Eat It: 7 Courses of Beef

Many are familiar with Vietnamese cuisine favorites like phở (noodle soup), bánh mì (spicy baguette sandwiches) and gỏi cuốn (spring rolls). But when I found out my dear friends had not partaken of my people's 7 Courses of Beef - I set out to immediately rectify the issue.

Course 1: pickled onions and beef carpaccio


Courses 2 - 3: raw slices of beef cooked in hot vinegar and then grilled over a hot plate (not pictured); wrapped in pickled veggies and rice paper


Course 4 - 6: ground beef rolls in different wrappings and meat on a stick (not pictured)


Course 7: beef rice soup


Bonus: 7 lovely ladies!

Read It: Catching Fire

Please join me in my squee-est of squee moments ever.

I don't want to add any spoiler-ness so let me just say that the book is AAAAWESOME!

Suzanne Collins completely delivers on:
- complicating the love triangle (can I get a Team-Polygamous-Marriage-For-Katniss shirt?)
- increasing the stakes of District unrest
- deepening character development of key favorites like Haymitch
- keeping Katniss her same lovable, tough self while putting her through hell

The book takes a turn halfway through that initially disappointed me, but I should have had faith in Collins because she managed to forward the plot in a compelling way that simultaneously showcased Katniss' growth since the first novel.

Book 2 cliffhangs just like Book 1 so don't get all your hopes up for a pretty resolution - you will be left yearning for the next book for another, long, torturous year...

Eat It: Pizza Daze

My friends and I embarked on a mission to try the best thin-crust pizzas available in San Francisco's south central neighborhoods (Mission Dolores, Outer Mission, and Glen Park). This is the record of our journey.

1. Lunch at Delfina Pizzeria: margherita and funghi
Verdict: amazing doughy crust with salt granules complimented the oil drizzled simple, fresh ingredients

2. Late Lunch at Arinell's: cheese
Verdict: best. crust. ever. even though this pizza sits out waiting to be warmed for your pleasure with requisite ingredients, the crust stays crispy like a cracker.









3. Palate Cleansers at Bi-Rite Creamery and Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream Vendors
Verdict: the perfect antithesis to cheese. creme fraiche, coffee, coconut, oolong, cherry-almond, honey lavender, cookies n cream, candied ginger, and olive oil flavors - clean tasting and wonderful!

4. Dinner at Paulinas: garlic & meat special half and pesto
Verdict: crisp crust with popping ingredients, some fresh from their garden! we didn't try the strawberry pizza that apparently jams up nicely but that's *next* on my list!









4. Late Dinner at Gialinas: puttanesca and stinging nettles and lamb sausage
Verdict: uber-thin pizza almost to the point of droopiness but amazing ingredient combos yielding salty goodness

Watch It: Terminator Salvation

Coming at ya - my line by line spoilertastic Terminator Salvation review as written during the movie:

Previews

"Gamers" - Ender's Game meets Running Man. Brilliant and flashy and Gerard Butler!

"Sherlock Holmes" - Robert Downey Jr! TOO MUCH AWESOME!

Terminator starts

Credits - Moon Bloodgood - shoutout for Eurasian actresses!

The Year 2003

Hmm..DeathRowDude getting visit from creepy raspy-voiced doctor asking for the rights to his body. Warning bells!

Okay, it's been five minutes and nothing has been blown up or shot. What gives?

DeathRowDude's strapped up to die in a very Christlike post - yes, thank you, I get it.

The Year 2018

There's the action! McG does this right - it's like I'm IN the fricking helicopter!

Terminator taking human prisoners (Sarah Connor Chronicles did it better)

Can someone get Christian Bale a cough drop?

Wait, Connor isn't in charge?? Whaaaaa?

Huh, some group of old fogey dudes are in charge. Great - good to know the apocalypse hasn't changed things. Can I get a lady up in here?

OMG Common? Did COMMON just show up on screen?

Hmm...no chemistry between Connor and his wife. Must be because Christian Bale's love for him prohibits him from expressing genuine feelings for other actresses.

Oh great, Mrs. Connor is pregnant. Because enough isn't at stake? I *get* it - root for the humans.

Uh oh, mindf*ck - DeathRowDude just woke up in 2018 to post-apoc rubble and some ugly ass machines shooting at him.

YAY! Kyle Reese saves DeathRowDude and utters the infamous Come With Me If You Want To Live.

Anton Yelchin is having a killer year - Star Trek AND Terminator

San Francisco = Skynet Central AND Federation Central AND XMen Central?

OMG Anton Yelchin and Michael Biehn resemblance is freaky

Check out this little mute girl - like the world's best concierge - always showing up with whatever you need

Terminators on motorbikes? Okay. I'm in.

Moon drops in but not before Kyle Reese is kidnapped by the Terms. Her teeth are gleaming - must have snatched a collection of white strips pre-apoc.

Huh, of course - even in post-apoc dudes rape chicks. DeathRowDude to Moon's rescue!

