What's good... in the kitchen?

A glimmer of hope...

2011-06-29T20:57:00.001-07:00

No, I haven't blogged. Yes, I suck. Yes, some of you still ask about it... even (sadly) follow it. Lots has happened in the past few months. I've relocated and am finally settling in.
I've had to adopt out my 'girls' so no more eggs or (more importantly) the love from my feathered friends. Meyer lemon tree is no longer part of my life. The only thing I still have (secretly hidden from the vicious home-owner's assoc) are a couple of tomato plants.
Today, after complete neglect, I got my first beautiful, perfectly round, pumpkin orange, marble sized tomato. And something inside me changed. A spark of inspiration? A spark of ANYTHING? ... I hope so.
I let my son eat the prized treat. The look of pure joy that came across his face when he popped it in his mouth was more than enough to let me know that this too, shall pass. As long as we have tomatoes, each other and a few good friends we are blessed.
More to come soon... possibly

Almost a year since a post... WTF have I been DOING?

2011-02-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

Well, what I haven't been doing is being inspired, that's obvious. I have not been any busier, any crazier (well...), any anything. Just bored I guess... with food and with life. But I have taken time over the past few months to review restaurants and hotels on various sites, so why haven't I come back here to my own "kitchen"? Cuz I haven't BEEN in my kitchen! It's sad, really. The interest in cooking at home has all but disappeared. It's a luxury now to have someone else make something, ANYthing, to put into my belly. As long as I don't have to do it. I don't know, maybe it's the rain or the clucking of my girls out back but I feel.....waaaaaaaaaait for it...... guilty. I haven't even been to the farmer's market in almost a year! *gasp*

Maybe I got a little inspiration today after my first visit to the new Staff of Life that finally opened in town and expanded my work/shopping options. Not that I fell in love with it, really. It still has the same uninterested worker bees and warehouse-y feel. But it's nice to have another option. And they did have an impressive cheese display. Just sayin...

I am also inspired by a recent dinner at Ristorante Portofino in, of all places, a Best Western Hotel. It was just one of those rare times when service, food, wine, scenery and company all meshed into that one perfect meal. It has (sadly) been a lonnnnnng time. Don't let their crappy website fool you. And just try to forget it is inside a Best Western Hotel. Once you're inside and you see this view that you're literally right on top of:

And you try this stunningly beautiful (albeit lacking in salt a bit *saltwhore* yeah, yeah) Carpaccio:

You will wonder why you hadn't been there before. And you'll go again. Just sayin... And you should just stick around (if you don't 'stick' there already) and spend the next day drivin' around SF. We forget sometimes how VERY fortunate we are that we don't live in Arkansas (anymore *wink*).

Dance of Joy

2010-04-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Two months later... lol. I suck at this, let's just be honest. But I had to come and share my good luck today. I WON tix to the grand tasting at the Pebble Beach Food and Wine event this weekend!! Yes, won. I have (or at least used to have) a knack for winning things if I really set my mind to it. This was the first thing I've won online through a website, however.
I've been wanting to attend this ~~hoity~~ fabulous foodie event for years but could never afford it. The tix are ridiculously over-priced. It IS Pebble Beach, after all. To me, this is the next best thing to the Aspen Food and Wine or South Beach Food and Wine events. I'm all aflutter.

Now... wtf to WEAR? -nail bite-

FIRST EGG!

2010-02-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

We got our first blue egg today. I'm bummed that I wasn't the one who found it in the coop but hopefully there will be plenty more soon. It's weird, the first few eggs feel more like children than food. I'm having a hard time imagining eating the thing. We have two Ameraucanas that are the same age. Now the challenge is to figure out who became a woman today. I'm so proud, like a new mommy.

Oh, and we got six new day old babies yesterday. All peeping away under their heat lamp. So sweet.

Amazingly insightful blog by a teacher about (disgusting) school lunches...

2010-01-29T16:02:00.000-08:00

http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/

'SHE' was a he...

2010-01-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

Since my previous posts a few months ago I have (once again) begun raising
chickens. I used to have a large coop with ten hens that laid a rainbow of differently colored eggs. I have been missing my girls so I decided to get a couple baby 'Easter Eggers' (they lay blue or green eggs) to keep in the backyard. They are about four months old and getting ready to start laying... well, one of them is/was. Until 'she' crowed one morning. Here is the video of what I decided was the appropriate, albeit controversial, thing to do:

We named 'her' Bill the morning she crowed and by that evening 'she' was in the pot. Coq au vin (cock in wine). Bill had a noble death and fed four of us the next night. It was a delicious meal and I'm honored and humbled to have had the experience. We should all be a little closer to and more aware of where our food REALLY comes from.

Chanterelles...

2010-01-21T12:55:00.001-08:00

Three shroom risotto with crispy chanterelles... Oh, and a chanterelle quesadilla too. Just cuz.

All work and no blog...

2010-01-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

It's been a long, long, longggg time. Working for a living sure has put a damper on my internet obsession. (Well, not really.) But I'm re-inspired for the time being.

Last night's dinner was... NOM!

2009-11-02T11:13:00.000-08:00

Yes, I lag. Three months... I know, I know.

1 pistachio, 2 pistachio, 3 pistachio...

