restaurant design

through my m+m (mangia & mingle) posts, i highlight the design of establishments (mostly local to southern california), and include a fair amount of restaurants (also capturing their cuisine).  design can set the tone, draw the crowd, and echo the essence of the food served within.  it's fascinating all the elements that go into planning the interior space, as it'll inevitably provide the first impression to customers long before they are served a meal or take a sip of their drink.
this thursday, the AIGA idea series presents restaurant design at the neurosciences institute in la jolla (10640 john hay hopkins drive) from 5:30-8:30pm.  featuring three local restaurant designers (micheal soriano from onairos design, paul basile of basile studio and barbara rourke from bells & whistles), they will present recent projects and hold a moderated speaking panel.  but before the panel begins, they will have a "chef-off" and "mix-off" between local restaurants so that everyone can experience the branding that they achieve to establish.  it should be a great night of discussion and perspective!

avocado, edamame & quinoa salad

image megan.christine

flipping through february's in style magazine, i found a feature on spices.  it included a recipe from chef yotam ottolenghi (ironically my friend made his tofu & brussels sprouts this past weekend, which was amazing).  below is my tweaked version of his avocado, fava & quinoa salad.  i ate it for lunch and it was easy, filling and delicious!  

* cook 1 cup quinoa, set aside

* microwave 1 lb frozen edamame (shelled), set aside

* in a large bowl, mix juice of 2 lemons and 2 thinly sliced avocado

* add quinoa, edamame, 2 minced garlic cloves, a handful of chopped basil, a handful of sliced radishes (my grocer did not have them today), 1 tbsp cumin, 1/4 tsp red pepper chili flakes, drizzle of olive oil, s&p to taste.

* toss gently and serve

leap

image from a facebook post

happy leap day!  strive to make the most out of this "extra day!"

factoid (as learned from orgegonlive.com):
even though leap year occurs every 4 years, there is an exception to the rule.  it is not observed on years divisible by 100, unless they are also divisible by 400.  for example 2100 is not a leap year, but 2000 was.

a morning in santa monica

images megan.christine

i went up to santa monica to visit one of my best friends.  with both of us being early risers, sunday found us wandering around town at the crack of dawn.  looking back i realize just how much we did in one morning.  it was nice to explore, just next time hopefully more will be open!

santa monica farmers market: pick up fresh produce, eat street food with fine presentation, support the local artisan, and enjoy the petting zoo of farm animals

main street: a block away from the beach, shops (like weego baby & weego home), restaurants & bars.  very local feel.

m street kitchen: hip restaurant that always has a crowd, sleek modern interior & delicious food.  for breakfast try the farmers market root vegetable hash with lemon aioli and poached eggs (light & flavorful)

montana avenue: (7th to 17th) stroll on the tree lined street, which runs all the way to the beach, and stop into the many shops & restaurants

yogaworks: awesome yoga studio (los angeles & orange county), check out carolina goldberg's vinyasa flow (2/3) in santa monica, it was incredible

big . bowl . of . veggies

images megan.christine

life catches up with you.  between the holidays, traveling and socializing, it's easy to eat out, eat fast, and toss back some drinks.  i knew i needed to regroup and get back in my kitchen when i contemplated getting rockstar in bulk.  after talking with some of my girlfriends, i became even more aware that i wasn't alone.  supporting one of our friend's products, we decided to go on a cleanse to "revitalize healthy liver function" by eliminating certain foods and habits from our lives (temporarily).  i had done something similar years ago (although it wasn't a regimented plan with supplements) and found it extremely beneficial to how i felt.  since i maintain a generally healthy lifestyle, it's not difficult to adapt to the plan.  heavy on produce and non-processed food, i have pulled out some great old recipes and find that not much has changed to the way i usually cook.  but what is pretty tough is the no coffee, wine, cheese or bread (the italian in me is crying).
for some of my favorite go-to recipes, i look to dietitian ellie krieger for tasty, healthy and easy meals.  this tuscan vegetable soup was quick, simple and full of flavor!

Terrific Tuscan Vegetable Soup

• One 15.5-ounce can cannellini or other small white beans, preferably low-sodium, drained and rinsed

• 1 Tb. olive oil• ½ large onion, diced (about 1 cup)• 1 medium carrot, diced (about ½ cup)• 2 stalks celery, diced (about ½ cup)• 1 small zucchini (about ½ pound), diced (about 1½ cups)• 1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 tsp.)• 1 Tb. chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried• 2 tsps. chopped fresh sage or ½ tsp. dried• ½ tsp. salt, plus more to taste• ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste• 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth• One 14.5-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with their juices• 2 ounces baby spinach leaves (2 cups lightly packed), chopped• 1/3 cup freshly grated 1/3 Parmesan cheese (optional)

In a small bowl, mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon; set aside.

