Pizza with asparagus

6-30-2012 Sat. very hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- water 
DINNER --- ( at Vapiano )  pizza with asparagus and shrimp topping | beer 

 storm aftermath in the garden 

 Vapiano pizza 

•  the garden got hit badly.

powerless

6-29-2012 Fri. very hot, sunny to severe storm.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Wulong tea
 DINNER --- parboiled baby spinach and bean sprouts | twice-cooked pork shoulder | stir-fried chive flower and smoked tofu | rice | beer 

• severe storm hits with 80m wind after dinner time, power out and tress down.

greens and blossoms

6-28-2012 Thu. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- gazpacho 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- pan-fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with pesto and roasted red pepper |  sauteed green beans with black bean sauce | sauteed zucchini with shittake mushroom | stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | rice | fennel and lettuce salad | wine 

• finally an all vegetable dinner of the week.

chilled and grilled

6-27-2012 Wed. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- cherries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- ( at Bill and Marline's,with Sue and Charles ) chilled spinach and cucumber soup ( white gazpacho )  | baked potato with black roe and sour cream | sweet pepper, corn and peach salsa | grilled veal chop | wine | strawberry and cream 

 
 

• really nice to see old friends

Citronelle, fake ice and 10K-tag wine

6-26-2011 Tue. warm, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries 
DINNER --- ( at Citronelle ) fried soft shell crab with Provencal compote  | lobster Begula pasta | lamb three ways |  slow-cooked short rib | citrus patits fours | chocolate plate | wine 

 amuse bouche (potato, radish-grapefruit, cauliflower)

 lobster begula pasta on fake ice

 fried soft shell crab

lamb ( chop, meatball, and shank) 

slow-cooked short rib  

palate cleanser ( mandarin foam on cream)

 chocolate plate

 

 citrus pitits fours

 

• Citronelle raises price faster than the bar for fine French cuisine,  adopts big volume, high salt and fat content approach of this side of Atlantic ocean.

any day can be a special day

6-25-2012 Mon.  warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- pasta with pesto sauce 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of mustard green, shittake and  and chicken | fennel and cherry tomato salad 

 one year ago today at Cacao (now closed )

 two years ago today at a bar in Stockholm

•  at home and made dumplings this year today.

 

fresh corn, fresh peas, fresh basil

6-24-2012 Sun. hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | milk | mango | raspberries | watermelon | scallion pancake 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Persian cookie  
DINNER --- sauteed fresh peas with canton sausage |fresh corn fritters | pasta with homemade pesto sauce | avocado and fennel salad | wine

 

• from farmer's market to dinner table.

fresh almond and zong-zi festival

6-23-2012 Sat. hot, sunny. 

  
 WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | Afghan sweet bread ( with cardamon and rose water) | mango | raspberries | watermelon 
 AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  mojito | Afghan flat bread with humus 
 DINNER --- steamed shrimp shaomai | steamed zong-zi | stir-fried fresh fava beans with fermented fava bean sauce | avocado and radish salad with fresh almonds | wine 

 

fresh almonds from Persian market

 zong-zi, shaomai, fresh fava beans

•   Duan-Wu festival today. it is the season of fresh almond and zong-zi.

cherry tomato from garden

6-22-2012 Fri. hot, hazy, thunder storm. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at B1 cafe ) pho:  soup with rice noodles and beef
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- grapes 
DINNER --- spicy napa cabbage | stir-fried shrimp, zucchini and maitake mushroom | rice | lettuce, cherry tomato and fennel salad | wine 

 

• harvested first a few cherry tomatoes from the garden

the longest and hottest day

6-21-2012 Thu. record hot, hazy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- zong-zi 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- watermelon
DINNER --- pan-fried new potatoes with rosemary and pimenton salt |lightly pickled Japanese cucumber, needle mushroom and chayote  | chao-jiang: stir-fried garlic scape, roasted pork and smoked tofu with roasted pepper sauce and mustard sauce | wine 

 

•  stay cool and cook light 

seasoned rice in leaf wrap

6-20-2012 Wed. hot, hazy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rotini with pesto sauce and cucumber
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- peach 
DINNER ---  cucumber and Belgian endive salad | hot and sour soup with zucchini and needle mushroom | Zong-zi ( Chinese seasoned rice with pork in leaf wrap ) 

