Prologue:

I have been really bad at chronicling my food excursions in the recent months. I guess being busy isn't the best excuse to use but the truth is I am pleading BUSY. =P

I guess I should start from my most recent adventures and work my way back to where I've left off (come to think of it, I left off two seasons ago.. Fall 08)

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I was ridden with conference calls, quite literally, every hour on the hour. Although I wasn't required to be on a few of them, the others dragged on for so long I felt like I was in on another round of calls. Finally, at 4:30 I hung up and along with 2 colleagues JM and Kay and trusty intern Magster (my nickname for her), half dragged/half hauled a box and 7 bottles of alcohol to [Studio] where we were doing our event walk through. The event venue was still under construction and we spent much of our energy dodging wooden planks, beams, wet paint, electrical wires and a big hole in the ground that would become the main staircase in the next three days.

The highlight of this hour would be when the walk through was finally completed and we stopped by Le Pain Quotidien @ Soho for some GINGER SNAP COOKIES with lots of sugar sprinkled atop the cookies! Yum!

After the walk through, JM and Kay went uptown to meet a potential client and I returned to the office to round up Gray and Gi for drinks at Employees Only, which I famously declared in the office as an exclusive hole in the wall establishment, with Jule from [Magazine]. Jule was super cute and I immediately developed a girl crush on her. Very eccentric colors (think yellow tee, navy blazer, dark shorts and bright flats. Cute freckles and red/orange lipstick) , very cute and very east village-y. (I'm making up words again)

We were seated shortly after we exchanged hugs and air kisses. The one thing about girls and especially people in our industry is that we are able to launch into conversation with practically anyone, even if it requires feigning interest sometimes, but most of the time we're genuine. (Otherwise, you can tell)

Our waitress went on a wild goose chase for us as a member of our party requested a specific drink: Xante with Sprite and a splash of lime. Apparently, the brand of alcohol was very popular and they only had enough left for 2 of such cocktails, so Gray and Jule were given the honors of savoring this high demand, rarity cocktail. Gi had a Pimm's cup (pimm’s no1 served tall with a blend of cointreau, lime juice and ginger soda, garnished with cucumbers & fresh mint), which I happily called PIMP CUP all night. I was torn between a Provencale (Lavender Infused Plymouth Gin stirred with Herbs de Provence-Infused Vermouth & Cointreau) and the rest of the menu but a quick chat with the waitress later, I ordered a West Side (charbay meyer lemon vodka, fresh lemon juice, & simple syrup shaken with fresh mint, served straight up). It was very crisp and refreshing without any residual sweetness that a fruity alternative might have.

In between stories of "My best and worst celebrity experience" we settled on a few dishes to share: Cheese Platter, Seared Calamari and Cavatelli.

By the time our food arrived, we had morphed into full blown boyfriend talk, not-so-much ex bashing but the topic of ex boyfriends did come up (along with breaks, fidelity and the such). Personally, I don't have much faith in marriage or perhaps I should say that I don't have much faith in happily ever after. As Bones would say, "monogamy isn't statistically probable." Although I would be the first to admit that I was, like many who grew up reading fairytales, a firm believer of the phenomenon. But that has since changed.

The Cheese Platter came first. There were 3 types of cheeses, (I didn't take any pictures because it was somewhat business related and I was starving!), and I can only remember the source of these three types of cheeses: namely goat, sheep and cow. They were accompanied by spiced walnuts, pistachios in honey, olive oil and squared pitas. The goat's milk cheese was the most pungent, soft and easily spreadable but I found it too overpowering for me. The sheep's milk cheese was hard and light and was my favorite of the 3. The cow's milk had a consistency of some thing between the other two cheeses but it didn't stand out enough for me to recall any distinct characteristics of it.

The Calamari was stuffed with Tarragon Shrimp Mousse and then seared on both sides. It was ok, definitely not one of their signature dishes.

The Cavatelli on the other hand was just what we needed. I usually do not like red/meat sauce but I was happily slurping away in this case.

Our tete a tete commenced at the arrival of our checks and Gray and Gi flipped through their wallets to see which one of our clients would pay for our lovely meal that evening.

As we walked out, Gi pointed to a man sitting at the bar with a hat. "He's the one who decides who gets admitted and whether someone gets a table or not." By that time I was already half way out the door, I turned back slightly in a non-stalkerish means to get a better look at the "Key Holder". 

As Jule and I lived in the same area, East Village, we ended up sharing a cab (insert more boy talk here), courtesy of [magazine]. Jule was delivered to her home and I to the destination of date-number-two!

 

 

Cafe Boulud

Bread (Butter Roll) and Amuse Bouche (Cous Cous with Pine Nuts) - You can really tell a lot about the establishment by the bread they serve; I didn't like either.


Duck Terrine (Pate en Terrine) with Cornichons, Quince Chutney, Baby Mache


Grilled Leg of Lamb with Flageolet Beans, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Cucumber and Olive Relish // Seared Loup de Mer with Potato Gnocchi, Citrus Braised Endive, Pearl Onions


Cheese Cake with Graham Cracker Crust, Citrus Marmalade, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream // Paris-Brest with Hazelnut Cream and Chocolate Ice Cream.


Courtesy of the Chef - Madelines/Hot Cakes dusted with powdered sugar

I have another blog out there somewhere. A cookie for whoever finds it!

