Battle of the Banh Mi #1

Definition of Banh Mi: Vietnamese Baguette Sandwiches, most commonly filled with thinly sliced pickled carrots, daikon, cucumbers, cilantro, chili peppers, mayonnaise, and various meat or tofu.

Competitors: Pho Lang Thang vs. Nom Nom Truck

Story: Ever since I tried my first Tofu Banh Mi at Pho Lang Thang in Cincinnati, I've been:

A) Craving it
B) Addicted
C) Wanting to see how LA compared.

So this week I decided to check out the Nom Nom truck...

Findings: Nom Nom's bread was great but there was hardly any delicious filling! Not only does Pho Lang Thang have great bread, they really know how to stuff their Banh Mi. They also use a delicious garlic sauce that makes it soooo delish!

Conclusion: Sorry Nom Nom but Pho Lang Thang killed it. So I'm still on the hunt for the best Banh Mi in the West. Let the battle continue...

Shout out: If your a foodie and find yourself in Cincy, check out Pho Lang Thang located in the bustling Findlay Market- Ohio's oldest public Market. It's authentic, delicious, and cheap.

Nom Nom Truck's Tofu Banh Mi

A Date With Myself / How To Spend Your Last Day On Earth

Once in a while I need a ME day. A day where I can do whatever I want, when I want and move as slowly as I like. A day with no set plans. No "meeting up". No one else to please. A day where I can be as selfish as I like. A day where I can be me. And what better time to do this than the "last day on earth?" (Which for those who didn't know, was last Saturday.)

Nervous, insecure to be alone? Rubbish! Follow these simple steps below and find out how rewarding a day alone can really be. Whether its the end of the world or not...

Start the day off with a workout followed by a juice or smoothy from my favorite Beverly Hills Juice Co. I suggest the coconut and carrot shake. Don't be surprised if you hear fellow customers calling this small juice shack "the best place in LA". It is.

Later, after soaking up some sun, check out the Beverly Hills Art Show. There are tons of talented artists to excite your senses ranging from jewelry to sculpture and paintings. Don't miss Thomas Barbey whose work will make you laugh, and ask the relevant question, "why are we here?"

Even though there is an abundance of food trucks at the art show, don't be tempted. Because one should enjoy a much grander last supper. I recommend a late lunch at Bouchon in Beverly Hills. Time your arrival so that the moment before the earth erupts into earthquakes, tsunamis and hot lava, you will be sitting at the bar, delicately enjoying a Fanny Bay oyster, with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Is there really a more perfect way to go?

While there, enjoy meeting other people who have also chosen Bouchon as their final destination. If by chance the world does not end, turn you late lunch into a dinner/ "We are still alive!" celebration with your new best friends. Spend roughly 6 hours eating, drinking and being merry. Get home a little tipsy, full of new hope & contemplation for the wonder of life, before passing out on the couch to pajama jeans infomercials.

Tangelo & Coconut Juice from Beverly Hills Juice Co.



The Beverly Hills Art Show



Heirloom tomatoes, burrata and arugula salad



The Bar at Bouchon

Bouchon Beverly Hills
235 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, California 90210
(310) 271-9910

A Summer Salad Finale With A Side Of Bacon

Last Sunday I got the chance to visit the Farmers Market for the first time in a month. That's what happens when I am forced to choose between oogling at veggies or shaking my booty at African Brazilian Dance class. Dancing is almost more addicting than food... almost. So why was this Sunday any different? Let's just say SOMEONE got an email from a farmer about a freshly slaughtered and extremely succulent pig whose parts would be sold at market. And perhaps BACON was one of those parts. Well booty shaking may trump squash, but Bacon blows butt thumping out the window. Especially bacon from an organically pampered and beautifully spoiled pig. If you aren't following I believe a reading of An ode to bacon is in order. This little piggy went to market and NEVER came home. MWAHAHAHA

Once I was there, I obviously wasn't leaving without picking up a few things. By the end my arms were filled with arugula, sprouts, heirloom tomatoes, onions, white peaches, yellow peaches, nectarines, plumbs, avocado, bagels, and of course, the fattiest whitest bacon I had ever layed eyes on.

