Some New Favorite Things & Thoughts on the iPad

1. Old Navy Metallic Flip Flops These are just the perfect flip flops. They're soft, made with a special jelly-like rubber, and the colors are great. I really like the gold. The best part is they're insanely cheap - on sale right now for $3.50 a pair. They run a little small, just FYI.



2. Gilt - membership is required but anyone can join (and I am happy to provide an invitation if you need one.) Once you opt in, every day just before 12 PM Eastern (9 AM Pacific) you will receive an email telling you the designers going on sale. If you think you might want something, you'll want to have your finger on the refresh button, because the best things go fast - I'm talking within half an hour. Merchandise runs the gamut from housewares to clothing, accessories, even jewelry. Missoni, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Coclico have all caught my eye recently. (This is where I got the Marc by Marc Jacobs dress I wore on my birthday for $140.)



3. Dark Chocolate Snickers - the other day, sitting at my desk, I had an inexplicable craving for a good old-fashioned candy bar. Something chewy, salty and sweet - but not too sweet. I hit the 7 Eleven around the corner from my office and found these on the shelf. I am smitten. Apparently it's a limited edition but I hope they keep them around. Milky Way Dark has been around for a while, so why not? (I also kinda dig the mint 3 Musketeers bar - bonus there, low calories.)



4. Bumble & Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner - A few weeks ago in San Francisco - just before my big party - I found myself having a hair crisis. I hadn't packed anything special and the hotel's products were not working for me - so I popped into a salon and picked up travel sized bottles of these. The price was rather shocking, about $8.00 I think, but they turned out to be worth every penny. They do in fact make your hair thicker, but invisibly, with no stiffness or residue. A few days later a co-worker asked me for a referral to my salon "because it looks like you have thick hair." That pretty much clinched it right there.



5. Flora and Fauna press on Etsy - I like to keep a few letterpress cards on hand for birthdays and other occasions. A couple of months ago, I ordered from this company, and hands down they are my new favorite. Beautiful, bold colors, nice size, lovely thick paper - they're just perfect.



6. Shopstyle - Looking for something? Heeled lace up oxford shoes? A black pencil skirt? Purple flip flops? Type it in. The site will bring up every specimen from across the shopping globe for your perusal. You just click on the little image, and a new window opens up taking you right to the item. It's flat out amazing, not to mention time-saving.



7. Essie "Red Label" nail polish - the perfect creamy, bright, crimson red for summer. (Psst...best price I've found online for Essie is here - even though you can't see the colors very well.)



8. ASOS - I discovered this site through Shopstyle, actually - it's a British brand - I still don't quite have a handle on it yet - maybe sort of an H&M, but a little nicer? Affordable and stylish clothes, shoes and the like - and they ship worldwide for about $8.00. I especially like this little Festival Guide they put together.



9. the iPad - with a few reservations. I love the convenience and portability. It's especially nice for email, iTunes (with better speakers than you might think), reading books (there's a Kindle app you can access in addition to Apple's iBooks) and there are some really nice functional apps out there with specialized formatting for the device - but the internet capabilities are not what you'd expect. It's still a mobile device, and many sites have not caught up. Lack of scrolling capabilities and funky formatting are a problem. Tweetdeck for iPad is also a total mess, which has pretty much put the kibosh on my Twitter participation. I bought Apple's small cordless keyboard (not the keyboard dock, since I use it mostly in lansdscape) and a stand, which I highly recommend. It turns it into a little mini computer on your desk or kitchen counter and improves the functionality ten-fold. Not only is it easier to type, but you can scroll with directional keys, which don't exist on the device's keyboard. When you want it to be mobile you just pluck it off the stand and turn off the Bluetooth connection. I would not be surprised if the first upgrade makes significant changes to the keyboard - it's deficiencies are that obvious. I also hate the smudginess of the screen - and I loathe the $40. case Apple sells. It's ugly and flimsy - the only reason I keep it is because it functions as a stand when you fold it over, and the low angle is really helpful for typing on the go. (Hmm... maybe this should have been a separate post...)



