unlike chicago (which was my former favorite city), seattle has this great blend of urban- and suburban-ness about it. even though it was cold and rainy the first day i got there, i loved that i saw green everywhere. the city as a whole was so...VERDANT. (yes, yes, please applaud my shameless use of GRE vocabulary. though this is certainly A PROPOS, considering that seattle is one of the most well-read cities in the nation, w/bookstores & coffee shops on every other block.) and even though it was painfully annoying that i was stalled twice on my ride from the airport to my hotel, i couldn't get really upset at running into a barge crossing and a train crossing -- i mean, when else would this happen to me?!
at any rate, as i reported in my previous entry, i made it to dinner just about 10 minutes late. and i was lovingly welcomed into the canlis fold. the food and the view were equally spectacular, w/the prawns being the most memorable dish of the night (and the trip), and the dessert coming in a close second for the evening. it was a great way to start the weekend!
unfortunately, my cab driver on the way back to the hotel was an idiot. and i was left grumbling on a random street corner, since i didn't have the patience to wait for him to figure out his GPS coordinates. thankfully, the hotel staff guided me back to the hotel easily, and they were all really helpful during my entire stay. the service was especially important, since they had to make up for the dreariness of the space. everything seemed dimly lighted, which made for a mildly eerie quality. and even though i knew i couldn't be guaranteed a room w/a view, i never expected to be facing a wall! moreover, the heat was on *so* high that i ended up having trouble sleeping. (that being said, i wish i'd been smarter sooner and realized the first night that: 1) i could open the windows and 2) there was a sheet of paper by the phone telling me how to turn down the heat! *sigh* fatigue breeds idiocy. and insanity, from what i hear.) on the other hand, there was a kitchenette! as well as pots, pans, dishware, and silverware! all of which i wished i'd been able to use more. but considering that i was on vacay, i really wasn't going to do more work than necessary. (next time, i say, next time.)
http://www.innatqueenanne.com/
on my first full day, which happened to be a rainy day, i decided to check out a year-round farmer's market in the university (the u district, as the locals call it). the bus system is pretty extensive in seattle, and even though the buses don't come very often, every stop has the schedules printed on it. and i was able to catch a bus straight from the queen anne district (where i was staying) to the u district -- and only a block or so from the farmer's market! this was totally convenient considering the rain and the wind. i decided to pick up some cash and a mate latte before wandering around the market. given how cold the temperature still is at this time of year, i was worried that i wouldn't find any open markets. thankfully, local growers and vendors are thoroughly committed to selling their wares, and i was lucky enough to find my way to them. in addition to being small and manageable, the market had vendors who were wonderfully open and friendly. i had the best time just talking to them about their products, and having them ask about my trip.
http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/u_district
after perusing through the entire market and sampling some yummy treats (including local products like salmon jerky and tayberry jam), i decided to pick up some cinnamon walnut pecan butter, which literally tasted (as marilyn, the vendor, indicated) like a cinnamon roll in a jar. it was a bit crumbly in consistency, but she assured me that it'd be much creamier at room temperature. (i mean, we were standing around in 40-degree weather!) let me say that this stuff cost $14.50 a jar (!!), so the price was pretty steep for all intents and purposes. as such, you could understand my intense dismay when i realized later in the day that the jar had gone MISSING!! i was even more upset b/c i was all ready to send a bunch of treats home to LA (b/c i didn't want to check baggage -- silly me). i emailed marilyn right away to let her know that i'd be willing to pick up another jar if i could find her in the city, and guess what?! she remembered me and offered to send me a complimentary jar! i seriously couldn't quite believe it. i was all ready to seek her out, but instead, she one-upped me (in only the best of ways) and offered me the most pleasant surprise of my trip. let's just say that this is the kind of wonderful hospitality that i found throughout my wanderings in seattle. and i really can't wait to get back for some more.
http://marilynsnutbutters.com/
in addition to my wonderful nut butter, i picked up some delicious rose petal jelly from dale, who was located a few stalls down. he had such an amazing spread of jellies, jams, and eggs (yes, eggs!) -- i wasn't quire sure where to start. but he gave me a little of this and a little of that, and i sampled to my heart's content. i find that most vendors want to stop you after awhile, but he just let me go on at my leisure. i decided on the rose petal jelly b/c it had the most wonderful smell, taste, and texture. i can't wait to put it on my toast in the morning! and because i love indulging in sweets on vacation, i picked up a lovely almond croissant and a sizeable brioche to munch on on my way out of the market. too bad it was FREEZING b/c i'm sure the pastries would've tasted much better warm.
http://woodringnorthwest.com/
as i walked down university avenue, i decided that umbrellas suck. i couldn't hold my bags, eat my croissant, drink my latte, and carry my umbrella at the same time. and when i can't eat my croissant, i'm annoyed. so i decided to stop in at the university of washington store and stock up on some college gear. (i seriously am in love w/college gear, provided that the colors aren't heinous.) i found the perfect grey huskies cap that would eliminate the need for my way too bright bruins umbrella. (oh, the betrayal!) i also picked up an XL kids sweatshirt for just $15! that ultimately kept me warm and fuzzy for the rest of my trip. i was a happy camper. and i felt like a real seattle-ite. (is that the right term?)
even though i was all ready to make a right and start heading over to the next neighborhood, i was drawn to the "u dub" campus. i told myself that i'd just skirt around the edges to take a look, but when i walked over, i realized that i had to take more of a stroll. OMG. i loved it. i'm sure i only saw a fraction of it, but what i saw was absolutely amazing. even in the drizzle (and perhaps because of it), the campus was a lovely green. and b/c i hate grass (yes, i hate grass), i thoroughly appreciated all the pathways weaving in and out of the grassy areas. i loved the architecture of the old buildings. i loved the open plaza area, which made me feel like i was on the steps of oxford in london or trinity in dublin. i even found a huge water fountain with birds taking baths. i think that's what i loved most -- this feeling that i was in europe. i also loved the fact that the campus was immense and rambling, and the buildings were varied in size. at UCLA, everything seems so tall and overwhelming and monolithic, though perhaps i'm just used to it all at this point. at any rate, i really didn't want to leave....
as i made my way towards greenlake/greenwood (what's it called?), where i was supposed to meet junghee & the fam for red mill burgers (supposedly the best burgers in seattle, though what would i know since i never eat burgers!), i passed through wallingford. while it's pretty easy to trek on seattle streets, some areas have more pedestrians than others. that being said, i'd say boston is pretty similar, especially when you consider areas like brookline and somerville that are a bit quieter and more residential. i loved hitting the busy street in wallingford, where both sidewalks were lined with cute coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques. little did i know that i actually passed by tilth (and a number of notable eateries and dessert spots) on my trek through the neighborhood! (for my tummy's sake, this was probably a good thing.)
sadly, lily was being fussy, and gerald had to take care of her, so junghee drove out from redmond on her own to see me. after some phone coordination, she picked me up in a fabulous BMW SUV. needless to say (now that i know car brands), i was very impressed. (apparently, gerald loves cars. go figure.) i think we were both surprised that neither of us had changed all that much. she's a mom now, but she's just as carefree and laid-back as she always was. and i had to laugh in semi-shock when she told me that she didn't bother keeping the baby monitor on at night and how she let lily cry until she fell asleep again to get her on a regular sleep schedule. (of course, this is due to the fact that all my other friends are semi-obsessive moms! and if you gals are reading this, i still love you despite your neuroses. =P)
because neither of us were very hungry, junghee decided to show me around all the places that i wouldn't necessarily have been able to see on my own -- sans car. before we did anything else, i HAD to go see greenlake. jess had made it sound so lovely, and i'm infatuated w/large bodies of water. so not only did we drive over there, junghee parked the car, and we did a lovely walk around the entire lake. i think she mentioned that it was about 2 miles or so around, making it larger than the central park reservoir, and ultimately lovelier as well. there were plenty of runners, dogwalkers, and dogs -- all of which i love about seattle. especially the latter. i swear they were EVERYWHERE. and i'm so much happier seeing super fluffy dogs in seattle (where they ought to be) than in LA were they're tortured by all the heat and sun (poor things!). it was so great to just walk and talk -- one of my favorite things to do with friends -- and catch up over the last several years of random goings-on. it's really the best thing to do on a cold day. (or any day for that matter.)
after almost forgetting where we parked, we decided to drive all around seattle, passing by fremont, cutting through ballard, crossing the bridge to the east side, breezing through bellevue, and then weaving back through downtown (where pike place market and SAM are located), pioneer park (one of the oldest parts of the city), the international district (measly apparently by junghee's standards), and capitol hill. she even parked at one point to show me houseboats! it was all very cool. like a personalized tour of the city. by late afternoon, she decided that she should head back to the 'burbs, and she dropped me off at the hotel. hugs all around and an invitation to stay w/them at the their new house in july!
this gave me just enough time to drop off my bags and relax a bit before heading straight back to wallingford for dinner. i decided to hop on the bus again w/my $4 all-day bus pass, and i made it to tilth *just* in time for my reservation. unlike canlis, which was totally old school formal, tilth went w/the cozy farmhouse look -- pale green & yellow on the exterior and interior. as soon as i walked in, i was greeted by adam, who'd taken my call the night before and placed me at the chef's counter. while david had suggested that i could get a good view of the kitchen, there was a couple already sitting in the prime location, and so i ended up choosing a seat right by the window (which was pretty darn cold i must say -- i don't think insulation is very good w/seattle windows, b/c i had the same experience at purple a few days later). that being said, i'm so short that i doubt i would've been able to see over the counter anyways -- it was so high! while i got seated right way and offered the menu, my server (who was nice enough) forgot my iced tea and delivered me a dish that i never ordered. these are small details, yes, but the service really does affect the meal. and the meal certainly could've used some help.
