Michelle Ma Photography

Food: AQ, San Francisco

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:40:00 -0700

Ryan took me to AQ to celebrate the end of 1L year and our first wedding anniversary. We had a reservation for 8:15, and when we arrived our table was not yet ready. Since the bar faced the entrance to the restaurant, we wandered over to wait. I ordered a Verdant Fields cocktail, a deceivingly smooth cocktail with white oat whiskey (the first white whiskey I’d tried), with muddled strawberries, seltzer, and lemon verbena syrup. The strawberry flavor was upfront, but the finish lingered on. Overall, the sweetness and citrus balanced out nicely. The cocktail was extremely well made, and when I finished it I had a treat — the strawberries at the bottom!

We chatted with one of the bartenders, Christian, while he made our drinks. A gin fan, Ryan ordered the Springback, with St. George terroir gin, fresh sorrel, green chartreuse, lime, and ginger. It had a distinct herby taste from the gin and sorrel.

By this time, our table was ready, but we were having a great time surveying the myriad of drinks coming through and chatting with the bartenders, so we decided to have our meal at the bar.

I liked the lay-out of the menu very much; instead of listing all the courses as appetizers, entrees, and dessert, the menu was arranged such that we could order whatever courses we wanted in whatever order.

I started the first course with a slow-cooked farm egg served with sweet peas, wild mushrooms, a sprinkling of chives on top, and cinnamon dust. The egg had a runny yolk, which I love, but the white was solid, yet soft. The peas were flavorful and had a nice crunch, and the mushrooms added a slight meaty flavor to round out the dish. The pea sauce was also delicious, and I unabashedly mopped up every last bit with crusty bread.

Ryan’s first course was sous vide asparagus with roe and white chocolate. The asparagus was first sous vide and then finished in the pan. The asparagus was perfectly cooked as it was not too tough nor too soft, and had just enough crunch and flavor.

My second course was a deep fried soft shell crab served with bonito butter, bonito flakes, and marinated seaweed, on a bed of sweet onion and rhubarb. The crab was a delight to eat! The legs had crisp, but were soft and tender inside, and were perfect finger-food. The body was also tasty and had its own crunch, mixed with the taste of the ocean from the seaweed. The sweet onion and rhubarb rounded out the flavors.

Ryan’s second course was the pork trotter with spring garlic, snails, and avocado. The trotter was soft and tender, but had the distinct chewiness only trotter could have. It was reminiscent of our days in Beijing when we sampled pork cooked in so many ways. The snails were a good complement to the dish, but the trotter was by far and away the centerpiece.

Ryan had been eyeing my crab as I was eating, and he couldn’t resist ordering his own. As I’d shared mine, I joked that he owed me 2 legs, and he graciously obliged! His crab was slightly smaller than mine, but was a bit meatier, so the flavors were a little different. I think we had half a mind to take some crabs to go!

I then ordered the arctic char with fig wood veil, artichokes, red wine, and tarragon. I’d never had arctic char, and this was slightly smoked and had the look and texture of smoked salmon, although it was much more tender than the smoked salmon I’ve had. The fig wood veil added a bit of smokiness, and the red wine sauce was a great addition, and finished off well with some more crusty bread. The fish skin chicharon was delicious and added crunch to a dish that was otherwise filled with soft textures. The portion was very generous, as I couldn’t finish it, but Ryan also fell in love with the char and gladly polished it off. I loved the chicaron too much to share, though!

Ryan had the aged strip loin with ramps, wheat, ale, and fresh morels, presumably sauteed in butter. The steak was awesome! It had been seared so it had a nice crisp exterior, but the inside was tender and meaty. The chefs at AQ sure know how to make a steak :) The morels, a pleasant surprise, were incredibly tasty, with a meaty flavor that was complemented with butter. The flavors were strong, but paired well with the heavier dish. I’d been eyeing Ryan’s morels the entire time, and he was very sweet to offer me some.

Earlier in the night, the other bartender, Ethan, fixed Ryan what now is his favorite drink, the Lambo, which he made at the last bar he worked at.

After relaxing and digesting a bit, we rounded off the night with some dessert. On recommendation, we ordered the field rhubarb with toasted buckwheat, chamomile ice cream, and anise with panna cotta. I’d only had rhubarb in pie before, and it was always the companion in a strawberry rhubarb pie, so it was great having the rhubarb as the main feature. The ice cream was the perfect texture — cold but not hard, and its light flavor contrasted well with the buckwheat bed on which it was placed. The panna cotta was also a great contrast with the rhubarb and ice cream.

By now, we were very full and happy, but before we left, Christian presented us with apricot pate de fruit, presented on a small slab of marble. They were just the perfect size to pop in your mouth, and were just sweet enough to clear the palate and ready us for the long drive home. Wonderful!

I highly recommend AQ. The restaurant was nicely decorated, with herbs and flowers accenting the wooden bar counter, with contrasting brickwork and exposed I-beams for an industrial feel. The entryway had a small archway made of branches with tea lights hanging from them, which opened up into the bar area and tables beyond. The restaurant atmosphere had a good balance of a well-polished restaurant with a casual feel, so I felt comfortable and just had a good time.

