Mr. Pickle!
Filed Under Family, Food, For the Weekend, Gael | 2 Comments
Our very first pickle collection!
It was rocket salad with goat cheese and roasted bright red beets then. And we have moved on to raw chopped Kale salad with toasted nuts and something. Today, all the chefs are into serving house made pickles at restaurants especially at those hearty farm food sort of places as complimentary side dishes. They all come in these little small jars and it’s fun to dig into those hot feisty Jalapeno to kick our appetite in! Order another glass of something to wash it down. So, it’s sort of win win situation here for the both parties. The customers and the business owners.
After lovely brunch at ” Sandwich Society” in Fort Greene, Brooklyn having enjoyed so much munching on their home made pickles, We all knew what we wanted to do to spend cold chilly Sunday afternoon.
Make Pickles!
2 of main ingredients, Sugar and Vinegar. And of course Sea salt.
A little chef Gael is putting gloves on. We are about to cut some Jalapenos! ( do not rub your eyes!!)
Jars have been disinfected. These jars are from grandma, Livia!
Crispy and our favorite Kirby Cucumbers. Whole Garlic cloves, Jalapenos!
This is MY pickle juice. We put ourselves into competition to see who’s pickle will come out the best in 2 weeks! This is light soy base with sugar, vinegar, salt and dried chilli peppers. I am boiling this on low heat.
Gael had done a great job!
This is my jar with also whole baby carrots. I am loving such vibrant colors!
Juice is going in. The hot juice is making the camera lens all foggy!
Gael loves to explore! He will be the first youngest ” Modern Chef”! Yes, that’s beer he’s adding to his pickle juice. We never stop him on his ideas.
HMmmmm , We are very curious how Gael’s pickle will turn out!
Gael’s onto his #2 Pickle. Now it’s Blackberries with Jalapenos!
” Mom, it’s important you crush a couple berries, So the taste blends better!” ” Really..?!”
Now I am onto my next one. Red onion. Only the onions with super classic pickle juice. Salt, vinegar and sugar. All boiled and pour right in.
Now here comes the professional!
The baby yellow peppers. He blenched them first and now cleaning all the seeds out.
Pepper corns, 5 spices, salt, sugar and vinegar for Emi’s peppers.
Emi’s not boiling his pickle juice but doing it in more proper way. He jars it and double boils it!
YUM YUM YUM!
It’s so simple and easy. It was our very first time pickling apart from Gael and I had made Cucumber kimch, which is quite similar yet different as Kimch goes through serious fermentation process which makes end result whole thing bit fizzy.
Try this weekend at home pickling and next time you are at our home, we will open up our pickle jars!
Gael, keep it up with your cooking and creative exploring, Mommy and Dad are so proud of you, You little chef!
3 days in LA!
Filed Under Book, Culture, Design, Events, Family, Fashion, Flea, For the Weekend, LA, Shops, Street, Travel, Vintage | Leave a Comment
Day 1 at Rose Bowl Flea, Pasadena, LA
Auwheee! It has been So long that I have been at Rose Bowl Flea!! Maybe almost good 8 years have passed by since the very first glorious visit to the market. Ahhh it was a hot beautiful day then with blazing sun on my back complaining at myself not thinking of bringing a tube of sun block with me. But this time around, it was quite chilly and cloudy only reaching up to 45 degrees. Only after 5 hours of sleep, Emi, Gael and myself hit the road to Pasadena munching on complimentary continental breakfast in the car to go (Chocolate Croissants and some coffee from Viceroy, Santa Monica). By the way, Viceroy Santa Monica was bit of disappointment after all for that whooping nightly rate they charged on us. ( Pls send me an email if you were planning to stay there and have any questions). The market opens at 5:00 am with VIP admissions then regular admissions from 7:00 am till 4:30 pm for the last minute bargains. The market is HUGE with 6 colored areas. The white area across 2 small canals is where most of hard core vintage clothing lovers will be at and that is where you get to do most of people watching. And be ready to say ” Kawai and Ohaio” to those well vintagely dressed Japanese friends popping everywhere!
We arrived right before 7:00 am and our admission costs $15.00 From 8:00 am and on, admission reduces down to $10.00. 12 years old and younger gets in for free.
The Rose Bowl Stadium itself. We pay a quick visit.
Welcome to Rose Bowl where Real Vintage Hippies exist.
Epitome of Men’s Vintage and Cool Gals: ARMY AND NAVY. You go crazy here. Experiences like this truly sharpens your eyes to spot what is Really good Vintage or not.
Plus Turn of the Century ones. They are too good!
Motorcycle is Huge here.
Dress comfy and casual to dig at Rose Bowl.
Two things here. One, you need to have at least 1 breakfast Burrito when you are in Rose Bowl Flea. Two, all those tough denim and leather Rose Bowl girls.