super high expectations are never good. which is why i hate it when people say "that was the best movie ever! (e.g., slumdog millionaire)" or "that was the best meal ever! (e.g., tilth)" in my opinion, tilth was so hyped that it became so overrated. i'll keep my review short b/c: 1) this blog entry is already super long and 2) i just don't want to think too much more about this meal (since there were so many better meals). first off, i received a potato leek and fennel salad as an amuse bouche -- plain & uninteresting. next, i got the hors d'oeuvres, which were little round crackers with fromage blanc, fig, and black walnut. while the fig was quite figgy and the cracker had interesting flavor, the fromage blanc was quite crumbly and the dish seemed to need salt. based on derek & melissa's review, i decided to try the cauliflower flan, which they'd raved about. i totally missed the cauliflower and i thought it tasted like some egg dish that my mom used to make growing up. totally below expectations. b/c of the mix-up w/my order, the waiter offered me the carrot risotto to try, and i thought "why not? it's free. and i was checking it out anyways." bad decision. i don't like carrots, plus i thought it was rich beyond words, especially for a veggie dish. i felt like it went straight to the bottom of my stomach. definitely not what i was wanting at the moment. and i couldn't eat more than a few bites. when my pork cheek dish finally came, i was so glad that there was some choucroute to cut the richness. again, the dish tasted like something my mom used to make, so i wasn't finding anything creative after all i'd heard about this place. the dessert was the last straw. i went w/the special, which my server had described as "a kit kat bar" and which i so wish he hadn't done b/c it was NOTHING like a kit kat bar. the server who delivered my dish called it an open faced ice cream sandwich. (needless to say, everyone should communicate better.) i received a theo chocolate feuilletine w/chocolate toffee ice cream. it was super rich, and didn't fit the kit kat description. after all the hype, i was definitely disappointed. tilth, i hope your april menu does better by you.
http://tilthblog.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
canlis - a tribute to spontaneity
upon arriving in seattle this evening, i was feeling tired and hungry -- and late! of course, i wasn't truly late, but rather running up tight against a last-minute reservation i'd made last night. i'd originally booked crush (http://www.chefjasonwilson.com/crush.html) for my first dinner in seattle. but when i checked out their menu last night, i really wasn't feeling it. (a testament to how much mood can shape experience.) plus, i really wanted something close to my hotel in the queen anne district -- the inn at queen anne (http://www.innatqueenanne.com/). based on menus, recommendations, and reviews, i decided to go w/canlis --a restaurant that's known to be the birthplace of northwest cuisine.
in addition to being on a plane for several hours (which in and of itself wasn't heinous), walking around in high heels (which i almost never do), and misinterpreting my car pick-up location, i ended up running into BOTH a draw bridge and a train crossing during my mere 20-25 minute ride from the airport. (talk about heinous luck!) i already knew the skies would be grey, but two delays in one ride just made me grumpy. thankfully, my driver agreed to wait while i dropped off my bags at the hotel, before taking me over to the restaurant, which was a mere 10 minutes away.
as soon as i arrived at the restaurant -- w/its lovely stone facade -- a valet opened the car door. and because i was still paying the driver, he was all ready to close the door so i wouldn't get cold! i mean, isn't that considerate? better yet, as soon as i walked in, i was greeted by the maitre d' (or the director of service, as i learned from his business card at the end of the night), and i was walked to my table by the OWNER of the restaurant, chris canlis. yes, folks, the OWNER. a lovely older gentleman who commented on my "winsome" smile, and then apologized quickly in case i felt he was presumptuous. (of course, i told him i appreciated the compliment.) it was quite the treatment, i must say, quite the treatment.
as if all this wasn't enough, i was seated at an amazing table for 1, where i had the loveliest view of lake union and the twinkling lights of the city. actually, the first thing that came to my mind as soon as i walked into the restaurant was the fabulous contrast b/w the dark wood of the room and the amazing light coming through all the windows. after being seated for a while, i noticed the piano playing in the background -- a fabulous blend of old favorites (e.g., as time goes by), musical melodies (e.g., les mis), and popular hits (e.g., bruce springsteen). it was all quite entrancing.
to my delight, i was offered a drinks list that actually had THREE yummy-looking, non-alcoholic cocktails. based on my main server's recommendation, i went w/the cape doctor, which involved grenadine, egg whites, and ginger ale. it was a great blend of flavors, and thankfully not too sweet! as i'm sure i've mentioned before, receiving an amuse-bouche is a definite sign of fine dining. and tonight, i received a delicious potato and garlic soup w/a garlic chip and a bit of parsley in a sake cup. even though i normally don't like potatoes b/c they're so heavy, this soup was nice and light, and infused with yummy garlic flavor. while i was waiting for my courses to arrive, i was also offered various breads (i love choices!): pain du lait, oat bread, and rosemary bread w/sea salt. i decided on the pain du lait b/c it looked like brioche. to my surprise, it actually tasted lighter! i also picked up the oat bread b/c one of the servers suggested that it'd be good for sopping up the cream sauce on my plate. it definitely didn't taste very oat-ey, but the server was correct in his suggestion. (you could see the white of my plate.)
for my first and second courses, i decided on the canlis salad and the peter canlis prawns, both of which bear the canlis name. my main server, ryan, informed me that anything bearing the canlis name has been on the menu since the restaurant opened its doors in 1950!! and when i tasted these two dishes, i definitely understood why. the canlis salad was their version of a caesar salad, w/great lemon flavor, salty bacon pieces (WAY better than bacon bits), and itty bitty croutons. but the highlight of the night was most definitely the PRAWNS. (yes, in CAPS.) most people know that i really don't like shrimp very much. (in fact, i used to only eat shrimp wrapped in those noodles they served at dim sum!) so for me to say what i'm about to say is a BIG deal: the peter canlis prawns was THE best shrimp dish i've ever had in my entire 30 years of existence. (i'm sorry, eri, but even the best walnut shrimp couldn't beat this.) the prawns were fairly sizable, butterflied perfectly, cooked JUST through, and sitting in a delicate cream sauce. the combination was IMMENSE. the texture was spot on and totally not chewy. and the prawns soaked up the cream sauce w/o any trouble. (the rest was left for my oat bread!) the dish has totally made me re-think shrimp forever. seriously. no joke.
for my main course, i went w/the sable fish, which is synonymous with (or at least close to) black cod. i decided to go with something light so that i wouldn't be sleeping on a full belly. plus seattle is so well-known for its fresh seafood that there was no way that i'd let myself miss out! i must admit that i was a little disconcerted when my dish came out covered in foam w/very little color contrast. i mean, what would i find underneath?! that being said, i wasn't disappointed. the foam was a curry lemongrass foam, that was layered over the sablefish, that was layered over mushroom quarters and green apple cubes, sitting in green fennel puree. the fish pretty much melted in my mouth, but still retained a nice bit of chew. the mushrooms were delicious, but the apple cubes really gave the dish a great bit of acid.
to finish off the night, i decided on yet another light dish, the standing cones. once again, this dish came out extremely pale w/almost no color. i was a little concerned. then again, it was dessert. there wasn't very far to go! plus i'd already been nicely surprised by the fish. and of course, it was delicious. the dish consisted of pink grapefruit sorbet, pineapple ice cream, and coconut sorbet, each in wafer thin sugar cookie cones, which were attached to the plate w/the smallest bit of white chocolate. i went from left to right: the grapefruit was light and fresh (a great palate cleanser), the pineapple was nice and creamy (it might seriously have been my fave), and the coconut was this fascinating combo of rich coconut flavor with light sorbet texture.
and with my check came a lovely pink raspberry mango marshmallow! what more can i say?
OK, well, i WILL say that i LOVED the service. i loved the valet who opened my car door. i loved chris canlis who walked me to my table. i loved all the servers who delivered and cleared my dishes, filled my water glass, and checked on me throughout my meal. i loved ryan who swung by regularly to chat about himself, his family, and his experiences in NY, SF, seattle, etc. i loved david who gave me the name of the maitre d' at tilth. i even loved the servers who IRONED the tablecloths after guests departed. and the girl who warmed up coats by the fire before passing them off to diners on their way out! canlis's attention to detail is immaculate and impeccable -- i'm so glad spontaneity brought me to canlis for my very first seattle meal!
canlis
http://www.canlis.com/
in addition to being on a plane for several hours (which in and of itself wasn't heinous), walking around in high heels (which i almost never do), and misinterpreting my car pick-up location, i ended up running into BOTH a draw bridge and a train crossing during my mere 20-25 minute ride from the airport. (talk about heinous luck!) i already knew the skies would be grey, but two delays in one ride just made me grumpy. thankfully, my driver agreed to wait while i dropped off my bags at the hotel, before taking me over to the restaurant, which was a mere 10 minutes away.
as soon as i arrived at the restaurant -- w/its lovely stone facade -- a valet opened the car door. and because i was still paying the driver, he was all ready to close the door so i wouldn't get cold! i mean, isn't that considerate? better yet, as soon as i walked in, i was greeted by the maitre d' (or the director of service, as i learned from his business card at the end of the night), and i was walked to my table by the OWNER of the restaurant, chris canlis. yes, folks, the OWNER. a lovely older gentleman who commented on my "winsome" smile, and then apologized quickly in case i felt he was presumptuous. (of course, i told him i appreciated the compliment.) it was quite the treatment, i must say, quite the treatment.
as if all this wasn't enough, i was seated at an amazing table for 1, where i had the loveliest view of lake union and the twinkling lights of the city. actually, the first thing that came to my mind as soon as i walked into the restaurant was the fabulous contrast b/w the dark wood of the room and the amazing light coming through all the windows. after being seated for a while, i noticed the piano playing in the background -- a fabulous blend of old favorites (e.g., as time goes by), musical melodies (e.g., les mis), and popular hits (e.g., bruce springsteen). it was all quite entrancing.
to my delight, i was offered a drinks list that actually had THREE yummy-looking, non-alcoholic cocktails. based on my main server's recommendation, i went w/the cape doctor, which involved grenadine, egg whites, and ginger ale. it was a great blend of flavors, and thankfully not too sweet! as i'm sure i've mentioned before, receiving an amuse-bouche is a definite sign of fine dining. and tonight, i received a delicious potato and garlic soup w/a garlic chip and a bit of parsley in a sake cup. even though i normally don't like potatoes b/c they're so heavy, this soup was nice and light, and infused with yummy garlic flavor. while i was waiting for my courses to arrive, i was also offered various breads (i love choices!): pain du lait, oat bread, and rosemary bread w/sea salt. i decided on the pain du lait b/c it looked like brioche. to my surprise, it actually tasted lighter! i also picked up the oat bread b/c one of the servers suggested that it'd be good for sopping up the cream sauce on my plate. it definitely didn't taste very oat-ey, but the server was correct in his suggestion. (you could see the white of my plate.)