I'm sure anyone living in the greater Los Angeles area remembers that day as the day we learned what it felt like to live inside a lizards mouth. And what did I decide to do that day? Yard work! Crazy? Perhaps, but would I have been inspired to create this deliciously refreshing salad? Perhaps not. Plus I had to make use of all the fresh veggies purchased only a few hours ago which were so tasty you hardly needed dressing. If this concoction can't cool you down, then nothing but an iced bath with Cruella Deville can. And with that I bid you a very fond farewell to grilling and hello to chilling.

A Cooling Farmer's Market Salad
1 avocado
1 heirloom tomato
1 cucumber
Sunflower sprouts
1/2 red onion finely chopped
arugula

Dressing
1 lemon
1 tbs white wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic minced
s&p


Whip up a vinaigrette by whisking a few teaspoons of vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic and 1 tsp salt together. Continue whisking while you pour a slow stream of olive oil in (about 1/2 cup). Taste and adjust seasoning.

TIP: This is my favorite way to cut an avocado. When you spoon it out they are already nicely cubed.

A Tropical Taste of my Travels- A Hawaiian Farmer's Market

Hello fellow Spooners and Happy Monday! A lot has happened in the past few weeks since I've written. Allow me to update you.

1. I traveled home to Kauai along with 30 family members to celebrate my Granddad's 90th Birthday. Can you believe that? He worked out every single morning. Simply astonishing...
2. While I was there I had my first taste of Spam Musubi (A little like spam sushi). Although this is a popular snack in Hawaii, and I should have eaten it hundreds of times during my childhood, I was never one to accept Spam, even it if was fried and wrapped in seaweed and rice. Surprisingly it was not bad. If you don't mind the taste of cat food ;)
3. I witnessed a toe molestation! As my cousins and I were happily enjoying a lunch at Tropical Taco with our feet dangling from the patio, an 80 year old man with his wife walking by extended his index finger to stroke my cousins middle toe that was painted a bright blue. He gave the toe 2 quick strokes as he casually passed. Not a word was said and no eye contact was made, but the deed had been done. "That's what you get for being a toe slut" I explained to my cousin.
4. I learned a new joke: Knock knock. Whose there? Smell Mop. Smell mop who? Haha Get it?
5. I discovered my love for almond butter. Just try it and you will know what I mean.
6. I over-ate everyday. How can you not when your surrounded by ripe mangoes, sweet coconuts, fresh fish and creamy smoothies and purple sweet potatoes. Oooh and lots of POKE!!!
7. I was introduced to Uncrustables- pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! This is obviously the creation of Smuckers and pharmaceutical companies in a conspiracy theory to increase obesity and unhealthiness in children. I plan on getting to the bottom of this immediately!
8. I got a job! Starting in August I'll be working full time for a Special Events Company. Yay for me!
9. I remembered just how much I love my family.

That being said, I wanted to devote this blog post to the Hanalei Farmers Market which I visited twice during my stay. I thought it would be fun for you to see how a tropical farmers market differs from a "mainland" one. Both times I went it rained on and off which made for a beautiful foggy effect in the mountains with lots of waterfalls. The feeling of this Market was so different compared to the ones I go to in LA.

The market was held in an empty grass lot behind a soccer field right next to family owned taro fields. Instead of walking on concrete you meandered through dirt roads and onto grassy patches where you could sit and enjoy a bag of lychees while looking up at the beautiful view of mountains and waterfalls. Live Hawaiian music played in the background and people strolled aimlessly eyeing the produce and sipping on a smoothie or fresh coconut. The farms had hippy names like "One Song" and I noticed many people snacking on freshly purchased arugula or watercress as they shopped. Although there were many locals that had come for their weeks supply of produce, I noticed an equal amount of tourists that had made the drive just to browse, buy a fresh mango, or buy something from one of the shell jewelry stands.

Everyone was so friendly and so calm. No one was in a hurry and no one was dressed up. Bathing suits, slippers, shorts and a t-shirt were the standard attire. There was no sound of traffic or car horns and the air smelled fresh and sweet after the rain. My sister and I went with my Grandparents to show them around. Everyone was so nice and helpful which made the experience enjoyable, especially my Grandmother who likes to ask lots of questions. :)

If you are ever in Hawaii I would highly recommend checking out a farmers market. It is honestly a wonderfully relaxing and positive experience.

There was live Hawaiian music under the green roof to the left

Hawaiian Farmers Market Shopping Attire

Fresh tangy pineapples- YUM!