2009-07-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

My first trip to Casa de Fruita resulted in these NOMs, plus some Blackberry wine to die for. Twenty years of living in SC and I had never been to Casa de Fruita. Why? There has just never been any reason for me to stop here unless it was to pee and even then I went to the gas station next door. It is in the middle of nowhere on the way to an even shittier place that just needs to be passed as fast as possible.

I have always been appauled and, I'll admit, slightly curious as to why this is an actual destination for some people. My first visit confirmed what I had always assumed. It is a hell hole of tourists and unattended children. It gets hotter there than my internal thermostat can handle... ever. There are sad, filthy buffalo that you can view if you pay $3.50 to ride their little (I mean little) podunk train. Did I mention it is f*#%ing HOT there? -gag-

But they did have NOMs that were very enjoyable. I have never seen so many 'flavors' of nuts in my life. Amazing. Beautiful. And as kitschy as the wine tasting bar seemed it actually resulted in a great bottle of (of all things) Blackberry wine coming home with us that we now wish had been a case.

Garlic, Japapeno, Habanero

~FAIL~

2009-07-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

I performed a classic rookie maneuver today. It was so ridiculous I felt the overwhelming urge to stop, photograph, and blog about it. (insert eye roll here) Anyone I've cooked for knows that I do not need any help making a mess in the kitchen. I am a total slob of a cook. Clean as I go? Helllll no. Clutter as I go is more like it. If any of my clients saw the disaster that is their kitchen pre-cleanup, I would surely be out of a job. I hate cleaning the kitchen, hate doing dishes, loooooathe it. One of the best things about working in a restaurant kitchen was that at the end of the day/night I got to leave my mess behind for the dishwasher(s) to clean up. ~cringe~ I know, I know.

So, I was testing a new recipe for smoky chipotle chicken enchiladas today. As I pour the boiling hot enchilada sauce into the blender I think to myself...'Hot liquids spew out of blenders, shit.' I lost the lid to my blender years ago. (shut it) So, as always, I fold a paper towel into fours and put it over the top. And I think to myself... 'This probably isn't gonna hold it in... meh, how bad could it be?' Did I mention that not only was the blender full of boiling hot liquid, it was full almost to the top with said sauce.

And..... waaaaait for it....... waaaaaait for it.....

WahLah!

I managed to sauce an entire half of the kitchen, my foot included. Another important tip they teach you in cooking school besides 'a falling knife has no handle' and to hold the top on the blender tight when pureeing hot liquids is how unsafe it is to cook barefooted. So, my classic rookie maneuver ends in a total FAIL and a blistered foot.

The outcome of the enchiladas is still TBD.

Bat Wing

2009-07-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

I had to open my big mouth. "Bring it home, put it in mah pot." Oye. I honestly didn't even know people (in this country) ate these things. It's something my six year old pets in the tidal pool at the aquarium. Freakish f'in thing. Rotten fish eating, bottom dwelling mud monkey of a thing. Ewww. But it's dead now ~sigh~ and I'm on a mission to cook the bitch. Nothing ass loads of garlic and chili paste can't fix, I hope. Stay tuned...

I have crabs

2009-07-04T15:49:00.000-07:00

... just sayin'

Thank you, crabs, for giving your lives on this
American holiday.

You were NOM.

I don't care.... iz NOM!

2009-06-22T23:37:00.001-07:00

Yeah!!!! It's baaaaack. Volcano heaven. Say what you will, I don't care. I love me some Volcano tacos (and now burritos too)!

Happy trout come from California

2009-06-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well... tasty trout at least.

My weekend in the Sierras resulted in bellies full of fishes and Jiffy Pop. What could be better?

Great American Food ~FAIL~

2009-06-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

All I can say is Epic FAIL. I won't rattle on and on about what a disaster this was since every single other person who was there has already done so. I will say that it wasn't torturous, not nearly as torturous as it was for some. Especially those who spent over $500 on 'VIP' tickets. It wasn't 100 degrees, nor was it raining. The bathroom lines were nonexistent and they didn't care about smuggled flasks or fence jumping or much of anything really. Yes, we went hungry and yes it was dangerously crowded but there was plenty of booze to be had and luckily we had eaten something just before we got there. I felt sorry for the bands because the amount of people in the seats and on the lawn looked more like a jr. high school musical rehearsal than a big name show.
We found what appeared to be a deserted VIP bar area at the top of the lawn, complete with couches and a wind block. We posted up there and that's where we stayed until it started to get dark and cold. One or two people walked by but for the most part we were completely alone all evening. While cozy on the couch we watched Guy's 'demo' on the monitors and I've decided he is the annoying wanna-be rockstar lots of people think he is. This was disappointing to me because I have defended him to friends in the past and really wanted him to be cool. But trying so hard to be cool ultimately made him look very uncool and sorta just lame. I felt like I was at a bad Van Halen impersonation show. And Bobby is still the douchebag I thought he was. Sitting up there in the blazing sun (hope he was well lathered with high SPFs) eating tasty, juicy burger after tasty, juicy burger in front of thousands of starving pissed off 'fans'. Never once appologizing for or even mentioning the mahem going on down in the booth area.
The drive back to the hotel required a stop at the McD's drive through. It had been six hours in the sun with nothing but vodka and a couple strips of bacon. No water, no other snacks of any kind. Rock on, FOODfest! *insert eye roll here* But the hotel rocked and if nothing else I came home with something to bitch about.