10. iPad Apps - I'm still not sure if I've found my iPad's special purpose yet, but these apps are certainly helping - just search the app store for them - they're free or inexpensive. I really like Cool Hunting, Art Studio, NPR, Gilt, BlogPress (since Blogger is not compatible with the device) & Netflix. It has huge potential for magazines, but very few have apps right now. Hopefully they'll get there. Blogs look great on it, and I've had no problems with any of the formats. The NY Times app is lame, since it doesn't include all the content but you can just view the regular site with relative ease. You also don't need a mobile app for Facebook since it functions pretty well, with just a little occasional glitchiness.

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My 40th Birthday at Boulette's - San Francisco

The first time I tried to visit Boulette's Larder at the Ferry Building, I was too late. They were closed, but the door to the Ferry Plaza was open, and I could see them inside setting up for a private party. It was a scene to behold with the long table down the middle of the room set with beautiful linens, flowers and crystal, the beautiful copper kitchen, the fireplace, the high ceilings and the open setting on the waterfront plaza.

Over the intervening years I've been to Boulette's many times for breakfast and lunch, and I stop by for salts, spices and little cookies on just about every trip to the Ferry Building. But I never forgot that beautiful table, and never stopped thinking (read: scheming) about how I'd manage to throw a party there someday.

The day finally came on May 1 of this year, my actual birthday. My husband and friends gave me the party I'd always wanted, with about half of the guests from the Bay Area and the rest from San Diego. Our friends Lisa and Luis flew up with us, and we had an absolute blast staying at the Embarcadero Hyatt - directly across the street from the Ferry Building. The whole weekend was a non-stop whirlwind of eating, drinking, and eating some more. Zuni, Pizzeria Delfina, Hog Island Oysters... man... I get misty just thinking about it.

As far as the party itself, I hardly know where to start. I have, quite simply, never had a better time. The food was incomparable and it was so nice to be surrounded by my best friends and people I don't get to see often enough.

One of those people, my good friend Sam Breach joined us, and took the beautiful photos you see here.

These were the party favors - little baskets of those tiny cookies I love so much...

This is the croquembouche, which we served in lieu of a cake - it's a traditional French celebratory dessert - a tower of cream puffs filled with pastry cream and held together with burnt sugar caramel. I was delighted by the lilacs - beautiful fragrant flowers we don't see here in San Diego.

This shot really showcases Sam's eye for color and composition, and my elegant friends Susan and Moira. My friend Jora thinks it looks like a shot from Gourmet magazine *sniff*.

Speaking of Gourmet, on to the food. Oh, the food. I knew Boulette's would do a good job. I knew it would be lovely - but they truly exceeded my expectations. We started with passed hors d'oeuvres, served with Perrier Jouet Champagne. To prepare these, they asked for a list of things I like, and they really nailed it. Pictured below is a bit of hamachi sashimi with Japanese pickled vegetables. We also had shrimp salad served on little rye toasts, braised lamb on gaufrette, and a braised pork belly that was just beyond.

The first seated course was a salad of roasted asparagus, wild watercress, arugula, artichokes, pickled ramps, and burrata cheese with a green ramp vinaigrette. It was delicious and so beautiful, with its vibrant green color. With this we had warm rolls with butter. (There was rosemary in them, but they were so good I didn't even care.) The wine pairing with the salad was a light and buttery 2008 Domaine de Bernier Chardonnay.

The main course was a Wild Alaskan Halibut, with Oregon foraged mushrooms, beurre rouge and fava beans. The beurre rouge - a traditional French concoction of red wine, butter and shallots - had everyone at the table moaning. Literally. Several people said it was the best fish dish they had ever tasted. With the main course, we had two pinot wines - a 2007 Sean Thackrey Andromeda from Devils Gulch Ranch Vineyard in Marin, and Freeman Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast. Both were marvelous, but the Andromeda was especially nice. Special thanks go to our friend Tom for supplying all of the wines for the dinner.

The croquembouche was served with whipped cream and a citrus ice cream. (I had thought about chocolate, but I was glad they didn't do it.) It was paired with a 6 Puttonyos Tokaji (James insisted I add that bit about the Puttonyos, he wanted you all to know.) I ate the puff off the top of the tower, but the rest went home with Sam - they had plated cream puffs separately with the sauces. It was certainly a more civilized approach than tearing into the heap of puffs, if maybe not quite as much fun. After the dessert, came mignardise (chocolates and jelly candies) and coffee service.

