On Behalf of Women Everywhere...

My goodness it's been a while!  I got a little bogged down with things, but I'm back!  Be prepared for a barrage of blogs in the draft folder to come out in the open (moths and all)!

Last week, I read *two articles in the LA Times about the tracks that Rihanna and Chris Brown are releasing together, along with some runoff from the Grammys and the controversy surrounding Brown.  I must say, I found myself fuming.  Not just with Brown (don't get me started on how I feel about him), but with Rihanna as well.

Now, I'm not a huge Rihanna fan to start with.  I enjoy a few of her songs, but mostly... she just doesn't do it for me.  When I heard she was rumored to be getting back with Chris Brown, even after what he did to her, I had to question her judgement a little.  Especially after being so public about the incident in the first place.

For those of you who have not read the disturbing details of Chris Brown's offense against Rihanna, I suggest you do so.  They can be found here.   I think this will help clarify my feelings on the subject.

My main issue with Rihanna is this: if you were going to be as public as you were, why would you get back together with him?  And not only that, but celebrate it for your birthday?  Effectively, you have set the Women's Movement back light years, by showing women that it is okay for your partner to beat you.  Congratulations.  You may say that you understand your decisions are selfish, but admitting it doesn't make them less selfish. 

A word about domestic violence and victims thereof:  it is my understanding that victims of domestic violence have a tendency to go back to their violent partners.  The bond is hard to break, and even worse, their violent partners have in some way (verbally or otherwise) convinced them that they are not worthy of anyone else, so they return because they would rather not be alone.  Or because they've been threatened.  Perhaps I take for granted that I am a strong willed woman who would never allow that kind of behavior to go unnoticed.  Or unpunished, if I can swing it.  Sorry, lay a hand on this girl, and you are dunzo. 

Going back to Rihanna, I suppose I'm disappointed that a woman with such a huge opportunity to speak out against domestic violence chose, instead, to retract all of her public statements by celebrating her reconciliation with her violent former partner.  Actions speak louder than words, RiRi, and you basically just retracted everything you previously said.  Perhaps a more effective use of your publicity would be to join hands with a foundation that fights against domestic violence.  Or start one.

I suppose my bottom line is that despite my less than enthusiastic appreciation for  Rihanna's music, I was thrilled that she was willing to speak out about her traumatic experience, but I am supremely disappointed by her public celebration of her reunion with Brown.

*For the curious... the two articles I read can be found here and here.

A Lovely Night...

Greetings Wonderers, and a happy belated Valentine's Day to you all!

In the event that this year I enjoyed my first Valentine's Day without using a euphemism for something more singles-oriented, I felt it was something so positive that I absolutely must post about it.  And I wanted to have a post or so between Eat Me! posts, which are piling up.

Curly, Twirly, and Very Girly!

So without further ado...

Anyone who knows me knows I am always looking for an excuse to dress up.  Lucky for me, that's something my boyfriend enjoys about me.  And even luckier, he arranges occasions where I can do just that.  For a combination celebration of Valentine's Day and my upcoming birthday, he took me out for a fancy dinner in West Hollywood.  The location was, of course, a secret.  He did at least give me the head's up that it was fancy, when I asked if I "had to wear a nice dress."  Just so we're clear... "do I have to wear a [nice] dress?" actually means "do I get to wear a [nice] dress?"

We had been staying at my godmother's apartment in Brentwood for the weekend for a little bit of much needed privacy.  I had cooked him dinner the night before - several courses, leading up to a manly meal of steak, potatoes, and green beans.  While he was at work the next day, I did the dishes, visited my aunt and Gamma, and dipped chocolate strawberries.  I wanted us to have a special moment alone after dinner with some champagne and the strawberries.  Truthfully I just wanted an excuse to buy - and drink - champagne.

