Magazine Subscriptions

Magazine Subscriptions - I have too many! Its the weekly subscriptions that put me over the top. By the time I am able to crack one open, two more are sitting in my mailbox. However, I never throw a magazine away until I am finished with it and at some point in my lifetime I do plan on finishing all of them even if that means that I am way behind the times when it comes to current events. Right now I am reading February's news out of Newsweek (congrats to Barack Obama on becoming our first African American president!) I am even reading travel magazines that date back to 2007. Following is a list of all my magazine subscriptions:

Travel + Leisure

Conde Nast Traveler 

National Geographic Traveler

Real Simple

Newsweek

The Week

The New Yorker

Inc.

Wired

Rolling Stone

I may be forgetting some...I swear my neighbor steals many of my magazines because they definitely don't all come once a week/month. From this list the ONLY ones I enjoy reading are:

National Geographic Traveler

Real Simple

Inc. 

and about 50% of my Newsweeks

To me reading a magazine like Wired is like reading about Quantum Mechanics (maybe I should just cancel that subscription.) For some reason Rolling Stone gets delivered to my parents house so there goes that. Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast I feel are too mass market. The New Yorker...well, I don't live in New York. I just started my subscription to The Week so I don't know enough to comment on it. 

People keep saying that in a bad economy you should simplify and eliminate excess spending...maybe I should start with my magazine subscriptions. 

Double Crown in New York City

Cocktail:

Gin on the rocks with citrus chili jam

Starters:

Bone Marrow

Yellowtail with cilantro and lime 

Duck Dumplings 

Thoughts:

I was a little nervous about my cocktail since I am not a gin on the rocks sort of drinker. I was given a glass of gin and ice and a spoonful of jam. The concept is to mix the jam with the gin (a tradition that started back in the day as a solution to cheap gin.) It was a fantastic drink, something I wish I would see more of. Apparently the bone marrow at Double Crown is a staple item that has received a lot of press...rightfully so. It was my first bone marrow experience and definitely won't be my last. 

O Mai in New York City

Cocktail:

A Margarita mixed with Vietnamese beer

Starters:

Crispy spring rolls with shrimp

Main:

Oxtail broth with beef, rice noodle, and aromatic herbs

Dessert:

Banana bread with Tahitian vanilla ice cream 

Thoughts:

The margarita mixed with Vietnamese beer was such a pleasant surprise. I had no idea what to expect but it was the perfect blend of tequila and cold, bubbly beer. My friend and I visited this Vietnamese restaurant because we were craving a noodle bowl. My beef bowl hit the spot. I was also given a plate of really fresh basil and chili sauce to mix with the broth. The banana bread was not what I expected but still very good (although I should have known what to expect since bananas are a common Vietnamese dessert.) I am not sure why it was called bread because there wasn't much yeast to it...it was mostly cooked bananas. 

The Palm in New York City

Cocktail:

Red Wine

Starters:

Fresh Oysters with some sort of cream and wasabi sauce

Main:

Maine Lobster Salad with extra Avocado

Thoughts:

The oysters were addicting. I can't quite identify the sauce but it tasted a bit like blue cheese and wasabi. Its a taste I have not had before but definitely something worth eating again. The Maine lobster salad was very refreshing and perfect for a late lunch. 

The Tabu Grill in Laguna Beach, CA

Cocktail:

Red Wine 

Starters:

Yellowtail Poke with Mango and Avocado

Poached Pear Salad with Citrus Vanilla dressing

Main:

Miso Marinated Sea Bass

Dessert:

Warm Banana Chocolate Cake

Thoughts:

Citrus Vanilla dressing - do I need to say anymore? Fantastic. I loved everything about the poached pear salad and the yellowtail/avocado was about as fresh as it gets...can't ask for anything more. The miso marinated sea bass was submerged in a sweat sauce with fresh bok choy. The banana chocolate cake was delicious...I have tried to recreate it myself with no avail. 

