Thanksgiving 2011

Food, wonderful food. It was the second helping of sausage stuffing that got to me, and I remember thinking driving over in the car what's the problem? Why does everyone worry about how much food they are going to eat? Right. Wrong! I'm eating, I'm enjoying and just a little bit more of this, a little bit more of that, then 3 desserts, creme freish, and chocolate chips cookies, which I baked. Oh, bliss, obsession, pure sugar love, oh turkey blonk and cover cooch, let's eat some more today. Can't go to the mall, too crowded. Can't go to the movies, too crowded, let's eat instead. Oh joy.

Photography as Art - Cecil Beaton

White panama hat by Suzy, 1934.

This is to show where the idea may have bubbled up from, the idea that made it's way to MOCA's gala last week where tables of twenty had real live heads popping up through them, to be observed from both directions during dinner.

Here Cecil Beaton gives us a more genteel look at fashion, shall we say, while at the same time skewers it, well, fashionably.

Food as Art - Eat it, Enjoy it, Confess the next day.

It is Angelini Osteria, again.


I know, I know, there are so many other places to eat in Los Angeles, so many worthy rooms like Campanile, which I love and go to regularly, Mozza, excellent, Marino on Melrose, still great value, fab food & big leather banquettes, very old world.  There is JAR and CRAFT and Drago and Matteo and it is wonderful to sample the delights the city has to offer. 


However, 


time after time I find myself right back at Angelini, especially for lunch when it is not as crowded, and tucking into a chop salad, or the heavenly lasagna, or the warm sliced swordfish with pistachios and baratta. Did I spell that right? Who cares? It's GINO ANGELINI and the magic he works. I took the New Yorkers there during their visit and their response was "I could eat here every night." http://www.angeliniosteria.com/vivalosteria.html







Here it is: "Harvey's Guss" Grilled Bistecca alla Fiorentina "for Two" Finished in the Wood Oven. 


Eat it, enjoy it, confess the next day. 

Travel - Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina,
a most surprising and wonderful city to visit.
Deep in history, rich in architectural splendor, vivid in iconography, places of worship and aerial views.

I landed at Planters Inn, right on Market Street, ate in their dining room, Peninsula Grill, which, by the way, is top drawer. Best roast chicken I've ever had, dessert a mile high ride.
My room was cozy with a gas burning fireplace, and full of everything Relais & Chateaux offers overlooking a garden terrace lit with gas lanterns, charming.
 I walked the streets of Charleston marveling at a place that gave me a feeling of being "outside" the stresses and strains of America. Still, of course it is America, it's own America, the south.

Go to Charleston, take a walking tour with CHARLESTON FOOTPRINTS, http://www.charlestonfootprints.com/

Michael Trouche's tour gave me mcuh more information than just walking on my own. He is 7th generation Charleston, and knows it all.

Eat at the charming places; Cru Cafe, Halls Chophouse, Husk.

Shop King Street upper for clothes, lower for design & home. The sweetgrass baskets for sale all over town are the last real crafts in America. Luscious.

There is so much to do and see and get the feel of here, way too much for me to tell you about except to say go there, enjoy, and God Bless America.


http://www.plantersinn.com/

http://www.charlestoncvb.com/

Books - BOOMerang

Here is a clear, vibrant and funny explanation of the world economic crisis. 
From Iceland to Greece, back to Ireland and a quick flight over to California 
including highlights from his interview with X-Governator Schwarzenegger, 
Michael Lewis lays out what happened, how crazy and how all so human 
the complicated mess is. What a compelling read.