Hello everyone,

One of my favorite things to do on restless Sundays (as I’ve written about previously) is going to local farmer’s markets. Now that we’re approaching summer, I find myself earnestly looking forward to all the seasonal fruit at my favorite waterfront market in Oakland. This last run, I stocked up on stone fruit and some vine-ripened tomatoes. One thing that I can never pass up, however, are the big fragrant bunches of basil you can find for little over a dollar. Of course, I then have to think of new and creative ways to use said basil. My go-to is always a little Caprese salad, or, in this case, Caprese salad wedged in a fresh-baked ciabatta roll with a dollop of olive oil on the side for dipping. The perfect warm-weather meal, if you ask me.

Cheers,

EVA♥

Hi everyone!

There’s something about certain foods and behaviors that I associate with being on vacation. The connection I often fail to make is the fact that one does not necessarily have to be directly on some tropical beach to get their hands on a mai tai or fresh pineapple. You also don’t need to be even remotely on vacation to forgo pants for a dress, wear less makeup, and bust out a fabulous fake tan. Now, I’m lucky enough to live 2 minutes from the nearest beach, so I really have no excuse. This, I decided to have a little “staycation” of my own. Inspired by this delicious looking recipe on Refinery29, I made a dash to my local Trader Joe’s the minute they opened. I armed myself with pineapple, strawberries, some coconut milk, and chia seeds before running home. Until recently, I found chopping up an entire pineapple a daunting task, but it’s really quite easy and requires little skill. Simply twist and pull off the “stalk,” and cut along the top, bottom, and lengthwise until your pineapple resembles, well…a pineapple. Pair some cold pineapple hunks with some fresh coffee, go out on your porch (if you have one) and enjoy the sunshine. It’s one of the best breakfasts ever. While I was feeling ambitious today, I also whipped up some chia seed pudding, which could not have been easier. You literally need only two or three ingredients:

Mix 1 cup coconut milk,  1/4 cup chia seeds, and a little something sweet. I love the flavor you get with Orgeat, but you could also use plain old sugar, agave, or honey. Let the mixture sit for a few hours so the seeds can absorb the liquid, and voilà! You have pudding. It’s magic, and good for you! 

I chopped up some strawberries to add on top of the finished pudding, with some pineapple on the side, of course. In future, I’ll be sure to make this in the evenings, so I can enjoy it first thing in the morning.

To improve your staycation experience, I recommend bringing a little bit of that vacation atmosphere to your home. I’m a fan of Slatkin and Co.’s Coconut Water scented candle. It’s a non-offensive summer scent that’s not too overpowering. Throw a little sea salt spray in your hair (I love the below version from Lush) and maybe a little Hawaiian Tropic and you’re good to go! Should you be in the position to get a little sun, do so safely! Wear sunscreen at all times, even when trying to get some color. I love the Maui Babe Browning Lotion for this, but only for short stretches of time. An all-over burn is never a good look, and we don’t want to look like a used handbag in our old age. Last but not least, if you’re looking for a quintessential summer fragrance, check out Bobbi Brown’s Beach. It smells just like it sounds: the perfect combination of sunscreen, salt, and jasmine- very light and clean.

Vacation is a state of mind, really. I use it as a mental reset- a way of pulling myself out of the more banal aspects of my routine. There’s no reason you can’t take that sense of calm with you when you leave. While finding time to relax may not be the easiest thing sometimes, it’s such an essential part of life.  At the very least, take advantage of that sunshine and eat something delicious. You sort of owe it to yourself.

EVA ♥

Hello everyone!

Recently, my father had a birthday. I’ve been told that as you get older, it somehow becomes less socially acceptable to make a big hoopla around that time of the year. My youngest students often come in each weekend with another party on their social calendar that they absolutely have to tell me about. These always involve bounce houses, ice skating, princesses, cake… and whatever else you can think of. As a kid, I imagined adult birthdays to be a sad occasion where balloons were frowned upon and presents were things like calculators or toilet paper. (Ok, in all honesty, I did get facewash one year for my birthday, but so what? It was Clinique!)

This year, I decided to take my parents somewhere they had never been before for the big birthday celebration; partially to expose them to wonderful new things, and partially for my own entertainment. I had had one of the most amazing meals at Foreign Cinema in the Mission last year, and it has quickly become my go-to restaurant for special occasions. It’s airy and non-pretentious, a gem in the most unlikely of neighborhoods. To add a bit of whimsy to an already unique restaurant, the venue doubles as a theater of sorts, showing movies on the white-washed wall of the building overlooking the courtyard.(For more details…you can find them here!) The food there has changed my perception of dining experiences, to say the least. Following  our first course of brandade, (a dish I was completely unfamiliar with until I tasted it here), I told my mother that on my first visit, the dishes here made my cooking seem like something I had pulled out of the garbage disposal and slapped on a plate. Being a self-proclaimed foodie, the presentation and combinations of flavors fascinated me. Luckily, my parents and I had different enough tastes that we were able to all order a variety of dishes and sample them all. My father had the sesame fried chicken, my mother the duck, and I chose the seared tuna. Admittedly, Foreign Cinema is one of the few restaurants that I go to where half of the ingredients on the menu are entirely foreign to me. Just pick something and go with it! Notably, this is also the kind of restaurant that will tell you the origin of the lettuce in your salad. So very California. Luckily, the dishes here are so perfectly portioned, I can always squeeze in dessert. The chevre cheesecake here is amazing, as is the chocolate pot de crème served alongside caramel popcorn.  Possibly one of my favorite moments of the evening had to be when the server presented my father with his requested crème brûlée and a candle, which he insisted on letting melt on to the plate for as long as possible. The ladies at the table next to us all wished him a happy birthday, and I managed to capture a photo of him beaming. 

Sure, turning another year older isn’t that difficult to do, but we sure are lucky when it happens. It’s a good time to be thankful for your health, as well as the pleasure of the company that surrounds you on that day, whoever they may be. Also, it’s a great excuse to eat some really good food.

Cheers,

EVA♥