Cucina Enoteca Opens: Good Eats + Interior Design

Cucina Enoteca finally opened at the Irvine Spectrum Shops. I have been waiting for this restaurant to open since I loved Cucina Urbana in San Diego. They share the same design + menu with a few defining elements. I encourage everyone to check this amazing restaurant out if you are ever in Orange County.  

I love the interior design. When you can't stop turning your head finding new interesting things to look at, you know the designer accomplished something unique and wonderful. The owner, Tracy Borkum, is the visionary behind the restaurant; she created the menu, the interior design, the service, etc.. 

Here are a couple iPhone photos from my dinner last night:

Napa: Good Eats

All of these restaurant choices were based on yelp! Yelp is definitely my best friend when traveling.

Redd
We came here for my sister's birthday dinner. Getting reservations here was a challenge, especially Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but we ended up just walking in and was seated within 30 minutes.

We decided to order the five-course tasting menu. I always opt to go with this option, especially, at a restaurant I probably will only get a chance to try only once. There was five of us and every course we each got our own plate, but two different dishes were served among us. So to get the most out of it, we tasted each others dish if we wanted. For those with nut oil or nuts I passed on, for obvious reasons.

Bare with these photos, I took them with my iPhone in low light. I was a tad embarrassed to take out my SLR , especially because it was a pretty dim atmosphere.

First Course: 
Raw 
Sashimi of hamachi + sticky rice + edamame + lime ginger sauce
Yellowfin tuna tartare + asian pear + avocado + avocado + chili oil + fried rice + cilantro (not pictured)

Second Course: 
Sea
Carnaroli risotto + maine lobster + meyer lemon confit + truffle oil
Petrale sole + coconut jasmine rice + clams + chorizo + saffron curry sage

Third Course:
Poultry 
Roasted chicken + pinenut potatoes +  root vegetables + natural jus
Liberty farms duck breast + turnips + spinach + quince + huckleberry jus

Fourth Course:
Meats
Lamb (not sure what was in this)
Prime new york steak + shortrib + cannelloni + bone marrow crust + creamed spinach

Fifth Course:
Sweets
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Peanut butter beignets

Favorites are the Lobster Risotto, Duck, Short rib and of course, pumpkin cheesecake!

Brix
We came here for Lunch. I originally yelped this spot for Brunch, but when we got there I realized that brunch was only on Sunday. Whoops! But regardless, I enjoyed this restaurant, it had a pretty view of  the vineyards!
I will have to try there Brunch buffet another time, since it seems to be amazing according to yelp reviews.

Artisan Cheese Board / Apple wood bacon & fall mushroom flatbread

rustichella pasta bucatini / ginger creme brulee / pumpkin cheesecake

Favorites is the bohemian creamery capriago cheese and the pasta bucatini!


Wine Spectator Greystone @ Culinary Institute of America
We came here for our last dinner in Napa. My sister chose this spot. The Culinary Institute of America is gorgeous, looks like an old castle, I wouldn't mind going to school if it looked like that.

The food overall was pretty good, but definitely some dishes were on the WAY too salty side, luckily my main dish didn't suffer that.

On the Menu: 
Appetizers
Today's Temptations: small bites of different appetizers.
I wish I remembered what each are, but I know my favorites of this was the cream of mushroom soup and the duck bruschetta. 
Oysters on a half shell

Main Course
Seared breast of Sonoma Duck 
confit butterball potatoes + delicata sqaush + Bloomsdale spinach + fig red wine jus


Dessert
Chocolate Molten Lava Cake + Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
This molten cake was amazing! It wasn't too rich or bold. I think I ate 3/4 of it.

Of these three restaurants, I would recommend to most definitely try REDD. 

Enjoy! 

Heels to Boots

Doing some winter cleaning and organizing! I decided to switch out my heels in my "shoe" case (once was a bookcase) to my boots and booties for the season. Easier access is always time efficient.

Next up is my bathroom drawers and cabinets and then tackle my crazy closet full of clothes, bags, jewelry, sunglasses, more shoes, and more more more....

My Design Life - Dripp Grand Opening

Photo Courtesy of latimesblogs.latimes.com

I am happy to share with you that the Grand Opening of Dripp Steam & Cream Cafe, Chino Hills, CA is tomorrow, Thursday November 17, 2011. So go check out Davis Ink's design and indulge in Dripp's yummy products. I am excited to see my design come to life!

Can't wait to go there, myself, and photograph my experience!

San Diego: Interiors - Craft&Commerce

I got to finally see Craft&Commerce in person! My boss and I came here for a late lunch after our client meeting in San Diego. We quickly fell in love with the place, not only did the design evoke a warm comfy feeling, but the details of the place were remarkable. To name a few, the reclaimed wooden tables with industrial u-channels framing it, crackled/broken mirror behind book shelving, use of text/words...I can go on and on about this place. Thank goodness for the iPhone 4S, I got to take some quality photos.

Since we arrived around 3, their menu was in between lunch and dinner, so we settled for some appetizers. I got the Mini Corn Dogs + Sweet potato fries. Good comfort food when I am starving. I am definitely coming back to try their dinner menu + cocktails.

I love San Diego's interiors and food culture... it is growing and I am happy to be a part of the new developments soon to open. 

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

Love these chairs by Unodot. Can't wait for the perfect project to come along so we can utilize these funky fantastic Eco-friendly chairs!! Definitely would be cool in a cafe, burger joint, or a unique restaurant.

Fall Favorites.

Deena & Ozzy Weekender Bag / Marc by Marc Jacobs Satchel / Aldo block heeled booties / Alexander McQueen Cat's Eye sunnies / Diane von Furstenburg round sunnies / Top Shop metal clasp hooded coat

I have been so busy this season, but I wanted to share some of my Favorite Fall purchases. I definitely needed a new weekender bag with all the traveling I have been doing the past weekends. I purchased this Deena & Ozzy bag from Urban Outfitters and I absolutely love it! Very light weight, but sturdy, only thing that freaks me out are the zippers, they are pretty delicate. Great bag for the weekend if you aren't packing heavy duty clothing. 

Love my new Marc by Marc bag! It's a medium sized bag, leather + white suede accent patch. Definitely going to be my new everyday bag, casual or dressy! The Alexander McQueen Cat's Eye and DVF sunnies are super cute and classy. I like my sunnies to be over-sized, especially with my short hair, it exaggerates the architecture of the sunglasses. 

These Aldo booties are very comfortable and I am loving the blocked heel, they look great with skinny jeans, leggings, or even a maxi skirt/dress! My absolute favorite purchase is the Top Shop coat, I love the details: the leather pipping, nutmeg color with red interior lining, and gold metal hardware!!!! This coat is perfect for California winters, keeps me warm&cozy without the bulkiness. 

More purchases to come... the holidays are approaching way too soon.