Happy Halloween!

Martha Stewart has always had the most amazing halloween ideas - aren't these pumpkins gorgeous? It might be a little late to get started on some of the fantastical craft projects, but just looking at them gets me a little more in the spirit!

If you have time to cook, the website also has cleverly named recipes for simple fall dishes - Devilled Chicken, Marshmallow Bones and Enchiladas among them. Brain Cupcakes anyone?

We don't get trick or treaters (not one in three years!) here on the mountain, but if you're going out tonight, or even just answering the door - have a great time!

Photo via Martha Stewart.

Miscellany - Updates on Starlite, Urban Solace, Jayne's and A.R. Valentien

Happy Halloween! The radio show yesterday was a lot of fun, and the podcast should be up here soon if you want to listen!

The cocktail pictured above is a "Lindbergh," which I very much enjoyed at the Urban Slow Food Mixer at Starlite on Wednesday night. This was the kickoff event for the new urban offshoot of Slow Food San Diego, which will serve San Diego's urban communities. The organizers of this group are extremely dedicated, and I am impressed with the energetic response they're receiving. I think this is going to be a very good thing.

Starlite really makes some fabulous cocktails. The Lindbergh is a martini of Plymouth Gin, lemon juice and housemade maraschino cherries, with the juice from the cherries mixed in, and yes, it tasted as good as it sounds. A little bit later I also tried a "Pink Dragon" - a delicious concoction of Plymouth Gin, and pureed dragon fruit with housemade ginger syrup. The Kentucky Colonel is another favorite - made with bourbon and housemade cherry vanilla bitters and served in one of their huge copper mugs.

I've also been loving their food lately - how can you not, when they're committed to supporting local farms and sustainable practices - and nothing on the menu is over $20.00? Preparations of simple dishes like mussels and jidori chicken are creative and well executed, the burger is excellent, the charcuterie plate is one of the best in town, and the fritto misto is always fascinating. Last nights' included fried pickles and "meat stuffed olives" along with the more traditional mushrooms and onions.

I've also had some very good meals recently at Jayne's and Urban Solace. It had been a while since I'd been to either - I stopped in at Urban Solace a few weeks ago for lunch, and had dinner at Jayne's Gastropub just this week. At Urban Solace I had the watermelon salad, which is now probably (sadly) off the menu, since the watermelon and tomato seasons are over, and the duckaroni - their macaroni and cheese with duck confit. The small side portion was perfect for lunch. It was rich and complex and the browned breadcrumbs on top were a nice touch. The pulled pork sandwich my friend ordered was excellent too.

I went to Jayne's this week with three friends for a girls' night out, and thought the food was better than ever. We started with the Caesar salad and the Gambas a Ajillo. I've tried them before and they were as good as I remembered. For entrees, we ordered the burger, the duck breast, seared albacore, and steak frites. I tried them all, and each dish was wonderful. The albacore and the duck were truly fine dining quality. The balance of flavors on the albacore was especially nice - with the tomato coulis and the cucumber relish. The burger and the steak frites were also perfectly prepared - medium rare for the steak and the burger, and crisp for the frites - which is all you can ask. We split a half bottle of rose champagne four ways - Besserat De Bellefon Brut Rose - which we all absolutely loved, and Jora ordered a glass of Chateau de Pampelonne Rose -which Krista and I liked so much we had to ordered one for ourselves.

Last but not least, Jeff Jackson, the chef at A.R. Valentien at the Torrey Pines Lodge was the guest for the first half of the radio show yesterday, and he had some interesting things to say about changes at A.R. Valentien, and Celebrate the Craft coming up this weekend at the Lodge.

At the restaurant, they have changed the format of the menu to small plates, with nothing over $21.00. Portions are slightly smaller (which probably isn't such a bad thing) but the dishes will still be fully composed, something like what Chris Walsh is doing at Bite.

Celebrate the Craft runs throughout the weekend, with a Plein Air art auction and dinner on Saturday, and a "picnic" on Sunday on the vast lawn behind the hotel. It is a beautiful setting, and there should be some amazing food - chefs of all of the best sustainable restaurants in town will be there, including Jason Knibb of 910, Anthony Friscia of Stingaree, Christian Graves of JSix, and James Foran, the pastry chef at Market who I took classes from at Grossmont. Rather than preparing dishes from the restaurant, Jeff has paired each of these chefs with a producer to come up with a dish they will serve together. It promises to be a unique event and I am sure it will be well worth the $65.00 ticket price. More information and tickets are available on their website. If you go, perhaps I will see you there!

p.s. - Genie over at The Inadvertent Gardener was in San Diego last week, and checked out the Linkery. I'm so glad she liked it!

Before, During and After

I found some old photos of our house from before we bought it, and I thought it would be fun to share a few, starting with before we moved in (with the with the previous owners' furniture,) moving through the early days of bad paint choices and old furniture, and on into the current incarnation.

These three show similar angles on the living room in 2005, 2006 and 2007 (not much has changed since then). Here it is before we moved in, with the previous owners' furniture. We took down those dowels and the half wall in the entryway.

Here it is after wall paper stripping and re-painting. The yellow color was a last minute choice that I hated from the start, but we lived with it for almost two years.

Here it is after the new coat of paint, new sofa, recessed lighting and drop down screen tv. Ahhh.... Still need new bookcases though...

Here's the fireplace during the intermediate stage...

and what it looked like after we had it resurfaced...

Here's another angle on the room in the beginning and at the end:

We had the mantle built, and the tile is Malibu tile from Classic Tile on Kettner.

We didn't take very many photos of the kitchen in the early days - these are the only two I have. When we moved in, we wanted to make some cosmetic changes, but didn't want to spend the money for a serious remodel. We stripped the wallpaper (yes, in the kitchen!) and took out the decorative trim, ceiling fan and fluorescent lighting...

We replaced the stained glass lamp with a school house style fixture from Rejuvenation and put in track lighting to replace the fluorescents. It really helped a lot.

Here's another angle:

We painted the walls charcoal gray (an idea I found in a Kraftmaid cabinet catalog) put in a charcoal gray slate tile floor and installed a new sink faucet, new hinges, and new drawer and cabinet pulls. We bought a new stainless dishwasher and refrigerator, but kept the gas oven and six burner range - they're still plugging along just fine.

In the dining area, we painted two walls apple green, and just decorated with the miscellaneous stuff we already had. I'm starting to get tired of the green now, but there aren't too many colors that work with that pinkish tile countertop. One of these days it's going to have to go - but it will have to wait until we have the time and money for a bigger project. I'm thinking marble, or maybe butcherblock... It's gonna be fun!

My Favorite Soap

It's a bit of a splurge, but I love this soap so much I just can't give it up. One $20.00 bottle lasts us a few months, and double-sized refills are available for only $26.00. I buy the Olive Lavender, and it feels so good on my skin and smells so wonderful, it just makes me happy every time I use it. At five or six times per day, I figure that's a real bargain.


In San Diego, both the glass bottles and refills are available at Mistral on S. Cedros next to Cafe Zinc, and the glass bottles can be found downtown at Station boutique at 414 Cedar in Little Italy.

Online, it's available here on Vickerey, or here on a site called Lucky Scent - though they are sold out of the Olive Lavender until January. (Vickerey is also a great source for Christmas gifts, if you're like me and cannot stand to go to the mall during the holidays!) Refills can be found here on the Terence Conran shop website.

photo via Lucky Scent

Alice Q. Foodie and Other Bloggers Live on the Radio Tomorrow!

Just a quick note to let you know that tomorrow morning (Wednesday) between 11 and 12, I and some other local food bloggers will be appearing live on the Sign On San Diego Online radio show "The Gourmet Club" to talk about the San Diego food scene. The show is hosted weekly by Caron Golden, who writes her own excellent blog called San Diego Foodstuff, and Maureen Clancy, who writes Matters of Taste. (She's also the former editor of the San Diego Union Tribune's Food section.) Also appearing are two other San Diego bloggers you undoubtedly already read - Amanda of What We're Eating and Nicole of Pinch My Salt. Robert Whitley is on vacation this week.

To listen, tune your computer to this address. If you can't listen live, it should also be available as a podcast!

Sunday Supper on the East Coast

I'd never get tired of talking about it, but you might get sick of hearing about it - so I thought I'd take a break from all the trip stuff with this week's Sunday Supper. We enjoyed this meal in Virginia, where it was nice and cool all weekend. Well, actually, it was pretty warm on Sunday - but we pretended it was still Saturday, when it rained so hard two inches of water flooded the cafe at Dean and Deluca in Georgetown.

