7.31.2012

Scarpetta

Scott Conant's Scarpetta opened in Beverly Hills about a year and a half ago coming from New York and it's been on my list of places to go since before it opened. I finally made it there for the summer Dine LA Restaurant Week and this was a meal well worth the wait. Sometimes you can tell whether you will like a restaurant just by their bread service. Scarpetta definitely has one of the best bread baskets in town, hands down. The basket is loaded with 3 types of bread: a small white ciabatta roll, a focaccia, and this amazing stromboli. The bread is served alongside a trio of dipping condiments making for an all around winning bread service, well done Scarpetta! The meals held up to the bar set by the bread and the dessert didn't disappoint. My entree was the short rib agnolotti and it was one of the best pasta dishes I have had in some time.

Stromboli

Olive oil, eggplant caponata, mascapone butter
Basil martini

HALIBUT CRUDO: lemon cucumber, chili vinaigrette, fi nger limes
FIORI DI ZUCCA FRITTI: ricotta stuff ed zucchini  flower, baby stewed tomatoes

SHORT RIB AGNOLOTTI: hon shimeji mushrooms, brown butter, 
hazelnuts, horseradish

SPICED DUCK BREAST: fi ngerling potatoes, patty pan squash, pole beans,
frog hollow farm stone fruit mostarda

CHOCOLATE CAKE: burnt orange-caramel gelato, espresso sauce
VANILLA CARAMEL BUDINO: gianduja chocolate sable cookies




ajdhAJ

7.30.2012

Olympic Fashion

I LOVE the Olympics! It's been a nonstop marathon of Olympic events on our TV (well, maybe some Big Brother after dark found it's way in there for awhile) and we can't contain our excitement. We were super pumped for the Opening Ceremonies, perhaps a little confused at times and maybe even a little bored in the beginning. I enjoyed seeing Bond escorting the queen to the games, the music montages, Mr. Bean, Paul McCartney, a little bit of Bekham, and the torch ceremony. The Parade of Nations is always awesome to watch and I love seeing the cultural attire as well as some tremendous misses. The US look wasn't one of my favorites, in fact I'm a little perplexed by it. The beret? The skirt? Doesn't really work for me. Czech Republic has to be my least favorite look of the night while The Netherlands nailed it with their preppy orange and blue.

Uniforms from The Netherlands- amazing!



Australian uniforms, a similar look to the US team,
while nothing too original, it's a nice tailored look and it works

El Salvador picked up the Ombre trend, love!
Paraguay's uniforms are very nontraditional in the very best way,
and way to show off some cleavage ladies!

And then there were some that missed the mark...

Czech Republic's terrible legging and boot ensemble- FAIL.
Estonia- such terrible jackets!
Germany's uniforms were another miss for me- why the pink and blue?
Ukrainian uniforms were an interesting choice with their patterns and shirts
Ralph Lauren's US uniforms





And of course, there were these dresses with the weird faces and sleeves
With that said, I wish all the athletes themselves the best of luck!  It's been hard to peel myself off the couch and away from the tele this weekend. I just can't get enough of the Olympic events and I don't want to miss a second of my favorite summer events. A few favorites being diving, gymnastics, beach volleyball, and swimming. What are your favorite events? Are you geeking out over the Olympics as much as we are? I'm very curious to hear what you thought about the Opening Ceremonies. Did you have any favorite Olympic looks?

7.27.2012

Dear Rachel and Rodger


Your "Family" Now


Dear Rachel and Rodger,

First, I think you both are seriously Ah-maze-ing. Congratulations on Skylar. He’s truly gorgeous and you both should be very proud of yourselves.

Speaking of beautiful children, I was wondering if you ever considered adopting a lovely, 31 year old, nice Jewish girl from West Los Angeles? I’m very low-maintenance, have my own car and don’t even have to live with you, although I could babysit with little notice if I did. Honestly, I’m very good with babies and children and wouldn’t you rather leave Skylar alone with a family member/sibling rather than a nanny? That could be me!

I’m not asking for anything monetary from you. I’ve already graduated from college, hold a full time job (that I’m willing to leave if you requested), and even pay my own car insurance. Like any child, I would love an allowance, but just throw me an old Prada or Bottega bag every once in a while and I’m set to go. Don’t have a bag to give away? I’ll take that Missoni blanket you spilled coffee on or even a fabulous scarf with an ink mark on it. See, I’m pretty flexible.

