Eating California (Part One)



The first part of my California trip is to San Diego, a new city for me, to visit my gal pal Gab. She has a super cute place with a wonderful view and fantastic patio. Or, what would be called a lanai in the South. Her cute little pug Olive knows its the perfect place for sun bathing and I enjoyed my morning coffee with a little splash of sunshine.

When it comes to dining, Gab and I are on exactly the same page: we are both thinking about what we will eat next, even while we're feeding our faces!.

Breakfast was at the Brockton Villa Restaurant, famous for their 'Coast Toast' and view. I was starving, so took no pictures, but did take prisoners by cleaning my plate of spicy steamed eggs and fried potatoes. Delish!

Lunch at Saffron was perfection. The salad roll was light and fresh and the Pad Thai was one of the best I have had. Yes, I am that annoying person who always orders Pad Thai, so I know a good one when I taste it. Gab had a red papaya chicken salad with a fancy red rice and a coconut dressing. Beautiful! I may try to create a veggie version at home.

Dinner? Very excited about the Linkery, recommended by everyone Gab knows apparently. More on that later!

The Last of my California Vacation Arrived

When we were in Long Beach, we spent some time at We Olive tasting all of the wonderful California olive oils. Of course, I couldn't bring any back because of restrictions on liquids, but John was kind enough to send it via the post and included a little something extra: Brunette Belgian praline spread. Yum, can't wait to taste it, but not sure what I should put it on. Toast? Pancakes?

I also can't wait to try the lime olive oil and the blackberry balsamic vinegar with pear...

Astro Burger

We ran into LA tonight to see Chris Burden's installation 'Urban Lights' at LACMA lit up. We stopped at Astro Burger for a hot mess of a meal--because they have a lot of veggie options. I had the Santa Fe burger, which was topped with poblano pepper and cheese, along with some veggie chili fries. The burger was good, but the chili was pretty bland. Great if you needed something fast, but certainly not a destination.

Great logo! Since 1974...

We Olive


As a palate cleanser between sugar courses, we stopped into We Olive, a small storefront devoted to California olive oils of all types and flavors as well as a variety of vinegars and olive oil focused accoutrement.


Every bottle in the stores is available for tasting, so I worked my way around. I had a habenero infused oil that was fruity and hot on the tongue. I also tasted a lime flavored oil that was like a little burst of summer. I settled on a bottle of blackberry pear balsamic vinegar and a bottle of the lime olive oil. I am thinking some sort of fruity salad with the vinegar and something with avocado and tomato with the lime oil.

(More) Frosting

Frosting Cupcakes in Belmont Shores is super cute, with a fun mural of a dancing cupcake that strikes a vintage vibe. Since I am about to go into sugar shock, I showed restraint and only had a bite of M's chocolate peanut butter. Mmmmmmm...

We popped into Babette's Feast, with its well-stocked pastry case (including the elusive chocolate filled eclair) with the promise of 'one of the best' chocolate chip cookies. I couldn't stand it and had to delay the intake of more sugar for a later moment. Despite how fantastic everything looked....soon they will all BE MINE.

See, too much sugar.


Bistro 212

This morning, it was Sunday brunch at Bistro 212, where even the Bears in skirts can be seen in their natural environment, throwing back the omelets and mimosas. I split breakfast with Mitchell, and we were served a plate of breakfast chilaquiles large enough to feed a small village. We also sampled the Brick French toast, two slices of bread stuffed with cream cheese and fried together. So large, it put Texas toast to shame. Both were yummy and the salsa on the eggs just warm enough to flare, but not hot enough to burn.

Mexi-CAN



We had great Mexican last night, with amazing salsa and guacamole at Super Mex.

Then we went by Pinkberry to find out what all the culty business is about. I had original flavor with blueberries, so felt a little healthy but still satisfied. I took a photo, even though you aren't supposed to. The interior was very cool, but a little loud...so we didn't linger.



After, we popped into a great little candy store with all kinds of treats: Mike & Ike (my favorite!) in vintage-y boxes; salt water taffy in all kinds of flavors; all your favorite old fashioned candy; and Marie Antoinette lollipops! It was a good thing I was already stuffed full of burritos, enchiladas and yogurt, or I would have bought a huge bag of goodies...


Mini-cupcakes!

We had dessert at Miss Priss Cupcakes, close to John's office. Sugar rush!

The have bittles--bite size cupakes in every flavor they make. I was glad, because that meant I got to try a wider range. John says it's the best red velvet he has ever had--and he may be right!

I had:
Vanilla Cookies & Cream
Lemon
Red Velvet
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Chocolate Cream
Death by Chocolate (a divine way to go!)

All of then amazing, moist and perfect.

Looking for a new Creamer/Sugar?

I'm not, I have creamer and sugar sets coming out my ears. Colorful plastic fifties ones. A silver-plated deco set. A Russel Wright set. Sets in both of my china patterns. A spare set I picked up at the thrift store that has a bowl and platter to match. Odd cream pitchers that don't match any sugar bowls, but still look great, especially the one from Rosenthal (My only piece, so I treasure it. Pronounce it 'ro zen tall' if you want to be snooty, like me.) If you don't have that perfect creamer and sugar set, that one that really says something about who you are and where you fit into the world, might I suggest the following?

This bunny service, adorned with roses, could really mix in with any china or silver service easily. Traditional, modern, simple, or ornate. It would convey to your guests (or reiterate to yourself, if you're using it for toast and tea at a solitary repast) that you are a positive person, with a bright outlook on the world. Likewise, the adorable guys definitely assert confidence in a design aesthetic on the part of the owner. They really SAY something...

