Chinese New Year Parade

Fun event to attend today!

The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade

Did Anyone Say Private Chef?

Ahhhh, living in the Bay Are truly has many many perks (not to mention the amazing weather and fresh air). There is also affordable private chef service who cooks amazing meal at the comfort of our home!!!

We want to entertain our friends, however, giving our busy schedule, the thought of planning, grocery shopping, prepping, cooking and cleaning was daunting. So we decided to give Kitchit a try. Oh boy, we are so happy how this turned out. It's truly the best thing since sliced bread!!

Before the event:

We went on Kitchit website and select the menu that suits our guests.

https://www.kitchit.com/menus

The day of the event:

We decorated our dinning table hoping to impress our guests.

We thought we prepare a cheese plate so our guests and us and enjoy sipping champagne and savoring each bite of the cheese.

We were completely stress free and were able to spend time with our guests instead of slaving away in the kitchen.

About 30 minutes befriend the chef arrive:

Got a text that the chef is on his way.

When the chef arrived all we had to do is show him our kitchen and where pots, plates and utensils are and then he takes over completely.

First course: 

LITTLE GEMS GREEK SALAD

sundried tomato, persian cucumber, pickled red onion, feta, kalamata olives, marjoram vinaigrette

Second course:

PAN SEARED LEMON CHICKEN

wheat berries, roasted red peppers, scallions, purple cauliflower, tahini, espelette, marjoram, mint, parsley

Third course:

BAKLAVA

pistachio, walnut, cinnamon, clove, honey, lemon, phyllo dough

We were so satiated by the end if the night and the beauty is the chef cleaned our kitchen and everything was spotless!!!

We can't wait to throw another Kitchit party!!!!

Sunday Brunch at Madera, Menlo Park/Palo Alto

If you are seeking beauty and serenity while having a burning desire for mimosa and modern interpretation of Eggs Benedict, Madera is the place to go.

We were there on a Sunday morning and the hostess escorted us to a table overlooking the breath taking view of Woodside.

Starter:

Deviled Eggs, Prosciutto, Burgundy Truffle

Entrée:

Oak Grilled Sand Hill Burger, White Cheddar, Bacon, Fries, Pickled Vegetables

Wagyu Hanger Steak, Basted Eggs, Cipollini Onion, Béarnaise, Arugula

It is such a nice place to relax on a Sunday morning! Palo Alto CA Restaurants | Madera - The Restaurant | Restaurants in Palo Alto

Late Night Eats in San Francisco

Late-Night Eats in San Francisco: 13 Places That Do it Right

It's Worth the Wait

Golden Gate Kennel Club | 2016 Dog Show

Cats Only Please!

Situated in the beautiful woodsy Belmont, The Cats Inn is a popular venue for cat parents!

It's a place where you can bring your beauties for a spa day. They have unimaginable cat toys to keep you babies entertained while you are away on vacation or business trip.

Since only cats are allowed, cat parents don't have to worry about potential barks or sniffing.  They even offer to pick up your babies in a "kitty cat limo"!!

The Cats' Inn | Boarding, Grooming, Home Cat-sitting in San MateoThe Cats' Inn 

11 of the Best Boba Spots in the East Bay

11 of the Best Boba Spots in the East Bay

Best Art and Wine Festival of the Year

Now that we are welcoming 2016, it’s time to assess and reflect many of the art and wine festivals we’ve been to in 2015.

After careful consideration, we must say, the best art and wine festival was the one in Palo Alto!!!!

This high quality, community-friendly event was hosted by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and presented by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

The event was located on at the prime of Palo Alto-University Avenue. Parking is actually pretty convenient (if you park at the nearby Caltrain Station).

There were many unique vendors which we didn't see at other art and wine festivals and that was one thing we loved about this one.

In addition, there was awesome street art and talented artists show off their amazing skills.

We had to stop by Sam’s Chowder for losbster!

We can’t wait until 2016 to explore all the art and wine festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area!

6 Things To Do on Christmas Day in San Francisco

6 Things to Do on Christmas Day in San Francisco

Commis-Epitome of minimalist approach, sophisticated tasting, Oakland

According to MICHELIN guide inspectors,

“Chef/owner James Syhabout may be keeping busy outside of Commis at his other popular restaurants, but this sparse Oakland original is still turning out elegant and creatively complex seasonal dishes to a packed house every night. Tucked into colorful, boutique-strewn Piedmont Avenue, this dining space is a long, clean, minimalist number with a smattering of tables up front; intimate banquette seating in the back; and a lively counter overlooking the humming kitchen. Soft hip-hop music and a vibrant service staff set the mood-cool and contemporary; relaxed but serious. In the kitchen, Chef Syhabout pairs well-sourced, local ingredients with precise technique to create his sophisticated nightly tasting, which continues to be exciting even for jaded gourmands. Dinner might unveil a plate of silky scallops paired with tangy crème fraîche, poached asparagus, and charred lemon granité; warm, roasted abalone with artichoke heart, fried artichoke slivers, and chicken sabayon; or a chilled fava bean soup laced with tarragon-infused crème fraîche, green tomato gelée, and smoked trout roe. A perfectly poached halibut confit with spring pea "porridge" and ginger foam is another beautifully composed plate that reflects the kitchen's attention to detail”.

We were fortunate enough to score a reservation at this 2 MICHELIN star restaurant recently with our lovely friends. This evening was filled with anticipation, excitement and elation. We didn’t preview the menu as we wanted to be “surprised” and sure enough, we were more than pleasantly surprised at Chef James and staff of Commis’ artistry.

A great way to start the evening:

Caramelized onion financier with bee pollen, foie gras tartlet with dried pear and mulling spices, celery root with lovage, apple and mustard

Fermented carrots with pacific mackerel, yogurt and honey

Surf clam with salsify and avocado perfumed with kaffir lime leave

Jerusalem artichokes with sunflower, trout roe and warm sea lettuce butter

Slow poached egg yolk with smoked daets, alliums and malt

Sea bream with pine mushrooms, brown rice, roasted hen broth

Tisane of button mushrooms

Grilled 60-day aged beef ribeye, beef heart, brassicas and raw almond

Jacob and brichford ‘everton’ comte on a butter craker

Dacquoise, mousse, and sorbet in flavors of lemon

Ice cream of toasted grains, parsnip pudding with while sturgeon caviar

Last but not least, coconut tart, hazelnut coffee cookie and calamansi pate de fruit

Next time you will see us sitting at counter by the open kitchen.

The 2016 San Francisco Michelin Guide

Hmmm, time to call and make a reservation!

The 2016 San Francisco Michelin Guide's Big Winner Is David Kinch's Manresa