for my first and second courses, i decided on the canlis salad and the peter canlis prawns, both of which bear the canlis name. my main server, ryan, informed me that anything bearing the canlis name has been on the menu since the restaurant opened its doors in 1950!! and when i tasted these two dishes, i definitely understood why. the canlis salad was their version of a caesar salad, w/great lemon flavor, salty bacon pieces (WAY better than bacon bits), and itty bitty croutons. but the highlight of the night was most definitely the PRAWNS. (yes, in CAPS.) most people know that i really don't like shrimp very much. (in fact, i used to only eat shrimp wrapped in those noodles they served at dim sum!) so for me to say what i'm about to say is a BIG deal: the peter canlis prawns was THE best shrimp dish i've ever had in my entire 30 years of existence. (i'm sorry, eri, but even the best walnut shrimp couldn't beat this.) the prawns were fairly sizable, butterflied perfectly, cooked JUST through, and sitting in a delicate cream sauce. the combination was IMMENSE. the texture was spot on and totally not chewy. and the prawns soaked up the cream sauce w/o any trouble. (the rest was left for my oat bread!) the dish has totally made me re-think shrimp forever. seriously. no joke.
for my main course, i went w/the sable fish, which is synonymous with (or at least close to) black cod. i decided to go with something light so that i wouldn't be sleeping on a full belly. plus seattle is so well-known for its fresh seafood that there was no way that i'd let myself miss out! i must admit that i was a little disconcerted when my dish came out covered in foam w/very little color contrast. i mean, what would i find underneath?! that being said, i wasn't disappointed. the foam was a curry lemongrass foam, that was layered over the sablefish, that was layered over mushroom quarters and green apple cubes, sitting in green fennel puree. the fish pretty much melted in my mouth, but still retained a nice bit of chew. the mushrooms were delicious, but the apple cubes really gave the dish a great bit of acid.
to finish off the night, i decided on yet another light dish, the standing cones. once again, this dish came out extremely pale w/almost no color. i was a little concerned. then again, it was dessert. there wasn't very far to go! plus i'd already been nicely surprised by the fish. and of course, it was delicious. the dish consisted of pink grapefruit sorbet, pineapple ice cream, and coconut sorbet, each in wafer thin sugar cookie cones, which were attached to the plate w/the smallest bit of white chocolate. i went from left to right: the grapefruit was light and fresh (a great palate cleanser), the pineapple was nice and creamy (it might seriously have been my fave), and the coconut was this fascinating combo of rich coconut flavor with light sorbet texture.
and with my check came a lovely pink raspberry mango marshmallow! what more can i say?
OK, well, i WILL say that i LOVED the service. i loved the valet who opened my car door. i loved chris canlis who walked me to my table. i loved all the servers who delivered and cleared my dishes, filled my water glass, and checked on me throughout my meal. i loved ryan who swung by regularly to chat about himself, his family, and his experiences in NY, SF, seattle, etc. i loved david who gave me the name of the maitre d' at tilth. i even loved the servers who IRONED the tablecloths after guests departed. and the girl who warmed up coats by the fire before passing them off to diners on their way out! canlis's attention to detail is immaculate and impeccable -- i'm so glad spontaneity brought me to canlis for my very first seattle meal!
canlis
http://www.canlis.com/
Thursday, March 26, 2009
sona sona sona
after waiting patiently for literally SIX months, christine & i finally got to celebrate the end of our GSO madness. YAY! and we originally intended to check out bazaar (which i'm still dying to go to), but considering that no dinner reservations were available for the next month, i picked sona instead. and BOY WAS IT THE RIGHT DECISION. b/c i don't think i've had a better meal in months and months and months. yes, i've loved all my other foodie adventures, but this one certainly takes the cake! it may have to do with the tasting menu and the opportunity to try small bites of many dishes. so the next time i have that option, i'm taking it! which pretty much means you should too! ; )
as soon as we walked in for our 7PM reservation, we noticed how quiet and sparse the restaurant was. the decor was a cool blend of gray & white, but there were only 2-3 other parties in the restaurant when we were seated. it was quite startling, considering that i usually like to eat at 6PM, and i always think the rest of the world likes to eat at 7 or 8. for once, i thought i was eating with everyone else, and i was obviously wrong. the place picked up a little later, though it's obvious that the recession has hit fine dining pretty hard. so i'm glad we were there to do our part -- especially with the 6-course decouverte menu!
we started off with super duper long breadsticks. i swear these reminded me of the wooden dowels that teachers used to slap the wrists of bad children. i know i know, morbid thought, but just imagine it! they were too long for the table, so you really had to break them up into pieces. nice and crunchy. and i gobbled up mine in less than 5 minutes! i generally don't like bread very much, but it always seems important to a restaurant meal.
soon after, the bread guy brought around two different breads for us to try: a matcha green tea bread and a cranberry bread made with red wine. i loved the warmth of the breads b/c the butter simply melted right into the nooks and crannies. however, i must admit that i didn't taste the matcha green tea AT ALL. christine mentioned enjoying the sweetness of the bread, but i couldn't remotely make out the flavor. in fact, i thought the cranberry bread was much more flavorful. i could taste the cranberries -- and even the red wine! (no worries, i didn't get tipsy this time.) the bread guy also brought around some wheat bread later, and that was quite good though pretty basic.
before our 6 courses commenced, we received a lovely amuse bouche, compliments of the chef -- a ball of tofu-encrusted duck confit with tiny, salty, crunchy fish on top. i used to hate these teeny weeny fish, but i love the saltiness now, and so i picked up a few with my chopsticks before diving into the ball. this may not have been the best way to go, especially since i only tasted tofu and barely tasted any duck confit. i'm not sure if it just wasn't in there, or if my taste buds were overwhelmed by the taste of the fish. either way, i was a little bummed, especially since i really love duck confit!
i wasn't about to let the amuse diminish my excitement though. our first course consisted of new zealand snapper on asian pear with nori jam. this was probably our favorite light dish of the night. first of all, the presentation was light and fresh, with a few small flower petals sprinkled over the snapper pieces. the snapper on top was a translucent white with a nice chew, and the asian pear underneath was a perfect blend of crispy and juicy. the combination of flavors and textures really elevated the dish beyond its ingredients.
the next dish was the seared foie gras that i ordered in addition to the decouverte menu. christine indicated that she was politically against foie, but that it wouldn't be a problem if i wanted it. considering that i LOVE foie, that the dish came with peanut butter cream and cranberry jam, and that our server said it was the best foie EVER, i absolutely HAD to order it. and i must say that this was probably one of THE best dishes of the ENTIRE meal. i seriously don't think i've had better foie. it came in this large, silky chunk, with the most perfect sear on top. eating it alone was in and of itself AMAZING. but eating it with the peanut butter cream & the cranberry jam was simply ecstasy. OMG. i have no other words to describe the experience. one of the other servers said she's dreamed about this foie before. at this point, i seriously don't doubt it. even christine thought it was quite good when she tried a sliver!
for our second course, we received the monkfish tail wrapped around bacon pieces with an herb emulsion. this is a particularly interesting arrangement, considering that bacon is usually placed on the outside to keep the fish intact and moist. however, seeing that monkfish is a more substantial fish, it could certainly hold its shape during the cooking process. unfortunately, christine & i both agreed that one piece was quite dry and tough (both fish & pork). however, the other piece was significantly more moist, thereby redeeming the dish somewhat. i suppose monkfish just really isn't my kind of fish, especially since i'm not the biggest fan of swordfish, which has a similar consistency and density. that being said, the arrangement was quite unique, and worth some brownie points.
the duck came out as the third course, with peas, a pea emulsion, and a parmesan crisp. (and FYI that duck is my favorite fowl of all time!) the duck was cooked perfectly medium rare, and i made sure to slice the existing pieces into even tinier pieces, so that i could savor every bite. christine is a pea lover, so she certainly enjoyed the pea elements in the dish. i myself am a cheese fan, so the parmesan crisp was simply delectable. the duck had the loveliest chew, which was the perfect contrast to the super crispiness of the crisp.
what with me ordering the foie gras, christine deserved an extra item as well, and she chose the wagyu beef, which came out with a slow poached egg (that looked like it could've come out of an ostrich), bok choy, and a nice salty broth. christine gave me the chance to sample just a bit of each in a soup spoon, and it was sooooooooooooo good. i swear that our 2 extra dishes really helpd make the meal. the silky wagyu was also perfectly medium rare, and it slid down my throat almost as easily as the decadent egg. the saltiness of the broth really helped to cut through the sinful fat of the wagyu and egg, making the whole bite very well-rounded.
as our fourth course, we received the venison w/tomato paste, roasted brussel sprouts, and artichoke confit. christine & i both LOVE brussel sprouts, so we were thrilled to get them. however, we really weren't sure whether the artichoke confit was a true confit. (food lovers, please define!) nevertheless, they were good, albeit a bit crunchy for my tastes. i also wasn't the biggest fan of the tomato paste, though i found the venison quite fabulous. again, the meat was cooked perfectly medium rare. and the dish wasn't the least bit game-y, which is always a challenge w/venison.
given my penchant for sweets, i was extremely happy to find out that we had two dessert courses waiting for us. both dishes were a combination of several mini-desserts, which made the experiences that much more exciting. the first dessert course was a combination of sencha mousse w/raspberry paper, mint tea gelee with vanilla panna cotta, fresh raspberries, and one other thing which has completely slipped my mind. at any rate, my favorite was definitely the sencha mousse. i looooooooooved the bitterness of the sencha in the mousse. granted, i love everything green tea, but i definitely prefer the real bitterness over the fake sweetness of most green tea desserts. the raspberry paper was quite interesting, and the acidity certainly paired well with the bitterness of the sencha mousse. the gelee and panna cotta was more of a jelly, which was much less interesting. and i seriously have no recollection of what was at the end of the long plate.
