Daniela's Baby Shower

Today was Daniela “Darling Dani’s” baby shower. My sister Angie and I went early to bring some food over and to help set up. The place was decorated so beautifully by Daniela’s friend Yanay who also made a lot of the food. I was slightly cranky and hungover from the previous night’s festivities (a crazy bachelorette party) and from the fact that I had to drive from San Diego at 730am. I made it back to my apt to make some food for the shower which included: crab wontons, spinach dip with bread, a salmon torta with bagels and chips, and a watermelon shaped carriage with apples and dip.

The baby shower was actually a lot of fun and the games were fun too. For one game, we had to try 5 different kinds of unlabeled baby food and guess what they were. I thought my tasting palate was good, but I only got 3 of out 5 right. I was stumped at the carrots and peas mish mosh (blah!) and the macaroni and beef puree. Baby food is not good food. When I have a baby, I am going to be pureeing him/her some gourmet food like Braised shortribs and mushrooms or Rack of Lamb! Just kidding, I hear from my mommy friends that you don't have time for anything, let alone cooking. Although, my super mommy friend Joni did and currently does make all of her son Evan’s food. Even when he first started eating, she would puree foods like edamame for him fresh. See, so it can be done.

Anyways, I wish Baby Marcus a safe, healthy journey into our world and hope that Daniela is not one of those women who say "I'm not getting the epidural", because that's just crazy talk.

Sprinkles Cupcakes Wins First Place in My Book!

I went to Gina’s Bridal Shower on Saturday and to my happy surprise the dessert was Sprinkles cupcakes! The bridesmaids did a wonderful job with all the food as well. I’ve decided that so far Sprinkles is my favorite cupcake of them all. For convenience sake, I will probably buy Vanilla Bakeshop cupcakes which are high up there too. But Sprinkles definitely has the moistest, best frosting cupcake. So if you want to be my best friend, all you have to do is show up with Sprinkles!

Koreatown Galleria

My hair had started getting long again, so it was time to make a trip out to Koreatown to get my hair cut by Stella at Leekaja. My friend Sarah came out to translate for me since she speaks Korean fluently. She always introduces me to great Korean food and goods. Today was no different….it was like an educational fieldtrip to Galleria Shopping Center on Western and Olympic. First we went to look for something called BB cream which Sarah says evens out your skin tone…..and it does! I tried it the other day and I love it.

Next, we went upstairs to a restaurant called Gang Lung Jip. I don’t know what the dish is called in Korean, but it reminded me of a sashimi salad. It had raw fish, cabbage, and some other veggies with a spicy sauce. You take the ingredients and either wrap it in this shiso looking like leaf, romaine lettuce cup, or nori pieces. It was quite delicious and very refreshing. There were all sorts of other side dishes that came with it: kimchi, pickles, potato salad, pancake, red bean rice, two kinds of soup, noodles, radish, fish, and some other items I am forgetting about! After dinner, Sarah took me downstairs to Galleria Market where the educational tour kept going. Sarah informed me of what kinds of things to buy: Korean dessert cookies, pine tea, corn tea, barley tea, frozen dumplings, and kimchi. I love learning about Korean things especially food which is probably one of my favorite types of cuisines to eat. Thank you Sarah for teaching me about your culture and for taking me to get my haircut too!

Dinner Party for Seven!

Tonight, I decided to invite some close friends over for a long overdue dinner party. I usually like to keep some sort of theme, but this time I just couldn’t think of a good one, so I decided to go with Tiffany Blue and Brown. The menu included: Pear and Gorgonzola Salad, Creamy Polenta with a Mushroom Sauce, Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi with a Vodka Marinara, and Braised Short Ribs. For dessert, I served Joni’s Toffee Dip with Granny Smith Apples and the mini cupcakes from Vanilla Bakeshop. Drink included my usual party punch with sherbert ice cream and somehow we went through 3 bottles of wine. Two bottles were special and I had been saving them for quite awhile. I was quite happy with myself as three out of the four dishes I had never made before.

