Hustler of Culture

'We Love Madeleines' (Seriously, We Do!)

I recently had a recipe published in Chronicle Books' We Love Madeleines and didn't remember until the comped copy of the book arrived in the mail last week. The lemon madeleines I've been baking for years have previously appeared on James Beard Winner, Heidi Swanson's 101 Cookbooks. And now, thanks to Chronicle Books, this recipe is shared by more cookie enthusiasts. I hope you enjoy these tasty lemon treats as much as our family does!

Chronicle Books' description:

The first crowd-sourced cookbook from Chronicle Books, this celebration of the dainty French delight proves that classic doesn’t have to mean conventional. Forty reverential recipes—developed by madeleine lovers from Italy to Oregon and curated by Miss Madeleine herself—break the mold, with unexpected delights from Rosemary Parmesan Polenta to Molasses Spice to Chocolate Hazelnut, plus gluten-free and vegan options. Featuring expert tips on choosing ingredients, mixing and baking batter, and picking the right pan, as well as a chapter on glazes, dips, and other toppings, the wisdom of dozens of aficionados comes together in this delectable ode to the little shell-shaped cake we love.

NYC - The VICE x Westway Summer Fling #2 | Chief Performs | People Who Just Had Sex Screening (07.26.12)

LA - Urban Roots Benefit (12.03.11)

More info: http://urbanrootsbenefit.eventbrite.com/

Gary Baseman at Bao Dim Sum House

I had a lovely lunch with friend and professional doodler, Gary Baseman at tasty Bao Dim Sum House. He drew while I talked and the curious waitstaff swung by a few times to check out the drawings, which incidentally inspired a Halloween costume or two. A sunny afternoon in WeHo was a lovely way to catch up with my always-traveling amigo.

LA - Abbot Kinney Festival (09.25.11)

 
More info here.

adidas Appetizer

While visiting adidas' LA headquarters, I was offered these beautiful shoes chocolates to eat. I refused because they were simply too damn good looking to destroy. Don't you agree?

You Say Tomato. I Say Delicious.

From the garden: the big tomato in  the center is a black tula, the yellow-green stripeys are Michael Pollans and the little red ones are olive sweets. I'm not sure what the ones in front are. Thank goodness for my gardening partner, Sarah for even telling me what these all were!

NYC - Fanatic X (07.09.11)

Getting Real in the Whole Foods Neighborhood

I know it's been getting real in the Whole Foods parking lot. But nobody's talking about the biggest oversight by the viral video depicting life of the LA-Westside-Prius-driving-artisanal-cheese-set. Like, where's my grocery gang at?

Nine out of ten visits to the Venice Whole Foods, I'm going to run into a neighbor at the deli counter or warm food station and sure enough, I'm going to high five, hug or handshake a few more people before I run through the register.For example, 48 hours after the music video gripped the imagination of the nation's good-problems-to-have-posse, I ran into photographer/director and Mumble contributor, Tobin Yelland at the soup station. At the soup station from the actual Whole Foods made famous by a viral video, only a few nights before!

Tobin and I caught up and I suggested what soup I thought might be tastiest and then I snapped a lame phone cam picture of him so I could write about our accidental meet up. At the time, Tobin hadn't seen the Whole Foods Parking Lot video yet (he's been traveling for work). Now the two are entwined forever on the internets. Bon appetit, Tobin!

Miami - Free Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (05.21.11)

"On A Stick" Book Party

Matt (via Dana) invited me to his book launch for On a Stick at Border Grill in downtown LA. It was a night of small bites (lots of them) and smiles for miles. Which perfectly fit the theme of the book: party-perfect recipes... on a stick. Because eating anything on a stick is always more fun.

Seeing as I'm Vietnamese, I'm excited to try Matt's tasty looking recipe for Bo La Lot (betel leaf wrapped lemongrass beef), Caprese Sticks and Pizza Skewers (I know my French-Italian husband will love), and Grilled Fruit Skewers (for Lulu, our resident fruitcake).

Lulu loves food -- even in books. So I gave her Matt's book to review. Following are her thoughts caught on video:

Final verdict?  On a Stick is good enough to eat. Like, for reals, eat!

LA - Pablove Shutterbugs: Graduation Show (05.14.11)

NYC - Nuit Espwa (05.13.11)

You are cordially invited to…

Nuit Espwa
Date: May 13th, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Place: Nikki Midtown
151 East 50th Street
New York, NY 10022

The Students For Haitian Aid (SFHA) club would like to invite you to attend our first annual fundraiser to benefit the Pwoje Espwa Sud orphanage in Les Cayes, Haiti.

Be A Friend and Buy Homeboy Products!

With warm weather around the corner, someone's going to ask that you pick up chips and salsa at least a couple of times this summer. So when given the opportunity, please consider purchasing Homeboy Industries' tortilla chips and salsa (located in the deli section), now available at Ralphs stores in Southern California.