The Crow Bar and Kitchen in Corona del Mar, CA

Cocktail:

Sparkling lemonade with a side of vodka (its been one of those weeks) 

Starters:

Cured Olives

Pot of Pickles

Sweet Potato Fries

Onion Rings with homemade buttermilk sauce

Main:

Homemade meatball sliders

Grilled Prawn Salad

My Thoughts:

I was a little disappointed that the pot of pickles consisted of 2 pickles and a bunch of pickled beats. The olives were served warm, which was new for me and not something I think I would hope for again. My two favorite things are pickles and olives so its always disappointing when they aren't satisfying. My meatball sliders were fantastic and definitely a unique menu item. The grilled prawn salad was good but I had I known there were a bunch of chopped nuts I would have asked for no nuts. I am sure nuts were stated on the menu so lesson learned: read the menu thoroughly. 

Seven4One in Laguna Beach, CA

Cocktail:

Pomegranate Martini

Starters:

Mediterranean Taste (homemade pita with humus) 

Main:

Scallop Risotto

My Thoughts:

This actually isn't a restaurant but a lounge within a stylish hotel located in Laguna Beach, CA. The food was fantastic and my pomegranate martini was like juice. What is so great about dining here is that its really small so the chefs are allowed to create their own dishes. Therefore, never limit yourself to just the menu offerings. This is also an intimate place to just sit and chat with friends next to the fireplace or on the terrace overlooking the ocean. 

Sundried Tomato Cafe in Laguna Beach, CA

Starters:

Blackened Chicken Spring Rolls

Main:

Chopped Salad 

My thoughts: 

The sauce that came with the Blackened Chicken Spring Rolls was amazing. The chopped salad was a mixture of lettuce, chicken, cranberries, gorgonzola cheese, red onions, and mango with a light vinaigrette.  I think the standout for this restaurant was the freshness of their food. This restaurant is also a fan of brie cheese...many of their menu items included this delicious cheese. 

You can't find much information about this restaurant online. However, there was a little blackboard in the restaurant that displayed some of their weekly specials. 

Monday: Flight Night, which is 3 courses for $35

Tuesday: 1/2 off wine

Wednesday: Martini Night

230 Forest Avenue in Laguna Beach, CA

Starters:

Hoisin BBQ Duck and Brie Spring Rolls

Buttermilk Calamari

Main:

Chopped Seafood Salad

My Thoughts:

I come here for lunch every once in awhile. I love their bread and butter...the butter is mixed with chopped olives. The food is really good here...nothing really blows your mind but you can always count on good, fresh food. I don't know why but I do not like the thought of going to this restaurant for dinner. While the food is good, I do not think its adventurous enough for dinner. Their menu is perfect for a fancy lunch but maybe needs some more spice to attract me for dinner. The Hoisin BBQ Duck and Brie Spring Rolls are a must. Their patio is a great place to people watch and enjoy the sun. 

Zu Robata in Los Angeles, CA

Cocktail:

Blood Orange Margarita 

Starters:

hon hamachi, cilantro, shiro soy

seared spicy tuna hand roll

pan fried edamame

poke tuna, coconut two ways, mango, shishito

Robatayaki:

black tiger king prawns with lemongrass sauce

Maki Mono:

hokkaido scallop wrapped tuna olive tapenade crunchy carrot

Dessert:

warmed chocolate lava cake

My Thoughts:

Yes, I ate all that! I love places like this because I can order so many different things! I had little expectations for this place because it is located on Wilshire Blvd, in the heart of the business district...not always the place you find the best Japanese restaurants. However, this is not your traditional Japanese restaurant (at least compared to what you find in the US.) This is a japanese Robatayaki, which consists of mostly cooked and grilled foods. The king prawns were probably my favorite...the lemongrass sauce was the perfect complement to the prawns. The chocolate lave cake (100% homemade) was probably a close second. Oh and there is no better way to impress me than to serve me something that I eat almost everyday but to prepare it in a way that I never thought possible. The pan fried edamame were amazing...not sure if I can go back to the traditional steamed version. 

The place was empty, which makes me think that they capitalize on the business, lunch crowd. However, this is definitely a place worth stopping into whether it be for lunch or dinner. 