Sunday Supper
October 26, 2008

Antipasti

Buffalo Braciola with Marinara
Creamy Polenta with Gorgonzola Cheese
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Root Vegetables

Junior's Cheesecake

It was a hearty meal, based on one Brian's grandmother cooked for his Italian family. For Braciola, the meat, usually flank steak, is rolled around a stuffing, browned, and then simmered in marinara sauce until tender. Brian used Giada di Laurentiis' recipe as a jumping off point, substituting Buffalo from the local farmers' market. The vegetables are tossed with a simple mix of oil and herbs, and roasted under high heat in the oven until softened and caramelized. With this we enjoyed a phenomenal Malbec from Argentina, and for dessert we had cheesecake I brought down from New York. Antipasti picked up at Whole Foods the day before took the edge off before dinner. Brian is not only a great cook but a terrific mixologist, so we spent much of the rest of the weekend sipping finely made cocktails in front of the fireplace.
Without further ado, here are the recipes. All are from Giada di Laurentiis' Everyday Italian. It's a great book. If you don't already own it - I highly recommend buying a copy.

Braciola with Marinara and Creamy Polenta with Gorgonzola Cheese
this entire dish from start to finish is a lot of work for one day - Brian made his sauce ahead of time, frozen it in a plastic bag, and thawed it in a pot of water before using it. If anything, this improves the flavor of the sauce, so it's a great idea if you have the time.

For the Braciola:

2/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/3 cup grated Provolone cheese
1/2 cup dried Italian style bread crumbs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1 garlic clove minced
4 Tablespoons olive oil
1 flank steak
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground bkac pepper
1 cup dry white wine
3 1/4 cups Marinara Sauce

Directions:
Stir the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl to blend. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season mixture with salt and pepper and set aside.

Lay the flank steak flat on the work surface. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture evenly over the steak to cover the top evenly. Starting at 1 short end, roll up the steak as for a jelly roll to enclose the filling completely. Using butcher's twine, tie the steak roll to secure. Sprinkle the braciole with salt and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the braciole and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add the wine to the pan and bring to a boil. Stir in the marinara sauce. Cover partially with foil and bake until the meat is almost tender, turning the braciole and basting with the sauce every 30 minutes. After 1 hour, uncover and continue baking until the meat is tender, about 30 minutes longer. The total cooking time should be about 1 1/2 hours.

Remove the braciole from the sauce. Using a large sharp knife, cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer the slices to plates. Spoon the sauce over and serve.

Marinara Sauce

1/2 Cup Extra-virgin olive oil
2 small onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
2 dried bay leaves

Directions:
In a large pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper to taste. (The sauce can be made a day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.)

Basic Polenta

6 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cups yellow cornmeal
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions
Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

Gorgonzola Polenta

Basic Polenta Recipe (above) freshly made
3/4 cup heavy cream
3 ounces Gorgonzola Cheese, cut into pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

Directions:
Add the cream, Gorgonzola and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and pepper to the freshly made polenta while it is still in the saucepan and stir. Add more salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately. (Polenta sets up if allowed to sit - leftovers are great fried in a skillet with a little oil.)

Some Favorite Photos from the Trip Back East

Not much time to post today, so thought I'd share some of my favorite photos from the trip last week to New York, Baltimore and DC. Stay tuned though, more posts are on the way!

The Best and Worst of The Trip

This past week, I traveled to the East Coast (New York, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.) to visit friends and family and attend the Gourmet Institute in NYC. These were some of the highlights and lowlights:

Highs:

1. Cracking and eating crabs with the family in Baltimore - and sitting around the firepit and shooting off fireworks afterwards.
2. Junior's Cheesecake. Just creamy enough and just cakey enough - and I love the light spongecake base.
3. Discovering how good Italian cookies can be (especially the rainbow ones) at Veniero's in NYC.
4. Eating New York pizza with Amanda and Randy at John's in the West Village.
5. Enjoying the Tasting Menu at Cafe Boulud with Luis on his birthday.
6. Going behind the scenes at Gourmet with Ruth Reichl, including a visit to her office.
7. Seeing the art at the MOMA - especially the Pollacks and Rothkos, which are truly more interesting in person.
8. The International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. V. cool.
9. The cheese session at the Gourmet Institute with Ihsan Gurdal of Formaggio Kitchen.
10. Eating fried oysters twice in one week - in a Po' Boy at Mama's on the Half Shell in Baltimore, and at Hank's Oyster Bar in DC.
11. The super creepy, ultra campy John Brown Wax Museum at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia
12. Watching the kayakers shoot the rapids (including waterfalls!) at Great Falls National Park.
13. Sazeracs and Manhattans in front of the fire at the Reston Homestead.
14. Lunch at the Modern Bar Room with some fellow bloggers (Hi Deb, Lisa and Amy!) and Ian Knauer.
15. Meeting Carol at Michel Richard's Central in NYC (the gougeres are pretty amazing too...)

Lows: let me think... there were a few...

1. The two and a half hour ride from JFK to the Millenium Broadway Hotel. (NEVER AGAIN SUPER SHUTTLE.)
2. Getting the shaft at the Millenium Broadway Hotel at 11 PM after eight hours of traveling. (Though it worked to my advantage in the end because I found a better, cheaper hotel - the Roommate Grace)
3. The very mediocre "dining experience" at Picholine on Saturday night as part of the Gourmet Institute.
4. A not-so-great lunch at Esca. (I think Amy liked it better than I did, but we both agreed it was sub-par.)
5. A downright inedible deli sandwich at the Stage Deli.
6. An even worse lunch at the cafe at the Baltimore National Aquarium (We should have gone to Chipotle or Potbelly across the street)
7. The insane numbers of people on the street and in every business (including the MOMA) in Midtown Manhattan. Next time, I think I'll stay downtown and take the subway.
8. I had a lot of mediocre coffee on the East Coast, even in some good restaurants. Espressos were generally very good though.
9. Acclimating to the time change - which I never really did.
10. The fact that though I spent a fortune on a hotel in order to have extra time in NYC I still wasn't able to see a play or go to any of the shops I wanted to visit. (I know, I know, you're crying for me right now aren't you?)
    

I didn't mention meeting and/or seeing Tony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Tom Colicchio, Grant Achatz, Gavin Kaysen, Daniel Boulud, or any of those other famous people, because I wouldn't want you to think I was bragging, you know? Cause really - I'm not. Not at all. Not me, no way, never!

If you're curious, here are the photos from the Gourmet Institute

More NYC photos can be viewed here, and Baltimore/DC here.

As great as it was, it's still really good to be home. I missed my dogs.

And the other places we stayed weren't bad either...

You may have seen my post a few days ago about the hotel in New York I liked so much. Well, lucky for us, (James met me in Baltimore) the other two places we stayed were were pretty darn cool too. Our hotel there, The Inn at 2920, was a dream - private and out of the way, but close enough to be central. We had the only accommodation on the bottom floor, a two room suite called the Gato Casa - complete with kitchen and goldfish. It was nicely decorated and I hear the breakfast is good too, though we didn't get to try it. (Damn jet lag.) As if that weren't enough, at $200. per night it was a bargain compared to the mega hotels at the Inner Harbor (the weekend rate is $225.)



The hotel is in Canton, an old industrial area of Baltimore now gentrified - and is just a block away from O'Donnell Square, a great little spot with lots of shops and restaurants. We enjoyed a meal at Mama's on the Half Shell, a seafood restaurant on the corner. I can't recommend the Italian bakery across the street as highly though. You can read more about Mama's and the square here.

In the D.C. area we stayed with friends in this house - which was just as lovely on the inside as it was on the outside. The firewood was stacked, the liquor cabinet was stocked, and the larder was brimming with the ingredients for Sunday suppers and gourmet breakfasts. Normally at the end of a vacation I'm all ready to go home, but I really think I could get used to the spoiling we got here. Guess we'll just have to make it up to them when they come to visit next year!

Not a Paper Cup

The destruction wrought in the name of disposable paper goods and utensils on a daily basis is truly astounding. To alleviate the problem just a little bit, get one of these, a ceramic "paper" cup that not only keeps your coffee nice and hot, but will fool all of your friends. It really looks like paper, thanks to the matte finish porcelain and the rubber lid.

