fête à fête

I love anything with chocolate and I'm not ashamed to admit it. That's why my fellow choco fans will appreciate the rich cocoa flavor in Dr. Oetker Organics' Organic Brownie Mix. It produces an unbelievably chewy texture that resembles made-from-scratch versions. This mighty box of cocoa goodness packs a punch in flavor, but it's not so bad in the calorie department. It only calls for a 1/4 cup of butter, vs. the typical 1 stick in other mixes. Not only can you tell your friends you made it from scratch (they won't know the difference, trust me), you won't have to feel that guilty about gobbling up that second or third piece.

www.oetker.ca

See ya in the kitchen,

Tami

Tagged as: baking, baking mixes, brownie, brownie mix, Chocolate, cooking, Dr. Oetker, food, organic, organic ingredients

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Summer is almost over, but that doesn't mean you're gonna be sloppy with your precious locks. If spending too much time at the beach has turned your hair into a dry frizzy mess, try the following hair care products from John Masters Organics & Kiss My Face for instant damage control.

I like how my hair gets that squeaky-clean feel with John Masters Organics' Lavender Rosemary Shampoo . Great for normal hair, the gentle paraben/sodium lauryl sulfate-free formula is pretty concentrated, so you don't need to use a lot of it. The heady lavender scent makes me wanna linger in the shower. I also like to follow up with their amazing Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor. Not only does it smell heavenly, the intense nutrients (honey, hibiscus, bergamot, patchouli) leaves your hair feeling like a curtain of silk. It reminds me of the sleek texture your hair feels after leaving the hair salon. It's that good.

An everyday shampoo I like to use is the Kiss My Face Miss Treated Shampoo. Infused with Palmarosa and Peppermint oils, it's a great organic cleanser for colored hair. Paired with the matching Miss Treated Conditioner, both products are paraben/SLS free, so they won't strip the natural oils from your hair. Other nourishing ingredients include rosemary and eucalyptus oils, providing an uplifting scent that brightens your mood.

Available at www.johnmasters.com and

www.kissmyface.com

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, conditioner, dry hair, ecualyptus oil, hair, hair care, hair products, John Masters Organics, Kiss My Face, lavender, organic, organic ingredients, palmarosa oil, rosemary, shampoo

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Oyster gourmands will be impatient to try new and classic recipes in Jairemarie Pomo's The Hog Island Oyster Lover's Cookbook. A great kitchen reference book, it shows you step-by-step instructions on shucking these sweet little jewels, as well as advice on buying and identifying oyster varieties. There's also an interesting chaper on the history of the famed Hog Island Oyster Company.

With 40 ways to enjoy these bivalves, your taste buds will be crying for Fried Oysters with Cilantro Aioli, Champagne Mignonnette and Oysters, and Serrano Ham-Wrapped Oysters with Chipotle Mayonnaise. If those are not enough for you, celebrity chefs Alice Waters and Bobby Flay have also developed their special recipes for the book.

Wow, my mouth is already watering. Check out the recipe below - I promise you will carry a love affair with oysters for years to come.

See you at the oyster bar,
Tami

Oysters with Cucumber, Lime, and Sake

Rodney’s Oyster House in Toronto, Canada, is famous for the variety of fresh oysters they serve. Rodney himself holds one of the first oyster-shucking titles in the region. This refreshing oyster appetizer features an unusual combination of flavors in perfect balance.

2 dozen extra-small (2 to 3 inches long) Pacific or small (3 to 4 inches long) Eastern oysters on the half shell, on a bed of crushed ice

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and shredded
6 limes, quartered
1 3⁄4 cups chilled dry sake

Top each oyster with a pinch of shredded cucumber. Squeeze a lime quarter over each oyster. Carefully pour sake over each oyster, just to the rim of the shell. Serve immediately.

Makes 24

Reprinted with permission from The Hog Island Oyster Lover’s Cookbook: A Guide to Choosing & Savoring Oysters, with 40 Recipes. Copyright © 2007 by Jairemarie Pomo, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. Photo Credit: Leigh Beisch

Available at local booksellers or by contacting Ten Speed Press at 800-841-2665 or online at www.tenspeed.com.

Tagged as: bivalves, cookbooks, cooking techniques, entertaining, food, Hog Island, Hog Island Cookbook, mignonette, Oysters, parties, recipes, sauces

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fall makeup update for San Francisco Bay Area beauty addicts!

Glam looks are here again for this coming Fall season, and here’s your opportunity to try out Shu Uemura's elegant Komon 2007 Fall collection. Inspired by nature, this beautiful 125th Limited Edition collection features colors that are depicted in traditional kimonos from the Edo Period.