The dining room was ours for as long as we desired, and we stayed for about an hour after the meal, sipping coffee and Tokaji and chatting. It wasn't until the end of the night, when Chef Amaryll Schwertner was getting ready to leave, that we realized her and Lori's Hungarian Sheepdog Boulette (for whom the restaurant is named) had been under the table the entire time.

After the dinner a few of us went on to Bourbon & Branch, a speakeasy style cocktail bar in the Tenderloin/Union Square area. I loved it, and plan to return sometime when I'm a little less saturated with cheer and good will to sample more of their multi-volume cocktail menu.

I doubt I'll ever throw another birthday party (or maybe any kind of party) like this again. For me it was a milestone to be marked - a halfway point of sorts and I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced it. Cheers and thanks to everyone who joined me, and to those who couldn't make it, you were missed!

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New Alice Q. Foodie Facebook Page

Hello there! Just a quick note to let you know I've started using the Facebook page for Alice Q. Foodie to post links to new posts, restaurant reviews, local food news and events. It seems like a quick and easy way to share newsworthy bits of information that don't warrant a full blog post. I'm kind of migrating away from Twitter these days, so if you've been following me the Facebook page will be a good way to get the information I've been posting over there. The Facebook page also allows members to start discussion topics or post questions, comments, etc.

http://www.facebook.com/aliceqfoodie

p.s. - if you have an iPad or an iPhone and you choose to add this site to your home screen, a nifty little favicon will pop up with the above photo!

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Ten Things I'm Excited About This Summer

1. Tom's Wedges - I've always wanted to like these shoes, but the flat espadrille style just doesn't work for my feet. This more lady-like version is coming this summer - you can sign up here to be notified when they're available. (I've got my eye on the navy ones.)

2. Scotty's Green Salsa - I discovered this at Whole Foods a couple of months ago and I just haven't been able to get enough. It's vibrant green and fresh - and I don't know exactly why, but it just tastes better than your usual salsa verde. Look for it in the salsa cooler in the chip aisle.

3. Aperol Cocktails - The other night, I opened a bottle of some cheap fizzy Pinot Grigio. It tasted a little sour on its own, so - inspired by Zuni Cafe - I added a splash of Aperol, a slug of gin and a couple of ice cubes. Voila! Something I will make over and over again this summer.

4. Trina Turk Loop beach towels - I picked up a couple of these (in the blue/green print) at the Trina Turk boutique in Fashion Island a couple of months ago, and have been waiting to use them with bated breath. I finally got my chance this weekend and I absolutely love them.

5. New music - I just had to re-load all of my music onto my laptop after a crash, which inspired me to freshen up my collection a bit. I bought a few new albums and unearthed a few that I'd purchased earlier but never really listened to and made a new play list for Summer. It includes albums by Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, Neko Case, Feist, Cut Copy, Caribou, The Temper Trap, a few Carla Bruni songs, some Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and the Up in the Air soundtrack. I'm loving The Reminder by Feist, which I just rediscovered, and Conditions by the Temper Trap.

6. Garage Sales - This is prime garage sale season, and I'm dying to get up early some Saturday morning soon and hit up a few. There really is no point in going if you can't get there early though, so I will definitely need to plan ahead.

7. Rosé - this is the summer of rosé wines - it's been brewing for a few years now, but I think the trend is really ready to hit its stride.

8. Cherries - I saw the first ones coming into the market last weekend. This year I'm really hoping to get my hands on some sour ones, even if they're frozen - and make the Sour Cherry Frozen Custard I made a few years ago.

9. Portland - we are visiting this fair city for the first time this July, and I cannot wait. We're flying in on a Thursday, spending the night at the McMenamin's Kennedy School, then moving to the Ace the next day, since the Kennedy School is booked for weddings over the weekend. We're going to a birthday party on Saturday and I have a feeling the rest of our time will be pretty well absorbed with checking out the Pearl District (Powells Books for sure) and trying to snarf up as much of the local food scene as we can - including the food carts, Clyde Common and Pearl Bakery. If you have any special recommendations, please let me know!

