Best Deal Ever for Angelino Parents and Our Weekend

This weekend we took Hank to LACMA again. We have yet to actually take in any galleries. We simply wander the grounds. It is such a great place to take kids. While we were there we discovered that kids under eighteen get what's called a NexGen pass. I love this deal. Kids with the pass get in free and they can take one parent/guardian for free as well! This program also has tons of events and classes for your little ones. The pass is good until Hank turns eighteen. I highly recommend any and all parents in Los Angeles to take advantage. 

We didn't realize the museum doesn't open until 11:00 am on Saturdays so we found ourselves wandering the grounds in order to kill some time and stumbled upon a huge dog adoption event. There were so many adorable dogs who needed homes. It took all of our strength to not to end up with a new dog or even ten dogs. I definitely think a dog is in our future but we aren't quite ready yet. 

The rest of the weekend was filled with birthday celebrations, friends gathering on our back porch, trips to the park, and bike rides around the neighborhood. Perhaps my favorite moment was this one I caught of Hank Saturday morning grabbing his very own broom and doing some cleaning. I have fully tricked this boy into thinking that cleaning is really fun! 

LA light

LA Light from Colin Rich on Vimeo.

The artist Colin Rich took six months to make this film. It sure makes Los Angeles look stunning.

Piano Ladies

Since I seem to be discussing talented piano-playing ladies today I thought I would remind you guys of this nineties classic by Tori Amos. For some reason it was playing last night at my local Trader Joes and while paying for my groceries I found myself silently mouthing all the words. So sorry nice woman standing behind me.

New Fiona Apple

I have always loved Fiona Apple. I think my college boyfriend endured listening to the "Tidal" album hundreds of times during driving trips on the Taconic between Poughkeepsie and New York City. I am pretty sure I sang along every time as well. Sorry Dan wherever you are.

Anyway we haven't really heard from Fiona in quite some time (I just looked it up and were talking seven years people). I had just moved to Los Angeles when she released her last album. Life has changed considerably but my love for Fiona remains.This song sounds a bit different than her last album but I am really loving it.

Perfect Solo Dinner

Photo of my dinner taken by my blackberry (not so great looking but it was delish) 

My husband is in Las Vegas until this evening for a quick guys getaway. Last night Hank and I had a fun afternoon of parent and me and other activities, but once Hank was asleep I knew I had to take advantage of my solo evening and make a delicious kale Caesar salad. I love kale but despite all my efforts my husband is not a fan. I was inspired by two recipes from: here and here. I think kale is the perfect vehicle for the anchovy and garlic deliciousness that is a Caesar salad.

Lake Geneva Heaven

Less than two hours from Chicago there is a magical town just over the border in Wisconsin that my family has been going to since I was little. Lake Geneva, WI has always been my father's favorite place, and over the years it's become my favorite place (and my brothers and sisters too). I spent so many weekends here growing up. When I was a teenager I didn't want to go as much for fear of missing out on fun weekends in the city with my friends but even if I protested a bit I would always end up having an incredible time (and this past weekend was no exception). The weather was very brisk and our visit was a lovely whirlwind but somehow we managed to slow down here for a few magical hours. Sunday Mike and Hank took their first solo trip back to Los Angeles together while I headed to nyc for the first time in ages to catch up with friends, meet new babies, and have a work meeting or two. It was wonderful and exhausting but the highlight was definitely spending a magical day/night at one of my favorite places in the world. I hope Hank loves it as much as I do someday. Here are some gorgeous pics my sister's boyfriend snapped:

My Brother David carrying my nephew Dexter and Hank and me during a walk

Making new friends 

Horse

My sister Tessa and her boyfriend Brandon (the photographer whose gorgeous pics I stole)

My adorable nephew Dexter says hello

Family Portrait 

Dexter and Evan 

Mike, Brandon, My brothers Evan and David ready to check out the hot tub

Caine's Arcade

My guess is if you've visited the internet in the last 24-hours you've probably come across this video. But just in case you haven't seen it yet I had to post it. It warmed my heart and made me cry. It pretty much restores your faith in humanity in under ten minutes. I visited Caine, his father and the filmmaker behind this extraordinary movie yesterday for a story I am working on and it was just as fascinating in person. Hope you enjoy it.

Busy Busy Busy

so busy at work today so I thought I would just post a couple recent pics that make me smile

The Weekend

This weekend we enjoyed the beautiful weather in Los Angeles. We got amazing backyard furniture. We basically spent the entire weekend in our yard. Here are some pictures taken with my Iphone (trust me they don't do the weather or our new furniture justice!):

Newport Seafood

Just a few miles East of Los Angeles there is a whole world of amazing Asian food in the San Gabriel Valley. You just have to go looking. We are talking incredible Dim Sum, all sorts of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants that specialize in just one thing - tofu, etc, and the most delicious seafood ever at Newport Seafood. This is the kind of place to go to with a big group of people. Their specialty is whole lobster or crab cooked in spices and it's so delicious. We went here this week with my in-laws and had a blast. It's a great place to bring a loud toddler because it's so noisy. Meltdowns won't bother anyone. They have a beef dish that is also a specialty that seems to be more Vietnamese in it's origin - Beef Luc Lac which is also delicious but the shining star is the giant platters of shelfish. If you live in LA or even if you are just visiting this place is so worth the trip.