Available here, or here with a discount if you're a MOMA member.

Lunch at the Modern Bar Room - NYC

When I researched restaurants for this trip, recommendations for The Modern at the MOMA popped up over and over again. After viewing the lunch menu, I decided that I couldn't swing the fine dining room - but the Bar Room definitely seemed doable. The menu is still fine dining, but the prices are a little more moderate - in the high teens and twenties, where The Modern's prices are twenties to forties. On Monday, when the festivities of the Gourmet Institute were over, I met fellow bloggers Lisa of Homesick Texan, Deb of Smitten Kitchen, and Amy of Cooking With Amy there for lunch with Ian Knauer - a Food Editor at Gourmet who I've become friendly with since last year's event.

We started with a couple of items to share, the Modern Liverwurst with pickled vegetables, and the Alsatian Tart Flambee - essentially a flatbread pizza. The liverwurst was very mild, and the Alsatian pizza was crisp and rich. We then moved on to two dishes per person - a starter and a main course. The scallops for me, salads for Deb and Ian, a housemade sausage for Amy, and a veal terrine for Lisa. These were good - but the real showstopper was the duck confit.

It was the best I've ever had - perfectly crisp and rich, in a wonderful sauce dotted with passionfruit seeds. The potatoes were a "hash" of perfect cubes fried in duck fat with onions and shishito peppers, with a bundle of arugula to balance the richness. Three of us at the table had this dish, Deb had a mushroom soup, and Ian ordered the paprika laced foie gras torchon, which was rich and delicious.

For dessert we shared an order of beignets, which worked perfectly because there were five of them and five of us, and they were rather large. The little ramekins held maple ice cream, caramel sauce and a mango compote with vanilla. They were all good, but the maple ice cream was amazingly creamy with a flavor like complex caramel - not as overly sweet as some maple confections I've tried.

The Modern has an exterior entrance so you can dine without going to the museum. Inside the museum is another option, the Cafe 2, which serves Italian style cafe food. I didn't get a chance to eat there, but it's very artful and interesting looking, and the food is a bit higher level than your ordinary museum cafe. I posted a couple of photos over here.

The MOMA was fabulous as well, of course - I especially enjoyed the Kirchner exhibit "Kirchner and the Berlin Street." Did you know you can view these exhibits online? It's not the same as seeing it in person, but it's still pretty cool. You can check it out here.

The Modern Bar Room
at the MOMA
9 W. 53rd Street
New York, New York
212.333.1220
reservations on Open Table.

Letterpress Love

Browsing Etsy the other day, I came across a couple of terrific letterpress artisans to add to my list - Ink+Wit and Papered Together.

I've always liked the idea of sending New Year's cards like this one, or Valentine's Day cards (like Julia Child and her husband did) because it would come as a nice surprise. If you're looking for something more traditional though, I think these are adorable.

I also adore the letterpress print pictured above. It's available on Etsy here. (Hurry - there's only one left!)

While we're on the subject of Etsy - I heard (and read) about this handmade market in NYC that sounds very much like a real live version, filled with original clothing, household items, jewelry, etcetera. I didn't make it there myself on this visit, but if you're in the New York area, or ever decide to visit, I'm sure it would be worth checking out!

The Market NYC
Every Saturday and Sunday at 268 Mulberry Street, 11 AM to 7 PM
and 490 Hudson Street from 12 PM to 7 PM
Free Admission

Pizza and Beer in the Big City - John's of Bleecker Street

Growing up in San Diego I babysat for a number of families, but I always had a special bond with the next door neighbor kids, Amanda and Noah. They're all grown up now - they've both graduated from Cornell and have big fancy jobs - Noah is in Washington D.C. and Amanda lives in New York City with her lawyer husband Randy. Conveniently, Amanda and Randy love food and know the City well - so whenever I come to town, we always get together and eat.

Last year, we went to The Tasting Room, a great little restaurant in SOHO that has since (sadly) closed. It closed before I even had a chance to write about it - but to be fair I was very behind at that point. I've vowed not to let that happen this time, so while I'm working on my post about lunch at The Modern I thought I'd talk a little bit about the pizza we ate later that night.

When we made plans to meet up, I didn't know that I'd be fine dining on Sunday night and Monday for lunch, and again on Thursday - so Amanda made a reservation for us at Balthazar. I love Balthazar, don't get me wrong, but so many French meals in one week just seemed like a bad idea. Plus - I had never tried New York Pizza - the coal-fired thin-crust type the City is so famous for. I was dying to try it and a little burned out on the fine dining, so when our dinner date drew closer, I called Amanda and I begged her to go to John's instead.

John's is one of those institutions that derives almost as much of it's appeal from the atmosphere as the food. I loved the scribble-etched wooden booths and the murals of Italy on the walls. The menu was ridiculously convoluted, with pizzas with almost every conceivable combination of ingredients listed individually instead of just a list of toppings. After puzzling over it for a while, we ordered a pitcher of beer and a large pepperoni and mushroom pizza - ironically not one of the options on the list.

The pizza is extremely thin, and was so fresh out of the oven that when it was set on the table, the topping was literally molten, liquid cheese. After letting it cool down for a few minutes, we dug in. It was cooked at a high enough temperature that the pepperoni did that thing where it cups and turns crisp at the edges, and the edges of the crust were light, chewy and crisp. It had dollops of a mild tomato sauce or paste on top as well as underneath the cheese, and a shake or two of hot pepper flakes gave it just the right amount of zing.

You'll eat more slices than you might otherwise just because it's so thin - three of us had no trouble at all polishing off a large, and some cannolis afterwards. The only other item offered on the menu is a salad - which sounded good, but we decided lettuce would just get in the way. Perhaps the best part is that a pitcher of beer and large pizza only set us back around $35. - a bargain by any standard, and not just in New York!

John's Pizza
278 Bleecker St
New York, NY 10014
(347) 706-3336

Cafe 2 at the MOMA - NYC

Don't you just love museum cafes? I sure do. So much so that even though I didn't eat here, I just had to check this one out while I was at the MOMA on Monday. I thought the front kitchen and these display cases were beautifully designed and worthy of a few photos. You can read more about the food and view the menu here.

Cafe 2
Second Floor
The Museum of Modern Art
9 West 53rd Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues)
NYC

I heart my New York hotel...

It's no secret that hotels in New York City are expensive, but when I started looking in the Spring for a place to stay for this year's Gourmet Institute in October, I was shocked by what I found. Even modest boutique hotels were charging $400. per night and the budget accommodations in the City either required sharing a bathroom or a long commute to the Mid-town area. If it had been inexpensive enough, I would have considered it (the commute, not the bathroom sharing) but I just couldn't find anything that made sense. Ultimately I settled for the conference hotel, reasoning that although it was expensive at $349. per night, it would at least be convenient.

When I arrived though, the Millennium Broadway was overbooked, with nothing left but (very stinky) smoking rooms. They told me the only other option was another hotel a block away, which had rooms available for $400. - meaning I'd have to pay the difference, and I'd have to move the next day. I had spent six hours on a plane and two and a half hours getting to the City from the airport, (NEVER AGAIN SUPER SHUTTLE!) so I really wasn't in the mood for a hassle.

Still, I recognized it was pointless to argue and I remembered seeing a very cool little boutique hotel next door on my last trip - so I decided to run over there to see if THEY had anything available. They didn't - but they pointed me across the street to the Room Mate Grace Hotel.

When I walked in, I immediately knew I'd be happy here. the place just had sort of a hip but comfortable vibe and the staff was incredibly friendly. They didn't have a room that night either - but they offered me a rate of $300. night for the rest of my trip - which I booked. I spent that first night at the Hotel Mela (which was also quite nice, by the way - and matched the $349 rate of the Millennium unprompted) and moved over here on Friday.

It turns out Room Mate is a Spanish company with only two hotels in the U.S. - one in Miami and this one here. They cater to a young-ish European clientele - the only English I have heard is heavily accented. It doesn't feel snooty though, and I've had no "hipper than thou" attitude thrown my way. The hotel was actually built by Andre Balazs as a hip budget option called the QT, and taken over by Room Mate sometime within the past year I believe.

