Chowza

Still One of My Favorites

2012-02-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

Piano Concerto #5 in D Major by Mozart.

The Dog Strikes Back!

2012-02-03T08:10:00.001-08:00

Omg, I love Volkswagon's Super Bowl ad this year -- a follow-up to my favorite last year.

Valleywagged

2012-01-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

If you have anything to do with tech or social media...you want to be written up or mentioned by Ryan Tate. I'm lucky enough to know Ryan on a level where pigging out on beef rillettes sandwiches and Beard Papa's cream puffs is the status quo. Always great catching up with a fellow Cal Bear and Daily Cal alum.

(On a sidenote: Checkout Ryan's book published by HarperCollins due out in April. He explores how goofing off and breaking the rules often equate to business success.)

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

Gong Hay Fat Choy...Gong Xi Fa Cai! It's the first day of the Lunar New Year, and this year, we celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Life Is A Sport

2012-01-19T21:17:00.000-08:00

This just makes me want to dance, run, work out. Basically break a sweat. (Love the Amadeus references.)Effective advertising from Nike's newest high-tech fitness device: the Nike+ FuelBand, developed with help from R/GA. From AdWeek:

According to Nike, you wear your FuelBand during the day to track your steps, calories burned, time spent exercising, etc. But more important, it also calculates something called "NikeFuel" using "oxygen kinetics," which tells you just how active you've been, regardless of your chosen pursuit—everything from dancing to walking to playing basketball can be quantified and compared.

Boom-sha-clack-clack

2012-01-17T23:25:00.000-08:00

This song makes me smile. (Kermit and the Muppets don't sing this song obviously, but I found this cute video on YT.)

Song: "Concrete Wall" by Zee Avi.

Me 'n Maddie

2012-01-12T22:43:00.000-08:00

Hanging out in Pebble Beach. Kinda think she looks like Albert Einstein. No? ;)

C-SPAN Prank Calls

2012-01-11T13:43:00.000-08:00

Lol. Why didn't I see this earlier? From Slackstory:

"C-SPAN used to be the most boring channel on cable TV. And then the internet learned about its frequent call-in segments. A young man who goes by “Waffle-Face” has made a series of sophisticated on-air prank calls, stringing the hosts along with utter bullshit. For the first time, you can hear these calls without watching C-SPAN."

Here's the video.

Forever Lazy

2012-01-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

Saw this on the Travel Channel last night during Bourdain. Favorite line: "Uh-oh, gotta go? No worries Forever Lazy has zippered hatches in the front and back, for great escapes when duty calls."

Looking For A New Crib?

2012-01-08T23:06:00.000-08:00

Had a great news week. My favorite piece of the week was picked up by CNN, Yahoo, MSN, NBC, "Good Morning America", LA Times, Boing Boing, io9. It was a story on real estate...looking for a new crib that comes with a 10-story satellite? Have a few million lying around? The Jamesburg Earth Station, constructed to distribute live images of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, is for sale. Pretty awesome. Oh, and did I mention this Cold War-era facility can also withstand a 5 megaton nuclear blast.You can check out my story here:For Sale: Nuclear Bomb-Proof Space Station In Carmel Valley - Central Coast News Story - KSBW The Central Coast

Apparently, Yahoo! News and users also thought my story was cool. It was the top news story two days in a row!

We Found Love...

2012-01-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite tunes -- and songs to dance to! -- of 2011 made it to NPR's Top 100 Favorite songs of 2011.

Happy 2nd Birthday Josie!

2011-12-28T19:28:00.000-08:00

Auntie Mei Loves you!!

Happy Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T20:36:00.001-08:00

This gives a whole new meaning to all those classic Christmas TV movies and the characters: Rudolph, Charlie Brown, Grinch, the elf who wants to be a dentist. Enjoy!

Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" a la Colbert

2011-12-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

This is the funniest thing I've seen all week. I love this man. Stephen Colbert performs a selection from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" with American Ballet Theater's David Hallberg and Hee Seo. Before the performance, Hallberg -- who's the only American to dance for the Bolshoi -- spoke to Colbert about his experience. You can catch the interview here.