the second dessert course was definitely the most playful course of the entire evening. the pastry chef who dropped off our plates rattled off the elements so fast that neither christine & i could recall everything he said. however, we agreed that everything on that plate was absolutely amazing. from the right, we started with the foie gras ice cream, which was sitting on a bed of cocoa/cookie nibs. the combination of salty and sweet was super satisfying. next, we moved on to the white rectangular piece on the plate, which we were totally unable to classify. thankfully, we realized that it didn't matter what it was b/c it tasted delicious w/the chocolate noodle (yes, the chocolate noodle) and, of all things, BACON POWDER. how ridiculously awesome is that?!? they should seriously patent that product. OMG.
as if all these courses weren't enough, our server surprised us with yet another dessert course, this one with several teeny tiny elements. we started w/the maccaroon, which had the most unbelievable cream filling. we then moved on to the "minnesota" oreo (which we heard incorrectly when the server said "mini-sona-oreo"). the next one was the lemon meringue dessert, which totally reminded me of the luscious lemon tart at starbuck's! the last one on the plate was a passion fruit jelly. and even though i'm not into jellies, this one had great flavor infused into it. in addition to a plate full of yummy treats, our server also gave us a bunch of deliciously warm madeleines, which had a light crust on the outside and a nice chew on the inside. i seriously had to hold myself back from eating more than my fair share.
while christine & i both thought we could handle more food, we realized that we were close to maxxing out, particularly after the first dessert course. but considering the extravagance of the meal, we made our way valiantly through our last bites. while i didn't delight in every single aspect of the courses, i was amazed at the creativity of the dishes, particularly the flavor combinations and the artistic presentations. i simply don't remember the last time i was so satisfied physically and visually. in addition, the chefs use fresh, local ingredients AND the tasting menu changes every 2 weeks. what more could you ask for?
sona
http://www.sonarestaurant.com/index.php
as soon as we walked in for our 7PM reservation, we noticed how quiet and sparse the restaurant was. the decor was a cool blend of gray & white, but there were only 2-3 other parties in the restaurant when we were seated. it was quite startling, considering that i usually like to eat at 6PM, and i always think the rest of the world likes to eat at 7 or 8. for once, i thought i was eating with everyone else, and i was obviously wrong. the place picked up a little later, though it's obvious that the recession has hit fine dining pretty hard. so i'm glad we were there to do our part -- especially with the 6-course decouverte menu!
we started off with super duper long breadsticks. i swear these reminded me of the wooden dowels that teachers used to slap the wrists of bad children. i know i know, morbid thought, but just imagine it! they were too long for the table, so you really had to break them up into pieces. nice and crunchy. and i gobbled up mine in less than 5 minutes! i generally don't like bread very much, but it always seems important to a restaurant meal.
soon after, the bread guy brought around two different breads for us to try: a matcha green tea bread and a cranberry bread made with red wine. i loved the warmth of the breads b/c the butter simply melted right into the nooks and crannies. however, i must admit that i didn't taste the matcha green tea AT ALL. christine mentioned enjoying the sweetness of the bread, but i couldn't remotely make out the flavor. in fact, i thought the cranberry bread was much more flavorful. i could taste the cranberries -- and even the red wine! (no worries, i didn't get tipsy this time.) the bread guy also brought around some wheat bread later, and that was quite good though pretty basic.
before our 6 courses commenced, we received a lovely amuse bouche, compliments of the chef -- a ball of tofu-encrusted duck confit with tiny, salty, crunchy fish on top. i used to hate these teeny weeny fish, but i love the saltiness now, and so i picked up a few with my chopsticks before diving into the ball. this may not have been the best way to go, especially since i only tasted tofu and barely tasted any duck confit. i'm not sure if it just wasn't in there, or if my taste buds were overwhelmed by the taste of the fish. either way, i was a little bummed, especially since i really love duck confit!
i wasn't about to let the amuse diminish my excitement though. our first course consisted of new zealand snapper on asian pear with nori jam. this was probably our favorite light dish of the night. first of all, the presentation was light and fresh, with a few small flower petals sprinkled over the snapper pieces. the snapper on top was a translucent white with a nice chew, and the asian pear underneath was a perfect blend of crispy and juicy. the combination of flavors and textures really elevated the dish beyond its ingredients.
the next dish was the seared foie gras that i ordered in addition to the decouverte menu. christine indicated that she was politically against foie, but that it wouldn't be a problem if i wanted it. considering that i LOVE foie, that the dish came with peanut butter cream and cranberry jam, and that our server said it was the best foie EVER, i absolutely HAD to order it. and i must say that this was probably one of THE best dishes of the ENTIRE meal. i seriously don't think i've had better foie. it came in this large, silky chunk, with the most perfect sear on top. eating it alone was in and of itself AMAZING. but eating it with the peanut butter cream & the cranberry jam was simply ecstasy. OMG. i have no other words to describe the experience. one of the other servers said she's dreamed about this foie before. at this point, i seriously don't doubt it. even christine thought it was quite good when she tried a sliver!
for our second course, we received the monkfish tail wrapped around bacon pieces with an herb emulsion. this is a particularly interesting arrangement, considering that bacon is usually placed on the outside to keep the fish intact and moist. however, seeing that monkfish is a more substantial fish, it could certainly hold its shape during the cooking process. unfortunately, christine & i both agreed that one piece was quite dry and tough (both fish & pork). however, the other piece was significantly more moist, thereby redeeming the dish somewhat. i suppose monkfish just really isn't my kind of fish, especially since i'm not the biggest fan of swordfish, which has a similar consistency and density. that being said, the arrangement was quite unique, and worth some brownie points.
the duck came out as the third course, with peas, a pea emulsion, and a parmesan crisp. (and FYI that duck is my favorite fowl of all time!) the duck was cooked perfectly medium rare, and i made sure to slice the existing pieces into even tinier pieces, so that i could savor every bite. christine is a pea lover, so she certainly enjoyed the pea elements in the dish. i myself am a cheese fan, so the parmesan crisp was simply delectable. the duck had the loveliest chew, which was the perfect contrast to the super crispiness of the crisp.
what with me ordering the foie gras, christine deserved an extra item as well, and she chose the wagyu beef, which came out with a slow poached egg (that looked like it could've come out of an ostrich), bok choy, and a nice salty broth. christine gave me the chance to sample just a bit of each in a soup spoon, and it was sooooooooooooo good. i swear that our 2 extra dishes really helpd make the meal. the silky wagyu was also perfectly medium rare, and it slid down my throat almost as easily as the decadent egg. the saltiness of the broth really helped to cut through the sinful fat of the wagyu and egg, making the whole bite very well-rounded.
as our fourth course, we received the venison w/tomato paste, roasted brussel sprouts, and artichoke confit. christine & i both LOVE brussel sprouts, so we were thrilled to get them. however, we really weren't sure whether the artichoke confit was a true confit. (food lovers, please define!) nevertheless, they were good, albeit a bit crunchy for my tastes. i also wasn't the biggest fan of the tomato paste, though i found the venison quite fabulous. again, the meat was cooked perfectly medium rare. and the dish wasn't the least bit game-y, which is always a challenge w/venison.
given my penchant for sweets, i was extremely happy to find out that we had two dessert courses waiting for us. both dishes were a combination of several mini-desserts, which made the experiences that much more exciting. the first dessert course was a combination of sencha mousse w/raspberry paper, mint tea gelee with vanilla panna cotta, fresh raspberries, and one other thing which has completely slipped my mind. at any rate, my favorite was definitely the sencha mousse. i looooooooooved the bitterness of the sencha in the mousse. granted, i love everything green tea, but i definitely prefer the real bitterness over the fake sweetness of most green tea desserts. the raspberry paper was quite interesting, and the acidity certainly paired well with the bitterness of the sencha mousse. the gelee and panna cotta was more of a jelly, which was much less interesting. and i seriously have no recollection of what was at the end of the long plate.
the second dessert course was definitely the most playful course of the entire evening. the pastry chef who dropped off our plates rattled off the elements so fast that neither christine & i could recall everything he said. however, we agreed that everything on that plate was absolutely amazing. from the right, we started with the foie gras ice cream, which was sitting on a bed of cocoa/cookie nibs. the combination of salty and sweet was super satisfying. next, we moved on to the white rectangular piece on the plate, which we were totally unable to classify. thankfully, we realized that it didn't matter what it was b/c it tasted delicious w/the chocolate noodle (yes, the chocolate noodle) and, of all things, BACON POWDER. how ridiculously awesome is that?!? they should seriously patent that product. OMG.
as if all these courses weren't enough, our server surprised us with yet another dessert course, this one with several teeny tiny elements. we started w/the maccaroon, which had the most unbelievable cream filling. we then moved on to the "minnesota" oreo (which we heard incorrectly when the server said "mini-sona-oreo"). the next one was the lemon meringue dessert, which totally reminded me of the luscious lemon tart at starbuck's! the last one on the plate was a passion fruit jelly. and even though i'm not into jellies, this one had great flavor infused into it. in addition to a plate full of yummy treats, our server also gave us a bunch of deliciously warm madeleines, which had a light crust on the outside and a nice chew on the inside. i seriously had to hold myself back from eating more than my fair share.
while christine & i both thought we could handle more food, we realized that we were close to maxxing out, particularly after the first dessert course. but considering the extravagance of the meal, we made our way valiantly through our last bites. while i didn't delight in every single aspect of the courses, i was amazed at the creativity of the dishes, particularly the flavor combinations and the artistic presentations. i simply don't remember the last time i was so satisfied physically and visually. in addition, the chefs use fresh, local ingredients AND the tasting menu changes every 2 weeks. what more could you ask for?