The bond a mother and daughter share is like nothing else. And Rodger, haven’t you always wanted a daddy’s girl? I could fill the void at the snap of your fingers. My grandmother always told me an old saying: A son is a son until he takes a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of your life. One day, in the not so far future, Skylar is going to get married, have his own family and let you know that “Sorry Mom and Dad, it’s my wife’s family's turn for Passover.” And, where I’ll be you ask?  In the kitchen cooking up a storm for OUR Passover. Have you tried my kugel? It's not kosher for Pesach, but it's delicious! Basically, I’m never going to leave you!

All in all, I need you as much as you need me. I need parents to educate me on life's fabulousness. You need a daughter to help to look out for you in your old age. Prada and Bottega aside, I will love you!

How Your Family Should Be

With love,
Your Daughter Carly

7.26.2012

A1 Cucina

Be still my burrata loving heart for you have found a friend in eggplant ragu at A1 Cucina. I have a serious burrata problem in that I cannot pass up a dish whose main feature is creamy burrata. It's an impossible task, so why fight it? Clearly there was no question that I would try this combo of burrata and eggplant, even if I'm not always on board with eggplant. Good thing I stepped outside my not so restricting boundaries because this was pretty delicious! I had not been to A1 Cucina since it was Il Buco not long ago, and I like what they've done with the place. The menu is good, the location is easy, and the prices are pretty decent- a recipe for a repeat experience!


burrata, eggplant, onions, tomato, fennel pollen ragu

Potato pizza with onions, guanciale, mozzarella

Forgive the orange glow on this bombolotti
with fresh artichokes, mint and pecorino cheese 


Have you been to A1 Cucina? Thoughts? Also, what's your favorite way to enjoy burrata??

7.25.2012

Lately Loving: Mini Poms

Not a Mini Pom, but a super fabulous corsage
 I'm not exactly talking about Pomeranians, although I do have a soft spot for all things pooch. I'm talking about the mini poms from ban.do. These are fabulous little multi taskers- you can wear them in your hair, on your blouse, I suppose on your bag, or anywhere else you are clever enough to sport them.


THE Mini Pom
I have had my eyes on these little cuties for a solid year now and I finally took the plunge and treated myself. It came in the mail yesterday (with some cute packaging I might add) and I have so many plans of wearing this everywhere, starting with that bun that finds it's way on top of my head at some point almost everyday. I'm starting my collection off with a bright fuschia pink called Bougainvilla, but I'm sure I'll quickly add a coral or electric blue. I also have my heart set, literally, on one of these little cuties. If you're a bride looking to add a little pizzazz to your bridal style or have your bridesmaids don a little something special, check out their black label and bridal collections.









So many ban.do treats! Do you have a favorite??


7.24.2012

Ammo

During the KCRW pledge drive I took a premium of a gift certificate to Ammo. I had never been before and decided to go and step up date night a bit. The dining room is very small and intimate, the service is spot on, and the food is a treat. I had a sea bass tagine that oozes with flavor and the burrata we tried was creamy and amazing.

Orange Crush: Bele Casel Prosecco, Aperol, orange juice, fresh thyme


Fresh bread


Heirloom tomatoes with burrata




Grilled Arctic char with sweet corn succotash, Savoy spinach & cherry tomatoes

Local sea bass braised in the wood oven with baby artichokes, cherry tomatoes,
cannellini beans, Castelvetrano olives, white wine and fresh herbs

Chocolate flourless cake with whipped crème fraîche

Have you been to Ammo? What did you think? Also, do you have a favorite restaurant for a nice date night?

7.20.2012

It's a Secret...



Secret societies, along with the Kennedys, the Holocaust, Suri Cruise, and heirs to vast fortunes, top my list of things I will always be obsessed with. I have seen numerous documentaries, bought many a book on the subject and recently wasted $13 on a terrible “special edition” Life Magazine discussing the history of secret societies. Trust me, save your money. For $13 you could buy this and a small bag of Pretzel M&Ms (= perfect night).

When secret societies collide with pop culture, it’s melding my two favorite things into one super amazing thing. The following are my most beloved movies/television shows that broach the subject of secret societies.

The Skulls (2000)
Wipe that look off your face Ugly Paul Walker!


If you haven’t seen The Skulls, do yourself a favor. Not only is Brook McQueen (Leslie Bibb) in it, but Pacey -Freakin’- Witter is, too! The Skulls is the lovely tale of Pacey (not his name in the movie, but he will always be Pacey to me), a boy from the poor side of the tracks in his final year at Yale University who desperately desires to become a member of probably the most famous secret society in the history of secret societies, Skull and Bones.

See, Pacey has spent his entire collegiate life shoveling scrambled eggs onto the plates of wealthy kids in the dining hall and holding other jobs to make ends meet and afford college. Why he didn’t just take out $200k in college loans like everyone else, I don’t know. I’m totally ok with ACS taking money out of my checking account every month. Sigh…sarcasm makes me sad sometimes.