Then real highlight of Rose Bowl this time was these Heavy weight Vintage Insiders and Dealers visiting Rose Bowl only a day after now the 4th annual event: Japanese Vintage God Father Rin Tanaka’s Kulture Recycling Show, INSPIRATION LA in Long Beach, LA. Lots of Hand shaking, huddled groups deep in conversations, exclusive U haul trucks with highly collectible vintage items being dealt inside… Then beautiful Japanese buyers completely decked out in Kapital denim pieces with all those Army jackets and Native American accessories. How about sharp and stylish Italian buyers dealing all those sexy leather jackets… It truly felt like we were in a week of Grammy of Vintage in LA as we kept bumping into those insiders feeling lots of energy in town!
Here is the 8th edition I purchased of Rin Tanaka’s MyFReedamn! Book series. A great book that shows Tanaka’s wealth of Knowledge and love for Vintage Clothing, Motorcycles and Accessories. It’s a Great source for everything I do. It’s inspiring and I really respect how far Tanaka had taken his love for the Vintage and it’s history. Rin Tanaka was born in 1970 in Japan.
Then here’s the owner and a crew of Irons and Duck.: An awesome Wear house full of Vintage and Vintage Inspired Industrial Design furniture and clothing. They Fuel many of important design showrooms, retail places and residential homes in west coast. Great guys with all the positive energy. And I LOVE their about to shred to a string small yet well edited vintage clothing.
Awesome collection of Vintage Iron Rail road nails. The number indicates what year the nail has been produced and used to repair or build the rail roads. They are beautiful.
Serious buyers will come prepared with big bags. I had brought luggages on wheels!
We also browsed Home stuff and mid century modern. By the way, we saw very little of Mid century modern furniture at Rose Bowl.
Ever so getting popular NA and European Farm Crop Sacks ( for any end use). The stripe indicates which farm the crops belong to.
Crop Sacks come to a Life in one way.
Day 2, we are hitting Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach Area. All the business opens at 11:00 am so we came to the Venice beach to stroll a bit and check out also the Canal area. ( it got little warmer! yay!)
Ahhh We love Canals of Venice beach! It’s so quiet and It’s Lovely! Sun is finally out and homes are cute. I am totally envious of beautiful palms, cactus and flowers… I want to have a home here!
A lady on a surf board in canal. It feels so surreal to see such thing as I am from NY. This is Very LA.
Ahhh I So want this tree!
Gosh, they are Gorgeous. I am in LOvE!!
Keep Walking.
After day 2 at Abbot Kinney and my favorite store in LA, Opening Ceremony in West Hollywood, here we are on Day 3 at Silver Lake. We are here for some breakfast and a few store visits.
Inside at Inteligentsia Coffee in Sunset Junction. I love cool Blue mosaic tiles against the rustic warm lighting.
Here we are sitting at Cafe Stella the next door to Itelligentsia for some warm breakfast. LA has been chilly the whole time…!
It’s a French place in Brooklyn sort of way in Spanish style architecture. It feels like home here.
Warm pita on Soft eggs and Merguez. SOOo delicious!
Entering a Cheese Shop the next door. A cutest little places here. Got some locally made Sea Salt Caramel bags for my design team back home here and they are delicious!
Shop Lake. We had such little time before taking off to Airport and Shops open late in this area. But managed to hit a few good ones.
Lovely Wall paper.
The Last place we visited in LA. High Mart in Los Feliz. A great airy space that offers Tranquility and quality. Japanese owned and this place will take you right to Tokyo ( in Zen way).
Here’s my LA list:
And For the BEST COMPLETE GUIDE:
Rhinebeck Wool Festival, NY
Filed Under Design, Events, Family, Fashion, For the Weekend, NYC, Travel | Leave a Comment
At NYS Sheep and Wool Festival, Rhinebeck, Upstate NY.
In mid October, when all the leaves just started turning to those gorgeous autumn like colors in golden mustard and velvet reds, we were invited to a lovely weekend home of Chicco and Paola’s for a cozy sleep over and visit to Wool Festival up in Rhinebeck, NY. The sun was cuddly and warm against crisp air that signals true beginning of beautiful fall. It has been many weekends and long hours of work, so a get away over a weekend felt much needed to rest my soul and recharge a bit. A small back pack does the magic, a warm pair of socks and sweaters for the family, we are ready to Off!!!
On a way to Chicco’s, we also had stopped at New Paltz for a quick lunch and bit of stroll. Its always a nice drive you have going through New Paltz for it’s warm and cozy scenery and the small down town’s lively antique shops and restaurants to spend a good half day. Water Street Market by the old Train station is also a cute spot to browse and get nick knacks to local cheese and wine to take home for the weekend. While you are in downtown, I also like to suggest you to go visit Huguenot street Historic Site for bit of French style historic Stone houses and this one amazing shop where you can taste all sort different kind of aged Balsamic vinegars and olive oils you can bottle your self: Scarborough Fare.