sona
http://www.sonarestaurant.com/index.php
Saturday, March 21, 2009
the great urban race of LA
after weeks & weeks of waiting, judy & i finally made it out to the great urban race of LA! we schlepped over to pershing square park, and we were greeted by the sight of 480 teams, some of which were dressed up in some CRAZY outfits. it was awesome and it totally got us revved up for the big day! dressed in santa monica classic t-shirts, red headbands, and red wristbands, we were SO ready to go. : )
a little after noon, we picked up our packet of clues from one of the race volunteers, and we proceeded to plop down for our strategy session. we had 12 clues (1 of which we were allowed to skip), and we picked out which ones we needed to dial a friend for. thanks to dave and my little brother (and their google prowess), we were able to figure out a whole bunch of clues. for the rest, it was all GIRL POWER!!
even with judy's bum leg, we were still able to move pretty darn quickly. and the great thing about the race was that it really got you to check out random parts of LA that you wouldn't otherwise see. (granted, i'd actually seen a lot of it schlepping around w/jenn last year to watch david during the LA marathon!) plus it was awesome to see so many folks in the orange race shirts! it really seemed to make the city a little smaller.
it also made anyone who's usually in a car realize how tragic the public transportation system really is. and with the protest in hollywood, and the enusing traffic, it was even harder to get around than usual. thankfully, judy & i were more about having fun than killing ourselves to get to the finish line. so we definitely made a point of checking out the cool architecture & design of the subway stations, and the yummy smells wafting from the street carts.
from judy's point of view, the race definitely gave you new perspective on the sights & sounds of LA. there are things you'd simply never notice from the driver's or passenger's seat of a car. on the one hand, this can be great. like the cute shops and eateries on olvera street. on the other hand, this can be sobering. like the dirty, poop-covered paths in macarthur park. as always, i can't help thinking that LA simply isn't the city for me.
that being said, it was still a great race. judy & i weren't quite sure we'd make it to our last stops in time, but we got all of our clues completed by 4:56PM, and we got checked in at the finish line by 5:15PM. WOOHOO!! the announcer indicated that the first team completed the event w/in 3 hours and 9 minutes, so we didn't feel *too* bad. (especially since we'd been told that teams completed w/in 2 hours in prior years. i mean, seriously?!) that and the fact that there were teams who came back WAY after they'd shut down the check-in tables. i'm sorry, but even though i don't need to be first, i DEFINITELY don't want to be last!
we're thinking they should've extended things by another hour, but i swear we would've died from starvation if we'd had to wait any longer to eat. throughout the entire day, we met a ton of people who hadn't eaten in the morning. and we ourselves had (somehow) thought we'd be finished w/in 2.5 hours. OBVIOUSLY, we were delusional.
so to treat ourselves, we schlepped off to sizzler's after the race. and i got to have my lip-smacking ribs. mmm.... (who remembers that infamous taste of santa monica?!) a great way to end a great day. pics will soon be posted on FB! and for those who care, i'm seriously thinking of heading back to nyc for the one in august!!
http://www.greaturbanrace.com/
http://www.sizzler.com/
a little after noon, we picked up our packet of clues from one of the race volunteers, and we proceeded to plop down for our strategy session. we had 12 clues (1 of which we were allowed to skip), and we picked out which ones we needed to dial a friend for. thanks to dave and my little brother (and their google prowess), we were able to figure out a whole bunch of clues. for the rest, it was all GIRL POWER!!
even with judy's bum leg, we were still able to move pretty darn quickly. and the great thing about the race was that it really got you to check out random parts of LA that you wouldn't otherwise see. (granted, i'd actually seen a lot of it schlepping around w/jenn last year to watch david during the LA marathon!) plus it was awesome to see so many folks in the orange race shirts! it really seemed to make the city a little smaller.
it also made anyone who's usually in a car realize how tragic the public transportation system really is. and with the protest in hollywood, and the enusing traffic, it was even harder to get around than usual. thankfully, judy & i were more about having fun than killing ourselves to get to the finish line. so we definitely made a point of checking out the cool architecture & design of the subway stations, and the yummy smells wafting from the street carts.
from judy's point of view, the race definitely gave you new perspective on the sights & sounds of LA. there are things you'd simply never notice from the driver's or passenger's seat of a car. on the one hand, this can be great. like the cute shops and eateries on olvera street. on the other hand, this can be sobering. like the dirty, poop-covered paths in macarthur park. as always, i can't help thinking that LA simply isn't the city for me.
that being said, it was still a great race. judy & i weren't quite sure we'd make it to our last stops in time, but we got all of our clues completed by 4:56PM, and we got checked in at the finish line by 5:15PM. WOOHOO!! the announcer indicated that the first team completed the event w/in 3 hours and 9 minutes, so we didn't feel *too* bad. (especially since we'd been told that teams completed w/in 2 hours in prior years. i mean, seriously?!) that and the fact that there were teams who came back WAY after they'd shut down the check-in tables. i'm sorry, but even though i don't need to be first, i DEFINITELY don't want to be last!
we're thinking they should've extended things by another hour, but i swear we would've died from starvation if we'd had to wait any longer to eat. throughout the entire day, we met a ton of people who hadn't eaten in the morning. and we ourselves had (somehow) thought we'd be finished w/in 2.5 hours. OBVIOUSLY, we were delusional.
so to treat ourselves, we schlepped off to sizzler's after the race. and i got to have my lip-smacking ribs. mmm.... (who remembers that infamous taste of santa monica?!) a great way to end a great day. pics will soon be posted on FB! and for those who care, i'm seriously thinking of heading back to nyc for the one in august!!
http://www.greaturbanrace.com/
http://www.sizzler.com/
Friday, March 20, 2009
mmm... mmm... m cafe de chaya
seeing that the quarter was finally ending, dani & i decided to treat ourselves to some yummy goodness at m cafe de chaya in culver city! after a long work week AND a long workout, a healthy meal was much deserved. and we were SO ready to dive in by the time we arrived at this adorable macrobiotic eatery.
one of several chaya restaurants, m cafe is super cute and casual. the space is brightly lit, making it all the better to see all the amazing options in the display case. as soon as i walked in, i raced over to the dessert case. everything looked so perfect. and i knew i wanted that carrot cake as soon as i laid eyes on it. (FYI that i *love* carrot cake. and the fact that it's made from veggies makes me feel that much better about eating it!)
after deciding to save room in my tummy for dessert, i wandered over to the rest of the cases to check out all the fabulous salads, sushi rolls, and inari. (mmm.... inari....) after some consultation w/dani, i decided on the 3-salad combo, the hijiki inari, and the carrot cake.
for my combo, i chose the kale w/spicy peanut sauce, the scarlet quinoa, and the dandelion greens. the kale was super leafy and scrumptious. i don't recall the peanut sauce being very spicy, but it was fabulous how you could taste it in every nook and cranny of the kale. mmm.... the scarlet quinoa had such great color and consistency. and i absolutely love love love quinoa, so it wasn't even an option not to get it. quinoa is seriously the best grain ever. and i always get such a kick out of eating dandelion greens. i mean, how inventive is that?! the greens contrasted really well texturally w/the beans, creating a lovely and memorable mouth-feel.
the hijiki inari consisted of a tofu pouch stuffed with the most delicious brown rice and topped with dried seaweed. i LOVE inari, especially when the pouch and the rice are slightly sweet. this particular inari was really good b/c the hijiki was slightly salty, which made for a great salty-sweet contrast in each bite.
and let's not forget the carrot cake. unlike typical carrot cakes, this carrot cake was suuuuuuuuuuper light. this probably has to do w/the fact that m cafe doesn't use any refined sugar, eggs, or dairy. which is AMAZING. that being said, this cake walked that very fine line b/w not sweet at all and just sweet enough. which i wasn't sure i fully appreciated, except for the fact that i kept eating AND not feeling guilty. the cake itself was nothing like the dense (and often cold) cake that one finds at most restaurants. it was airy and light, and if that wasn't enough, the frosting was even airier and lighter! dani & i were completely stumped on the ingredients. this was definitely NOT your typical cream cheese frosting. if i could have this carrot cake every day, i would. i mean, you still feel good after it's in your tummy!
before i forget, let me say that i love the set-up of this place. dani & i sat at the big wooden picnic table in the center of the room, which was totally fabulous. but all around us, there were all these nice and shiny silver tables. and there were lots of tables set up outside too. it was a lovely cross b/w modern and organic, which was reflective of the fare as well. contemporary macrobiotic is how m cafe bills itself. and i have to say, it does a REALLY good job at it.
http://www.mcafedechaya.com/index.html
one of several chaya restaurants, m cafe is super cute and casual. the space is brightly lit, making it all the better to see all the amazing options in the display case. as soon as i walked in, i raced over to the dessert case. everything looked so perfect. and i knew i wanted that carrot cake as soon as i laid eyes on it. (FYI that i *love* carrot cake. and the fact that it's made from veggies makes me feel that much better about eating it!)
after deciding to save room in my tummy for dessert, i wandered over to the rest of the cases to check out all the fabulous salads, sushi rolls, and inari. (mmm.... inari....) after some consultation w/dani, i decided on the 3-salad combo, the hijiki inari, and the carrot cake.
for my combo, i chose the kale w/spicy peanut sauce, the scarlet quinoa, and the dandelion greens. the kale was super leafy and scrumptious. i don't recall the peanut sauce being very spicy, but it was fabulous how you could taste it in every nook and cranny of the kale. mmm.... the scarlet quinoa had such great color and consistency. and i absolutely love love love quinoa, so it wasn't even an option not to get it. quinoa is seriously the best grain ever. and i always get such a kick out of eating dandelion greens. i mean, how inventive is that?! the greens contrasted really well texturally w/the beans, creating a lovely and memorable mouth-feel.
the hijiki inari consisted of a tofu pouch stuffed with the most delicious brown rice and topped with dried seaweed. i LOVE inari, especially when the pouch and the rice are slightly sweet. this particular inari was really good b/c the hijiki was slightly salty, which made for a great salty-sweet contrast in each bite.
and let's not forget the carrot cake. unlike typical carrot cakes, this carrot cake was suuuuuuuuuuper light. this probably has to do w/the fact that m cafe doesn't use any refined sugar, eggs, or dairy. which is AMAZING. that being said, this cake walked that very fine line b/w not sweet at all and just sweet enough. which i wasn't sure i fully appreciated, except for the fact that i kept eating AND not feeling guilty. the cake itself was nothing like the dense (and often cold) cake that one finds at most restaurants. it was airy and light, and if that wasn't enough, the frosting was even airier and lighter! dani & i were completely stumped on the ingredients. this was definitely NOT your typical cream cheese frosting. if i could have this carrot cake every day, i would. i mean, you still feel good after it's in your tummy!
before i forget, let me say that i love the set-up of this place. dani & i sat at the big wooden picnic table in the center of the room, which was totally fabulous. but all around us, there were all these nice and shiny silver tables. and there were lots of tables set up outside too. it was a lovely cross b/w modern and organic, which was reflective of the fare as well. contemporary macrobiotic is how m cafe bills itself. and i have to say, it does a REALLY good job at it.
http://www.mcafedechaya.com/index.html
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Q1 adventures
forgive me, readers, for i have sinned. it's been 2 months since my last blog.
so i swear i've WANTED to keep this thing up-to-date, but it's always so heinously challenging for me to start writing. this is always my excuse though, so i'm going to stop now before i start repeating myself. (which is a total pet peeve, so please avoid doing it around me.)
let's see, let's see.... so i'm trying to think back on all the things i've done in the past 2 months worth mentioning. there's definitely been a bunch so forgive me for not having everything in chronological order.