10. The Food 4 Kids Summer Fundraiser! - Those of you who have been reading for a while may remember that back in December, several local bloggers got together to do a fundraiser for the San Diego Food Bank's Food 4 Kids program, which provides backpacks filled with food to kids on the weekends who would otherwise not have enough to eat. Our efforts allowed the Food Bank to add two more schools to the program, and we collected over 1000 pounds of food. This year we're moving the fundraiser to the Summer, so we can directly impact the program for the coming year. We're targeting an August date for our food drive at the Little Italy Mercato, and we have a couple of other surprises up our sleeves, so watch this space for more announcements! You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/food4kids for all the latest information and updates.

photo via the Huffington Post

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Cook's Confab FISH! Facts - June 1

As I mentioned earlier this week, the Cooks Confab chefs are planning an extravaganza of events during the 1st week of June - not just to serve up fabulous food, but to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable practices in seafood harvesting, and the impact our global love affair with seafood is having on our environment and communities.

The first of these events is a tasting, lecture and film screening on Tuesday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Fibonacci's Bistro by Waters Catering in Sorrento Valley. Andrew Spurgin, Executive Chef of Waters Catering has organized and is hosting this event to give attendees the opportunity to taste dishes prepared with local sustainable seafood, and learn about the problems caused by overfishing and irresponsible practices.

During the tasting students from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the seafood being served. After the tasting, Dr. Jeremy Jackson, a renowned marine ecologist will give a short lecture, followed by a screening of "The End of the Line" - a documentary about overfishing.

I got a little taste of this when I visited the Harbor at Moss Landing two years ago during Slow Food Nation. We heard about the collapse of the Salmon fishery in Northern California, and the shortage of bluefin tuna. It's sobering to think about the amount of damage that can be done in such a short time. Chefs do have a unique influence on the situation though, in that 67% of seafood is served in restaurants. Some of our best local chefs are going to set a good example for the rest of them with the following menu, composed of local and sustainable seafoods.

Tickets can be purchased for only $15. at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/111524. (Get 'em quick, I bet this will sell out!) All proceeds benefit Slow Food Urban San Diego.

Fish! Facts June 1st
Confablieri Chefs

Christian Graves – Jsix
Herb Crusted Californian Sturgeon with it’s Eggs, Chervil, Crème Fraîche, Buckwheat Blini (these are aquaculture products)

Jason Knibb– NINE–TEN
Spot Prawns with Cilantro, Almonds, Grapes

Jeff Jackson/TK Kolanko – A. R. Valentien
Wild Alaskan Salmon Marinated in White Wine, Onions (MSC Certified)

Andrew Spurgin/Donald Coffman – Waters Fine Catering
Gloria Tamai Farm White Corn Chowder, Smoked Wild Alaskan Black Cod (MSC Certified)

Olivier Bioteau – Farm House Café
Wild Alaskan Halibut Brandade (MSC Certified)

Trey Foshee – George's California Modern
Sardine Bruschetta, Tomato Conserva, Local Avocado, Marinated Spring Onion

Guest Chefs

Bernard Guillas– The Marine Room
Maine Lobster Cappuccino Yuzu Tapioca Pearls,20 Year Old Ambrosante Foam, M’Ocean, Organic Fennel Pollen

Paul Arias – The Fishery
Fresh Oregon Pink Shrimp, Local Avocado, Fennel, Chili Escabeche (MSC Certified)

Matt Gordon – Urban Solace
House Cured Arctic Char, Wild Arugula-Lemon, Vinaigrette, Pine Nut Blini (this is an aquaculture product)

Matt Smith – Wine Cellar & Brasserie
Smoked Yellowfin Tuna, Brown Butter Hollandaise, Endive Sauerkraut, Gooseberry Marmalade

Melissa Mayer – Specialty Produce
Pole Caught Albacore Crudo with Watermelon, Citrus, Chiles

Stay tuned for more about the rest of the week's events, coming up!