I also spent about two and a half hours getting ready for the evening.  I even managed to successfully curl my hair!  So naturally, I had to take a picture to savor the moment.  I wish I had a picture of the two of us, dressed up all nice, but I don't. :(

I met him at his office, since he didn't get off until half an hour before our reservation.  We stashed his car in a parking garage and were on our way to the still undisclosed location,

Imagine my surprise, when we pulled up to The London Hotel.  I still had no idea where we were going, all I knew was that I really liked the driveway, which has archways covered in ivy.  We valeted the car, and wandered around the entrance before heading to the restaurant.  We walked past a little stand at the doorway which held a menu type flyer and two little words caused my mouth to drop open.  Gordon. Ramsay.  There will definitely be an Eat Me! post about this meal.

I took a picture of the menu because, as I told my man, it may be the only time I ever see the name Gordon Ramsay on a menu.  The meal was quite the marathon, leaving my body and my mouth at war with each other.  My body - now two pounds above the weight on my drivers license for the first time ever, and thereby almost 10 pounds lighter than I was at my birthday last year, thankyouverymuch - was saying "please, no more, I'm going to be physically ill."  My mouth, however, countered with "EAT ALL THE THINGS!!!" For now, I'll leave you with this collage of images, which you will see in more detail later...

Yeah. Eat all the things.

By the time we got back to the apartment, we were both so stuffed that we didn't even make it to dessert and champagne.  We just passed out into a blissful (albeit, slightly uncomfortable) food coma.  In each other's arms.  'Cause, y'know... Valentine's Day. 

Eat Me!: Cafe Bizou

Wonderers!  Good Afternoon, and welcome to the second installment of Eat Me!  I hope you are all enjoying your Superbowl Sundays (perhaps even with Superbowl Sundaes?), but I'm glad to be a happy break between football and commercials.

Today's restaurant up for review is Cafe Bizou.  It was my Gamma's 92nd birthday, and my aunt decided to treat her to a ladies lunch, with my cousin Evelin, her care taker Chris, my mother, and myself.  Since they all live on the westside of LA, we ate at the Santa Monica location -- there are also locations in Sherman Oaks, and Pasadena.  I have never been to their Pasadena location, but I can tell you that the one in Sherman Oaks is considerably smaller in size than the Santa Monica location.

About the Restaurant:
Most of the food on the menu is French Provincial, or French inspired.  There is always a bread basket centered on the white table cloth, along with a small ramekin of butter tabs (yes, real butter) and wine glasses.  The atmosphere is clean, and simple.  Nothing too extravagant, just classic, elegant decor which gives the restaurant a refined, yet comfortable feel.  Dark wood furniture with clean, white tablecloths and napkins.  I always dress to eat there (a little nicer than casual), though it's not necessary at all.  Jeans are perfectly acceptable.

Usually, when I eat at Cafe Bizou, I'm there for dinner, and the menu is a little more extensive.  My regular order is the Rack of Lamb (you will find it on the dinner menu) which is absolute heaven.  I salivate just thinking about it.  However, since I was there for a ladies lunch, I had to make my selection from the lunch menu.

The Food:

Mmm... bread... *drool*

As I mentioned before, there is always a bread basket on the table.  As a girl who struggles with weight maintenance, the bread basket at any restaurant is usually a no-no.  Why fill up on bread when you have lots of other tasty treats to eat instead?  Well, at Cafe Bizou, the bread is so good, it requires little to no butter (though as long as you have real butter in front of you, why pass on the opportunity?).  I remembered only having the french bread in that basket, however, there were also a few pieces of raisin-nut bread, which, if you have the opportunity, you should totally try.  Both breads are delicious, and compliment each other nicely.

Our next course was a salad.  There are two options for salad - the house salad with your choice of dressing, or a Caesar salad, for which you have to pay extra (I believe the extra charge is around a dollar).  I opted for a house salad, with a Honey-Dijon vinaigrette at the suggestion of our friendly waiter, who mentioned the dressing is their most popular.  The dressing didn't disappoint!  Sweet, tangy, and not overpowering, it was a very nice compliment to the lettuce and tomatoes, without covering the taste of the veggies themselves.  Very refreshing!

