Friends are Family.
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Thanks to you all for coming and having a lovely dinner with us and Emi! Who couldn’t make it, you were there with us at heart. All the wonderful gifts ( especially this year’s trend DIY wonderful foodie’s gifts! YUm YUm) , Hugs and chats… That’s what friends are for and You Friends are Our Family.
And Special thanks to Chicco, the Chef and Owner of Celestino for Wonderful and Generous Full Course Meal! Wow.
Happy Birthday Emi! LOvE you So MuCh.
Jess and Nik, This Day and Forward…!
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Nik and Jess, Happily Knotted and much more to come. 09/08/2012, Roxbury Barn, NY
Dear Jess and Nik,
That was maybe the most fun wedding that I have been! I mean we were all talking about ” Stiff Neck” post such head bangings to all your super awesome RoCk StArs’ Super JAmminG!!! That was a truly beautiful unconventionally traditional wedding and Thank you for all the good times and friendship.
We are truly happy for both of you!
Today and Much more to come!!!
40th August Ten
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Emi and Me, Turning my 40th together. Love you Emi!
My 40th chapter begins here again with full of surprises and hard work. More adventures and lots of LOvE.
Thank You All So much for coming and being with Me! Extra love and all the lovely gifts!
I was One Happy Birthday Girl!
LOvE you All!
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!!!
Ben & Jaehee : a Pint of Italian Flavor
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Ben and me at Va Beh’ Brooklyn.
Tuesday, 6:45 pm at Bam for Woody Allen’s “To Rome with Love“, Then A dinner. A typical date night to anyone yet we don’t get to do this so often. So I was quite excite to see Ben!
I heard mixed reviews on this film, but in general I throughly enjoyed the film. A perfect Summer movie. The scenes totally brought me back to my second home, Italy and it got me all missed Emi and Gael who are in Italy for the moment, and it put me in those sexy fun filled summer traveling vibe. Ahhh Beautiful Rome! Then there’s always Woody!
And after many laughs and roaming around Rome, here we are at a small Italian restaurant in Park Slope, Va Beh’ for little bites.
You can see a grand view of new Sport Arena, Barclays Center Brooklyn from the inside of the restaurant and I have to say, it’s quite interesting. I do think this area is turning out to be way more handsome than what I expected.
The signature detail of the Restaurant will be this white marbled wall at the Bar area. This totally brings me back to Italy. The Current cities. It reminds me of those bigger cities in Italy. Milan, Rome… The owner of the place is from Milan if I am not mistaking. The most of small appetizers like crostini, panini and cold cuts are all prepared right in front of you at this open bar.
And my favorite detail of the restaurant!
The Built in ever flowing wine fountain! House wine, chilled Prosecco that is in place of White wine for summer and Aqua Naturale and Frizante. I just Love this Idea! Brilliant! Va Beh’ also offers a fine list of various Italian wine.
Yes they are for Ben and Me!!
OK. Start with Classic! Crostini al Pat’e di Fegato! Perfetto!
You will enjoy quiet yet right amount of details at the restaurant. Everything seems just about right and cozy.
Busy Cucina.
Paper wrapped Oven roasted Orata. After share of Crostini and delicious Arugola salad, here’s our main. Peeerrrectly cooked juicy Orata was one of the best one I ever had! Capers, lemon and touch of cherry tomatoes. All boned but head on. My kind!
Grilled Zucchini as Contorno. (side) Yum Yum Yum.
And homemade Ravioli with Salmon and light tomato sauce. It was one of special dish for the night. I have to say, Orata was the winner!
And… I Bel ragazzi, friendly Va Beh’ staff.
Super airy, fluffy, melt -in-your-mouth Va Beh’s Tiramisu!
Happy belated Birthday Ben!
We were the last few till the end. Leaving feeling full and happy…
For little taste of excellent homemade pastas and all other Italian good eats,
Va Beh’ 446 Dean Street, Brooklyn 718)678-4200
Ben, happy belated Birthday again and Cheers to our good times, Love you!
A Sound of Music!
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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!
Chicco Loves Paola: Celestino, Brooklyn
Filed Under Brooklyn, Design, Events, Food, Friend, NYC, Restaurant | 2 Comments
Beautiful people. Beautiful mind. Beautiful food. This hidden gem in Brooklyn, Celestino will melt your heart with all the charm you can’t ask any more! If you haven’t been yet, you should.
