Things I Got and Gave.

Pictured above and listed below are a few of the things I got for the holidays, a few of the things I gave, a few I got for myself, and a few I really loved but never got around to getting!

What did you get?

Whatever it was, I hope your holiday season was lovely.

Happy New Year!


Weck Jars from Heath Ceramics

Graphic calendar from Flora Douville on Etsy

Killer thread necklaces from Maranon on Etsy

Peacock letterpress print from Sycamore Press on Etsy

Sushi cookies from Sprinkle Bakes on Etsy

Linen baby booties from Lotte Jansdotter

Spoon recipe cards and "anatomy of love" print from Rifle Paper Co.

Red espresso cup set and green and brown bowl from Heath Ceramics

I Know How to Cook and Chez Panisse Vegetables cookbooks

garden harvesting shears from The Felco Store

Amy Paul Print from Pigment in North Park (dark purple with gold ginkgo leaves)

not pictured:
A Molecular Gastronomy starter kit

Nature inspired tree ornaments from Land-Rich

A handmade apron from Amy Butler fabric

a wood box of chocolates from L.A. Burdick

{got - ornaments, burdick chocolates, apron, chez panisse veg book, heath bowl, molecular gastronomy set
gave - baby shoes, amy paul print, peacock print, heath cup set
gave myself ;) - felco shears, weck jars, calendar, i know how to cook book
just loved - sushi cookies, thread necklaces, rifle print and recipe cards}

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The Fête for James' 40th at Farm House Cafe

It's been a busy month, as December always is - but I would really be remiss if I let any more time go by without telling you about the fabulous party Olivier and Rochelle helped me throw at their restaurant Farm House Cafe for James' 40th birthday earlier this month.

We took over the restaurant with 27 of our closest friends, and Olivier served an amazing five course meal that started with champagne and chicken liver mousse, and ended with house-made chocolates. (Diet?? What diet???) In between we enjoyed a salad of endive, Cabrales blue cheese and spiced pecans with pears and for the main course, a choice of seared scallops with ricotta gnocchi, porcini mushrooms, roasted cauliflower and beurre blanc sauce or sirloin steak with mashed potatoes, red wine reduction, caramelized onions and lobster butter. And yes, it was every bit as good as it sounds.

With the main course we poured a choice of a Vouvray (white) or Carver Sutro Petite Syrah (red) - which was very good and very popular. We went through seven bottles of the red. (It has been duly noted that you cannot order too much red wine or champagne for parties in December.) The wine pairings were suggested by Rochelle and Olivier's wine buyer who went above and beyond to obtain the Carver Sutro for us because he thought it would be the perfect thing - and he was absolutely right.

Because the birthday boy is a cheese fanatic, I requested a cheese course to be served family style after the entree. These were delightful choices - if only I could remember them all. With this we poured a Tokaji - an irresistible dessert wine from Hungary.

Olivier also did the cake - a by-request combination of lemon soaked genoise filled with lemon cream and whole blackberries - topped with a layer of passionfruit mousse and gelee. Each piece was served with a white chocolate decoration. There were almost 40 candles on the cake - they were supposed to be sparkling candles, but they were more like hissing and spitting candles. Not quite the effect we were going for, but amusing nonetheless.

For the party favors, I did up little parchment bags with labels that also served as place cards from Sycamore Street Press. I ordered match books from Dippylulu - made to look like Penguin classics, but with fart jokes on them (Van Winkle Ripped, Great Expellations, Fart of Darkness) we also had some of James' birthday dog tattoos (long story) and some phenomenal caramels from Bon Bon Bar. I also did an "ABCS of James" which I printed and folded up in the bags - and the M&Ms said James is 40 and Birthday Dog on them.

The flowers were from Green Florals in Hillcrest - they did a beautiful job at a very reasonable price. I asked for edibles and succulents with dark red accents, and that was exactly what I received. The table arrangements included kale and succulents with dark red dahlias and orchids, and I ordered one large arrangement for the bar that included a beautiful giant kale and artichoke. The shop is located on 4th just next to Arrivederci Pizzeria and is well worth a visit.

