Lady Cupcake | Fashion, Food, Fun! | The Sweet Life by Ange

Harris Ranch

 

It's a yearly tradition for my cousin, my mom, my niece and I to drive to LA from the Bay Area and back. And almost every time, we make a stop for some delicious beef at Harris Ranch. If you do the same drive, chances are you've seen the giant Harris Ranch sign on the freeway. It's that or you've sniffed the cow ranch odor, haha! I'm serious about that one. Going back to Harris Ranch, what I like about this restaurant is that not only are you assured that their meats are fresh, they also bake their own bread and other baked goodies. I'm a huge bread fan, so that's definitely a plus for me.
 

Caesar Salad

 
Prime Rib - this was really good.

Breakfast for dinner - ham & eggs
 
  
Really good biscuits. I may be wrong but there could have been a bit of yeast tossed into the batter. The biscuits were so fluffy!

 
I LOVED this. Gorgonzola burger with caramelized onions, red peppers and bacon. The bread bun was really good, the burger patty cooked just right.. and the additional toppings made this superb!

Had my favorite sweet potato fries with the burger
 
 
Couldn't get enough of their fresh bread!

Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant
24505 West Dorris Avenue
Coalinga, CA. 93210
1.800.942.2333
service@harrisranch.com 

Spaghetti & Meatballs!

My aunt is such a magician in the kitchen. I've been sick the past week and thriving on instant noodles and hot tea, so this comfort food dinner really brought my spirits up! You can never be too old for spaghetti and meatballs!

Fresh parmesan to go with the spaghetti 

The ciabbata (far right) was so fresh and addictive. With a dab of Irish butter, it was perfect! Note to self: ask where she got it from! 
 
  
One of my all-time favorite meals!

 
 
Cheese course

Chocolate + cheese for dessert. When I said comfort food, I meant it!

Good Morning!

 There's nothing like waking up on a sunny Sunday morning and enjoying a hearty breakfast with the people you love. If done right, the classic eggs-bacon-toast combination could knock down a 5-star Mimosa brunch.

Start out with perfect eggs (for the undomestic gods and goddesses, check out this easy sunny side up instructional video here)

Bacon is relative.. I personally love any maple or honeycured varieties

My absolute favorite bread.. Milton's Multi Grain (it's not available in all grocery stores, but Costco always stocks up). It's got the perfect flavor and bite.

Take a bite and hear a nice "CRRRUUUUUNCH!" It's a hearty, satisfying bread that'll keep you sustained for the rest of the day. 

 When toasted and slathered with Irish butter+jam, I find that it really hits the spot.

 

Care for some more?

The supplements; OJ (fresh preferably, but I love Tropicana all the same.. most pulp for me!), ED Smith Black Cherry Raspberry Blood Orange Jam, Bonne Maman Strawberry Jam, and lastly, hazelnut creamer for that perfect cuppa joe.

 
A good morning indeed!

Popover love.. and other loves too!

Like I said before, I am absolutely infatuated with popovers. Read by other popover love posts by clicking here and here. And I know I might be redundant with The Rotunda, but if I love something, I keep coming back for more. Every time I'm in the Bay Area, I make it a point to enjoy crisp, delicious popovers at The Rotunda @ Neiman Marcus, downtown SF.

I go crazy for these!

 My popover with strawberry butter.. I am a strawberry butter addict!

I go weak for these! crunchy on the outside with a warm, hollow center

Spaghetti Bolognese reinvented; steak bits in place of meatballs!

Asian Salad

I got to meet up with my friend LA at The Rotunda! So happy to see him after so long. We met in Manila when I was a senior in high school and he was a freshman in college. Now he's making his fashion dreams come true at FIDM (Monique Lhuillier and Pam&Gela from Juicy Couture are some examples of famous alumni)!

I can't wait till LA starts making waves in the fashion industry!

I'm going to go off-topic because I want to profess my love for a new delicious red lip color I discovered. I'm going to start integrating some beauty-related posts to my blog. I've been so addicted to makeup lately, it's insane!

Nars Heatwave! I line this with a raspberry or red wine-colored liner (Smashbox has a good raspberry lipliner), fill in the edges of my lips slightly, then sweep on this rich red. It lasts all day! That's what I'm wearing in the photo above.

