Bottega Louie {Los Angeles, CA}

Bottega Louie is one of those restaurants that has mastered being both trendy and worthwhile. It's a place where, on a good day, which is about every other day, you can find a posh looking celebrity chowing on some great eats. 

To me, a restaurant shines in its details. Here, at Bottega Louie, they've got the details down pat. They have complimentary still and sparkling water which they pour at your table in these gorgeous glass bottles, and then leave on your table for self-pouring as needed. At the same table, you'll find little salt and pepper shakers. But these aren't your typical salt and pepper shakers, oh no. You'll notice that they have Himalayan pink salt!

Right when you are seated you'll also be greeted with little loaves of bread. Crusty and served right on the table. Oh, and paired with homemade jam and butter to boot! I wish the bread was served warm though.

To drink, we opted for their green tea mojitos, which is their clever concoction of green tea and mint, and a vanilla latte. The latte was splendid as well.

After reading many reviews on Yelp, I deduced that the Portobello fries were a necessary order. Meaty, chewy and a bit crispy on the edges and served with some sort of aoili. I was already stuffed and satisfied from munching on these, but we had much more to come!

My favorite dish probably had to be the mache salad with roasted chicken, avocado and lemon. It was lightly dressed, really fresh, and reminded me of a Vietnamese dish. It was really fantastic. 

The eggs benedict were enjoyed by a friend, who lives and breathes for eggs benedicts and who self-proclaims herself as an eggs benedict fiend. She said this one was among her top 3 that she's tried.

Lastly for lunch, we got the clam pizza. No, there was not any clams on the pizza, sadly. But with roasted peppers, and gooey ooey cheese, it was still good. Though I enjoyed the chewiness and crispy edges of the dough, this was not my favorite. It was enjoyable, just not spectacular.

Wandering their desserts was like walking through a mine field, each way I'd look there'd be an explosion of cuteness. Their selection of cupcakes makes me insanely jealous because they are too damned beautiful!

To take home, we settled on some French macarons. When choosing them, I was slightly disappointed because they didn't seem like they had much of a selection and pretty basic ones at that. But upon tasting them, I was definitely surprised. They were the freshest, most moist and light macarons I've had. The cookie almost melted in my mouth! My favorites are still Paulette, but these are definitely second.

Website

Yelp

14 Actors Acting

 Fourteen Actors Acting

A video gallery of classic screen types.

It's always refreshing to see artists so involved in their craft. Besides, it also doesn't hurt to watch James Franco kiss... himself!

You can watch the videos, here.

Directed by Solve Sundsbo.

Music by Owen Pallett.

Produced by The New York Times Magazine.

Pasta with Baked Tomato Sauce

I think it's so funny, or I guess interesting, how much we learn as we grow up. Not only what we learn, information wise, but what we learn to like or dislike. As a kid, I used to hate tomatoes, onions, garlic and avocado - I know I'm really kicking myself about it.

Over time, I don't know what happened, all of a sudden they all began to just grow on me and now, well now, I love them, can't live without them! This pasta is just a simple, comforting meal. Just roast off some tomatoes, toss with some spaghetti and top with a drizzle of really good olive oil. Really, it's that simple. 

Mmmmm carbohydrates!

Pasta with Baked Tomato Sauce

Yields:

Original recipe here.

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 lb. very ripe cherry tomatoes, halved

1/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. pasta, cooked al dente

1/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves, torn

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Grease a 13x9" baking dish with 1/3 of the olive oil. Place the tomatoes cut side up in the dish. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese and garlic and toss with a fork to mix well. Sprinkle the mixture over the tomatoes, making sure that each cut side is well covered with the crumb mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until the tomatoes are cooked through and starting to brown on top, about 20 minutes. When the tomatoes are done, add the basil and stir vigorously to mix everything into a sauce. Add the pasta to the baking dish, then top with the remaining olive oil and toss well. 

Red Velvet Hot Cocoa with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

It seems like recently, my diet has consisted wholly of hot chocolate, soups and my any type of salad topped with my favorite new green apple vinaigrette (recipe soon)! Seriously though, I've been sipping on hot chocolate or some kind of homemade latte every other day, if not every day. This is probably because of my innate need for all things holiday to consume me. 

