L'homme Magnifique

Today on Sartorialist there were quite a few fetching fellas to daydream about. This is not to say that my hubby doesn't have style. He does in his own Skateboardy kind of way, which is also to say that he is pretty darn cute in my book. But there is no denying that men in other countries, including the country of New York City, have a distinct look. The boys abroad tend to be so stylish, unique, masculine and very sexy. Not even my favorite city SF can make such claims about its men. The few men in Los Angeles who are fashionistas are outnumbered by an army of Audigier. Perhaps because they are so rare, I really love seeing men explore their fashionable sides. I don't know that I'd like to be involved with a man like that, but they sure are fun to look at.

Dinner Time: Pizza and Mache

Tonight I took it easy and had pizza for dinner. I bought a pretty decent frozen pizza with whole wheat flour and no additives, like soy or sugar, from Whole Foods. I steamed some broccoli and then finely chopped it and coated the cooked pizza with it. I usually use a knife to work the veg into the hot cheese, right when the pizza comes out of the oven, so that it all melts together. I also made Nico a Mache salad. Its also known as lamb's ear greens. Some avocado, carrots, grape tomato, with oil and balsamic. He ate a large bowl with his hands and was begging for more. I really suggest trying Mache for the baby in your house. It's so soft, its fun to eat.

The Raven

My good friends the Koston's recently treated me to a spa at the Raven. I know its old news here in L.A., but the Raven is so good it bears repeating. The decor alone leaves you feeling pretty zen. And the long curly haired male receptionist with the soft voice goes from creepy to charming in under 5 minutes. I wanted to stay all day, but those days are gone. If you are anywhere near Silverlake, fly on over to the Raven. Thank you to Eric,Ashlee and Baby June. You know how to treat a mama right.

Fort Point

On our recent but short trip to SF we took Nico to visit Fort Point. I hadnt been there since probably the 4th grade. It is still populated by school-aged children and seagulls, just how I remembered it. The empty fort is cold, windy and full of echoes, just like any proper S.F. landmark. The bridge's underbelly is mesmerizing, her bolts are in perfect symmetry. If you assigned a musical note to each one you would have a symphony. Nico made sure to jump every cannon and did the rounds on the roof under my very watchful eye. It's scary up there! It's almost like the wind is so loud it impairs your vision too. I heart you S.F., more than you'll ever know.

Mishima Baby

My old friend Alice Talley is responsible for my love of soba. She got me hooked on the cold buckwheat noodles when we were in highschool. She even worked at Mifune for a bit, the best place in S.F.'s Jtown for a big plate of tenzaru. When Aaron and I started dating I was so happy he enjoyed it as much as I did. Cupid's arrow sank a little deeper when I saw him slurpping his noodles. Here in L.A., the best place for a cold bowl is Mishima. As newlyweds, Aaron and I would sit and watch families eating. We called the kids "mishima babies" and would make promises to each other about our future child learning to joyfully eat Japanese. Nico loves it at Mishima! Recently he enjoyed some soba, steamed chicken and rice, inari, crab, and roe. Stubborn as always, he demanded to eat only with chopsticks. When in Rome, I suppose.
Turns out that if you dream it enough, you can make it come true. We got our Mishima baby!

Around the House: WishList

I want this poster something bad. Not sure where it would go. I've noticed that anything I want, but has no place in my house, always gets redirected to Nico's room. His room has become a bastion for all things juvenile, poppy, trendy, vintage and colorful. Another great reason to have kids: To have one room in your house that doesn't have to look so grown up. The good designers at ORK made this posters and other type heavy posters in homage to major cities everywhere. Is yours there?

This recipe is via Trina Papini, mom of one August Miller. She found it on Kitchn, the Apartment Therapy cooking site. The Kitchn is as good for cooking as AT is for home inspiration. This was like a broccoli pesto, Nico loved it so. It was super fast to make and required little ingredients. I saved some of the sauce for the following day and spread it on toast for Nico to eat at breakfast with his eggs. Yummy!

Velvety Broccoli and Feta Pasta serves 2-4

1 pound broccoli
2 tablespoons water
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
1/2 small onion or two shallots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup chopped flat parsley
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup feta cheese (low-fat if you want to be good) - divided
1/4 cup water

Cut the broccoli into small florets and steam on the stove with the 2 tablespoons of water. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large sauté pan. Cook the onion and garlic until it just begins to soften then add the broccoli. Cook for several minutes or until the onion turns translucent. Add the parsley and cook until it's well wilted. Pour in the lemon juice and simmer for about two minutes.

Transfer to a blender and add 1/4 cup of the feta cheese and the 1/4 cup water. Puree until smooth, adding a drizzle of olive oil and a little more water if it sticks and turns to a lump. Puree until as smooth or chunky as you prefer.

Taste and add any necessary additional salt and pepper. Serve with a good ridged pasta like rotini.

VacScene

You used to have the girl at Barney's call you when a certain bag comes in. Now you have the girl at the pediatricians call you when the h1n1 shot gets in. What in the world is going on? Where are these vaccines?

Yesterday we had a strange experience trying to get into a free vaccine clinic in nearby Glendale. On the road to the tent CalTrans set up huge electric signs that said NO MORE SHOTS. There was something so 28 Days Later about it. I dare to even say it felt doomsdayish, but then I realize how spoiled and American I am. Most of the world likely does this sort of wait for medicine, and even then don't get the decency of an informational sign.

To get Nico vaccinated has not been a question of if, but of when. To my own surprise I have become supportive of vaccines. I choose to space Nico's out, but he gets all of them nonetheless. I read this book by Dr. Sears and it helped educate me a lot on shots and why they work for the greater good. It took the fear out of vaccines for me and helped dispell the myths that accompany most of them. I suggest you read it, even if you aren't getting shots for your child. The more you know, the better! This Saturday, the morning of Nico's birthday party we are going to try and hit another vaccine tent in Hollywood. It will be interesting to see who shows up and how quickly they run out. I will keep you posted!