1. i quite literally spazzed out in january about my purpose in life and my potential lack of financial stability. this happens once every year or two. i don't think i'm ever seriously worried. but the anxiety seems so real at the time. i swear i was losing serious appetite and sleep over it all. i even convinced myself that i might want to do consulting. i even made it to round 2 of mckinsey's APD recruiting! i even got slapped in the face by 3 back-to-back case interviews. thank you, caroline, for telling me that consulting requires serious BS capabilities. i'm glad i failed. i'm just too honest. thankfully, i got some serious frequent flyer miles and yummy restaurant meals out of it. and i made a friend -- who has serious chefs in her family. WOOHOO!
important links:
http://www.apd.mckinsey.com/ - definitely not for the faint of heart!
http://www.printerscafe.com/ - AMAZING sandwiches and sweets
2. i realized that i can't stop working out for 30-60 days in a row. during my spaz fest, i pretty much stopped working out during the months of january and february. and i felt like crap. i lost all cardio capacity and muscle tone. gross, i know. so now that i'm back on track, i've signed up for monthly 10K's in santa monica as well as the santa monica classic. i'm still committed to doing a half-marathon this year, though i have no idea how long it's going to take for me to get into good enough shape. plus i definitely don't want to run 13 miles in the summer. that being said, fall seems like the best bet. any suggestions? (nothing too hilly, please.)
important links:
http://www.active.com/ - great for fitness freaks!
http://smboardwalk.movfitness.com/ - lightest carbon footprint
http://www.santamonicaclassic.com/ - GREAT t-shirts!
3. while i was spazzing, i did manage to make it out to phoenix to check out amy and tom's new house (AND guest casita). i swear i was staying in a mansion -- i could hear my voice echo! i mean, there were different heating systems for different parts of the house! the visit was short (friday to sunday), but definitely sweet. we got to go work out at amy's AMAZING fitness facility -- i swear this place occupies an entire city block! it's like a fitness buffet -- all-you-can-eat AND THEN SOME. i was pretty much hyperventilating after the step class on saturday (which amy thought was way too easy) but i managed to get some serious time on the rock wall w/tom. it'd been ages since i'd gone climbing -- and i LOVED it. especially the auto belay mechanisms. it's totally freeing. amy & i went back for another workout on sunday, and then hiking, and then massages. (btw, is there a reason i can't live like this all the time?) and we even managed to fit in an amazing meal at mosaic on saturday night. the food was QUITE creative -- case in point: a dish entitled "what the FOIE*!?#" -- and DELICIOUS. my mixed grill plate of duck & elk was equally fabulous. and my lemon dessert was quite memorable too. (though i much preferred amy's caramel fondue -- mmm....) besides not sleeping well enough (i've decided i don't like beds that aren't mine), it was the perfect getaway weekend!
important links:
http://www.lifetimefitness.com/
http://www.phoenix.gov/parks/hikemain.html
http://www.massageenvy.com/
http://www.mosaic-restaurant.com/
4. considering that i owe $3700 in taxes (damn fellowship!), i'm glad i booked my boston trip back in december. so for my BFF's 30th birthday, his fiancee arranged a surprise trip to boston AND got his entire groom's party out to surprise him! (melissa, you're the best secret keeper EVER.) it was AMAZING. he was totally and completely SHOCKED. after a long and rainy drive up from new york, soon & michelle were lovely enough to pick me up from logan. we drove out to stay at michelle's parents' house in lexington, and we even got to see a bit of snow and a deer in her backyard! (oh, how i miss the east coast. *sigh*) the next day, we totally surprised derek at brunch at aquitaine. this place was SO cute, and even though i didn't have much of an appetite (due to a minor cold, a long flight [where everyone else also seemed to be sick], and not enough sleep), i thought the prix fixe brunch options were super yummy and affordable.
having saved our pennies that morning, we all splurged on derek's birthday dinner at EVOO that night. again, i wish i'd had more of an appetite b/c the "duck, duck, goose" dish sounded like the perfect dish for me. however, i went w/the striped bass fillet instead and i was definitely left wanting. the fish was cooked well, but the bitter chocolate tortilla didn't do anything for the dish. thankfully, my country pate was nice and smooth, and my star anise creme brulee was apparently the best one ordered. based on my hazy recollection, i believe the specials derek ordered (all meat dishes) were all pretty fabulous, as were the warm chocolate truffle cake and the chocolate-banana bread pudding that got passed around. every other person ordered scallops, which i simply find disgusting and gross. ughhh....
while the food was definitely a highlight (as was derek's look of shock), the BEST part of the trip was the trapeze lesson that steve organized for all of us! first of all, the lesson took place in this crazy indoor complex, which was a bizarre cross b/w a furniture store (yes, a furniture store) and a las vegas mall (complete w/the bellagio water show). secondly, one of the staffers who gave us our lesson was TOTALLY cute and adorable -- and really supportive too. (YAY, don!) the other two guys were OK, but how unprofessional is it to be eating an apple while clipping me in? i mean, come ON. at any rate, the experience was AWESOME. i love heights, especially when i'm strapped in. and i love flying through the air. this isn't to say it wasn't HARD. (i got some SERIOUS bruises.) but we were definitely all smiles at the end!!
i spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with my mutually sick friend glenn in his brookline apt. (we missed you, mel!) it was really the perfect ending to my boston trip b/c snow was falling when i woke up in the morning. and it KEPT snowing ALL day. (and for those who are wondering, snow really is best when being viewed from inside a warm and cozy apartment.) glenn & i trekked through the winter wonderland for a vietnamese lunch, but we took it easy the rest of the afternoon and shot down zombies on the wii. that was SO therapeutic. i left in my new pink reefs and felt snow on my toes. *sigh*
important links:
http://www.aquitaineboston.com/index.php
http://www.evoorestaurant.com/
http://boston.trapezeschool.com/
http://www.jordans.com/
http://pholemongrass.com/
http://www.wiisworld.com/wii-games/Shooting/
5. before i left boston, i signed myself up for a 5-class package of trapeze classes in santa monica. i know. i'm crazy. i really should've checked out the place before signing up, but i was just SO excited to do it again. i couldn't help myself. at any rate, i discovered that the set-up on the santa monica pier is WAY rickety compared to boston. i mean, i had to climb up a LADDER for pete's sake! talk about a sure-fire way to bruise your knees before you even start. on top of that, the main instructor guy was so NOT professional. he didn't even KNOW me yet and he made fun of my lululemon bag. i mean, seriously?! the other instructor guy was nice, but i felt like he was rushing me. i hadn't even gotten my knee-hang down before he was pushing me to get to the next trick. too bad i don't CARE about the next trick, buddy. i'm all about taking things one step at a time and i'm all about getting my form right. otherwise, i'm just going to hurt myself. speaking of which, i must've strained a muscle b/c i can't shrug w/o a mild ache in my left shoulder. thank god for naproxen. no flying for a few weeks. doctor's orders.
important links:
http://losangeles.trapezeschool.com/
6. to see if i could work out all my muscle soreness, i checked out the student massage place that dana recommended. even though the place was cheap ($35), i must say that it definitely wasn't the best massage i've ever gotten. i think there's something about me being small & petite that keeps masseurs and masseuses from giving me the seriously deep tissue massage that i need. it's like i keep saying "MORE PRESSURE" to no avail. the girl at massage envy (in phoenix) gave me some good pressure, but she failed to flip me around. the guy at this place (in LA) gave me the full body treatment, but he failed to exert enough pressure. how long is it going to take me to find something "just right"?? *sigh*
important links:
http://www.chac.edu/
7. ever since talking to brian about his past adventures in LA (and hopefully his future adventures in NY), i've been feeling inspired to wander around LA. (it's weird how one conversation can inspire you, isn't it?) that and the fact that it's the end of the quarter and all i have to do is putz around. (whatever. don't be hatin'!) two weeks ago, i wandered into the hammer museum and saw some interesting pieces by LA artists. i have to admit that i disliked half of the exhibition, but victoria reynolds and llyn foulkes had some fascinating works to show off. last week, i trekked out to bergamot station and checked out some really cool galleries. some of my favorites: james gray, lois lambert, mark moore, ruth bachofner. i didn't have time for a sit-down meal at the cafe, but if my lemon bar and mint iced tea were any indication of the food quality, i'll definitely be back soon! for my last bit of culture in recent times, i got a last-minute invitation from chiara to check out a zocalo talk on the authenticity of food at the skirball. it was a treat to be in the presence of some GREAT chefs, but FYI that jonathan gold is THE worst moderator ever. i mean, the man just kept TALKING. plus he kept smacking his lips!! at any rate, i managed to find out about the kogi truck and the power of twitter. totally worth the excursion! that and i got to hang out w/chiara. YAY!