A little get away here we come, and I am so ready for this!
In Korean expression we call Autumn for a season when Horses get to really grow and the Sky gets real high. And I think that is so right.
It was such a warm day. We are near the New Paltz, NY here.
In New Paltz downtown, taking a walk along a small river.
This little shop, Scarbrough Fare carries Mighty flavors to be bottled by you!
Gael tasting almost every kinds of Vinegar here. They are really great kinds. Most of them are imported from Italy and Spain.
We took 3 flavors home. Espresso ( yes Espresso, the coffee), Bianco white and Apple.
We picked up Vintage Cricket set at one of Antique shop in Water Street Market. It was both me and Gael’s first time! We had fun playing it at Chicco’s Garden.
At lovely kitchen having some pasta dinner. We are waiting for the home owners to arrive. They are bit stuck in the traffic back in the city…
The morning after long and relaxing Sunday breakfast. From the left, Amelia, Gael and Ercole. Yum Fluffy and Warm home made pancakes. Kids are the Best.
Yeah we are here at Rhinebeck! Wool Festival!!!
It’s a big venue full of much to see!
Hays, Farmers, Sheeps and Lamas, Yarns and Knitters… It’s Fantastic here!!
Hand dyed cashmere rugs. They are So soft and Very expensive.
Some demonstrations. She’s weaving a rug.
And they are Just so irresistible!! Lamas.
Gorgeous wool Yarns. Colors are amazing. It’s very inspiring.
Omg, How cute is he!!! Kids are going nuts.
By the way, A great pattern at one of animal booth. Many of cuties are walking around and getting ready for ” Best in show” for the later afternoon.
It’s truly a big party! Proud farmers!
Emi and Ercole.
OK , I am back to see some yarns and rovings. Roving is carded stage of airy wool balls. Once you twist the roving, it becomes a yarn. I always love rovings as somehow colors are true to how it’s dyed than a yarn form. It’s gorgeous.
Amazing Rovings. They come in millions of colors. All Felting Artists use these to create anything that is done through felting technique. Paola is one of them and She makes the most beautiful art pieces by wool felting.
This booth had some amazing colored rovings in Cashmere and Alpaca and so much more. All of these are to be sold by weight. Which is a very typical way to do so.
You can also buy all sort of tool related to make yarns from rovings and fleece. Carding machine, spinner, spools and knitting pattern books….
He’s making wool yarn by using a Yarn spinner. There’s a little foot paddle and you need to coordinate while you hold the string of roving. The paddle spins the machine.
Knitters, Hold your breath.
She’s needle quilting.
This is a typical wooden basket/back pack for the farmers and you can dare it and rock it like this cool wool lady! Yes you can buy this basket at the festival.
Here we are at the ” Best in Show”
Showering light on Emi and Chicco.
Vegetable dye demonstration.
We have been waiting for the 2:00 pm Sheep Shearing!
To Shear a fully grown Sheep takes a well experienced skill and also strength to hold her down during a full shearing that lasts about good 5-7 minutes. Depends on the time of the year when you shear or clip the woolen fleece off the sheep, the quality of wool can change quite a bit.
Impressive amount of Sheared Fleece. Usually they go through once a year shearing.
Hand Dyed felted Wool sheets. They come in a square shape and they are quite soft.
Ercole and Gael
The Wool festival up in Rhinebeck comes back every year for 2 days in October. If you haven’t been yet, you should visit one for the next year. The drive to get there is beautiful and there are ton of amazing yarns and other source around wool related and also great farm food that’s based on Lamb. And as it is peak of Fall, stopping by farm shops here and there is also lots of fun. Pumpkin picking, Apple picking, apple cider and all those home made pies coming right out of Farmer’s kitchens…
And absolutely amazing Alpacas!
Mister Sunday, Brooklyn Tea Dance!
Filed Under Brooklyn, Culture, Dance, Events, For the Weekend, Music, NYC, Travel | Leave a Comment
Gowanus Grove Bridge, 400 Carroll Street, Brooklyn. Always peaceful.
It opens at 3:00. Still quiet. It’s 5:00 pm now. People enjoy couple drinks and still gathering up.
Mister Saturday, Mister Sunday tees.
Botch.
The charm of Gowanus Grove is these vastly located cool industrial buildings. All types. Love them!
Not a bad idea to dance under the trees by the water.
Arrive! Jay, Kaja and me.
Mister Dee Jay.
The Bar.
Sangria for me.
Jackson proves that you have paid and now you can dance.
Maybe good 5 degrees cooler here.
Not only you dance here you Hula Hoop too. Whatever works.
Jaehee and Jay.
Girlfriends.
High as A Kite.
