Little Updates.

I had a few things that I wanted to share but none of which are too long to blog about so I decided to make a short (or maybe it's going to end up being a long post after I'm done blabbing) post about a compilation of things...

1.) Last week Joseph I went on a midnight car ride to Harbour Island, right by the SD Airport to get a picture of the cityscape. He is working on this really cool concept of a guide book which he is calling San Diego Chic Guide. He's been hard at work trying to create contracts for advertisers, the mock-up of the guide itself, setting up a website (which you can visit here, even though it's under construction) and now starting to take pictures. Here is my attempt at taking a picture of the cityscape with my iPhone....

2.) We attended the aloft's home owner's association summer "fiesta" at our complex and had a pretty good time because we invited some friends over since there was free food and drink!

3.) We finally settled on couches for our apartment (which I will have to feature on a separate post since some of you have been requesting pictures of our new place...) But in the mean time, we were able to FINALLY get rid of these uncomfortable monsters:

4.) I made these super-yummy crab cakes by the Barefooot Contessa that are always a hit (you can find the recipe here)

5.) We attended a really chic party for Clark Little, a California photographer, at the W Hotel downtown with our friend Shannon while enjoying the beautiful sunset on their rooftop and sipping our way over-priced glasses of wine (to see his work, feel free to click here)

6.) Joseph and I collaboratively made this amazing home-made pizza:

7.) Joseph, Lourdes, and I took off work and attended Opening Day at the Del Mar Races....

(More on the races to follow.... at some point)

8.) Joseph, Caitlin, Lourdes, and I attended the San Diego Pride Parade. It was fun but pretty much the same thing as the year before...

9.) Joseph's mom shipped our bikes here from Iowa, so now we can ride bikes around the city (Joseph just needs to show me how to lock mine up so it doesn't get stolen....)

10.) I am really behind on blogging.... so expect more posts coming up!

Coq Au Vin.

A couple of months ago, Lourdes and I went to Cafe Bleu because it had re-opened in Mission Hills after closing in Hillcrest. I had raved about it for so long and then was sad when it closed. But when it re-opened, I told Lourdes that we had to go.

I had ordered duck and Lourdes had ordered the Coq Au Vin (which literally translates to Cock of the Wine... or better known as Cock cooked in Wine), which to my surprise was terrible! I was so embarrassed because I had nothing but good things to say about Cafe Bleu, until that night.

So to redeem my creditability, I decided to make it myself!

I wasn't sure if it would be easy so I prepared myself and looked through various versions of how to make it. Luckily I had my Essentials of French Cooking Cookbook and my Tools & Techniques book from Williams-Sonoma (which I will feature in a future post).

The gist of the recipe(s) that I read all started with cooking bacon in a pot and once cooked, leaving the fat in the pot and slowly cooking a few pieces of chicken at a time (I forgot to mention that I had to "cut up" a whole chicken, which is why I had my Tools & Techniques book out, because I needed a refresher)

Once the chicken was all cooked, I had to let it sit on a plate for a few minutes to let the juices drain settle.

While the chicken sat, I added carrots and pearl onions to the bacon-chicken fat that was still in the pan. I slowly let them brown...

'

...and then added the chicken and bacon back into the pot, along with a sprinkling of flour, red wine, parsley, thyme, and a bay leaf.

I then had to let the entire mixture simmer on medium heat for about 45-60 minutes.



After being tortured for an hour with the amazing aromas, I had to quickly saute some mushrooms and add them to the pot.... and viola!


I had made some mashed potatoes and corn as well. Everyone loved it, including Lourdes, who said "this is what it is supposed to taste like!"

Etc.

Since I've done a lot of work in the wedding industry, it is always fun for me to get involved in anything and everything that has to do with weddings!

A couple of months ago, I was approached by one of the girls at work about helping her with decorating her ballroom. She said it would be simple and easy, so I agreed to help.

I had forgotten about it until a week before when she reminded me. I asked her the details and she just went over where she wanted some tables placed, how she wanted the flowers to look, and when it needed to be completed by. She also told me she had changed the location to a nearby park.

A few days later, she said she wasn't getting married in a park anymore, and now the ceremony and reception had been moved to a church.... okay.... but now she just wanted me and a couple of our co-workers to decorate the "ballroom". This is what we walked into:

After seeing it and trying to figure out how to make it look presentable with less than a (2) hour time limit, all I wanted to do was:

(this is me sitting & pouting)

BUT, I put my thinking cap on, grabbed the plastic table linens, the balloons, the helium tank, some tulle, and went to work.

We used every minute we had, literally until people were starting to arrive and had completed the challenge....

Not to bad, eh?

Someone else had done the flowers, and they actually didn't look to bad either!

My advice for anyone not wanting to do everything themselves, hire a wedding planner...

R Gang Eatery.

Like I said... aside from working... I haven't forgot to eat!

Feeling a little adventurous and wanting to try something new, Joseph, Lourdes, and I went to try this new restaurant called R Gang Eatery by Rich Sweeney, who was a finalist on Top Chef. The restaurant is nestled on 5th Avenue in Hillcrest, about a block or two from our old place.

It was fun to go back to Hillcrest since it seemed like it had been forever that we lived there, even though it's like a (5) minute drive...

We ordered the famous cheese-y tater tots for an appetizer, which were really good :)

Joseph ordered the burger = YUM

Lourdes ordered the scallops = Flavorless

I ordered Mac 'N Cheese = Weird. They had put cinnamon in it and topped with saltine crackers.

Overall I was NOT impressed. The service was amazing but the food was not that good. Especially since it was so pricey!