The food was excellent, and extremely well-priced. The portions were generous for a high-end restaurant, especially given the price point, and the dishes were thought-out and creative, with extremely fresh ingredients. I found a delightful blend of Eastern and Western flavors which was unexpected, but which came together well.

The cocktails were also amazing. We usually order wine with our meal, but the cocktails were refreshing and cleaned the palate well. It was also fun trying out new drinks and sharing with the bartenders our likes/dislikes. They were extremely professional yet personable and friendly, and made some of the best cocktails I’ve had yet, even making several tailored for our preferences.

The service was also impeccable. We sat at the bar, so I can’t vouch for the wait staff, but the bartenders and hostesses were always prompt, polite and very accommodating with recommendations. The courses were also well spaced out, so we had time to relax and digest before ordering the next course. We didn’t feel rushed at all, and we ended up being the last customers to leave before closing, having spent a good deal of time chatting with Christian and Ethan, and taking a few photos.

For more photos from that night, click here.

Food: A Day for Seafood

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:40:00 -0800

To celebrate the start of my spring break for my 1L year, Ryan and I took a scenic drive to Half Moon Bay to have Barbara’s Fishtrap for lunch. The drive was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and even the slow cars in front of the small road couldn’t dampen our spirits. We arrived in time for lunch at noon, and I snapped a few photos while we waited to be seated.

There was a small flower garden at the entrance, so I took the opportunity to capture the colorful flowers in bloom.

Barbara’s Fish Trap overlooks the beach, and the fresh ocean air was refreshing after the drive through the forest.

We were seated inside about half an hour later, which is a decently short wait considering how popular this restaurant is. While I waited to order, I surveyed the ceiling and discovered the netting and fish decorations, which escaped my notice the last time we ate here, as we were sitting on the patio. We really were at the ocean!

Of course, Ryan and I shared a bowl of the famous clam chowder. This clam chowder isn’t like any other — it isn’t too salty, and it doesn’t use heavy cream for the thick consistency. I suspect the chowder may be roux-based, although I can’t say for sure. All I can say, though, is that it is the best clam chowder I have had anywhere!

Ryan ordered the fish and chips, which were fried golden brown, and were delicious with some malt vinegar and ketchup.

I ordered the broiled halibut special, which was tender, had a nice thin crust on top, and was very, very fresh. The accompanying rice pilaf was also delicious and buttery, and was especially tasty after I added a squeeze of lemon juice on the fish. The zucchini tempura was also delicious and added a nice touch to the dish.

The portions were generous, and we were completely stuffed after sharing the large bowl of clam chowder and eating our entrees. The service was friendly and attentive. One regret I have, though, is not trying the key lime pie! I was simply too full to take it in. One caveat: this restaurant is cash-only, so make sure you have enough. Our meal was about $60, including a generous tip, which is not cheap for a lunch, even though we did have leftovers to take home. To keep the costs down, I’d recommend ordering entrees that aren’t on the specials list, as my broiled halibut special was $24. All in all, the meal was wonderful, fresh, well made, and relaxing. The restaurant has some silly touches which I always enjoy, and the service was very good. I’d highly recommend Barbara’s Fishtrap!

We ended the afternoon with some quiet time on the beach, and I took the opportunity to get a portrait of Ryan, as the lighting was harsh and I luckily had my flash handy.

After the drive back and a nap, our good friend Daniel Richards joined us for crawfish and beer. The crawfish, purchased at The Boiling Crab in San Jose, was fresh and delicious, and came cooked in large plastic bags, marinated in Cajun hot sauce that was simultaneously pleasant and painful to eat. The corn on the cob was also delicious, as it was drenched in the same spicy sauce, and the Oregon beer matched very well. I couldn’t resist a photo as we seriously destroyed 3 lbs. of crawfish in a shamefully short time!

For more photos from the trip to Half Moon Bay, click here.

Amanda's Damson Shawl and my Swallowtail Shawl

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:52:38 -0800

I finished Amanda’s Damson Shawl a few days ago, and now it’s dry and ready to mail off!

I also got around to taking some photos of the Swallowtail Shawl I finished last year.

For larger images, click here.

White Christmas in Fort Collins, CO

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0800

After the holidays have settled down, I had a chance to go through my Christmas pictures. Ryan and I went to Fort Collins, CO to visit our friends Tyler and Amanda, who hosted us for Christmas. We had the most wonderful time, and spent it with awesome friends!

We got there the night of the 23rd, and the next day went to Lucile’s for breakfast. Fort Collins has a good-sized tech industry and I really liked the community feel there. There were also quite a few people out and about on Christmas Eve, so there was a bit of a line. We finally sat down and started off with some beverages.

Tyler and Ryan had a Bloody Mary, which was well-balanced in flavor and very tasty. I tried a sip and it was great.

Amanda had a cafe au lait, and I had a chai latte. Both were also very good.

The real treat before our entrees arrived was the biscuit. We each got a GIANT biscuit, which was delicious and buttery. The crust was nice and golden-browned, and the interior was soft and fluffy.

