Homemade Pizza / Recessionizza

I’ve waited days for my cold/bronchitis to go away so I could use the ingredients I bought last week to make pizza. It is now day eight and I’m still coughing, congested, and frustrated. This evening, I decided I did not want to wait any longer.

Even though I love pizza, I do not eat it too often because of health and economic reasons. I usually buy Amy’s frozen pizza to mitigate the health concerns, but afterwards I feel guilty for spending six dollars on such a small frozen serving. Having just opened a Mint account to budget myself, I have become ultra aware of my spending and decided it was time to start making my own pizza. For my first attempt, I kept it easy and used whole wheat pita, low-fat mozzarella cheese, Muir Glen pizza sauce, garlic, fresh farmer’s market asparagus, onion, and kalamata olives (thanks roomie!). Delicious. In the future, I plan to make the dough and sauce myself and also get more creative with the toppings.

Rockenwagner Bakery

So sleepy and cold this morning that I stopped at Rockenwagner Bakery for an Americano. The menu said 2.50, but when the guy said “would you like an extra shot?” I answered yes without hesitation. My mistake. For those of you that don’t know, an Americano is espresso and water. No fancy syrups or milk necessary. You would think it would be cheap, but no. My drink this morning cost $3.52. It’s a decent Americano, but I doubt I will ever buy one from them again. Like the drink, the rest of their menu, composed of pre-prepared food already packaged and ready to go, is overpriced and mediocre at best. Another restaurant on 3rd street that I will never say “hey, let’s go there.”

Houston’s

I recently had an hour to kill at the Santa Monica Promenade. I got a glass of wine and my favorite (unlisted) side dish at Houston’s: the artichoke! It’s one of my favorite vegetables ever and I have found Houston’s to be the most delicious. However, for thirteen dollars a plate, I am willing to try to make it at home.

Houston’s - Santa Monica
202 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 576-7558

R + D

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I went to the popular Hillstone Restaurant, R + D. I had accepted the fact that this is the latest hot spot on the west side and that we were going to have to wait 30-40 minutes by  embracing it with a glass or syrah as we stood awkwardly around. The restaurant, similar in design and decoration to Houston’s, does not have bar stools around their waiting tables by the window. I ended up unattractively leaning against the table. However, after we checked in with them when 20 minutes passed as they had asked us to, they brought over a pail of french fries to tide us over courtesy of the house. Not too shabby.

Their menu is limited and different than Houston’s (a menu which I also enjoy). My boyfriend and I shared the meatballs (even though the waitress told us the chips and guacamole appetizer was the best; my boyfriend isn’t a big fan of guacamole).

I ordered the seafood speciala of New Zealand Blue Nose Sea Bass. I have never had Blue Nose before, but wanting to get more Omega-3 in my life along with experience a new taste, I took a chance. A delicious chance. This fish is interesting because scientists didn’t start collecting information on it until the 1980’s, so nobody really knows much about it’s history. Which I guess, also makes it not the best time to be eating it because of what little is known about it’s history and population status. Oopsie.

R + D was only offering 2 desserts on their menu. A pots de creme and a carrot cake. The latter is a dessert I do not like, but the former is one that I always seem to enjoy. I also knew my boyfriend would enjoy the chocolate custard texture of it, so that’s what we got. I was surprised at how much my boyfriend liked it for someone that always poo poos ordering dessert. I would happily order this meal again.

R + D Kitchen
1323 Montana Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 395-3314

31st Annual Santa Monica Venice Christmas 10k Run 2008

Even though it started raining and was cold, today was awesome. My big dorky watch clocked me at 57:26 with an average speed of 9:18 minutes per mile. My official chip time was 56:56 with a 9:11 minute per mile pace. I am very happy with this number for several reasons. It is at least 15 minutes faster than my first 10k I ran earlier this year. I trained on a treadmill at a slower speed of 10 minutes a mile. I was a little worried that I would try to run too fast in the beginning and would not be able to maintain it or improve, especially since I was moving a little faster than normal. But, by mile 5, I was in it to win it. I am really pleased with the way it all went down. I especially enjoyed this event because there is no other time in my life where I can blatantly ignore red lights and stop signs in Los Angeles. I was also able to see parts of Venice that I have never seen before. I met some nice people at the end of the race. My ipod shuffle worked and played all the right songs at the right time (I sprinted to the finish line while listening to a song from Run Lola Run). And of course, I did it under an hour.

Mile 0-1: 9:45 minutes / mile
Mile 1-2: 9:38 minutes / mile
Mile 2-3: 9:34 minutes / mile
Mile 3-4: 9:22 minutes / mile
Mile 4-5: 9:11 minutes / mile
Mile 5-6: 8:48 minutes / mile
Mile 6-6.2: 6:43 minutes / mile

Who wants to get a beer?

