My Personal Valentines Passion Cake from Sweetie Pie's in Napa.

We took lots of road trips this weekend testing and driving that Q7 Audi loaned to us
This was at Bottega Napa Valley.  Chef used to make Angry Spot Prawns and Angry Crab over at Tra Vigne.  These were so good.  I totally enjoyed the fried arugula for the garnish

I love this bowl of baby heirlooms

This morning cup of joe.....................

Aloha Tuesday everyone.......................Wishing you all a good morning stay tuned for today's food posting.
Oh yeah plug for Dean & DeLuca one of my favorite stores.

This is one of our Daschunds "Mochi"

Caramel Sauce

I ventured and made Caramel Sauce, I wasn't happy with it at first but came out wonderful after it was all cooled down and chilled.

Taco Tuesday

Tonight was Taco Tuesday, our Hula Competition girls got together tonight.

Frenchie loves these.  No hamburger meat here.  Chuck slow clooked in dutch oven with
cumin, tomato sauce, mexican seasonings, salt and pepper for 2.5 hours.  Shredded it up and
got some Tia Rosa King Size Corn Tortillas. 

I liked the tomatoes on it Frenchie's are without.

last nights and today's event

Last night no cooking. Ho'okipa played for the 5th Anniversary of Bel Air in Natomas. We had dinner at Kobe in Natomas. I had Saba Shioyaki and no rice.

Today I've had a weird sore throat for 3 days loosing my voice. I don't feel 100%. Doc says allergies but need to keep an eye on it. More advair, flonase and need rest. What is that?

Tonight hubby drove to 707 had dinner at Jeanty Bistro. Pappa had Sole Meniuirek, Tomato Soup. I had tomato soup and asparagus terrine with chive. Wonderful.

Photos to follow.

Went for a walk through Thomas Kellers French Laundry's sustainable garden.
Walked over to Bottega and saw Chef Chiarello working today. He is a busy chef.  Didn't have a chance to chat as he had a private event going on in his flagship store.

Got in the last tasting at Opus One. Wow. '04 'cest bonne,
The '05 also good. However, '06 in my opinion far superb.

Ana Mandara Dinner SFO Ghirardelli Square  our other favorite place

Hubby had Lamb Chop and a Crab Soup along with a couple Caipirinha's.

I had the Braised Pork Belly with the Kobacha Puree'

Dessert pappa had Blackberry Sorbet and I had the Chocolate Mousse Napolean

The Wafers were fried Wonton

Flowers from our Daughter's Wedding 08.15.2009

Outside of cooking, these are flowers I put together for our daughter's wedding last year in August.
I was up quite late the eve of the wedding.  Everything turned out beautiful.  I used to help a dear friend of mine out at his Floral Shoppe years ago and I learned as much as I could to create floral arrangements.
My daughter also has a creative touch with flowers.

The Backyard is really looking like Kaumakani, Kaua'i at Grandpa's old house

I've claimed these aren't my chickens in my backyard.  We are in a rural part of the city however,

neighbor to the north has chickens tenant/neighbor to the south has chickens.  South neighboor keeps for the eggs, north neighbor's it's their source of food.  But somehow these hens find refuge in our yard.  We have 9 Grapevines, 2 Persimmon Trees, Peach Tree, 3 Fuji Apple Trees and 1 Huge Almond Tree. My mother in law has the half of the yard for her filipino vegetable garden.

But I tell you this is enough free range chicken for several meals.  Hahahaha

Dinner Tonight

Are you hungry?  Keeping it real, previous post earlier today was the Kobe Tomato Beef, so of course that is what I am having only added grilled asparagus with a garlic aioli and young sweet pea sprouts salad.
Nothing like greens in your diet.

Penne Pasta with Shredded Shortribs and Porcini Mushrooms

Penne Pasta with Shredded Shortribs, Porcini Mushrooms

I saw shortribs on sale today $1.70 a pound at the local Carniceria 2 nice pieces said buy me and do something with me. 

Here is the recipe.

2 nice thick Short Ribs Slab (You can use the English Cut as well) Coated with Seasoned Flour

1/2 sweet yellow onion diced

4 cloves garlic (I chop dice and make the garlic pasty with kosher salt to get it fine)

1 Shallot diced small

1 Can Muir Glen Fire Roasted or Stewed Tomatoes with Basil and Garlic (I blend to smooth)

2 teaspoons Italian Herbs Seasoning

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

1 cube of  Star ai Funghi Porcini (Porcini Bullion)

4 Cups Chicken Broth

4 dried Porcini Mushrooms

1 small can or Fresh Crimini Mushrooms Sliced

Penne Pasta your choice cook to directions and reserve 1 cup of the starch water

1 Tablespoon Cream Cheese

Sear the dreaded shortribs on all sides on medium heat after they are done set aside with Olive Oil

With the olive oil sautee' Onion, Garlic and Shallots sweat them out and place the short ribs back in.

Put the Stock, Liquified Tomatoes, Funghi and all herbs and dried mushrooms just to cover the meat.

Braise Simmer 2.5-3 hours until meat is fork tender.

This sauce should render down but continue to add more stock as needed. The last 5 minutes add just a tabelspoon of Cream Cheese to the sauce.

Cook Penne in the last 15 minutes when you know your meat is about done.

After Pasta is done toss with Parmesan and Romana Cheese so it sticks to Pasta put in Serving Bowl

Once meat is tender shred with fork and place meat on Pasta.

You can cook the liquid in pot down to your desired thickness and to where there is enough to toss into the Pasta and meat, don't forget the mushrooms

I clipped fresh chives (I love chives)

Make some fresh Garlic Bread or some good Rustic Bread

I only add starch water if needed.

Bon Appetit

From a natural perspective a Hen in our Backyard found refuge. Oh well.

Why would I take a picture of my Tangerine?

Lamb Chops "Ana Mandara" 2.19.10

Crab Soup " Ana Mandara" 2.19.10

This soup was delicious Freddie loved it.

Miner Winer Private Tasting

This was a beautiful days with family friends...................nuff said

Skirt Steak and Frites Bottega Napa Valley, Yountville, Ca.

Frank Family Vineyards Larkmead Ln- St. Helena , CA.

Our dear family friend works here. Frank Family Vineyards is a very good winery and is also one of my Favorites. If you like Chardonnay they have a wonderful one. But their Cabernet Sauvignon Rocks.

Polenta Under Glass Appetizer Bottega Napa Valley

If you ever get into Yountville, do order this if you like soft Polenta. It's all about the game sauce and the chanterelle mushrooms once enveloped into the Polenta you are in Polenta Heaven.