Last but not least, the meal concluded with Olivier's chocolates. I never cease to be amazed at how good these are - they rival the best anywhere. From top to bottom, the small pointed ones were salted caramels in dark chocolate - the triangular ones are mock Toblerone - with crunchy bits and toasted hazelnut, the large hexagonal ones were filled with marshmallow and crunchy nuts, and the white chocolates were filled with raspberry buttercream. A few of these were left over and we savored them for days. He changes these up frequently, and offers them on the dessert menu with a cup of coffee.

We've enjoyed several good meals at Farm House, but this one - no pun intended - really took the cake. I will always be grateful to Olivier and Rochelle for making this occasion so special. It was a wonderful experience and I can wholeheartedly recommend the restaurant as a fabulous place to throw an intimate dinner party.

More photos from the evening can be viewed here.

Farm House Cafe
2121 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 269-9662
open for dinner Tues-Sun, and Sunday brunch, which I wrote about here.

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Food 4 Kids Prize Winners!

Congratulations to our winners in yesterday's raffle! Since only a few people were present to choose prizes, I am putting the remainder up for grabs here. If you received an email from me, or if your name is listed below, please leave a comment on this post to let me know what prize you would like. It's first come first served, so please check the previous comments to see what's been claimed before you choose! I will check in periodically to cross out claimed prizes to make it easier for you. (That's Heidi's adorable daughter Matilda drawing names for the prizes, above.)

When you claim your prize, I will provide you with the donor's email address to make arrangements for pick up and delivery. (I have a few of the prizes in my possession as well.) As you may well be able to guess, prizes that are crossed out are already taken.

I also want to thank a couple of special sponsors for our fundraiser - Urban Solace came through for us with a check for $300. based on sales of their popular macaroni and cheese and Duckaroni dishes and some food donations as well. Lori Lange (aka Recipe Girl) recruited huge food donations in her neighborhood, and we received word the other day that thanks to Amiko Gubbins' encouragement, Sysco is donating truckloads of food to fill the 1000 backpacks provided by Tony Hawk. We exceeded our goal of $5000 in funds raised by over $1000 due to the generosity of our donors! It has been a genuinely heartwarming experience to see what people can and will do when you give them the opportunity.

Overall the program was such a success that we plan to do it again, but at the Food Bank's suggestion, we're planning to move it to then end of the summer next year, so that the donations can be used to fund the program for the coming school year. There will be more exciting developments too - so we'll keep you posted! Meanwhile, our fundraising page will remain open through mid May, so feel free to keep on donating!

Experiences

Lunch and an afternoon tour of Balboa International Market or 99 Ranch Market – Donated by Caron Golden

A $50.00 gift certificate and a VIP tour of Catalina Offshore Products – donated by SD Citybeat Food Critic Candice Woo and Tommy Gomes of Catalina Offshore Products

A copy of Chez Panisse Vegetables and a tour of either the Saturday Little Italy Mercato, or Sunday Hillcrest Farmers Market. – Donated by Alice Robertson

Two tickets to any cheese class, including their cheese and beer tastings – Donated by Mary and George of Taste Cheese in Hillcrest - value of $90.

An afternoon in the kitchen with Chef Ron Oliver of the Marine Room donated by Ron Oliver and an autographed copy of his new cookbook with Bernard Guillas “Flying Pans, Two Chefs One World" donated by Donna Mc Laughlin of Slow Food Urban San Diego

Restaurants

$150. gift certificate redeemable at Gringos, the Tower 23 Hotel or Moondoggies – Donated by Diane Stopford

$100 gift certificate to Rimel’s restaurants, including Zenbu or Rimel’s Rotisserie in La Jolla - Donated by the Rimel family.