The $300. per night rate included continental breakfast, round the clock coffee, wi-fi and local calls. They have a small swimming pool that is visible at eye level from the lobby, a unisex shower, sauna and steamroom, a bar, and an exercise facility (though it's a little weak.) The rooms feature a comfortable platform bed with feather pillows and cotton sheets, a long counter, closet and sink - and at the end there's a toilet and shower with a large mirrored door that rolls back and forth to conceal one or the other - whichever you happen to be using. There is a clear glass refrigerator in the room, and the front desk is set up as as a store, so you can essentially stock your own minibar.

It's utilitarian, friendly and chic - and incredibly convenient to the Times Square/Midtown area. I'd especially recommend it for a single traveler - but it's also fine for a couple who doesn't mind sharing a small space. (Then again I am in their smallest room - some of their other options may be more spacious.)

The Night Hotel across the street was the original hotel I considered:

It's more expensive and a little more aggressively hip - though the desk clerk who sent me to the Grace was quite friendly and helpful.

Room Mate Grace Hotel
125 W. 45th Street
New York, New York

Some other "budget" options to explore that appear to have at least a modicum of style (book early - they go fast!):
East Village Bed and Coffee
Rooms to Let Guesthouse
The Gershwin Hotel
Second Home on Second Avenue
The Washington Square Hotel

If I had a little more money to spend (around $400. per night) I'd also consider The Maritime Hotel.

This one's for Jora

My friend Jora and I have a lot of things in common, such as our taste for good coffee and Hayden Harnett bags and deep affection for Ian Knauer of Gourmet - so it should come as no surprise that we both delight in the sleek lines of the classic Airstream Trailer. Today while I was visiting the NYC MOMA - I think I literally squealed when I came around the corner and saw this:

A 1960 Airstream trailer in impeccable condition. Can you believe that at one point it was possible to walk onto a lot and just buy one of these? They probably didn't cost very much either.


They are outrageously tiny inside, I have to admit. The modern version from Design Within Reach does a better job with the space, but for $49,000 I'm afraid it's a design that's actually out of most people's reach. Kind of a shame, considering the original was an affordable way for the non-wealthy to travel.

Read Jora's post about her love for the Airstream here.

Oh, and by the way - do you have one of these in your kitchen?

If so, congratulations - you own a museum piece. This was taken today at the MOMA!

Day Two of the Gourmet Institute - Grant Achatz Lights it Up

By far, the highlight of Day Two of the Gourmet Institute was the session with Grant Achatz in the afternoon, titled "Aroma Techniques." The theme of the demonstration was the use of aromas at Alinea - his popular innovative restaurant in Chicago.

Grant is known for experimenting with different ways to bring sensory experiences to diners using sound, textures, and aromas. This demonstration was intended to give us a glimpse into the way Alinea uses scent to evoke a desired effect, be it a memory, a season or a feeling.

For the first demonstration, Grant filled a plastic bag with lavender smoke (using a machine he called "the volcano") and explained that they would put that in a custom pillowcase and serve the dish on top of the pillow - holes are punched in the bag, so as the gravity pulls the dish down, the air escapes enveloping the diner in the aroma. This "pillow" was passed around the room so we could smell the aroma.

When we arrived, each seat held a black envelope containing several small packages - a vanilla bean; a mixture of rosemary; black pepper and garlic; a gingerbread cookie and a small bottle marked "Christmas Tree."

The vanilla bean was used to illustrate the fact that with your nose plugged, you can't taste the aroma of it if you place it in your mouth - but you can with your nose unplugged.

We were then told we would be receiving a tasting of some sous vide wagyu beef on a plate with a very hot rock. We were asked to taste the beef once, then dump the contents of our rosemary/garlic/black pepper package over the rock and taste it again. The beef was delicious - fork tender and buttery, but the smell of rosemary is something I'm not entirely fond of - so I think the aroma was a little bit lost on me.

After we'd had the wagyu beef, Chef Achatz pulled the oak leaves out of the oven and explained that one of the scents that evokes fall for him is the scent of burning leaves. Then, he started setting the leaves on fire. One by one he hit them with his torch until they were burning, blew them out, and set them on a plate.

It made for some nervewracking moments in the dining room, what with the smoke filling the room and ashes and burning embers swirling around.

Ultimately it was fun - and the final plated dish of pheasant, apple gelee and shallot was delicious, but I'm not sure it had much to do with the fact that the leaves were smoldering.

Next, a bowl of fall "ingredients" was paired with some dry ice in a bowl to create a fine mist that flowed out of the bowl carrying the aromas of pumpkin, apple and hay with it. This is carried to the table as an accompaniment to certain dishes.

For the last tasting, we were encouraged to spray the "Christmas Tree" liquid on our tongue and eat the gingerbread cookie. (The liquid was a tea-like infusion of pine needles with sugar and water.) The idea was to evoke the essence of Christmas, but pine needles aren't generally edible - a fact which was not lost on my tongue. Regardless, the cookie was delicious.

Overall - whatever you may think about the flavor of molecular gastronomy ingredients, it's interesting to see someone think completely outside the box and come up with new and unique ways to experience flavors. Grant Achatz does all of those things, and it was an absolute treat to see and learn from him this weekend.

Day One of the Gourmet Institute - So Far...

It was a total surprise to meet Gavin Kaysen at Daniel Boulud's session on preparing lobster this afternoon. He is such a doll, and I just about fell over when he told me that he's read the blog and likes it!

I have put up the first round of photos from the sessions today, though I haven't had time to title them - you can view them here. (I'm going to go run around the block right now to try and work up an appetite for dinner tonight at Picholine!)

I've been having a great time palling around with Amy Sherman from Cooking with Amy, making new friends, and chilling with Ian Knauer, who is just about the coolest guy ever (aside from my husband of course!)

Ruth Reichl's Office

As part of the Gourmet Institute today, I had a session with Ruth Reichl where she took us on a private tour of the upstairs offices, including her personal office. I absolutely love these shelves behind her desk - in fact, I think I may try to copy this in my office at home. It looks so sleek and stylish, and I love the combination of lots of surface area and loads of storage, which is exactly what I need. I'm currently living with the same dressers I've had since junior high and some folding tables for desk space, since I've never found furniture I liked enough to bother moving up. I'm thinking built-ins are (finally) the answer!

Madison Square Park

I was in Madison Square Park today for a visit to the Shake Shack - and was utterly taken with the gothic beauty of this Victorian fountain. We don't see anything like this in San Diego.

Here's a closer look at one of the planters - such gorgeous landscape design.

Among the trees in the park is also an art exhibit consisting of a series of tree houses - which was rather fascinating.

I also love the simple cafe tables and chairs they use for seating at the Shake Shack.

Mmmm... Shake Shack....

It was very very good - but worth the half hour in line?

Maybe just this once. If I were to do it again, I'd be sure to go with a friend who I really needed to catch up with!

Check out the treehouses!

The burgers are hot, juicy, old-fashioned, back yard style burgers - topped with good old American cheese, tomato and lettuce, with onions and pickles on the side. The crinkle cut fries were even better than the burger - crisp and addictive with a vague onion flavor, maybe something sprinkled on? I also ordered a "black and white malt" - figuring any place called the Shake Shack would have good shakes. It was fine but nothing extra. I'll try a frozen custard next time. They have a different flavor of the day in addition to the standard chocolate and vanilla. (Friday's for the month of October was Chocolate Candied Corn.)

If you don't have the stomach for the wait (no pun intended) they serve drinks, frozen custard cones and sundaes at the "B" window, where is no wait - no hot food or shakes though.

The Shake Shack
in Southeast Madison Square Park at 5th, Broadway and 23rd.
Flatiron District
and coming soon to Columbus Circle
New York City

New York, New York!

I arrived in New York yesterday for the Gourmet Institute , but that doesn't start until this afternoon. In the meantime, I'm studying the subway map to see if I can figure out a way to get to the Hayden Harnett Design Shop. Doesn't it look divine? I especially like this bag - if I could, I would... but you know the rest.

If I could also work in a stop here, I'd really be in heaven, but I don't think they're all that close together. I am going to try though.

Monday is for the MOMA and lunch at the Bar Room at the Modern, and on Tuesday I don't leave (by train) until 3, so I'm planning to go to SOHO and walk around a bit - also hoping for lunch at the Shake Shack. I'm also hoping to go to the Handmade Market on Sunday afternoon if I have time - and then of course there's the Gourmet Institute itself.

It should be a busy weekend! I won't be posting here as frequently for a few days for that very reason, but I'm thinking I'll have some good material as a result!

