chez panisse
after an exhausting week of work meetings in san francisco, i finally made it over to berkeley and alice water's chez panisse.
it was better than i had expected.
i was so excited throughout the meal i forgot to take my usual photos, except for the starter: local halibut tartare with cucumbers and chervil. just perfect together with a glass of sauvignon blanc, an unfiltered natural process alliance wine from the russian river valley. then i had tomales bay clams with chickpeas. the dishes, however complex the preparation might actually be, came off as being very simple, light and straightforward.
it was better than i had expected.
i was so excited throughout the meal i forgot to take my usual photos, except for the starter: local halibut tartare with cucumbers and chervil. just perfect together with a glass of sauvignon blanc, an unfiltered natural process alliance wine from the russian river valley. then i had tomales bay clams with chickpeas. the dishes, however complex the preparation might actually be, came off as being very simple, light and straightforward.
after the rain...
everything turned color. dark greens and violets. it's already looking like summer.
i finished reading part 3 of haruki murakami's latest novel, 1Q84, on the subway. the series is only available in japanese at the moment, and i won't go into the story line, but it got me thinking about the concept of a parallel universe. i imagined myself in a parallel universe --a world where this had happened instead of that, where i had done one thing and not the other, or had gone to live there instead of here... then i realized i had totally missed my stop by several stations. i ended up having to hail a cab. sigh.
i finished reading part 3 of haruki murakami's latest novel, 1Q84, on the subway. the series is only available in japanese at the moment, and i won't go into the story line, but it got me thinking about the concept of a parallel universe. i imagined myself in a parallel universe --a world where this had happened instead of that, where i had done one thing and not the other, or had gone to live there instead of here... then i realized i had totally missed my stop by several stations. i ended up having to hail a cab. sigh.
on classical music
for everyone who loves classical music, as well as anyone wondering about its relevance today... benjamin zander explains it best.
morgon for spring nights
the trees are covered in easter-colored blossoms, and all over town cafes are moving onto sidewalks and boasting of backyards. so you put on your sunglasses and --yay!-- throw out your tights.
but come night time, it gets a bit chilly, and of course, the landlord has turned off the heating for the season. so you put your socks back on and wrap yourself in flannel... and then, what do you drink?
the morgon "cote du py" from jean foillard is an excellent wine for such nights. a luscious cherry flavor but smooth silky palate. it's probably the most beautiful kind of gamay i've ever tasted. perfect for days you want something refreshing but deep enough to "hold you" at the same time. my favorite importer at the moment, kermit lynch.
but come night time, it gets a bit chilly, and of course, the landlord has turned off the heating for the season. so you put your socks back on and wrap yourself in flannel... and then, what do you drink?
things i love about london
borough market was crazy at the weekend, but i did enjoy taking a look around. i'd definitely go with a huge shopping basket if i lived there.
the vegetables were gorgeous, if a bit pricey
everyone talks about how london's dining scene has really improved. with a few exceptions, though, they're still best at doing the traditional things like pies, bangers+mash, and smoked fish. i also had some very good cheese on this trip. (below: la fromagerie in marylebone)
scones with clotted cream and jam are my favorite. and what's better than traditional afternoon tea service at claridge's? well, how about waking up to the smell of butter and discovering that your friend has just taken some scones out of the oven, just in time for breakfast?
the vegetables were gorgeous, if a bit pricey
everyone talks about how london's dining scene has really improved. with a few exceptions, though, they're still best at doing the traditional things like pies, bangers+mash, and smoked fish. i also had some very good cheese on this trip. (below: la fromagerie in marylebone)
scones with clotted cream and jam are my favorite. and what's better than traditional afternoon tea service at claridge's? well, how about waking up to the smell of butter and discovering that your friend has just taken some scones out of the oven, just in time for breakfast?
the new saatchi gallery
The latest show at the Saatchi Gallery (The Empire Strikes Back -- Indian Art Today) was awesomely curated. My favorites were Subodh Gupta's U.F.O. using Indian brass water pots (above) and Huma Mulji's Arabian Delight (bottom), a taxidermy camel that's meant to be a humorous comment on perceptions of Pakistan.
hackney, london
after marrakech, it was london. my mind was still clinging to the bright colors of marrakech... which might be why my camera was so drawn to this gentleman's scarf.
smelling marrakech
one of the things i'll remember most about marrakech is the variety of scents. it was orange blossom season, so it seemed like the whole city was wearing a soft, honey-citrus fragrance. the spice market was filled with rich, sweet scents of cumin, rose petals, sandalwood, anise... until you turned the corner into the leather slippers-and-handbags gallery and you're suddenly hit with the heady smell of raw hide. it made sense that this is where serge lutens gets his inspirations.
now you see her...
now you don't...
moroccan women don't like being photographed. i even had women far out of the range of my shots yell at me: "no photo!" sometimes i took photos of them from far away, with their backs toward me.
tiramisu
one of my favorite teachers in high school was my italian instructor, signora maria longo, whose energetic and animated style was the perfect introduction to the country i'd later fall in love with and revisit many times. she gave the quirkiest assignments. one week she ordered us to "think and speak italian in the shower for a week, using all the words you know." she'd often give us italian recipes as homework, asking us to come in the following week with a critique from a family member. some of the recipes were quite challenging, like ossobuco with rice. and then there was the tiramisu, which was a legendary hit in my family... well, i only made it once, but that's the secret to making legends!
whenever i order tiramisu in a restaurant i think of signora longo waving her hands and proclaiming,"YOU ARE GONNA LOVE it! it means PICK ME UP! the coffee and alcohol are gonna PICK YOU UP!"
tiramisu at saraghina in bed-stuy, brooklyn
whenever i order tiramisu in a restaurant i think of signora longo waving her hands and proclaiming,"YOU ARE GONNA LOVE it! it means PICK ME UP! the coffee and alcohol are gonna PICK YOU UP!"
tiramisu at saraghina in bed-stuy, brooklyn
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