Update: I decided to hop on the 'I demand a refund' bandwagon and just got off the phone with Livenation. No-questions-asked refund, thank you very much. Damn, not much left to bitch about now.

Big Bad Voodoo Bobby

2009-06-11T21:43:00.001-07:00

Saturday I'll be NOMing at the Great American Food & Music Fest and checking out Mr. Flay and the always annoying and adorable Drive Ins, Diners & Dives dude. I must admit, however, that I am anti Flay. So anti Flay that he makes Guy seem well, un-annoying. I DO love Bobby's food though and who knows, maybe I'll even buy (another) book and stand in the dreaded signing line to get my taken with his highness. Prolly not. But I wouldn't mind adding a photo with Mr. Fieri to my list. Too bad that would require me to fork over $30 or $40 for his book. Humph.
There will also be restaurants from across the country selling their NOMs. This is apparently not one of those 'get in and everything's free' shindigs. (mental note: stash flask)
Food, wine, tunes and finishing it off with a night in a fabulous hotel... can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

Last night's NOM

2009-06-11T14:17:00.001-07:00

Seared scallops & quail eggs on fresh corn cream with mache and
applewood smoked bacon

So I picked up some scallops yesterday. Fat, succulent, firm, perfect. But I was at a total loss on something fabulous to do with them. When this happens I usually linger aimlessly up and down the aisles of Whole Foods, hoping for inspiration. And as I passed the fresh egg 'bar' the beautiful quail eggs (which I am totally in love with already) caught my eye. It occurred to me that a sunny side up quail egg is almost exactly the size of a perfectly seared scallop. And so... this NOM was created.

Buffalo Tenders

2009-06-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

My First attempt at Buffalo ~~wings~~ tenders

After the previous night's late night gluttony, I decided an early (9 is early in my house) 'light' snack was in order. I have bone issues and prefer not to chew, suck or otherwise put in my mouth the bone of any beast. So instead of buffalo wings I made buffalo 'tenders'. I cooked the hell out of them and they were dry and tough, exactly how I prefer my chicken. And they were surprisingly spicy. I wasn't sure what to expect and most things are not nearly hot enough for my taste. But these pleased me. And if you don't count the bowl full of Gorgonzola dressing (ie: mayo, sour cream, cheese) I made to dip them in, then they were as intended - un gut-bombish. And quite NOM.

Don't be an enabler

2009-06-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Watching the Food Network after 10pm can lead to ~~mom jeans~~ uncontrollable cravings, late night grocery store runs and a greasy, messy kitchen.

I consider myself a pretty tough chick. Strong willed, in control of myself (and many others). Not weak by any means. Can say no to just about anything. Excellent willpower. Except for one thing.... snacking. Late night snacking specifically. Here is where I can go way, way overboard. Once the snack demon starts battin' his lashes at me, that's it. I must NOM. And I don't mean a couple of Doritos or a pint of Ben & Jerry's. I mean a full-on start from scratch, cheese essential, carbs a must, preferably spicy artery clogging gut-bomb of a snack. Having an empty fridge and/or no cheese in the house is a big help when trying to control the snack demons. But when you have an 'enabler' sitting next to you, taunting you, NOMing with you, offering to go on a ~~drug~~ cheese run for you, well... might as well just break out your mom jeans and giant one piece bathing suit.

This was the outcome of last night’s snack demon battle. Jalapeno burgers with taco ‘flavored’ cheese and Sriracha mayo, cheese AND chili cheese fries. Finished up at 1am and went straight to bed to enjoy the cheese coma.

Damn you for being so delicious. Damn you Food Network. And damn all of you enablers out there.

Someday...

2009-06-03T20:58:00.000-07:00

Just curious if anyone reading has been to an Outstanding in the Field dinner. There are many that happen in the bay area, lots of those within an hour of me. I'm lucky in that but unlucky because either A) I always miss the release date of the schedule and the good ones are sold out, or B) I cannot afford the ticket price.

I'd love a first hand impression of this event. Anyone? Check out their website. The locations, the food, the wine, everything... amazing. Their old bus now resides in my neighborhood. It's taunts me. Of all the places in all the world it could retire... it's a stone's through from my front door. Everyday I pass it I get a tinge of pain and jealousy up my spine. And though I know there's a new bus in her place now, when I pass her I get anxious thinking of the places she's been and all the amazing meals I missed.

Something we should all see...

2009-06-03T13:33:00.001-07:00

Sin? Yes. Nom? Not so much.

2009-06-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

I've recently returned from a fantastic few days in Sin City. I come back to my blog with my head hung low. I have nothing to talk about... food wise.