1st Annual SF Chefs Food & Wine Event - Awards Gala Dinner

Hi Lady Cupcake readers! Liz here. That's me in front the bread exhibit for the first annual SF Chefs Food.Wine Event at Union Square held last August 6-8. It was a really fun weekend of food and wine dinners, chef demos & wine tasting seminars. Read more @ SFChefsFoodWine

Table setting for the four-course awards gala dinner where we had dishes prepared by four of the most celebrated celeb chefs in San Francisco; Gary Danko, Ron Siegel, Traci des Jardin, and Terri Wu.

From the official website:

"From the Chesapeake Bay to San Francisco Bay, America’s culinary trailblazers are a distinctive breed. Patrick O’Connell (chef and proprietor of The Inn at Little Washington) in Washington, Virginia created the “American Culinary Pioneers” designation as a way to remember and honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to our country’s culinary evolution. Pioneers from the Bay Area will be honored at the Gala Dinner and added to the distinguished list. Emily Luchetti (pastry chef at Farallon and Waterbar), Judy Rodgers (chef and proprietor of Zuni Café), Patricia Unterman (author and proprietor of the Hayes Street Grill), and Joyce Goldstein (author and restaurateur), and Chuck Williams (founder, Williams Sonoma) are the 2009 honorees. Chefs Gary Danko, Traci Des Jardins, Ron Siegel, Terri Wu, and Loretta Keller collaborate on a multi-course dinner while Patrick O’Connell, who Robert Mondavi once christened the “Pope of American Cuisine,” hosts what promises to be a unique and memorable evening."

 
 Gary Danko's Stuffed Quail w/ pancetta & mushrooms.  My other faves at his restaurant are the seared foie gras, roast Maine lobster and filet mignon entrees.

Chef Gary Danko of the famed Restaurant Gary Danko (must reserve 2 mos. in advance unless you don't mind a 5pm or 10:30 seating...). This has got to be my all-time favorite San Francisco restaurant!!

 
Traci des Jardin's short ribs entree.  Traci's Jardiniere Restaurant next to the Opera House is my favorite stomping ground for dinner pre Opera, Ballet & Symphony in San Francisco.

Terri Wu Honey ricotta cheesecake w/ figs & raspberries

 
Wine pairings - all aged California wines

stay tuned for more photos from the SF Chefs Food/Wine weekend!

The ultimate gourmand/wine connoisseur guest blogger!

Going through her iPhoto albums was like immersing myself in the ultimate foodie nirvana. Major gourmand events featuring the best chefs in the US, nine-course dinners at Michelin Star restaurants, Bordeaux/Burgundy wine  dinners, dinners at top restaurant destinations around the US, top chef/sommelier  and celeb sightings, stays at the best hotels.. the list never ends!

(photo above: Scallops @ Jardiniere San Francisco, her usual pre-opera/symphony dinner destination)

(Chocolate cart @ Joel Rubichon Restaurant in Las Vegas)

Introducing Liz, my aunt (although she doesn't look it at all!) and fellow gourmand. She'll be blogging about all her amazing food adventures and wine excursions. I kid you not, she's got the most amazing experiences in those fields. Watch out for her mouthwatering photos and weak-in-the-knees descriptions. 

Just a taste of what she'll be blogging about:

With chef Gary Danko, one of the most respected chefs in San Francisco (http://www.garydanko.com/site/bio.html)

 
Best of Bordeaux Wine Dinner @ Silks at Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

Seared foie gras @ Auberge du Soleil, Napa, CA


With Andrea Imner, host of Wine Pairings (showing on Fine Living/Food Network channels)

Her favorite caviar fix at Sunday brunch @ Ritz Carlton Resort Half Moon Bay near San Francisco

Cheap Thrill: Panda Express

 I love gourmet food. Foie gras? White Truffles? I'm so there! But every once in a while it's just nice to veg out, watch a season of Friends, and have some Chinese takeout. Enter Panda Express. Ultra-gourmands may frown, but I don't really care. Give me chow mein, orange chicken and spring rolls, and I'll be a happy camper (not at the stairmaster the next morning though!).

http://www.pandaexpress.com/

lamb, frites, bread & cheese

 

 

Clams and Scallops

 

We had a mini seafood extravaganza last week, with a lot of fresh fare coming in from around the Bay Area. The best thing about getting them fresh (not frozen, canned or pre-packaged) is getting to enjoy their real, rich flavors without having to add too many other ingredients.

Butter and chopped garlic heating in the pan

 
Slowly adding the clams

everything else

white wine being poured into the pan

 
Voila!

We had scallops too!

They were absolutely perfect!

Fondue Fun

Sometimes a respite from traditional, stiff family dinners is necessary to break up the monotony. Fondue nights are the just the thing! Tonight we had New York Steak and fresh shrimp. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.