This film isn't so hot at quiet moments or scene transitions - but oh look, shiny explosion - I still like it!

Oh man, they are laying on the redemption thing a bit thick.

Resistance has a plan - break into Terms frequency signal to disable. Could do without the exposition, too. Wait - does the signal work? Cuz you've only said it five times by three different characters.

Resistance captures DeathRowDude. A little sloppy on his Terminator special effects - same team that must have done Twilight's sparkly vampire.

Cough Drop to Christian - stat!

McG is working those helicopter scenes - awesome!

Ok - not on board with creepy eel terminators in water - they are fuh-reaking me out! EWWW.

Sidebar: Christian Bale has tiny ears.

Gratuitious philosophical man vs machine bit...yawn....sigh...

Woohoo John Connor says He'll Be BAAAAAAAACK as he goes to meet up with DeathRowDude at Skynet Central to get back Kyle Reese

Huh...DeathRowDude breaks into Skynet...disables ONE sentry so Connor can get in, and sends him Kyle's location instead of just taking down all of Skynet's systems.

What is up with Skynet? Did It takes lessons at the James Bond School of Villainy? Where is all this villainous exposition coming from? Why can't it just reprogram DeathRowDude to be on board with the Skynet plan? What's up with trying to *reason* with him? And when did Skynet decide to program itself with snark and sarcasm?? Man, is Skynet seriously doing a breakdown of its motivations? AGHAGH!

OMG ARNOLD!!! ARNOLD ARNOLD ARNOLD!

John Connor finally gets to meet his dad - sweeeeet.

Uh oh - assembly line Terminator is coming for John Connor but DeathRowDude intervenes! Machine on Machine fight! (Sarah Connor Chronicles did it better - but that's the genius of Summer Glau.)

Srsly - little mute girl saves the day again with her super concierge powers!

Oh goodie - sequel set up. Didn't see that coming.

Plant It: A Garden Part 2

Last week, the plants went in.

This week, we enjoy the results!

Carrots are peeking through.


My stevia, tomatoes, and green beans have doubled in size.

And the berries are producing little fruits!!

















And just for kicks - my rose plant give me this beautiful flower.

Taste It: Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter is one of my all time favorite foods - in a sandwich, on a spoon, mixed with chocolate. It's genius.

Thanks to health orgs nutritional overshare, though, I'm keenly aware that regular old peanut butter has corn syrup and other chemical unsundries so I switched to the all natural variety that is just peanuts and maybe salt.

Turns out you have to store those in the fridge and half the time I don't have the strength to stir that top layer of oil into the blob of peanut.

Jif and Skippy to the rescue!
They have lines of natural peanut butter with peanuts, salt and palm oil. I think one version has sugar, too - but it's plain ol' sugar and not corn syrup. Bonus - no stirring necessary and they're shelf stable.

But which one would I buy? A taste-off was in order with the assistance of the lovely Alie.
















The Verdict: Both offer mouthfuls of creamy peanut butter goodness.

Jif had a more roasted taste with a stronger oily consistency.
Skippy's was smoooooooth like butta.
As with most peanut butters, I'd put any on a sandwich.

Don't get on my case about them not being organic. La-la-la-la-la-la. I. Can't. Hear. You.

Cast It: Real Housewives of San Francisco

I don't watch Real Housewives, but I have friends that do. I might get sucked in for a San Francisco season because I love seeing my city on television - it's so pretty.

I recommend casting the following group of lovely ladies who I saw walking down Market two blocks off Union Square at noon on a Tuesday.

Maybe they're not housewives, but they're pushing strollers and looking good!

Looooove the thigh high footless socks with flip flops.

Find It: My Logo

I was out and about when my eye was drawn to this lovely structure - which I realized looked like my logo!

Listen To: Mellow Pop Covers

Compliments of JD

Listen To: Mellow Rap/Hip-Hop Covers

Ever since I first heard Dynamite Hack's cover of Boyz N The Hood, I've crushed on mellow covers.

(Here's a fan made video that uses the song)




Which is probably why I went ape crazy over The Fray's cover of Kanye's Heartless!



Will All American Rejects cover Eminem please??

Do Mix: Debutante Writers and Connie

I just got back from Not Your Mother's Book Club's Debutante Ball featuring authors Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Sarah Quigley, and C. Lee McKenzie.



Jennifer set the stage with goodies








Each author (from left to right in the picture) gave a short introduction and reading.

Cheryl Renee Herbsman writes like molasses and is just as sweet. Her story about an asthmatic southern girl falling in love with a boy just as he leaves town is sure to require tissue.

Sarah Quigley's just so omg cool and was the only one wearing a tiara (awesome!). Her novel, TMI, features a heroine guilty of the dreaded overshare - like all of us!

C. Lee McKenzie had me enraptured from her first sentence - and everyone else judging by how her book sold out before I could get a copy of her compelling story of self mutilation.


I made a beeline for Cheryl and guess who I found - my friend in book-stalkery:

CONNIE!!!!!