I'm the kind of girl who loves her winter weather. Although, you and I might have awful different ideas about what 'winter weather' means. As a born and raised Southern California girl, winter to me means: intermittent rains, 2 -3 layers of clothing tops, no sight of snow whatsoever and teeth chattering at the 70 degree mark. I know, I know, it's not much of a winter but it's what we've got!

Anyways, along with Christmas music, this red velvet hot chocolate is all I need to keep me warm on these cold Californian nights. The thing that makes this hot chocolate "red velvet" is merely coloring but the thought is cheerful in itself! You'd be surprised by how a little bit of color can make a cup of hot cocoa seem all the more merrier. The addition of cream cheese frosting though... purely decadent and the perfect pairing. I was always a firm believer that real red velvet deserves cream cheese frosting and not that vanilla buttercream nonsense. 

Red Velvet Hot Cocoa with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

Yields: 4 servings

Original recipe here.

4 cups whole milk

1 dash water

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. red food coloring

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 - 4 tbsn. whipped cream cheese, room temperature

In a stand mixer, combine the heavy cream and sugar. Whip on medium speed with the whisk attachment for 2 - 3 minutes. Just before peaks form, add the cream cheese and whisk for another 2 minutes. Taste and add more cream cheese to taste. Be careful not to over whip though, or else you'll have butter! In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. Add a splash of water and the chocolate chips, constantly stirring gently. When almost melted, add the red food coloring and stir. When the chocolate chips are thoroughly melted, pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top with the whipped cream.

Tailored Tuesdays

I love me some camel!

Got a really similar camel coat from Uniqlo when I visited NY, swoooon!

1. Vanessa Kandiyoti "Diamond and savorite evil eye necklace"

2. Alexander Wang "Textured wool-blend oversized jacket"

3. Diane von Furstenberg "Belted stretch silk dress"

4. Judith Leiber "Slender curve fine crystal embellished clutch"

5. Jimmy Choo "Private suede sandals"

All images can be found at net-a-porter.com.

Lemon Sabayon Tartlettes

These may be called 'Little Lemon Tarts' but there sure is nothing little about their flavor. Lemons are like little balls of sunshine, they bring joy to everything they take part in. That being said, it must be nice to be a lemon! And it must be even lovelier to be made into a pretty little tart and enjoyed by many. 

These lemon tarts have many counterparts, but really you could easily simplify them. The candied lemon peel and meringue are not necessary but just pretty little add-ons. But don't get me wrong though, they are delicious little add-ons! 


I really loved the lemon sabayon of this tart - it was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. The tart dough, on the other hand, was less loved. Though it was easy to make and put together, it wasn't my favorite tart dough. It shrank, which made it stumpy and thick. I made it again using a sugar cookie dough which I liked a lot more. It was nice and chewy and added a perfect sweetness. 

Lemon Sabayon Tartlettes

Yields: 1 9-inch tart or 8 - 10 mini tarts
Sabayon recipe here. Tart dough recipe from Dessert Fourplay by Johnny Iuzzini. 

For the tart dough:

3 1/2 cups flour

4 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. coarse salt

1 tsp. baking powder

12 tbsn. cold, unsalted butter (cut into pieces)

about 1 cup whole milk

For the lemon sabayon:
2 large eggs, cold

2 large egg yolks, cold

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (reserve the lemon peels)

6 tbsn. cold, unsalted butter, cut into pieces


For the meringue (optional):

2 egg whites

1/4 + 1/8 cup sugar

For the candied lemon peel (optional):
reserved lemon peels
1 cup sugar, plus extra for dusting
1 cup water


To make the tart dough, put the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Add 1/2 cup of the milk and pulse again until the dough starts to come together. Turn the dough out into a bowl and gather it into a ball. If the dough is still a bit dry, add a little more milk, tossing the dough with your fingers (you may not need all of the milk). Shape the dough into a brick, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. The dough will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator and for several months in the freezer. Defrost before rolling. To pre-bake, roll out the dough to fit your mini tart pans. Bake at 350 F for 10 - 12 minutes or until golden brown. 

