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!
-------
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!)
------
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!
----
Homemade Mochi (I'll post the recipe later)
-----
Homemade Rice Crepes (I'll post recipes later)
----
Calla Lillies are my favorite flowers but the scent of Jasmine really knocks me off my feet.