The Beat goes on. The Night goes on.
For more Info. Click Here.
ViVa Summer!
Sunday Special: Far Rockaway, NY
Filed Under For the Weekend, Friend, NYC, Travel | 1 Comment
Standing with a big smile, Far Rockaway Beach, NY
What a beautiful beautiful weather we had for this weekend! I almost want to put a big red circle on a calendar just to remember how gorgeous weekend we had!! Saturday was 12 mile run in Prospect Park enjoying beautiful sun and light breeze along the lake and lush trees, then long and nice walk down on the Atlantic avenue poking my head into some antique shops then had lovely wine and dinner with Tamara and Robert from London! It’s so nice to have Tamara and Robert so often! We catch up, always enjoy good food over good laughs and talk.
After a perfect Saturday, here we go we are totally blessed with another beautiful day, Sunday! After days of heat wave in NYC, this whole weekend feels almost like an reward to me. After quick chat with Beppe and Dani, we are decided on going to Far Rockaway Beach!!
We took A train then on a Far Rockaway Shuttle now. Cute homes on the water.
Beppe!
Surf boards, tank tops, flip flops and bikes. We are all going to the same place.
The Beach.
The place to be. Beach 96, 96 street.
A cute pit stop for yummy lunch! We are STARVING!
I am Not an Empanada. Excuse me.
Coolio, Rockaway Taco. Thank you for Not being Nathans or whatever the chain that is.
We are stopping here.
Real lobster roll with lots of real lobster meat. Lightly tossed and sandwiched. Highly recommend.
Yum!
Darling, Don’t get Jealous!
Airy, light and juicy!
Happy Feet.
Yeap! We are talking Summer here.
Hitting the sand.
Birdies.
While I was napping, the sky has been really blue.
Heading back. A perfect day so far.
1 more stop for Blue moon and Munches! Round 2.
The best Calamari at “Clam Bar & Grill”, right by the Subway/Shuttle station.
Buying apps.
Dani fu, waiting for a shuttle.
And the Souvenir!
LOvE you guys! Grazie per una bellissima Giornata insieme!
Buon Estate!!!
A day in Macau!
Filed Under Architecture, Culture, Food, For the Weekend, HK, Macau, Street, Travel | 6 Comments
Ruins of St. Paul’s, in Portuguese: Ruinas de Sao Paulo, Macau
Another trip to Asia working on Spring 13 for Gap right now and for the first time in all these traveling years to HK, I am having real full 2 day weekend without work. Saturday was relaxing spending much time to work out and sweating out all the toxin out of my system in the steam room then had good laughs over lovely dinner in Central HK catching up with Daniel, Kim and Joey. It’s always good to see friends especially when I am away from Emi and Gael.
Then how about Sunday? A long ago, I have watched a documentary on Macau, a formal Portuguese colony back in the 16th century and lies between China and Hong Kong bordering Guangdong province. The Portuguese influence still runs through their food and also architecture that makes the city so exotic from anything I knew about China and it always stayed in my head. I thought I would visit Macau one day, and that One day finally came to me in just right timing!
Here come check out my day in Macau.
The day started with bit of rain. It’s super humid for the moment in HK and Macau is just the same. There are 2 main stations where you can catch a ferry depends on which side of HK you are. I am on Kowloon side, so I took the ferry at China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, which is also walking distance from Inter Continental and Sheraton Hotel in Kowloon side of HK.
The ferry gets quite full but clean and comfortable with good leg room and cushy chairs! You get your seat assigned. And a good Air Conditioning. Ahhh you so need it with weather like here but you may want to bring a light cardigan as it gets bit chilly. About 1 1/2 hour ride one way fair from Kowloon to Macau is about HKD 160. By the way, Macau’s own currency is SAR but literally Everyone takes HKD as norm in Macau.
Bring your Passport!! And check if your nationality needs a Visa. Koreans are waived from getting a Visa for up to 30 days. HK$166.00 ( about US $24.00) for one way ride.
My first stop at A-MA temple. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS TEMPLE! This temple was built back in 1488 dedicated to Matsu the Goddess of seafarers and fishermen.
So shrine and peaceful with lots of soft warm colors at the temple. These cone shaped shades are hanging at many little spots at temple holding visitors’ wishes and prays…
Always love the smell of incense… I feel blessed when it covers me over… especially at temples.
More prays.
A-MA temple is located on the south east tip of Macau peninsula cascading down from a small but good 50 feet high hill right off a main road along the water. Quite curved up and pointed tips of roof are cute and fun. I love the washed down mints against the brick red together.
Pressing down my own urge to kneel and pray… I am still looking for a right spot for me. There are plenty of little pockets where you can unleash and get blessed at the temple.
I am in love with these circular opening gates sort of. Do you think the circle means eternity…?
