Saturday, August 30, 2008

Erhan and Shirin`s wedding

Left the house around 12h00. Drove to Burbank for Erhan and Shirin`s wedding. Oh yes, barely any AC since the car overheats. Went to St. Jude to get dressed and 'shower' (You know how Charlize Theron showers in the movie Monster ? HAHA). Got there right on time at 19h00. The wedding was really lovely - a mix of Turkish and Persian culture.

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The Groom’s cake ! Triathlon pride
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With the beautiful bride and groom
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Miki lives and works 10 minutes from Burbank so she stopped by for a bit to say hello. WEDDING CRASHER!!! LOVES IT! I haven’t seen her since my going away party to France.
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Left around 23h00. Got home around 5h30. I am immune to caffeine now - drank a bunch of coffee etc and I still fell asleep.

Thanks Raf for being a trooper and driving the whole time! I guess Coke, Red Bull, and a large cup of coffee works for him.

Zachary pix - cutest baby in the world

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Christmas already?
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Target ads
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Eating my brownies
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Where did it go ?
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And my baby girl, Ginger sunbathing
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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Cali eating continued… “shopping”… and rock climbing !

So this morning went to pick up Christine at “7” and drive her to the airport. Raf wakes me up at 6am so we can get going. The plan was to go on our usual run after we dropped her off.

We arrive at her door at 6:45am. She opens the door in a towel and says “what’s wrong? Why are you here?” IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 7PM. That is why we need to do 24 hour time in the US. AND that is why Raf should have double checked ! We were so tired and I was in allergy hell so we went back home to sleep.

I woke up, then met up with Weenie, Hubby, and Bean today. Ate at the orginal Vung Tau in San Jose. I got a delicious beef and shrimp rice dish of course. Ummmm

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Then went to Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. The girls bought stuff (Weenie works at the NM in Palo Alto so she got some good deals). Then we hit up balls at Fantasia and more cream-cheese bread.

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Afterwards, I went home and me and Raf went to drive Christine to the airport at 19h00. Grabbed a quick snack…

And then…. ROCK CLIMBING… one of my favorite things to do ever!
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Here`s Carlo on a 5`10 - HE GOT STUCK
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Raf
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Brain
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I climbed a 5’4, 5’7, 5’8, 5’9, and half of a 5’10 (I would have finished if Planite Granite wasn’t closing *wink*). My grip strength is pretty weak but I felt really good up there. I hadn’t climbed for at least 1.5 years. It felt so nice to climb again. That is one thing the French need to have – climbing gyms =). Almost makes me want to move back home. Hahahaha

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Weee!!! 
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Busy day today but trying to double book friends so I can see everyone in the “short” amount of time I have.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

More California Eating

Hit up some Muslim Chinese food with Carlo and his co-workers. Ran into my family there too. Hah! Luckily my dad ordered for us. Lots of lamb and delicious bread/noodles.

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My mom, Zacky, Carlo, and Scott
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Later, Raf and I went to my parents house for dinner. And I saw this guy in a suit on a segway. Awesome.
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And for dinner, my mom made egg rolls. They are the best egg rolls in the world. Filled with lots of meat, bamboo, and rice noodles. Ummmm
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Grandpa and Zacky - so cute !
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Thai food with my siblings

Went to eat Thai food with my sister, Sue, bro-in-law, Rick, and bro Huang... and of course baby Zacky.

In downtown Palo Alto. Sue feeding Zacky soup.
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He's definitely not shy. Everybody loved him. =)

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Andrew’s last day in the Bay

We had to hit up Rwoya

Kimchi
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Butabara Ramen
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Hiyashi chuka
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Chicken karaage (I find it`s the best here)
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Then of course, we had to get balls at Fantasia. And dang-ta and cream-cheese bread at Sheng Kee Bakery. Ummmm. Life is good.

Look they are wearing matching outfits – how cute!
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Degustation @ Manresa + 7 Bamboo == A Perfect Night

Manresa. Tasting menu. With Raf. Also accompanied by Andrew and his awesomeness, and we talked Carlo into it as well. Woot !

Andrew doing his model walk
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Chee-zu !
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The lighting was really dim so the few photos I pulled these photos were from when I was "staging" there.

The menu for tonight:

AMUSE BOUCHES

Petit fours "red pepper-black olive"

Lavender lemonade, mint

Parmesan churros

Courgette sorbet, pistachio vinaigrette
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Sweet Corn cromesquis

Aprege farm-egg
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ENTRÉES

Foie gras, gently roasted, licorice and cherry

Shellfish and golden rasberries in bonito broth, fragrant green curry oil
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Tomatoes, both raw and cooked, smoked roe with roast tuna consommé
(This photo is pre-consommé)
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Pumpkin soup "potimarron", nasturtium ice cream

Into the vegetable garden...
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Roast tuna and vegetables in exotic spice, flowering herbs
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Sweetbreads, roasted whole, morel soubise with lemongrass

Roast lamb with eggplant and dates, anis hyssop


DESSERT

Pluots and olive oil ice cream, sorrel consommé

"Monkey bread" with Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream

Chocolate-blackberry napolean, black berry sorbet and coffee

Petits fours "strawberry-chocolate"


And for coffee... none other than Affogato

Afterwards, we took a quick peek into the kitchen - it was cool to be able to show them where I worked for a few days.

This dinner was amazing - and I have to say I haven't had some of the flavor combinations before. Everything was delicious, but I especially enjoyed the corn cromesquis, foie, garden salad, sweetbreads, tuna, and "monkey bread" dessert. I really want to go back but the wallet needs a little work... or a lot of work. =) Maybe next year heheeh.

Manresa
320 Village Ln
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Tel: (408) 354-4330


Thanks Raf !
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Outside the resto after dinner with Chef David Kinch and Miss Pim.
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We didn't get out of dinner until around midnight. We were supposed to meet up with Luigi at a house party but apparently the cops came and it had died down. We decided to go to 7 BAMBOO - the coolest dive bar/karaoke bar EVER!

If I still lived here, I would totally be a regular. And normally, I don't even like Karaoke! (Depends on how many drinks). 7 Bamboo is so cool that you can stream them online and even type in comments about whoever is singing at the moment - which is displayed on the wall inside. The crowd is completely mixed too.

Here is Vic. He was here last time, about a year ago. Raf is convinced he's the owner but I think he is just a regular. He's good!


This guy was so funny with the cowbell


More cowbell !
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7 Bamboo
162 Jackson Street
San Jose, CA 95112

Tel: (408) 279-9937


What a fabulous weekend so far.