The braised short ribs and creamy polenta recipes were great and I have now added them to my repertoire. The homemade gnocchi weren’t as hard as I thought it would be to make. They tasted good (but just not as good as Sprazzo Restaurant). If you have been to my parties, you know you will always get a full course meal and a favor to take home. This time, the favors were simply wrapped Ritter Chocolate Biscuits….one of my favorite chocolate treats.

Oh yeah….I have to give a shout out to Mari Mix Chocolate Cereal Mix (given to me by Joni). Who would have thought Chocolate Cereal Mix could be so good! I didn’t think people who eat it, but it was gone by the end of the night.

One of my guests was the adorable daughter of my friends Mike and Lily. I brought a lot of my toys from work so Lindsay had things to keep her occupied (I work as a school occupational therapist). One of my games that I do at work is this game called “Let’s Make a Sandwich.” I take two pillows (the bread) and add the child (the sandwich meat) and then pretend to eat them up by squishing them. I had to include this picture of Lindsay being a “sandwich.”

Delicious Cupcakes, Bite Size!

In my quest for the ultimate favorite cupcake place, I went to try out Vanilla Bakeshop in Santa Monica. I needed a dessert for my dinner party Saturday night, so I thought I would try the bite sized cupcakes ($20 for a dozen). They were unbelievably cute in their miniature size, but packed a huge punch in taste. You could finish one in 4 small bites, or 2 huge ones.

I ended up eating a Meyer Lemon, Key Lime, Mom’s Birthday Cake, Black and White, Toasted Dark Chocolate Coconut, and Chocolate Vanilla Bean. Yes, I know, I ate a lot…but in my defense they were bite sized!
Gina who had the Spicy Carrot says “It was orgasmic.” I loved the Meyer Lemon and Key Lime which is Saturday’s special because both were injected with custard inside the cupcake. I don’t really care for lemon and lime, but the cupcake was so good, I loved it. That is the true sign of good food…it is so good, that all your dislikes go out the window. All the cupcakes were moist which was impressive considering the cakes were so tiny it would be easy to get dried out. The frosting seemed lighter than all those other places I’ve been to. A definite two thumbs up to Vanilla Bakeshop!

Massages and Pho - Sawtelle

This week was Spa Week which meant that participating spas offered $50 treatments. My friend Gina and I made an appointment at Massage Therapy Center located on Sawtelle. What was originally a $90 treatment was only $50….what a great deal! My masseuse did a wonderful job loosening up the knots in my shoulder and neck. It was so relaxing after working out so hard these past few months. I felt so relaxed and loose afterwards which was perfect for our dinner at the sawtelle restaurant PhoReign. I have been wanting to try this place as part of my goal to eat at all the restaurants on Sawtelle.

Gina and I shared the chicken eggrolls and I had rare beef and brisket Pho. It was ok…I mean I would go there if I was craving Vietnamese food and I was unable to get myself over to Westminster. It’s hard to compare Vietnamese food when you’ve had it in Westminster which is the hub for great Pho.

Massage Therapy Center
2130 Sawtelle Blvd suite 207

PhoReign

2123 Sawtelle Blvd

My Friend Joni Does It Again

My dear friend Joni surprised me with a cute package in the mail this week. I open it up and this is what I see:

A beautifully, hand crafted recipe holder with hand stamped cards and dividers. Totally cute and right up my alley of favorite things: handcrafted gifts and things that relate to cooking. It is almost too pretty to use. Thank you Miss Joni Baloney!

