FIRST Guest Blog!

The words of an anonymous photographer describe us best: CLOWNS.

Usually wherever Carly, Gerlyn, Tammy, Maria and I happen to be at any given moment turns into a circus ring.

Tammy has asked me to “guest blog.” In my blogging debut on Seeking the Good Life I am going to recap a recent party we so graciously attended. Picture a party in a gorgeous house in the Hollywood Hills, formerly-owned by Virgina Madsen. Visualize a circular foyer (are they always circular? I’m real sophisticated, I should know this), where a pair of beautiful male/female bartenders serve vodka/pomegranate juice. Primordial dwarf Mexican housekeepers scurry around to fetch empty plates of Brie cheese and dried apricots. Cosmopolitan Hollywood-ites chat about Mutual Funds. Now picture 5 girls with fake british accents in the center of it all, immersed in capturing the moment by taking hundreds of digital photographs. There were Model-esqe photos, action photos, gnome kissing photos; still-life photos of earrings, soy nuts and Tammy’s underwear. The background was similar but the facial expressions and poses were not. There were bed-eyes, puckering lips, hugs, Jenna Jameson positions all in the midst of a millionaire’s living room at a well-attended party.

Another energetic photographer fluttering about the party snapping photos for a scrapbook or I’m hoping a magazine happened to compose a picture of us in the act. She brilliantly titled it Tammysfriends_clowns.jpg

1. What do sophisticated clowns do when they get together?
2. Sleep on air mattresses blown up by hair dryers.
3. Go to Ralphs like it’s the new Fred Segal.
4. Get in fights over whether you bake in a stove.
5. Eat delicious breakfasts.

The morning after the Hollywood escapade, Chef Tu served the most delicious breakfast a vegetarian could ask for. FYI, Maria and I are vegetarians, we both have braces and we wear matching outfits. Basically we are brothas from anotha motha. Ger, Maria, Tammy and I dined on French toasts made of French baguettes (it’s so brilliant, who would have thought about using French bread for French toast? That Tammy is going places), toasted fake bacon and cheese sandwiches and a swiss-chard, onion and fake bacon frittata. It was like butter. If I were a millionaire I would hire T Tu to cook all my meals.
-Sarah
xoxoxo

New Year's - Happy to be in 2007

This new year’s I just wanted to share a nice dinner with family and friends. My mom, cousins; Luan and Margaret went to a nice 6 courser at 2941 Restaurant in Virginia. There was great conversation, creative plates that were ate, and 2 fabulous bottles of wine that were drunken, not to mention the cocktails! My mom was the DD so we all felt safe that night. When it struck midnight, I was already sound asleep and completely content.

On New Year’s day, I arrived back in sunny Los Angeles greeted by my family member west side. I was happy and cooked a few appetizers and again we shared stories, food, and bottles of champagne and wine. Props to cousin, Tina, who selected all wines; Joseph Phelps Pinot, Cab Sauvignon from Oregon, Moet, amongst others.

To me, everyone plans for this anticipation/celebration of the upcoming year but it’s not about the evening but the journey getting to and from there. As I begin 2007, I am thankful for all of my family and friends who continue to support my madness and obsession of food, traveling, and just plain being silly and stupid!

Washington, DC

Growing up, we lived 15 minutes outside of Washington DC, south of the city in Fairfax, Virginia. As a kid, we always had field trips to the Nation’s capitol, visiting museums like the Smithsonian, Air and Space, Natural History, American History, National Gallery of Art, then there was the White House, Washington Monument, the Capitol, where the House of Reps, Congress, and Senate meet. Oh, not to mention all those memorials, Lincoln, Jefferson, Vietnam, blah, blah, blah, boring, boring (at the time)!

When I went to college, I got full appreciation of the DC bar/club scene. My cousins who went to Georgetown would take me to not only there but Adam’s Morgan and Dupont Circle to hang out. Now, when I come back, the city is reminiscent of my childhood and youth and I enjoy every bit of the scenery. I find that it was a luxury growing up around all the history, culture, and politics of the nation's capital.

My mom and I went up to DC for the day and walked around to the Library of Congress and Capitol. We found the cutest French restaurant and enjoyed a perfect, simple bistro style lunch. We had a cabbage potage with mini ravioli w/bacon, mesclun mix greens, mussels steamed in Pernod and leeks, and sautéed calamari with pinenuts and balsamic vinegar. I enjoyed the day with Mom and explored a few new neighborhoods, Eastern Market and Capitol Hill.