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil.

Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves; cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more.

                                       Serve topped with the Parmesan, if desired.  

wash it away

image monique williams

today was stormy in southern california.  along the coast spurts of rain showers passed quickly and were mixed with the peeking sun.  i watched the clouds dance in the sky for much of the afternoon from my cardiff perch.  a storm can be quite soothing, as my friend, monique, captured in torrey pines beach.  needing a little monday re-setting herself, she went down to the beach and went out in the rain.  sometimes you just have to wash it all away.

candy for the feet

it is parisian, christian louboutin's, 20th anniversary as a revolutionary footwear designer.  with his distinctive red soles (which came to existence out of sheer accident), his shoes are the ultimate fashion, coveted by many.  he uses only the best quality in materials, and with the superb craftsmanship and talent to create imaginative shoes, how could you not want a pair!?

"these heels are candy for the feet; they're for please, not practicality." ~christian louboutin

if you decided you wanted to add to your own shoe collection, louboutins are sold in bergdorf goodman, select department stores and boutiques. below are a few of his designs and sketches that caught my eye.

images louboutin

m+m: snooze

image megan.christine

successful after our second attempt, we finally had the timing, patience and appetite to grab a bite at snooze in downtown denver.  this "am eatery" serves a breakfast and lunch menu that has earned quite an incredible reputation for delicious food, evident by the long line regardless of what day of the week it is, or the time.  but at least while you linger on the sidewalk or lounge under heat lamps (they are flipping hot), sometimes for up to hours, you can sip on a fresh cup of coffee or enjoy one of their many adult beverages.  we chose fresh squeezed grapefruit drinks, including the hound dog (like a greyhound) with citrus vodka, grapefruit juice and a touch of raspberry liqueur.  the restaurant, which has 5 locations in colorado and 1 in california (san diego, hillcrest, 3940 5th avenue), has an energetic atmosphere that is pumped with loud music, a mid-century modern interior with bright colors, and lots of movement.  they deliver big tasty belly fillers, and with everything looking incredible, it's hard to choose just one.  on this occasion, i picked the bella!bella!benny.  if trying to recreate, it included: thin slices of prosciutto, taleggio cheese and poached eggs on toasted ciabatta, topped with cream cheese hollandaise, balsamic glaze and arugula.  as a side, they served perfectly crisped hash.  salty, shredded and browned on all edges, i wish i had enough room to devour the sweet and spicy potato mound.... but at least i got to share it.

images snooze

corporate organics

images megan.christine

i returned from colorado to an empty refrigerator.  while the grocer is on today's long to-do list, i did find it quite easy to convince myself to stop in la jolla's university town center campus pointe complex to meet my friend for lunch at her office.  the newly revamped building is seeking LEED certification, and has directed focus to corporate responsibility.  within the campus setting, they share an amazing "cafeteria", fibonacci's, run by waters fine food, in collaboration with urban plantations.  not only is the food delicious, but a majority of the produce come from an organic garden that they maintain right outside the buildings.  it's quite brilliant.  keep your employees happy, healthy and they don't have to stray far for a good lunch, thus upping productivity and general attitude.  we filled our salad containers with kale, chard, and roasted root vegetables.  strolling over to the gardens we enjoyed an hour of sunshine in the grass, and got a wonderful break to the day!

geometry for the belly

 images hildebrand & kenedy

as i sat grazing on some appetizers last night after arriving in denver to visit family i noticed a cookbook on display across the kitchen.  void of color, the black and white shapes jumped off the cover and caught my eye.  the book, the geometry of pasta, is a collaboration between caz hildebrand and jacob kenedy.  hildebrand, a talented graphic designer, beautifully illustrated the shapes of italian pasta through black and white graphics.  the composition is artistically laid out throughout the pages, and almost dance around the recipes and writing by kenedy, owner of london's bocca di lupo.  inspired by the "italians' preoccupation with choosing the right pasta to go with the right sauce," the book includes an inventory of pastas, organized by shape "pastas a-z."  each section includes the history, evolution and best use of each pasta.  pasta varies across italy, and kennedy captures the philosophy behind the recipes.  with over 100 authentic recipes and an index of sauces, flipping through the pages ignites your appetite.  one of my favorite dishes is cavatelli con salsiccia e broccoletti (broccoli rabe and sausage).  the recipe below reminds me of a similar dish i had years ago at trattoria i trulli (in encinitas), in which they use orecchiette pasta.  i have recreated this many times (often using broccoli, instead of broccoli rabe) and it's incredibly simple and delicious.  bon appetit! 