Beer, Burgers, and Boys – Father’s Office

My friend Audrey who lives in Torrance graciously invited me out with her Toyota co-workers to enjoy beer and burgers at Father’s Office in Santa Monica. When we got there, the line was already 10 people long. It went quick, but the line remained for the entire time we were there. Note to self: get there right when it opens at 5pm. Luckily Audrey’s friends saved a few tables, so we didn’t have to stand there and hold our shopping carts of fries like some people were doing (yes the fries are served in this cute little mini shopping carts). The menu is simple there; burgers, beers, and either sweet potato or regular fries. The burger is a made of dry aged beef, dressed with sweet onions, Gruyere and Maytag blue cheese, smoky bacon, and arugala on a French roll. I was in burger and fry heaven eating it. For drinks, they have a huge menu of beers on tap. For those who don’t particularly enjoy beer, they had a really good beer that was peach flavored (Lindemann’s Peche). It was so good I had to have 4 glasses of it! After Father’s Office, I can no longer look at a burger in the same light.

Father's Office

1018 Montana Ave.

Santa Monica, CA

(310) 393-BEER

http://www.fathersoffice.com/

Berry Blossom Cake at Susina Bakery

After eating at Pizzeria Mozza, my cousin Masaki so geniously recommended we go to Susina Bakery which was right down the street. Masaki knows everything about food and restaurants. When we were driving, he basically picked out over 20 restaurants/cafes/bakeries he had been to and gave me his "zagats" version of each place. It's so awesome having him as a food reference. Ok, I digress...back to Susina. It is a cute French style bakery with cakes, pastries, pies, tarts, petit fours, cookies, brownies, etc. They also sell candy and other cute little gifts.

I loved the inside of the bakery where they had a huge display case of their yummy goodies. I ordered the Berry Blossom Cake which is three layers of vanilla sponge cake brushed with orange liqueur, filled with white chocolate mousse, straberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. It was top with crumbled meringue and white chocolate shavings. Although I was full, I had to sneak a few bites, while it was fresh and of course so that I could include it in my blog. It tasted very similar to the triple berry cake at Sweet Lady Jane. I loved it and look forward to going back to Susina to try their many, many other delicious looking desserts.

Susina Bakery (www.susinabakery.com)
7122 Beverly Blvd, LA CA 90036

I Finally Get to Eat at Pizzeria Mozza

My favorite person to eat with, my cousin Masaki, and I went to Pizzeria Mozza tonight. Yes, the Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton, and Joseph Bastianach pizza restaurant. And it was everything I wished and heard it would be....delicious.

We started off with the fried squash blossoms with ricotta cheese. That was my first time eating squash blossoms and I'm hooked. But I guess anything stuff with cheese and deep fried has to be sinfully good.

Next came the fried goat cheese with Umbrian lentils. Also a great dish with an interesting mix of flavors. On came the pizza which according to my knowledgeable foodie cousin, Nancy Silverton had spent a lot of time perfecting the pizza dough recipe. It was crusty and chewy.

We shared two types of pizza: one with egg, guanciale, radicchio, escarole & bagna cauda and then one with funghi misti, fontina, taleggio & thyme. The egg pizza was almost like a pizza with salad and then a soft boiled egg on top. The mushroom pizza had a delicious assortment of mushrooms that I always love on my pizzas. For dessert, we shared the caramel sundae with salted peanuts and marshmallow whip. All in all, a great meal and I will be going back to try more of the menu!

Sidenote: we did get there around 530 and were able to get a table without reservations. If you get there before 630, you should be able to walk in and sit at the bar.

Pizzeria Mozza

641 N. Highland Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90036

323.297.0101

Michelle Takes Rock Band Party MVP

After spending the entire day crafting, I continued to stay at the Kishiyama house for the next event which entailed a Rock Band Game Themed Party. Joni really went all out with her super craftiness. I mean, I thought I was the “hostess with the most-tess”, but this girl outdoes me easily. So I must bow down to her as reining Hostess Queen. There was so many details from the Rock Band drum cake, “rock it” apples, tournament signs, and the awesome tournament trophies. After a delicious Honey Baked Ham dinner I was truly stuffed. The practice started and then the tournament began. Dean, being the super nerd, had some crazy formula to figure out scores according to percentage, song difficulty, and instrument difficulty. Somehow, I ended up winning the guitar and bass making me the party MVP! I think my song wasn’t that hard, but I only think I won, because of course the queen of rock band (Miss Joni Baloney) wasn’t playing. She would have undoubtedly kicked my a*#. I have my trophy on my desk at home and I will continue to be proud of that sucker for the rest of my life!