Post Ranch Inn

If I had somehow won the lottery last week and it's massive jackpot I had many plans - start a charity, travel around the world, pay off our mortgage, etc, but the first thing I was planning on was a trip to this magical hotel.

I have eaten at the magical Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, CA but I have never stayed at this hotel. It sure looks amazing though. Someday Post Ranch Inn. I am coming for ya.

Mixology.....An Old Cuban

Did anyone see Andy Samberg's hilarious role as a mixologist on Portlandia this season? Check it out here if you haven't seen it. It made me laugh out loud. There are definitely quite a few places in Los Angeles these days where you can get a serious drink a la Andy Samberg - Big Bar in Los Feliz, The Edison and The Varnish downtown, but my favorite watering hole of late was the Tar Pit on La Brea which sadly just closed. 

I am not sure why this place never quite caught it. The room had a really cool art deco vibe and their cocktail program was designed by a woman from Pegu Club in New York. The first time I went with my husband we had a delicious cocktail called an Old Cuban. This drink would be perfect for a summer cocktail party, it has fresh mint and champagne. I am not the best mixologist (frankly it's an awful lot of effort when you are at home) but I aspire to be one. Here is the recipe for a delicious Old Cuban: 

Found via here via here

The Best Steak Recipe Ever

Osteria Mozza is hands down our favorite recipe in Los Angeles. It just never EVER disappoints. We love lots of other places, but time and time again when we have a special occasion or are just desperate for a lovely meal sans toddler we head here. I love the pastas, especially the orrechiette with fennel sausage and chard (so good!!!). Mike's favorite dish is the steak, or the porcini rubbed bistecca to be exact. Recently he completed a very stressful job so I wanted to recreate his beloved dish at home. I actually have the Mozza cookbook at home but their version sounded a bit different then the recipe the waiters described to us on a recent visit.

Here is a simple version I found on-line from the executive chef Matt Molina. It was beyond easy to make and so freaking good. I didn't even use a rib-eye cut, because Whole Foods didn't have it available and it turned out great. I just modified the portions. I think this would work great with any old steak cut:

Tagliata of Porcini-Rubbed Rib Eye

INGREDIENTS

1.     3/4 ounce dried porcini mushrooms, finely ground in a spice grinder (I used the Vitamix and it worked great)

2.     2 tablespoons sugar

3.     1 tablespoon kosher salt

4.     1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

5.     1 tablespoon crushed red pepper

6.     5 garlic cloves, minced

7.     1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

8.     One 3 1/2-pound bone-in rib eye steak (3 inches thick)

9.     Balsamic vinegar, for drizzling

1.     In a bowl, mix the porcini powder, sugar, salt, black pepper, red pepper, garlic and olive oil. Rub the paste all over the steak. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours or overnight. Scrape off the excess paste; let the steak stand at room temperature for 1 hour.

2.     Light a grill, or heat a grill pan and preheat the oven to 450°. Grill the steak over medium heat for about 25 minutes per side, until crusty and brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 125° for medium-rare. Alternatively, brown the steak in a grill pan over moderately high heat, about 12 minutes per side, then roast in the oven for about 40 minutes. Let the steak stand for 15 minutes.

3.     Slice the meat across the grain, drizzle lightly with balsamic vinegar and serve with an arugula salad.

The Los Angeles You Show Visitors

Me, my Dad and my Sister in Spain years ago

My younger sister and her lovely boyfriend came to visit this weekend. I always get so excited when friends or family come and stay (especially if they are ones that don't come that often) but this enthusiasm is often coupled with sudden terror/pressure to show them a much better or more exciting version of the Los Angeles than the one I actually reside in. Especially since there is a ten-year age gap between my sister and me, and though she might actually love the early bird dinners we go for mostly these days (you know what I am talking about parents of little ones, 5:30 pm is the new 8:30 pm!) I really wanted to make sure she had fun.

The weather did not really cooperate this weekend and they had things they wanted to do as well but we did happen to pack in two lovely dinners - Japanese on the Sunset Strip for pure Hollywood candy and Korean barbecue for classic Los Angeles. This trip was brief and and mostly focused on catching up and Hank but if you have out of town guests that you want to impress here is my number one spot to take friends. I was first introduced to this patio by my friend Oona the first summer I lived in LA and I was instantly hooked:

Best Friend Sunset Cocktails at Shutters

Chicago Ladies Throw Down at Shutters

Shutters on the Beach

Shutters - I think this hotel never fails when it comes to wowing guests because you can have drinks on the patio/deck and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. I can't imagine how it could get much better than that? I guess I need to assemble all of my favorites because I have a bunch of great Los Angeles things to do with guests but this is definitely my number one go to jam.