cavatelli con salsiccia e broccoletti 

1 recipe "2 finger" cavatelli

1 small bunch (3/4 lb-1 lb) broccoli rabe

1/2 lb italian sausage, skin removed, crumbled

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

6 tablespoons of EVOO

3/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

grated pecorino, to serve

put the pasta to boil. in a separate pot boil the trimmed broccoli rabe in well salted water (3-4 minutes).  put the crumbled sausage, garlic and oil in a pan, and fry over medium heat until starting to colour - break the meat up with a spoon as much as you can. add the red pepper flakes, then a few seconds later the drained broccoli rabe.  saute briefly, seasoning with salt and pepper, adding a little pasta water and allowing to bubble down.  now add the drained pasta with a few more teaspoons of water.  cook together for a minute, and serve with grated pecorino.  

m+m: underbelly

images megan.christine

the weather was rather nasty yesterday in san diego, and with the rain and strong breeze, the cool temperatures felt even chillier.  i went to meet a friend for lunch and knowing that i wanted something warm, we decided it would be a great time to try underbelly, the japanese ramen bar in little italy.  in a tiny space (~1,000 sq feet), part of an incredible jonathan segal glass building on kettner & fir in the heart of little italy, the minimalist interior (by studio number one, mauricio couturier, and paul basile) is brought to life by a giant succulent wall bearing the image of mao zedong (by black lotus floral).  the space fills up fast, and thankfully the glass walls double as tabletops, as they fold down blending the indoor and outdoor space to expand the establishment.  the flow of fresh air and exposure to the elements would on any other day in san diego be perfect, but with the current weather i had to keep on my jacket and wavered between a craft brew or a hot tea (hopefully they will solve this winter dilemma, perhaps add some ceiling heaters).  rumor has it that they are expanding the space into the upstairs and will also include a patio, to all be completed in the summer of 2012.  underbelly is a creation of arsulan tafazoll and nathan stanton, and the duo already has some incredible downtown restaurants under their belt; neighborhood, craft & commerce, noble experiment, and el dorado.  it lived up to it's expectations, with a large selection of local and international beers (the gold taps are all unmarked) and the small japanese menu is heavy on pork and vegetables.  we opted to start with the shrimp gyoza (shrimp, shitake, asparagus and scallions), and both got the vegetable ramen (truffle oil, shitake, hon shimeji oyster mushroom, enoki, white asparagus, topped with bean sprouts, ginger, scallions, seaweed and sesame seeds).  while the plates were on the smaller side (they simply wet your palette), the house ramen is a healthy portion.  they don't serve the ramen with spoons, and after you've retrieved the "goodies" with your chopsticks, the only option to finish the dish is to pick up the bowl and slurp away (which is encouraged).  just as the space is expanding, so is the menu.  they plan to add oysters and japanese whiskey, proving that these guys know how to capitalize on a niche market.  underbelly has done an incredible job with a difficult space and a unique menu.  i will surely be returning.

although they list most of the ingredients on the menu, i thought i'd look into making some homemade japenese ramen myself and found this recipe.  i have yet to try it, but it looks relatively easy and healthy.

sprouted kitchen, cookbook

sara forte, of the sprouted kitchen blog, is now sharing her foodie talent in paper and ink, with her new cookbook, the sprouted kitchen: a tastier take on whole foods, due out september 2012. (pre-order here from amazon).  sara's blog captures some of her delicious and healthy recipes, with visually appealing photographs by her husband, hugh (of hugh forte photography).  when i was going through one of my 'veggie kicks,' i made a lot of her dishes, all which were full of flavor.  so, since i am in the mood to cook this afternoon, i was looking for something with warmth (it's a little chilly today in san diego) and decided on her black bean and butternut soup.  in the spirit of the lovely valentine's holiday, it may be worth picking out a recipe for dinner as well.  as the proverb says, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  although dining out can be pretty enjoyable too, and there aren't dishes to clean up!

images sprouted kitchen

BLACK BEAN + BUTTERNUT SOUP // Serves 4-6

Some of my measurements are pretty vague, but in a stew-like soup, perfection is not necessary. Taste as you go, add more spice if necessary but beware that both chipotle and cayenne are SPICY, so start small. You can cook your beans from scratch or used canned for the sake of time. 