One thing I love about home is also all of my friends and family, most of them are based around the area and I got a chance to see them all, including those loyal Hokie fans. Jess' Xmas tree lights are awesome and then Fess going to the VT vs. Georgia game, Jason almost there! Cooking for Summit and Radikka was awesome, while meeting up with old high school friends, Sara and Lindsey. Hanging with my cousins where it all started was great, thanks for taking me to my old local late night diner, Amphora...Duc and Steve!

The Philly Cheesesteak

I went to Culinary school in Philly and lived there for 2 years. I was not really fond of the cheesesteak when I lived there because I was in my ‘no beef’ kick. In fact, I was so into it that when my mom visited who rarely eats beef begged me to get her a true authentic Philly cheesesteak. I insisted no and tried to tell her the Chicken was just as good….she hasn’t forgiven me to this day!

I finally enjoyed cheesesteaks my roommate Sarah, dragged me to the old Pat vs. Geno’s corridor. Pat’s Steaks and Geno’s Steaks are literally right across from each other competing for who is Philly’s #1 Cheesesteak producer! There is a difference between both. Geno’s serves the sliced beef version, while Pat’s chops their beef as us non-Philadelphians are used to. I, personally like both but admire Geno’s cheese fries (with Cheez Whiz) which Sarah has to have not 1 or 2, but 3 squirts of Ketchup to add. What else is there to know about the Philly Cheesesteak? You MUST and I mean MUST eat it with Cheez Whiz, yes, you heard me…the fake processed gooey cheese! Oh, not to mention of the addition of grilled/fried onions and that squirt of Ketchup (via Sarah) and now my own version of Mustard as well. I have to mention that the ‘rolls’ are what makes the Philly cheesesteak, perfectly soft but not hard or stale, baked fresh by Amoroso Bakery. Locals say that the rolls are unique because of the Schuylkill River water.

How do you go about ordering something like this? The key word ‘wit whiz’. ‘Wit’ stands for ‘with fried onions’, while let’s say you just wanted only whiz, you say, ‘one, wiz, please’. The incorrect way to order is, ‘can I please get a cheesesteak with cheez wiz’? No, only a few syllables are allowed, if not, kicked back to the end of the line! In fact, I even saw it first hand, a guy got kicked out of the line when ordering (either that or he was really drunk, I only saw him getting hulled off)!

Bottom line, even if you don’t like Cheesesteaks or are vegetarians, just go for the experience as there is always at least a 20 minute wait…around both Pat’s or Geno’s!

Christmas East Coast style

I was delighted to spend a full week at home, back East, I needed a change in weather! The holidays are always filled with love, family/friends, laughter and of course food! We usually gather at my aunt’s house and my aunts all make different dishes. I prepared Braised Beef Short Ribs and Yukon Gold Mash Potatoes while my mother prepared her famous, Salade Russe (Russian Salad). My uncle brought Oysters and shuckedabout 50 outside with glass of wine in hand. We were all treated to his Baked Oysters, garnished with spring onions and parm cheese. Other dishes were Pork Tenderloin, Red Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Buttered Shrimp, Vietnamese Spring rolls, Skewered Chicken, and my aunt’s newest addition of pear, walnut and apple salad. Desserts were the typical Buche de Noel which I have never found a liking to since birth and my cousin Margaret’s home-made “petit fours”.

Christmas day, I was lucky enough to cook in my aunt’s state of art kitchen for a small group of family members. Highlights were the Seafood ‘Trio’ of Poached Shrimp and Avocado Salsa, Blue Crabcakes with Red Pepper Aioli, and Sashimi of Scallops poached in Leek Beet and Goat Cheese ‘Napoleon’, Mint Persillade Crusted Baby Rack of Lamb with a Pomegranate Reduction, Quinoa w/Brussel sprout leaves and rainbow chard and for dessert that DARNED Buche de Noel again, my Poached Pears in Red Wine w/Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, and assorted Chocolate Truffles.

I cooked for my friends one night in Baltimore too and even visited Philly where it all started, my food journey! Being back East reminded me of dreary, cold but Christmas like weather which I really did appreciate! Thanks to all that let me cook for them!