Sans Alcohol

Having obtained eligibility of health insurance at my current J.O.B., I went bananas and made all my doctors appointments after having not seen any of them in a year and a half. All the ailments I thought of, I saw each corresponding doctor. Even if it was a hint of a problem, I made sure I got an opinion. After all, how are we to be sure of the security of our jobs in this economy- access to affordable health insurance is tied to being employed, unfortunately.

There are many perils of working in the food and wine industry, one of them is eating. Yes! Think about it- food in the danger zone, under cooked meat, contaminated produce, unwashed hands, dirty water, the list goes on and on...

In the past year and a half, I have traveled to many places, drank fine wine, ate great food and had some funky dishes mixed in-between. Along the way, I began to notice I had some interesting stomach issues. ( I will spare you the details and not discuss them here.) With my insurance activated, I went to see a G.I. not Joe but a Dr. Jim the gastro-internist.
"Stomach infection," was what Dr. Jim told me. It could have come from something as simple as drinking tap water in NYC to the food I ate in San Francisco, Italy, Guam or where else I've been.

Rx: antibiotics for 7 days. If I don't feel better, "more tests." I'm praying I feel better, I don't like the sounds of the tests he's talking about. The thing about traditional medicine practice is they like to hand out pills for every ailment, every disease you can think of. The warning of these pills came with: Do not consume alcohol while taking this medication, it can cause you to be violently ill, cause seizures, heart palpitations, metallic taste in your mouth, shortness of breath = death. OK. Point taken. I WILL NOT DRINK for a week.

Here's the conundrum, had I not have insurance, I would have went on with my life with these symptoms and live with it for God knows how long?! How many people in This country have more serious ailments than this and just deal with it? Boy, all this thinking and I can't even have a drop of wine. I'll just sit here and sip my cranberry juice and ponder it some more.

The status quo of This country's health care system may never be solved in the next three years. But, I pray everyone gets a chance to be well.

Be well my friends.

A Three Hour Tour...

I find myself sitting in my apartment deciding what to eat for lunch today. Barely anything is in my fridge except a couple of eggs, bottles of wine and champagne- I just arrived from my trip to Italy two days ago. I'm fooded out. I don't want to replace the memories of the wonderful, mind blowing food that has touched my tongue and soul. Pretty dramatic eh? You bet.

One day my partner took me to this seafood restaurant that was supposedly the best in Calabria. Great, I think- the only island girl who doesn't care too much for seafood to begin with. I'm about to have a seafood extravaganza. Yikes. I think of the time my pops told me to close my eyes and swallow the last 3 bites of food- my mother had prepared this fuzzy squash & shrimp dish and I wasn't allowed to leave the table until my plate was cleaned. Now I'm thinking I would have to resort to the 10 year old tactics so not to seem a picky "American" diner.

Act One: The appetizers came fast and furiously. We were served this amazing octopus carpaccio served with just a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. I have never tasted octopus this fresh and unbastardized, it melted in my mouth piquing my taste buds, I was ready and open for the seafood experience. Sweet shrimp better than any Ama Ebi's you've had in your life. Silver fish that were practically still swimming and taste of the fresh Ionian Sea. Swordfish stuffed with breadcrumbs, white fish and fresh herbs were grilled to perfection. The chef/owner came out periodically to make sure we were eating well, and yes, we were. Stewed octopus. Grilled prawns and Rosa Marina fish cakes trailed thereafter.

Act Two: The owner of the seafood company came by for "coffee" but ended up staying and joining us for lunch. We had toured his facilities on a previous trip so I know exactly how well they treat their products and how fresh everything is. It is an immense operation dealing with delicate seafood and its care- the place was spic and span- you knew you were getting top of the line, fresh out of the ocean caught 3 hours ago seafood. I digress. So, here comes Zio Frank- watching, making sure we were eating every dish being served. Oysters served without the abductor muscles cut so when you squeeze lemon on them they were still moving, not for the faint of heart. The clams were so sweet and tender. Mussels, not my favorite- pass. The most sublime frito misto platter- everything was coated with batter so evenly, fried to golden excellence. I must have been in seafood heaven. Everything was "numero uno."