1 Tbsp. coconut or extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 a small head of cabbage, chopped (heaping 2 cups)
3 cups cubed butternut squash (sweet potato would be good too)
3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cocoa powder
pinch of chipotle powder or cayenne pepper
2 cups cooked, black beans (about one can, rinsed and drained)
salt to taste

avocado, for garnish
cilantro, for garnish

// tortilla crispies //
3 corn tortillas
scant 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. sea salt


In a heavy bottomed pot, warm the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until just beginning to brown, about 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic, cabbage, squash and broth. Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer, cover the pot and cook for about 15-20 minutes for the vegetables to cook.
Add the spices and the beans and stir. Let everything continue to cook another ten minutes for the flavors to blend. Salt to taste. At this point, I did a few pulses with my immersion blender through the soup, because I wanted to thicken up the broth a bit. This is optional, but makes it seem a bit thicker. You could alternatively, run just a bit of the soup through a blender or food processor, and add it back in to the pot. OR a sprinkle of cornmeal will help thicken it as well.

For the tortilla crispies, preheat the oven to 375'. Stack them and slice into thin matchsticks. Spread on a baking sheet, dirzzle with the oil, sprinkle the salt and toss gently to coat. Spread them in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes until they are light brown and crispy, giving the pan a shake halfway through.

Garnish each both with some diced avocado, a handful of chopped cilantro and some of the tortilla crispies! A sprinkle of goat cheese would be quite nice as well.

happy hearts

images from cards received (snow&graham and carlton)

happy heart day.  while i tend to believe that this hallmark holiday is wildly overrated and not nearly as genuine as expressing love daily, it is a nice excuse to remind those that you love that you do love them.  whether it's near or far, a simple gesture can bring a smile.

m+m: ace (palm springs)

images megan,christine

roughly two hours inland from both san diego and los angeles, palm springs is the perfect place for a quick getaway.  the sunny dry weather and seclusion have been drawing in people since the 1920's.  i recently met a girlfriend in palm springs to capitalize on some much needed rest & relaxation, and we booked a room at the desert resort, the ace hotel and swim club.  nestled below the san jacinto mountains along east palm canyon drive, the resort was close enough to ride a bike or scooter (which they have available) into town, or removed enough to get lost in the tranquil property.  the los angeles based firm, commune, redesigned an old howard johnson, creating an affordable boutique hotel that would appeal to the style seeking traveler.  with two pools, pumping mellow beats and cooled by giant sun shades, it's easy to kick back and sip on one of their many specialty cocktails and enjoy a bite from the poolside bar, the short bus.  the resort also takes advantage of indoor/outdoor living and has fireplaces surrounded by lounge furniture in both public spaces, as well as on the first floor private patios (the ceramic detailing is by artist stan bitters).  

the ace hotel started in 1999 with three partners in seattle, and have since opened locations in portland, new york, palm springs and upcoming in los angeles.  the style and furnishing of each of the properties is unique and is intended to be a reflection of the specific location.  they also look to re-imagine challenged and distressed properties, breathing new life into places like a halfway house or an old motel.

rhino art

images megan.christine

high above encinitas boulevard, along the pacific highway by moonlight beach, sits a nondescript cement building that i recently learned houses the rhino art company.  opened in 1994, this independent locally owned and operated art supply shop has excellent products at competitive prices.  the sun drenched space is filled with supplies, books, cards and miscellaneous funky products.  the store also doubles as a gallery, with original works displayed along the interior walls.  the staff is friendly and accommodating, and having direct experience in the arts themselves, it's great to be able to compare and discuss with a knowledgeable source.  having discovered this local gem, i will happily bypass the chain arts & crafts stores from now on.

m+m: prep kitchen (little italy)

images megan.christine

"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces, just good food from fresh ingredients."

Julia Child

in 2008 a talented chef and a culinary school drop out came together and created whisknladle hospitality, which spawned whisknladel restaurant in la jolla.  named after a brooklyn underground supper club, the restaurant is actually honoring that tradition by hosting supper clubs every 2nd and last wednesday of the month.  in order to offer the same great food, but at a less expensive price and a more relaxed setting, the group opened prep kitchen.  quickly prep kitchen became a neighborhood spot, serving artisinal, seasonal and handcrafted food.  they make most of their food from scratch or take a farm to table approach, and when needed, they will source a specific item. after expanding into del mar (i enjoyed this place a fair amount over the past year, especially their outdoor patio), they have opened their third prep kitchen in little italy in downtown san diego.  the largest of the restaurants, it boasts a dining room, full bar and lounge.  given the scene in the area, the long high-top communal farm tables in the lounge are the perfect setting for social gatherings and happy hours.  with food and drink specials from 4-7pm daily, as well as a $3.50 all night tapas menu, it's a great place to go for great food and not put a dent in your wallet.