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Mariscos El Pescador - Chula Vista

The timing on this post is interesting, considering we just lost one of our star fine dining chefs, Jason Neroni of Blanca - who sniffed that "all San Diegans wanted was fish tacos." Well, yes and no, Jason. San Diegans can be provincial - but in other ways we're surprisingly finicky and demanding. My two recent meals at Blanca suffered from both seasoning and preparation problems - not something you can attribute to the diners' palates. I also just think it's bad form to blame your audience for your shortcomings. We have some amazing ingredients to work with here and I have no doubt that Jason could have put together an interesting and crowd pleasing menu with them that would have satisifed food fanatics and fish taco lovers alike.

But I digress. This post is about tacos. Fish tacos that I had been told were the best in town, from a truck located in a Chula Vista parking lot just off the 5 freeway. Were they good? Yes, but I've said it before and I'll say it again - my feeling about fish tacos is that they're almost always good when they're fresh. These, of course, were very fresh. They were crisp, tempura fried and made with good fish. I would eat them again. Whether I would drive all the way to Chula Vista to stand in the Toys R Us parking lot and eat them again is an open question.

I would probably be more likely to drive all the way down there to eat the Campechana - the mixed seafood cocktail. I ordered one for myself after seeing them being passed out through the window of the truck, like this one below.

It took for-ever to prepare, and when I received it I knew why. They were shucking fresh shellfish in the truck. Peeking out from under the avocado, you can just barely see a large, quivering oyster. There were also scallops, shrimp, and of course tomato juice - along with the giant slice of buttery avocado on top. The timing was actually a bit of an issue though it was worth the wait. The tacos are fairly fast coming out - but the cocktail took a good 15 minutes to make.

They also offer the other usual Mariscos dishes - consomme with shrimp, aguachile (spicy seafood ceviche) and gobernador style tacos - with peppers, onions and cheese. I didn't get to try those, but they seem to be highly recommended. One drawback to this place vs. some of the other trucks is that they don't (at least as of the time I was there) have any table seating. You are either standing, sitting in a chair or eating on the hood of your car. Since it's grab & go food it's ok for the most part - but not very comfortable. Maybe they'll solve that problem if they haven't already.

To get there, take 5 to the L Street offramp - it's just East of the freeway, in the Toys R Us parking lot. Not sure of their hours, but they're definitely open for lunch. Just be prepared for a bit of a wait.

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George's and the Cooks Confab Egg! - La Jolla

I am bound and determined to do at least ONE post about San Diego before I start back in on San Francisco (though you all don't seem to mind those post too much, truth be told!) I'm starting out after my luxurious break with a woefully late but hopefully much anticipated post about the most recent Cooks Confab event, Egg, held at George's at the Cove.

I could also do another whole post about George's itself - except for the fact that I failed to take any photos during my last two meals there. Seems I've become one of those food bloggers who think they're too cool to whip out the camera while eating. I've also stopped taking pictures while cooking, which has led to a lack of recipe posts as well. I just get so depressed when I compare the quality of my photos to those of others who excel in this category that I can't bring myself to bother. I do have some good (and easy) recipes to share though, so I will try to figure something out.

Back to the eggs... The dish pictured above is a tiny cedar planked salmon, topped with hollandaise, caviar and a perfect quail egg.

These Cooks Confab events are always just so fabulous, and this one was no exception. It was held in George's downstairs dining room - a gorgeous setting with a panoramic view of the Pacific. Tickets were $80. per person, which may seem like a lot for eggs, but the preparations were so elaborate, varied and interesting - not to mention delicious - it actually seemed like a fantastic bargain. The full menu can be viewed here.

These eye-catching displays were created using eggs from Schaner Farms - included are their beautiful multi-hued chicken eggs, duck eggs and even a few goose eggs.

One of my favorite presentations was by Amy di Biase and Katie Grebow. (Amy is now Executive Chef at the Glass Door in Little Italy.) They showcased the egg's versatility with a trio of egg-based French sauces, Bearnaise, Gribiche, Aioli and Viniagrette.

Everything on their plate was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and I just love these complicated and delicate sauces. They're not easy to make, so when they're well prepared - like these were - they're a real treat.

Andrew Spurgin did a nice quiche with a complex, savory salad of shaved mushrooms and pickled vegetables.

It was about this time that I realized I would really regret it if I tried to taste everything on offer. Most of these dishes were not only tempting and delicious, but extremely rich.