Hayden Harnett Design Shop
211 Franklin Street
Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222
718.349.2247

photos from the Hayden Harnett Website

I love outdoor fireplaces...

they're just so perfect for this time of year - when it gets cool in the evenings but you still want to be outside. I really dig this one at Urban Seed & Flower (on Adams in University Heights/Normal Heights.) I also love those blue flea market chairs.

Here's a more modern take from a British company on Trendir:


And something a little more traditional:

Have a closer look.

Right now we just have one of these little firehouses - which has served us well on the handful of occasions we've used it since we re-did our backyard last year.

If you're interested in adding an outdoor fireplace to your yard but can't or don't want to spend a fortune, you can find these and other similar options here.

Drench

I just love this painting by my fellow food blogger Karina Allrich. All of her work is amazing, but this one just blows me away. Purchasing information and more about the artist can be found here.

I also love this piece she wrote about being the wife of an artist. If you follow one link on a blog today, let it be this one!

Karina's beautiful (and gluten free) food blog - "Karina's Kitchen," can be found here.

A Tresasure Trove of Russel Wright

I discovered Russel Wright American Modern dinnerware a few months ago, when I picked up the plate pictured above at an estate sale. Something about it appealed to me on sight, and when I started using it - mostly for serving appetizers - it quickly became my favorite. I've since learned that not only was American Modern the most widely sold American ceramic dinnerware in history - produced from 1939 to 1959 by Steubenville Pottery, but it's so widely considered an example of "good design" that it's displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art - who knew?

The good news is - because it was so widely produced there's a lot of it out there, and it's still reasonably affordable. I've picked up a few pieces on eBay but if you don't want to hassle with auctions or worry about surprises regarding condition, I just discovered this site called "Mostly Wright" - selling not only the Wright dinnerware, but pottery, dishes, prints and furniture from the Mid Century era. Their prices are very reasonable, and the inventory looks delightful. Check it out!

Photograph of pieces above courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

More about Russel Wright

You can read more about the cake pictured above here.

This week's Sunday (Monday) Supper

Monday Supper
October 13, 2008

Pan Fried Pork Chops
Squash, Gruyere and Onion Panade
Arugula and Baby Romaine with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding
with Whipped Cream

For this week's Sunday Supper (actually Monday supper, if you want to be technical about it) we tried some pork chops from Da Le Ranch, the new meat vendor at the Little Italy Farmers' market. The chops were nice and thick and looked promising, but they cooked up a little dry even though they weren't overdone. I think they could really benefit from brining - so maybe we'll try that next time.

For the panade, I took elements of three or four different recipes and combined them to make something that was probably more of a bread pudding than a panade. A squash and bread gratin, if you will. This was a hit and I was so relieved. I've flubbed on similar dishes in the past, so I had my concerns. We rounded out the main course with a simple green salad. There was no fancy starter this time, we munched on some tortilla chips and lemon cilantro hummus I really like from Fresh and Easy. (It's also great with cucumber slices.)

The chocolate pudding was a moderate success. James really enjoyed it - I thought it was just a little too intense. Maybe I just wanted it to be pot de creme, or mousse, and it wasn't. One thing it did have going for it though - it was incredibly quick and easy.

**Update** - I learned this morning (ahem) that the chocolate pudding improved overnight. Something about the flavor seems to have mellowed and deepened a bit, and it has that creamy roundness that was missing last night. I am happy to say I can now wholeheartedly recommend it. In fact, I'm craving some right now.

Here are the recipes:

Squash, Gruyere and Onion Panade

1 small butternut squash
1 acorn squash
1 medium-large onion
2 large cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of of chicken stock
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
8 cups of bread, cut in one inch cubes (enough to fill your pan)
8 eggs
1/2 cup of lowfat milk
Two Tablespoons of whipping cream
1/2 cup chicken stock, plus more
1/2 to 1 teaspoon of rubbed dried sage - depending on how potent it is (err on the side of less)
generous pinch of cayenne pepper or red chile powder
sea salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups of shredded gruyere cheese

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cut the butternut squash and acorn squash in half, and scoop out seeds. Place on parchment lined sheet pan and bake until it's easily pierced by a sharp knife, about 30-40 mins. Allow to cool slightly, scoop out flesh and cut into half inch pieces.

Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and place in the oven at 300 degrees, until firm and crisp, about 10 mins. Place in a large bowl.

Trim off the ends, cut the onions in half from root end to tip and slice thinly. Slice the garlic cloves as thinly as possible. Saute the onion and garlic in chicken stock over medium low heat, until the onions have softened and the liquid has evaporated from the pan, stirring often to prevent sticking or burning. Add more stock as necessary (the onions should release their juices). Add the olive oil and cook until the onions become very soft and transluscent.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and butter a large baking pan or casserole. Whisk eggs, milk and cream together. Whisk in sage, cayenne, chicken stock and about half a teaspoon of salt. Add a few grinds of pepper and pour the mixture over the bread cubes. Toss lightly with your hands to soak the bread evenly. Add the squash, onions, and about half of the cheese and toss again. Add a little more broth if it seems dry.

Heap the bread mixture into your baking dish and drizzle a little more broth over it (unless it seems really soaked) It should be thoroughly moist. Spread the remaining cheese over the top and bake at 400 degrees until browned and firm, about 30-40 mins. Serves 6-8.

Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding with Whipped Cream
adapted from this recipe in Bon Appetit

1/4 cup sugar (I used Demerara because it was what I had in the house, and it worked fine - but the original recipe called for white. I'm pretty sure you could also use light brown sugar.)
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups of milk
pinch of salt

4 oz (1 cup by volume) chopped bittersweet chocolate (I used Callebaut 70%)
1 Tablespoon butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup whipping cream
1 Tablespoon powdered sugar

Set aside 5-6 ramekins for serving

Whisk together the sugar and cornstarch, and gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium heat until the mixture bubbles and thickens. Whisk in pinch of salt and remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk to blend and melt. Whisk in butter and vanilla extract. Pour into ramekins and chill until firm, about 3 hours.

Just before serving, whip the cream to soft peaks and add the powdered sugar - beat to medium peaks - dollop on top of the pudding in the ramekins before serving.

Project Runway Collections

When I was in high school, I used to get up early every Saturday morning to watch "Style with Elsa Klensch" - anybody else remember that? Back before the internet - it was the only way to see a "real" fashion show, and I loved it.

These days we have the internet and Project Runway, and I'm a full blown addict (of Project Runway for sure - and maybe the internet too come to think of it.) I've really been digging Korto's clothes this season - especially this number from the DVF episode that sold in the weekly auction for over $700. - the second highest draw of any outfit this season. (The first was Leanne's from the same episode - portentous perhaps?)

I recently learned that when they do the shows at Bryant Park, they have to have three "decoy designers" show in order to not give away the shows' ending. Clever huh? And how nice for those designers who didn't win - they get one of the major prizes of the show for free! The fun part for us though, is that all of the runway shows are online, thanks to New York Magazine's fashion week coverage.

I have to say, as much as I love Korto, I think Kenley's collection is pretty kick ass. It's probably no coincidence that it reminds me a lot of those fabulous Christian Lacroix and Ungaro clothes I watched come down the runway back in the day.

View Leanne and Korto's collections here. What about the guys? Well, let's just say it was probably obvious to the audience at the shows who the final three contestants were!
.
Photos via the Project Runway and New York magazine sites.

Carrie Bradshaw's Blue Apartment

So I know I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I just watched the SATC movie tonight, and I was totally taken with the wall color in Carrie Bradshaw's new apartment (not so much with the movie, but that's another story.)

The color is somewhere between a turquoise and a peacock blue, and though it was custom mixed for the movie - sources on the internets indicate that it is very close to Benjamin Moore's "Electric Blue." More information and more photos can be found here on Casa Sugar, and on Mirror Mirror here.

The Grown Up Version

Super sassy barrettes for little girls seem to be all the rage these days - and the thinking here must have been "why should the kids have all the fun?" They're a little pricey at $75.00 for a set of six - but they ARE awfully cute, and they are 12K gold. I especially love blue Monday. If that one was sold separately, I just might spring for it.

Photos from the Kate Spade website.

Mary's Donuts

There are a lot of donut shops out there that are all the same (or at least it seems to me) and while a bad donut is something like bad pizza (how bad can it be?) - a good one is something to behold.