Anyway, Pacey wants to go to Harvard Law School. Law school is roughly $55k a year. He’s got the grades, but obviously not the money. What’s a Pacey to do? It’s not like Dawson is going to help him. But, if Pacey gets tapped, that’s Yale talk for chosen, to become a member of the most elite secret society, Skull and Bones, they will supposedly pay for his law school education. Oh, and they’ll also set him up for life because when you become a part of the Bones family, you are showered with opportunity. And ladies. Opportunity and ladies. Oh, and really nice car.

Some famous (real life) Bonesmen include former presidents George H.W. Bush, his son George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry.  Throw in some chiefs of the CIA and the founder of FedEx and you can see how becoming a Bonesmen has its advantages.

Pacey wants in. And then he wants out! The waters of power run deep in the Bones world. After Gross Paul Walker accidentally kills Pacey’s buddy who broke into the Tomb, the Skull and Bones head quarters on campus if you will, upper Bonesmen make the move to cover up the murder, which they do successfully. Hey, it was an accident! And Pacey’s buddy had it coming. Regardless, Pacey knows the fish in the creek are less than fresh and sets out vigilante style to bring nasty Paul Walker down and bring justice to his dead friend.

Long movie made short, Pacey gets his way, wins the girl, and turns his back on the Skull and Bones. What an idiot. If there is one thing I have learned in my time as an adult, it is never burn bridges, especially with people who can write you letters of recommendation. Your pride has no place in the real world. You have got to break a few fingers on your way up. You’ll make a new best friend. Stop being a little bitch, Pacey!

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Logan, I'm not really into blonds, but I would have made an exception for you

I’m going to lay it all down on the table right before you. I have nothing to hide or be embarrassed by: I have seen every single episode of Gilmore Girls maybe a good 10 times each. I can’t help it if abc family keeps airing it and I refuse to take it off my DVR series recordings. I love it! Sue me.

The first four seasons of Gilmore Girls are delightful, but it’s season five that will always hold a special place in my heart. Why you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. Season five of GG is where Rory meets Logan Huntzberger. Yes, THE Logan Huntzberger, heir to the Huntzberger fortune. Slowly, we realize that Logan is a part of the fictional secret society Life and Death Brigade. Secret society useless information tidbit of the moment: most secret societies share a common trend, taken from Yale and Skull and Bones, of having two part names. Bravo on the accuracy Gilmore Girls! And Bravo for combining my love of secret societies and heirs to vast fortunes!

Rory, being a staff writer for the Yale Daily News, sets off to uncover this secret society after witnessing a girl dressed in a ball gown and gorilla mask hop in a luxury SUV while shouting the phrase “In Omnia Paratus”, latin for prepared for all things. Realizing the mystery behind this story is far more interesting than the article she was writing on illegally downloaded music, she goes with her gut and goes in for the scoop.  After what I assume is some hardcore research (Google), Rory puts two and two together and links Logan to the Life and Death Brigade. She’s going to infiltrate the club and get her story told. Doyle is going to be stoked.

Having an interest in Rory, because what sane man wouldn’t have an interest in Rory, Logan invites her to some sort of Life and Death Brigade retreat in the woods. Dressed as if they were extras in The African Queen with beautiful tents, candlelight and a smorgasbord of food, it is obvious that the Life and Deathers know how to throw a weird party in the woods. The next day Logan presents Rory with a formal dress, makes her jump off a very high scaffold and teaches her how to loosen up a bit from her sheltered world.

All in all, Logan's relationship with the Life and Death Brigade was fun at first, and then we were all ready for him to quit that bitch. Even Mitchum Huntzberger, Logan’s dad who was also a member when he was at Yale, was over it. It was time to grow up. Messing with one of Emily’s tchotchkes is one thing, but jumping off a mountain in Costa Rica with an ill prepared parachute is another. Lesson learned: Don’t go cliff jumping with Colin and Finn because they obviously don’t teach proper parachute packing in the Life and Death Brigade.

The Social Network (2010)
I look at Armie that way too, Andrew

The Social Network ranks pretty high on my list of favorite movies. The main reason for this being that it was written by Aaron Sorkin, and I’m a bit of a Sorkinphile. That was an understatement, actually. I’m a big Sorkinphile.  A subsection of The Social Network's inclusion on my favorite movies list is that it’s hot, Ivy League boys spitting out Aaron Sorkin dialogue.

