Since the wedding, my girlfriends and I decided to try to get together once a week. It worked…for about two weeks. And then we just informally decided that getting together a couple times a month would be better. Besides talking on the phone, that would allow us to catch up on each others’ lives, gossip, enjoy the company of just the girls, and gossip some more. We especially love getting together during dinner – there is a foodie in each of us – and there is no better time to eat and bond then during Dine LA!
The last time we experienced Dine LA together, we went to Mr. Chow. Kris really wanted to try Spago, but we just could not get a reservation. However, we decided much earlier this time around and booked a reservation before Dine LA began. So on a Wednesday night, after each of us got off of work, we headed to Beverly Hills to try out Spago. What can I say? It was delicious! The Dine LA menu had a lot to offer, allowing us to order and share a variety of dishes; the regular menu was really reasonable as well, so I definitely want to take Taro there to experience one of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants.
It is always nice to hang out with the girls, but even nicer when we get to share a nice meal out together. Next on our list? Brunch at Bouchon since they opened up here in Los Angeles!
To start there is a variety of bread: sourdough, french, olive oil, walnut, and flatbread. I tried the walnut bread and it was nice and nutty! As the first course, Vivian ordered the Heirloom Apple and Endive Salad. From my bite, I thought it was pretty refreshing and had a lot of flavor to it. I would definitely order this – a nice, solid salad.
I actually started with the Celery Root and Apple Soup. There were chunks of bacon in it, but for once, I did not think bacon was necessary in this dish. However, the pieces of apple in the soup were delicious! I love drinking soup so I would definitely order this again – or try any other seasonal soup offered. Kirs and Tricia both ordered the Maryland Crab Raviolini. For a seafood raviolini, it was not too bad, but I think the salad and soup were both stronger appetizers.
Steak Tartare with Quail Egg:
For my main dish, I decided to go with Grilled Prime Rib Eye Steak. The aroma of it when the dish came out was amazing and Vivian even commented that she could only smell my food. The portion was generous so I was able to share pieces with all the girls at the table and even take a few home! It was just as tasty the next day.
To finish off, dessert – Lemon, Lemon, Lemon and Black Forest Chocolate Cake. The Medjool Date Cake is not pictured, but that was by far the best dessert on the menu. Luckily, since there were four of us, we were able to order all three and sample them.
I can’t wait to dine out again with the girls; it is always a treat and so much fun!
In our house, it is always an adventure trying to find Peanut, especially when he is taking a nap. Is he in the big room resting on one of the big, cushion chairs? under the tablecloth sprawled out? in the lounge chair in the second bedroom? on top of the dryer or the dresser? tucked away in the laundry basket? I searched everywhere today for him and finally checked the third bedroom where Peanut was sheltered behind three pillows. The rain must be softly soothing him into a sleep on the bed, but when I discovered where he was, he just stared at me with his big eyes.
I love this big guy.
I checked up on Peanut a little bit later and he moved…and was sitting on top of the mound of pillows!
Taro and I celebrated New Years Eve in flashy Vegas. We went once prior to this trip, early on when we first started dating. That trip was one to remember – party hats at New York New York Hotel with drinks galore where Southern Comfort was not my friend. We did not hope to recreate those fond memories, but at least strive to the same enjoyment level. Did the trip meet our expectations? It most definitely did. We not only enjoyed the company of each other, but we explored the countless restaurants on the strip. It is nothing like what it used to be, and mind you I am recalling the days prior to fancy, elegant hotels and extravagant shows. Now Vegas is a place where you can experience fine cuisine alongside the $2.99 steak and eggs and buffets. That was one of our objectives for the trip – to enjoy good food. We stuffed ourselves, feeling a mixture of delight and overindulgence. But that is okay because we promised that we would work it all off when we got home.
I am not a huge gambler, but I thoroughly enjoy watching Taro play Blackjack and cheering on his fellow tablemates when they receive a good hand. However, this trip I decided to play alongside Taro. On my iphone, I have been practicing with Chili Pepper Blackjack and strangely was addicted to it for about a month. So I put on a brave face and played…and it was not too bad! I learned that as long as I played consistently and “by the book” for the most part, people would not give me death glares or openly say, “Why did you do that!” Whew. I have seen it in the past and that is truly a fear of mine under the pressure of adding up to 21. All math skills are thrown out the window when I am under that much pressure. I had fun, but it was not until Taro and I decided to try Blackjack Switch where I officially became addicted. The concept is great: play two hands and have the option of switching the top cards in order to make either a stronger hand or hands. I LOVED it! We had so much fun that we are thinking about the NEXT time we can go to Vegas.
So that is how I began the new year – enjoying a trip in Vegas with my adoring husband. 2010 started off well and I can only hope that it will continue in that direction. There is a lot to look forward to – in the next two months alone we are attending Mason and Jen’s wedding (late January), anticipating the birth of Isabella (due in February), celebrating my dad’s birthday, and so much more! I can already feel that 2010 will hold a lot in store, especially with our honeymoon in Japan, an adventure I am anticipating.
I want to accomplish a lot this year, and the first thing was putting up this blog to build my portfolio, share my work, and begin my career as a photographer. I also talked to my one of my best friends, Kris, about participating in a marathon (granted only a 5k) and I really hope that at the start of the 2010-2011 school year, I will become an AP reader. These are only three things on my list, but I feel they are big and are going to further define who I am.
So here is to 2010 – and whatever it may bring!
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