Sip on some bubbly and groove to fab DJ tunes as you get made over into a glorious diva that you really are. The friendly and expert Shu Uemura team will also be available to advise on your current makeup regimen and skin care needs. Try out their new and lovely Pleasure of Japanese Bath oil collection!

Call today to reserve your spot! (415) 395-0953

Friday & Saturday, August 31 & September 1 (11am - 6pm daily)

1971 Fillmore Street, San Francisco

www.shuuemura-usa.com

See you at the makeup counter!

Tami

Tagged as: 2007 fall makeup, beauty, blush, eyeshadow, Fall makeup, Japanese bath oil, kimono color and design, Komon makeup collection, limited edition makeup, lipstick, makeup, Pleasure of Japanese Bath oil, Rouge Unlimited lipstick, San Francisco event, Shu Uemura

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Folks who are lucky enough to be in the SF Bay Area can drive to Andy's Orchard to taste and pick the amazing heirloom fruit (nectarines, peaches, plums, pluots, etc.). Rich in flavor and aroma, most of the 250 varieties are not available in commecial markets.

Their store offers mail-order gift boxes (also sells dried fruit, candies, etc.) for those who live too far away to pick their own fruit. My personal faves are the Ambre nectarine (perfumed, papaya aroma that melts on your tongue), Baby Crawford peach, Zephyr nectarine and the Mirabelle & Greengage plums. To die for! Considered one of the best orchards in the nation (was featured in Gourmet), you might never eat commercially-produced fruit again, after tasting these juicy, intensely-flavored jewels...

www.andysorchard.com

1615 Half Rd.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Store: (408) 782-7600

See you in the orchard!
-Tami

Tagged as: Andy's Orchard, fruit, gifts, heirloom fruit, heirloom variety, nectarines, orchards, peaches, plums, pluots

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brought to you by my dear friend Stevie, the fashionista behind the fab blog LA-Story. Stella from Well Above Average (another fabulous blog BTW, so go read it!!) got us hooked into this game - she challenged us with the Ten Questions Game, and as a result I got tagged in the process.

“write a blog with ten weird, random things, little known facts or habits about yourself. At the end choose at least 5 people to be tagged, list their names and why you picked them. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you’ve been tagged’ and tell them to read your latest blog.”

So...here goes!

1. I can be a food freak. I've backpacked in Europe in search of some obscure brand of condiments...I've also convinced a friend to drive 2 hours each way to a fancy orchard to pick heirloom-variety pluots and nectarines. Yeah, I'm a bit of a zealot.

2. I like chicken feet and fish heads. Yum. I also like expensive gourmet chocolates.

3. I own more bottles of beauty potions and makeup (I have 20+ pairs of fake lashes!) than any normal gal in her right mind should have.

4. While most girls swoon over labels like Malandrino, Dior, or Chanel, I prefer the delicate macarons from the famed patisserie Dalloyau or the loveliest ice cream from Berthillon in Paris.

5. Most of my tiny kitchen space is dedicated to precious baking supplies and equipment. You can never have too many cake pans, flavored syrups, colored gels, cookie molds, flours, extracts, or cookbooks.

6. I check out the dessert menu and make my selection before ordering my entree.

7. I own 8 pairs of Camper shoes. They're so comfy and CUTE - can you blame me?

8. I usually tear up when I watch a particular scene from "In the Mood for Love" by Wong Kar Wai. It's such a beautifully made film, from the music to the cinematography to the clothes.

9. I'm a dancing fiend. Salsa, swing, Argentine tango, cha-cha, waltz, polka, you name it, I'll try it.

10. I've been to 16 countries and 116 cities.

My 5 friends to tag:

Suzanne (just send me an email)
Lisa (ditto)
Heidi (same as above)
Pam
Chida

Tagged as: baking, Beauty, dance, Fashion, Film, food, gossip, LA-Story.com, personality, ten questions game, traits, travel, wellaboveaverage.blogspot.com

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Technorati Profile

Folks looking for some reliable seafood recipes should take a gander at Jasper White’s new book, The Summer Shack Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Shore Food. Inspired by Jasper's Summer Shack restaurants, the recipes hail from the boardwalk stands of the Jersey Shore (where the author grew up) to clam shacks on the New England coast. From Steamers Cooked in Beer to Grilled Rock Lobster Tails with Ají Verde, it’s easy to find the right recipe for any occasion.

Filled with illustrations and tips, the book explains techniques on filleting fish, choosing and storing seafood, and preparing your own oyster dishes (yum!). It also includes easy reference charts on clam types and seafood grilling times. With winners like Coney Island Red Clam Chowder and Shack Bouillabaisse, your guests will be licking their fingers and begging for more.

