finally

after years of scanning through cook's illustrated while waiting in line at Whole Foods; eyeing the magazine at bookstores; and using adapted recipes posted in some of my favorite blogs, i did it. i finally subscribed to cook's illustrated!

if you are familiar with this magazine, then you understand my excitement (and are probably wondering what took this long for me to get my act together). on the other hand, if you know nothing about this gem, then let me give a quick blurb about its amazingness.

cook's illustrated is a magazine dedicated to people who enjoy being in the kitchen, whether it be cooking, baking, experimenting, learning, la la la. but let me make something clear: it's NOT a recipe-laden, photo-hogging, advertisement-filled food magazine. rather, it's more of a textbook, reading guide, map-through-the-kitchen kinda thing. the people who contribute to the body of cook's illustrated are normal, everyday people who happen to work in a "test kitchen" where they attempt to solve some of our dilemmas or trial different instruments or taste different condiments or showcase what's in season  and, really, the list goes on. and of course, there are fantastic recipes sprinkled throughout.

but what i think i love most about this magazine is that it explains why and how things turn out the way they do - the chemistry of it. protein structures, oxidation, chemical bonds, solvents....it takes me back to those days in college, sitting in the front row, my mind being blown away with the details of the subject. in cook's illustrated, experts provide the evidence and the writers cleverly incorporate the facts into the articles, making the science of the kitchen a fascinating read.

i could go on and on about this magazine, but i'll practice some restraint. just go read the damn thing!

way to go!

these past few months have been big months for daddy. HUGE months, actually. after much time contemplating the start of his own business, he finally took the leap of faith and moved forward. if you know my dad at all, then you know how hard he works - how he has the hands of precision, the focus of a mastermind, the lifetime knowledge of complex machinery and design.

with a wealth of experience, daddy has earned this position of "being his own boss" - calling his own shots, managing his own equipment, developing a clientele to entrust him in building key parts for their own businesses. and he deserves it, to be here.

it has been a grueling few months for him, making hefty investments, finding a workspace, sifting through all the logistics and permits, licenses and little pain-in-the-ass details know one ever considers. but he did it. and he's doing it now. daddy has come so far, and i couldn't be more proud. through the heartache and hesitation, the challenges and doubt, he has chosen to move forward - to rise above. every time he wanted to wash it down the drain, he remembered why this was important to him in the first place: freedom.

surely, i can't continue without mentioning how incredible it has been to witness the evolvement of my parents' relationship. approaching their 30th wedding anniversary, they exemplify the commitment, support, and friendship it takes to build a marriage...and keep it strong. when my dad has doubt, my mom reminds him of his faith. when my dad is anxious, my mom carries his calm. when he wants to celebrate with a margarita, my mom is there to toast. this business venture is much more than a step into work independence; it is another thread being sewn into the fabric of my parents' lifetime together.

so, daddy, here's to you and all the amazing things you are doing. it takes a strong person to start from scratch and an even stronger person to keep going. and when it seems a little foggy or dark out there, remember that you have two ladies who will always be by your side, shining for you...loving you.

in his new workshop

please don't go

as the sun sets later and the flowers bloom, i begin to feel a little unnerved. sure, we have some nice things coming our way, but i cringe at the thought of losing our glorious bounty of winter citrus. the grapefruits and clementines, blood oranges and meyer lemons. i'm not ready to leap into berries or apricots...i just can't.

i will miss my mornings, slicing segments of grapefruit over the sink, feeling the juice dripping to my elbows as i savor every last bitter bite. salads won't be the same without slices of cara cara oranges, and sweet treats will just have to find a new direction, away from that citrusy zest i so love. 

it's been a great season (perhaps a little too great as far as citrus is concerned), but it's not over yet. as long as the aisles gleam of orange and yellow hues, i will be satisfying this winter tummy with unbelievable joy.

fresh air

march came around, and with it, rain. RAIN! i almost forgot what it felt like to fall asleep to the soothing sound of raindrops, to walk through deep puddles, to run with fresh air filling my lungs.

ever since i started swimming laps, i've felt less of a need to run. (which scares the hell out of me since running is my everything)! the ease and flow, the steady motion, the full body workout that comes with swimming have brought so much balance into my everyday. just as i find solace through the steps of my run, i am able to seek refuge in the strokes of my swim. and it's a glorious thing - to to be stripped of the daily grind as i take a breath in, out.