HK$30 can get me that little connection to my superior God in Macau. It’s about to be my turn. I found the right spot. It’s at the very top of the hill.
I pray and think of all those faces including you. Emi, Gael, mom, brother, dad, Yoon, Hun, aunt, uncles, grannies, all of my in-laws, Suzy, Livia, Luciano, especially their health, family at work all around the world, their little worries, issues, happiness and health, all of friends here and fiends there. Ben and Ben’s Mom. Angela’s and Beppe’s. Tania and Tamara far away in England. And good business after all of our hard work. Love among the family and friends…
But most of all I ask for Strength. Not some powerful magic for things being solved by itself or God. I’ll do that. But I can’t ask enough for solid strength, agility and resilience. Just like my running and just like being a mother.
You can also burn a candle. They come in different sizes but all in Lotus flower shape. By the way there will be Lotus Flower festival in Macau from June 16 for a week.
Larger than life size incenses!
The main room. Most colorful and ornately decorated.
Right outside of temple, Portuguese music and dance is going on, The mosaic tiled flooring reminds me of Rio in Brazil.
A typical Macau Bakery. Macau got some good thing going on when it gets to food. Delicious Portuguese warm egg tarts and Almond cookies!! Yum! and Crispy pork sandwich on the street!!!
Egg tart! I am getting one. About US$1.00 Cheap and Cheerful!
The first bite is warm and flaky. Ssooo good! Then it gets creamy getting into the custard. Not too eggy. It tastes sort of Cream Brulee in a pastry cup as the surface of custard has that slight crunch and caramelized texture to it. Not too sweet but just right. I really had to stop myself for buying the second. I may search to see if I can find this back in NYC!
In and out of sun, it’s getting really really hot in Macau. You can see the humidity in pictures! Walking up to the facade of Ruins of St. Paul right near the main square in Old City.
Built back in from 1582-1602, this facade is what is left from the complex of St.Paul’s college and Cathedral of St. Paul. As many other sites in Macau, Ruins of St.Paul is also a part of UNESCO World Heritage site.
Right in front of the site, there were these handsome young men playing Macau’s traditional music.
OK, Check out their awesome instrument in such geometry. I love it. And i like to pay huge respect that they are wearing these heavy boots and all. I am talking about 90 degrees at 90% humidity! Here I am watching them sipping on chilled PocariSweat which is Asian Gatorade. Or I would have fainted already in this heat. Their song does not have any lyrics. It’s more of this instrumental like low and high sound that they make through the air inside of their head and throat. It’s quite fascinating.
OK. There is only One street that connects from the main square of Old City to Ruins of St. Paul. You know what that means, that little street gets quite crowded but maybe it was the very best kind of touristy spot I had so far! About 50 feet long walk will give you the best taste of what Macau can offer as far as their savory Jerkies, Fried Pork chop sandwiches and delicious Macau cookies. It’s overwhelming and so much fun!
These are all sort of different meat that is dried and seasoned. They are gooey tender sweet savory and sticky! There are plenty of little shops lined up on this street giving away little samplers. They cut and pack to each order while you wait.
There is High Competition selling these delicious crunch Almond Cookies on this alley. They seemed to be steamed on a steam tray, but amazingly crunch it feels like they are baked. The cookies also called ” Chess Cookie” as they are in a shape of Chinese Chess. This guy is a sample/sales man.
Before they get on to the steamer. They have this system they can steam, a few trays at a time by stacking them tall.
This guy got them all! Jerkies and various cookies. Another sample man.
Sesame cookies.
There are 33 churches, 44 temples and 100 banks in Macau ( think gambling). This is a small temple off the market.
I am thinking it’s in lychee family.
I assume this is a kind of plum. It’s me that I don’t speak the language… They told me what it is but I didn’t understand.
This Oh-so-smell-good fried pork in a bun is Everywhere!
One more look at Egg Tarts!
This sign sort of sums up a vibe of Macau to me. It feels like an outskirt of what old HK could have been. It feels old school and quite sweet despite all these crazy Casino business they got going on. There are plenty of little streets and churches and temples and little signs. Lush trees in between old buildings. I like it.
Getting into the heart of Old city. Apparently all these building are 500-700 years old! There are plenty of weekend visitors from HK and China.
The main square where the church ST. Joseph is. Check out the tiling! Just like Rio.
Quite humble interior of Church. Here I was going for the second round of stop and pray.
One of the most popular ways to get around in Macau.
Bean, Tofu and dessert place.
Cute Macau moment.
Main downtown with lots and lots of banks.
Heading back to Ferry station. The white and cream building with wild windows are one of many high rise Casino/Hotel buildings.
Two things that I didn’t do this time visit to Macau were 1. Gambling and 2. Proper meal as I am not interested in gambling at all and I actually hate it and I was quite exhausted from the heat so I kept drinking water rather feeling for any food. So I have one good reason to visit Macau one day again. Food!!