I did make reservations at two places but, even though they were pretty late, just didn't quite make it to them. It was fine at the time. I loathe to be rushed or on any schedule when I'm traveling. Herein lies a horrid dilemma. Reservations are almost certainly required wherever you go, especially on my 'must nom' list. But as much as I look forward to going I am subconsciously nagged by my inner schedule. Must leave pool at xx time. Must try on every pair of shoes in suitcase by xx time. Must have enough time to sober slightly from pool drinks in order to enjoy said resos. Must must must. -sigh-

Though the premade Italian sub and tortilla chips poolside were nothing to write home about, the tasty scenery sure did make up for what they lacked. -wink- And I do love me some room service and always get a little thrill out of the mini Tabasco bottles that come on the white linen table. WHICH I pocketed, of course. And accidentally 'carried on' without putting them in the required quart sized plastic baggie. And no one gave a flyin *!#%. Huh. Tabasco bombs....? Just sayin'.

This trip was so NOT a foodie tour. Far from it. But I'm not worried. I caught the sunrise MORE than once, partied like a rock star trashin' hotel rooms & plumbing fixtures, saw friends I hadn't seen in fifteen years, got an invite to the scary state of Texas, deepened my tan and made yet another 'dancer' blush.

$19, hell even $49 to Vegas will keep me comin' back for more. And more. And more. Maybe next time I'll even NOM. . . food that is.

Food blog freaks

2009-06-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Things To Expect When Dining With A Food Blogger:

1. You won’t be asked to bring anything except perhaps wine or other beverages.

2. Dinner will be served at 3 in the afternoon because the natural light is better.

3. Once the meal is ready, it will be marched past the set dining room table and out the back door for a photo shoot on the shady deck; it will be served to you approximately fifteen minutes later. If you're lucky.

4. Due to #3, dinner will be cold.

5. There will be one beautifully presented dish - the one being photographed - but any side dishes may look like they were hurriedly slopped together.

6. The dining room has a backdrop and fill lights.

7. You may be asked if you can be photographed while eating, but note that this request is merely a formality and the host will snap away at will no matter what your response. Expect close-ups of your lips, etc.

8. The host may seem lost in thought for the most of the meal -- presumably because he/she is already composing a blog post in his/her head.

9. If there is conversation, it will probably revolve around the food (details on how it was prepared, the chef’s feelings on how it turned out) or the weather (too sunny for photographs or not sunny enough).

10. You'll notice that the cake for dessert has a slice missing from it. That's because the host needed to photograph the layers.

Consider yourself warned. You're welcome.

~~ SWOON ~~

2009-05-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

I have a new crush... Scarlet Runner Beans. I saw them today in the bulk section and it was just like in the cartoons. My eyes turned into red animated hearts and popped right out of my head. They were a MUST have, even if I just put them in a bowl to be gazed at, swooned upon.

In the cart they went. I didn't even cringe when their tiny little bag rang up at almost $8. I would have paid $28. Well, prolly not. Just sayin'.

I love how they feel, smooth and cold. And the clickidy clack sound they make as they fall into a bowl. Think: rainstick. They really look like magic beans, straight from a fairy tale. I think they're one of the most beautiful edible things I've ever seen. *insert day dreamy lash bat here*

Of course I must take photos, lots of photos. And I spend a 1/2 hour digging through my meticulously organized kitchen (ah huh) for interesting dishes and linens to display them on. Pulled every napkin and place mat out of the closet. Put them on the table, laid them on the floor, fluffed them, ironed them (yeah) and then decided everything I have is sh!t. Ugly. Boring. It all clashed with them or looked... cheap, under the dingy yellow fluorescent light. The only REAL light in my house. After about 70 tries or so the best shots were the ones of just the beans alone. No accoutrement. Nothing trying to compete.

I heart you, magic beans. I don't know how I'll ever bring myself to NOM you. -sigh-

...

Groupie, not Grouper

2009-05-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! Tonight I'm attending the Cooking for Solutions gala in Monterey. Billed as "the culinary event of the year- an elegant way to discover how healthy choices protect the health of the soil, water and ocean wildlife." Sixty restaurants and fifty five wineries as well as Thomas Keller and Alton Brown all at my fingertips... flutter. Well, Tommy and Al prolly won't be at my FINGERTIPS, but I plan to add them to the list of famous chef fingertips I've touched.

This, thanks to a very special friend in the food business who always manages to find a way to get me in on these foodie delights. . . I thank you. . . I bow down. Now I have to go practice holding a plate and a wine glass and a napkin while walking around in five inch heels, in a very dark room, trying to look sexy yet sensible and ungroupie-like. That's Groupie, not Grouper. Well... that either.

My Next Challenge

2009-05-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

Winged Bean... how have I gone my whole life without meeting one? Also known as the Goa Bean and has many other names in different parts of the world.
I have no idea what I'll do with them once I get my hands on them but even if they weren't so interesting looking the name alone makes them a must try.

Anyone have personal experience with these winged beasts?

What I NOM'd last weekend...

2009-05-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

Smoked oysters, Vienna sausages, Pork rinds and Duck liver. Come ON... you know you NOM it!

? Dirty ? in the 50's

2009-04-30T16:02:00.000-07:00

Wow...
I bet THIS was 'good in the kitchen'.
-snicker-

Gotta love Julia

2009-04-30T15:41:00.001-07:00

My friend Karen made a funny comment on Facebook today about stuffing a chicken into a pot and it reminded me of Julia and her chickens. So great! (Look at the size of that knife! -gasp-)

The video won't allow embedding so you'll have to click the link.