important links:
http://hammer.ucla.edu/
http://www.bergamotstation.com/
http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/
http://www.skirball.org/
http://kogibbq.com/
http://twitter.com/
8. speaking of food, i know everyone's probably wondering where the heck i've been eating lately. so let me share some of the highlights....
dani & i splurged on AOC a while back, but despite the fact that she & jeannine are both big fans, i didn't fall head over heels for it. i must admit that the pork rillettes and the sweetbreads definitely left a positive impression. as did the warm ham hock salad and the kabocha squash gratin. the food was definitely creative and well-done, but i'm wondering whether i had the appetite to fully savor all the flavors. hmmm.... i suppose this means another trip!
de'sha & i went back to asia de cuba in west hollywood for some delish eats during restaurant week. after viv & i had our fabulous meal there last year, i had to go back. the duck spring rolls were still AMAZING, the braised short rib was to die for, the stir-fried green beans were DELISH, and the donut dessert was simply magical. no complaints whatsoever.
atalie & i checked out flame in westwood for some persian cuisine. i believe i ordered the tahchin, which was (surprisingly for me) a rice dish that came out with the loveliest yellow color (probably b/c of the saffron), a fabulously crusty exterior, and superb flavor throughout. i must admit that it was quite dense, so make sure you're hungry when you order it.
de'sha, keith, & i went for brunch at shanghai red's in marina del rey when he was in town a month ago. as i've been typing up this blog, i've realized how much appetite really impacts eating experience. b/c once again, i was exhasuted and i wasn't really in the mood for food this particular day, so i really didn't have the best impression of this place. i mean, the spread was pretty extensive, but i didn't feel like anything was particularly good. i did have some yummy menudo (gotta love tripe), but other than that, everything else was kind of mediocre. well, except for the company!
most recently, sejal & i caught up over yummy eats at father's office in santa monica. i must admit to NOT liking the set-up. i have zero patience (generally-speaking) for waiting, so i was a bit annoyed at the prospect of having to stand around w/food while waiting for a table to open up. thankfully, a really sweet couple was nice enough to give us their table after we'd only been waiting about 10 minutes! i ordered the french sea bass and the roasted brussel sprouts, and both dishes had great flavor. i couldn't believe they didn't have arnold palmers (talk about drinks-ism), but other than that, i was quite pleased w/my meal. on the other hand, sejal didn't think her burger was worth all the hype. the saving grace was the order of sweet potato fries, which i (again surprisingly) couldn't help popping into my mouth.
for those that are following closely, i'm headed out to m cafe de chaya in culver city tonight, trying cafe elysee on sunday, headed back to craft on monday, hopefully checking out bazaar on wednesday, and headed out to seattle for some yummy northwest eats for a few days. hopefully, there will be lots to report shortly!!
important links:
http://www.aocwinebar.com/
http://www.mondrianhotel.com/default.aspx#/explore/?id=asiadecuba
http://www.flamepersiancuisine.com/
http://www.shanghairedsrestaurant.com/
http://www.fathersoffice.com/
9. on the movie front, i've been enamored with kate winslet films. i thought "the reader" was amazing. she totally deserved all those awards. her desire to hide her illiteracy was so visceral. and ralph fiennes was so committed to her. oh to have a love so deep! in a completely different role, kate conveyed serious angst in "revolutionary road." you could totally feel the vise-like grip of her suburban life. and her spirit totally being dragged out of her body. the final scenes were so intense. and the slow drip of the blood. drip drip drip. (i know, i'm horrible.) i thought "the boy in the striped pajamas" was quite the cautionary tale. the plot was simplistic, but the message was loud and clear: evil bites you in the ass. the final scene was dramatic and sad, and you could feel her maternal pain. on a totally different note, "slumdog millionaire" was quite uplifting, with a really creative plot, a super catchy soundtrack, an endearing love story, and great cinematography. some have called it *the best movie ever* which i would seriously debate, but i thought it was well worth the money. (FYI that i still can't believe eri's bf fell asleep during the movie -- talk about knowing nothing about film. sorry, mike, but it's true.) as was the case with "rachel getting married" which showed off anne hathaway's acting chops. i still thought she looked too perfect to be a druggie, but the whole cast was pretty amazing overall. the fuzzy cinematography isn't something i usually like, but it really worked in this instance. and finally, in a completely genre, was "he's just not that into you," which i literally paid FIVE times to see. yes, FIVE times. some would consider that CRAZY. but i honestly love love love romantic comedies. and i managed to cry during each and every viewing of this cheesy chick flick. wait for this line: "you're my exception." goddammit, justin long, you're not even CUTE!!
10. before i forget, i must mention my upcoming weekend adventure -- the great urban race! i seriously had the hardest time finding someone who: 1) is adventurous, 2) i'd want to spend that much time with (3-4 hours), 3) could stand me for that much time (3-4 hours), and 4) was available. plus, i realized how my independence could totally be an impediment when trying to find someone for partner activities. grrr!!! at any rate, i was super suprised that i hadn't thought of judy before she posted on FB that she wanted to do it! so i'm thrilled to see what excitement awaits us this weekend. YAY!! let's see if i love it enough to do it in new york!!
important links:
http://greaturbanrace.com/
11. before i disappear again into the ether, i wanted to send a quick shout-out to ryan & jess for some delicious eats over the past few months! i've had some delicious homecooking c/o the roberts and i'm forever indebted. top chef and st. patty's day will never be the same w/o you two!! and yes, i promise that you'll get yummilicious chocolate souffles as thanks!!
so i swear i've WANTED to keep this thing up-to-date, but it's always so heinously challenging for me to start writing. this is always my excuse though, so i'm going to stop now before i start repeating myself. (which is a total pet peeve, so please avoid doing it around me.)
let's see, let's see.... so i'm trying to think back on all the things i've done in the past 2 months worth mentioning. there's definitely been a bunch so forgive me for not having everything in chronological order.
1. i quite literally spazzed out in january about my purpose in life and my potential lack of financial stability. this happens once every year or two. i don't think i'm ever seriously worried. but the anxiety seems so real at the time. i swear i was losing serious appetite and sleep over it all. i even convinced myself that i might want to do consulting. i even made it to round 2 of mckinsey's APD recruiting! i even got slapped in the face by 3 back-to-back case interviews. thank you, caroline, for telling me that consulting requires serious BS capabilities. i'm glad i failed. i'm just too honest. thankfully, i got some serious frequent flyer miles and yummy restaurant meals out of it. and i made a friend -- who has serious chefs in her family. WOOHOO!
important links:
http://www.apd.mckinsey.com/ - definitely not for the faint of heart!
http://www.printerscafe.com/ - AMAZING sandwiches and sweets
2. i realized that i can't stop working out for 30-60 days in a row. during my spaz fest, i pretty much stopped working out during the months of january and february. and i felt like crap. i lost all cardio capacity and muscle tone. gross, i know. so now that i'm back on track, i've signed up for monthly 10K's in santa monica as well as the santa monica classic. i'm still committed to doing a half-marathon this year, though i have no idea how long it's going to take for me to get into good enough shape. plus i definitely don't want to run 13 miles in the summer. that being said, fall seems like the best bet. any suggestions? (nothing too hilly, please.)
important links:
http://www.active.com/ - great for fitness freaks!
http://smboardwalk.movfitness.com/ - lightest carbon footprint
http://www.santamonicaclassic.com/ - GREAT t-shirts!
3. while i was spazzing, i did manage to make it out to phoenix to check out amy and tom's new house (AND guest casita). i swear i was staying in a mansion -- i could hear my voice echo! i mean, there were different heating systems for different parts of the house! the visit was short (friday to sunday), but definitely sweet. we got to go work out at amy's AMAZING fitness facility -- i swear this place occupies an entire city block! it's like a fitness buffet -- all-you-can-eat AND THEN SOME. i was pretty much hyperventilating after the step class on saturday (which amy thought was way too easy) but i managed to get some serious time on the rock wall w/tom. it'd been ages since i'd gone climbing -- and i LOVED it. especially the auto belay mechanisms. it's totally freeing. amy & i went back for another workout on sunday, and then hiking, and then massages. (btw, is there a reason i can't live like this all the time?) and we even managed to fit in an amazing meal at mosaic on saturday night. the food was QUITE creative -- case in point: a dish entitled "what the FOIE*!?#" -- and DELICIOUS. my mixed grill plate of duck & elk was equally fabulous. and my lemon dessert was quite memorable too. (though i much preferred amy's caramel fondue -- mmm....) besides not sleeping well enough (i've decided i don't like beds that aren't mine), it was the perfect getaway weekend!
important links:
http://www.lifetimefitness.com/
http://www.phoenix.gov/parks/hikemain.html
http://www.massageenvy.com/
http://www.mosaic-restaurant.com/
4. considering that i owe $3700 in taxes (damn fellowship!), i'm glad i booked my boston trip back in december. so for my BFF's 30th birthday, his fiancee arranged a surprise trip to boston AND got his entire groom's party out to surprise him! (melissa, you're the best secret keeper EVER.) it was AMAZING. he was totally and completely SHOCKED. after a long and rainy drive up from new york, soon & michelle were lovely enough to pick me up from logan. we drove out to stay at michelle's parents' house in lexington, and we even got to see a bit of snow and a deer in her backyard! (oh, how i miss the east coast. *sigh*) the next day, we totally surprised derek at brunch at aquitaine. this place was SO cute, and even though i didn't have much of an appetite (due to a minor cold, a long flight [where everyone else also seemed to be sick], and not enough sleep), i thought the prix fixe brunch options were super yummy and affordable.
having saved our pennies that morning, we all splurged on derek's birthday dinner at EVOO that night. again, i wish i'd had more of an appetite b/c the "duck, duck, goose" dish sounded like the perfect dish for me. however, i went w/the striped bass fillet instead and i was definitely left wanting. the fish was cooked well, but the bitter chocolate tortilla didn't do anything for the dish. thankfully, my country pate was nice and smooth, and my star anise creme brulee was apparently the best one ordered. based on my hazy recollection, i believe the specials derek ordered (all meat dishes) were all pretty fabulous, as were the warm chocolate truffle cake and the chocolate-banana bread pudding that got passed around. every other person ordered scallops, which i simply find disgusting and gross. ughhh....
