Pear and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese

Last night I had a girlfriend over for a long overdue 'catch-up session.' I made the below recipe for us, which was perfect for a crisp San Diego fall night. I used in-season produce that were locally bought- the Pears came from Julian and the Pumpkin from Encinitas. Originally from Food and Wine magazine, I altered the recipe to my taste. It was delicious and light, and I will definitely make it again!

Ingredients

Dressing:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (or mix in some water for a healthy alternative)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Salad:
arugula
pears (Asian pears if they are available)- peeled, cored and very thinly sliced
salted roasted pumpkin seeds
fresh goat cheese, crumbled

chicken, cubed
Sea salt, for sprinkling

Directions

In a pan, saute chicken with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic salt. Once cooked, set aside. Place pear slices in the same pan, turning until cooked.

In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil with the lemon juice, honey and chopped thyme. Season the salad dressing with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, toss the arugula with the pear slices, chicken and goat cheese. Add the dressing and toss well. Top with the pumpkin seeds, sprinkle lightly with sea salt and serve right away.

La Jolla: My Own Space & Bourgie Lamp

This past weekend, I made excellent time driving to La Jolla for an afternoon of pampering with the girls, and ended up in the Cove 30 minutes early.  I decided to wander up Girard Avenue, and do a little (window) shopping.  I noticed a lot of new clothing boutiques that have opened up, and was surprised to see the hip restaurant/lounge Jack's was closed!  

But majority of my time was spent in My Own Space (MOS), a San Diego contemporary furniture and accessories boutique.  The long open floor space is staged with the pieces from their unique collection, which are intended to provide ideas and inspiration.  The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, eager to help pull together your own space.  

I was immediately drawn to the Kartell Bourgie Lamp.  Designed by Ferruccio Laviani, this polycarbonate lamp is a spin on the classic baroque table lamp.  Composed of three decorative layers, the lamp's height is adjustable and comes in crystal, black or chrome.  I personally like the transparency of the crystal.  

Park Planter

Artist, Tristan Zimmermann's Park Planters are a creative and witty twist to the traditional planter.  The intent is to frame the plant, removing it from a generic household plant to a scene in a larger park (hence the porcelain lid).  The white porcelain pieces come in 4 design themes, the shady transactions that go down after dark in a park.   Small figures adorn the lid, including a lost salesman, a mugger, a gay couple and a flasher.  With a little ounce of humor, the park is brought inside.  

The Park Planters can be found online at Charles + Marie (which also carries an array of other great finds), or locally in San Diego at Grounded in Encinitas. $100

Yard Sales

For those looking to score a great bargain, dig through bins on a sunny Saturday morning, stroll around with a fresh coffee.... this website could be the new beginning of planning those weekend morning yard sale adventures.  Yard Sale Treasure Map is an interactive website that allows you to put in your location (San Diego, 92101, etc), the item(s) you are searching for, and then it maps out all the yard sales and the best routes.  I have yet to try it out, but perhaps that will change this weekend.....

NOOD: New Objects Of Desire

I love Mixture in San Diego, and I think I found its twin in Christchurch, a store called Nood.  Nood (New Objects of Desire) is a  design oriented store that is stocked full of contemporary furniture, textiles and gadgets.  With predominantly Danish designers, the furniture is sleek and the lighting is modular, and the whole store is flash of bright color.  I was particularly drawn to the Le Corbusier influenced chaise lounge in stainless steel and pony-skin leather.  It was very comfortable and stylish.  Too bad it was 25.5 kgs (airlines in NZ charge significantly for baggage over 23 kgs) and $3K- otherwise it would have been the perfect souvenir!  

Delicious NZ Honey: J.Friend And Co.

Who knew honey could be so tasty?  Who knew it was a craft, like winemaking?  And who knew it could be paired strategically with specific cheeses?  I sure didn't.  That is until my recent trip to New Zealand.  I was introduced to J.Friend and Co honeys, and I wish I could have brought some back to the States with me.  J.Friend and Co is an organic honey producer that works with artisan beekeepers, using resources from the NZ landscape, resulting in a range of boutique honeys in a variety of flavors.  Each honey is as unique as its floral source, with a complex balance of components.  Flavors include:Wild Thyme, Beachwood Honeydew, Blue Borage, etc.  Paired with NZ cheeses, this honey is amazing.  We had the pleasure of indulging in this heavenly treat!  And, it doesn't hurt that the packing design is attractive too!