A serious request: Who wants to hang out with this cool pup in Manhattan next Thursday night while Rob and I bid adieu to Sydney-bound Lauren Farmer?

(Friends of Lauren need not apply, since you should be at her party too.)

Rob and I have the Rose Bowl all to ourselves!

Gratuitous indeed.

I am in the right place

caseydonahue:

Have you ever had the feeling that where you are is exactly the place you need to be and the people around you are exactly the type of people you should be surrounded by and you just feel that what you are doing is the absolute best thing in the world you could possibly be doing because it is exactly what makes you happy?

Right now.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

i want you (she’s so heavy) - the beatles (via mikekarnell)

Thanks for everything, Ace. Until next time…

We have a fantastic room at the Ace Hotel, courtesy of Valentine. Can’t thank you enough—the pup is loving the patio! (So are we, of course.)

Exactly one year ago, the boyfriend and I were in Palm Springs. On a whim this afternoon, we decided to come back.

This time, we have Jake!

Vie’s post reminded me that I’ve failed miserably in my promise to blog what I’ve had at some (new and old) favorite places of mine—yes, one of them is a food truck. For posterity’s sake (actually, just for my own records), here’s a lazy list of highlights that will do you absolutely no good unless you visit the restaurants yourself. Favorites bolded, less-than-loved italicized:

LudoTruck, 8/14

• Provencal pepitte chicken balls with herbs de provence and béarnaise mayonnaise
• Crunch buttermilk strips with Ludo’s hickory-smoked BBQ sauce
• Honey-garlic glazed wings with piquillo pepper sauce
• Honey lavender biscuit

LudoBites, 8/16

• Lightly smoked grilled squid, black rice veloute, black candied olives, squid ink gelee, black garlic
• Heirloom tomato salad, mozzarella ice cream, basil crumble
• Raw wagyu beef, dried miso, somen noodle, peanut vinaigrette, watermelon (topped with quail egg)
• Goat cheese soup, bacon, lardo, green apple celery, frisee salad
• Confit pork belly, raw Thai-style choucroute, mustard ice cream
• Roasted veal, morels, green asparagus, yellow wine, garlic cheese bubbles, chinese BBQ sauce
• Caramel soufflé, blanco grapefruit, fleur de sel ice cream (divine)

Michael Mina, 8/20

• Amuse bouche trio: shrimp tempura; hamachi tartare; uni flan
• English pea tortellini, leg confit, tarragon
• Loin terrine, California asparagus, Meyer lemon
• Foie gras mousse, radish, chive wafer
• Ahi tuna tartare with Scotch Bonnet pepper, Bosc pear, sesame oil
• Sonoma County duck breast, nectarine compote, Marcona butter
• Seared foie gras, cherry marmalade, pistachio crumble
• Leg confit, apricot purée, walnut stuffing
• Maine lobster pot pie with brandied lobster cream, seasonal vegetables
• Peach crisp, oats, brown butter ice cream
• Cheesecake, blueberries, lemon thyme
• Chocolate mousse cake, salted caramel, St. Germain
• Milk chocolate ganache brownie, cherries, cashews, smoked vanilla bean ice cream

Rivera (pictured), 8/25

• Housemade Nixtamal tortillas with “Indian butter”—the creamiest avocado and butter spread you will ever taste (Sadly, I am allergic.)
• Stuffed Spanish peppers, chorizo, golden raisins, gruyere
• Mussels, chorizo, aji amarillo pisco broth
• Tamarind-agave-lacquered black cod fillet, amaranth (bonus: the word Gourmet spelled out on the plate in pepper and cumin script)
• Ribeye fillet, habañero chimichurri, yucca chips
• Frijoles negros
• Shrimp ceviche with oranges, fresno chiles, cucumber, onion, cilantro
• Lemon extra-virgin olive oil cake, creme fraiche ice cream, strawberry sorbet, jerez vinegar reduction
• Colombian chocolate leaves, ripe banana, cabrales (blue cheese), Spanish red wine reduction
• Sponge cake soaked in Brazilian rum syrup, with dulce de leche and fresh fruit and flowers

Sunday night at Bigfoot Lodge: BINGO! I just won vodka and a wind-up toy.

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