After some rest time (the biscuit was very filling), our entrees arrived. I ordered the Eggs New Orleans, which contained fried eggplant slices with Creole sauce, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce with grits. It was incredibly delicious, and unexpected as I don’t normally have eggplant, much less with breakfast. It was also a good-sized portion as the biscuit was enormous and I was already half-full.

Ryan had the Eggs Sardou, which had creamed spinach, shrimp with Hollandaise sauce, and grits.

Amanda got the New Orleans Praline Waffle, a pecan batter waffle topped with pecans, fruit, and fresh whipped cream. It had a nice crust and was fluffy on the inside, without being too sweet.

We finished off breakfast with a half-order of Beignets (we were full already, but it looked so tasty!), and a pot de creme. Both delicious, and just the right amount.

After breakfast/brunch, we went to check out Old Town, the downtown part of Fort Collins. Since it was Christmas Eve, not too many stores were open but we got to see the Old Town Spice Shop, which had many interesting salts and other spices, and to see the breweries. After, we went for a drive on the outskirts of Fort Collins to see the area.

As we pulled over to a supposed shoulder so I could take some pictures, we realized the “shoulder” was actually a ditch that had been covered with snow. Oops! We got stuck, but luckily a few minutes later a Jeep with a winch managed to pull us out enough for us to drive out of the ditch.

On the drive back to the apartment, we saw a herd of deer crossing the road and I caught them looking at us curiously.

After an eventful day, we settled down and had some awesome ribs for dinner and watched Elf. I also had a chance to try Tyler’s pomegranate mead, which was very good and interesting with the pomegranate flavor.

I had the most wonderful Christmas morning! There was beautiful white snow on the ground, but it wasn’t too cold to go outside. We opened the presents under the tree; Tyler and Amanda got me a very pretty, soft green yarn that was locally grown and made. I was so excited — it’ll make a beautiful, warm cable knit scarf. They got Ryan an olive oil and balsamic vinegar sampler set from Rocky Mountain Olive Oil Co., another local business. Tyler’s mom, Gayle, also sent us really fun Lego sets and Pez candy, which reminded me of my childhood. It was the best Christmas ever, and we got to spend it with some seriously awesome friends!

For dinner, the four of us went to Becca and Blake’s. Blake is Tyler’s co-worker and we went to their house for a Christmas feast. Suffice it to say, Becca is a wonderful cook, and she and Blake were also great hosts. We had an amazing feast with great wine and great company.

The next morning, we had breakfast at Choice City, another cafe in downtown. The wait was horrendous, but the food more than made up for it. I was in the mood for a Shandy, a twist on the traditional Arnold Palmer. I also had a seriously delicious breakfast burrito, which put every other burrito I’ve had to shame. Sorry, no pictures, I was too busy eating!

Tyler had a Bloody Geisha, a Bloody Mary with wasabi and sake. It was quite interesting. Ryan ordered a Mimosa.

There aren’t any pictures to memorialize this breakfast as we were ravenous, but I can’t recommend Choice City enough! The staff was short, so we had a long wait, but our waitress was courteous and patient, and very nice.

After wandering around downtown and digesting, we checked out Chocolate Cafe, a small cafe that was bustling. It had a nice decor and good staff, and a really interesting menu. By “really interesting,” I mean it’s called Chocolate Cafe for a reason, and my favorite dessert is anything chocolate! The prices were also very reasonable, and I liked the atmosphere.

I ordered a chocolate bourbon pecan pie, which was incredible. I shared with Ryan so my stomach wouldn’t explode, which was a wise choice considering the portion. The bourbon flavor was distinct but not overpowering, and the pecan flavor matched very well. The chocolate was also well-balanced in proportion and flavor, and was smooth on the tongue. I enjoyed the contrast in texture with the chocolate, whipped cream, and crunchy pecan. The melding of flavors reminded me of the bourbon and pecans I had together at the APT Giants’ game!

Amanda had a chocolate raspberry torte, which was also tasty and smooth.

Tyler ordered the chocolate noire, a gluten-free chocolate cake served with raspberry sherbert.

We also ordered some drinks — Tyler ordered the pomegranate martini, and Ryan and I shared a chocolate martini. Both were very tasty and well-balanced. We were extremely full by then, so it’s a good thing we shared!

I had a nice experience at the cafe — great desserts and quality ingredients, nice atmosphere, smooth drinks, and reasonable prices.

After an eventful and food-filled day, we went back to the apartment and relaxed. Amanda and I played the new Star Wars MMO, and she got me hooked (I’ll have to be disciplined with my time next semester so I can keep playing with her and Tyler). We ordered Blackjack Pizza, which was a relaxing change, and was a very convenient dinner so we could play and eat :)

Our last day at Fort Collins was also quite busy. While Amanda was at work, Tyler took us to the yarn store where they picked up my llama yarn, Your Daily Fiber. It was a small store that’s family owned, and is located near downtown. It was a bit small for me, as I like larger yarn stores where I can peruse. I’m also quite picky with my fiber, so I like having many choices. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed browsing in this store. The customers were locals and I loved that they know the store owners and enjoy sharing their knitting projects. I also got a good deal of knitting advice there, as I do in every great fiber store. I browsed the shop’s own llama yarn selection and got a hank of llama yarn that will make a great cabled hat.

