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| Song of the Day
每種配料都有它的提味效果…即使原本再不起眼…不重用…集合起來都會是完美的味覺…缺一不可…
不管是朋友還是情人…總有互補或相互牴觸的地方..但只要互相體諒…便能散發最美的芬芳...
 Last Thursday, we made dinner (almost) from scratch. The following photos represented the various shots I took while W prepared the Thanksgiving Dinner. The photos will tell the whole story....
First, we began with the pumpkin pie. We found this precious can of pumpkin mix at the FOURTH grocery store, the first three places were all sold out!
Then, the pie dough was prepared and prepped onto the pie pan, and then baked....
  
Pumpkin Pie - The ingredients for the pie mix, all added into the mixing bowl, stirred until the texture and color were even...
 
The stirred mixture will be poured into the crust, and then baked for 50 minutes...
 
Cranberry sauce - Wash the fresh cranberries, and then boil in water, adding a cup of orange juice and sugar. Stir and heat until pasty.
 
 
Mashed Potatoes - boil the chopped potatoes until soft, then add butter and milk. Mash the potatoes until the texture is smooth....
  
We have fresh Brussels sprout, and they are still buds on the stalk...
 
After washing, boil the sprouts for a few minutes. Also, saute the Pancetta...
 
Mix the sprouts with the Pancetta, cook for a couple of minutes and then add chicken broth...
Ingredients for turkey stuffing...
Saute the chopped celery and onions....
 
And then, mix them with croutons. Add mix with chicken stock and walnuts until the croutons are soft but not soggy. Then bake for 60 minutes at 425F...
 
This is ready to be stuffed...
We cooked Cornish hens instead of a turkey. Stuff the little hens with the stuffing mix, and then tied up with strings. Bake in the oven for 60 minutes at 425F....
  
Cornish hens ready to eat....
Dinner is ready on the table....
 
Voilà! The finished product...
Usually, I would pair the meal with a white varietal, but really want to finish this bottle of Chateau St. Jean because it had been in storage for almost ten years. The pumpkin has a good texture and goes well with the vanilla ice cream....
 
The entire course took almost seven hours to prepare, excluding numerous trips to the grocery stores. The total cost was reasonable at approximately US$90, considering how much leftovers we had. The Brussels sprouts only cost us $3 even with such an enormous package! It was a delicious meal after all and we'd not hesitate to do it again (with a larger bird) on the next festival!
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| Song of the Day
時光隧道...
是否穿越了這裡.....就能夠回到過往的美好時光呢?
It was a hectic week, the auditors are doing an annual review of my company, therefore, I have been spending a good part of last week stuck in the office. During the weekend, I dragged W out of the house and we drove thirty miles west of Los Angeles to Simi Valley , where the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is located. The main purpose of the visit is to view the Presidential airplane Air Force One, which was used by six other presidents from 1973–2001. I was under the impression that the plane is quite spacious, after watching the Harrison Ford movie with the same name. But the actual aircraft is a much smaller Boeing 707 and certain features of the film's plane do not reflect the actual Air Force One. Well, it's all Hollywood glamour, I suppose.
The plane was retired in 2001. Boeing, the plane's original manufacturer, disassembled the plane and transported it to the library in pieces. After the construction of the foundation of the hanger/pavilion itself, the plane was reassembled and restored to museum quality, as well as raised onto pedestals twenty-five feet above ground. As you can see, there's also a gift shop and a small restaurant on the ground level...
No cameras are allowed inside the plane. It was like a walk through time, with 1980's era furnishings...
A large piece of the Berlin Wall on display...
 
