Mini Cupcake from Dahlia Bakery
Apple cupcake with cream cheese frosting and apple compote filling–and cute to boot!
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The Griddle
Last weekend when I was in California with family, my cousin Jenny took us to the famous Griddle Cafe in LA. We didn’t see any famous people on this visit; but in truth, the pancakes are the real stars at this joint.
Upon arrival, just reading the menu had me practically hopping in my seat with excitement. The one I picked out was a coconut pancake with rolled oats, butterscotch chips, and pecans…
It was huge! I’ve never seen a pancake stack like this before, let alone filled with gourmet goodness. It was on.
“We can do this.”
…
Must keep eating…pancake…
Here’s John and I after being devastated by our unfinished, insanely delicious pancake stacks:
FAIL.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so dominated by a food before. Not only was I unable to finish half my stack, but I was upset I couldn’t fit any more pankeke goodness in me, my head was spinning, and it hurt to walk afterward.
In any case, a wonderful experience. I definitely plan to go again next time I’m in town (with Nikki!). Though next time I’ll probably agree to split a pancake with Jenny this time, as she had originally suggested.
2007 Book List
Last year, after repeatedly walking into Barnes & Noble and looking longingly at all the possibilities, I made a New Year’s resolution to be more proactive reading. And to make it measurable this time, I decided on a simple book-per-month quota. It may not be much for more avid bookworms (er, Val), but I’m happy to report I actually accomplished it. So with that, here are all the books I read in 2007, in order of completion:
 ♥♥♥♥½ |
 ♥♥♥½ |
 ♥♥♥♥ |
 ♥♥♥½ |
 ♥♥♥♥♥ |
 ♥♥♥♥♥ |
 ♥♥♥ |
 ♥♥♥♥♥♥!!! |
 ♥♥♥♥ |
 ♥♥♥ |
 ♥♥♥♥♥ |
 ♥♥ |
 ♥♥♥½ |
 ♥♥♥½ |
 ♥♥♥♥½ |
So there you have it! Granted I “cheated” a bit by re-reading some Harry Potter, but I’m convinced that’s just plain good for the heart (like red wine, I suppose). That and I noticed I tend to get sucked into series and this year was a cheesy (but fun) Mr. Darcy trilogy, hah.
I’ve listed some rough ratings below each book. But if you’re looking for a recommendation, I’d have to say the best books I’ve read this year are Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Kite Runner, and Empress: A Novel.
Also, what I found also to be helpful for tracking and also motivating is the Facebook Books application, so if you’re a book reader, check it out.
For 2008, I’ve decided to do a book per month again, not so much as a resolution, but more now as just a “practice”. I’ve already completed 3 books, so this year looks promising. :)
Kite Runner
It’s been a while since I’ve stumbled upon a phenomenal book. I finished reading Kite Runner by Jhaled Hosseini last weekend and it really blew me away. The review from the Washington Post Book World sums it up well:
“A powerful book… no frills, no nonsense, just hard, spare prose… an intimate account of family and friendship, betrayal and salvation that requires no atlas or translation to engage and enlighten us. Parts of The Kite Runner are raw and excruciating to read, yet the book in its entirety is lovingly written.”
Admittedly I was reluctant to read at first, but although it is largely set in Afghanistan (and its violence-ridden last few decades), the book is not so much about the recent events in the Middle East, but rather uses the scene as a backdrop for the plot’s focus on the relationships between the main character and his father, his best friend, and “making things right again”. It’s a true redemption story, a unique and vivid one at that.
If looking for a new fiction to dive into, do check it out.
Recommended.
Chocolati? Check
Jules and Taylor standing inside Chocolati in Wallingford
Last night, driven by impulse and the prospect of a decadent dessert, Jules, Taylor, and I went out to Chocolati in Wallingford. None of us had been before, but we had heard a lot about it, so this was our chance to check it out. Known for their infamous hot chocolates, we each decided to get one. I picked the classic “house” version, Taylor chose a raspberry-chocolate blend, and Jules went for the dark chocolate.
“Oh my God,” basically sums up what it’s like to have your first sip of a Chocolati hot chocolate. And well, every sip thereafter, really. All three cocoas were devastatingly good. Taylor’s raspberry-chocolate was my favorite, reminding me of Seattle Chocolate’s raspberry cream truffles. Jules’ drink (if you could call it that) was so thick we reasoned that if she let it cool, it would harden in her cup. “I think I can chew mine,” she said between gulps. We left dizzy, our throats lined with chocolate, and ready to crash. It was really somethin’ else.
Currently Watching
The West Wing - The Complete Fourth Season
Hiroshi’s on Eastlake
Ryan and I went to Hiroshi’s on Eastlake for the first time tonight. It wasn’t what I expected, but in the good sort of way. I had figured it was just a small teriyaki joint, similiar to what you’d find on the Ave, only to walk into a restaurant warm with color, bustling with people, and live jazz playing. (Yeah, Fridays are “Sushi and Jazz Nights”, who would’ve thought?) Anyway, the place is more cozy than it is small, the food was pretty good, and it just had a lively atmosphere. The service was a tad slow, but given how busy it was, it was pretty reasonable. Food-wise, I really liked the yellow tail and green onion roll. Given it’s proximity and good first impression, we just may have found a new sushi place to frequent.
In other news, I’ve realized how much I usually blog about places I’ve eaten at and have begun wondering if I should aggregate this somewhere other than here. While it’s nice to write a blog post here or there, it’d be nice to either flush out my neglected CitySearch profile or take up writing in Judy’s Book. I haven’t quite decided what I want to do yet though.
Tangent aside, Hiroshi’s = Thumbs up.
Currently Listening to:
The Kill
A Beautiful Lie