Afterwards, we wandered over to Odell Brewing Co., a family-owned brewery. We each ordered a beer sampler and got to try many different beers. The beer was delicious and the variety was very enticing. My favorites were the nitro porters, bourbon barrel stout, and the double IPA.

Most of these beers are only served in the tap room and aren’t sold elsewhere, so please visit! It’s a great brewery, and the tour was awesome. Our tour guide was very informative, and detailed how the brewery contracts with local businesses. It’s a local brewery that uses local ingredients, and makes wonderful beer. Also, the guide informed us that brewery employees are encouraged to be creative and can brew small batches of beer to experiment. It was a great experience, and I can’t wait to check out the new beers in the future!

We had a late lunch at Cooper Smith’s Pub & Brewing, a microbrewery. Ryan had a great Reuben and I had a very juicy burger with steak chips. It was a great way to warm up from the cold!

Ryan and I had the most wonderful Christmas, and we can’t thank our great friends Tyler and Amanda enough! They were wonderful hosts and awesome company. Hopefully they can make it out to the Bay Area in the near future!

For more pictures from the trip, click here.

APT Holiday Party, 2011 @ Saison!

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:50:00 -0800

After taking some more finals, I’ve gotten around to sorting through the Saison pictures and posting! The dinner was fantastic and it made my mouth water reviewing the pictures.

We started the night off with some bubbly and yummy h’orderves, which included delicious oysters that matched the champagne well.

After greeting all the APT employees and chatting, we sat down for our meal. Ryan and I had the pleasure of sharing our table with Meghan and Russ, who were great company. We had a blast talking about cars and wine :)

Our first course was some delicious bluefin tuna served with rice cracker and freshwater seaweed sprinkled on top. The texture of the tuna was a nice contrast with the crunchy rice cracker, and the umami from the seaweed reminded me of the ocean.

Next was a much-awaited for course: brassicas! It was one of my favorite dishes last time Ryan and I visited Saison, so I was very excited to have it again. This time, the brassicas was served with roasted grains with a warm broth. The smokiness from the grains matched well with the crunchy greens. The brassicas was paired with an excellent Santa Barbara chardonnay that had a nice palette of vanilla bean — I’ve been itching to buy some bottles of it!

After the brassicas we chatted for a bit and ate some fresh-baked kalamata olive bread. I couldn’t resist adding a bit of butter on top, as usual.

The next course, crustacean, was a lobster served with a creamy broth that hinted of citrus, the flavor of which was brought out with the most excellent wine pairing.

Next up was the wood pigeon. It was the first time I’d tried pigeon so I was very excited. I loved the crisp skin and tender meat, and it was much leaner than duck. Overall nice flavor and texture, and I liked the play on the tongue with the fruit and olives. Mark brought over some 2009 Saison Pinot Noir which was by far and away the best Pinot I’ve had. I remember telling Ryan that we pretty much can’t drink any Pinot after that one!

After the wood pigeon was a preserved lemon custard. The lemon had just the right amount of flavor, acidity and smoothness. I love how Saison includes multiple dessert courses; I feel like a lucky adult who gets to be a kid again.

The last course for the night was a sherbet served with dehydrated milk and warm coffee poured on top. I can’t resist sweets, especially those from Saison, and I shamelessly cleaned off my place.

After such a wonderful evening, Shirley (who remembered us from last time!) gave us a tour of the Saison kitchen, starting with the freezer. Lo and behold, we saw all the wood pigeons and bluefin tuna for the next round of hungry patrons.

Shirley also drew our attention to the famous Molteni stove, which has a heated surface for keeping the saucepans warm. It was quite a treat; I look forward to the day when Ryan and I can have our own gas range, although it won’t be a Molteni. :)

Saison’s architecture really caught my eyes, so I also took the time to snap a few shots of the kitchen counters and staircase leading to the upstairs office.

Ryan and I had the most wonderful dinner, thanks to Meghan and Russ’ excellent company, the amazing food and wine, and the most awesome staff at Saison. I wanted to especially thank Roby and the APT SF office for making the magic come together that night!

And, for those who could always use some inspiration:

For more pictures from the night, visit my portfolio here, and if anyone would like to share some thoughts regarding the food and wine from that night, I’d love to hear it!

From My Kitchen: Food Update!

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:22:41 -0700

I’ve been so crazy busy lately I’ve inadvertently taken a hiatus from food photos. Here’s an update of what I’ve been cooking lately! (which isn’t much, sadly)

Ryan has been so very sweet and really has been my savior when it comes to food. These days I really haven’t had the time to cook something special so he’s taken it upon himself to make sure we don’t starve. Here are some photos of his work :)

We both love scallops so Ryan seared some with mushrooms and garlic, and it was tasty!

Our second course of that night was an orechiette pasta with tuna, shaved fennel, onion and green bell pepper. The flavors were mild and melded well together, and the tuna added some nice protein.

