Dinners for 12 Strangers

OMG last night was amazinggggg. So every year, UCLA facilitates mini-networking events for students, alumni and professors. While I was at UCLA and even when I was in  London, I attended these dinners, called Dinners for 12 Strangers. Last night, however, was my very first time hosting and I had a great time.

The Menu:
Paige made Brie, Honey, Pecan, Pear-Filled Puff Pastry.
I made arugula, prosciutto, goat cheese pizza, a veg pizza and a fennel sausage and sundried tomato pizza.
Anthony made a delish chocolate espresso cake for dessert.

We watched the Oscars, laughed a lot, I cried over a commercial, we gasped when Jennifer Lawrence fell and I was extremely nostalgic about UCLA and college and the fact that I'm turning 25 in three weeks. Cray Cray times.

I can't wait to host again next year :-)

Late Night Chinese + Other Things

My day was overwhelming although I didn't do much. Just sort of one of those days where a lot of things are happening and you're waiting for something and then you're just in bed watching Law and Order and thinking about where the hours went?

Well actually, I had class and then had a lovely lunch of a Wurstkuche Austin Blues sausage, followed by a delish maple custard pie at Pie Hole with my friend, Ellie.  I argued that we should split a piece but I'm happy we didn't bc we both inhaled our pieces like madwomen. Ellie had the vegetarian chipotle dog and the Earl Grey pie. It was great to catch up with Ellie. I miss summer when I used to see her everyday. Now both of our schedules are cray and we're trying to manage seeing each other once a week.

Earl Grey Pie

Ellie taking a photo of a dumpster

After that, I took Sophs to Elysian Park and we ran into her love, Freddy. Doing that walk everyday has been saving my soul. (I'm just mildly dramatic.) I ran to crim pro and then rushed home for a phone interview that lasted a surprisingly long time, especially when I felt like my stomach was eating my lung.

Sophie was ready for her hike

Jenaba, my savior/housemate, and I headed to Chinatown and tried to go to Wang Chow on Broadway, which was closed. So we hit up a place two establishments south of that and gorged on tangerine chicken, lo mein, duck soup, wontons, etc. So yum. I fell into bed and watched, you guessed it - Law and Order: SVU. It was as great day.

Orange chicken, which I later inhaled this morning, cold and delicious

Pork Lo Mein

I don't get it.

Food Coma + Filters

Today will be slightly different - I have a ton of work to finish and a film screening for school to attend. I also need to take Sophie on an extra long adventure today because I'll be gone longer and I want to sufficiently wear her out.

Off to my day but here's a video I've been sending to everyone. LOL.

Sailing

A few weeks ago, Grant's dad took Grant, Max, Jas and me sailing. It was a gorgeous day complete with a pod of dolphins and Hot's Kitchen. Their tacos are phenomenal as is their beer selection. I'm so grateful to have had such a great time with my boys.

Cafe Stella

Cafe Stella
3932 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90029

Yoooooo -

So my weekend was full of interviews and meek attempts at cleaning my room. So then I just escaped on Sunday to watch Downton with my family. In other news, I'm juicing this week, which I'm excited about and then throwing a V-Day party on Thursday night. Other big things: making over my dining room this weekend in time for my Dinners for 12 Strangers on Feb 24.

So back to Cafe Stella. Aline, Alene and Seda wanted to finally catch up and we chose Cafe Stella on Sunset on Saturday night. So glad I made a res - place was incredibly crowded. We valeted, since street parking was a mess. The restaurant is at Sunset Junction, which is an area I adore.

This place reminded me a little of Chez Janou in Paris, which already meant I loved it (minus the music choices which they need to improve.)

The food and drink:

1. Francesco Rinaldo red - the cheapest red on the menu - we are starving 20-somethings after all ($39/bottle). Slightly acidic, but worked well with the food.
2. Truffle fries - AMAZING. We inhaled these at an extreme rate. It was brutal.
3. Mussels - We were drinking the white wine butter sauce; perfectly cooked mussels.
4. Steak frites - We asked for it medium (generally I order it medium rare) - a bit tough and a bit bland. Not the best.
5. Kale Salad - lovely light vinaigrette 
6. Beet Salad - simple, fresh.
7. Pot au Chocolat - phenomenal - the best thing we had all night.
8. Creme Brulee - Also a beautifully prepared dessert.

The ambiance is lovely - lighting, decor, etc. The brick floors, wood paneling, general feel. I really enjoyed it. 

What I didn't enjoy: The service was poor. Our water glasses weren't refilled with any sort of purpose. We ordered bread, which never came. We also waited about 30-45 mins between each course. I understand the European style of eating and god knows I love it, but we drank a bottle of wine before our order was even taken. Perhaps a good way to encourage imbibing, but not good for hungry girls and gossiping.

Lazy Ox Canteen

Lazy Ox Canteen
241 S San Pedro St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Soooo... I'm going to try to be better about posting mini restaurant reviews. Alene, Aline and I hit up Lazy Ox Canteen, in Little Tokyo, on Thursday for an early dins. I've been wanting to try it and I'll definitely be going back. We ordered half of our dishes off the happy hour list - such a good deal - and then a few things that had been recommended.

What we got:

1. brussel sprouts* - a fave of ours
2. spicy chicken bites* - standard
3. cauliflower* - perfectly cooked
4. chicharron pig ears - surprisingly delicious, but I couldn't think too hard about what they were.
5. truffle fries - i needed more truffle oil, obvs
6. the burger - not the best burger I've had, but still good
7. butterscotch pudding - THIS WAS THE MOST AMAZING DESSERT EVER
8. chocolate chip cookie - basic pizookie - totally yummy though

The happy hour prices are amazing. We all got a decent house wine for $3 a glass and the happy hour dishes (*) were only $5. Also on Mondays, they have half-off bottles of wine. Not to mention parking was ample and service was great. 

Feeling a Bit Odd

This weekend was weird for me. On one hand, I got to spend so much time with amazing people. I hit up Brite Spot and Scoops with Max and V. (The maple brownie was legitttt). I went hiking and ate brunch with Alene at The Trails in Griffith - must go back! (Three words: lavender shortbread cookies). I drank wine with Aline, Greg and Evan at my fave spot, The Hermosillo. And I spent Beyonce Bowl with my lovely housemates and besties, Jacy and Ellie, inhaling kale chips and cuddling puppies. I also got some good hugs from my mom, great mail, and some leads on the foreboding future.

That aside, I was in a weird weird weird schizo bipolar cray cray mood. I think its passing, but sometimes I get what I call the "sky is falling syndrome," where everything is shattering and I can't deal and I stay in bed and force cuddle Sophie and watch reruns of Criminal Minds and SVU and call my mom and ask for cake. Yeah, I know - its weird. It's also torture for the lovely people around me. I miss out on a lot of Friday - birthdays and shows and dinner. But it was nice to gather my thoughts and indulge in a little ridiculousness.

All I know is I am so grateful for those who put up with me, even when I'm less bubbly and obnoxious than usual.

Things I'm looking forward to:

- My Dinner for 12 Strangers that I'm hosting with Anthony
- Hiking with Megan
- Getting on the yoga train
- The various meetings I have this week (more on that later)
- Going to Trader Joes (Its the little things)

Two Best Things

Well, three actually: Tegan and Sara AND Andy Samberg. love.