Food for thought

Oh, blog... I'm sorry I have ignored you!  Please don't begin to feel you are the unloved red headed step-child that is forced to live in the attic--  (no offense to any of my ruby fringed readers)-- I have been busy with my 'real' job but this, I know, is no excuse.  New years resolution #12- Blog more!

Recently I have noticed that people have been coming to me asking for suggestions for good restaurants to try in LA.  Sure, why not? I can be a self proclaimed foodie if I want! Isn't that one of the perks of living in this over-priced city, to be able to throw a rock and hit a decent restaurant or martini bar?

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of trying out Gjelina on Abbot Kinney in Venice.  I'd heard good things but couldn't wait to try it out for myself. 

The decor is very industrial and minimalist.  Right where functionality meets luxurious. 

And the food is killer...

We started with the artisan cheeses with marinated olives, honeycomb, membrillo & toast.

Followed by the gruyere, carmelized onion, fromage blanc, and arugula pizza.

 Finished off with coffee and a butterscotch pot de creme w/ salted caramel and creme fraiche. So good!

Baby its cold outside..

Ahhhhh... it's winter time.  Time to bundle up in scarves and coats, tights and boots and drink hot cocoa by a crackling fire. 

I know it's been a while since I've updated my blog so I'm going to make it up to you by sharing some of my favorite things for this winter season ;)


I am absolutely in love with this Jason Wu look.  A foxy navy dress with some texturized black tights.

Next up is this cranberry red Burberry Pea coat...

Hello gorgeous! I want! I want! Unfortunately this jacket costs more than my rent :/ So for now a dream it will remain...


No matter. Onto something a bit more realistic- 
Frye Boots!
                                           

I have a pair of chestnut brown leather Frye boots that I got a few years back and I've worn them so much that I've already had them resoled twice! This year I'm hoping that Santa (or my Christmas bonus) will get me these black leather riders!  Nothing says its winter like a pair of sumptuous boots :)

Lastly a cozy cardigan that I just got from Urban Outfitters.  Mine's in a nice natural beige- perfect for throwing on and doing some Christmas shopping. 

Happy Holidays Everyone!

San Sebastian is where it's at!!

This past summer I had the privilege of spending a few weeks in Europe.  For those of you who haven't taken a trip across the pond- start putting away $30 every week and this time next year you will have enough money.  GO.  The food, the people, the 'Je Nous Se Qua'...It will change you- in a good way. 

On this most recent trip I spent the first week in London with family, the second week on my own in Barcelona, Spain.  The last week and a half was spent in Basque Country - which is in the northern part of Spain and south of France.   I was in San Sebastian, Spain and Biarritz, France to be exact.  All of the places I've visited are amazing in their own way but the crown jewel of this trip was definitely my week spent in San Sebastian.

It's a low key surf town on the Atlantic coast that is known for beautiful beaches, good surf, a charming historic town and AMAZING food. 

They specialize in meats and fish grilled over hot coals, marmitako and lamb stews, cod, Tolosa bean dishes, paprikas from Lekeitio, pintxos, Idiazabal sheep's cheese, txakoli sparking wine, and Basque cider.  My favorites were definitely the pintxos, which is the Basque word for tapas or appetizers.

 

Every night in San Sebastian would start the same way... After a long leisurely day on at the beach, we would go back home and have a little rest.  Relax, read a book, unwind.  Then shower and get ready and leave for dinner around 9-10 in the evening.  By this time the sun is down and the small cobble stone roads of the old town are bustling with people. 

The air is warm and all the restaurants have a spread of pintxos sprawled out on their bar counter tops.

This charming town really has the best of all worlds... Amazing architecture, beautiful beaches, and a fun and vibrant night life.  I can't wait to go back. 

                     A church in the old town

View looking down at one of the beaches in the late afternoon

                The view from our room at sunset

Ah, Spain... I love you.  Regresare pronto no preocupa :)

Pumpkin Martini's, Santa Ana's and Rock and Roll

Today is Friday, October 29th.  This means that it's the weekend of Halloween!  All week long here in LA the Santa Ana's have been blowing giving the air that warm, blustery, dry feeling that means fall is here and its time to celebrate the arrival of Autumn. 

Now in my short life Halloween has had many different faces.  As a really young child Halloween was spent trick or treating with my brother, Morgan, who is 3 years my junior.  Anyone who has a sibling that is close to their age you know the routine...  Said person is your best friend and greatest mortal enemy simultaneously.  You are forced to spend every waking moment with them which would often end in a brawl over who cheated on some Nintendo game and then 10 minutes later it would be as if nothing ever happened.  Now I'm not going to name name's.. (Mom, Susan!) but for some reason for 3 straight years Morgan and I were forced to wear the same costumes year after year!  I want to say it was between the ages of 8 and 11.  I remember it like it was yesterday... I was the Queen of Hearts from Alice and Wonderland and Morgan was a bum/ pirate.

My junior and high school years were spent trick or treating with friends and trolling for two things- candy and boys. 

Moving into to college years and the costumes became MUCH more scandelous and the candy was replaced with jello-shot infused ragers. (Isla Vista, CA you know who you are...)