My Gamma even plated it nicely for me

My Gamma got Tuna Tartare for lunch.  For those who don't know, this dish is deceptively rich.  It's served in quenelles with slices of cucumber, and arranged in a neat starburst on the plate.  The flavor is really good, though since it wasn't the taste I was seeking, I wasn't particular to it that day.  Perhaps on another occasion I would have found it more pleasing, but from the bite I had, it just wasn't my deal.

My mother ordered the Beef Stroganoff.  It wasn't my first choice, but I definitely wished I had considered it more strongly.  More to the point, I wish I had let myself indulge in more of the leftovers we brought home, regardless of the carbs.  There are so many flavors I love on this plate.  The beef is tender and just melts in your mouth, while the pasta adds a textural change.  I typically prefer my pasta to be a little bit more al dente, but the texture of the pasta doesn't deter from the savory explosion in your mouth.   It's hearty, it's warm, the sauce is just the right consistency... delicious.  And yeah, "warm" is a flavor.  So is "crispy".  So there.

So pretty!

As I looked at the lunch menu, trying to decide what I wanted (since my usual order was not available to me) I was torn between the Roasted Balsamic Chicken Breast, the Chicken Pomodori Panini, and the Sesame Coated Atlantic Salmon, which I ultimately ended up ordering.  It was the burgundy wine sauce that sold me.  The potato pancakes are really more like wedges of polenta, but they are a lovely compliment to the salmon, which was cooked to perfection.  Nothing on this plate required the use of a knife, which is great.  The salmon flaked just as it should, and none of the polenta pancakes were so tough that the side of a fork wouldn't cut through them.   The wine sauce was delicious, but, like any wine reduction, it can be a bit bracing on your tongue if you get too much in your mouth without something to absorb it.  I used it to dip a bit of leftover bread as well.  Tremendous.

At the end of the meal, they brought out a complimentary flourless chocolate cake for the birthday girl.  They also brought it out with six spoons so everyone at the table could enjoy some.  It's served on a plate with raspberry coulis and a dusting of powdered sugar over the top.  There is no picture (because I was too busy enjoying it to take one) but you can be sure that it's a winner.  There's nothing wrong with warm, flourless chocolate cake.  But definitely one or two bites is enough... unless you want to go into a chocolate-induced coma.  Can't say I'd mind that...

So, once again, Cafe Bizou did not disappoint.  I recommend it for anyone in the LA area (or even not in the LA area!) looking for some semi-casual fine dining.  Delicious food, great service, lovely atmosphere... and just in time for Valentine's Day, they offer a Prix Fixe menu for the occasion.  Great for a date night!

Cafe Bizou (in Santa Monica) can be found at:

BIZOU GRILL, Santa Monica
2450 Colorado Ave. Suite 1050 W,
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310)453-8500

Driving...

Last night, I had the most amazing experience driving.  It may have been one of the few times in my driving years that I've actually enjoyed being behind the wheel.  The experience was downright transcendent.

Let me set the scene...

It's Sunday night, around 9pm.  I'm driving on virtually empty streets, store fronts starting to turn their lights off, and I'm on my way to see my boyfriend.  I'm already in a good mood.  Foo Fighters' "Everlong" is playing on my iPod, and all of a sudden I realize I'm hitting EVERY green light!  Not only that, but the music and my driving are synching up in time. 

As the song comes to a close, and I sit, still reveling in the tiny miracle I just experienced, and await the next song to play from the shuffle.  To my amazement, it's The Police, "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic."  Wow.

And it's still playing in time to the speed that I'm driving.  Even the red lights.

Oh yeah, and then I got a prime parking spot at the boy's house.  Suh-weet.

I hope that each and every one of you gets to experience this kind of magic at least one time in your lives.

Eat Me!: The Gorbals

Hello lovely Wonderers, and welcome to the first edition of Eat Me!  In this blog segment (column? thing?) I'll be taking on the role of amateur food critic, and sharing with you my opinions on the food I have the good (or not-so-good) fortune to shovel into my belly.  Like a lady, of course.

For my first restaurant, I'll be reviewing The Gorbals in Downtown, LA.  I am lucky to have such a wonderful boyfriend who takes me on "secret dinners" to really great eateries.  This was our first secret dinner, and it was all the way back in November.  Cue the low lights, white cloth napkins, and a candle... perfection.