El Callejon in Laguna Beach, Ca

Cocktail:

Margarita on the rocks with salt

Starters:

Chips with Salsa

Guacamole 

Main:

Carne Asada and Chicken Taco Plate

My Thoughts:

It took me awhile to visit this restaurant because its in an area of Laguna Beach that I dread. Its right at the corner of Laguna Village, a stones throw from the main beach. This area is such a trap...that corner is loaded with tourists and inland urbanites. The restaurants at this corner are usually packed, overpriced, and not very good. However, recently a new Mexican restaurant moved into town. The first time I went there I ordered my version of a chicken quesadilla. It was fantastic but I was still skeptical because its tough to mess up a quesadilla. The next time I went there I ordered the make your own tacos plate with carne asada and chicken. OMG...the best carne asada I have ever had. I actually started eating it straight off the plate and it is really easy to mess up carne asada. The salsa is also extremely fresh and tasty. The guacamole can use an upgrade...it was just ok. If you like margaritas this is the place as well because they have quite the selection. 

My only worry about this place is that it is new and has yet to experience the summer rush. This may be the reason it is so different from the neighboring restaurants. Come summer I worry that the salsa may not be as fresh and the carne asada will not be cooked to perfection. We will see how they handle it! 

Kitchen Aid from the Beyond Section

This post is completely irrelevant to my blog. However, I am thrilled about this discovery I just made! This gadget or kitchen aid may be the answers to my problems. Some of you may have met me others haven't...or I could very well be the only person who sees this blog, which is fine. Point is I have no upper body strength. My arms look like ones of those pencils you had as a child that you could bend in all directions. Because of this handicap I have a huge disadvantage when opening jars. Ugh...you know what are the worst? Gatorade bottle caps...those suckers are on tight. There is nothing more frustrating then craving a pickle but you can't open the jar. Then there is the emotional frustration of living alone and not having a jar opener around (a.k.a. a strong person) when you need them. 

Well problem solved...I found this jar opener for $7.99 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I have already tested it out on some of my jars as well as on a Gatorade bottle (sad to say that didn't work as well as I had hoped.) For the most part, it works great. No more waiting around for pickles in the Smith household. 

Roman Cucina in Costa Mesa, CA

Cocktail:

Wine Wednesdays! This means you can bring your own bottle of wine on Wednesdays and there is no corkage fee. 

Starter:

House salad with my favorite homemade Italian dressing

Main:

Pepperoni Calzone

My Thoughts:

Oh My Gosh...I was so reluctant to order a boring calzone especially when I know Roman Cucina has some of the best pastas ever. Last time I came I went for the creamy lemon, garlic sauce with sauteed shrimp and fettucini...sooo delish. However, I was craving a calzone and couldn't resist the urge to order one. The calzone was the size of a football, which is great because I get to enjoy it again tomorrow. The dough was so soft and without a doubt freshly made. The cheese was perfectly melted and the sauce was not too much...it was just perfect. Hands down the best calzone I have ever had in my life and guess what...tomorrow it will be the best leftover calzone I have ever had in my life!

Red Party Event Benefiting the Life Through Art Foundation

Life Through Art Foundation is a non-profit organization that is committed to funding educational opportunities in the arts for underprivileged students and artists who otherwise would not be able to finance such endeavors. They hosted a fundraising event in Los Angeles that attracted some A-list and B-list celebrities as well as me and my friends. Take a look at some of our pictures:

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Five Feet Restaurant in Laguna Beach, CA

Starters:

Kung Pao Calamari

Main:

Hoison BBQ Braised Prime Boneless Beef Short Rib with a Mango                   Chutney Sauce

Beyond Sushi - Nova Scotia Fatty Blue Fin Tuna

My Thoughts:

The design of this restaurant is super cool. It looks like a contemporary art gallery. However, this is a Chinese restaurant. The menu items are all very unique and fresh. The Mango Chutney Sauce was fantastic...I almost wanted to eat it alone. The Blue Fin Tuna was really thick and fresh. This is definitely nothing like any Chinese restaurant I have ever been to but its definitely worth breaking tradition. The only thing I do not like about this restaurant is that they only serve wine. After seeing the decor of this restaurant I was expecting some really creative cocktail options but you will have to go elsewhere for that. 

La Sirena Grill in Laguna Beach, CA

Main:

Carne Asada Burrito with Rice but NO Beans

My Thoughts:

First of all if you blink you will miss this quaint walk up restaurant. Its located on the back streets of Laguna Beach Village. It is completely reminiscent of something you will find in New England. I wouldn't say this was the best burrito I have ever had. I am born and raised in San Diego, CA so I tend to like the burritos that are dripping with grease and come from places that the Health Department would close down in 5 minutes if they were actually licensed restaurants. However, the burrito I had from La Sirena Grill was by far the FRESHEST burrito I have ever had. On the back of their to go menu it says that everything is made from scratch, they use trans-fat free fry oil, vegetable stock for their rice and sauces, and their beans are not made with lard or any oils. Their "plastic" bags and containers are made from corn and their utensils are made from potato starch. I can seriously keep going....how about instead you just try the restaurant for yourself! 