Fast forward to present day and I'm happy to say that the alcohol has stayed but the costumes and parties have gotten much more civilized.

 Tonight I'm going to attempt to make Pumpkin Martini's!

I'm just going to go ahead and call them Pumptini's for short :)


Here's a recipe for you guys to try at home

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces of Kettle One vodka (*you can use whatever kind of Vodka you want)
• Pumpkin spice
• 1 ounce Stoli Vanil vodka
• Vanilla cocktail candy rim sugar

The mix:

• Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a shaker 1/4 full of cracked ice
• Shake, shake, shake for a minute
• Allow the shaker to rest while you rim 2 freezing martini glasses with vanilla cocktail candy rim sugar
• Strain your spiced pumpkin pie martini into your glasses
• Each glass gets a shake of pumpkin spice
• Enjoy!

Although this may seem easy enough, those of you who know me well, also know that I am NOT a chef or barista by any sense of the word but I love trying new things. So wish me luck with this!

Another fun Halloween shout out.  Tomorrow night I'm going to be in Silverlake for an All Hallows Eve Music Festival where my friends band the Muddy Reds will be playing.  If you have not seen them play before you will be in for a treat.

http://themuddyreds.bandcamp.com/

Here's the info:

 Rafa's Lounge

1836 W. Sunset Blvd

Saturday at 9:00pm - Sunday at 2:00am

Addison Strong
The Muddy Reds
Dirty Dinosaurs
Frixus
Tommy SpaSe
42 West
and more...

A $25 admission fee gets you unlimited mixed cocktails
(Whiskey, Vodka, and Rum) and beer (various) throughout
the entire night. There will also be a variety of food items and
a costume contest.

I hope that everyone has a safe, happy and heathy Halloween.  Until next time...

Noir et blanc

There is something romantic about a black and white photograph.  I think it has to do with the fact that all old photos, in the days before digital cameras/ when things were good,  used to be in black and white.  It makes me think of my Oma's house...  My Grandpa was part of the golden era of  Hollywood.  Thus down their hallways are amazing framed original photos.  Beautiful close ups of Greta Garbo and Betty Davis.

Those days were simple and fantastic. Simply fantastic!


Here are some of the things that I love in shades of black and white...

My dog, Owen, what a little gentleman 

Three hour meals in France...ending with nothing but wine, water, cheese and bread on the table

The art walk in Downtown LA.  There is art. There is music. There are whisky bars. 

 If not for the crowds and the police brigades on Segways I would say damn near perfection. 

Juxtaposition

To me nothing comes together more beautifully and elegantly than the contrast of femininity and ruggedness.  Let me give an example... a dainty and delicate chiffon dress matched with a pair of leather riding boots.

                                          
   Ralph Lauren's throw back to the Wild Wild West

                                                            Chunky turquoises jewelry.  I love...


These same principles of gruff meets grace also applies home decor.  I think of a large wooden four poster bed in the mountains with contrasting ivory satin sheets.

Much of my appreciation with these types of aesthetics comes from the fact that I have

 spend a lot of time at my family's Ranch in Big Bear, CA

My mom, being the amazing woman that she is, built this beast from the ground up and has

 designed it from the inside out with the same principles.  Ruggedly chic. 

Perfect tote for a weekend getaway

It's Friday afternoon and I'm about to leave for the day. 

I hope that everyone has a fantastic weekend! xoxo

Fall is here and so is my blog

Well it's official...I've joined the 21st century and now have a blog!  How exciting.  Who, when, how and what exactly this blog will be about I am unsure- but I'm sure that it will progress organically on its own as most things do.  What I do know is that today's blog will be about shoes...

Don't worry! it won't ALWAYS be about shoes or even fashion for that matter.  I'm planning on sharing whatever it is that is currently tickling my fancy be that clothes, interior design, cupcakes, a sunset, Champange, etc.  Today however, it happens be a pair of Jeffery Campbell platforms that I am planning on purchasing after work.  :)

I've been on a bit of  Jeffery Campbell kick (pun-intended) recently because I just love his style!  I think he takes serious risks with his designs that somehow still remain wearable and it also takes a bad ass chick to rock his shoes!  Case in point: My roommate Ashley:

Now I haven't even mentioned that I'm starting this blog to her, or that I'm going to be mentioning her in my first post BUT I'm sure its fine.

Ashley owns these babies

and rocks them hardcore all the time...


I was on the fence about getting my Campbell's for a little while..I thought to myself, "Cassandra, do you really need a pair of black leather platform shoes with a wood sole and a removeable ankle strap that are really comfortable to walk in..."  You get the point, I found myself saying YES despite the fact it's almost winter and I should be buying boots.  Well thankfully I live in Southern California and its only cold like 12 days out of the year. :)

It's time for me to hit the ol' dusty trail but before I do I will leave you with one more amazing Jeffery Campbell shoe:

YES! that girl on the left is wearing the Lita tie up bootie in camel colored suede that I also want in chestnut brown but currently cannot afford.  Maybe next month.  :)