Yo Quiero Taco Bell

2009-04-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

Um... wtf? Today I am jonesin' for a taco. Not just any taco, a crispy 'cat food' Taco Bell taco. The best kind. So I decide to brave the afternoon 41st Avenue traffic and drive my ass up to the Bell only to find when I pull into the parking lot that I can see THROUGH the Bell. Like, I can see the buildings on the other side of the Bell. The horizon has changed. WHAAA? The Bell is ... gone! Freakin' tractors and forklifts and piles of wood. Chain link fencing. Laborers. Dust. But no Bell. OK, I just saw that damn building a day or two ago. I'm sure of it. When was the last time I drove by there? OMG, I am so set in my ways, familiar with my surroundings that when a building suddenly vanishes into thin air overnight it kinda freaks me out, man. Why was there no warning? No signs out front saying, "Last Day For Tacos, Bitches!"???

DAMN IT. That's just gay.

Yes I said 'GAY'. Don't get yer panties in a wad over it. When it comes outta my mouth it simply means 'lame', 'dumb', 'sucky'. Not the other thing, K? Bitches. And besides, this is MY blog.

*humph*

NOM!

2009-04-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an experiment day in my kitchen. WFM did, indeed, have the fiddleheads though the brown specks covering them were somewhat disagreeable and disheartening. We also brought home a few fresh squids in hopes of recreating the amazing dish I had last weekend with the white beans. C really is becoming quite handy in the kitchen. He was very interested in the squid 'guts' comparing them, appropriately, to boogers. He shucked peas while I tended to the the elusive fiddleheads. The outcome was a pea and fiddlehead risotto, which was... ok. I think it would have been better with the peas alone as the fiddleheads were somewhat tasteless and not nearly as beautiful as I had hoped.

The squid and white beans, however, were just NOM! It came out very close to what I remembered and I could've just sat there and eaten it all night till I was sick. I guess C agreed because the very first thing he said to me this am when he got out of bed was, "Mom, you make the best squids EVER!" -blush- That's my boy.

Edible Schoolyard

2009-04-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give a quick shout out about this book: Edible Schoolyard by Alice Waters. Based on the garden project she inspired fifteen years ago in Berkeley. My son has a working garden at his elementary school. Each classroom has their own section of the garden in which to grow things of beauty and things to eat. This is THE reason i enrolled him at this school, going around the district's rules of location and residency. I feel so strongly about this project and just wish that it was possible for all kids to get a chance to learn and really experience where their food comes from. It's a beautiful, easy to read book that anyone with a passion for their children's education and what they eat would enjoy.

No Luck

2009-04-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

The farmer's market mission was a let down. I'm just gonna say it... even the farmer's market can't compare to WFM, in my eyes. I heart WFM. -sigh- And I've heard THEY have fiddleheads.

Spring!

2009-04-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that the temperature has been way, waaaay hotter than even the hottest summer day here, it is SPRING! And with spring comes all sorts of delicious green things at the farmer's market. I have been a bad, bad girl and haven't been to the farmer's market ONCE since I started this whole working girl thing. Granted, it was winter, and only now is it getting exciting there again. But tomorrow! Tomorrow ... I go. I am mostly in search of Fiddleheads but I know there will be a plethora of other things there that I MUST have. Favas. Peas. Nettles. But these Fiddleheads I need. I dreamt of them the other night. I need them. They have a harvest window of only 15 days a year. I pray I hit it on the right week. Stay tuned...

Back at it...

2009-04-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

After an almost three month break I vow to get my ass back here to share my wisdom with the world. Actually, I've just been re-inspired by all the amazing food blogs I scour daily... their photos like porn to me, their recipes making my mouth wet.
This whole working girl thing has pretty much consumed all my internet play time and if I'm not in the kitchen (mine or someone else's) then I'm here researching & analyzing & planning & obsessing.
Yeah, I love it. I really, really love it. And I feel fulfilled and productive and needed in a way I never have before. And some days I just wanna puke that out to whoever cares. Cuz I know what's goooood. Do you? -wink-

I spent a fantastic weekend in the city and got to check off another restaurant on my 'must do in SF' list: Delfina. I've got to say I was a smidge disappointed. Very disappointed with the ambiance, actually. Amazing ambiance can, in my opinion, make up for a lot. Here there was none. Zip. Zero. And though the service was good I had a hard time with the wardrobe of most of the staff. I live in SC, I mean, I'm no stranger to dirtbags or hippies or those trying real hard to look like one. And I really don't care as long as their fingernails are clean and their armpit hair doesn't tickle me as they're refilling my wine glass. But at a certain level, James Beard awarded and such, and when I don thigh high stockings and my big girl bra, I just do not want to look at another stained and faded pink tank top or ripped up plaid shirt. The food was good, thank god. I fell in love with white beans all over again. And was very pleasantly surprised by the little nibbles of marrow adorning my steak. I won't go into the lack of noodle choices.
I also got to check out the new Academy of Sciences and a fabulous new hotel in Union Square. It did not suck.

Holy Carb Heaven

2009-01-26T11:42:00.001-08:00

OH ... MY... NOM.

Potato chip nachos with mashed potatoes and bacon on top? -thud-

Bacon-Oatmeal Cookies... hmmm

2009-01-22T17:10:00.001-08:00

I love me some bacon. Oh yes. But.... ???.... hmmm.... http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/01/bacon-oatmeal-cookie-sandwiches-recipe.html

Personal Chef?