To make the sabayon, bring about 1 1/2 inches of water to a boil in a pot that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bowl you will be using for the sabayon. Meanwhile, in a large metal bowl, whisk the whole eggs plus additional egg yolks and sugar for about a minute or until the mixture is smooth. Set the bowl over the pot and, using a whisk, whip the mixture while you turn the bowl (for even heating). After about 2 minutes, when the eggs are foamy and have thickened, add 1/3 of the lemon juice. Continue to whisk vigorously and, when the mixture thickens again, add another 1/3 of the lemon juice. Whisk until the mixture thickens again, then add the remaining lemon juice. Continue whisking vigorously, still turning the bowl, until the mixture is thickened and light in color and the whisk leaves a trail in the bottom of the bowl. The total cooking time should be 8 - 10 minutes. 

Turn off the heat and leave the bowl over the water. Whisk in the butter a piece at a time. The sabayon may loosen slightly, but it will thicken and set as it cools. Pour the warm sabayon into the tart crust and place the pan on a baking sheet. Preheat the broiler. While the sabayon is still warm, place the tart under the broiler. Leaving the door open, brown the top of the sabayon, rotating the tart if necessary for even coloring (this will only take a few seconds, so do not leave the oven). Remove the tart from the broiler and let it sit for at least 1 hour before serving. 

To make the meringue, combine the egg whites and sugar in the metal bowl of an electric mixer. Bring an inch of water to boil then place the metal bowl on top. Whisk constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once dissolved, remove and place back into the electric mixer. Whisk until peaks form, about 5 - 7 minutes. To make the candied lemon peels, remove any excess white piff from the peels (this is the bitter part), then slice the peels however you'd like. Bring the water to a boil, then add the lemon peel and boil for 5 minutes. Remove the peels, add the sugar to the hot water and bring to a boil again. Toss the lemon peels back in and boil until translucent (about another 5 minutes). Drain the peels then toss them in some sugar to coat. Let them dry on a counter for about 2 - 4 hours. To assemble, spoon the lemon sabayon into the pre-baked tart shells. Pipe the meringue on top of the lemon sabayon in whatever fashion you'd like, then top with some candied lemon peels!

Tailored Tuesdays

Love me a nice, cozy, oversized coat. Add some gold and leather and I'm set!

1. Maje "Alaska fur trimmed cotton parka"

2. J. Crew "Valentina cashmere cardigan"

3. Sandro "Epine silk blouse"

4. Citizens of Humanity "Avedon low-rise skinny jeans"

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs "Gold plated logo watch"

6. Lanvin "Leopard print ballerina flats"

7. Aubin & Wills "Sandbanks leather satchel"

All images can be found at net-a-porter.com.

Lavender Hot Chocolate

There's something that must be done when you find yourself craving hot chocolate on a daily basis. The only answer is to make yourself some hot chocolate, immediately. When you have milk in your refrigerator and chocolate in your pantry, there really is no excuse not to do so.

Thank gosh, finally, the weather has finally caught up with the season. It's been cold with grey skies and light drizzles - basically, my dream weather. You don't understand how long I've been waiting for it to be winter weather, or better put, how long my closet has been waiting! Coats, jackets, boots and gloves finally get their day to shine outside of my four walls. Yipee!

This lavender scented hot chocolate was yummy. Super rich, filled with great chocolate flavor and just a hint of flowery lavender. But if you don't fancy lavender - I wouldn't suggest it, as it's a love or hate kind of thing. I wouldn't have this hot chocolate every day since it is really rich, but it is a nice indulgent treat for every once and a while. My favorite part is when the whipped cream mixes with the hot chocolate to make a frothy little concoction that is impossible to resist.

A well paired treat to a wintery cold day! I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! My family had bunches of food galore and of course lots of desserts ;)

Lavender Hot Chocolate

Yields: 2 servings

Original recipe here.

Notes: since the lavender is fragrant, adjust the amount according to your preference. For a creamier hot chocolate, a 1:1 ratio or dark to milk chocolate can be used. 

For the hot chocolate:

2 cups whole milk

3 oz. dark chocolate (70% cacao)

1 oz. milk chocolate

1/4 tsp. lavender buds

For the whipped cream:

1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract or seeds from 1/4 of a vanilla bean pod

1/2 tbsn. sugar

For the whipped cream, place the cold cream, vanilla and sugar into a cold mixing bowl. Beat the mixture with a whisk or mixer until stiff peaks form. Keep refrigerated until ready for use. For the hot chocolate, beat the milk and lavender over medium heat, whisking occasionally until the milk begins to simmer. Remove from the heat and let the lavender steep for 5 minutes. Strain the lavender and return the milk to the saucepan. Over medium heat, add the chocolate and mix until the chocolate is melted and incorporated. Whisk the milk mixture for 10 - 20 seconds or until frothy. Pour into a large mug and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Gorgeous lavender buds:

Good chocolate is necessary!