Inside the museum, there are thousands of items on exhibit, I'll spare my readers those dull presidential campaign and Republican propaganda photos. Instead, here is President Reagan's childhood kitchen which I found interesting. Life was simple back then...
The final resting place...
Have not blogged about food for a while, but that doesn't imply I am on hunger strike. As a matter of fact, there is a whole clout of foodie porn to be posted in the near future. I just need to take an extended holiday from work to accomplish this task. W and I have tried this eatery, Animal, a couple of times. The food here is quite interesting because the menu items keep on changing based on the seasonal availability of the ingredients. The location of this restaurant is nondescript to say the least. There is no signage, the eatery is tucked neatly between Canter's and Schwartz's on one of LA's busiest kosher districts, up the way from the Farmers Market. Inside the restaurant, décor is minimal and boasts not much more than warm white walls, exposed lightbulb fixtures, simple wooden tables (with lining) on both sides of the room and a little bar area at the back. Oh, the menu, is just simplicity in practice...
First course is a simple tossed salad with lettuce, beets, avocado, pita, feta, and creamy sumac...
You really have to try the "pig's ear", thinly sliced and lightly fried to a crisp, served tossed with some chilis and topped with a fried egg making for the perfect balance of texture and flavor, savory and sweet.
Duck confit, dressed with dates, pecan, arugula, apple slices in a sherry vinaigrette...
Flat iron steak with artichoke hash and truffle parmesan fondue...
Tres leches, dulce de leche - sweet condensed milk sponge cake...
We did not order any alcoholic drinks, the final tab was about $40 per person, including service charge. It was certainly not a bargain meal but was very delicious. The food is on the exotic side, although this is not the first time I have tried pig's ears. The tres leches cake for dessert was perfect, not overly sweet, the creamy topping was an icing on the cake. Our service was quick. Since we shared everything, I was impressed with how fast they changed out our plates and silverware. The staff was pleasant, very knowledgeable about the menu and had excellent recommendations. Next time, we've got to try the 'Foie Gras Loco Moco' which comes with quail egg and spam.
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| Song of the Day
這一生中有幾位會讓你回頭望的人, 想必這是一位很重要的人...
在每一次的道別後, 我總會再回頭望, 看你走了之後我才會往前看...
十一月的天空多麼清晰, 透明的空氣, 就像是過去的承諾…
抬頭看…就是藍天…我寫下了風景…
It was a pleasant November day. I finished "work at home" earlier than expected, a hike to the Hollywood Sign would be a good way to shed a few pounds. The trail/road leading to the hill top is up the street nearby, I just need to walk out of my front door and start the walk uphill. I brought along a bottle of water, house keys and camera. That's all!!
From a distance looking up towards the hill top, the Sign painted in catchy white color; with communication antennas next to it.....
It's a long and winding trail going up and up, just follow the white picket fence....
At this point, not even halfway to destination yet, just have to keep on walking up the hill...
Along the way, catching a glimpse of the Griffith Park Observatory (white structure on the left) and Downtown Los Angeles....and yes, it was a smoggy day, the city covered in a shroud of haze....
Hawks circling above...
I finally reached the top (15 minutes later)....
The sign says...
Went up on a small ridge situated behind the road, the view is better up here...
Looking westbound, the tall buildings in Century City and Beverly Hills (right) are almost covered in a shroud of smog...
About time to head back...
(The weblog below is inspired by this entry by agmhkg "Hong Kong Phenomenon" - spoiled HK 'children')
My childhood friend K paid me a visit from London. Wait! Not so fast, is he suppose to be flying from Hong Kong?
K: "I have a flat in London, where I spend a couple of months every year, mostly during the Summer."
Me: "Okay, that's nice. What brings you to L.A.?"
K: "Oh, my place is being painted and I need to get away from the remodeling. I also have to take care of some business matters here in LA. Will be leaving in a couple of days."
