On a sadder note...

Dith Pran 1942-2008. The Killing Fields: If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/nyregion/31dith.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Starstruck

Me and Thomas Keller at Pebble Beach.

Pinch me...I'm still on cloud nine. On Thursday, I had the opportunity to meet some of my idols. Not stars, not musicians, not athletes, but chefs. As many of you know, I'm a total food nut. I refrain from using the term "foodie." I grew up in a restaurant kitchen and cooking and food are just two of my passions in life. But back to the chefs...I met Thomas Keller of the famed French Laundry restaurant in Yountville (and if you want to eat there, make your reservations now for next year), "Top Chef" judge and reknowned Chef Tom Colicchio (who is as intimidating in person as he is on Bravo TV), Ming Tsai, Roy Yamaguichi, Mark Miller...it was an unforgettable event. All the chefs were cool. Wish I could come up with a better word, but "cool" pretty much sums it up. These chefs along with Charlie Trotter, Alain Passard, Gerald Boyer, Jacques Pepin, Gary Danko and some 40 others are in California for the Pebble Beach Food and Wine. Again...pinch me.

Guilty Pleasure

After waiting three months, MTV viewers -- and yours truly -- were treated last night to a new Hills episode. I know, I know...it's a vacuous show and amatuerly edited; however, I'm intrigued by the lives of these 20-somethings. If you're not familiar with this show, it's a "scripted reality show" and follows the lives of rich, spoiled, somewhat ambitious people. It's based in LA with these young characters trying to climb the ladder in the fashion and music industries. It's one of my guilty indulgences, along with Trader Joe's new "Cookies withPerks"(espresso cookies with dark chocolate chunks) and pop music.

Miami...Gimme More

Bye-bye...for now. I shall return.

Ahhhhh.....

I love Miami...Miami Beach. This is how I've been starting my days this week. The weather has been upper 70s-80s in Florida...a bit humid with some intermittent showers. I got caught in two of them so far, but you know what, it wasn't so bad. More later, now I go relax.

Is it just me?

Ever since the TSA implemented its liquid restrictions on carry-on luggage, I've found myself paying special attention to the liter size of certain toiletries. Just this morning, I realized I intentially turned a bottle of my shampoo around just to read the liter size. Then as I was brushing my teeth, my eyes darted to the bottle of sunscreen bottle, the jar of lotion, the tube of lipstick. I feel like I'm training myself to eyeball what 3 ounces liquid -- or what the TSA categorizes under "liquids" -- looks like. Maybe it's just me.