2009-01-14T20:50:00.001-08:00

And a quick note just to say that I should not be wasting my time here - I should be working. Working? Me? Yes. I have launched (somewhat overnight) my personal chef business called WHISK!
Since I'm starting from scratch I have a zillion things I should be doing like importing recipes into my software program, researching next week's menu, recipe testing. But here I am, with a sudden urge to blog. WTF?

Here's the site in it's infancy: WHISKchef.com

Welcome MEYER LEMON season!

2009-01-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

I was inspired to blog again by a story from the LA Times called '100 things to do with a Meyer Lemon'. I love meyer lemons though you wouldn't know it by looking at my meyer lemon tree. Poor, sad thing. Neglected. Ignored. It is a big, beautiful tree. Big by meyer lemon standards anyway. And she produces obscene amounts of the magical little things. I remember the first day I saw this house. I couldn't believe me eyes when I saw her, laden with lemons, covering an entire corner of the front yard. I knew I must live here. And I do. And this month marks two years. I won't ignore her this season. I promise myself I won't take her for granted any longer.

2008-12-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

The Metallica show on Saturday night rocked. My phone and the pics/vids it took, however, did not. I was so caught up in the moment that I found myself singing happy birthday to Lars after they smashed pies in his face. And I'm afraid this time James couldn't see me, but I'm sure he knew I was there.

Today I'm enduring my first headbanger's neckache like a champ.

Public Service Announcement

2008-12-03T19:35:00.001-08:00

Comcast cable sucks big hairy ones!

Not that anyone who has or ever has had Comcast doesn't already know this, but... omg! During the summer I got this killer deal from them: $19.99 for internet and $19.99 for cable for six months. Great, right? I mean what is it normally, like $40 or $50 each? Well, six months ended today and I have tried over the past few weeks to get this rate extended for another six months. I've used every method available: live chat, phone calls, in person visits. No way. Nada. Nein. Nope. I did manage to squeeze one extra month out of the live chat guy but I think that's only because of the severe language barrier we had. (Don't get me started with that.) So, I got pizzed and decided to cancel my service entirely after the promo ends next month. Thinking, for sure, someone will call me before then offering some fabulous deal. Um... no. Today I wake to no cable and (gasp!) no internet. Those twats disconnected my service today even though the customer service dude said that he could clearly see on his screen that my end date was next month. He tells me he's so sorry and that they would have it restored ... tomorrow sometime. WTF? Um, no. Nah ah. Nein. A complete meltdown, thirty minutes of hold time and a mouthful of his supervisor's ass later I had someone scheduled to come back today. Of course, at the very very very end of the day. I don't care, I'm just happy to get back in touch with the WORLD, ya know? So, after climbing my pole, the technician dude tells me that not only had they come out and turned me off but that instead of disconnecting me they had actually CUT the line. Then he asks me who I pizzed off at Comcast. LMFAO! Seriously though, wtf?

Will I get a credit for one whole day without service? Yeah right. Will I get that eagerly anticipated phone call offering a fantastic rate and free porn for all my trouble? Unlikely. I hate them. Really I do. But being without 'service' for just one day had me so twisted in knots that I will probably do what everyone does, eventually, and bow down to them. Cancel my disconnect and pay their exorbitant prices. Take it up the Wazoo with a smile on my face.

Nazi bastards.

2008-12-02T09:10:00.001-08:00

2008-11-25T14:21:00.002-08:00

Nacho Libre - Stretchy Pants

Nuf said.

W.....T.....F?

2008-11-20T18:26:00.000-08:00

I don't take credit for finding this freak, but I HAD to share. WTF dude? And I thought I had some kink...

That was fast!

2008-11-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

--- Now we do the dance of joy ---

Will it go under $2.00?

2008-11-18T15:52:00.001-08:00

Holy crap! Every day I pass this one particular gas station on the way to C's school. Four times a day I pass it. Drop off, go home, pick up, go home. And every day the prices get lower and lower. How is it possible the prices are going down so dramatically, so quickly? My car is on 'F' constantly now for fear I will drive by one morning and it will be $5 again.
Not complainin, just sayin.
Earlier this summer

Today

I filled up my raggedy old car for $22 today. I haven't done that since the VW days. Whoa.

Gimmie Crabs!

2008-11-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Dungeness crab season opened yesterday. This just makes me happy. Happy, happy, happy! Hopefully this year is better than last, as an oil spill in the bay delayed the start of the season for weeks. There never seemed to be enough crabs to go around and when there were they were expensive. I love crab in all forms but here is how I usually cook it. It's easy, messy and fabulous!

Chile Roasted Dungeness Crabs with garlic

4 large Dungeness crabs (I have my fishmonger crack and clean them. But if you buy them live you'll have to do this yourself.)
1 head garlic, minced
1 onion, minced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
2 sticks butter
1 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, or 6 to 8 fresh red chiles, minced
3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt & pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Combine 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, the minced garlic, onions, butter, olive oil, crushed red pepper, and black pepper in a large roasting pan. Place the pan in the oven on the lowest rack, and bake, stirring occasionally, until onions and garlic are golden, about 8 minutes. (Do not allow the garlic to burn.) Remove the pan from the oven and add the crab pieces and mix thoroughly so that the crabs are well coated with the garlic and butter mixture. Return the pan to the oven and bake, stirring occasionally, until the crabs are heated through and the garlic mixture is braised onto the shells, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with the chopped parsley, and serve hot with lots of crusty bread.