See you in the kitchen!
-Tami

Tagged as: cookbooks, cooking techniques, illustrations, Jasper White, Jersey Shore, lobster roll, recipes, seafood, shack food, shrimp cocktail, summer shore food, The Summer Shack Cookbook

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Tequila connoisseurs will be excited to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the El Tesoro distillery. Carlos Camarena, owner and Master Distiller, will be in San Francisco to celebrate this milestone with the launch of a limited edition El Tesoro Anniversio tequila. This special edition is aged seven years and was lovingly created in memory of his grandfather, Don Felipe, who built the distillery La Altena in the mountains of Jalisco Mexico in 1877. El Tesoro distillery still utilizes the artisan methods of traditional ovens and crushing methods for the agave plant. El Tesoro is the only 100 percent blue agave tequila double distilled at 80 proof and bottled without water added.

For Northern California folks, there will be two special events held in honor of this special anniversary. Check out the following details and RSVP to the email listed below.

*Special Events in San Francisco*

-Bottle Signing, meet & greet with Master Distiller Carlos Camarena.

Bring your own or purchase on site. To honor 70 years of quality and tradition, Carlos, third generation and master distiller of El Tesoro Tequila, is proud to present a limited edition El Tesoro Anniversario tequila.

When: Wednesday August 15, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Where: John Walker, 175 Sutter Street

-A conversation and tasting with Carlos Camarena. A Q&A and discussion about the history of El Tesoro.

When: Wednesday, August 15, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Where: Cantina, 580 Sutter Street (at Mason next to Hotel Rex)

****Please RSVP to darizzo@gmail.com

-Tami

Tagged as: Carlos Camarena, El Tesoro Tequila, limited edition El Tesoro Anniversio tequila, Liquor and Spirits, local events, Master Distiller, San Francisco, special events, tasting, Tequila

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

LIFESTYLE, FASHION & BEAUTY

• LA-Story
• Stevie's Music Mix
• Debutante Clothing
• Well Above Average
• Coquette
• Fashiontribes
• Glam
• Colleen Quen Couture
• Rick Lee Design
• Zoe Bikini
• Saffron Rare Threads
• Fierce Couture
• divine caroline
• Tango Diva
• Envibrant
• Splendora
• Lucire Magazine
• Shu Uemura
• Eminence Organics
• Lipstick Queen
• Bella Pelle
• The Periodic Elements of Style
• Butterfly Diary


FOOD

• Recchiuti Confections
• Valrhona
• Scharffen Berger
• Chocolove
• The Art of Tasting Chocolate
• Cocoa Content
• Daily Olive
• tablehopper
• Eggbeater
• Hedonia
• 101 Cookbooks
• Chocolate & Zucchini
• Jersey Tomatoes
• Split Pea Seduction
• FXCuisine.com


ETC.

• Six Apart
• uiNNOVATIONS
• Google

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For those who are big skin care fans, they shouldn't miss the latest summer goodies from Eminence. Their Blueberry Bliss collection is another heavenly winner, with over 15 power nutrients working overtime to deliver nature's very best to your skin. It doesn't hurt that everything smells like a fresh blueberry smoothie either.

The Blueberry Soy Repair Masque and the Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream (my new fave cream) are packed with a scrumptious puree of whole fruit blueberries for ultimate hydration and skin repair. Paired with non-GMO soy yogurt, these lovely products are also packed with Vitamins C, E and other anti-aging weapons (evening primrose oil, coenzyme Q10, etc.) to fight cellular damage and restore elasticity.

After days of frolicking at the beach, your body will also appreciate the Soy Blueberry Body Wash or Blueberry Soy Sugar Scrub to replenish the much-needed moisture. Your skin will be thoroughly silky!

Sun protection is also key to ageless skin, so I highly recommend their new translucent Sun Defense SPF 30. The clear shade is also great for men and children, as it blends right into the skin. Waterproof and super easy to use (comes in a handy brush tube), it's the perfect thing to put into your purse, backpack or beach tote before heading into the sun and sand. Unlike conventional liquid sunscreen, it doesn't have the problem of greasy leaky bottles.

Available at your local spa or check out www.eminenceorganics.com

-Tami

Tagged as: Beauty, blueberry collection, body wash, Eminence, Luxury, masks, masque, new translucent shade, non-GMO soy yogurt, organic, Organic, skin care, skin care product, skin cream, Skincare, SPF, sugar scrub, Summer, sunscreen

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)