Act Three: Three hours later and 4 bottles of wine we were still shooting the shit and eating. Does it ever end??? Ahh dessert! Beautiful lemon cake served with an aged yellow grappa followed by a clear, smooth grappa. I think I'm gonna pass out- food coma. Nope. No time for a siesta. We were off to the Gattuso headquarters for espresso.

Act Four: Being the only woman in the bunch, I was told that this is how the boys hang. Damn it, I was determined to break in this boys club and participate in the activities. Hahaha, I have been secretly drinking water for the past 2 hours and been pouring off my drinks to unsuspecting companions. 9 hours later, I was cranky, skipped dinner and later that night had dreams of fish swimming in my head. LMAO. I don't think I'll be hanging out with the boys anytime soon but, will participate in the eating and excuse myself exit stage left the next time. oh, and they still smoke like chimneys at the table. My hair and clothes!

I've met my seafood quota for the season.

City Living- Concrete Jungle

Living in New York affords you the opportunity to experience things that you can't otherwise in other places, or so I think... This morning I was at the local coffee house reading my paper, sipping my cup o' joe minding my business. It was a rather warm day for early Spring in Ny so I decided to sit outside and get some fresh air/lovely car exhaust from traffic.

My point: Right next to me were a couple of potted plants and a few trees. One pigeon flew by and sits on the ground, another nearly misses my head and lands on top of the first pigeon. Next thing you know, these crazy things are making noise and wait a minute- pigeon sex. What? why me? I don't need to see that. hahaha. Yes, kids pigeon-let me get that-early in the morning. Great- perfect accpmpiant to my coffee, I am now wide awake.

Mama always taught me- sharing is caring. Now you too know what it looks like. :0

If you want a closer look at the animal kingdom, the Museum of Sex has an exhibit of animals behaving badly...

Old Mother Hubbard

Since my last outing in someone else's kitchen, I have decided to compile a list for simple but, necessary items to be stocked in your pantry so that one may be able to whip up a decent meal on the fly without too much fuss.

The Basics:

-Sugar -Salt - Black Pepper -Flour -Oil - White Vinegar -Catsup -Mustard -Mayo -Honey

-Dry Pasta -Rice -Beans, canned, dry -Canned Tomato -Any favorite Canned fruits & Veggies -Cereal -Oatmeal -Coffee -Peanut butter -Jelly -Chocolate, bars, hot chocolate mix -Dry Spices -Bouillon Cubes -Baking Soda & Powder -Asst. Basic Canned soups -Canned Tuna -Tea

Steppin It Up:

~Sherry, Balsamic, Red Wine Vinegar ~E.Virgin Olive Oil ~Olive, Canola oil

~Bergamot Olive Oil ~Kosher, Hawaiian, Fleur de Sel, Rock Salts ~Whole Grain Mustard

~New Zealand, Combed Honey ~Spaghetti, Angel Hair, Fusilli, Bucatini etc...

~Couscous, Quinoa ~Chickpeas, Capers, Roasted Peppers, Pickles

~Siracha, Tabasco, Bbq sauce ~Red & White cooking wine

~Chicken, Beef, Vegetable Stock ~Yeast ~Fresh Herbs ~ Herbs de Provence ~Elephant Garlic

Pantry made for a Chef:

*Saffron *Cognac *Katsuobushi *Kombu *Chickpea, Bread, Cake, Semolina Flour

*Black and White Truffle (when in season) *Jasmine, Sushi, Risotto *Nori

*Whole Nutmeg, Madagascar Vanilla Bean, Every Spice you can imagine...

*English Breakfast, Green, White, Jasmine, Rooibos, Peppermint, Chamomile

*All those molecular gastronomy stuff you care to experiment with

There is so much that we have yet to learn and discover with all the different cuisines in the world. Let me know what you'd like to add to the list, I'm sure I missed even the basic ones.

Good Cookie Gone Bad.

Of all people, I should know better when it comes to the art of cooking. Operative word: should. For the people who know me best, namely- my family and good friends, they know better to use that language around me. I despise the word 'should', and yet I am using it on myself. Aghhhh... So here's the story of the- Jean should know better...