 

• zong-zi, a traditional food for Duan-wu festival

leftover fusion

6-19-2012 Tue. hot, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- pasta 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---peach 
DINNER ---  pickled Japanese cucumber and seaweed salad | maitake mushroom soup |  toasted baugette with truffle pate, roasted red pepper spread, and olive humus 

 

• take whatever is available and be creative
 

 

 

One bowl for one

6-18-2011 Mon. warm, rainy. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- rotini with pesto sauce 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- nectarine 
DINNER --- linguini with fresh peas, marinated onion,  cured and roasted pork 

 

• one bowl for one, a sharp contrast with a day before.
 

 

a perfect day for Brahms and mango-shrimp

6-17-2012  Sun. mild, sunny. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | watermelon | cherries | croissant | baguette and brie | nectarine | peach 
AFTER-CONCERT-RECEPTION ( in the garden )  --- baguette with brie and truffle pate |  Persian flat bread with humus | cocktail shrimp | flat bread with twice-roasted red pepper spread and citrus pickled fennel root and mint | lightly pickled ( with lime juice and fish sauce)  Persian cucumber, shallot and Canton sausage skewer | rotini with pesto sauce, grilled broccoli and marinated broccoli stems | pasta and vegetable salad ( by Marilu) | beer cookies ( by Ed) | orange liquor cake ( by Midori)  | Persian cookies | wine and beer 

for garden reception

(in the tea house)  ---  anise-scent plate: cured and slow-roasted pork, sauteed fresh fava beans, pickled onion, chayote brine (salt and star anise) , fennel stem and mustard green grape | a gatherer's roll: chive flowers, beech mushroom and smoked tofu wrapped in rice paper | a savory world folded-in : garlic-marinated and grilled shrimp, mango, fermented rice crepe with coconut milk and shiso leaf | sweet ending : fresh lychee and beer cookie  || paired with artisan beers 

 ingredients in preparation

 work station in the tea hose

 tea house seating 

 

•  four-course reception in the tea house with artisan beer paring.
• a successful concert and reception event, highlighted by Margie and Midori who came and enjoyed music, food and conversation.  
• a fun and hard-working day into quite and peaceful evening in the garden, watching fireflies and drinking green tea.  
 

 

lamb, rice and vegetables at Fayab

6-16-2012 Sat. mild, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and berry jam | Afghan cake-bread | raspberries | mango | cherries 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | cherries 
DINNER --- ( at Fayab  )  the usual set 

 Afghan cake-bread

 

•  a preparation day for tomorrow's feast, shopping, chopping and marinating...
•  a happy dinner at Fayab.
 

 

precious blossoms

6-15-2012 Fri. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with pan-fried pork chop
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---plum
DINNER --- pasta with homemade tomato sauce | sauteed spinach | fennel and lettuce salad | wine || pan-fried zucchini blossom stuffed with ricotta cheese and roasted red pepper | Thai-style hot & sour soup with shittake, sole fillet, and greens 

•    zucchini blossoms from garden. tender sole fillet goes well in the hot&sour broth. 

 

 

first fresh corn of the year

6-14-2012 Thu. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---rice with spicy cabbage 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  nectarine 
DINNER --- sauteed fresh corn with shallots and roasted red onion |  roasted simmered tofu with salmon and spinach | pan-fried pork chop  | rice | wine 

 

• local fresh corn is tender and sweet, goes well with roasted red pepper.

Persian delights

6-13-2012 Wed. mild, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- (at C.B. ) stir-fried green beans, chicken and shrimp 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries 
DINNER --- (in the garden)  cucumber and canton sausage | shrimp shao-mai |  white wine || fried crispy tofu with dashi broth and radish sprouts | stir-fried hot & sour mung bean noddles with chicken, beech mushroom and fava beans | stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | broiled salmon with ginger and bonito soy sauce | rice | red wine || Persian cookies | raspberries 

 

 Persian cookies

 

• a garden dinner for Persian friends. fireflies are twinkling nearby.