I will make a very brief synopsis of the movie, because anyone not living under a rock knows what it’s about. Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg creates Facebook, is sued not only by his best friend, but twins who row* and claim Facebook was their idea. Based on the book, The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, there’s an underlying suggestion that Zuckerberg, (or Suckerberg as I like to say), screwed his best friend Eduardo out of the company because he was jealous Eduardo was punched, Harvard talk for chosen,  by Final Club the Phoenix S K, and he wasn’t. The Winklevoss twins, played by the dreamy Armie Hammer, are members of the Harvard Final Club the Porcellian, or the Porc for short.

Harvard Final Clubs were established more than a century ago and there are a total of eight clubs in all. While the clubs themselves are not secret, what goes on in them is. Final Clubs are dubbed that because they only accept seniors, thus being the final club you can join before graduation. I guess this makes the whole underlying suggestion of Suckerbergs jealousy a moot point since he was not a senior. Let’s ignore these discrepancies and move on.

Sucerkberg really drives the importance of the Final Clubs home when he states that they “lead to a better life”. Personally, I think the billions of dollars he’s worth now leads to a better life, but that’s just me. I’m guessing the “better life” comment has to be related to the fact that we see hot girls partying with members of the Porc. This type of shenanigans was also demonstrated in The Skulls, and Logan Huntzbeger always had a couple ladies by his side before he committed himself to Rory. And don't try to say he cheated with those bridesmaids, because I believe he honestly thought they were broken up.

The Social Network rocks my world on various levels. First reason obviously being it’s involvement with secret societies. Facebook, according to this movie anyway, was created as an online secret society. In the beginning you couldn’t just join, you had to be invited and be part of whatever college/university was allowed on the site. You couldn’t register unless you had an anycollegeusa.edu email address. So, the movie gets points for that. Then you have the “characters” of Eduardo Saverin and Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, all Ivy League boys who are very good looking and are heirs to vast fortunes AND are in secret societies. Whew…

Oh, and let’s not forget that Armie Hammer is an actual heir to a vast fortune in real life. It adds a nice touch of realism to my creepy mind.

*Another interesting little tidbit for y’all: One shouldn’t say that they “row crew”. It’s basically saying that “you play baseball team”. Most rowers just state that they row, or that they “cox for crew”. Useless information is AWESOME!


The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
 Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)
As my father always said, you can’t bullshit a bullshiter ladies!

What? You didn’t know they were a secret society? Well riddle me how four girls of various sizes and heights all fit in the same pair of jeans? Exactly, it’s a secret. Enough said.

~
So, there you have it. Those were some of my favorite pop culture/secret society mash-ups. Do secret societies pique your interest? Any  pop culture/secret society mash-up you think I should have added? What are some topics you just have to tune into/read about?

7.19.2012

Son of a Gun

My pilgrimage to Son of a Gun was long over due and finally came in the form of our wedding anniversary dinner. After eating at Animal several years ago, I knew I would be in for a treat- and I was! This was one of those epic meals where everything is just amazing and it's hard to choose a favorite dish, but if I had to- it might have to be the steelhead roe for it's originality and resemblance to bagel, cream cheese, and lox (an all time favorite breakfast food).

Moscow Mule


Prawns with melted butter

Hamachi crudo with cherries

Lobster roll

Smoked steelhead roe with maple cream,
and pumpernickel crisps

Smoked trout with market lettuce, grapefruit,
and buttermilk tarragon dressing

Rock fish with crema and tomatillo salsa

I am practically drooling recalling this dinner. There really aren't that many good seafood restaurants in LA, which is odd considering our proximity to the ocean and our love for fish. Son of a Gun is such a gem and my only problem with the restaurant is that I couldn't try everything on the menu. I look forward to going back for the fried chicken sandwich which I hear is AMAZING!

Have you been to Son of a Gun? What did you think? Any stand outs in your meal? Do you have a favorite place to go for seafood?

7.18.2012

Lately Loving: 50 Shades of Grey Dream Casting


The last time I talked about 50 Shades of Grey was like a coming out party for me. I had lifted my veil of 50 shades of shame and now I am out and proud of my 50 shades fever! Like actual fevers, it's highly contagious and the fever has spread rampant. Most of my friends have or are reading the books as well and frankly it's hard to not talk about Christian and Ana for hours and hours. As the movie is becoming a reality, women everywhere are fantasizing about who they want to play each and every character. Will we see Ian Somerhalder as Christian Grey, will it be Ryan Gosling, Matt Bomer, or will it be a less likely choice?  What about Ana- who do you want to play Ms. Steele? Thoughts on Elliot and Mia Grey? What about the despicable Jack Hyde? What about Kate Kavanaugh and her brother Ethan?