Every Second Counts

2011-11-29T20:12:00.000-08:00

From Montblanc: "The Beauty of a Second is a contest curated by Wim Wenders which asks users to demonstrate beauty in a second of film. The winner will meet Wenders and win a Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec chronograph."

Want to submit?

My People

2011-11-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

A Chinese cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romamce." You really need to watch this.

Some more from LaLa Land

2011-10-31T20:28:00.000-07:00

I am really bad at posting pictures. (Just look at my Facebook.) But here are a few more pictures from LA Food & Wine.

At Saturday's Lexus Grand Tasting at LA Live.

Nice to see Chef Hubert Keller of San Francisco's Fleur de Lys in LA.

Yes, the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' were at LAFW. Adrienne and Kyle were very sweet.

At a rooftop pool party at the Ritz-Carlton. I took this photo after I tripped in front of the reggae drummers. Lol.

With some of the amazing volunteers/runners for LA Food & Wine.

The legendary Chef Nobu Matsuhisa! He had my favorite dish of the night at the 'Train Live on The Plaza' event on Saturday night.

Chef Mark Peel of 'Campanile' in Los Angeles.

Some of the Coastal Luxury Management/LA Food & Wine team members take a break at the Delta suite.

LA Food & Wine

2011-10-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

Has it really been a week since the LA Food and Wine? Was amazing following the folks at Coastal Luxury Management -- the team behind Pebble Beach Food and Wine -- show Tinseltown how to throw a culinary fete. Love, love.

Me and Leslie enjoying the red carpet premiere of inaugural LA Food & Wine at LA Live. What a fun night.

Me and co-founder Dave Bernahl!

Co-founder Robert Weakley.

Love these guys! Barnaby Draper crew.

Me and Josie!

2011-10-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

Having fun with my adorable niece, Josie. Love!

Josie is not grumpy! She was just studying the photographer (my cousin Kelvin!)

Thank You Steve

2011-10-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Fall!

2011-09-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

First weekend of Autumn...love this season. Foilage, cute boots and scarves, baking pies and cookies, and warm apple cider. To help us differeniate between cider and juice is Ned Flanders.

Never Forget

2011-09-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

Fun With Instagram!

2011-09-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

Tapping into my "artistic" side via Instagram and voila...I'm an Insta-artist and an Insta-photographer! Lol. Why do I think these are going to end up on this site. ;)

Chicago, 4:30am

2011-08-26T11:02:00.001-07:00

So this is what happens when you're in the Russian Division in Chi-town at 4:30am on a Sunday.

The night started off with me discovering a decent Thai restaurant in South Loop and later catching up with good friends over Merlot and chocolate.

It ended with a Jersey Shore experience in a Chicago bar, witnessing an intoxicated fight while waiting in line for a Subway veggie sandwich, and getting sketched by an up-and-coming street artist, Lawrence.
I'm the one on the left. The guy in the middle looks like Justin Timerlake, but as you can tell in the photo above, it's not. :)

Ode to the Stinkin' Rose

2011-08-01T20:41:00.000-07:00

My hair still smells like garlic after having reported on the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Friday. Even having been basted, marinated and soaked in garlic that day, I spent the weekend cooking three dishes with plenty of garlic. Prawns and farm-fresh zucchini with garlic, a sirloin steak with heirloom tomatoes and garlic and pork chops with Vidalia onions and garlic. Should have taken pictures, but I ate the food too fast.

Back to the Gilroy Garlic Festival, I tried the garlic ice cream this year for the first time! Zing! It hits you. And I got a chance to speak with Bravo TV's 'Top Chef' Angelo Sosa, who told me he doesn't have a passion of garlic, rather an obsession. Chef, I think it's safe to say we all have a little bit of that obsession. Me and Chef Angelo Sosa at the 2011 Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Mr. 3000

2011-07-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

Photo by: William Perlman/The Star-Ledger

Jeter Meter hit 3,000 today. Derek Jeter becomes only 2nd player in history to reach 3,000 hits with a HR. :)

Watch the home run that placed Jeter into the history books.