We were having this conversation in Musha , sipping tea and munching over Tofu Salad, Edamame, Scallop Shumai, Ponzu Duck and their famous dish, Torched Saba. Before the dishes arrived at our table, K has already summoned the waiter a number of times for...."Get me a glass of water, without any ice cubes please." and also..."Get us two extra pairs of chopsticks please."...and more of...."Can we have an extra plate please."...and also..."Get us some more napkins please."
Gee....I have never asked for so many favors at this place.
K: "Hope you don't mind about getting spare chopsticks, Hong Kong style is very sanitary, we each need an extra pair of chopsticks for sharing food."
Me (thinking): "That's alright. You must think I'm not 'clean' enough to dine with you."
At some point during the meal, he said,"As you know, my dad passed away earlier this year, and (short pause)…he's lucky to have me and mom to take care of him. Now, I'm starting to realize what will happen to me when I die. I'd like to have someone (like a son or daughter) to take care of my 'business' when I passed on. I want to get married, have a wife and kids, so that when I kick the bucket, I'll have a family around my death bed."
Me: "That's quite forward thinking, K. But are you saying you want to start a family just for that?"
K: "Yeah, maybe I can do so with a surrogate mom. I just need a son to take good care of my burial."
K: "Oh, by the way, if you're not too busy tomorrow, would you drive me to the shops on Rodeo Drive? I'd like to check the place out."
Me: (thinking): "I think I'll be busy tomorrow. And I suppose there are other better reasons to start a family."
Torched Saba.
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| Song of the Day
好久沒有回去走熟悉的路…
那些逝去的淡去的曾經…
我想要有平靜的…簡單的…單純的日子…
我永遠都記得...為你寫下這些字句…
When I was a little kid, I love to tag along with my grandpa for Sunday afternoon tea. (You see, Hong Kong was a British Colony back then, and the British got to have their afternoon tea every so often, no matter what.) It was one of my highlights of the day. The other highlight was grandma offering me pocket money to buy toys. I remember when three o'clock came along, grandpa would dress up in his crisp shirt and khaki pants, sometimes adorning himself with a jacket and a wool fedora hat. Grandma would tease,"Are you going out on a date with a Shanghainese woman, huh?" There were so many wonderful memories of visiting my grandparents during the weekends. My grandma had six kids...SIX...she brought them up with her hair set and outfits pressed and WITHOUT going crazy. (Well, I suspect she may have some help from her live-in maids.)
And there were so many wonderful places for afternoon tea too. But the Holy Grail of them all was 'The Peninsula Hotel' , I would feel like I was in pastry heaven whenever we ate there. Usually, grandpa would just order black coffee. Then, he would ask me to pick any items from the menu. After all the food arrived at our table, grandpa would light up his cigar and puff it away. As for me, I would just dig into my ice-cream float or pastry and worked at it until nothing was left. And those were the days!
I will never regret spending time with my grandparents when I was younger. Mahjong ....then eating out with my all uncles, aunts and cousins....that's what I used to do when I went to visit them. I love grandma's cooking too(which I'll elaborate later). She would always cooked up the best "Lion's Head" (pork meatball) and many other dishes, until none of us could finish. My mom and her sisters would then pack up the leftovers, while the men just sat around the dinner table sipping nasty tasting black tea.
Well, that was then. Both of my grandparents have passed on, but the fond memories are still within me. Here in LA, I always seek out the eateries most similar to my childhood experiences. As I was at Scarlett's Tea Room in Old Town Pasadena, the decor and atmosphere reminded me of a certain restaurant back in Hong Kong, with their neatly placed table settings, crystal chandeliers and chinaware. W and I shared the "Scarlett's Tea Ceremony", which is a five course meal consisting of: 1.Signature Sorbet / 2.Homemade Scones / 3.Assorted Tea Sandwiches / 4.Assorted Petit Desserts / 5.Stawberries Romanoff. A small pot of tea is included as well.
The tea pot, cup and saucer, kind of traditional in style and not too fancy...
First up is the Sorbet, refreshes and cleanses the palate...
We ordered an extra dish - Scones with three sides of toppings: Lemon Curd, Scarlet Cream and Berry Preserves...
Sandwiches: Salmon and Chive Spread (left), Cucumber and Water Cress (right), Egg Salad & Fresh Tarragone (back right)...