562 Halsey St, nr. Stuyvesant Avenue, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Auguri Paola!!! Bravo Chicco!! Grazie per l’invito!!
Eggs and Prosecco!
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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!
Easter Brunch!
Filed Under Brooklyn, Culture, Family, Food, Friend, NYC | 2 Comments
Kicking off an Easter Brunch at Sweet Home Casarosa’s with Kaja, Jay, Jessica and Nick!
A last minute Easter Brunch we planned felt nothing short in any way! A good sunny day. Check! Hearty delicious home cooked meal. Check! Gathering with a circle of good friends we haven’t seen a while. Check Check Check!! Especially we missed out Kaja’s birthday a couple weeks ago, it was a perfect occasion to spend some good afternoon with friends over a good meal and laughs.
Easter always does an official start of Spring for me in my great spirit apart from all the religious reasons for the most people out there, and Here I am happily ready to celebrate ” Pasqua Italiana: Italian Easter !”
A Menu first!
Prepping, Chatting and Sipping… The cake to the right is Kaja’s Easter cake with Peaches and Yogurt!
Thanks for the flowers, Jess and Nick!
Potatoes ready to be popped into the Oven. Rosemerry, olive oil and Sea salt.
OK, We are Starting the brunch! The first, Crostini al Pate’ Toscano. Mamma Livia’s recipe. Chicken liver, garlic, crushed pepper corn, butter, sage, sea salt and a tea spoon of vinegar on a hot crusty piece of bread…!!
As we make them, they fly off fast! Hot, nutty, salty, buttery over the crusty and Soooo savory.. Delicious!!
Wash them down with Spritiz!
Shhhhhh.. Our secret! A Leg of lamb roasting over the tub of roasting potato. Where does all the juice go? You do the math.
Slowly cooked for hours. A whole organic chicken makes rich and much much flavorful delicious broth! Can I say this is So traditional Italian Easter soup with a whole boiled egg but then Also Soooo everyday Korean? We go together in so many ways. It still surprises me.
The couple, Jay and Kaja.
Yay, One toast to the day, One toast to the friendship! Check out Gael’s face. And the center and to the left, Jess and Nick! Cheers to you all!
That’s right peeps. This soup is so comforting and so delicious and So Easter!
Such a big boy now. Having a good time.
Now the Chef carving and us watching drooling…
Nothing like perfectly sauteed Broccoli Rabe with roasted lamb.
Gael making sure to check off each course.
The Brunch goes on from 2:00 and now for 5 hours… Jay and Jaehee
Sitting out in the garden with Dolci now. Kaja’s amazing Peaches and Yogurt cake. So delicate and delicious!
Emi’s airy and melting in your mouth, ” Mascarpone folded with Nutella and fresh Mixed berry compote” Ahhhh, Life is Good! And Happy Belated Birthday Kaja!!
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter or just good One happy Sunday! Emi, Gael and Jaehee
Big Apple Circus, NYC
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Entering Big Apple Circus! Lincoln Center, NYC
Thank you Beppe and Dani for an awesome fun Christmas gift for us! Gael was already over the moon for the last 10 days to get to go see Big Apple Circus and I was secretly excite of course! Saturday 7:00pm, we had marked a big circle on our calendar and we were ready to rock and roll!
The big one we got!
Slowly but surely filling in ( because they are all in the line to get pop corns!) and getting one step closer.
Much inspired by Tim Burton, the circus is a big hit for all the kids. They were going nuts!
These awesome group of Asian Oompa-Loompa (just me calling them) were the one of my favortie. They are funny, fun, greatly flexible and entertaining!
Great outfits, aren’t they?
This is a taxi driver, Andre’ sitting on a imagination chair.
My Oompa-Loompa are back with the second outfit and more elaborate acrobatic!
This guy has the fastest hands in the world. 2 visible and 5 invisible.
Porcupine.
Pig.
OK, What’s this guy’s name?
It’s like Tim Burton for Comme des Garcons.
Always a highlight of any circus, Trapeze! Gael had taken a Trapeze class once, so he really related to this. Fun Fun Fun!
Finale!
Of course, clowns and much more are there and you should be there to see it all! Laugh and have fun with your kids, nieces and nephews. It’s a big fun time! Dani and Beppe, “Thank you again for a wonderful wonderful gift! Gael loved it!!!” and personally, I had a good kick out of groovy outfits of Big Apple circus!
It was a starry night in Big Apple.
LOvE NYC!