theduplex.com/index.shtml
the orphanage
first off, FYI that the landmark theaters are AMAZING. who wouldn't pay a few additional bucks for access to your choice of oh-so-comfy leather seats and shi-shi movie muchies?! if you wouldn't, well, you're missing out BIG time.
check it:
http://www.landmarktheaters.com/
in any case, i went to see the orphanage at the pico landmark this weekend. and FYI that the movie theater dude who made announcements right before the movie (and yeah, they have those at landmark -- see what i mean about upscale experience?!) made a point to say that this movie was NOT directed by guillermo del toro, but rather produced by him and directed by juan antonio bayona. just to clear up any confusion.
either way, the spaniards are to be applauded. the plot line kept rolling along and you were never sure what to expect. there seemed to be a number of unresolved elements (either that or i wasn't paying attention, which wouldn't be suprising), but i tend to like those since they give the movie a fuzzy "i'm not sure what's going on" feeling. (yes, derek, i know you don't like that.) nevertheless there was just enough angst and tension (and grotesque images) to keep you roped in. moreover, the cinematography was amazing. it just made you wonder, who wouldn't want to live in a big scary mansion in an unrecognizable beach town??
unfortunately, i think i was looking for a little bit more gore. there was some doors slamming on hands and deformed faces, but when you're expecting a horror movie, i guess that stuff just doesn't fit the bill. ah well. setting my expectations aside, the orphanage is definitely still worth seeing. especially since the little boy reminds me of the girl that used to do those pepsi commercials. i know, totally random, right?
check it:
http://www.landmarktheaters.com/
in any case, i went to see the orphanage at the pico landmark this weekend. and FYI that the movie theater dude who made announcements right before the movie (and yeah, they have those at landmark -- see what i mean about upscale experience?!) made a point to say that this movie was NOT directed by guillermo del toro, but rather produced by him and directed by juan antonio bayona. just to clear up any confusion.
either way, the spaniards are to be applauded. the plot line kept rolling along and you were never sure what to expect. there seemed to be a number of unresolved elements (either that or i wasn't paying attention, which wouldn't be suprising), but i tend to like those since they give the movie a fuzzy "i'm not sure what's going on" feeling. (yes, derek, i know you don't like that.) nevertheless there was just enough angst and tension (and grotesque images) to keep you roped in. moreover, the cinematography was amazing. it just made you wonder, who wouldn't want to live in a big scary mansion in an unrecognizable beach town??
unfortunately, i think i was looking for a little bit more gore. there was some doors slamming on hands and deformed faces, but when you're expecting a horror movie, i guess that stuff just doesn't fit the bill. ah well. setting my expectations aside, the orphanage is definitely still worth seeing. especially since the little boy reminds me of the girl that used to do those pepsi commercials. i know, totally random, right?
guelaguetza
on palms boulevard. sooooooo good. while having great company always helps (thanks ev! thanks bas!), i'm not sure that anything could've made this meal NOT good.
getting mole with our chips?! AMAZING. and i don't even like chips. (don't ask.)
getting mole with my super moist chicken tamale? (pronounced TAH-MAL, ok, ryan seacrest?) EVEN BETTER. yummilicious indeed. the pork dish covered in green sauce that bas got was also super moist and flavalicious. somehow reminiscent of a dish my mom made regularly when i was young. (and i'm a little asian girl whose mom could only make asian food. go figure.)
also, let's not forget the horchata with fruit puree and the hibiscus water with fruit puree. (ummm...emphasis on the fruit puree?)
even though we were all stuffed, we ended the meal with this oh so fabulous FLAN. not too sweet, not too mushy. just firm enough, just creamy enough. goldilocks would've been a fan. mmm....
btw, some chick that bas was flirting with said that she came all the way to this restaurant for their imported mexican cheese. i'm not quite sure what that means exactly, but it's a good thing, right?
check it:
Guelaguetza
11127 Palms Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034-6502
(310) 837-1153
getting mole with our chips?! AMAZING. and i don't even like chips. (don't ask.)
getting mole with my super moist chicken tamale? (pronounced TAH-MAL, ok, ryan seacrest?) EVEN BETTER. yummilicious indeed. the pork dish covered in green sauce that bas got was also super moist and flavalicious. somehow reminiscent of a dish my mom made regularly when i was young. (and i'm a little asian girl whose mom could only make asian food. go figure.)
also, let's not forget the horchata with fruit puree and the hibiscus water with fruit puree. (ummm...emphasis on the fruit puree?)
even though we were all stuffed, we ended the meal with this oh so fabulous FLAN. not too sweet, not too mushy. just firm enough, just creamy enough. goldilocks would've been a fan. mmm....
btw, some chick that bas was flirting with said that she came all the way to this restaurant for their imported mexican cheese. i'm not quite sure what that means exactly, but it's a good thing, right?
check it:
Guelaguetza
11127 Palms Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034-6502
(310) 837-1153
pinkberry
while there are lots of folks out there who may not like pinkberry, let it be known that PINKBERRY IS HERE TO STAY!!!
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/magazines/fortune/boyle_pinkberry.fortune/?postversion=2007101606
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/magazines/fortune/boyle_pinkberry.fortune/?postversion=2007101606
now, EAT IT! : )
http://www.pinkberry.com/html/pbmain.php
btw, does anyone else think that the infusion of starbucks money might be related to the new COFFEE flavor available?!?!? not that that's a bad thing, of course....
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