Many a text have gone back and forth with friends about who we want to see in the movie and enough talk, it was time to take to Pinterest and see this come alive! My friend Shannon hit the ground running with her dream cast and we created a board with all our picks. Did we bring your image of Christian to life? Take a look at our picks here!

I'm dying to know who you want to see as Christian, Ana, and the entire 50 Shades gang. Please share all your 50 shades of thoughts!

7.17.2012

Katsuyagate 2012

To Whom It May Concern,

On June 29th I emailed your company regarding an unsavory meal I ate at your restaurant. Sadly, I have not heard back and that really hurts my feelings. 

I was always taught that you can never be wrong when you state your feelings. I stated my feelings to you and I feel wronged. Wronged by the lack of communication on your part. Wronged by the fact that I still have nightmares about the couple I mentioned in my previous email. Wronged that I had plans to become a valued customer, a regular if you will, but now can't because the lack of effort on your part. Wronged, wronged, wronged. 

I'm not asking for anything on your side except an "Ugh, that sounds awful! So sorry you had to endure that. Don't lose faith in us."And I wouldn't have lost faith in you. I would have come back and I would have kept coming back until everyone shouted my name upon my entrance like Norm(!) when he walked into Cheers. 

By the way, remember how I told you about our Night of Beauty (Doody), well, the gift bags turned out to be not so horrible. I mean, they weren't amazing by any means, but there were a few surprises thrown in that I wouldn't have expected like Philosophy's Hope in a Jar, a gift certificate to a nail place in Brentwood, some weird facial cleansing bar that I've been using and have to admit, I kind of like it. I don't remember what it's called. I was supposed to bring in the packaging into work today so I could Google it, but I forgot to. You know how mornings are. If I remember to bring the information tomorrow, I'll email it to you. Sometimes it feels like my skin is working against me, so I really respect a cleanser that removes dead skin cells while also penetrating deep into my pores to get that dirt to hit the road. 

In conclusion, just acknowledge me. I refuse to be the girl you make out with behind the school but won't say hi to me in the hallway. Remember those commercials in the 80's where a homely little girl wanted boys to like her so she drank her milk and grew up to be hot and the object for men's attention? That's going to be me! I'm the girl who is going to drink milk and you're going to be the boys who want my attention. But, I'm not going to give it to you. You're going to see me at Sugarfish or Hamasaku and be all like, "Dang!!!! Why isn't she our customer?" And I'll be all like, "It's too late boys. Deal with it." Ohhhhh...snap!

Best,

Carly

An hour later, I received this email from Katsuya Brentwood

Hi Ms. Eskin,

I never received a email from that date from you. I'm sorry that your frustrated that nobody got back to you as well. 

Sorry that your meal was unsavory....and that your feelings are hurt that we didn't respond....
What was the problem with the meal?

Grammar annoyances aside...What?????? That's all you have to say? And you claim to not have received my original email? Something smells fishy and I'm sure it's more than the Blue Crab Roll we had to send back. So, of course, I forwarded the original email. 

The next day I received this:

Ms Eskin

Thank you for reaching out and letting us know.
That usually does not, or ever occur in the restaurant. 
Sorry that nobody responded as well.

Well guess what Ms. Brentwood Katsuya? You suck! I don't care that after my Facebook stalking of you all I could see on your profile was that you list Katsuya as a place of employment and that you supposedly are in a relationship as of May 31, 2012. What about our relationship? And what's up with "That usually does not, or ever occur in the restaurant". What does that even mean? You're an odd bird. You don't even sign your emails. I don't know why that bothers me, but it does. In your face! 

And for all you children of the 80's...enjoy:

7.16.2012

Better in Leather

Maybe it's the 50 Shades or maybe it's watching Matthew McConaughey strut his magical moves in Magic Mike, but lately I can't get my mind off finding the perfect black leather jacket. I've wanted one for awhile, but the search is really gearing up. Even in this heat I am dead set on finding my new acquisition. Do you ever get the itch for a very particular article of clothing or accessory and get consumed by this need? Maybe it's just me (entirely possible) but I am literally obsessed with this task to the point of dreaming about it. The only problem? I've yet to actually find a real jacket that matches the one I have conjured up in my head. I don't want it too motocross, too punk, too long, too short, too trendy, or too blazer-like, and I'd love it to be lambskin. I've seen pictures of jackets that are ALMOST perfect, but then I can't seem to track them down, let alone afford the ones I really covet! For now, here's some shopping inspiration.

Chanel Leather Jacket
Via Late Night Fashion

Jacket from Plumo
Via Lily

Elie Tahari

AllSaints




Via They All Hate Us

Via I Love Wildfox
What do you think about leather jackets? Do you have one? What style do you like? What are you currently obsessing over to find? 
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