best backyard table

i have no idea who designed this table or where i found this picture - it was sitting in the "need to clean up/research" folder on my desktop. but i know i kept the image for a reason - i want this table (or a similar variation of it) in my backyard, if and when i have a back yard. the cut out middle gutter is genius for ice or flowers or candles or condiments and just to be cheeky and show off my awesome table, i would place shucked oysters along with the bottles of wine at my inaugural welcome to my backyard party.

tar & roses

my current favorite local restaurant and one of the hardest reservations to get in town is tar & roses in santa monica. their locally sourced, seasonal menu is perfect in every way and the only flaw (besides having to call several weeks in advance for a decent reservation time) is that a lot of the menu items sells out early. (we missed out on the squid ink taglietelle w/octopus and the cauliflower w/white anchovy last time we ordered @8:30 pm. but here is the list of the deliciousness we did get to feast on along with a couple of pictures before it all disappeared.   

king trumpet mushrooms w/soft egg, rosemary and chili de arbol

wood roasted potatoes w/garlic and spicy tomato aioli

wood roasted eggplant w/romesco and burrata 

ricotta gnocchi w/asparagus, favas and pea tendrils

kurobuta pork tenderloin w/creamed corn, kale and smoked peach

whole fried snapper w/cold soba noodles and dipping sauce

homemade chocolate bar w/roasted hazelnuts and salted caramel ice cream 

music monday - moby w/patti labelle

i'm not particularly fond of patti labelle, but this moby version had me hooked when i heard it behind the wheel on the pch last week. 

and the oscar goes to...

i'll have to wait until january for mira nair's the reluctant fundamentalist, but i am more than ready for some serious oscar buzz worthy films that have just, and soon will be, arriving to a theatre near you! 
pass the (unbuttered) popcorn please and have a star studded weekend!

debt collector

in his latest rolling stone magazine cover story, matt taibbi clearly and insightfully explains just how mitt romney made his millions with bain capital- by creating debt. "This is the plain, stark reality that has somehow eluded America's top political journalists for two consecutive presidential campaigns: Mitt Romney is one of the greatest and most irresponsible debt creators of all time." if you read one new story this week, let this be it.

once upon a time...the end.

i could read and get lost in lists like this and this all day long.

quinoa (or bulgur) corn salad

i made a slightly modified version of  this easy, tasty recipe yesterday. i didn't have quinoa, so i used bulgur instead. i also substituted a package of micro-arugula for the cabbage, lessened the olive oil to about 1/3 of a cup (or less) and left out the cucumbers because i find that they make day old salad (there was plenty for left overs) too soggy. It is a perfect, versatile summer salad meal or side dish, specially when tomatoes and corn are in season, and i just couldn't put my fork down (yes, i considered adding a fried egg to a serving this morning)!