This weekend, I had the opportunity to leave Nyc for the Hampton's to relax and help out some friends do some minor work. While I had no part in grocery shopping and what was to be on the menu for the next couple of days, I had volunteered myself to do the cooking. Actually, forced my way into that position because the kitchen was of nice size and I knew no one would question what I was doing or making. (my Manhattan apt does not afford me to make elaborate dishes with multiple pans going on at once without haggling for space.) I was in a happy space, Zen- if you will.

Every meal went off without a hitch except the one night we decided that dessert was needed. My sister's bf asked me to make one of my cakes- every cook has a couple of recipes in their head for these occasions... Being that the pantry wasn't fully stocked as the summer season hadn't started, we used what was available to us but, the only baking supply available was eggs and butter- I had no choice, I had to use the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie dough. I'm not one to poopooh prepackage stuff, they do have a time and place for its use however, since I have not used this product I was unsure of its results. Yup- I should have known better. Let me just beat myself right now. I do get very defensive and protective when it comes to my cooking, yes, yes, I know that I need to relax its only food but, its not that often that I fuck something up.

Here it is. Evidence that Jean needn't be messing around with pre-made cookie dough. LOL. Its simple really: break off square pieces and bake @ 350 degrees for 12mins. Nope. No such luck for moist chocolate chip cookies, we got burnt hockey pucks, they didn't even break out of their square shape into a nice burnt circles- see photo. Next time, I'll be sure to partake in the grocery shopping so that we at least have the essential pantry stock. Also, be sure to check the 'use by date' on packages, it helps.

Olive oil goodness

One of the coolest part of my job besides tasting wine all the time is having all sort of samples practically thrown at me. Part of my research for a project is to find amazing products in which you would probably not find anywhere in The City.

Olive oil. Hot commodity. Just like wine, it is highly volatile; sensitive to heat and most of the time people don't tell you the whole truth as to where it comes from and what its comprised of. My entanglement with the Italians grow deeper as I learn more each day.

Since I have a plethora of olive oil in my home, I decided to see how many ways to use this product in the best application. I've got home made olive oil from Calabria, fancy pants cold first press -extra virgin, Spanish olive oil and to throw in the mix your average Trader Joe's -from Greece.

Being a practical woman in this so-called recession, I decided to use the olive oil as part of my beauty regimen. Deep conditioner for my thick curly sometimes unruly mane. Heat olive oil + a squeeze of lemon juice for 30 seconds in microwave, massage into scalp, cover hair with plastic and keep yourself occupied for 30 minutes while your hair soaks the yummy goodness and allow the oil to work its magic. Let me tell you, I had to wash my hair 3x to get the greasiness out. My hair did feel silky soft and I didn't mind too much the faint smell of lemony olive oil. However, the next day I looked like a grease monkey- the funky monkey. Whoa. It was living in the 80's with super mouse in my hair. This treatment is best for the weekend staying home watching movies with someone who doesn't mind a funky monkey.

Research shows that olive oil does wonders for the skin. I have to agree. Rub it on your cuticles, your rough winter feet. Bingo! You're good as new. Olive oil has natural properties that act as an antiseptic and moisturizer. Gently rub the expensive stuff on your face before going to bed. Believe me or not, I have an amazing glow every morning. Thus far, it hasn't clogged my pores. There must be something to it, just look at those beautiful Mediterranean women-their gorgeous hair and skin. Always smiling. Damn, this must be the secret to happiness.

Finally, lets talk about cooking. I decided to make a Blood orange-olive oil cake. Doesn't sound too appealing right?! Let me tell you, this cake I made the other day, fantastico! It's a bit tricky because when you make the batter, it seems too oily, trust me, that's the way it looks, don't be alarmed thinking you measured out something wrong- follow the recipe and if you're not happy with the results you can always doctor it. (*Be sure to use your best olive oil when baking, you can save the Trader Joe stuff for sauteing or marinating items.) 50minutes later you get this beautiful moist cake with a light greenish hue when you cut into it. (the pic doesn't do it justice, I'm still learning to take food shots) mmmm. The essence of the olive oil is ever so captured and the citrus fruits balances the oil factor perfectly. Enjoy it alone, with jam, a fruit compote, please, please don't drown it with ice cream. It would be lost in translation.