I'll reconsider going back, but it was a fun night :)

Escargot.

I'm sorry that I have been neglecting you!

I have been SO busy at work.... and then I get tired and lazy and decide not to blog about anything because all I want to do it eat and sleep :)

So here's a little something that I cooked for the first time...

Yes... you're guessed it, it's Escargot! Yummy!

I told my mom what I was making that night and she said "You guys eat a lot of weird things.... like duck."

Haha.

Weird?

No!

French?

Yes!

I'm French, duh!

I simmered some butter, garlic, fresh parsley, and white wine. After it had simmered down, I added the cleaned escargot, and carefully scooped a dozen into each escargot dish that I purchased at Great News (my new favorite store in Pacific Beach... yes, it's better than Williams-Sonoma).

Love.

I baked the escargot until it was simmering and served it with a toasted baguette. Joseph loved it! He scooped each escargot onto his baguette and then soaked it in the wine & butter juice.

Perfection.

Want to try?? Let me know and I'll make it for you next time you're over :)

Something New.

Over the next couple of days...(okay maybe weeks because I know I might not get around to it!) I am going to be playing with colors and styles for my blog. I've been doing this for over a year now and need a little change.

I'd love your suggestions on colors, fonts...etc.

Thanks :)

Finally.

After much anticipation and frustration of finding/buying a new bag, I finally made an impulse purchase that I am happy with. I have always wanted a nice brown leather bag, most of my bags are semi-seasonal and I didn't really have a go-to bag other than my Damier Ebony LV bag, which I was kind of sick of carrying around.

So when I saw this little baby, I had to buy it (aside from the saleswoman who told me it was the last one company wide... I think she was just trying to make a sale)

It's a Burberry Cross Body messenger bag. It's the perfect color, size, and feel.

I really like the leather. It is kind of textured and smooth at the same time. I always loved my friend Bethany's MK bag because of the color and this bag reminded me of it.

The inside has a couple of pockets to hide stuff in as well as a cell phone holder (which most of the time I never use in a bag because I just like to keep my cell phone in my pocket because since I never hear it ring anyway!) and I can fit more than I thought I would be able to, which is a plus! All in all, I really am happy with my purchase. Joseph didn't really say anything about, which usually means he likes it. :)

P.S.
I'm still searching for another bag... crazy I know!

El Zarape.

Last week, after helping Caitlin move out of her apartment in Hillcrest into T's house in City Heights, she wanted to treat me to an early dinner (or late lunch, however you want to look at it)

We both were sweaty and tired so we decided against anything really special so I suggested In-N-Out Burger, Caitlin sneered at the idea.

After giving it some thought, I suggested El Zarape, a little Mexican place that we kept passing as we drove back and forth from Hillcrest to City Heights. She said, "...but you had Mexican food yesterday!" and I replied with "...Caitlin, I'm Mexican, for most of my life all I have ever had is Mexican food!" It was really cute.

The exterior was really cute and the interior was even cuter!

They did a really good job with the setup and decor. They even had a tequila bar in a different room where some kind of tequila sommelier/connoisseur teaches classes about tequila and you can sample different types.


I ordered one of my favorite things, a Carne Asada Torta. Yummy! Caitlin was like "...you ordered a sandwich? I told you it was my treat." I laughed and explained to her how much I loved tortas and that my mom and grandma made the best ones I have ever had. I really wanted a Margarita after trying Caitlin's but decided against it (I'm trying to cut as much alcohol out of my diet to avoid gaining any more unwanted weight)

I would definitely recommend El Zarape to anyone who asked, it was yummy and a true success story for a small business. They started out of a small hole in the wall place that only did to-go orders and had no seating. They now have two locations and are doing great!

Ol' Gang.

Since Joseph and I moved out of Hillcrest, we haven't really been going up there as much. It's about a (20) minute walk through Balboa Park and a very short car ride but for some reason, would rather stay downtown.

Joseph used to have a habit of going to Nunu's (a bar in Hillcrest, that was across the street from out apartment) a few times a week and now he never really goes. However, since the time we moved, our other good friends have moved to either L.A. or City Heights, so to get everyone together randomly on one night was quite nice and meeting at Nunu's had a sense of "home-ness" or celebration of old times.

I'd like you to meet the Ol' Gang:

This is Theresa, or "T". She is just permanently concussed... I think that sums her up.

Michelle, probably the most paranoid person I have ever met in my life but someone who always means well.


Joseph is Joseph, my love.


Caitlin, the most normal drunkest-functioning person I've ever met (if that makes sense) , but also the biggest drama queen ever. She knows it, it's okay :)

Nunu's Bar

The one place I swore I would never like or enjoy, which has actually really grown on me.

Strawberry Jam.

Seriously, who thinks about what jams that they can make...ever... other than our lovely Grandmas, of course...

Joseph was complaining one morning about how we didn't have anything for breakfast. I told him that I would make us some coffee and some toast, he said "fine." And then he was like, "don't you guys have some kind of strawberry jam at your work that you could get?"...

Then I thought, "can't i just make some?"

And that is exactly what I did!

Luckily, we had about (6) strawberries left over in the fridge that I put into a steep container and mashed up with a spatula.

Once all mashed, and in pieces, I placed the entire mush into a small saucepan with sugar.

After carefully simmering the two ingredients, and constantly stirring together...

The mixture was finally coming together and looking somewhat like jam!

After careful and quick cooking... I did it... Homemade Strawberry Jam! The feeling was kind of priceless (even though this was probably the easiest thing I had ever made, ever... other than simple syrup)