There are only a couple of places in San Diego to get a really good donut.* We don't have the "fancy" shops like San Francisco and NYC - where Dynamo Donuts and Doughnut Plant have taken hold, but we do have Mary's.

Mary's has been in Santee for a long, long time, and for that same amount of time they have been making good donuts. The difference is apparent in both the flavor and the texture. The edges are crisp, the glazes and frostings taste like something other than straight sugar, and that coconutty ersatz flavor you find in so many other donuts is blissfully absent.

I had been craving a donut with crisp edges for weeks, ever since a mention of one popped up on Twitter, and finally - finally made it to Mary's this past Friday to pick up a box for the office.

Since I couldn't make up my mind between the Old Fashioned and the Buttermilk Bar, I split the difference, with half of each.

It was sooo worth it.

Even my coworkers noticed that they were better than average - and that's really saying something!

Mary's Donuts
9031 Mission Gorge Rd
Santee, CA 92071
(619) 448-4800
Open 24 hours.

*The only other "good" donut shop I'm aware of is VG, in Cardiff. Any other favorites? Let us know!

Big Sur Memories

One year ago today we returned from a fantastic road trip to Big Sur, the last night of which was spent at Esalen - an educational retreat that sits perched on the edge of the cliffs. They're famous for their cliffside mineral baths and massage, which alone made our visit worthwhile (we were there for a one night retreat.)

I've been thinking about it all week, remembering how beautiful it was and how much I want to go back. These are a few of the images that have stuck with me:

The Bungalow Store - Middletown/Little Italy

Two or three years ago, I discovered this little shop on the North End of Little Italy while driving by. I think I must have passed it three or four times before I finally caught them open - their hours are limited, but the charming wares inside are worth seeking out. The name would seem to indicate they stock a lot of Arts and Crafts items, which they do have a few of - but their real focus is on early California, Rancho and Mexicana items.

I am in love with the Rancho aesthetic - the style of indoor/outdoor living which presaged the modern Ranch house - and would give my left foot to own a Cliff May with an interior courtyard and wraparound porch. Alas, such is not my lot in life - but our home IS a modern Ranch, and it does sit on land that was a cattle ranch until the 50's - so I feel it is entirely appropriate for me to indulge my taste for a little Early California whimsy every now and again.

I love their displays of small artworks, paintings, woodcuts and photos. Since Rocky's left me, I've picked up a few pieces here and there to hang on our walls - including a gorgeous woodcut I bought to congratulate myself on getting my current job. When I pointed it out to the owner and told him I wanted to buy it, I think he was genuinely sad to see it go.

I half-heartedly collect California Pottery (I say half heartedly only because I have neither the space or money to go all-in) - I've picked up a few pieces on eBay here and there, and believe it or not at the Pannikin Bookworks in Del Mar. Here they have a nice selection of flower pots and garden items - two of the pots I bought here came from the Casa de Pico Motor Inn, back when the former location of the Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town was still a hotel.

In fact, they now have some of the towels from the former hotel on sale for $10.00 apiece. A small price to pay for a piece of San Diego history, don't you think?

I have to laugh every time I see this mannequin hand being used as a paperweight on their desk.

On my last visit, I was torn about this tray. I like it, but I'm not sure where I would put it. What do you think? Yay or nay?

I bought this Mexican feather art framed bird - for only $10.00. It needs a little cleaning up, then it will probably go up in the blue bathroom, assuming I can find a spot. Now that I'm looking at these photos though, I'm seeing things I didn't notice when I was in there. I may have to make a return trip soon!

The Bungalow Store
2317 India St
San Diego, CA 92101
619.234.7383

Open Fridays and Saturdays 11-4, or call for an appointment

The Linkery in the NY Times Magazine!

I'm so excited about the New York Times' annual food issue coming out this Sunday - featuring an article about Michael Pollan about food politics. It's already available online - but I'll probably wait until Sunday to read the long articles because I love savoring the print copy. Still, there was one piece I couldn't help but read as soon as it caught my eye - a well written thoughtful piece about our very own Linkery and their tipping policy! Check it out here.

photo via the NYTimes website

Oh Joy is right!

I was just about to do a search for Marimekko to find some info for a post on here (really, I swear!) when I stumbled across this post on Orange Beautiful linking to this one on Oh Joy! Oh my gah, is all I can say. I am stunned by the colors and patterns in these clothes. I also really like this look:

and this one -

Super stylish, wearable, full of personality - even somewhat affordable. What more could you ask for?

Here is the full line and they can be purchased online here. I may just have to seek these out next week when I'm in NYC - though my wallet would say I have absolutely no business doing so whatsoever!

Photo montage via Oh Joy , and Orange Beautiful's blog Scoop.

Quick, before they sell out!

My lovely and stylish friend Jora gave me one of these calendars last year for a holiday gift, and I loved it so much that I've ordered one for myself again for next year. Photos don't do the beautiful letterpress cards justice - these were sold out last year by the time I received mine, and will undoubtedly sell out again within the next couple of weeks.

If they are sold out, Joslyn over at Simple Lovely has put together this post to help you find something similar!

Photo via ilee on etsy.

New Fall Shoes

Mama need a new pair of shoes? Here are two I'm loving right now.

These gray suede numbers are one of this month's Lucky Breaks - they're 25% off ($225) and almost all sizes are sold out, so hurry if you're interested! (The code is "lucky2.") I love that the style is unusual but not too far out, they look comfortable and would work with pants or a skirt - especially a short one with some textured tights.

These boots are just about the coolest thing I've seen this fall - who else besides Built By Wendy would think to combine equestrian styling with a western shape? It makes sense, these are the same folks who did the fashion line for Wrangler a year or two ago that sold out almost immediately. They make such cool but wearable stuff and their lines just get better and better. It's rock n' roll, western and downtown all mixed together. I love it.

Photos via the Coclico and Built By Wendy websites.

Dinner at The Farmhouse Cafe

I've written about Farmhouse Cafe before - but it was just after they opened, and the post was about lunch, which they no longer serve, so I really think it's time for an update. I've dined there three or four times over the past few months, but James joined me for the first time last Saturday night for a lovely meal at the bar. We started with a Capri Salad - their version of a caprese - and the Chicken Liver Mousse, which was included in that earlier lunch, and if anything was even better than I remembered. I absolutely love this stuff. The Capri Salad was nice too, but I think I may have overdosed on the heirloom tomato and mozzarella combination by this time in the season. The tomatoes also weren't quite as good as they've been in the past - which isn't too surprising since heirlooms are on the way out at this point. Still, I will look forward to this again next year when it comes back around.

Olivier came out to chat with us and told us he's gradually adding Fall items to the menu. On the night we visited it happened to be raining. It was a total anomaly - the temperature was back in the 90s by Monday - but for the evening we were more than happy to pretend the weather had changed. I ordered the Handmade Fettuccine with Moroccan Lamb Bolognese, and James had a special of Braised Pork with Colcannon - a combination of bacon, mashed potatoes and cabbage. The fettuccine is perfect cold weather fare - hearty and warmly spiced, and the candied lemon peel on top adds a dimension that really and truly makes the dish. If you like lamb, and especially if you like Moroccan flavors - you will love this.

James' pork was nicely cooked - but I think we were both a little surprised by the flavors. It was a little bit smoky and sweet, when I would have expected something more along the lines of an Irish stew. He enjoyed it though.

After perusing the always-tempting dessert list, I had to try Olivier's version of mint chip ice cream - with cocoa nibs instead of chocolate and a chocolate walnut cookie alongside. I was a little skeptical since I'm picky about my mint ice cream, but this was phenomenal. It may even have been made with chocolate mint - it tasted almost identical to the ice cream I made a few weeks ago. The cookie was delicious too - like a buttery flattened brownie chock full of walnuts.

James, being one of those "not into sweets" people, tried the cheese plate. There were four cheeses, some chutney and house-made spiced nuts, which he especially liked.

The remarkable thing about the Farmhouse Cafe is that Olivier does everything in house from scratch, from the pickles on the chicken liver mousse starter right down to the hand-made chocolates they serve with coffee for dessert. He probably even makes the chutney on the cheese plate. I don't know when he sleeps. For those of you who have been around town for a while, Olivier was once the Chef of the "Old" Laurel. As I pointed out in my earlier post, he's the "real deal" - and so is this restaurant. Despite this fact, it is shockingly affordable - with nothing on the menu over $20. They have a fabulous wine list - and you can get lots of help with your choices, even some tastes if you ask nicely. Rochelle, Olivier's wife, poured me a taste of a superb dessert wine, Pineau de Charentes, and we tried a couple of different reds before settling on a glass. With dessert, she poured me a taste of a "wine based" Bailey's Irish Cream knock-off called - appropriately enough - "Maloneys."

