Fashion Island

I have been quite the busy bee this last week, and did not have time to blog about my recent adventures.

Last weekend I was able to visit Newport Beach and Fashion Island in the OC. The beaches here are gorgeous, and perfect for late night bon fires. The shopping trip to Fashion Island was so exciting! I love out door malls, and I am looking forward to the Rebecca Taylor Store and Whole Foods that will be opening later this year. 

Delicious turkey+gouda on wheat, and seasonal salad at Pain du Monde

Agreed.

Brandy Melville: Fashion Island, Newport Beach

Gorgeous UO fitting rooms.

Fancy Farewells

The past few days have been a blur; I have been super busy with saying my goodbyes and packing my life into 3 by 4 trunk space (or 3 by 5?), and trying to cram every single bag, shoe, and article of clothing that I can into the already extremely full car. If only dorm rooms came with a personal bathroom, kitchen space, and walk in closet. Elle Decor anyone?

Goodbye Present #1: Cream Club Monaco Sweater 

Farewell Dinner with the Family: Gochi Japanese Tapas 

Favorites: Hamachi Carpaccio, Chilean Sea Bass, and Black Sesame Ice Cream (yum!)

Goodbye Present #2:  Handmade Living 

Ferry Building

My Saturday morning was well spent at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. The farmers market is there  every Saturday, and packed with vendors selling organic produce, baked treats, and yummy eats! 

Pebbles Donuts - Organic, “muffin top”/guilt free vegan donuts.

Purchased the blueberry, green tea, lemon poppyseed, and orange creamsicle! 

Lunch - at the Plant Cafe, we ordered duck confit pizza, BBQ chicken panini, and a soy chai latte (blue bottle)

Macaron Fancy

   The saying “the second time’s the charm” has proven to be true once again. Tedious as these little suckers may seem, they are actually quite simple after making them a second time. I even went for a third, (seeing as my second attempt was a success) and made both vanilla and raspberry macarons! I think I have been bitten by the bakers bug, because I am so hooked on baking macarons, Future flavors to try: blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, matcha, earl grey, and mango. 

Chez Panisse

  

In California there is a view that food should be organic, local, and eaten in its purest form; not hidden under fancy sauces or “engineered” using modern technology. This perspective of food is all to the thanks to Alice Waters, the pioneer of Californian cuisine.

As a northern Californian resident, I am lucky enough to have access to Chez Panisse whenever I please (if seating permits). Yesterday I found myself sitting upstairs in the café, indecisive as ever over what to order from the Lulu Peyraud inspired menu. The verdict came out to be zucchini salad, wild king salmon, and wildflower honey ice-cream. Everything tasted as it should be, simple, delicious, and pure. 

Vanilla Macaron

Upon my recent visit to Miette in Hayes Valley SF, I had an itch to make my own scrumptious creations. More specifically I had an urge to try a hand in making their delicious macarons, which proved to be a pretty ambitious endeavor.

If a macaron was a flower it would be an orchid since it is so delicate and easy to “ruin”. I learned this the hard way by over folding the whipped whites and not using a pastry bag tip. Nevertheless the deformed macarons were saved by Miette’s vanilla buttercream recipe, which is absolutely divine! I will have an attempt #2 in the near future.

Gourmet SF Food Tour

It was such a cold and windy day in Hayes Valley, but exploring the area’s most delicious eats was such a treat! The theme of the Gourmet San Francisco Food Tour is “organic, local, sustainable”, and the way I strive to lead my eating lifestyle. It is a three hour walking tour, with various tastings led by a knowledgable tour guide, explaining the history and culture behind Hayes Valley. My favorite stop was definitely Smitten Ice Cream. Each scoop is individually made to order, and has the creamiest texture. I had the brown sugar which is to die for!


http://www.gourmetwalks.com/index.html