And tonight, Ryan and I made a slow-cooker beef soup, served with whole wheat udon and a nice bottle of 2009 Morgon Beaujolais. The wine was fruity, earthy (with a nose and palate of loose dirt), and a bit of dried dates. It was a great combination!

It was a wonderful night of great food and wine, and of course, the best company :)

Ready for Picking!

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:44:04 -0700

So I stand corrected — the tomato plant that sprouted from seed is a yellow cherry, not red cherry. Oops!

Gotta Keep the Hands Warm, Too!

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:20:17 -0700

I finished these cabled mitts a while back, and as usual, didn’t get around to taking photos until today. I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn in an ivory/creme color. I bought the yarn years ago in Oregon when I visited a yarn store for the first time and learned to knit. After a long hiatus, I picked up knitting again last year but I still couldn’t decide what to knit with this yarn as I had only bought 2 balls at the time. After knitting birthday mitts for Adrianna, I decided the cabled and ribbed pattern would show off the plied yarn the best, and the yardage was perfect for what I had. Also, the smooshy soft yarn was perfect for keeping my hands warm in the winter :)

Loafers and Hot Cocoa

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:14:00 -0700

After purchasing the suede bottoms in the wrong size and having to re-order, I finally sewed on the bottoms. This project was much easier to complete than I originally imagined — I got some practice picking up stitches and using short row shaping. These loafers knitted up very quickly and turned out great, although they’re slightly loose on the foot without socks on. Supposedly they’ll stretch out with wear so I’ll find out soon enough.

I can imagine myself snuggling up with some hot cocoa and wearing these loafers in the winter. I think I’m pretty well set up for the cold weather :) If only I had these around when I was in Berkeley!

Some More Requisite Yarn Photos

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:55:33 -0700

I finally finished knitting the Katarina sweater, but I have yet to take a picture of me wearing it. At times like these I wish I had a dressform to model my pieces, but you can’t have everything! For more details on the sweater, click here.

I did, however, have a chance to finish the Ishbel shawlette and take a couple photos. I made the small version of the shawl as I figured that if I ended up hating knitting shawls at least this one would be quicker knit. At the end, though, I realize that if I’m to knit any sort of shawl, I may as well make the full size version as it would be more versatile to wear. This pattern was a very easy and approachable knit, and after a short while I quickly became bored with it. I’ve done some lace knitting before so the lace aspect wasn’t intimidating, and the only very new thing was understanding shawl construction and how the lace charts fit in.

At the end I think this shawlette is too small to wear as a scarf if I loop it around my neck bandana-style. It felt like it was about to slip off the entire time and when I pulled the ends to tighten, it felt too tight. I think I’ll settle on tying a knot to secure it better.

I think my next shawl project will involve other lace techniques; I’m really looking forward to starting the Swallowtail Shawl in Malabrigo Sock in color Lettuce.

I also had a chance to take photos of yarn for another upcoming project, the Malabrigo Loafers. Instead of using the Merino Worsted weight, I’ll be using the Malabrigo Rios in Azul Profundo 150. It’s a beautiful blue, but ended up being a pain to wind as its period in storage introduced plenty of tangles!

Time for Bourbon

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:42:42 -0700

Lately I’ve discovered a love for bourbon! I’ve always loved wine and beer, but shied away from the strong liquors as I didn’t like the strong flavors. Last weekend I found a bourbon that tastes quite nice — a bit sweet with some honey and caramel which hid the whopping 45% alcohol content. It’s nice just to have a couple sips after a long day.

Home Garden: Thar Be Tomatoes!

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:55:00 -0700

My cherry tomato plant is fruiting!

My other plants and my mom’s lavender plant are flourishing as well!

I dried the lavender and made some fragrant sachets to keep the bugs from my knits. Now it’s time to finish knitting that sweater :)

Beijing, China: Part 2

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:19:00 -0700

On June 8th Ryan and I accompanied his grandparents for a trip to the Summer Palace. It was originally part of the Old Summer Palace, which was quite a bit larger, and was rebuilt after a massive fire. It was situated mainly around a large lake, with the Buddha Incense Tower overlooking it. Apparently the Tower sits on a hill built entirely from the extra dirt when excavating the lake! I had a beautiful blue sky to photograph as there was a thunderstorm the night before.

We had to trek down the Long Corridor to see the lakeview. Hand-painted on each pillar were unique scenes from ancient China. Pretty neat!

The Marble Boat.

We rode by the Bridge of Seventeen Arches, which led to an island temple.

After having tasty hot pot at Yourenju, a Szechuan hot pot restaurant, and some rest from the heat, we headed over to the Olympic Green to see the Water Cube and Bird’s Nest. It was a cool experience, and we caught them right before sunset.

After wandering around the Green, we had dinner with Ryan’s dad at Houhai, a strip of shops and restaurants surrounding a lake. It was refreshing to experience some nightlife, and we had time to explore and buy some snacks from vendors.

The next day on the 9th, Ryan and I got up bright and early to visit the Temple of Heaven. It was built during the Ming Dynasty and the emperor would visit it annually to pray for good harvests in the coming year. Considered sacred ground, only the emperor and his retinue were allowed to visit, so it was a treat for it to be turned into a park and national monument for us all to enjoy.

