Great Runs, Sick Plays, Perfect Days

I'm just going to cut to the chase. Superbowl Sunday is famous for many things. Unparalleled commercial creativity, a ridiculous halftime show, football world championship, and my favorite: the food.

I just did a post about my friend Michelle's amazing talent for cooking... but I'm going to brag once again. Driving up to Los Feliz, I couldn't help but hype up the spread we were about to feast on to both my boyfriend, David, and my friend Krit. But nothing, NOTHING, could have prepared me for the amount of food I would see prepared throughout the day.

Below is just a fraction of the dishes to which our palates were privvy:

 Turkey Sandwiches

 Guacamole in Avacado Cups with Shrimp

Tangy Ribs

Buffalo Wings and Sweet Chili Wings (Michelle did I say that right?)

And as if all of the above wasn't more than enough, our hostess accommodated special requests for international dishes as well. Before halftime, I went into the kitchen and noticed that Michelle was cutting potatoes. When I asked her what she was doing, she said she was making a dish specific to Montreal for a couple of our friends who had tried it before. 

I then watched her fry the potatoes and season them with salt, then put pieces of cheese curd, imported from Montreal, on top of the fries and slather it all with a classic French gravy. It turned out to be my favorite of the day!:

Dish of Amazingness.

Hostess Michelle with Nachos Supreme!

While the food was certainly a highlight, I couldn't help but excuse myself to take some photos of her lovely home:

To sum up, the food was phenomenal, the home was immaculate, and the game was certainly worth the wait. The absolute BEST part of the day though? The people I got to share it all with.

 Tip: For those of you whose days off are few and far between, make sure the days you can take for yourself are fun, memorable and spent with the people you love. (Oh, and stop feeling guilty. You deserve it!)

It's Certainly Not ALL About The Cake.

My friend Jo and I decided to grab lunch before I headed out to do the not-so-glamourous part of my job (dropping letters off at doorsteps... fun!) We decided to meet at What a Dish/It's All About the Cake since it's right along the DP Harbor next to my office. We made friends a couple months back with the owners of the bakery, Jordan and Alex, who are brother and sister and incredibly business savvy.


Jordan runs What A Dish, the restaurant and catering realm of the business, while Alex runs It's All About the Cake, which is of course, the bakery.


If you're looking for the perfect place to grab lunch with a girlfriend, this place has the most adorable ambiance and incredible food! It's All About the Cake sits adjacent to the harbor, far enough where you can enjoy the sun and close enough where you can smell the ocean.

Jo and I enjoyed refreshing, unsweetened iced tea and I had my ritual cringe as I dropped in a packet of Splenda.

Unsweetened Iced Tea

For lunch we both had the Croque Monsieur de Jour recommended by our server, with a nice cup of chicken tortilla soup. I've got to say, I don't normally expect much out of tortilla soup because it generally tastes the same, but this soup was incredibly delectable! In this cup was nothing but freshness. Tomatoes, tiny rizotto, tender chicken, and crunchy tortilla chips. The best part? It's spicy!

The Croque Monsieur was also a delight. The tomatoes, though softened, had amazing seasoning and the bread had the perfect combination of crunchy outer shell and moist inner body. 

Croque Monsieur De Jour with Chicken Tortilla Soup

By the time we were finished, our plates had nothing but a few crumbs and the toothpicks from the sandwich. Stuffed as we were, we knew we couldn't leave without dessert. So, we went inside and picked from their wonderful selection of cupcakes and brownies, and landed on this: 

Petit Fours with Lemon and Raspberry Filling

I will let you imagine what kind of heaven the inside of these cute little cakes brought us. Now, I will be the first to admit that I am not as much into the fondant as I am into more creamy frosting, but these petit fours were the perfect way to end a wonderful winter lunch. 


Oh, but I can't forget the most adorable part! My little friend below... her name is Kisses!

Kisses

Our server was such a treat, she gave Kisses one! She also brought out a bowl of water so large she could have bathed in it. So, Kisses was in little doggie heaven while Jo and Auntie Kristle enjoyed their own scrumptious meal. We will definitely be going back!

Tip: Make friends with restaurant owners as often as possible and bring them new business... who knows, you may get a free cupcake out of it! Au Revoir :)

Sara Flynn Photography

The Mission

I don't know how my Dad does it, but he can cook ANYTHING in the span of oh... ten minutes! My mission? Learn how to do it. Today I came home for lunch, and he had this feast waiting on the table. I know it didn't take him long because there are perpetually five different sports shows recording on our DVR for his viewing pleasure. Check out what he "whipped up" for us:

Medium Rare Top Sirloin

Pan-friend Sea Bass and Jumbo Shrimp with Cilantro

Butter-Roasted Corn and Green Beans

RIGHT?!

The food was quite phenomenal. I kept thinking, how much would this cost at a restaurant? More than I could afford for an everyday lunch that's for sure. These times call for buck-stretching and penny-pinching for even the most major necessities: food, clothing, and shelter. So, I'm determined to find the best opportunities out there when it comes to all of the above. (Oh, and I may sprinkle in some not-so inexpensive things every now and then. Hey, I'm still an OC girl at heart!)


Tip: Let Dad cook you lunch once in awhile! He'll get ten minutes of exercise an you'll save ten bucks :)