But click Here to see where you can eat in Macau and watch Anthony Bourdain’s 2 day visit to Macau!
A Sound of Music!
Filed Under Brooklyn, Family, For the Weekend, Friend, Music | Leave a Comment
Music brings people together. Emi holding little cutie Marlowe, Gael and Milo. They are all facing Nik, our front man of tonight’s jam session! At Jess and Nik’s home.
Saturday night with good old friends and new friends at Jess’s lovely loft in Clinton hill. Prosecco, white wine or whatever you wish. Nik and Jess got it all covered with beautiful arrange of cheese and crispy fried whole little fish, Marithes were just perfect starters. Lovely old friend Else totally surprised us when we walked in!! It has been So long Else! Else was visiting NYC from Israel for her business. It was so so good to see you and catch up a little. Then introduction to a new lovely family Francesco and Carin with a beautiful kid, Milo! Milo just enrolled into P.S 11 the same school where Gael goes to and the fact that Milo had well traveled around the world including living in Italy for the last few years is just exciting for Gael and us! So many things in common! The age, Italian speaking, the same school and traveling makes being together much more fun. There is this instant connection. They both are into soccer and basketball. And the last but not least, Music!
Nik leading Milo.
Emi and Marlowe in the matching outfit!
Emi singing and goofing around. Ahh it’s so much fun! Gael on a drum.
Love you kids!
Marlowe gotta try it!
Just like Emi, Gael’s excellent at coming up with instant lyrics that would never ever stop! We are dying laughing and so as Milo. Milo keep it up, You will be amazing. Gael and Marlowe, love you two!
Hats off to Nik and Jess. Thanks again for the lovely night together.
Viva Friends!
Eggs and Prosecco!
Filed Under Brooklyn, Family, Food, For the Weekend, Friend, NYC | Leave a Comment
Sitting out in the garden: Dani, Robert, Tamara, Gael from the left. The sun feels warm and lazy on your back and well chilled crisp prosecco is refreshing and perfect with our on going Saturday Brunch!
Ahhh Spring has Sprung! Early morning 10 mile long run at Prospect Park through beautiful breeze and fully blossomed cherry trees gave me just right boost and perfect mood to prepare a brunch for Tamara and Robert who were visiting from London. Beppe and Dani would join us too! While I am running, I am thinking of gorgeous meaty oyster mushrooms, garden salad with dandelion leaves, roasted tomatoes… and what else….Oh yes, little flowers will be lovely too. I’ll also grab some freshly made turkey links at the Saturday Farmer’s market at Prospect park. Some good fresh eggs and well ripen avocados.. Yum…!! Running faster now !
Running to Prospect park. Our neighbor, Clinton Hill’s Spring switch has been officially turned ON! So lovely around here…
Get going Sages and Oyster Mushrooms ( grey ones are usually bigger and meatier than yellow ones) on hot olive oil. Just some sea salt.
Roasting tomatoes with onion and garlic. These babies are ready. Yum!
Mixed greens with dandelions.
Yay, Tamara and Robert are here!
Dani Fu showing off lingering tan from Miami trip.
Sausages are Eggs are being done on an BBQ in the garden.
Digging in. Sunny side ups or Scrambled. However you wish! We are all easy here. Some lean turkey links to go with. And drizzle of truffle oil over our salad with crusty whole wheat bread…. Beppe slicing some… Pour you some, Pour me some. Keep passing them around… and repeat!
After a big brunch, its not enough for Gael. Beppe runs in to make world’s fastest home made pizza. So lucky Gael!
Good friends. Good food. Good garden.
Good Spring Folks!
Chasing the Autumn! North Fork, New York
Filed Under Design, Family, Food, For the Weekend, NYC, Restaurant, Shops, Travel, Vintage | Leave a Comment
Beautiful Sunday morning at Orient State Park, North Fork, New York
After many of quite dreadful humid and wet September days for New York to prep crisp real Autumn, this was maybe the first truly gorgeous weekend weathers we had! It was dry and warm yet accompanied by cool clean air to compliment spotless amazing perfect blue sky! The Autumn has officially kicked off! Still in a half sleep in the bed Saturday morning, we could see gorgeous sun coming through our bedroom window’s grainy blinders… The sliver of warm sun light was just enough to make us jump out of the bed and just take off to be out of the city! And where we are heading to? North Fork in Long Island, NY!
Just one briskly packed small bag for all of us, we are excite to explore North Fork! It’s our very first time and all I knew was there are many mini vineyards lined up. Yes, some wine tasting, good food and pick up couple of fresh corns… Hopefully we can stumble into a cozy B&B tucked in somewhere. It all sounds good to my soul and my belly! It’s going to be a heck of good weekend!