Santos needs a Stimulus Plan 2009

I haven't written lately due to the fact that the past week I was sick with this nagging cold and also, I've been working diligently on my project. As some of you may know I left the restaurant business in pursuit of becoming an entrepreneur. However, I haven't left the business of food and wine completely, my project deals with food and wine, this time to my specifications and ideals.

There comes a time in a person's life when you've just got to give it a go and follow your dream, your bliss. My life, by breath, my passion has been entangled in the simplest thing that a human being needs to sustain life. It's simple and yet complicated. I have dedicated my life with the desire of helping other people understand that there is an art to living: eating for pleasure first.

Culinary school does not teach all it's future chef's this, it only provides the technical skill needed to show what mother nature has given us on our abundant fertile lands. Attending sommelier classes does not teach you what kind of love it requires in making that beautiful glass of Merlot you are sipping tonight. It merely suggest what nuances to detect in each type of grape varietal. And so my point is, it doesn't matter if you hold the highest degree in the land in your professional field. If you have not the passion to live and work happily, then you're in the wrong place.

For me, it happens to be a bit of a slow going snail for my project to come to fruition. First of all, this economy sucks, some of my backers somehow backed out in becoming my partner (a bit understandable, nonetheless it sucks.)

I believe that this is the perfect time to open a business. Food and drugs (the kind from CVS people) are the two things that will always be in need.

So, my dear friends, I am reaching out to those who believe in my passion- my training- my skills- my experience- my never ending quest for perfection and profitability- and perhaps you may want to share in this venture or know of someone.

I have been humbled by this experience in learning what it truly takes in planning my project. Its simple really. It will be an intimate place for friends to gather, have great bites, wonderful drinks and a place to soothe the soul. I've even picked out the perfect spot.

I just need a little assistance. Peace and love.

Random

10a.m.-->This morning on my way to get the paper at my local bodega I caught a glimps of my reflection off a store window. "Wow, you look good in those jeans, Jean." Thanks dude. Mind you, I haven't felt very bootylicious about myself in recent months, this was a nice small victory. While paying for The Post and M&M peanuts, a skinny jeans-blond-huge sunglasses-20something compliments me and my Levis. mmm... Cool, I think. I find it more flattering when a women pays you a compliment because they don't come for free. We can be really catty, judgemental and envious of each other fashion choices, most especially in New York city.

12:30p.m.--> Having moved up to the UES two years ago, I still refuse to look and research for the best cobbler, tailor or nail salon around my apt. Instead, I always find myself in my old SoHo neighborhood to get those errands done. Being a bit lazy to go downtown today, I asked a trusty friend where he takes his shoes for repair, his guy so happens to be a few blocks from where I live. There's this old man, working with his leathery, black stained, worn out but tender hands. I ask him to fix my shoe, thinking all it needed was some glue, he turns to me and says in his Italglish "they don't make shoes like they used to, I can't help you." What? Wait a minute, I paid good money for these Jil Sanders and turning it over to show him, "look it says made in Italy." haha. Jokes on me. He tells me that it's good leather on "paper" but, nowadays they cheat. Boooo. I can't bare to part with them, i've only worn them a few times.

3:00p.m. --> Spring is here, almost. Crazy fashion on the streets, already.
Sweater with flip flops? Ok. If you're going to wear flip flops, make sure the rest of the outfit matches. It was 60 degrees today and the denizens of Nyc were going wild, unsure of how to clothe themselves. You can't walk out your apt. dressed in shorts and a leather jacket??? WHa... People, I know its confusing. March does not usually =60 degrees. Two words: Global Warming. Get used to it. Too bad I didn't have a camera on me. Don't be a fashion victim.

7:30p.m.--> Random thought popped in my head of a conversation with a friend a few months ago about women and relationships. "Women are like fruit baskets, you get to decided who picks your fruit. You are in control." Wait a minute, have you been talking to my mom? This was her birds and the bee's sex talk. On relationships: "Being in a realtionship is a two way street." No shit Sherlock. I give all I can but, I better have a great ROI.