For example, I eyeballed but did not taste Jason Knibb's lovely looking chilaquiles with sous vide duck eggs.

Over at the bar, George's offered up two egg based cocktails along with sparkling wine and fresh juices. The Venetian Sour is a really nice mixture that I've tasted before - I think it's on their regular menu. They always do such great, creative cocktails there with lots of fresh juices. The Blood Orange juice with cardamom and ginger juice was also out of this world.

Brian Sinnott of 1500 Ocean was serving deep bowls of Stracciatella, a traditional Italian soup made with egg and parmesan. Though it seemed simple, the savory, umami flavors made this one of my favorite dishes.

The Chefs were really going all out for this event, as they always do. Paul McCabe of Kitchen 1540 was scrambling eggs, returning them to the shell and topping them with shaved truffles....

At one point, he cracked and scrambled a giant ostrich egg, and served it with shaved truffles over toast points with micro chives. Decadent, indeed.

As if that weren't enough, there were desserts, made by - as it turns out - one of my my fellow students from Grossmont, Trang Huynh. It took me a few minutes to recognize her because I'd only met her briefly in school - but she always did amazing work. She had pastries out during the entire event, including scones with clotted cream and house made marmalade, muffins and other breakfast delights. Then the desserts started arriving - bruleed lemon tartlets, chocolate caramel squares, and this yuzu souffle cake with vanilla sauce and honeycomb crunch.

A few weeks later, I came back with a girlfriend for dinner in the California Modern restaurant. The dining room has a really nice feel, even when crowded - great lighting, just the right amount of crowd murmur, and the Pacific Ocean just outside, looking misty and dreamy. We ordered several dishes to share. We absolutely loved the Seared Beef Carpaccio with truffle aioli and artichoke and watercress salad, the Chino Farm's Carrot Salad with Indian spiced yogurt, local honey and almonds, and the Meyer Lemon Ravioli with black trumpet mushrooms, lobster and tarragon. We weren't as fond of the fava leaf risotto and that evening's chicken preparation - neither of which are on the menu any longer. The dessert took us back to another high point though - it was a Vietnamese Affogato with espresso poured over sweetened condensed milk ice cream - served with warm churro-like fritters on the side. If you're a Vietnamese Coffee lover like me, you'll fall fast and hard.

The Ocean Terrace - their more casual, rooftop venue - is also one of my favorite lunch spots. As it happens, we went this past Saturday with my parents to get a jump on Mothers Day. (The dining room is only open for dinner.) The view has always been unparalleled, but the food at the Ocean Terrace has gone up and down a bit over the years. On Saturday, based on what we ate and what I saw coming out of the kitchen, I thought it was the best it's ever been. James ordered a Cubano sandwich that I think we were all jealous of - with juicy roast pork, sliced ham, pickles and cheese grilled on a flat oblong roll with mustard. We also loved the halibut ceviche, and the chicken sandwich I shared with my dad with a romesco spread, bacon and avocado was stellar. Even the side salad they include on the plate was much improved from what I remembered, with a housemade viniagrette and shaved vegetables. I saw more than a few burgers coming out of the kitchen - looking plump on their tall brioche buns with cones of fries on the side. They were extremely busy, so a reservation is definitely a must - especially on a weekend. There is also some seating in the bar, which is not open to the sky, but is still a very inviting local hangout.

The Cooks Confab also has another exciting event planned for early June on the subject of seafood. It merits it's own separate post, so watch for that coming later this week, or just head on over to their website if you just can't wait!

George's at the Cove and George's Ocean Terrace
1250 Prospect St
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-4244

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Coming Soon...

Technical difficulties, the urge to be outside as much as possible and a busy schedule have conspired to keep me away from here for the past couple of weeks, but fear not, I shall return! As soon as I get my feet back on the ground (and my laptop restored from backup) I have all sorts of posts just waiting to be written, including one (or maybe more) about the delightful weekend we just spent in San Francisco to celebrate my (gulp!) 40th birthday.

See you soon!

p.s. - photo of Boulette's Larder taken with the iPhone, and edited with Tilt Shift Generator app. Pretty cool, eh?

p.p.s. - I also have some posts about San Diego coming down the pipe - in case you wondered if I've just given up on eating in this town altogether!

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