About little over 2 hours, we are getting into the beginning of North Fork. What can we say…. It got Surf and Turf kind of thing going on here in North Fork. I know we are near the ocean and I see ton of handsome pumpkin farms, small yet swanky vineyards already starting from the very beginning. We know we are really going to like here. Above is a back yard at ” Material Object“, a home furnishing and wine related object store in Jamesport. This 1870’s farm house converted into wine tasting and home decor shop sure shows envious eclectic taste of the shop owner. The natural light filled space is to die for!
The Main house of Material Object, The picture can’t justify the actual space. Here only showing a fraction of entire house. Everything you see here is for sale.
The Barn house/ Cottage like second home which is set back. This felt like a newly built with much charm. But Not the original structure.
Arriving at Greenport. Almost the end of North Fork. It’s a real cute town with many good restaurants, antique and vintage shops as well as oyster and lobster shacks by the water! Here we are chasing early fall but boy I have to say we just can’t complain about warm sun on your back and perfect breeze! It feels sort of early summer and early fall at the same time!
Claudio’s restaurant was opened back in 1870’s! There’s the main one on the main street and also 2 clam bars right by the water. Bit touristy but all good here.
Yeap! It sounds perfect! Lobster roll anyone? It’s already Lunch time!
Hmmm choices choices…
OK waiting for our number to be called. We are at # 2 Clam bar of Claudio’s. This place is run by self service and there’s no live band playing ( sort of wedding band, Haha!) Which we consider as a good thing.
Both are $29.95 plates. Not so cheap. Skip the fake butter, Who needs it? Cole slaw, I always love! Lemon works for anything.
Gael’s too busy eating his creamy clam chowder!
After lunch town strolling begins.
The Greenport town has a good mix of old and new including a tiny Greenport jail ( not pictured..)! It’s charming and not touched by big chain stores yet. There’s a Calypso boutique as far as a known brand shop. No Starbucks or Ben & Jerry’s. Instead there’s ” Sand pipe Ice cream shop” where I had the best ice cream in entire US for only 4 bucks! Maple syrup Walnut and Vanilla black cherries. Yum!
This is The best vintage and antique shop in Greenport! Beall & Bell, 430 Main Street. Right items at right prices. We saw some of the best pieces here!
This old School gym acrobat pads were sold! I was happy that quite many pieces in the shop are marked as sold! Which means we are in the right place! How good are these? Emi had a great idea! One of these would easily doll up your bed as a head board. Especially for guys, that’s awesome I think!
One next to the Beall & Bell. This one also sells home furnishing materials such as textiles and things.
After we checked in at our motel ( yes everything was booked and we were lucky to find quite lovely and affordable motel right outside of downtown Greenport), we came to restaurant, Noah’s for dinner. It’s not the high season since it is already October, but you want to make reservations ahead for better and really good restaurants in Greenport. They get booked up fast. Literally any restaurants in the town will have a some sort of raw bar going on and also good seafood dishes. We wanted to check out Frisky Oyster, but it was too late by the time we called for the reservation. Bit old school and bit groovy here with hefty price tags. We quite enjoyed our meal at Noah’s as they offer many great small dishes are not actually that small. You could call it generously portioned tapas of seafood, great salad and meat bites. We ended up having 5 small dishes and 2 bottles of local 2010 Chardonnay, ” Bedell” from one of the North Fork’s wineries, Bedell . It reminded me of Sauvignon Blanc, Oyster bay from New Zealand.
Now Sunday morning, We are at Orient Beach State Park in North Fork, a short car ride from Greenport! Water’s quite amazing here!
You will see lagoons and ocean everywhere in North Fork. It’s really beautiful!
Running me, Emi and Gael.
Nice run, shower and pack and we go. Here we are at one of farm stand on the road.
Gael loves to shop produces. He loves to touch and smell them. We were peeking inside to see they are full and healthy. And these corns are so sweet and juicy! We also like them raw!
These are called MUMs and they are cheap. 3 mums for $12!
And we didn’t skip one thing! Now checking out a few antique store by the road. We scored a real cute picnic basket filled with 4 of wine glasses, silver wear, plates, cheese knife and wooden cutting board and wool matching blanket to the plaid liner of the basket, probably never used before. All these for $30! Now, that’s a good deal!
I always like these!
Honestly, we were bit tip toeing around the wine tasting as we realized there are hundreds of wineries in North Fork area! Then after the last antique shop we stopped in, we saw the sign if ” Bedell” winery. We love the Chardonnay from them last night! So here we are we are stopping in.
It looks sort of Nespresso shop.
It’s about noon. There are lot of people tasting wine. We realized most of wineries here has small Raw bar. Mostly Clams and Oysters.
Live Jazz is not so bad!
It feels like we are in Napa!
You can also bring your own food and just hang out here with some wine from the winery. It”s a perfect day to do it! I mean look at that sky!