Tailored Tuesdays

Anyone have any holiday parties coming up? Gold is always the answer!

1. Elizabeth & James 'James long length wool blend blazer'

2. Narciso Rodriguez 'Silk crepe draped dress'

3. Guiseppe Zanotti 'Suede multi strap sandals'

4. Halston Heritage 'Susan leather clutch'

5. Marni 'Swarovski crystal link bracelet'

All images can be found at net-a-porter.com.

Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Crunch and Bourbon-Maple Whipped Cream

Fall is synonymous with pumpkin to me. The instant the weather starts to turn and the leaves start to change their color, the smell of pumpkin fills the air. When I was little, I swore to myself that I hated cheesecake and pumpkin pie. In my mind I never really knew why, but my sister told me she hated them, so I just knew I had to hate them too. Oh, how wrong I was! When I finally tried them for myself, I figured out that not only did I not-not like them, I loved them!

Last year was pretty ridiculous with the pumpkin shortage, so this year I made damn sure to stock up on all the pumpkin I would need and then some. I decided to try Bobby Flay's winning pumpkin pie from Throwdown! It boasts an untraditional graham cracker crust, an intensely flavored and smooth filling, all topped with boozy whipped cream and crispy oat crunchies to boot! The filling is incredibly dense (in a great way) and as smooth as can be - thanks to the straining. The oat crunchies provided a nice contrast in texture and I loved the maple scent of the whipped cream. 

Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Crunch and Bourbon-Maple Whipped Cream

Yields: 2 8" Pies

Original recipe here.

For the cinnamon crunch:

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup quick cooking, rolled oats

1/4 cup light muscavado sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3 1/2 tbsn. unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes

For the graham cracker crust:

2 cups graham crackers

8 tbsn. unsalted butter, melted

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1 egg, whisked (for brushing crust)

For the pumpkin filling:

3 large eggs

3 large egg yolks

3/4 cups dark muscavado sugar

2 tbsn. molasses

1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree

1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped and reserved (or 2 tsp. vanilla extract)

3 tbsn. unsalted butter, melted

For the bourbon-maple whipped cream:

1 1/4 cups heavy cream, cold

1/2 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped and reserved (or 2 tsp. vanilla extract)

2 tbsn. grade B maple syrup

1 - 2 tbsn. bourbon (to your taste)

To make the cinnamon crunch, preheat the oven to 350 F. Combine the flour, oats, sugar and cinnamon in a food processor and pulse a few times. Add the butter and pulse until combined. Pour the mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and pat it into a rectangle, about 4x6 inches. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Break up into small pieces and store in an airtight container. 

To make the crust, keep the oven temperature at 350 F. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, butter and cinnamon to a medium bowl and mix until combined. It should feel like wet sand and just come together. Spread the mixture evenly into a 10-inch pie tin and use your fingertips or the flat bottom of a glass to firmly press the mixture over the bottom and up the sides of the dish. Brush with the whisked egg. Put the pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake until the crust is light brown and firm to the touch, about 10 - 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

For the filling, reduce the oven temperature to 300 F. Whisk together the eggs, yolks, sugars and molasses in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the pumpkin puree, spices, salt, cream, milk and vanilla seeds and continue to whisk to combine. Strain the mixture through a coarse strainer into a bowl (this will make it velvety smooth). Whisk in the butter. Place the pie plate on a baking sheet and pour the strained mixture into the pre-baked shell. Bake until almost set, about 1 hour (the edges will be set and the center will be jiggly slightly when shaken). Transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until chilled, if preferred. 

For the bourbon whipped cream, combine the cream, vanilla seeds, syrup and bourbon in a large chilled bowl and whip until soft peaks form. To serve, cut the pie into slices and serve each slice with a large dollop of whipped cream and some of the cinnamon crunch.

I had some leftover filling, so I made some extra mini tarts!