but as the rain cleared the air, wiped away the grit, i felt a tremendous urge to run. an obligation to run. it was as if my body knew that i needed to be outside, replenishing my lungs with new air, bathing my body with the perfect chill. my run this morning reminded me why i do it, rather than solely swim: it keeps me in tune with nature, and as such, i am reawakened.

and it was all because of the rain.

happy birthday, with love

today is g's birthday. he is with chase, hiking in malibu as we speak. when i asked g what he wanted to do to celebrate this day, he said he wanted to go on a hike...alone. at first, i didn't really understand why he would want to be alone on such an exciting, personal day. and that was just it - personal.

after some explanation, it all made sense. a birthday celebrates a year lived - the challenges and victories, the setbacks and growth. while we are constantly looking forward, a birthday forces us to stop, see ourselves wearing this new age, and give thanks for the journey getting here. on my birthday, i meditated while baking. today, g chooses to meditate while hiking.

as g is off on the trails, thinking about the man he is today and the past year it took to be here, i will celebrate his life with the sweetest joy i can possibly muster. i will bake him a cake.

"there is no room in my body for anything but you. my arms love you, my ears adore you, my knees shake with blind affection." -the princess bride

happiest of birthdays, my love. 

whew!

"whew" is all i have to say.

g and i, with our crew of four, survived our first major catering event. the days proceeding saturday were filled with shopping, detailing, and final food prep - batches and batches of roasted kabocha squash, lamb meatballs, puttanesca, lemon curd, chocolate truffle pudding, etc.

shopping at restaurant depot

saturday - the day of the event - started with last minute touches, set-up, and prayers that all would work out smoothly. the guests trickled in at 9 pm and continued their flow until 4 am the following morning. g headed the bar, mixing, shaking, and pouring cocktails until the very last song of the night was played. i was in the kitchen with another crew member prepping, plating, and sending out platters of hors d'oeuvres, aloof to the happenings outside the kitchen, trusting that the empty platters were a sign that the guests were eating and (hopefully) enjoying our food. 

the kitchen, before we unpacked and got to work

shalcy, my kitchen partner

chocolate battle wounds on the boob

g, working the bar

the night flew by with our hard work, challenges, and multi-tasking. for me, it was a glimpse into the food world - the long hours, the constant deliberating, the tests and trials, the hits and misses. there were moments when i asked myself why i even bothered to be a part of this; i was exhausted, frustrated, and feared that our hard work wouldn't be received well. but then at 4 am, after packing away the last dish, we gathered around the kitchen table, popped open a bottle of bubbly, and toasted to our achievements. guests thanked us throughout the night, the host was more than pleased, and we delivered what we set out to deliver: food made with love and served with gusto. 

we're definitely using these days to recover, getting back into our groove. who knows what will come of this or where we'll go next, but we are tremendously proud of ourselves and immensely grateful for the support of everyone who helped make this happen. bon appetit! 

MIA

i've been MIA lately.

no, i'm not putting in more hours at work, and i am far from flying out of the country for leisure. rather, i've been in the kitchen, at cooking supply stores, in food warehouses, and just about all over the place.

let me explain.

g was hired to bartend and prepare the food for an event in west la next saturday. let's be real, he was essentially hired to cater the event. hosted by some big-whig in the music industry, the event will have 200 guests and is being sponsored by Patron Tequila, Heineken, and some Champagne company. it's BIG. seeing this as an opportunity to network and get exposure, g signed on and has been going full force for the past couple of weeks.

and that's where i come in. g assembled a small crew of close friends with various experience in food/catering/marketing...and me. sure, we've hosted our fair share of dinner parties - planning, preparing, cooking, baking, serving - but this is far from a table of 12. we've been planning the menu, getting quotes for dish ware, calculating quantities of ingredients, taste-testing, going back and forth with the host, and so on.

it has been BUSY and stressful and exciting and exhausting and unbelievable at the same time. we are putting our hearts into this and producing amazing results along the way. we have no idea what the actual night will look like, but that's part of the fun. g and i are doing what we love best and we're doing it together. this time, it's just elevated. who knows what will come out of this or where g will land next, but one thing is certain: i will be by his side through thick and thin. i will be his rightwing through it all.