NOM NOM NOM

Leash Laws

2008-11-15T20:44:00.001-08:00

C and I went to Gilroy Gardens again today. Our second trip in a month. And I have lots to say about it but really, this is all I can come up with. It's SO bad there, like nowhere else I've ever been. WTF?

Dude, right? Geez. I did take some PICS though.

Free Obama Sticker

2008-11-13T14:09:00.000-08:00

Want a cool free Obama sticker? Click on the picture. Be sure to give them your real email addy though cuz they'll send a link to confirm.

Just an observation:

2008-11-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

My child will almost always be the one you see trying to uproot the play structure or move the bench to the other side of the park. Not mischievously really, just to DO it. I don't understand this but he's definitely his father's son in this regard.
Today I watched him from far across the park (Called Blue Ball park, I know. It's ok to laugh, it's weird.) push, scoot and roll this huge rock through screaming children, around the swings, through the sand, over to me. This rock was freakin big. And heavy. I tried to pick it up, oh hell no. And through sand... what the? That ain't easy. It was so bizarre, yet normal to me cuz I'm used to it, that I thought maybe I should capture it forever on film, er memory card. So he gets to me, all proud and flapping with joy, presenting this...boulder proudly, like a cat dropping a carcass on your doorstep. I thanked him and asked him why and his answer is, "just cuz".

Huh. A boy thing obviously. Yet I never see any of the other boy's moving boulders 'just for fun'. What's next? Oye.

Foodie Weekend

2008-11-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

What a great 'foodie' weekend I just had. Friday night I had a few friends over for tapas and cocktails. Food seemed to go over well and the drinks went down easily. I got to introduce oysters to one of my friends for the first time, which he loved. And another said they were the best oysters she had ever had. -blush-puff-beam- I have to admit I was a little worried about the oyster course cuz I didn't just shuck 'em open and throw 'em on a plate. That's easy, either you love them or you don't. I did stuff to 'em, cooked 'em, experimented a little. They were fabulous though oysters and I are not friends. We haven't been friends since the restaurant days when I shucked too many to count and have the scars to prove it. I prefer to have others do the work for me now. But I am very happy I could provide a party in the mouths of my friends.

Saturday, oh my. I met TYLER FLORENCE. I have since washed my right hand but the thought crossed my mind, more than once, to never! He did a cooking demo then signed books and tolerated the hoards of women (and a few loving husbands/boyfriends) waiting in line forevvver (in the rain) to get their photo taken with him. I'm always so embarassed to be one of the groupies. By the time I get to the front of the line I feel like a total douche for being one of the people who needs their new $40 cookbook 'personally' signed - like you're buds or something. I felt the same way last year when I stood in 'the' line to meet Bourdain. Like he even sees your face. (We were at the end of the line, I might add.) I'm sure we all just look like a bunch of cheeseburgers or triple lattes or down pillows to him by that time. But he is so adorable I gotta say. Despite the horrid sweaters and Izod shirts he wears. His face was all pink and sweaty, he looked delirious. Tortured. But what do I care? I'm gettin' that picture, man.

As I got just a couple people away I noticed he wasn't even writing people's names anymore or anything personal. Just 'Tyler'. Huh! What a rip! I could buy that crap off Ebay and wouldn't have had to stand in this line with the annoying twins from hell behind us the whole time. Ok, so then I must engage him. Say something witty. Make him WANT to write something personal and flirty in my book. Ugh. Nausea sets in. Hives break out. I got nuthin'. I put my lipgloss on, fluff mah hair and when instructed, shakily approach him. He extends his hand, I shake it. He opens the book, sees the post-it with my name on it, and says, shit, I don't know. Something to me which included my name. I say something like, 'You must be tiiiiiiired' to which he replies, 'Man, I'm shredded'. The appropriate response to that, just to keep the convo going cuz dude, it's TYLER FLORENCE I'm talking to, would have been 'Well you're almost done' or 'Thank you for coming it means a lot to me' or 'Here's my number...'. But no, I just stand there like a tool while he signs. We smile, flash bulbs go off and I'm shuffled away swiftly and effeciently - back out into the rain.

"Dana, keep on cookin'! -Tyler"

-swoon-

Sunday I had one of the best breakfasts I had had in a long time. And at a joint where I least expected it. And I can't wait to go back.
Later on I made a big pot of pasta out of Tyler's new book. NOM. I'm a happy girl.

2008-11-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

It's the little things that make me happiest sometimes...

Ever since Tuesday I've been putting off the task of removing the Obama bumper sticker I so proudly stuck (right on the paint) of my raggedy old car. Because political bumper stickers MUST be removed as soon as possible after elections, people. There's nothing worse than those cars driving around with severely sun faded Bush/Quayle stickers. Even Clinton stickers. Just get rid of them.