I really wish I had a more "romantic-looking" picture of the table.

A little bit about the restaurant:
The Gorbals is the brain child of chef, Ilan Hall.  He was the winner of the second season of Bravo's Top Chef.  He uses various international cuisines and makes some of the most delicious "mash-up" creations you may never imagine.  Like, for example, bacon-wrapped matzo balls.

The menu is frequently updated with seasonal delights and new dishes.  It is also organized by the main type of ingredient (Pig, Cow, Bird, etc.).  They have a selection of wines, and the staff can usually give you advice on nice pairings with your meal, however, Boyfriend brought a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon (my favorite) and paid a corkage fee.  Everything is served in tapas size, and is likely meant to be shared, so that the diner can taste from several sections of the menu.  Even if that's not the case, and I'm making it up... that's what we did.  We also ordered everything at the top of the meal, so the courses came out as soon as they were ready.  Luckily, everything we ate on our excursion is still on the menu, so I can tell you all about all of it.  A word to the wise: several of the creations on The Gorbals' menu are very rich, so it's really easy to over-order and feel like you might explode if you eat just one more drool-worthy bite.  It is, however, totally worth that over-full feeling.

We started our meal with Bacon-wrapped matzo balls, found under the "Pig" section.  As a Jew, this dish blew my mind.  Not that I keep Kosher, but this is definitely some sort of blasphemy in the Jewish religion.  Bacon is a definite no-no for good Jews, but to then wrap it around a dense matzo ball (what would be known as a "sinker" when immersed in soup) and then set them in a pile over horseradish cream sauce?  Mixing meat and milk on the same plate? Unheard of!!  Nevertheless, it was quite the taste explosion, and I very much enjoyed being the best-worst Jew I could possibly be.  There is a picture on the website here, but just so you know, when we had it the horseradish sauce was white, and they didn't have as much of the garnish on them.  De-lish, (or as my boyfriend might say. "Yum-mo!").

Next came Broccoli, soy, chilies & vinegar from the "Herbivore" section of the menu.  I'll admit, even after years of living in San Diego and all the spicy Mexican cuisine it has to offer, I'm still very wary of "chilies" as an ingredient.  I was a little nervous that it might be too spicy for me (I was still trying to impress the boy), but actually, this dish had just the right amount of heat.  It came to the table in a simple white bowl, overflowing with broccoli that was sitting in a pool of the soy-chili-vinegar sauce.  The broccoli was crispy, and it drank in the marinade beautifully.  I could have eaten several bowls of this, alone.

After that, we ate the Burger, onion six ways from the "Cow" section of the menu.  Despite onions usually being a "no-go" on dates, this was too intriguing to pass up.  The burger itself was cooked to medium, pink perfection.  When paired with all the different onions (including grilled, caramelized, raw, and fried), juicy doesn't even begin to cover it.  The bun starts to get soggy toward the end, and the juices are impossible to keep from dripping down your arm, but it's delicious to the very last bite.

Following the burger, we had Barley risotto with fall squash, also from the "Herbivore" section.  I don't remember it including feta and pepitas, as it is currently featured on the menu, but since it was back in November, who's to say those things weren't there.  Anyway.  I must say I'm a fan of just about any risotto out there, but it does have a tendency to be a rich, stick-to-your-ribs kind of dish, so on this outing, it may have been overkill.  The fall squash (which might have been acorn squash, if I'm not mistaken) is a nice addition to the risotto, providing a different mouth-feel to the rich, creamy texture of the barley itself.  If you're going to order a dish like this, I would do so toward the beginning of your meal, so you may be able to prevent yourself from ordering too much.

After the risotto (or maybe even after the burger), we added the Gribenes, lettuce, tomato sandwich from the "Bird" section to our long list of goodies.  For those of you who don't know what gribenes is, it's chicken skin fried to a crisp, and it's very yummy.  This sandwich is HUGE.  It was served on what appeared to be maybe sourdough and pumpernickel or squaw swirl bread.  It also had a very horseradish-y spread, which was a nice, sharp flavor contrast to the rich gribenes.  Unfortunately, these are the only pictures of food I have from that night.  Fortunately, it looks pretty spectacular!