Strolling the market with my Gramcrackers. Isn't she cute?

Sunrise Shells and niihau shell necklaces. The big sunrise shells are extremely difficult to find and must be searched for during the early morning. Hence the name SUNRISE shell. I have still never found one :(

I watched this woman knock out 15 coconuts in 5 minutes. That takes some serious skill and muscle.

I'm not sure what the orange part of the fruit is but the tops are raw cashew nuts!

Home baked goods

Hawaiian Ginger and Birds of Paradise are the local flowers sold at the market

Lei making while selling your produce is quite typical

Just enjoying a freshly opened coconut's tender meat with breathtaking views of the mountains behind. No big deal...

My sister and I with our Grandparents.

Our family attempt at a goodbye Hula

Freaky Fairytale Friday

Since it's Friday, and since I'm in a weirder mood than usual, I have decided to post a warped fairytale. This story has nothing to do with food but it is entertaining and will be sure to waste at least 5 minutes of your Friday. I should probably mention here that I am a fairytale whore. I love nothing more than a very capable lady in distress with no one but an idiotic yet handsome knight to save her. What can I say? I'm a romantic. One day I hope to write a collection of these ridiculous yet peculiarly gratifying stories. This particular story was written by myself and 5 other wonderful people from my creative writing class that took place in our teacher Lisa's living room. We wrote it in 10 minutes during a quick write exercise that required us to continue passing the story along so that everyone had a chance add on.

I would like to dedicate this to our fabulous and brilliant teacher Lisa- Thank you for everything!

Snow White Exposed

Once upon a time there was a lovely queen who was busy aging gracefully. One day her husband, the King, announced he had a daughter by a previous one-night stand. He was tired of running from child support payments so she was coming to live with them. The lovely queen jumped for joy at the thought of having a step-daughter and polished the castle from top to bottom… along with the six maid servants, two valets, a butler, seven gardeners, 3 stable hands, four maids in waiting, the chef, the sous chef and nine jockeys that usually decorated the lawn.

The day of the stepdaughter’s arrival was at hand, so the King had a grand ball to welcome her. She showed up four hours late, drunk as a dishwasher, with a ne’er do boyfriend named Pablo and 46 pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage. She was a chain smoker with eleven tattoos, only six of which were visible despite her mini-skirt and low cut tube top.

The queen wasn’t happy to see how skinny her stepdaughter was. She obviously didn’t eat. So she pulled her aside to find out more about herself.

Snow White- Look, I’m not here to clean and make your life easier.
The Queen- No, I thought we could get to know each other and have some tea
SW- Don’t even think about going in my room
Q- No, that is your space.
SW- You bet your old ass it is. I need time to get this look together. Do you know how
hard it is to get the townsfolk to cobble these platforms?
Q- I’m sorry you are upset. Is there anything that I can do?
SW- Do you know how to pierce a belly button? I bet you don’t. Never mind.

This was how many of the Queen’s attempts to befriend Snow White went. In her determination to be accepted, and because the Queen was never very good with peer pressure, she often agreed to her bizarre and ludicrous pleas. One week it was a belly button ring, the next it was her 12th tattoo. This sent the queen into a fluster, as she was not comfortable “putting ink” on her stepdaughter’s ass. Eventually Snow White’s terrible requests drove the Queen into a state of mental illness. Because of her high stress levels the Queen developed grey hairs, crow’s feet, and nasty warts. Rumors spread that she wandered the castle speaking to a “magic mirror” that reassured her she was still beautiful. The King, wanting a more youthful companion, went back to his one-night stands and locked the Queen in the tower with only her delusions of youth and beauty for company.

THE END

By: Alison Bossert, Steven Bray, Leela Lindner, Susan Martin, Wendy Meyer & Lauren Sarafan

Cozy Kale Pasta

Lately I've been super busy and extra lazy which means I've had less motivation to make good home cooked meals. This has had a very negative affect on my eating habits and has forced me to eat unhealthier than usual. Let's just say Ranch dressing, cheese puffs, and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, have made a strong comeback in my life. But more often than not, I've been spending my meals eating out.

