Here's to a great 2010!! Enjoy and be safe!

Lee Kam Kee with D&L

Diana and Lior drove out to have lunch with us on Monday. We threw around a few options but settled on Vietnamese - Lee Kam Kee. It's one of our favorite Vietnamese restaurants. Next time, hopefully we will all be feeling well enough to enjoy Little Fat Sheep. Sergio and Lior were both dealing with residual cough situations. So a communal, bubbling pot of soup just wasn't the best idea. Lee Kam Kee came through though. Diana selected an appetizer I had never tried before. It was a fun dish. Savory, just the right chewy pork on top of crispy, crunchy rice cake (?) discs. She and I each had a different type of Pho. The guys got the same exact dish. Charbroiled pork. Copycats.



On the way back home, we stopped to take a quick spin around Galco's. Sergio got a coffee soda that he liked. I also got the National Soft Drink of Austria. Haven't tried it yet. The root beer was really tasty.

It was great to finally spend some time with Diana and Lior. Come to think of it, I've known Lior for about 9 years now. 10 next year. Wow. Unfortunately, we rarely get to see them these days. They have this fab place waaay over by the ocean, in walking distance to the marina. Ok, so it's not really that far. So next time, Sergio and I will make the jaunt over to their place to hang. They promised food.

Rolly Polly Panda Bear

Sleepy panda accidentally rolls over!



The level of adorableness is nearly painful. Then, the little guys just lays out and waves to the humans-- "Hey, what's up?"

Post-Christmas Brunch

A full two days post Christmas eve parangial activity, we got ready to host one last bout of entertaining before 2010. Bunch! It was a small affair. But of course, we needed to provide a table full of food. We stayed out and played way too late the night before so ended up staying up way too late prepping. I made the Truffle Mac n' Cheese and Baked French Toast ahead of time so I could just stick them in the oven the morning of. What else? Scrambled eggs, two kinds of sausage, thick-cut bacon, yogurt & granola, fruit salad, strawberry & champagne cocktail, Illy coffee, various teas & Pandoro!
AND...Alpna wore her holiday socks to make up for not being able to attend the potluck! They had motion-activated flashing red lights! so cool! Check the video out at the bottom of the post! Also is a video of me prepping the Pandoro.

Christmas Eve Dinner

This was the festive scene at our house prior to leaving for M&D's house. Presents under our tree! There was nothing under there about 30 seconds before the photo was taken. Sergio and I did some power shopping earlier in the day -- some of it after we saw Avatar in IMAX, which, BTW, can only described in the single word I uttered as soon as the end credits began rolling: wow. I say again: wow. I rarely double-watch movies in theatre, but for the IMAX experience...I may just have to.

Anyway, we rush around, finished shopping and I rushed through the gift wrapping. I totally frankensteined Chi's gift -- I used three different types of paper! We used the same gift wrap my parents purchased about 7 years ago. I'm serious. It was from Costco and the tubes were huge. I'm so happy to have finished a couple rolls this year. I used print at home business card stock I got from the 99 cent store about 4 or 5 years ago for the gift tags.



Chi was still grilling when we arrived so I partook in some of the sticky rice my mom and dad made. So delicious! They never skimp on the good ingredients so it's super tasty. We all sat down for a really great meal and some phenomenal wine -- Pinot Noir from Rideau Winery. Jenny popped that open for this special occasion and we appreciated it! So smooth and flavorful.



Post dinner, we sat around and chatted. Jenny made us all wait for midnight to open the presents. Too...much...food...and wine. I was almost asleep! See how my eyes are all droopy?



Finally, midnight! Check out the spoils!




Mom gave Jenny a pair of pretty earrings. She tried them on and they didn't fit her luscious lobes -- total unexpected score for me! Yes! :) After dinner, everyone chatted some more while I lounged and basically wavered in and out of sleep.

Arriving home, I went straight to bed while Sergio relaxed on the couch and kept Micio company. His cough was getting the better of him so he couldn't sleep. Aside from the cough, I thought it was a pretty great Christmas celebration. We looked forward to a very quiet Christmas day and lucky for us, it was exactly that. Slept in, lounged around, watched movies, ate small dinner. Absolutely awesome.

Best. Husband. Ever.

We said no presents. So he got me this for Christmas.

For those of you who do not reside in L.A., Burke Williams is a delicious SoCal based chain of day spas. This little flat burgundy box is perhaps one of the best gifts you could ever receive. @ least IMO.

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday.

Love you all.

elsie

Languid Brunch at the Langham

As a belated birthday present, Jenny and Chi treated me to the Sunday Champagne Brunch at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena. Formerly the Ritz-Carlton, the place exudes old world elegance, money and grace. The brunch was possibly one of the best champagne brunches I've ever had. Sergio agrees. The food stations were laid out interestingly, scattered in pockets all around the main dining room. We sat out in the Terrace, overlooking the pool area. Though it was not bright and sunny, the temperature was perfect for outdoor dining. Of course, the service was excellent. Glasses never empty, dirty plates and utensils cleared and replaced promptly and quietly. My favorite dish was a bacon (prosciutto?) wrapped date that sat on a bed of burrata cheese and arugla. I think I had like three of those. They had everything you would expect from a hotel champagne brunch -- just stepped up, higher quality, more refined variations and better tasting.





After the meal, we wandered around the hotel and grounds. This was Jenny and Chi's wedding night hotel so it is an even more special place, and they knew a lot about it! It was also all decked out for the holidays with fairy lights, poinsetta, a giant bear and cookies for Santa.



The phone booths were like little offices. We couldn't resist taking a mirror shot in one. The picture bridge featured hand painted scenery the entire length. I guess it used to extend over the pool but guests kept using it as a launching pad into the water. So, the pool was shortened years ago. I think if you tried really hard though, you could still make it. The famous Japanese inspired garden did not disappoint. Lots of weddings take place there. Wonder what it's like to live in one the storybook houses that run along the edge of the hotel grounds? The road in/out is basically private so it's pretty quiet. But then you get hotel guests wandering around taking pictures of your home, like I did. The last photo below is an actual home! It looked like something out of Hansel and Gretel.




Thanks so much Chi and Jenny! It was a wonderful experience and a perfect birthday present.