We finished our meal with Sticky toffee pudding, ice cream, maldon salt for dessert.  It's in a section titled "Sweet" on the menu, but it's the only offering in it's category.  It's a baked pudding, so when it comes to the table in it's little rectangular ramekin, it looks more like a tiny loaf cake, or a large brownie.  It was served with chocolate ice cream (chocolate is, after all, a lovely, and classic compliment to toffee) in a small scoop to the side.  By this time, I was feeling pretty full, but I managed to swallow a few bites of pudding before I officially put down my fork for the evening.  It was chewy, gooey, and delicious.  The salt also cuts into the richness, and sweetness of the pudding, preventing an otherwise overwhelming bite.

All in all, I would absolutely recommend eating at The Gorbals.  Judging by this particular meal, I have absolute confidence in all of Hall's creative dishes.  The music, the food, and even the staff combine to make a great atmosphere for a nice evening out without being too dressy.  I will definitely be returning!


 *ADDENDUM*

 The Gorbals can be found at:

501 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213.488.3408

 *Thanks for the tip, Ash. ;) *

For Etta...

Etta James passed away today at just 73 years old.  Not that 73 isn't old... but when your grandmothers are 92 and 98, 73 still seems too young.

Etta, you are my heart and soul of standard songs, and I want to dedicate this post to you and your wonder(fulness).

Much love, Etta... I know you're singing on a big stage in the sky for the best audience in the world. Say hi to my Papa for me. Grampa too.

What's New, Cheshire Cat?

Wonderers!  I have missed you!  Like the Cheshire Cat, I disappeared for a while, but I have returned, and this time I will make an effort to actually keep up with this thing.

Just to get a little caught up here...

On the job front... I am still looking for that elusive, regular position.  However, I am currently reading books for money and tutoring children for just enough money to cover the few regular expenses I have (like gas, and makeup).  It's not a lot, but it's better than zero.

On last year's resolution... all I have to say is oops.  I was predicting that by the end of last year I would have a job, and my own apartment -- therefore, my own kitchen -- but alas, I'm still under my parents' roof.  Incidentally, we also lost the use of our oven, and our dishwasher, which makes re-creating recipes a bit more difficult.  But I'm fine. *twitch*

Gross, right?  I know. :D
Photo by Ashley Jeanson

On romance... the last time I checked in, I was just coming out of my all-to-familiar "woe is me" phase, and taking on a new, optimistic outlook.  Well... as it happens, guess who has herself a boyfriend?  Yup!  Yours Truly.  *Note: it took a lot to refrain from using "what has two thumbs?" * He is amazing... and that's not even an exaggeration.  I waited a long time to be this puke-worthy and saccharin.  I'm quite the happy girl these days.

All that being said, I really want to make an effort to blog more this year.  I have a few ides that I'm tossing around in my head for recurring -- for lack of a better word -- columns, that might make me post more often.  One idea is to have a column called "Eat Me" where I review the restaurants at which I have the pleasure of dining.  I already have one review in mind (bacon-wrapped matzo balls... what?), and two more potentially in the works to follow.  I'd also like to have some sort of weekly thing to "force" me to update, but nothing really jumps out at me.  Perhaps I should ask my lovely friend and blog-veteran, Ashley for some ideas...

Now, as I've been wracking my brain for the last hour about how to wrap up this post... I think I'll just give you two clips that have had me in stitches for days now...

One:  The trailer for Madagascar 3.  I liked the first one, had no interest in the second one, and really didn't want anything to do with any sequel that followed.  However, Chris Rock sold me (start at 2:00) on the latest chapter in the Madagascar saga...

Two:  The Big Bang Theory.  Freshly addicted to this show, I love it more with every episode.  This week, Amy Ferrah Fowler (a.k.a. Mayim Bialik, a.k.a. Blossom) took first place in my heart (and it will be very obvious why)...

That's it for now.  But never fear, I'll be back before you know it!