wine bar

9-30-2013 Mon. mild, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with greens 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---pear
DINNER --- ( at a gathering Vino Volo) wine sampling | tapas 

 

• a shutdown night

sweet shrimp, matsutake announce the fall season

9-29-2013 Sun. mild, sun and clouds.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | scallion pancake | scrambled eggs with cilantro | apple
  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER ---  Japanese rice bowl with roasted matsutake and grated daikon | sushi | sauteed snow peas | simmered taro roots with arugula | wine 

 

• mackerel (aji and saba ) sushi were sold out in the late afternoon. sweet shrimp is excellent. and we got the last box of matsutake, which just starts the season 

Matsutake the elusive and precious

9-28-2013 Sat. mild, clouds. 


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- ( at Northern Dumpling House)  northern Chinese style dumplings | spicy lamb on skewer | spicy cold wide mung bean noddle 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  coffee | pear 
DINNER --- roasted matsutake Japanese pine mushroom with dashi tea broth| pan-fried shishito Japanese thin-skin pepper | sauteed fresh sweet corn with shallots and green chili | simmered Chinese gluten with bamboo shoot, shiitake, wood-ear and day lily buds | salad | wine 

 

• finding seasonal  pine mushrooms in the local Japanese store, along with fresh shishito peppers. what a treat today.

a floating egg poacher

9-27-2013 Fri. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with vegetables 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- grapes 
DINNER --- Provencal garlic sage soup with toast and poached egg | pan-fried stuffed green pepper | sauteed snow peas | rice | salad | wine 

 

 cute egg poacher

• new egg poacher floats in hot water, poaches egg in about 5 minutes.

sweet roots

9-26-2013 Thu. mild, sunny. 

  
 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- rice with chive flowers and smoked tofu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- watermelon | tea
DINNER --- baked Japanese sweet potato fries | caramelized carrots and onion with bacon and cilantro | sauteed baby spinach with sofrito | simmered silken tofu in fish broth | rice | salad | wine

 

• sweet and nutty Japanese sweet potato fries , sweet carrots,  tender sweet spinach

curry of cauliflowers

9-25-2013 Wed. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- pasta with sofrito 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums
DINNER --- stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | curried cauliflowers | sauteed mustard greens | rice | salad | wine 

 

• keep the practice of eating mostly vegetables

the good old pasta

9-24-2013 Tue. cool, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with green beans 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums
DINNER ---  Spanish cured ham | Spanish sausage | pasta with sofrito sauce | sauteed cauliflowers  with tomato | salad | wine 

 

• sofrito is a slow food, made during weekend.

simply stir-fry

9-23-2013 Mon. cool, sunny.

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- potatoes and Brussels sprouts 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Italian plums 
DINNER --- stir-fried green beans with fermented black bean sauce | stir-fried lotus root, wood-ear and shiitake with twice-cooked pork | rice | salad | wine 

• easy going on Monday

Spanish cured meat collection

9-22-2013 Sun. mild, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee |  homemade sage bread | Jamon Serrano | watermelon | California wine grapes  
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  tea | grapes 
DINNER --- sauteed thin-sliced zucchini ribbon with Jamon Serrano | Spanish seasoned blood sausage Morcilla Onion |  pan-fried baby eggplants |  stewed potatoes with Chorizo Palacios | steamed and fried Brussels sprouts | salad | wine 

 

• cured pork products from a local Spanish store. 
• the new mandoline slicer did the job on zucchini and fennel. 
• California wine grapes are small, dark and intensely sweet 

simmered rock fish

9-21-2013 Sat. mild, rain.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | orange bread | grapes | watermelon  AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | California wine grapes
DINNER --- simmered rock fish with tofu and wood-ear | sauteed mustard greens | sauteed sweet corn with jalapeno | rice | salad | wine 

 

• simmered fish with bones and fish head.

Chinese taco bun with pork and congee

9-20-2013 Fri. mild, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with simmered tofu skin, wood-ear mushroom and tomato 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- pear 
DINNER --- congee | Chinese pickled vegetables | steamed Chinese taco bun with twice-cooked pork shoulder , caramelized onion and cilantro | wine 

 

• so homey and low stress,  perfect home meal for a Friday evening at the end of a busy week

garlic + sage with help from an egg and a toast

9-19-2013 Thu. mild, sunny. 


 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- steamed dumplings 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums
DINNER --- Provencal garlic sage soup with poached egg and toasted bread | baked Japanese sweet potato fries | salad | wine

 

• the soup is simple and delicious, the tricky part is to poach the egg with a good timing 

steamed dumplings

9-18-2013 Wed. cool, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with chive flowers and smoked tofu
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- grapes | tea 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | salad | wine 

 

• not enough ready-to-use shells ,  hand-made ones as supplement

pound it and fry it

9-17-2013 Tue. cool, sunny.


 BREAKFAST --- coffee
 LUNCH --- plums | pizza 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER ---  tomato and egg soup | pan-fried pork chop | sauteed mustard greens | rice | salad | wine 

 

• if it is Tuesday, it must be pork chop

vegetable stir-fry

9-16-2013 Mon. mild, rain.

  

BREAKFAST --- espresso
LUNCH --- rice with steamed short ribs 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Italian plums 
DINNER --- fried spicy baby eggplant | stir-fried lotus root, okra, shiitake mushroom and tomato | stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | tabbouleh | rice | wine 

 

• rare find of baby oriental eggplants at farmer's market, excellent for tempura style frying 

orange bread for a cooler season starting

9-15-2013 Sun. mild, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | homemade  orange bread | concord grapes | fresh squeezed orange juice 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | simmered fresh peanuts in shell with five spices 
DINNER --- tabbouleh with parsley, cucumber, tomato and toasted walnuts | sauteed green beans | steamed short ribs wrapped in crushed rice and spices with lotus root | rice | wine 

 

• beautiful day with brilliant sunshine and crisp cool air.  gardening and cooking. some for friends ( spicy wine braised beef , stir-fried lotus root, shrimp and chive flowers, orange bread)

dove sole, blue crab and manila clams

9-14-2013 Sat. mild, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and jam | concord grapes | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- steamed crab with ginger vinegar dipping sauce 
DINNER --- steamed manila clams with lemon |  pan-fried dove sole filet | sauteed okra | sauteed sweet corn with onion  jalapeno | quinoa | salad | wine 

 

• seafood day.  dove sole is too fragile to move or turn over in the pan, and its texture is too soft.  crabs are not good this time.