And now, a PARADE OF SUGARS AND CREAMERS for your pleasure and amusement!

This wonderful design by Russel Wright is ingenious, with the creamer acting as the lid of the sugar bowl, nesting neatly on top.

This set says: I have a small table and need something economical, space wise. Plus I revere classic, American design.

A similar design and thrift store find, this piece is a silver-plated deco set by Napier.

This set says: I'm traditional, yet slightly funky. My walls are covered with Erté prints.

Temporama by Canonsburg. My favorite pattern. The dishes I use in all of my dreams. The accent pieces in this set are that wonderful robin's egg blue that I love, but the under plate shown here is actually something new from Crate and Barrel. Perfect Match!

This set says: I'm funky. I wear vintage, fifties glasses. Atomic forever!

The 'good' china, some of what I own was a thrifted gift from the playwright and actress Helena Hale, who is no longer with us. The pattern is Shoreline by Metlox and all of the colors were named for the California coast. The color I collect is called wet sand. So dramatic.

This set says: Simple, elegant design is timeless and without compare. California pottery has no equl in the world of vintage china.

This set sat at the thrift store forever, so I finally picked them up for a song along with a matching bowl and platter. They are by Studio Nova from the very 80s Color Threads line. I would consider this to be my 'everyday' creamer and sugar, the one that is on the kitchen table.

This set says: I will never get over the passing of the 80s.

Finally, a mismatched ménage à trois. From the left, a rustic creamer that was a gift from Danette who has no use for creamers as she doesn't drink coffee and rarely entertains (never on a grand scale); the adored Rosenthal, with odd wings on the lid that make it very sculptural; and lastly, a petite creamer by Frankoma, pottery of the promised land--Oklahoma.

These say, from left to right: I make my own pottery. I'm a hippy; My grandmother was a minor, German aristocrat who lost everything in the war and this is the only piece she escaped Europe with; I'm from Oklahoma.

California

Mitchell, April and Leslie at Airport
Mitchell, April and Leslie (before the luggage was lost).

I spent the July 4th holiday with Mitchell and our friends April and Leslie in Marina del Rey, but have been too busy to sit down and put pen to paper (or rattle the keys on the keyboard as the case may be.). It was a wonderful trip--the perfect balance of fun activities/outings and sitting around reading, talking or just relaxing.

Dinner first night in Mona's courtyard
Getting ready for dinner in the courtyard on our first evening.

Leslie's aunt Mona was very generous and let us stay with her for the entire weekend. She lives in an adorable house with a fantastic courtyard that is only steps from the beach. The consummate hostess, she greeted us with vodka lemonades which we drank in the courtyard while soaking in the sun as fast as we could.

Hanging out
Hanging out in the courtyard.
Learning at the Getty
Learning at the Getty.
Mitchell and Leslie and Leslie's boyfriend to her right
Resting at the Getty. (Hey Leslie. TYB. To your right. GOTCHA!)
April and Leslie and a mango-rita
April and Leslie enjoy a MAJOR mangorita at Baja Cantina.
Dinner!  Mole enchilad and vegetable chimichanga
My dinner: enchiladas with mole sauce and a veggie chimichanga.

Leslie's parents Doug and Lorna came in on Saturday and we had a wonderful time with them exploring the Getty and going to dinner at a great place just down the street called Baja Cantina. The mango margaritas were fantastic, as was the food, and we all had a wonderful meal before walking around the canals of Venice, oogling the huge and expensive homes that surround it.

Dinner
Dinner in the courtyard with Sean, Doug, Lorna, Mo and Sian. (Yes, that is champagne in the foreground!)
Dancing
Auntie Mona looks on as Mitchell and Leslie dance. (more champagne? but of course.)
More dancing
Leslie and Lorna bare footin'!
Dessert
Mmm. I don't even have to tell you.

Monday night Lorna stuffed us all to the gills with tortellini in a tomato cream sauce, salad and grilled French bread. Dessert was a delectable slice of grilled pineapple with a scoop of ice cream. And dancing. Once the sun went down, there was a lots of dancing and more dancing to any and all music we could find.

More dinner
The courtyard was packed on the 4th, but we had a reserved table

Of course, July 4th was the highlight of the trip and everyone outdid themselves preparing more food than the guests could possibly eat. Leslie's sister Sian and brother-in-law Mo came in with lots of friends in addition to Mona's friends and other relatives. Lunch was hotdogs, black bean patties a la Leslie, potato salad and all of the wonderful fixings. Dinner was lasagna, salad and bread with an herbed butter Sian made. Dessert was a table laden with cakes, cookies and candies. As the sun went down, we scrambled to the beach to watch the fireworks all over the sky. A perfect evening. A perfect day. A wonderful trip.

Trader Joe's Haul
Trader Joe's Haul

And what is a wonderful trip without grocery shopping? Grocery shopping, you ask? Of course I go grocery shopping when I'm on vacation. Anyone who lives in a city where there is not a Trader Joe's and visits a city where there is a Trader Joe's and returns home without a shopping bag full of goodies as their carry-on is a fool. A fool I say! I always stock up on TJ chocolate because it's so wonderful and affordable, but this time I also got korma sauce, tortellini, mole, chili-lime cashews, several jellies and much more. Lorna even sent me home with a some tapenade and a bruscheta spread from TJ that we didn't use over the weekend. Isn't she sweet?!

Thank you Mona for the wonderful weekend at your home! Thank you Lorna for all of your wonderful food! Thank you Doug and Sian for driving us to and fro!

Mangez!