We entered the Temple of Heaven grounds from the east gate and walked through some forests. The grassy areas nearby are popular with the locals and many come to practice tai chi.

After a stroll, we visited the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the largest ancient wooden structure still standing today. It’s built completely from wood and features a triple-eaved roof with enormous supporting pillars. Decorating it are colored tiles and a large gilded ball at the top.

I was impressed with the craftsmanship and the perfect symmetry. More than that, it’s built entirely from wood and uses no nails! The engineer in me was in awe. The neighboring halls also contained scaled-down models of the interior so I could look at the architecture. It was amazing.

We also visited the Imperial Hall of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar, all on the Temple grounds.

In each structure the numbers of tiles, pillars, and each structure’s respective shape were symbolic of Heaven, Earth, the seasons and the calendar. Pretty cool!

After driving back to Beijing proper, we visited Zhengyangmen, colloquially called Qianmen, the front gate to what was once Beijing’s walled city. It’s located south of Tienanmen Square and features a long street with neighboring alleys, all filled with historic shops that have been in operation for hundreds of years. It was a treat for me to browse the shops, see the sights, and experience history still alive.

After a refreshing and mouth-watering lunch at Duyichu, a restaurant once visited by the Qianlong emperor himself and famous for its shoumai, we wandered to a silk market. It had a great selection of silks as I’ve never seen before in the US, and my eyes popped. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any sewing projects in mind at the time and so didn’t buy any fabric, but I’ll be back!

After a walk to digest, it was time to visit Jingshan Park. Literally meaning “Prospect Hill”, the park had some grassy grounds with trees lining peaceful walkways. As it was an incredibly hot day and we visited at the hottest hour, there weren’t that many people walking around. There were some hiking up the steps to the top of the hill, so Ryan and I went up ourselves. At the top we beheld a Buddhist temple and a breathtaking view of the Forbidden City. It was only then that I realized how enormous the Forbidden City was — from the top of the hill I couldn’t fit the entire width of the city in my viewfinder and it stretched towards the horizon.

After the trek up the hill, Ryan and I descended and wandered across the street to Beihai Park. Jingshan and Beihai Parks were both once part of the Forbidden City, and they had lakes, willow trees, and tranquil walkways in common. Beihai Park also featured a White Pagoda, which upon entering the grounds, I could see from a distance.

The White Pagoda is actually a Buddhist reliquary, so while we were able to visit the Buddhist temples and climb the steps leading up to the Pagoda, we were not allowed to enter. Still, standing at the peak afforded us a nice view of Beijing.

The next day on the 10th, Ryan and I accompanied his grandparents to Longqingxia, a lake that was created after damming a valley. Located over an hour outside of Beijing, we were able to visit the lake through a series of escalators. We went for a pleasant boat ride around the lake where we could enjoy the cool air and the surrounding mountains.

After the long drive, we all took a rest and called it a day.

Our last day in Beijing was far more relaxed — we spent most of the day at Tsinghua University visiting grandparents. Ryan’s grandfather took us for a short walking tour of the campus as I’d never explored it before. The university itself is very quiet and safe and we visited numerous gardens scattered throughout the campus.

After lunch at the university, Ryan’s dad accompanied us to visit Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace. As it was looted and burned down in 1860 during the Second Opium War, we could only see the remains of the gardens. Even so, I was astounded at the sheer size of the gardens, lakes, and structures remaining. We also saw a small museum with a model of how the Old Summer Palace looked before the fires.

One interesting part of the gardens contained a set of European Buildings. The remains were more complete here than in other parts of the Palace as the European structures were built of stone and not wood.

As we wandered around another of the numerous lakes we caught a thunderstorm and had to hurry out of the gardens before we were completely soaked. It took a while, but we finally made it out to the car after resting a few minutes under some eaves. Of course, the rain cleared up as soon as we left the Palace grounds! We spent the rest of the afternoon drying off at Tsinghua and we had the most scrumptious dinner at Ryan’s grandparents’ — homemade Szechuan cuisine, and with such awesome company! It really was the perfect farewell dinner after a wonderful and fun trip.

I want to say a heartfult thank you to all of Ryan’s family, particularly his grandparents and Dad for welcoming me to Beijing and making us feel at home! It was a memorable trip and Ryan and I had a wonderful time!

For more pictures from the trip, please click here.

China Trip: Part 1

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:48:55 -0700

After our night at the Fairmont, Ryan and I flew directly to Beijing, China, the next day. It wasn’t quite a honeymoon for us, but it was a wonderful trip! I met Ryan’s extended family, most of whom are in China, and his dad put on a tasty banquet to welcome the two of us. After getting acquainted with Ryan’s relatives, we set out to see some sights the day after.

On the 6th we started off bright and early to see the Great Wall at Badaling, the most popular segment of the Great Wall, which incidentally also gets the most foot traffic. Although we arrived early in the morning, there were already crowds everywhere. It was breathtaking to see the Great Wall in person again and realizing how much time and effort it took to build and defend.

