homegrown sweetness...

... fresh pomegranate juice. messy. tedious. but seriously delicious + gorgeous to look at. thanks to a friend who gave me a whole bunch from her backyard, now i'm hooked!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PEGGY WONG

morning treat...

... went to the bakery at the crack of dawn this morning and brought home a few loafs of fresh (and steaming hot!) french bread. if you could only smell the aroma...

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PEGGY WONG

taste-touch-tell

... love how this story was shot and put together. ceramicist vipoo srivilasa wanted viewers to experience his art first hand. the result? a dinner party showcasing traditional thai cuisine in his intricate blue + white patterned bowls. i would have loved to be a guest at that dinner table...

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMMA REILLY FOR INSIDE OUT

friday yumminess...

... honey fromage blanc. boy, i just love saying those three words! can't wait to get to the farmers market tomorrow and pick me up some fresh berries to put on top! happy weekend everyone! :)

recipe / honey fromage blanc

LEFT IMAGE BY PEGGY WONG | RIGHT IMAGE BY KAREN MORDECHAI VIA SUNDAY SUPPERS

friday yumminess...

... shakes! i had such a craving for it today that my lunch was a coffee toffee crunch shake from milk! here's a snapshot i tweeted while deciding which flavor to choose... ;) happy weekend everyone!

recipes / malted milk shake / vanilla malted

IMAGES FROM MARTHASTEWART.COM

friday yumminess...

... egg tarts! easily my all-time favorite pastry... giving this recipe from sunset magazine a go this weekend. happy friday everyone! :)

IMAGE BY LEIGH BEISCH

b.a.r.

... if i ever make it to stockholm, b.a.r. will be my first stop! love their take away bag as well, minimal + basic.

IMAGES FROM RESTAURANGBAR.SE

friday yumminess...

... soaking in some chocolaty love. how sweet is that egg crate + cookies idea? have a great weekend and happy easter! :)

recipes / chocolate easter eggcups / chocolate-filled easter egg cookies

IMAGES BY CON POULOS VIA DONNAHAY.COM

friday yumminess...

... this is what happens when an unexpected visit from my friend bonnie + her yummy treats showed up at my door yesterday. we couldn't help but to make it into a photo shoot! i styled + bonnie shot. what a fun little afternoon delight... click here to see more of this yumminess. happy weekend everyone! :)

bottega louie

... my new favorite spot in downtown los angeles! the first time i went to bottega louie i did a grab + go (saucison sec with butter on baguette) and that was beyond delicious already. this time i actually spent a few hours there, taking in all the details... marble floors and open kitchens, stark white walls with black + gold accents, market displays and packaging designs... can't wait to go back again!

i heart jme

oh jamie oliver... how i wish you have a stateside shop! loving all the jme food packaging. so fresh + fun. the handwriting bit, yours?

update! jamie's reply to me on twitter...

the handwriting:
@bluepoolroad no when i like it looks great but youll never read it its one of the gangs...

sharing the love:
@bluepoolroad im glad you like our JME stuff we work with some amazing people im very lucky jx

IMAGES FROM JAMIEOLIVER.COM

the modern

the best thing about my recent trip to new york city was to spend time with my parents. they drove down from upstate new york to meet up with me. we got to do so many wonderful things together in the city! (forgot how much i really miss living there...) i have to share this foodie moment with you – the modern at the museum of modern art. couldn't have asked for more on my first day there! we ate at the dining room which overlooks the sculpture garden of moma. i just love that open space. chef gabriel kreuther’s prix-fixe menu is quite a culinary journey. clean, simple + full of flavors. i'm only sorry to have forgotten to take pictures of our entrées, my parents and i were just too busy catching up and enjoying our visit together! and congrats to chef kreuther on the james beard foundation award for best chef, nyc! it really was a perfect meal...

socca pancake
with shrimp and crab salad, ginger-lobster jus

buckwheat crepe
with smoked salmon, crème fraîche, red onion and arugula

lemon tart

with vanilla meringue

caramel and white chocolate trifle

great photo opp here, courtesy of my mom! love the logo reflection on the building. thanks mom! :)

giada's kitchen

i was so excited to meet giada de laurentiis this past saturday at her book signing event in pasadena. giada is as pleasant in person as she is on television, and so great with kids! and can i say, drop dead gorgeous. we chatted a little bit about the photography of her new book, giada's kitchen. all those beautiful images were shot by tina rupp. although i didn't get to work with tina while i was at martha stewart, i've been a long time fan. here are just some of my favorites from the book. also, how great is the typography on the desserts opener? can't wait to try out the recipes, yum...!

giada de laurentiis
book signing event at williams-sonoma

heath ceramics + wedding lounge

i thought i was a big fan of heath ceramics before, now i'm just obsessed. i was at their wedding lounge event last sunday and i have to say, i probably spent (embarrassingly) too much time there! and i was very camera happy, so i will start by showing off their store first...

studio
run by potter adam silverman | designs + creates original pieces for the store

pendant lamps
by adam silverman

edith heath
founded heath ceramics in 1948 | a bauhaus-inspired ceramicist

........

the heath wedding lounge was modern, relaxed + intimate. the welcome table really set the tone for the event. jonathan wright and company letterpressed the event guide and 'place cards'. each card is calligraphed with a wedding expert's name. so understated, but smart. adorning the table were simple floral arrangements created by gilly flowers. and then there was love catering... the first thing i spotted was their delicious bresaola wrapped pear. right then and there, i was hooked. presentation was spot on. the main event was held at the open courtyard. what struck me visually was the perfectly set table in front of two large metal doors. the contrast was stunning. wedding gowns designed by amy michelson worked beautifully against the exposed brick walls. i don't think just any gowns could have pulled off that look, but amy's complemented the space flawlessly.

........

secretly i wish i was a bride again, but the real treat for me that day was to meet the artisans themselves: jonathan wright (i've been a long-time admirer!)... gilly, i can't tell you how many times i went to get coffee at intelligentsia in silverlake and inadvertently stopped at gilly flowers with a cup in hand. and my new favorite caterer, jonathan darr from love catering. there is no mistaking their food – the passion that they have for their craft is all in there. and last but not least, special appearance by carlo (owners' doggie) from sausalito!