I've noticed they change the menu quite frequently, but some dishes are constants - the escargot risotto (which I have yet to try, but really should) the burger, a salad of La Milpa greens and an onion, bacon and arugula flatbread pizza among them. (I can vouch for the fact that the flatbread makes a lovely shared light dinner with a salad and a glass of wine.)

Given what they're doing and the prices they're charging, it's no surprise that this place gets crowded in the evenings. It's such a tiny place that reservations are absolutely essential on the weekends. Weekdays may be a little easier, and you can try for a spot at the bar - but if you want to make sure you get a seat, I'd recommend giving them a call!

The Farmhouse Cafe
2121 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA, 92116
(619) 269-9662

Brunch Saturdays and Sundays
Dinner Tues - Sun

Just Bought It

The Hayden Harnett website has become one of my favorite online shops lately, thanks to my stylish friend Jora, who totes one of their fabulous Havana bags. I found my own Beatrice bag on eBay but for months I've had my eye on this scarf on the website. I'm a total scarf nerd and always have been, and this one really caught my eye with it's au courant color scheme and classic print, reminiscent of Hermes. (Yes, I'm addicted to those too - I think I am up to five now!)

Living in an area where the temperatures top 100 degrees in the summer, I could hardly justify it - but I'm going to NYC and DC next week for the rest of the month of October, so I went ahead and put my order in today hoping it arrives before I leave. I just bought a couple of black sweater jackets to get me through the fall and winter (one is wool and short and the other is cotton and long) and I'm hoping this will add just the right amount of Big City Polish. I also think it would look great tied onto the handle of this bag - which I am currently lusting after, but I'm waiting and hoping for it to go on sale, since J.Crew seems to be doing a lot of that lately.

The best thing about the Hayden Harnett site is that they put new items on sale every week - sometimes at a very deep discount. A few weeks ago, I bought a kick ass key ring for about $20. and a cosmetic case that matches the interior of my purse for $15. Check it out here.

Photo via the J.Crew website

Bella Che Bella - Little Italy

A couple of months ago, I stumbled into this little shop while looking for a birthday present for my mother, and felt like I'd hit the motherlode. Among the amazing flowers and gift items are some unique items such as serveware and dishes from Heath Ceramics, Laguiole knives, beautiful handcrafted wood cutting boards, handmade jewelry, and some particularly elegant bath and body products. I've stopped in a few times since I started frequenting the Saturday morning Farmers Market in Little Italy, and even did some Christmas shopping in September - so lucky did I feel to find the particular items I purchased.

The shop is located on a tiny alley on Fir just East of India - both indoors and out - and provides a lovely source of inspiration for garden decoration ideas in addition to a place to shop. To make it even more worth your while, there are several other boutiques on the same block, including Sorella, Niche and Cathedral Home - and one of my very favorites, Station, is just a few blocks away. (If you need further convincing, Pappalecco, a great gelateria staffed almost entirely by cute Italian men, is just around the corner from Station!)

On my last visit I learned that they are doing the flowers for a new CBS TV show, The Ex List, about a flower shop owner who lives in Ocean Beach. I'm really happy for them - it should be a nice little boost for their business!

Che Bella
6211/2 West Fir Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619)232-3193

Warming up for Sunday Suppers

Sunday Supper
October 6, 2008

Menu
***

Fresh Local Figs, Wrapped in Prosciutto and Broiled
with Spring Hill Goat Sage Cheddar

Zuni's Asparagus and Rice Soup with Pancetta and Black Pepper

Paula Deen's Chocolate Bread Pudding
with Vanilla Ice Cream

***

This fall, some friends of ours have suggested reviving the tradition of late afternoon/early evening Sunday Suppers as a gentle way to wind down the weekends. James and I did something similar years ago, when we had friends over almost every Sunday night for Italian food and the Sopranos, but since then there's been a bit of a void in the weekend planning. We're both so excited to get this off the ground that even though our dining companions couldn't join us this past weekend, we decided to kick things off with a three course Sunday Supper of our own, featuring a soup from the Zuni Cafe cookbook with asparagus and rice as the main ingredients.

We had actually made this dish a few years ago from a newspaper clipping that James snipped, and remembered it as startlingly delicious given it's simplicity. To make it, you simply saute some chopped onion, stir in some rice and broth - simmer until cooked, then add the sauteed asparagus and pancetta. With a startling amount of black pepper ground over the top, the flavor really comes alive.

I made the chicken stock fresh on the same day from a whole chicken - which sounded like a great idea in theory, but in practice it meant I didn't have the chance to chill the broth and separate out the fat. Next time I make this (and there will be a next time) I will use broth that I've made at least a day in advance.

Trader Joes was also out of their cubed pancetta and I didn't have time to make a special trip to buy some elsewhere, so I used regular bacon. It added good flavor but after it was fried and then simmered in the broth, it became a little soggy and chewy - I'll hold out for the pancetta next time, or at least make sure to leave the fat behind and chop up only the meaty parts of the bacon. I can also see skipping the bacon and frying up tiny stale bread cubes with a little garlic instead, like croutons.

Another hint - I'd cut the asparagus in larger pieces than the 1/8 inch the recipe calls for - they cooked so quickly in the broth that they lost their texture - a little bit bigger pieces would add a little more variety. Overall though, given the high "bang for the buck" vs. effort ratio, this is a great recipe when Asparagus is in season. It's come back around here, and I was able to buy some nice skinny stalks at the Little Italy Mercato on Saturday.

Dessert was Paula Deen's Chocolate Bread Pudding, a recipe Jora recommended. I had so many beautiful buns and rolls from Bread and Cie left over from the bbq last week that I just had to figure out something to do with them. I settled on bread pudding, some breadcrumbs and a panade.

The important thing to know about this recipe is that there are two of them. One calls for grating the chocolate and the other calls for chocolate chips. Personally now that I've tried it, I think a little of both would probably be good - that way you'd get the gooey chocolate throughout the dish, and little pockets of melted chocolate here and there. Either way, I can vouch for the fact that this is a great way to use up some leftover bread and a hunk of chocolate sitting in your cupboard, should you happey to be looking for one. The recipe recommends unsweetened whipped cream as an accompaniment - but we went with vanilla ice cream, which worked quite well.

For some reason, Fall seems like the right time to us to start Sunday Suppers, but I suppose there's no reason it shouldn't be a year-round thing. After all, Suzanne Goin provides plenty of recipes for delicious sounding Winter, Spring and Summer meals in Sunday Suppers at Lucques, and there are plenty of recipes in the Zuni Cafe Cookbook that we have yet to try!

Here are the recipes from this one:

Prosciutto Wrapped Figs with Cheese

ingredients:
Four smallish, firm but ripe figs, quartered (hurry, it's the end of the season!)
4-5 slices of Paper thin sliced prosciutto, cut into strips 1"wide
2-3 ounces of soft, sweet or sharply flavored cheese, such as goat, bleu or reggiano parmesan, crumbled into 1/2 inch nuggets (I used a delicious goat sage cheddar from Spring Hill Cheese that I picked up at the Little Italy Mercato on Saturday, along with some fresh Jersey butter.)

method:
Preheat the broiler
Wrap the prosciutto around each piece of fig, and place in a shallow non-stick baking pan.
Place under the broiler for about 2 minutes, until the prosciutto crisps and becomes brown where it meets the pan.
Serve with the cheese in a dish alongside.
(You could also try halving the figs and stuffing them with the cheese before wrapping - especially if the cheese is firm.)


Zuni Asparagus and Rice Soup with Pancetta and Black Pepper
Adapted from the Zuni Cookbook by Judy Rodgers

ingredients:
4 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium sweet yellow onion, diced (about 8 ounces)
3 1/2 cups of chicken broth
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon of salt (unless broth is already sufficiently salted)
1/3 cup Arborio or other white rice
8 ounces of asparagus - cut into one inch slivers (about 2 cups
4 ounces of Pancetta - finely diced
freshly ground black pepper
Reggiano Parmesan, for shaving

method:
Heat two Tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saucepan (preferably with sloping sides) and saute the onion until it sweats its moisture - don't let it brown or allow the liquid to evaporate. (If it gets too dry, add a little broth.)