You will find these many little lovely trails that connects to vineyards or the beach in North Fork. So charming!
It was the perfect 2 day getaway to truly enjoy beautiful sun, last minute lingering lovely summer but surely it was beginning of Autumn for us. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and if you like to get out of city a little, try North Fork! It is a real little gem that has little of everything you can taste what water and the land can offer!
LOvE North Fork!
Portobello Market, Notting hill, London
Filed Under Culture, Fashion, Flea, For the Weekend, London/England, Shops, Street, Travel, Vintage | Leave a Comment
From a fur jacket to sandwiches to cheap and cheerful Kate and William’s lovely portrait pins, at Portobello market, it’s impossible for one to walk out the market empty handed!
Sorry readers, I have been bit consumed with work for last few weekends in a row, postings have not been so often enough, but I just can’t miss posting the Portobello Market in London! This was my second time and it did not disappoint me as there are mixed thoughts about the market especially ones in fashion world but actually only thought I had was I should have been there earlier like 7:00 am not 11:00 am and I wished I spent the whole day at the market to brows, taste, try on and bargain! It does get really packed before the noon already but the crowd quite behaved I think. No pushing or mean talks to ones ahead of you, but I did hear about pick pocketing, so watch out with your bags if you are there.
Portobello market has quite loaded history as the Market started in 19th century as a fresh food market and even today, the food section of the market is quite dominant and packed with quality street food to fresh produce. Then 1940’s Antique dealers have arrived to the market and it has continued to now drawing tons of people to every Saturday’s Antique market. The entire market runs from the north terminus at Golborne Road to very south end at more up-scaled Westbourne Grove occupying about 0.58 mile long street of swanky Notting Hill area. I highly recommend you to continue on to very north end of the market Golborne Road as there are very much eclectic mix of very good vintage shops, antique & mid century dealers as well as good amount of Moroccan community well established on that strip of road with food markets, street food car and bars in a bit more down to earth residential setting.
Now come stroll with me much famous Portobello market!
The market entrance. Shops to the left and tents with vendors are lined up along the Portobello road.
Anything works here in the market. But the Fur is maybe the one you may consider to buy. So many good options!
There are quite many vintage clothing vendors at south end. Not so hip but good furs again. It”s also pricier than the north end of the market where you get broader selection of vintage for both men and women.
and Ton of vintage bags!
Here’s my tourist moment!
Now the food market starts!
Yummy pastries!
Sea of Keish!
I have to say people eat about the same wherever you go….
OK These chicken bits smelled Soooooo goooood! No I didn’t stop for any food at the market this time… But next time, I will!
All right, one more look from a different angle. And sure it smelled still good!
A little quiet moment off the Portobello road. So pretty and bit Brooklyn here.
The food section ends and there will be a short moment of ” Whatever works” section, a sort of 99 cent store on your block.
OK now, for me the real deal of the market actually starts at the very end of the market. When you pass about half mile long of antique, food and chachkies you will come to a small square under a bridge where there are great small vendors all get together and sell interesting vintages showing off their own individual great styles! They are all friendly and super hip. Take your time and chat with them. They may tell you maybe the best kept secret to go out and eat in London. Don’t forget to keep walking toward the north end toward the Golborne Road!
See that’s the spirit I like! One of cool vendors celebrating his birthday with others at the market!
Another gentleman with a cool vintage Pea number!
After the market ends, you will encounter with many little cute bars, restaurants and vintage shops. And they go on for a while.
Yeap this one is a real good one! Ton of vintage boots, jackets and fur coats.
A great textile shop with their own small line of cashmere, wool, silk blankets. I love this shop!
So now we are at Golborne road. The frist shop we walked in had this amazing original Venini’s glass lamps from 70’s. The owner had about 6-7 of them. All identical. Each costs about $2400.
You can find really handsome furnitures here at Golborne road… Or is it maybe just being in London…
One next to another, there are good numbers of great antique furniture and interior shops on Golborne.
Awesome building and an iconic London vintage shop, Rellik. There are many design vintage pieces from the 80’s.
The lovely shop owner of a progressive clothing shop, Convenience.
Ahhh I so wish I had more time at the market and really dug into it. But a sweet half day of visit surely gave me a good idea of what I need to do better the next time. I really feel people in London are really friendly. More than the New Yorkers I have to say! I have had many small mini chats with many peeps at shops, streets and the market, and they all seem so lovely. So many people admired my tan from vacation in Puglia, Italy. You know how notorious London’s gloomy weather but we only had one short shower the last day at London so we were very lucky as I remember it rained quite a bit the last time. I forgot how incredible London is and it totally reminded me of Alexander McQueen Exhibition at Met in NY. He absolutely loved and was always so proud of where he came from. Great London!
LOvE London!