Vanilla Bake Shop

Although they focus more on cupcakes, I I always buy everything other than cupcakes while at Vanilla Bake Shop. I always intend to post about the yummy chocolate chip cookies, but I never am able to hold onto a pack of their cookies long enough to take a picture. Either my own monster comes out, or my cookie monster boyfriend gets to them. Hopefully one day soon, I will summon enough cookie control to get at least one picture of them - even if it means taking the camera into the store.

Last time I was there I did something I never do - ordered a slice of cheesecake. Although it is one dessert I think is good, I never order it or really crave it. But, when you put “Pumpkin” in front of another word, all bets are off and I become interested. Although a little hesitant about Pumpkin Cheesecake, after first bite, my reluctance disappeared. Insanely rich, thick, and not too subtle, but not too much pumpkiness taste with a cheesecake texture was just perfect. Of course I can’t forget to mention the dollop of cream cheese frosting that officially started the sugar party in my bloodstream. Delicious. I wish I could eat it all the time. I recommend.

Vanilla Bake Shop
512 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-6655

Funnel Mill Coffee

It was a Friday night many weeks ago, but both my boyfriend and my roommate were not available to hang out. I wanted to do something social, but didn’t really want to go drinking by myself. Instead, I drove to Funnel Mill Coffee in Santa Monica. Let me tell you that I have lived on this side of town for over 2 years and had never noticed Funnel Mill. I found out about it through a friend this past year and actually found out where it was located on Yelp that Friday night. I was surprised to find it so covertly close to Bodega Wine Bar; how could I have missed it? Surely I have walked past it. When I talked to the owners it was obvious that this place was meant for true coffee and tea drinkers who want the best quality product. (They don’t want it to be like the hustle and bustle of a Starbucks). The atmosphere is chilllaxed to the ten, spacious, and a wide selection of different seats (chairs, stools, sofas, etc.).

Their coffee is made using the siphon method (vacuum pot / Turkish preparation) - one of the most entertaining  and elaborate coffee “makers.” Out of shyness, I did not take a picture - but here is one of what they look like. But, it consists of 2 jars. One jar is metal and is used to heat water. The other jar is glass for the actual brewing. There is a small alcohol burner that sits under the metal jar, and the two jars are also connected by a slim pipe. You place the ground coffee in the glass jar, boil the water in the metal jar, and light the alcohol burner to continue heating the water. As the water boils, it will begin to flow through the pipe into the jar with the coffee grounds. The water is just below boiling when it reaches the coffee (which is key is coffee in good coffee making). When the metal jar is empty and all the water has relocated to the glass jar for brewing, a balanced lever will tip the jar and put out the burner. When the metal jar cools, it creates a vacuum and the finished coffee is sucked back through the slim pipe from the glass jar. Usually there is a spigot at the bottom of the metal jar, where you pour your finished coffee. The machine looks like it should be in a chemistry lab (for wonderful coffee). It is able to create an amazing cup because there are no filters to alter the flavor and the use of long water contact at specific temperatures produces a smoother coffee.

Funnel Mill also offers one type of bean I have never tried in my life, but have heard so much about: Kopi Luwak (Kopi stands for coffee, Luwak stands for Asian Palm Civet) coffee. You might have seen the CSI episode where it is mentioned. If not, you might have heard about it because it is the most expensive coffee in the world. If you haven’t heard anything about it, that is okay too. Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee is coffee made from berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet. The civets eat the berries, but the beans inside the berries pass through their system undigested. This process only happens in Sumatra (Java), Sulawesi (Philippines), and East Timor. However, Vietnam has a similar type of coffee called weasel coffee, which is coffee berries that have been regurgitated by local weasels (local version of the Asian Palm Civet). Apparently, the berries are a part of the A. P. Civet’s diet. It is proposed that the stomach enzymes add to the coffee’s flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee the bitter taste. The beans are defecated still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed (hopefully) and lightly roasted to maintain the complex flavor. Kopi Luwak sells between $120-$600 per pound. Sold mainly in Japan and the U.S. It’s limited though, with only 1,000 pounds making it to the world market each year. In 2004, when the big SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare, many of the civets in China were exterminated. The night I was at Funnel Mill, I think the price was around 70 dollars for a cup of the Kopi Luwak. I asked the owner how many times a week someone orders it and they said around 4 people a month order it.

Since it was a Friday night and I was alone, I decided it was not the best idea to get caffeinated up and ordered some Chrysanthemum tea (known to relax the body and calm the mind). Even though there was no siphoning machine involved, it was still a beautiful presentation. I sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed. Although I did not write any notes, I do recall this being one of the best herbal teas I have ever had.

I am happy to report that the owners are very friendly, informative, kind, considerate, and thoughtful people. I have also met some other people who work there that aren’t the owners and they are also very friendly and informative. This place is truly a hidden gem that I am happy I found. Free parking. Free wifi. And great people, coffee, and tea.

Funnel Mill
930 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 597-4395