9:00p.m.--> Barnes and Noble. Little boy to mother- " I don't want a book, can't I get a toy? I promise I'll be good. How about a train with tracks?" No, dear that sounds more expensive. Let me think about it.
Talk about the start of a great young mind, who knows maybe he'll turn out to be a great engineer...

11:00p.m.--> What should I have for dinner? Cupcake or a slice? I think you know who won that discussion.

Under Promise, Over Deliver

Under promise, over deliver.
My newest favorite saying as told to me by a very successful business man on the concept/theme of his business model. I like to think that this tag line relates to everything in life. However, I like the: over promise, over deliver. In most cases this is where you get into trouble, because in the end you have to back your shi* up.

Case in point. My father's 67th birthday party. He was so excited I was going to cook dinner for his close friends in where he can showcase his daughter's cooking skills. (you know how parents get...) So I accepted the challenge and told mom and dad I didn't want any Filipino food on the table and thus created a international -mostly seafood menu. (*white rice was available, didn't want to shock the elders too much.)

Paella- clams, shrimp, chicken, chorizo, peas and saffron.



1. When planning a dinner party for 30 people, make sure that your menu isn't too ambitious for the kitchen you're working with. I learned this the hard way. Nope, my parents don't have a Wolf Range, convection oven or a hood system for that matter. Searing meats in the house totally smoked us all out. LOL. I didn't have a personal dishwasher for all the pots and pans I was going through. And worse off, I had to cook on an electric stove top; yes, I am working on changing it to gas.

2. Enlist the help of everyone who is capable of using a knife without scaring you. Thankfully, my family are wonderful cooks and my personal prep-cooks when I'm in charge. :)

3. Remind yourself that you aren't a chef in a restaurant and therefore can't yell at them when you ask for brunoise carrots and get small dice instead or do something that isn't perfect. (I laugh at my crazy self.)

4. When you see yourself getting into the "shits" (kitchen talk) call a buddy who happens to be a fellow chef. Whew! Thank God. Back up arrived before I lost my mind. Below, Jayme and I plating dinner or perhaps, giggling at the fact of how crazy I am for thinking I could cook all these dishes solo or maybe just stuffing our faces with roast beef tid bits. yum!

5. Breathe and enjoy. The whole point of cooking for your family is because you love it. Dad's smile was so worth it!

My Lesson learned. Plan carefully. Open those blinders - just because you have the skill doesn't mean you can have the same result without the proper equipment.

If you find yourself in Westchester.

I'd Gladly Pay you Tuesday

New Yorkers are currently and always will be obsessed about two things: pizza and hamburgers, most recently we've added ramen to the mix. Depending on what publication you read or who you talk to on where to find the best hamburger in the city, there is much debate. This is where I weigh in and put my two cents. I will not be comparing burgers with foie bourgeoisie, or Wagyu wannabe Kobe, this is based on the all-American beef.

One of my more recent trips out to have a burger was at JG Melon on the upper east side. It was a Wednesday and I had nothing in particular to do but figure out where to have lunch. I decided since I had a veggie burger the other day, let's go for the real McCoy. JG Melon feels like walking into Cheers. As a regular patron you're greeted warmly and immediately seated at your table. I saw what the deal was and headed straight to the bar ordering while taking off my jacket. Smooth move. :) Most times, dining at the bar is far more interesting than sitting at a table, you get to people watch. Oh, and was there juicy gossip to be heard...

Burger- juicy and moist, cooked Medium about 6oz. (I usually keep it safe with anything grounded.) Buns- fresh rolls slightly toasted. Served with pickles, iceberg lettuce and sliced red onions. Fries- cooked to golden perfection, crinkle cut chips. There were so many toppings to chose from but, I wanted to keep it honest with just a little ketchup on the side. It made me such a happy girl I decided to walk the 13 blocks home and work off all that beef and fried goodness.

I have listed a few places that I can recall off the top of my head and assigned them grades.

A= Blue Smoke. Houston's (yes, you heard me, I did not stutter) Shorty's.32. JG Melon. Fanelli's Cafe. SoHo Park. P.J Clarke's.