But until you find it, here are bits and pieces of myself, my thoughts and things you didn't know.. until now.
(images are borrowed from Postsecret)

in a heartbeat. No more ifa, coulda, woulda or shoulda. Now I know... and I'm happy.

I would give up many breathes to get this point across to you, you and you.





and others that got me to stop and think...







Who do you think the person is? I have my bets on Keanu Reeves!

Tonight, I met the cast and crew of Ugly Betty - America Ferrera (Gotham magazine cover & interview), Alexis Bledel, Vanessa Williams, Becki Newton, Patricia Field - and others whom I can't seem to recall the names of at the Gotham cover party for America Ferrera at Pranna (I love the space!).

I feel like that is the upside of my job, meeting all these tv personas that are only suppose to exist in another reality. Unfortunately, being close to them is hard for a camera/picture-whore like me since my innate instincts are literally to whip out a camera (or phone) and start shooting. Of which wouldn't be very professional of me. Sigh*** But mostly, I'm just grateful for being able to work with such wonderfully-fantastical people!


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Post Dinner Dessert & Coffee at La Bella Ferrara

I can categorize people I know in to two categories: ones that blew into my life like a wind storm, took me by the heart and shocked me with thunderbolts; then there were the ones that flowed into my life as river water emptying themselves in the ocean, naturally, quietly and unsuspectingly. While I may be momentarily enraptured by the first, it is always the latter that sustains my existence.

The people I had dinner with this past weekend, thankfully, all fall into the latter category. (If it is true that a person is judged by the company s/he keeps, then maybe I'm not such a bad person afterall.) CC is finishing her degree in Art Conservation at the University of Delaware (high five**). Somehow because of reasons that I don't even remember, the last few times she returned to the city, our schedules never permitted us to meet. So this time, w (or I) tried to make up for it by going to dinner twice - Friday and Saturday.

Friday night was dinner at Joe's Ginger, drinks at Green Tea and talking for 4+ hours with Julie, Chan, and CC.
Saturday night was more tamed: Dinner at Caffe Napoli, dessert & coffee at La Bella Ferrara and just 2+ hours of talking with Betty (god sister), BF and CC.

CC's Oreo Mousse Cake @ Apple Cinnamon Tea


Betty's Cappuccino & Fruit Tart


BF's Espresso & Tiramisu


My Vanilla Cappuccino & Raspberry Almond Cake (I was being terribly indecisive so I had the waitress make a few suggestions. When I heard raspberry and almond, I immediately agreed to give it a try. Plus, it was literally fresh. Alright Honey!)


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A chance encounter with Fat Hippo for Brunch (Brunch Menu)

I received the following text message from my bff K: Bondi Road-153 Rivington St and Clinton St. At 12pm? This place has the same owner as Sunburnt Cow (from "The first business card I ever received from a guy").

At 12pm, my stomach was all sorts of discontent - rumbling, growling, and the works - yet my always punctual bff was no where to be seen. A couple of phone calls later, I was racing to her apartment some 3 blocks away. I swear I heard her say "something bad happen.. [her bf's name]...can you come over?"

Turns out she was pretty hung over. kerplunk* But by the time we made it back to Bondi Road, the place was jam packed and I didn't have the patience to wait so instead we turned the corner for Clinton Street Baking Company, except that the picture of the Fat Hippo had me doubled over and laughing so hard I decided that WE JUST HAD TO GIVE IT A TRY!

In addition to the Eggs American below, we each had a cup of coffee (much needed), mimosa for me and a fresh glass of orange juice for her.

Eggs American -  Pulled pork, poached eggs, and BBQ hollandaise on buttermilk biscuit








Afterwards, we moved the party over to Starbucks and gossiped until 4 in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the topics of our conversation are too much to share (both on my part and her part). Let's just say "DEEP SHIT!" but I Love her!


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Homemade Mochi (I'll post the recipe later)






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Homemade Rice Crepes (I'll post recipes later)



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Calla Lillies are my favorite flowers but the scent of Jasmine really knocks me off my feet.

the road to a Repurposeful existence...
A colleague at work started a blog on typepad to record all the cute ways she found, via her own projects and other sites, to recycle, reuse, re-purpose items after they have been retired from their original use. I especially like it because its so simple and to the point, just like her work style. I referred to her as J in previous work-related posts but from now on she is Repurposeful.

And here is my whack at it... Repurposing Coffee Grains

1. Acidic Soil: BF's mom uses it as fertilizer for her plants and vegetation in her garden.
2. Palette Cleanser: Not necessarily to eat, but to sniff. I was in search of the perfect cologne for BF a few summers ago when after sniffing too many samples, I could no longer tell the difference between a Armani Black and Aqua di Gio (2 very different scents, mind you). The very accommodating sales lady held out a little glass ornament with coffee beans in it. "Here" she offered, holding it out. I proceeded to reach for it until she stopped me and held it under my nose. One sniff and my sniffer was back in the game!
   
3. Coffee Grains + Honey: I combine it with honey (reference honey in medicine) to use as a facial mask and facial scrub. It's very repurposeful you see. I layer the coffee grain and honey mixture on my face before I shower. If it is a hair day (meaning I have to wash my hair) I step into the shower immediately and begin shampooing, rinsing, etc. by the time I'm done, I'm ready to start scrubbing my face. If its not a hair day, I simply return to my work and wait 10 minutes before hopping into the shower. I got addicted after I used it the first time. (please note legal text on the bottom)