Founded in 1988 by Father Greg Boyle, the inspirational organization has changed the lives of many who once believed they were without a future. What is Homeboy Industries?

Homeboy Industries assists at-risk, formerly gang-involved youth and the recently incarcerated to become contributing members of our community through a variety of services in response to their multiple needs. Our free programs - including counseling, education, tattoo removal, job training, and placement - enable young men and women to redirect their lives and provide them with hope for their futures.

If you do not live in SoCal but would like to help, consider donating to the non-profit organization. Contributions are tax deductible.

Follow Homeboy Industries on Facebook and Twitter.

LA - People For Bikes Event (04.12.11)

LA - GOOD LA Launch Weekend (04.08.11 - 04.10.11)

From GOOD: We're celebrating the publication of the Los Angeles issue of our magazine, and the launch of GOOD LA, a new local community for Los Angeles residents. So we're throwing a party to honor our hometown and the people who make it work (that's you!).

Join us at the GOOD LA Launch Weekend for urban adventures, DIY workshops, hack-a-thons, civic engagements, artist interventions, resource sharing, literary readings, film screenings, book club meetings, neighborhood walks, and locally-made goods, all at an exciting new creative space in Atwater Village. 

Atwater Crossing (ATX)
3229 Casitas Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90039

All events except for the GOOD Book Club take place at ATX

Parking is in two free lots, or street parking is available
We highly encourage everyone to bike or take public transit; plan your trip at Metro.net

All events are free but you must RSVP!

SF - Heidi Swanson's "Super Natural Every Day" Book Event (04.07.11)

It's our dear friend Heidi's birthday! And she's signing Super Natural Every Day at Omnivore Books on Food! More details below:

Book Signing & Meet-up with Heidi Swanson
Thursday April 7, 6pm - 8pm

Potluck: If you want to bring something to share with others - it could be from 101 Cookbooks, Super Natural Cooking, Super Natural Every Day, or just a recipe you really love - we'll set up a table for food. But if you don't have time to make something, please please don't let that stop you from coming.

Omnivore Books on Food
3885a Cesar Chavez Street
San Francisco, CA 94131
415.282.4712

OsGemeos Birthday / 10 Year Reunion Dinner

OsGemeos are in town getting ready for the big "Art in the Streets" opening at MOCA in a couple of weeks. The stars aligned and we ended up hosting their birthday dinner at our home with new and old friends in tow -- nearly a decade after we first met during their inaugural trip to America. We've been lucky to catch the twins over the years, but what made the evening incredibly special was our reunion dinner included photographers Louise and Ig from LostArt, who were also with us 10 years ago (see related link below).

I found my original photographs from the 2001 visit and we happily took the trip down memory lane together. Back then, we were much poorer (the twins crashed on the floor of our 150 square foot sublet in New York City) and aside from a lifestyle upgrade for all of us, not much else has changed except that OsGemeos is now more of a household name in the contemporary art scene and we're all a bit chubbier.

As seen in the slideshow above, here we are hanging with old pals, Ig and Louise from LostArt and Gustavo and Otavio of OsGemeos and Wendy, Arnaldo, Koyo and Ray. We celebrated the twins' birthdays and 10 years of friendship. Cheers to many more years ahead...

RELATED: Lost Art, Found Friends

Super Natural Every Day!

Congratulations to our dear friend and James Beard Award-nominated cookbook author, Heidi Swanson on publishing another kick ass cookbook, Super Natural Every Day! Making and eating healthy foods doesn't have to be hard or intimidating and more importantly, it can be tasty and fun to cook (if you have Heidi's Super Natural Cooking, then you already know this). 

Heidi's new culinary compendium is filled with nearly 100 of her favorite nutrient-rich every day meals. Inside this carefully curated cookbook, you'll find doable recipes requiring five or less components. As Heidi states, "Simply put -- here are real foods and good ingredients made into dishes that are nourishing and worth eating and sharing." I am excited to incorporate her go-to recipes to our regular rotation of home-cooked family meals including her tasty looking yogurt biscuits, crepes (my French/Italian husband cannot get enough of Heidi's cooking), open-face egg sandwich, popcorn, black sesame otsu, and roasted strawberries (now that they're back in season)!

Enjoy the dreamy photographs (many shot by our other good pal Wayne), catch yourself drooling, and then hike on over to the Farmer's Market and stock up. We are in for a treat. You are in for a treat. And my seven-year-old-cooking-club, City Cooks Club is in for a treat! For delicious and sophisticated-but-simple foods, do yourself a favor and buy Super Natural Every Day, today!

And thanks for the shout out, Heidi! I can't wait to cook with you again.

RELATED: Hustler of Yum and Hustler of Words

LA - "From Seed To Skillet" Book Event (01.29.11)