B= Shake Shack. Burger Joint. Better Burger. Good Burger. Jackson Hole. BLT Burger. Balthazar's. NoHo Star. Kinsale. Johnny Rocket's. Les Halles.

B/C= Lucky Strike. Silver Spur's. Pop Burger. Blue 9 Burgers.

C= Corner Bistro. Sassy's Sliders. McDonald's. Cart burger on the corner of 55th St./Madison St.

*People, White Castle doesn't count, I don't even think it's 100% beef. I'll save mystery meat for another entry to write about...

Happy eating!

Cruella de Ville at the door?

The other night Mei and I finally picked a date to meet up and have dinner. Since most of my friends work in the restaurant industry its tough to meet up like regular 9to5ers. First of all, who the heck wants to eat dinner at midnight or eat at the select few restaurant that cater to the night walkers, Ambien deprived and finally the cook, server or chef who just wants to sit down after a long night of dinner service.

We decided on this Italian joint in the lower east side on a recommendation, the food akin to home style cooking and good, apparently its also one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. Upon arriving at the door, we were greeted by such ungracefulness by the host/maitre d'. Cold. Cold. Boss lady. Ok. I'll wait the hour and a half. It was a Friday and you'd think the atmosphere would be lively and buzzing? mmm... more like somber. We decided to leave. Had we been greeted with warmth I would have considered staying and bared the long wait in anticipation of the Italian cooking. Ultimately, its you who dictates how your evening will proceed, I wasn't in the mood to put up with nonsense. (Money well spent is where it's appreciated.) This restaurant will remain nameless out of respect - until strike 3 occurs.

Down the street was this "dive" bar. It was more of a neighborhood joint filled with the usual kitchy stuff- disco ball, piano in the corner, patio furniture, plastic objects hanging on the wall. It was good, drinks cheap, young white collar types with a few locals in between. As we sat and drank our first cocktail of the evening we were trying to decide where to have dinner. Mei was discussing the finer points of hospitality and how to improve it. Dude. Seriously. Can't we just go out to dinner like normal people and not pay attention to all the damn details it takes to run a restaurant?! LOL. It's just a habit, I guess.

We ended up at Indochine. A great standard. A restaurant that runs so well after all these years of being in operation. The room was packed and buzzing, everyone was smiling and the food was good, I love sharing a meal family style. It was a Friday night and it felt like one, not to mention it was also Fashion Week in Nyc and that JT sexy back sat two booths away from us.

In the end, its all about sharing a good time, enjoying the food and company that matters most. I learned that Miss Mei who loves hamachi dislikes tuna! while I loath uni and am allergic to soy beans. Next dinner out, i'll talk about the food.

Like Jean for Chocolate

One of my most memorable experiences dining out was back in 2001, it was my birthday and I had chosen to celebrate at Eleven Madison Park solely because I had heard their chocolate souffle was the best in the city. I had to investigate.

The first time I tasted a chocolate souffle, I was blown away. My exact statement after the first bite was, "I am going to marry the man who could surprise me with a chocolate souffle." This is how seriously I take the cake.

So here we were, in a corner booth with the view of the entire dining room having this beautiful meal. The chef at the time Kerry Heffernan, comes out to greet us and wishes me a Happy Birthday and also to make sure that our experience are up to USHG standards. Secretly, I'm trying to enjoy the meal, (and I do) and eat a little faster than usual in anticipation for the big event. It takes at least 25 minutes for this work of art to bake.

Dessert finally arrives! I am in heaven. Chocolate goodness! I can die in peace. Yes, folks this is how deep my insanity goes. Do you remember that scene from "When Harry Met Sally," the part where Sally fakes an orgasm and the woman next to her says "I'll have what she's having." I think I actually did have a chocolategasm. To add, the woman in the next booth who was in her mid 50's asked what I was having and ordered one for herself. My date was a bit embarrassed that I couldn't stop gushing with the "oh, my God, this is so good" and other bits of exclamations that's not fit to print. :)

I have yet to find a man who will surprise me with a chocolate souffle. So, I decided to take it upon myself to make one. I went straight to the source- a pastry chef at EMP. My dear friend actually made one for me years ago while we working together at another restaurant, it was the same as I remembered. I did tell him he was off the hook and didn't have to marry me. Chef R was kind enough to share the recipe and convert it to measurements that were easier to follow.