I had anticipated needing all sorts of stinky alcoholy chemicals and razor blades to scrape it off, along with the 20 year old paint underneath. WELL, this morning I thought I'd see just how bad it was gonna be by attempting to lift a corner with my fingernail. And VOILA, off it came smoothly and easily. Not as easily as a window cling but pretty damn easily. Just peeled right off. Didn't leave any residue or little corner piece. Nothing.

....Huh. Just another reason to thank Obama.

2008-11-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NATIONAL NACHO DAY!

Yes, there is a real live holiday dedicated to Nachos. A little late on the announcement, but I'm sure you all knew already and have been celebrating in melty gooey cheese all day.
NOM.... NOM.... NOM.

2008-11-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

I just ... wow. I knew I would be emotional but, whoa. I remember crying like a baby during Clinton's acceptance speech. "Don't Stop" will forever = that night for me. At that time I didn't have much to lose (or gain) by who won the presidency. This time I feel like it really matters to me, personally. To my future and to C's future. And I am so happy that I was alive to be part of and witness this event that is huge for just so many reasons. I feel proud. And hopeful. And I just needed to share.

(Please forgive my recent LOLCat facination.)

My First Blog

2008-11-02T21:41:00.000-08:00

Let me start by saying I am not a blogger. I scoff at people who are witty enough and grammatically correct enough to tell the world, in an interesting way, about their daily goings on. I'm a private person by nature and though I share photos of C with a few family members and close friends the thought of puking out the tedious details of my life to the entire world makes me want to crawl under the nearest rock. I can just hear you people now, "OH - MY - GOD, Becky..... look.. at.. her .. blog. It is soooo BAD!"

--shudder--

BUT... after seeing some of the super artsy, super cute blog layout websites and reading a few laugh-out-loud funny blogs the idea went from oh hellll no, never to meh, maybe someday, if I'm ever so inspired by something that I can't possibly keep it to myself. Today was that day..

Our Day of the Dead

I've always been intrigued by this holiday. Always loved the imagery, the creepiness of it all. Admittedly, I knew nothing about it other than it was the days following Halloween and it had to do with dead people. After seeing an alter set up in the lobby of our doctor's office last week (umhmm) C was full of questions about what, why, when and where. All of which I could not answer. And he was especially interested in the sparkly little skulls made of *gasp* sugar they had displayed.

So, today I decided to take him over the hill to the San Jose Día de los Muertos celebration. There was gonna be dancing and story telling and snacks and vendors selling all that cool skeleton stuff I couldn't afford but loved to look at. I figured even if it was a total flop the museum was nearby and hosting craft tables of sugar skull decorating and paper flower making for kids. THIS is what C was going for. To get his hands on skulls made of SUGAR that you decorate with FROSTING and sequins and glitter. My kid digs all things sparkly, I mean like, really digs.

We somehow found our way to the start of the procession, miraculously, and right as they were beginning. I know nothing of this city. As soon as I exit the freeway I am in a foreign land. We drove back and forth, up and down, around and around until I finally parked the car and decided we were hoofin' it. I figured we'd just follow all of the Mexican families dressed in black carrying flowers. Surely they knew where they were going. And they did. Right in front of the cathedral were enormous skeletons on stilts and women in beautiful dresses with ghastly painted faces carrying baskets overflowing with marigolds. Of which we were offered a handful and politely took. I mean, never pass up flowers when offered, right? Even if I had no clue what their purpose was or why everyone had armfuls of them. Since it was apparent we weren't in the actual 'festival' location we just sorta stood around listening to people tuning their instruments and smelling them light their incense (gag) figuring it would be obvious, eventually, what they were doing and what we should do.

Suddenly, the music starts and the stilt walkers take off, with the rest of the costumed people and flower passer-outters. All of the onlookers followed suit. C and I looked at each other and I thought, well, why not. So, we filed in with everyone else, carrying our marigolds, smiling at the people on the streets. As we were walking a strange feeling began to come over me. Something similar to the day the Grinch's heart grew three sizes. No, not really. But it was a really cool feeling to be walking there, with my son, amongst so many others and their young children. Participating in this celebration? ceremony?, exposing him to something so culturally NOT us yet so strange and beautiful and welcoming. The most amazing faces we saw today. Beautiful and somber, some painted some not. Most of the children unimpressed, or should I say, unruffled by these images while C's eyes were as big as saucers. Everything so different and borderline scary (not that he would show it).

After about four blocks we arrived at the destination. A small courtyard with a couple vendors and a craft table. We both hurridly decorated paper masks as hordes of children and adults crowded behind us waiting for their turn. Sorta a let down even though I don't know what I was expecting really. So we decided to walk the same route back to the museum and do the much anticipated sugar skull decorating.

It had been storming on and off for two days and the sky was so beautiful, half blue with puffy white clouds and half totally black. On our way back to the car we stepped into the cathedral for a moment so C could see how beautiful if was, the stained glass, the angels on the ceiling. (He's so curious about angels and god and death right now.) As we walked out it started to mist, just barely spitting on us. That kind of rain that you can sorta see through because it's so sunny on the other side. And as we looked over towards the black side of the sky the most amazing rainbow appeared. Huge, like you could almost touch it. And so bright against the dark clouds. A couple seconds later C squeezes my hand and says, "I had a GREAT day mom!" and takes a lick of his sugar skull.

Yeah, it was a pretty great day.