early blooming

3-13-2016 Sun. mild, rain.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | baguette | cheese | grapefruit | apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- simmered kao-fu with wood-ear, winter bamboo shoot and lily buds | sauteed  squid and celery | sauteed Russian kale | rice | wine

• rain of spring

okra and squid stew

2-27-2016 Sat. chilly, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and cheese | grapefruit |apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---  tea
DINNER --- sauteed Russian kale with liquor | parboiled  potatoes | stewed okra and squid with  chive flowers and red pepper | wine 

 

• home cooking fusion style 

somewhat Japanese

10-18-2015 Sun. chilly, clouds.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | walnut bread | fruits 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at Rita's )  lemon sugar crepe 
DINNER --- fried and marinated eggplant | fried shishito peppers | simmered baby squid with ginger and scallion | butternut squash and apple soup |  rice | salad

 

• a bit lime juice goes long ways

two stews

9-13-2015 Sun. mild, clouds.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | watermelon | grape
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- porto | cracker and salami | cheese and fig  
DINNER --- kale stew with prosciutto cubes and onion | barley stew with baby squid and vegetable curry sauce | burrata and tomato salad | wine

 

• both have good flavors and distinct texture.

cuury sauce from fresh vegetables and spices

9-12-2015 Sat. warm, shower


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and cheese | watermelon | grapes AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---figs and cheese | bread and salami | wine
DINNER --- burrata and tomato salad | sauteed fresh corn and chili | vegetable curry with baby squid | wine

• according to d.d., vegetable curry is pureed  from stewed fresh vegetables and herbs and spices. squid is cooked separately and added in for short time.

squid will be squid

7-13-2015 Mon. warm, rain. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with mustard green
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- peach 
DINNER --- sauteed baby squid and mushroom, bean sprouts in tom yum sauce | stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu | rice | salad | wine 

• busy week starts again

double guess about squid

3-13-2015 Fri. mild, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice and ma-po tofu  
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- Thai-style hot sour stew of squid and clear noodle bundle | sauteed green beans with black bean sauce | rice | wine 

 

• clear noddle bundle mimics baby squid both in form and in texture

snowed in again

2-21-2015 Sat. cold, snow.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and cheese | grapefruit | oats and milk
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | apple 
DINNER --- barley minestrone soup | bread | sauteed baby squid | sauteed mustard green | wine 

 

• market is mobbed, low in fish supply, TG squid is pretty fresh today. 

Thai style hot&sour squid

7-10-2013 Wed. hot, rain.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- Afghan rice and lamb 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum
DINNER --- Thai-style sauteed baby squid with celery | stir-fried chive flowers and smoked tofu | rice | wine 

• too much rain these summer

petite peas and petite squid

6-08-2013 Sat. warm, sunny.

  

WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- espresso | croissant | bread and blue cheese | honeydew | mango 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---tea | crackers and avocado spread
AFTER-CONCERT-DINNER ---  ginger and lemon barley soup with baby squid and beech mushroom | sauteed fresh peas with garlic scape and chili sauce | wine 

 

• very  enjoyable late dinner.

hot and sour, Thai style

5-06-2012 Sun. mild, cloudy.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | apple | Italian bread | five-year aged Gouda cheese and Gorgonzola blue cheese 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- Thai-style hot & sour squid with tofu skin and gingko seeds | sauteed asparagus with fresh garlic | rice | avocado and fennel salad | wine 

 Gouda and Gorgonzola

"36 views of Fuji" at Sackler Gallery

 green explosion, Smithsonian garden

Korean magnolia

 

• a visit to Smithsonian garden and Sackler Gallery, Asian plants and Asian art. 

Tapas and Empanadas

9-24-2011 Sat. warm, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | concord grapes | honeydew
LUNCH --- ( at Panas ) platter of empanadas of grilled chicken, chipolle steak, roasted pork, samba shrimp, smoked eggplant, sauteed spinach, corn, with sauce verde, Aji, chimi and pimenton
DINNER --- tapas at home: sauteed baby squid with ginger and pimenton, served with roasted red pepper sauce and concord grapes | bread with spicy eggplant and sun-dried tomato relish| bread with roasted red pepper and almond spread | green olives with smoked mussels | sauteed spinach | fennel,cherry tomato and radish salad | wine

Panas Gourmet Empanadas

homemade tapas spread

squid platter

• finger food mostly, fun to make and fun to eat.
• empanadas at Panas, shells are thin, crispy but not deep dried, the fillings are moist and tender.
  

Empanadas, street food to semi-fast food

9-18-2011 Sun. cool, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | honeydew | apple | ( from Panas ) empanadas: chiopotle steak, smoked eggplant, roasted pork & onion, with sauces: salsa verde, Aji, pimenton, and plantain chips |
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | spicy roasted peanuts
DINNER --- oven-baked fries of Japanese sweet potato | sir-fried baby squid with ginger and scallion sauce | stir-fried chive flowers with smoked tofu | rice | fennel and lettuce salad | wine

fall blooms from garden


empanadas from Panas


little squid and chive flowers

• discovered the newly opened Panas on the way to farmer's market, will try more of those no-nonsense empanadas in their chic-simple dinning hall soon.

it is still summer, light and fresh

9-10-2011 Sat. warm, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | baguette | jam | lychee | scallion pancake
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- okra tempura | sauteed sweet corn and jalapeno | baby squid in scallion and ginger sauce | lettuce and cherry tomato salad | baguette | French soft cheese | rose

• sweet corn still at the market, summer is staying a bit longer.