$100 gift certificate to Bite, Donated by Chris Walsh

$75 gift certificate for Urban Solace, Donated by co-founders Matt Gordon and Scott Watkins

$50 gift certificate to Third Corner Restaurant Donated by Rachel Going

$40 gift certificate to Blind Lady Ale House Donated by Rachel Going

$25 gift certificate to Leucadia Pizzeria Donated by Rachel Going

$25 gift certificate to the Ivy Hotel's Ultra Lounge and Wine Bar – Donated by Caron Golden

Foodstuffs

$30 gift certificate to Specialty Produce and an assortment of gourmet pantry goods including a jar of peppadew peppers, some Lemon Twist gourmet seasalt, a jar of Miel de Lavande (Pure Lavender Honey), some White Truffle Oil and Mexican Chocolate

$75.00 gift certificate to U.S. Wellness Meats (a grassfed meat company out of Missouri) donated by local pastry chef and blogger Rachel Going

A $75.00 package from the Mercato including a Mercato Market Bag, a Mercato calendar, $20 in Mercato Money and assorted local food items (jam, vinegar, avocado oil, etc). - Donated by Catt White, the Maestra of the Little Italy Mercato.

Treats

Custom decorated custom 9" cake or dozen cupcakes – Donated by Jenny of Foray into Food

Custom decorated 9 inch cake delivered anywhere in San Diego – Donated by local Pastry Chef Rachel Going

Books

A copy of Thomas Keller's "Ad Hoc at Home." Donated by Howie of FoodieView

An autographed copy of David Leite's new cookbook, "The New Portuguese Table."
Donated by Leanne of local blog Three Dog Kitchen

A copy of Heston Blumenthal's "Fat Duck Cookbook" Donated by Alice Robertson

The Fruit Hunters: A Story of Nature, Adventure, Commerce, and Obsession by Adam Leith Gollner from Becky Wheeler of the Fruit Maven

A set of of 3 cookbooks: “Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day” by Zoe Francois, Ralph Brennan’s "New Orleans Seafood Cookbook,” and “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” by Ree Drummond. – Donated by Caron Golden

Services
Consultation with Urban Plantations, to transform your landscaping into an Edible Eden – donated by Angie Vorhies

A two hour interior design consultation and a copy of the classic Italian Cookbook The Silver Spoon – donated by Arclinea San Diego

A one hour photography session and photos on disk – Donated by Adriana Zuniga of Adriana Zuniga Photography

a handmade Swarovski Crystal necklace and earring set made by her mother, donated by Rachel Going

3 "Leash your Fitness" one hour workout classes with your dog, 3 half hour dog training sessions before the sessions, and one Presidential Night Stay plus bath at the Markim Pet Resort, donated by Angie Robert

Winners:
Rebecca Chappell
Nicole Hamaker
Mary Lou Battista
Cheryl Dine
Marcie Rothman
Laura Levy
Andy Anello
Valerie Clark
Candice Woo
Quinn Wilson
Jan Percival
Lisa Pearl
Becky Wheeler
Amiko Gubbins
Lucia Correa
Red Door Restaurant
Jon Bailey
Ellen Turnage
Dominick Fiume
Chimena Campbell
Peter Ryan

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Happy 40th Birthday James!

Today is my darling husband James' 40th Birthday. It's a little strange to think we've been together for a quarter of that time, we met shortly after his 30th birthday, and just before mine. In some ways it seems like a good, long time, and in other ways it feels like a blip on the radar screen. I suspect that feeling will only increase as the years go by, which makes me a little melancholy in a way. It's a strange thing to know that the best years of your life are flying by - I guess all you can do is hold on to what you can, and enjoy them the best you know how.

Last night we had a 10 hour power outage due to the Great Storm of 2009, so we spent the last night of James' 40th year sitting in front of the fire with candles all over the house, drinking beer. Altogether, it wasn't a bad way to usher in a new age - but of course we have big plans for tonight too. Stay tuned for more on that coming soon!

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