Lilla's Feast by Frances Osborne

"You would expect from a wartime recipe book - all rations and digging for victory, or subsistence on rotting vegetables and donkey meat in a Japanese internment camp. However, this is a book written as if the war wasn't there at all. As if everyone was back in their warm, safe homes with their families and friends, the larder full and the table heaving with fresh, just-cooked food. It gives advice on how to make good things last longer, how to live and eat to the fullest. The pages are jam-packed with recipes with old-fashioned names: cream puffs and popovers, butterscotch and blancmange, galantine of beef and anchovy toast, jugged hare and ulligatawny soup. There are dinner-party menus, children's menus, cocktails, ice creams, sweets. Its a book for making the best of times in the worst of times, a book that makes you believe that if you could fill your mind with cream cake or anything delicious, then you could transform the bitterest experience into something sweet and shut out the things that you need to forget."

I picked up this book at the Laguna Beach library with no expectations or insight as to what the book was about. I just had a little curiosity. The insert above is found on the first page of the prologue, paragraph 3. I read these words and wasn't even able to continue to page 3 but for entirely a good reason! To be able to document recipes and give advice on how to enjoy life while living in an internment camp during WWII is truly inspiring. I had to set the book down and think for a moment. I admit one of the reasons I participate in blogging is for professional gain and I am currently on the quest to branding myself. Sometimes I drag my feet before writing a post because at that moment I would rather by lazy and let success find me instead. However, after reading what Lilla was able to do, I realized that my blog posts keep me searching for inspiration within the travel industry. As long as I am inspired and hopeful I am able to continue to happily (key word) work towards my goals. 

Mastro's OceanClub in Newport Coast, CA

Cocktail: 

Cabernet Sauvignon (California of course)

Starters: 

Mastro's Wedge salad with a red wine vinaigrette 

Main Course: 

Nice big, plump Oysters on the half shell

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with "atomic horseradish sauce"

Garlic Mashed Potatoes (yes, weird combination but I tend to that) 

Dessert:

Warm Butter Cake

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

A Delicious Chocolate Cake

My Thoughts:

Mastro's is a favorite for many people. Its a chain and I don't usually favor chain restaurants. However, each Mastro's is unique and serves a different menu. Mastro's OceanClub is their seafood gem. The service is excellent, my oysters were excellent, and the location is excellent. I wasn't starving so I didn't go all out and order a big meal like I usually do. However, I am really excited to go back to try the scallops.

My Meal Recap:

Dessert Recap and Kate's Birthday Dessert: (I don't have the energy right now to figure out how to combine these two videos in order to make one =)) 

L.A.M.B Oxford Pumps

I recently found these super cute/funky heels 70% off on Amazon.com of all places. They are by the brand L.A.M.B. which is the clothing brand behind Gwen Stefani. I am sure they are extremely painful and do not match many outfits but when has that ever stopped me? I thought they were a unique style, fun and flirty, and yet not too flashy. 

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

"We look at the young Bill Gates and marvel that our world allowed that thirteen-year-old to become a fabulously successful entrepreneur. But that's the wrong lesson. Our world only allowed one thirteen-year-old unlimited access to a time-sharing terminal in 1968. If a million teenagers had been given the same opportunity, how many more Microsofts would we have today? To build a better world we need to replace the patchwork of lucky breaks and arbitrary advantages that today determine success - the fortunate birth dates and the happy accidents of history - with a society that provides opportunities for all. If Canada had a second hockey league for those children born in the last half of the year, it would today have twice as many adult hockey stars. Now multiply that sudden flowering of talent by every field and profession. The world could be so much richer than the world we have settled for."

Please do not consider the following thoughts as criticism of this book. I loved this book; mainly for the reason it intrigued me and made me think. 

How many Microsofts would we have today? My question is how many Microsofts can we have...is their room for more than one, two, or three? That is a tough question to answer because it is hard to grasp was has not been invented and what had the potential to be invented but never came to fruition. If there were more than one Microsoft is there the potential of not having one be as successful as Microsoft?