Jennifer threw in a bonus copy of Carol Lynch Williams' much buzzed The Chosen One about a girl in a polygamy community. Yay for free unexpected books!

Plant it: A Garden!!! Part 1

I fear an inevitable apocalypse. I don't know if it's coming from zombies or flu or nuclear war. But if it gets here, I want to be able to feed myself. About half of these apocalypse scenarios still lend themselves to successful gardening. I figured I'd get started.

Step 1: Make room in the backyard.

The best way to accomplish this was to rip up a bunch of rose plants. Here they are!

This particular bush was a low producer. Note the lack of roses on those thorny branches.






Unlike these babies - who are my favorites

But I digress...





Step 2: Lay out the box.

Some people build. I buy. This plastic 3'x3' garden box is available online. Fill it with good potting soil and give it a day to settle.




Step 3: Optional and Not Recommended. Cut yourself on a pair of sheers. Luckily the hubby took this step for me.







Step 4: Lay in drip water lines. Use rings around trees or for circular formations.








Step 5: Pick a variety of seeds, seedlings and bulbs to plant.


One step closer to living off the grid.

To Be Continued...

Watch It: Star Trek

I absolutely friggin' had to see the new Star Trek movie at the opening show. I was surprised by the lack of costumes (I mean...even the opening of Firefly had costumes) but thrilled at the movie.

Here's my SPOILERtastic writeup ...which I did during the movie (so pardon the short squee-ish sentences.)

TRAILERS!!

Inglorious Bastards - lotsa Quentin talkie. BJ Novak from Office as killer? Whaaa?

Terminator - hottie bfriend Christian. Machines taking human prisoners? Didn't they cover this on Sarah Connor Chronicles?

GI Joe - Sienna is smokin'! But Tatum is prettier. Kinda miss old school american hero vibe.

UP -Funny every time I see it!! SQUIRREL! Why didn't I invest in Pixar?

Land of the Lost - boob joke? really? come on!

Transformers - oooh, new trailer! What's up with Megan? clothes please? Flag count in Michael Bay trailer = 1. Restrained? Coulda used more Josh Duhamel.

MOVIE STARTS!
Sweet, ship scene!
Jim's Papa in charge of dire sitch. "Heart rate elevated" - no shit!
Hmmmm....smells like time travel. Done well in many ST TV eps already.
Crap - autopilot NEVER works when you need it!
Big eyed alien chick OBGYN is too freaky for words.
Why can't you beam out Jim's Papa?? Whyyyyyyy?
Crap. Crying.
The future still has Beastie Boys??? Sweet.
Gratuitous Nokia Ad.
What is up with his kid's hair? Dye job issues.
Planet Vulcan!
Spock in major smack down!!
No one gets to 'yo mama' spock's mama!
Teen years.
Must let go of creepy Sylar bias.
Holy crap is that Winona Ryder as Spock's mom??
Uhura!!!
Damnit, I'm a doctor! YAY classic line!! Great intro.
3 years later...
San Francisco! Shout out!!!
Gorgeous Starfleet headquarters.
Loving Spock vs Kirk.
THE ENTERPRISE!!!
Takes your breath away.
John Cho!
Kirk with ham hands - hilarious!
Romulans have giant red ball.
JJ Abrams has hard-on for giant red ball (Alias shoutout!)
Yay for John Cho fencing! Go Cho Go!
Mid air beam me up? Sweet!
Why uber logical Vulcans chillin' during an earthquake?
Spock + Uhura? Shoulda seen it coming! So many clues! AGH!
JJ Message: This is a NEW reality. Chill die hards.
LIVE LONG & PROSPER!!!!!!!! Crowd goes wild.
SET PHASES TO STUN!!!! Crowd freaking!
Drowning in fan love!!

And that's where I ran out of paper. Hopefully, if you read this, you've already seen it. But if you haven't - go! GO GO GO!

Don't Mix: Shoplifting and Cindy Pon

Tonight I attended Cindy Pon's booksigning event at San Francisco's Laurel Village Books Inc. All seats were taken and there was an equal number of standing attendees at the event.

In a lovely Chinese dress and under duress from the store's Not Your Mother's Book Club founder, Jennifer Laughran, Cindy took questions from the audience. Doesn't she look lovely? Prize for most adorable question goes to her daughter, who asked when we could expect her next book, a Silver Phoenix prequel. The anticipated answer: next year!


I met Cindy for the first time!! In addition to getting my own book signed, I obtained an autographed copy for JENN! The winner of last week's contest. Congratulations Jenn, I'll be contacting you for shipping instructions.

I was excited to see Connie who I met at the Laurie Halse Anderson event and who I am dubbing my official evil-partner in author-stalking. I hope this is okay with Connie.

The booksigning was followed promptly by cupcakes from Sweet Things bakery down the street. I was so excited for this combination of literary and culinary delights, that I skipped my way out of the store...without paying for my books.

I've since contacted Jennifer begging forgiveness. If I don't post soon, assume she's turned me in.