After eating out all week the only thing I want to have on Sunday is a healthy home cooked meal. Since I probably haven't had a vegetable in at least 4 days, there is only one item on my mind... kale. I love kale. I think it tastes delicious and is so great for replenishing the body. It's my go-to healthy upper. So when I'm tired, lethargic, and plump after the weekend, and all I want to do is relax and watch t.v, I make my favorite lazy healthy meal. Cozy Kale Pasta.

Of course it's a pasta since pasta is always the easiest thing to make. And this kale pasta has it all. Even though it's a vegetarian dish, I sometimes add pieces of chicken sausage to make it a complete meal for all the carnivores out there. With the minced garlic, onions and cherry tomatoes, this dish is light and delicious. I usually shred a bit of cheese over the top (can't be too healthy) and use angel hair noodles since they take a whole 3 minutes to cook. If you want to be extra healthy use whole wheat pasta. Make sure to squeeze a whole lemon in the dish and add a little garlic and onion powder to the veggies to really make them stand out. Once you've made this dish, you will want to make it again and again. Whoever said healthy meals can't be quick obviously never tried my Cozy Kale Pasta.

Ingredients:

• half pound kale (about 1 bunch), large center ribs and stems removed, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 8 large garlic cloves, minced
• One box of cherry tomatoes cut in half
• 1/2 pound spaghetti
• 1 fresh lemon juiced
• Finely grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:

1. Rinse kale. Drain; transfer to bowl with some water still clinging.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes.
3. Add minced garlic and sprinkle with salt; cook until onion is golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add kale and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss until wilted, about 3 minutes. Cover pot and reduce heat to medium-low.
4. Continue cooking until kale is very tender, stirring occasionally and adding water by teaspoonfuls if dry, about 20 minutes. Add tomatoes 5 minutes before Kale is done cooking.
5. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in medium pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid.
6. Add cooked spaghetti to kale mixture in pot. Add lemon juice and 2 tablespoons reserved cooking liquid; toss to combine, adding more liquid by tablespoonfuls if dry. Sprinkle spaghetti with grated Parmesan cheese and serve.

What's your healthy go-to dish?

Karate Kid Premiere Releases Ninja Hunger

On Monday night I got to help out with my very first event. The Karate Kid premiere! I will admit I was a little nervous. Mostly because of my tough time identifying celebrities. (I once told Gwyneth Paltrow she looked a lot like Gwyneth Paltrow). But don't worry people, I kept my cool. I only asked Jackie Chan for his autograph twice and begged Will Smith to rap like the Fresh Prince only AFTER he had a few cocktails. But let's be honest. What I was really focused on was the food. And there was lots of it. I was like a ninja swooping in on one buffet table to another. Slyly taking pictures between stuffing dumplings in my face. Like a warrior baboon. With panther-like stealth. It was only Jackie Chan who was able to stop me from taking the last wonton.


Wolfgang Puck catered the event and I must say they did a very kick-ass job. Not only did everything look amazing, but the wide variety of options and themed delicacy's were killer. From the chicken pot stickers, chopped chicken salad, to soft shell crab mini burgers, the food was exciting, exotic and arguably erotic. Unfortunately the night was so cold, they didn't put the food out until just before the guests arrived. This meant I wasn't able to snap any sweet shots of the buffet. What I did get a good look at was the dessert table. And if I know anything about people, they tend to be dessert junkies. So For all you sweet tooths out there. Enjoy~

The set up earlier on while all the guests were sill in the screening. Beautiful already but nothing compared to what it looked like at night.

This was Jackie Chan's section, where I made it abundently clear that no one stole wontons from Leela and got away with it.

There were beautiful orchids everywhere. I'm a sucker for orchids, especially colorful ones

The VIP section as night falls. The lighting made everything look magical.

The main buffet before the food was set out :( How pretty is the set up?)

The Dessert Buffet

Chop Stick Caught Chocolate Covered "Brandied Cherry Flies"

Mango Pudding With Almond Ginger Biscotti

Asian Fruit Soup Shooters with flavors such as coconut, mango, berry and kiwi.

Warm Banana Custard Filled Donuts with Coconut Flakes.

Chinese Black Rice Pudding with Vanilla Bean and Pineapple

Red Velvet Cake Dipped in Liquid Nitrogen (which freezes the cake and makes it cold and crunchy)

A Leela stuffed with caramel cream then dipped in dark chocolate.

Ha-Ya!