Giddy as a school girl; scared as a cat, I went to task and followed the directions. I didn't want to disappoint myself if it didn't turn out right. I am a perfectionist and hard on people in the kitchen who don't know what the hell they are doing. I reread and reread the directions, made sure that all my ingredients were measured out perfectly. Baking is a science, one false move and its a pound cake, worse a deflated souffle. Disaster.

Before the main event, my partner and I made a lovely dinner. Like the experience of 2001, I secretly was dying to bake off those wonderful lovelies. 23 minutes later... It turns out I may be marrying myself but, I did have help whipping those egg whites by hand... Whew, Success. I celebrated and shared in the glory with my love, my best friend.

There is nothing like the comfort of your home, love in your life and a bottle of

Chateau Du Cru Beaucaillou 2000 to make everything right in the world. mmm... Black berries, silky tannins, great body, sexy nose, right hint of minerality, this baby was ready to go! It was the perfect paring and perfect ending to a wonderful day. Chocolate, love and wine.

My photos aren't the best, working on sourcing a camera for the next posts. Trust me, they were wonderful to the last bite.

p.s. The first year of Gary Danko's opening in San Francisco, his chocolate souffle kicked some serious ass. Haven't been back since, hope its still yummy... Let me know if you've been recently.

L-O-V-E

I created this page to focus on food, wine and life to express how deeply I feel about my life's passions. Since all things in this universe are connected; me, you, the trees, air, bacteria and how we all love each other in a helpful or harmful way, I'll briefly talk about it. Love is a passion.

This conspiracy of St. Valentines Day: a made up holiday so that the masses are guilted into showing how much they haven't expressed their feelings for their loved one(s) during the entire year. I'm not a big fan. Maybe you say I'm jilted, annoyed for all those days I had to work a Valentine's day shift. Watching all the fake smooches, the over the top adoration, the googly eyes, the generic boxed chocolate and the velvety red roses (with baby's breath, ugh.) I guess; good for them, at least someones getting attention for a day. However, love can become dangerous when it isn't mutual and becomes one persons obsession. It can be toxic when you think it must be love, you've been with one person xx amount of years.

Love is free, unforced and kind. Love is known to make people sing and smile without reason.

Lets talk about the everyday surprises that kicks this one day jam packed of forced love and romance of Valentines day.

What is love anyway? Love is listening to your dear friend at 2a.m. hearing her sob and trying to comfort her. When you hear a parent scold a child saying this hurts me more than it hurts you and one day you'll understand. A stranger paying for a single parents grocery just because they had exchanged pleasantries earlier, turns out she couldn't afford all the food in her cart... Truly forgiving those who hurt you and letting go. Self love is the greatest, it is then we can honestly share the love in our hearts.

Romance. The kind that is spur of the moment, not the generic petals on the bed, bubble bath and candles. Although, it is a nice gesture... How about looking out your window of your second floor apartment to see what that strange tapping noise could be, turns out to be a man looking up at your with adoring eyes singing opera in the middle of the day. Having a book delivered to work with a note saying "this will help you relax on this hectic day." Butterfly kisses while snuggling on the couch watching t.v. on a Tuesday. Finding a "mucho mucho" note in your brief case as a reminder that you're thought of all day.

Love and romance is possible seven days a week. You just have to be open. Me, I decide to live my life full of love and romance everyday. Keep it simple. Original

Laughing

Last night while in bed and just before hitting a point of sleep, for no apparently reason I started laughing. Granted, I had a long week and was probably delirious from a lack of beauty sleep, I was a bit baffled by the spontaneous combustion of laughter. I then proceeded to have a lively conversation with myself about all the wonderful things that needed to be taken care of the next day. Meanwhile, the other part of my brain was telling the other half, "what the hell is going on here, were supposed to be sleeping, we have a big day tomorrow?!"

I'm laughing now as I write. I don't know if any of you have experienced this but, if you do; roll with it. Laughter is amazing medicine for the soul. It gives your endorphins a chance to come out and breathe. Allows for a wonderful sigh, and works your smile muscles. All positives! It just feels good.