while the food was definitely a highlight (as was derek's look of shock), the BEST part of the trip was the trapeze lesson that steve organized for all of us! first of all, the lesson took place in this crazy indoor complex, which was a bizarre cross b/w a furniture store (yes, a furniture store) and a las vegas mall (complete w/the bellagio water show). secondly, one of the staffers who gave us our lesson was TOTALLY cute and adorable -- and really supportive too. (YAY, don!) the other two guys were OK, but how unprofessional is it to be eating an apple while clipping me in? i mean, come ON. at any rate, the experience was AWESOME. i love heights, especially when i'm strapped in. and i love flying through the air. this isn't to say it wasn't HARD. (i got some SERIOUS bruises.) but we were definitely all smiles at the end!!
i spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with my mutually sick friend glenn in his brookline apt. (we missed you, mel!) it was really the perfect ending to my boston trip b/c snow was falling when i woke up in the morning. and it KEPT snowing ALL day. (and for those who are wondering, snow really is best when being viewed from inside a warm and cozy apartment.) glenn & i trekked through the winter wonderland for a vietnamese lunch, but we took it easy the rest of the afternoon and shot down zombies on the wii. that was SO therapeutic. i left in my new pink reefs and felt snow on my toes. *sigh*
important links:
http://www.aquitaineboston.com/index.php
http://www.evoorestaurant.com/
http://boston.trapezeschool.com/
http://www.jordans.com/
http://pholemongrass.com/
http://www.wiisworld.com/wii-games/Shooting/
5. before i left boston, i signed myself up for a 5-class package of trapeze classes in santa monica. i know. i'm crazy. i really should've checked out the place before signing up, but i was just SO excited to do it again. i couldn't help myself. at any rate, i discovered that the set-up on the santa monica pier is WAY rickety compared to boston. i mean, i had to climb up a LADDER for pete's sake! talk about a sure-fire way to bruise your knees before you even start. on top of that, the main instructor guy was so NOT professional. he didn't even KNOW me yet and he made fun of my lululemon bag. i mean, seriously?! the other instructor guy was nice, but i felt like he was rushing me. i hadn't even gotten my knee-hang down before he was pushing me to get to the next trick. too bad i don't CARE about the next trick, buddy. i'm all about taking things one step at a time and i'm all about getting my form right. otherwise, i'm just going to hurt myself. speaking of which, i must've strained a muscle b/c i can't shrug w/o a mild ache in my left shoulder. thank god for naproxen. no flying for a few weeks. doctor's orders.
important links:
http://losangeles.trapezeschool.com/
6. to see if i could work out all my muscle soreness, i checked out the student massage place that dana recommended. even though the place was cheap ($35), i must say that it definitely wasn't the best massage i've ever gotten. i think there's something about me being small & petite that keeps masseurs and masseuses from giving me the seriously deep tissue massage that i need. it's like i keep saying "MORE PRESSURE" to no avail. the girl at massage envy (in phoenix) gave me some good pressure, but she failed to flip me around. the guy at this place (in LA) gave me the full body treatment, but he failed to exert enough pressure. how long is it going to take me to find something "just right"?? *sigh*
important links:
http://www.chac.edu/
7. ever since talking to brian about his past adventures in LA (and hopefully his future adventures in NY), i've been feeling inspired to wander around LA. (it's weird how one conversation can inspire you, isn't it?) that and the fact that it's the end of the quarter and all i have to do is putz around. (whatever. don't be hatin'!) two weeks ago, i wandered into the hammer museum and saw some interesting pieces by LA artists. i have to admit that i disliked half of the exhibition, but victoria reynolds and llyn foulkes had some fascinating works to show off. last week, i trekked out to bergamot station and checked out some really cool galleries. some of my favorites: james gray, lois lambert, mark moore, ruth bachofner. i didn't have time for a sit-down meal at the cafe, but if my lemon bar and mint iced tea were any indication of the food quality, i'll definitely be back soon! for my last bit of culture in recent times, i got a last-minute invitation from chiara to check out a zocalo talk on the authenticity of food at the skirball. it was a treat to be in the presence of some GREAT chefs, but FYI that jonathan gold is THE worst moderator ever. i mean, the man just kept TALKING. plus he kept smacking his lips!! at any rate, i managed to find out about the kogi truck and the power of twitter. totally worth the excursion! that and i got to hang out w/chiara. YAY!
important links:
http://hammer.ucla.edu/
http://www.bergamotstation.com/
http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/
http://www.skirball.org/
http://kogibbq.com/
http://twitter.com/
8. speaking of food, i know everyone's probably wondering where the heck i've been eating lately. so let me share some of the highlights....
dani & i splurged on AOC a while back, but despite the fact that she & jeannine are both big fans, i didn't fall head over heels for it. i must admit that the pork rillettes and the sweetbreads definitely left a positive impression. as did the warm ham hock salad and the kabocha squash gratin. the food was definitely creative and well-done, but i'm wondering whether i had the appetite to fully savor all the flavors. hmmm.... i suppose this means another trip!
de'sha & i went back to asia de cuba in west hollywood for some delish eats during restaurant week. after viv & i had our fabulous meal there last year, i had to go back. the duck spring rolls were still AMAZING, the braised short rib was to die for, the stir-fried green beans were DELISH, and the donut dessert was simply magical. no complaints whatsoever.
atalie & i checked out flame in westwood for some persian cuisine. i believe i ordered the tahchin, which was (surprisingly for me) a rice dish that came out with the loveliest yellow color (probably b/c of the saffron), a fabulously crusty exterior, and superb flavor throughout. i must admit that it was quite dense, so make sure you're hungry when you order it.
de'sha, keith, & i went for brunch at shanghai red's in marina del rey when he was in town a month ago. as i've been typing up this blog, i've realized how much appetite really impacts eating experience. b/c once again, i was exhasuted and i wasn't really in the mood for food this particular day, so i really didn't have the best impression of this place. i mean, the spread was pretty extensive, but i didn't feel like anything was particularly good. i did have some yummy menudo (gotta love tripe), but other than that, everything else was kind of mediocre. well, except for the company!
most recently, sejal & i caught up over yummy eats at father's office in santa monica. i must admit to NOT liking the set-up. i have zero patience (generally-speaking) for waiting, so i was a bit annoyed at the prospect of having to stand around w/food while waiting for a table to open up. thankfully, a really sweet couple was nice enough to give us their table after we'd only been waiting about 10 minutes! i ordered the french sea bass and the roasted brussel sprouts, and both dishes had great flavor. i couldn't believe they didn't have arnold palmers (talk about drinks-ism), but other than that, i was quite pleased w/my meal. on the other hand, sejal didn't think her burger was worth all the hype. the saving grace was the order of sweet potato fries, which i (again surprisingly) couldn't help popping into my mouth.
for those that are following closely, i'm headed out to m cafe de chaya in culver city tonight, trying cafe elysee on sunday, headed back to craft on monday, hopefully checking out bazaar on wednesday, and headed out to seattle for some yummy northwest eats for a few days. hopefully, there will be lots to report shortly!!
important links:
http://www.aocwinebar.com/
http://www.mondrianhotel.com/default.aspx#/explore/?id=asiadecuba
http://www.flamepersiancuisine.com/
http://www.shanghairedsrestaurant.com/
http://www.fathersoffice.com/
9. on the movie front, i've been enamored with kate winslet films. i thought "the reader" was amazing. she totally deserved all those awards. her desire to hide her illiteracy was so visceral. and ralph fiennes was so committed to her. oh to have a love so deep! in a completely different role, kate conveyed serious angst in "revolutionary road." you could totally feel the vise-like grip of her suburban life. and her spirit totally being dragged out of her body. the final scenes were so intense. and the slow drip of the blood. drip drip drip. (i know, i'm horrible.) i thought "the boy in the striped pajamas" was quite the cautionary tale. the plot was simplistic, but the message was loud and clear: evil bites you in the ass. the final scene was dramatic and sad, and you could feel her maternal pain. on a totally different note, "slumdog millionaire" was quite uplifting, with a really creative plot, a super catchy soundtrack, an endearing love story, and great cinematography. some have called it *the best movie ever* which i would seriously debate, but i thought it was well worth the money. (FYI that i still can't believe eri's bf fell asleep during the movie -- talk about knowing nothing about film. sorry, mike, but it's true.) as was the case with "rachel getting married" which showed off anne hathaway's acting chops. i still thought she looked too perfect to be a druggie, but the whole cast was pretty amazing overall. the fuzzy cinematography isn't something i usually like, but it really worked in this instance. and finally, in a completely genre, was "he's just not that into you," which i literally paid FIVE times to see. yes, FIVE times. some would consider that CRAZY. but i honestly love love love romantic comedies. and i managed to cry during each and every viewing of this cheesy chick flick. wait for this line: "you're my exception." goddammit, justin long, you're not even CUTE!!
10. before i forget, i must mention my upcoming weekend adventure -- the great urban race! i seriously had the hardest time finding someone who: 1) is adventurous, 2) i'd want to spend that much time with (3-4 hours), 3) could stand me for that much time (3-4 hours), and 4) was available. plus, i realized how my independence could totally be an impediment when trying to find someone for partner activities. grrr!!! at any rate, i was super suprised that i hadn't thought of judy before she posted on FB that she wanted to do it! so i'm thrilled to see what excitement awaits us this weekend. YAY!! let's see if i love it enough to do it in new york!!
important links:
http://greaturbanrace.com/
11. before i disappear again into the ether, i wanted to send a quick shout-out to ryan & jess for some delicious eats over the past few months! i've had some delicious homecooking c/o the roberts and i'm forever indebted. top chef and st. patty's day will never be the same w/o you two!! and yes, i promise that you'll get yummilicious chocolate souffles as thanks!!
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