Stir in the rice and saute 1 minute. Add the salt, water and broth and cover - bring to a boil and allow to simmer for about ten minutes, until the rice is nutty tender.

Meanwhile, heat the other two Tablespoons of olive oil in a saute pan and add the pancetta - cook until it starts to brown, then add the asparagus. Spread the asparagus and pancetta out in the pan and allow to cook, undisturbed, until caramelized. Toss and caramelize one more time, then add to the soup when the rice is ready. Add several grinds of black pepper and simmer for about one minute. Ladle into bowls. Shave some Reggiano Parmesan and grind more black pepper over the top and serve - or pass the pepper grinder and cheese at the table.


Paula Deen's Chocolate Bread Pudding
Adapted from recipes on the Food Network website

ingredients:
15 cups of cubed stale bread - preferably brioche, French or Italian bread
6 large eggs
3 cups of milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup coffee flavored liqueur
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon (I used 1/2 teaspoon)
8 oz semisweet chocolate, grated, chopped or any combination of the two

method:
Preheat the oven to 325.

Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking dish and place the bread in the dish.

Whisk together the sugars and cocoa powder in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, mix the milk, cream and coffee flavored liqueur, and add the sugar mixture.

In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the the cinnamon, almond extract and vanilla. Add the eggs into the milk and sugar and whisk to combine. Add the grated chocolate and pour the mixture over the bread in the pan. Let the mixture stand, stirring occasionally - for about twenty minutes, until the bread has absorbed most of the liquid. Bake pudding for one hour, or until set - a knife inserted in the center should come out clean.

Serve warm or chilled with lightly sweetened whipped cream - or hot with vanilla ice cream.

The Big Apple Pancake

You know those recipes that just reach up off the page, grab you by the lapels and scream "make me"? Well in my book, this was one of them. I first laid eyes on it yesterday while tooling around on the Gourmet website, and within twenty four hours it was sitting on the counter, dusted with powdered sugar. We had it for brunch on Sunday morning with some bacon and Linkery kielbasas. When it was time to serve, I just added the bacon to the sausage pan and placed both skillets on the table. Maybe not the most elegant solution - but for a football brunch, it worked.

I've tried similar recipes in the past, but they've never been quite as successful as this one. It's more of a clafoutis than a dutch baby, not too eggy, not too airy - just the right amount of sweet. To make it into a dessert - something like a souffle version of Tarte Tatin - you could caramelize the apples in a little bit of sugar along with the butter before pouring the egg batter over. It would be the perfect conclusion for an Autumn Sunday Supper!

Big Apple Pancake
Adapted from Gourmet Magazine, November, 2004

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
1 large or 2-3 small sweet apples such as Gala or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch-wide wedges
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
Confectioners sugar for dusting

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.

Melt butter in skillet over moderate heat, then transfer 2 tablespoons to a blender (I used a hand blender in a high-sided bowl.) Add apple wedges to skillet and cook, turning once, until beginning to soften, 3 to 5 minutes.

While the apples are cooking, add milk, flour, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt to butter in blender and blend until smooth.

Pour batter over apples and transfer skillet to oven. Bake until pancake is puffed and golden, about 15 minutes. (Mine was getting a little brown, so I reduced the heat to 400 for about the last 5 minutes of baking, and turned it around.)

Dust with confectioners sugar and serve immediately.

If you go to Pescadero... A Slow Journey down the San Mateo Coast, Part II

At last (I know you were holding your breath!) we continue the story of the Slow Journey to the San Mateo Coast - remember? The one I took on Day Two of Slow Food Nation? Yes, SFN is ancient history at this point, and it's been dissected ad nauseum - but the places that we visited on the tour existed before we arrived and continue to exist after - and are well worth a visit if you happen to be in the area, so I wanted to share a little bit more about them.

Blue House Farm is a small innovative organic farm just north of Pescadero which sells its produce through a CSA Program (currently full with a waiting list!) and through the Pie Ranch Farmstand. Pictured above are their crop of dry-farmed early girl tomatoes - super sweet very small tomatoes grown with zero water, save what they get during the initial planting. These can only be grown in a very specific zone, with just the right amount of humidity and moisture from the coast, and the right amount of sun. As a result, they are fairly rare, and highly prized by local restaurants.

We got to peek inside one of their CSA boxes on our tour, and I can tell you - if I lived in the area, I'd get on that waiting list in a heart beat. The produce is absolutely gorgeous. Jewel-like even. Ned Conwell and Ryan Casey are both professionals turned farmers, and it's apparent that they've channeled all of their talents into running this perfect little place. They aren't open to the public on a daily basis, but they're putting on a Harvest Festival on October 11, and they offer volunteer opportunities every weekend during the harvest - through November.
Ned and Ryan have installed a biodiesel system to run their farm equipment - I have to admit, this is the first one I've ever seen, and I think it's pretty freaking cool.

One of the first things they did when they bought the farm was build this outdoor kitchen right next to the field. It's nothing fancy and was built largely with scavenged materials, but it's spectacular in that setting nonetheless. Nearby sits a hand built wood burning oven.

Further down across the field, this tipi peeks out from the bushes. I have a longstanding love affair with these (basically anything that looks like a tent or a fort gets my motor running.) They also had one of these on the property at Pie Ranch. We're seriously thinking about pitching one on the lower 40 over here for use as a guest house. Check out these photos on the Colorado Yurt Company's website if you doubt me.

Our last stop on your virtual tour is the Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon Bay. This was actually our first stop on the real tour, and I have to admit, when we arrived - I couldn't quite figure out what we were doing there. This was supposed to be a farm tour - with goats and cheese, and I couldn't wait to get off that smelly dock and get on with it. But the visit actually turned out to be quite fascinating. We learned a lot about the local fishing industry and saw some interesting things - including this sign that has prevented me from eating mussels or clams since - well, the night before I saw this sign.

We also learned that Pillar Point is the closest point to Maverick's, the famously dangerous surf break just off shore. The Harbor is responsible for doing search and rescue operations in the area, and the waverunners you see in the photo above are the ones they send out to rescue people who get in over their heads (literally!) out there. The primary reason for our visit though, was the fact that Pillar Point is unique in that the fishermen are permitted to sell their wares straight off the docks, directly to the public. This sign outside the Harbormaster's office tells you what the boats have and where they are located.

The boat below is selling albacore tuna - our guide didn't like the way these looked because they were frozen solid in water - which turns the fish into a giant chunk of ice. Air cooling is preferable and produces the best texture (particularly for sushi). Most people don't realize that all fish is frozen - or at least placed on ice to be frozen - immediately after it's caught. The faster it gets to the freezing point, the fresher it will be when it's thawed.

In the course of the tour, our guide told us that the Pillar Point fishing fleet normally fishes Chinook salmon in the summer, but the recent collapse of the salmon stocks led to a total prohibition on Chinook salmon fishing this summer. The informal word seems to be that the fish are showing signs of returning, and the fishery may re-open in 2010, but nothing is for sure. Authorities are looking at possible causes for the decline in the Delta, the Bay and the ocean, but nothing seems to have been decided. It may well be a combination of factors.

We went down to another boat that had live fish for sale, right off the dock.

The keep the live rockfish in these barrels, there was one on the front and one on the back of the boat. They also had halibut that were alive, if only barely - in a large cooler in the back of the boat. The fishermen told us that if you buy one of these fish, you can take it to a nearby shop where they will break it down for you.

A little further down the dock there is a store of sorts, where you can buy halibut and a few other fish out of a little warehouse.

It was at the end of the dock that we spotted this fellow, who was more than a little curious about what we were all doing there. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a regular around these parts. He certainly seemed to know how to pose for a picture.

If you wanted to visit Harley Farms or Pie Ranch (or better yet, both) it seems you could easily stop here in Half Moon Bay and buy your fish, drop it off to be "processed" and come back by and pick it up on your way back to town. It it would make quite a meal with some of those gorgeous vegetables from Blue House (purchased at the Pie Ranch Farm Stand) - some Harley Farms goat cheese and crostini to start, and of course a beautiful Pie Ranch pie for dessert!

Pillar Point Harbor
One Johnson Pier
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-5727

Blue House Farm
2601 Cloverdale Rd.
Pescadero, CA 94060