I insisted that we trek to the highest point on the segment of the Great Wall, and it was great fun. We decided to take a different route back to Wall entrance, and we ended up going quite a bit out of the way, climbing several particularly steep sections while doing so.

After a quick lunch at KFC, we headed over to the Ming Tombs. Thirteen Ming emperors had been buried there, but only Dingling, the tomb of the Wanli Emperor and his two empresses, was excavated. We visited this site and the accompanying museum. The Underground Palace was enormous, and sat underneath a landscaped area.

The Soul Tower was situated on the site and contained a stone stele indicating the mausoleum of Emperor Shenzong. The Tower was built out of stone but contained the architecture of a structure that would be made of wood.

After visiting the Underground Palace of Emperor Wanli, we then visited the nearby museum to see some artifacts. As many of the artifacts were damaged after excavation, we saw only reproductions. Even so, it gave a good idea of the scale of wealth and grandeur in the tombs.

After visiting the museum, we went for a stroll along the Sacred Way, a long walkway lined with carved stone generals and animals. The walkway led to more tombs on the site, but they have not been excavated. The stone statues were interesting to look at — each animal was carved standing and sitting, and lined both sides of the walkway. The Sacred Way was also lined with beautiful willow trees, and was a peaceful area.

We ended up getting caught in a slight thunderstorm as we were walking, so it was time to head back. After dinner, the weather cleared up and we headed to Tienanmen Square for a walk. As China was celebrating the Dragonboat Festival, the lights and fountains at Tienanmen Square were on to commemorate the occasion.

Nearby was the Wangfujing shopping district. Filled with people, shops, and department stores, it contained a night life that few places in the US could boast.

After calling it a night and getting rest at the Jade Palace Hotel, Ryan and I embarked on a long trek to see the Tan Zhe and Jie Tai Temples the next day. Both monasteries were situated in the outskirts of Beijing, making for a nice drive through the mountains.

Tanzhe Temple was built about 1,700 years ago. Ryan and I walked through several peaceful gardens punctuated with great halls for prayer.

The cavity below at one time housed water flowing from a nearby river that also supplied Beijing. It was said that once the water reached above a certain level, Beijing was in danger of flooding, thus serving as an early warning system. Pretty neat!

We also saw two Emperor’s Trees, ginkgo trees that were planted about 1,000 years ago.

After visiting some halls, we drove over to the Jietai Temple, which was also along the same mountain road. This temple was not as expansive as the last, but it had some notable pine trees. They were planted most likely 500 years ago and grew in interesting formations, inspiring names.

This was the Phoenix Pine, so called for the “phoenix tail” on the right side of the tree and the head on the opposing side.

The Phoenix Pine faced the Dragon Pine, also planted in the same courtyard.

Other cool pine trees included the Phoenix Tail Pine, Sensitive Pine (so called since the whole tree sways in the wind), and Sleeping Dragon Pine (so called since its trunk rests on a stone stele).

There was also the Nine Dragon Pine, a tree over 1,000 years old.

My favorite tree at the temple, however, did not seem to have a name!

On the drive back from the temples we also visited Lugou Bridge, or the Marco Polo Bridge. The bridge was named after Marco Polo wrote of its beauty. Along the bridge railing sit 501 stone lions, all with different poses and with larger lions cuddling with smaller lions. The bridge also contained stones with deep grooves worn in, ostensibly from metal-rimmed wagon wheels rolling over it over the course of centuries.

The bridge, which crosses the Yongding River, faces the West gate of Wanping City, a walled city that served to defend Beijing.

To escape the sweltering heat, Ryan and I retreated back his grandparents’ and later we headed over to dinner for roast duck. We had Jiu Hua Shan roasted duck, and it was seriously the best duck I’ve had. Looks like China has a monopoly!

For more pictures from this part of the trip, click here.

Got Married!

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:22:00 -0700

Ryan and I finally got married on Thursday June 2, 2011! We went to the San Francisco City Hall for the marriage license registration and ceremony, then stayed at the Fairmont.

That night Ryan took me to the most amazing dinner at Saison :)

Saison opened in what used to be a stable, which the restaurant owners decorated nicely. The entrance opened to an outdoor patio with open hearth, and the interior of the restaurant had a loft design. It was cozy and modern at the same time.

Our fixed menu of the night consisted of 6 courses with 3 complimentary ones scattered throughout. Each course had its own wine pairing, and the food was phenomenal.

We started off with some olive bread served with seaweed butter. The olive and salt from the butter paired nicely, and the seaweed added a mix of texture. The seaweed also added an earthy marine flavor that was surprising and appealing.

Next came a trio of canapes: oyster with wintermelon, parsnip puree with slow-cooked egg and salmon roe, and pickled radish, potato and other veggies with olive oil and flowers. The canapes were served with a non-vintage Alsace with hints of stones, minerals, and just-ripened fruit, with a tiny bit of nectar thrown in.

We tried some French bread after the canapes, which was wonderful and fluffy. It also paired well with the earthy-marine flavor of the seaweed butter.