French Ham and Provolone (left), Salmon and Chive Spread (right),
Petit Dessert: Scone, Sponge Cake and a small Chocolate...
The whole afternoon tea set...
Sipping English tea in a cozy place costs us (two persons) $43.95 plus service charge, which is by no means a bargain. Nevertheless, the experience brought back pleasant memories of lazy Sunday afternoons with grandpa. Except that this time around, it brought some minor pain to my wallet as well. (Many thanks to W for the lovely photography.)
When I strolled into 'Dean Sin World' restaurant , their appetizer dish, peanuts with fried nori (苔蓧), a Shanghainese delicacy, really made an impression on me. I thought it was my grandma doing the cooking, except her portions of nori would be much more generous. Fried potstickers, siao-lone-bao, "Lion's Head"(stewed pork meatballs), all cooked with that wholesome goodness which few other restaurants could achieve. The dishes have no fancy nor gourmet garnishes, just plain simple, like a home-cooked meal. The restaurant has a special 'open' corner where the cook prepare wontons and other dumplings from scratch. While we were halfway through our meal, Mrs.Lu (the woman who runs the joint) was stuffing meat into wonton wrappings, one by one, just like in a home kitchen. No doubt the food was prepared with TLC.
peanuts with nori (苔蓧). Similar to salted peanuts with crispy nori.
Fried pot stickers, filled with sumptuous meat and soupy juices...
Siao-lone-bao, kind of dry but tastier than Ding Tai Fung...
Sizes of the meatballs are literally as big as the lion's head, hence the dish "Stewed Lion's Head"...
The dish always comes with Chinese vermicelli and vegetables...
Dessert - fried sesame buns with red bean stuffing...
The dinner costs US$9 per person, which is reasonable by all means. It was a nostalgic meal with remnants of childhood Sundays, in each bite of roasted peanut. I will be paying another visit to grandma's kitchen pretty soon!
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| Song of the Day
牽著別人的手…
或者被別人牽著手...都沒關係…
只需要…有愛情的存在...
Last weekend, we were lazy to go out for breakfast. Since W bought a box of "Pumpkin Pancake & Waffle Mix" from Trader Joe's , he was very eager to try out the new recipe. Hence, I played the part of sous chef (plus photographer) and quickly brought out the frying pan and other utensils, prepping up the kitchen for the executive chef.
We followed the instructions printed on the box...pour the pancake mix into a large bowl...
Whisking together three eggs and 1.5 cups of milk. Add to the pancake mix and stir until smooth. Also, don't forget to mix in 2 teaspoons of melted butter...
If the batter seems too thick to pour, add a little more milk. I think we've got the right amount of thickness here...
Cook on a hot, greased griddle or frying pan, using about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until bubbly, a little dry around the edges, and lightly browned on the bottom...
Now turn and brown the other side...
W also made bacon and scrambled eggs...
 
Voilà...quickie breakfast is being served...
Oops...don't forget to add Maple Syrup and a cup of coffee...
 
Traces of cinnamon and pumpkin are very well mixed...
Growing up in Hong Kong, it's almost next to impossible to find a well-stocked zoo near where I live. The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens was the closest thing, with a good collection of birds, primates and reptiles; but the larger species such as giraffes and elephants were missing. Most of my zoo outing days were spent playing hide n' seek with my cousins within the zoo's gardens. After moving to LA, I was amazed by the wide varieties of animals which are being kept in the local zoos, especially here at the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park. Lately, I have become a 'member', the zoo was offering a one year membership for two persons at US$50; with unlimited entries and no black-out dates. The regular fee for single entry is US$13 per person. Sounds like a fair deal! For the next twelve months, I can go any day I like, checking out the signature attraction - the huge Gorilla Reserve. And of course, how could I resist the baby giraffes?
Smiley baby giraffe...
Adria...almost two stories tall...
Mr. Gorilla openly pleasuring himself, I need a video camera....
 
Caught this rather plump squirrel stealing food...
Jaguar...
Flamingoes...
We'll be back very soon!
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Lifetime