Cheese Bowl Risotto from Musha

Today, I met up with my old UCLA friend Rina and her friend Ginny to go eat at one of my favorite izakaya places Musha in Torrance (they also have one in Santa Monica). They have some real interesting Japanese small plates dishes that sometimes have a fusion influence. We started off with negitoro fried cakes with a mayo sauce. Tasted like a mix between a crab cake and a koroke. Next, came Buta Kakuni which is pork belly that came with a potato and boiled egg. Super fatty meat….and super delicious. The onset of food came next with Aski (asparagus and mushroom). We asked the waiter where our cheese risotto was and he proceeded to come back with a free appetizer which consisted of crackers and a kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) spread which was quite tasty. Finally our cheese risotto came and it was worth the wait. It came in a large cheese bowl, which they scraped the cheese and risotto and plated. It was rich and creamy and well cooked. I never can seem to figure out how to make risotto….I figure I’ll just eat it when I go out!

The last dish was Itame Somen, which was basically somen noodles sautéed in garlic and butter. The whole time we drank sake. I love eating with Rina, because the girl has the metabolism of a 13 year old boy. I mean she can eat and I never feel guilty about eating a lot when she’s around.

Musha (you should make reservations)
1725 W Carson St
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 787-7344

B and B Hardware Store

I was taking a shower and my stupid shower caddy kept slipping down the shower attachment. All the contents fell out and one fell on top of the middle shower knob, breaking a piece of it (all while I was taking a shower). Turns out it broke off a piece where the screw goes and connects to the shower to turn the knob and without this piece it can’t turn the knob for the water to flow out of the showerhead. I try to put it together, cutting my finger in the process (I have no idea how). So I looked online for shower knobs and of course they only sell sets and this knob looks like it’s from the 1970s…you know the acrylic kind. I had seen this hardware store near my work (also near Hotcakes Bakery) so I decided to check it out. It was totally great. It felt like a mom and pop store….they even sold fresh baked cookies??? I will get them next time. Anyways, there in the plumbing aisle is the exact knob I need for my shower and for only $4.98.



I didn’t think I was going to find the exact kind I needed so quickly. If you need hardware, don’t bother going all the way to Home Depot, just stop by B & B Hardware (that is if you live in the Westside area of course).
B & B Hardware
12450 W. Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Red Velvet Cupcake, Tasting Number 2 with Bonus Round French Macaroons

I love the store logo!

So lately I am on this quest for good cupcakes ($3 a piece) and having a sweet tooth lately as well. I decided to run over to Hotcakes Bakery which happens to be dangerously 1 block about from my work. I was wanting to try the red velvet cupcake as well as have their French macaroons ($2.50 a piece).

Their red velvet cupcake was good, the frosting was excellent. Although, they tend to put a lot of frosting which I never eat the whole thing. And I love frosting! But they go a little overboard there.

Mocha and Pistachio French Macaroon (with the quarter as reference for size)

Their French macaroons are fantastic, especially the pistachio flavored ones. If you haven’t had a French macaroon, it is a must try. The outside is flaky/crispy and the inside is soft and gooey.

Hotcakes Bakery4119 South Centinela
Los Angeles, CA 90066
www.hotcakesbakes.com

Susiecakes Red Velvet Cupcake

My running friend kindly drove over to Susiecakes in Brentwood to purchase some Red Velvet cupcakes ($3 a piece) for Angie and I. Apparently, they even let her purchase them before the store even opened as she begged and pleaded….what a good friend! They were quite delicious…very, very moist! However, the frosting wasn’t mixed quite well as you could taste the sugar granules. I’m not sure if they are going for that kind of texture, but it made the frosting taste different. Nevertheless, great cupcake and I would go back for more.

Beautiful color, yummy taste!

SusieCakes
11708 San Vicente Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90049
www.susiecakesla.com