After that we had the Wild Spot prawn. The course contained a lightly fried shrimp head served with the cold tail ceviche style with lemon consomme and mallow, rose, geranium, chervil and chive blossoms. The blossoms and lemon consomme added a soft tangy flavor to the cold tail; the fried shrimp head with the cold tail formed two complementary dishes in one.

Next came the brassicas. We started with poached and dehydrated greens on top of roasted grains and bonito consomme with slow-cooked egg yolk. I’d never had roasted grains before and I found them pleasantly crunchy with savory earth flavors. The bonito consomme added an ocean flavor while the poached and dehydrated veggies added a nice texture and mouthfeel.

After the brassicas came our first of three complimentary dishes of the evening: roasted purple asparagus with caviar, Nasturtium, creme fraiche, and egg yolk. The course was set so you eat the asparagus from the stem to the tip, and the flavor journey throughout was amazing — different flavors along the length paired with flowers and caviar was genius.

Then came the crustaceans. We started with Dungeness crab served with shrimp, Nasturtium leaf and an infused sauce. The sauce was rich and was more a wholesome soup than sauce. The Nasturtium leaf added a bit of bite and paired well with the seafood.

Our next course was also complimentary: sea urchin with abalone, silky tofu, truffle, and dehydrated seaweed. The flavors were reminiscent of Asian style cooking and was a nice change from the previous dishes. The seafood and seaweed added an umami flavor which I love, and the Saison-blended pinot developed well, hearkening back to the sea urchin.

The pinot served as a nice segue into the Pasternack’s rabbit. The front legs were roasted while the hind legs were rolled with foie gras. The liver was served with spices, providing a nice crunch and burst of flavor, and the kidney was savory. The greens and spring onion added some roundness to an otherwise meaty dish, and the rabbit broth brought it all together. I’m now a rabbit fan!

As the dinner wound down, our waitress presented us with some Nuvola di Pecora, a cheese dish. The sheep’s milk cheese was whipped to a custard consistency and piped into a bee’s nest. The was a small dollop of honeycomb on top, and some almond panada on the bottom with chamomile petals. The bee’s nest was fluffy with a nice thin crust and the cheese oozed tantalizingly. The fat from the cheese was tempered with the honeycomb, and the almonds added their own crunch.

Next, and to our pleasant surprise, came three sweet courses! I felt like a kid again, and was unbelievably gleeful. Our first sweet course was fresh raspberries with a raspberry and lemon custard. The raspberries were perfectly sweet, and the custard captured their essence well. To my surprise the custard wasn’t too sweet, as is often the case, and the custard had a nice thick consistency that was reminiscent of the whipped cheese. It was the perfect raspberry course!

Next was a milk chocolate dish with rice sorbet and toasted sesame. It had a nice blend of sugar and starch, and the sesame brought an Asian flair.

The next course was undoubtedly my favorite sweet course of the evening: popcorn ice cream! I literally laughed out loud when I tasted it — ice cream and popcorn all in one! Served with a sparkling Vouvray, I couldn’t be happier.

Dinner at Saison couldn’t have been more wonderful, and was the perfect way to spend our first evening together as a married couple. Their themes of blending textures using consomme, egg yolk and roasted food was a feast for my senses. It was a perfect evening with Ryan, and it will hopefully be the start of many more to come!

Knitting: Adrianna's Birthday Mitts

Fri, 27 May 2011 23:34:21 -0700

Here’s a much-delayed photo of Adrianna’s birthday mitts. I wanted to knit her something pretty and functional, as well as fun to make, and here it is! I’ve wanted to knit with this yarn and pattern for a while, and it seemed the right occasion. I hope she likes it!

Exploring SF: Castro

Fri, 20 May 2011 14:04:53 -0700

On our Wednesday jaunt Lucy and I explored the Castro! It was a beautiful day with great weather, perfect for some wandering in the city. Hungry as usual, we stopped at Blue Restaurant for some Monte Cristo sandwiches.

Savory, cheesy, fattening, and all-around good, especially when dipped with their strawberry jam! It was a yummy and relaxing lunch. We then wandered over to some shops and browsed. We ended up spending considerable time at Hortica checking out the airplants and other goodies in the back of the store.

It was great seeing Lucy again and catching up — fun day! :)

Knitting: Honeycomb Hat & Kate's Brambles

Fri, 06 May 2011 12:03:00 -0700

I finally took some pictures of the honeycomb hat I finished months ago, just in time for summer when it’s too hot to wear.

Here is also Kate’s brambles, the third in line for what seems to be a brambles dynasty.

Home Gardening: First Harvest

Fri, 06 May 2011 11:06:00 -0700

Yesterday I eagerly selected the mesclun greens and parsley that were ready for dinner. We started off the meal with the greens and then I garnished the spaghetti with the fresh, chopped parsley. So delicious! There’s nothing like enjoying the food I grow :)

Home Gardening: Mesclun Greens & Cherry Tomatoes

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:37:44 -0700

My mesclun greens are almost ready to harvest! After some tending to, they really picked up and are doing well. My 1 cherry tomato plant that survived my naive gardening skills is also toughening up as the weather gets nicer. Hooray!