james perse

every winter there is one james perse soft, cozy and comfy warm sweater i drool about - this year, it's this soft merino wool bundle of socal winter warmth.

english rib open cardigan

i have a dream

they aired mlk's entire i have a dream speech this morning and though i think i've seen it and heard it and read it over a dozen times, i was transfixed - glued.
over 40 years on, the struggle for the dream has come true for some, and continues for others and 40 years on, i am once again reminded of the rare life affirming powers of the preacher of peace and poetry.
no greater speech has ever been given- no words strung together more eloquently. 

this moment

i was thinking about these lines all yesterday  - about being happy in the moment and enjoying the now and all the sentimental crap that pops up when the wine and roses dance around long enough. 
the playlist is endless, but the poets always said it best.

"drink wine. 

this is life eternal. 

this is all that youth will give you. 

it is the season for wine, roses and drunken friends. 

be happy for this moment. 

this moment is your life." 

- Omar Khayyám 

have a brilliant wine, roses and friends filled weekend and take a deep, deep breath before making a wish.

ink.

2009 top chef winner michael voltaggio opened his much anticipated "modern los angeles cuisine" restaurant, ink, a few months ago and reservations have been gobbled up 30 days in advance ever since. we somehow managed to land a table a few weeks ago - an anticipated meal in a beautiful dining room that did not disappoint with great service, perfect cocktails, beautiful presentation and a well thought out menu. 
everything was as good as it gets for a celebrity chef owned experience, yet, somehow the food did not blow me away with any singular, memorable dish or a desire to elbow for another hard to get reservation. a definite must try, just not so much of a must return.
here is a sample of what we ordered - as usual the dim (but perfectly lit) dining room was not forgiving to an iphone camera.

gin, house (grapefruit infused) tonic

bigeye tuna, parsnip-sesame cream, grapefruit, soy gel 

charred avocado, hen of the woods, whipped fish sauce, mushroom chicharrón 

spaghetti, giant squid, squash, hazelnut-ink pesto, piment d’espelette 

jidori chicken, waffles, smoked maple, hot sauce

beef short rib, tamarind bbq, turnips, potato

pork cheeks, charcoal oil, macaroni and cheese, leeks

apple, crème caramel, burnt wood sabayon, walnut

chocolate, in various textures, coffee sabayon, pears

carnage

we saw roman polanski's film adaptation of yasmina reza's play god of carnage last night. a brilliantly crafted social satire, the film is a claustrophobic polanski meditation on responsibility and guilt wrapped in an impeccable cast. 
if like me, you love movies (and stories) where people's masked polite veneer's are stripped away and presented with all guts and no glory, then i think, like me, you will absolutely love this short, 80 minute all purpose nihilistic gem. 

la bouche rouge

i've been kicking around the idea that it is time to embrace some red lip color - and here are a couple of shades i love - not too blue, not too orange, not too pink - simply red.
the trick however, is to apply without exhibiting my drawing outside the line skills and this awesome video, by the guardian's sali hughes is the perfect must watch beginners lesson!

nars wonder

mac ruby woo

music monday - tiger mountain peasant song

happy new year! 
this little blog and i took a lovely tropical island paradise break last week (some pics to come) and hope you had a lovely, relaxing, food and friends filled holiday season as well. 
i want to start the new year with this song which has been swimming in my head since i got back yesterday. a perfectly quiet winter melody to ease you into a sunny winter week.
 i'm ready for you, 2012!