I agree with opportunity for all, especially from an educational standpoint. I believe that everyone should have access to the same/best education. However, I believe in having a variety of resources (translated: enough different resources so that everyone can find something that suits them) but that each resource be somewhat limited as to weed out the try-ers and the passerby-ers. A second hockey league may result in twice as many adult hockey PLAYERS...but stars? Isn't it already tough enough to make it to a professional level? There would have to be multiple professional leagues to accommodate all these young hopefuls. But is it possible to have two professional leagues that are equally successful?

I think that the solution explained in the quoted paragraph could, in the extreme circumstances, result in one of two situations: communism or cannibalism. By communisim I mean that everyone will have a piece of the pie i.e. there will be multiple Microsofts but not one as successful as Microsoft. By cannibalism I mean competition will be so intense that it will turn into "kill or be killed" i.e. twice as many adult hockey stars and one professional league.

Oysters in Corona del Mar, CA

Cocktail:

Effen Up - Black Cherry Vodka, lime juice, vanilla and maybe something else 

Starters:

Tobiko Oysters with wasabi infused caviar

Thai Spiced Crab Cakes

Sashimi Tower 

Wedge salad with some sort of ginger/ranch dressing

Main:

Swordfish with some sweet tasting rice 

My Thoughts:

The oysters were too small and the avocado was not ripe enough for the sashimi tower. I was so obsessed with how tasty the rice was that I barely noticed the swordfish. My Effen Up was pretty good. 

Stella's Cafe in Corona del Mar, CA

Starters:

Garlic Bread - the flatbread kind with olive oil and fresh parmesan cheese

Salad: 

Raspberry Salad - super fresh raspberries, goat cheese, and an amazing raspberry vinaigrette

Main:

Margherita Calzone - tomato, basil, olive oil, and fresh mozzarella wrapped in homemade dough

My Thoughts:

Love it, love it, want it, want it...going back back for more. I need to remember to call ahead and order their salad dressings to go (by the pint.) Everything is homemade and organic at this tiny little cafe. I hear there is a larger Stella's with a lounge down in Monarch Beach. 

Polina Solernos Restaurant in Laguna Beach, CA

Cocktail:

Too much red wine (you will soon see the result)

Starter:

Green salad with homemade Italian Dressing

Main:

Orange Chicken Marsala

My Thoughts:

This is a great hole in the wall-ish Italian joint. I was very hesitant to order the marsala because I hate mushrooms. However, I was very curious to taste their unique version of chicken marsala. After the waitress gave it some rave reviews, I said...when in Rome. The Orange Chicken Marsala was fantastic. It was so good I ate more than I ever have of one dish (as I will prove to you in the below video...I apologize for my nasally voice and really bad hair day.)

 

Hush in Laguna Beach, CA

Starters:

Oysters on the Half Shell

Maine Lobster Macaroni and Cheese

Main:

"Georges Bank" Day Boat Scallops with stir-fry rice noodles

Dessert:

Chocolate Molten Cake

My Thoughts:

My favorite (other than the oysters) was the Main Lobster Macaroni and Cheese....it was so rich but not too rich. A very good restaurant...the bread they gave you with drinks was sooo good. I am looking forward to going back but sitting on their patio overlooking the ocean. I had a great martini (probably the best I have had in Laguna Beach) but I can't remember what it was. 

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

"The first thing to understand about nutritionism is that it is not the same thing as nutrition. As the "-ism" suggests, it is not a scientific subject but an ideology. Ideologies are ways of organizing large swaths of life and experience under a set of shared but unexamined assumptions. This quality makes an ideology particularly hard to see, at least while it's still exerting its hold on your culture. In the case of nutritionism, the widely shared but unexamined assumption is that the key to understanding food is indeed the nutrient. Put in another way: Foods are essentially the sum of their nutrient parts. 

This brings us to another unexamined assumption of nutritionism: that the whole point of eating is to maintain and promote bodily health. [This assumption] is not shared by all cultures and, further, that the experience of these other cultures suggests that, paradoxically, regarding food as being about things other than bodily health - like pleasure, say, or sociality or identity - makes people no less healthy; indeed, there's some reason to believe it may make them more healthy." - Page 28

I couldn't agree more