Can't Help Myself...

2011-06-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

Bill Maher and Jane Lynch read Anthony Weiner’s dirty Facebook messages with a Vegas blackjack dealer. This is so NSFW, but very hilarious.

New York State of Mind...

2011-06-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

As Gawker writes, here's yet another "amazing time-lapse video of New York City." I never get tired of watching these. Very soon...I'll be roaming the streets filled with "the little squiggles of light trailing taxi cabs." I really do love NYC.

Seriously, the good life

2011-05-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

2011 Pebble Beach Food & Wine Snapshots from May Chow on Vimeo.

Thank you everyone. A small slideshow I made of some of the many (too many) pictures I shot at this year's event.

Here We Go!

2011-04-28T09:08:00.001-07:00

The 4th Annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival starts today. The morning begins with a celebrity golf tournament and Champagne Krug Toast to kickoff the four-day culinary tour de force. Then later in the evening, the Opening Night Ceremony at Spanish Bay. One of the favorite events. Stay tuned for more pics and posts. For an instant pick-me-up, follow my twEATS on Twitter @maychow

Last night was the Founders' Dinner, an ultra-exclusive intimate dinner held at a top-secret estate on 17 Mile Drive in Pebble. 20 guests, 10 courses, 22 wines. At $7,000 per person, I hope it was extraordinary.

I got a chance to sit down with two talented and revered chefs: Daniel Boulud and Daniel Humm. (Both cooked at last night's Founders' Dinner.) They were very gracious and amusing.

I found out their junk food indulgences: Chef Boulud enjoys Gummi Bears, marshmallows and black licorice. Chef Humm, prefers Big Macs, fries and coke. For the record, they don't eat these all the time, once in a while.

Chef Boulud and Chef Humm at the Lodge in Pebble Beach.

It was very sunny out.

In the shade!

T Minus 1...

2011-04-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

...till the 4th Annual Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival kicks off at Spanish Bay for the Opening Night Ceremony.

First up though, the Founders' dinner tonight in Pebble. Multi-course dinner with wine pairings from Chefs Boulud, Humm, Silverton.

It's Almost Time...

2011-04-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

We're less than a week away from the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival. Number 4...and it's going to be fantastic this year!

LA Food and Wine!

2011-04-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

The team who puts on the Pebble Beach Food and Wine will now produce LA Food and Wine. Same world-class chefs, different playground. Watch out Tinseltown!

Me and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto at LA Live during Wednesday's announcement of LA Food and Wine.

Dave and me on the red carpet.

Founding partners of Pebble Beach Food and Wine, Dave Bernahl and Robert Weakley from Coastal Luxury Management.

Offal, Octopus, Pig Snouts

2011-04-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy: DKImages

This isn’t a game of word association, rather it’s three of the most requested ingredients from chefs cooking at this year’s Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival.

It’s not exactly the proteins that come to mind when you think about lunch or dinner, but these chefs will make magic out of these ingredients. No, they won’t make them taste like chicken. Each ingredient will retain its own unique taste, but the chefs will highlight the best each has to offer.

Stay tuned for my one-on-one with Dorothy Maras, the “culinary liaison” between the chefs and the festival. But that term doesn’t quite entirely cover her job description. She’s the first contact with Michelin and James Beard chefs, but she also seeks out cacao beans from Northern Italy and gets down on her knees to pick white radishes in the Santa Cruz Mountains for a chef who forgot to place his order.

“I’m on a worldwide culinary scavenger hunt,” Maras said. “I have to find the best, because these guys are the best. I can’t fail them, if I do, we won’t have the chefs, and we won’t have the event.”

And one more thing: Maras is responsible for taking all the chefs’ orders. If there is anyone who knows about offal, octopus, pig snots on the West Coast, it’s Dorothy Maras.

Check out my exclusive Pebble Beach Food and Wine blog for KSBW. Octopus making a splash at this year's Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival.

What I do...days, nights, mornings.

2011-03-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

Some snapshots of my adventures on the Central Coast.

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Celebs, golf...and following John Daly's colorful pants. ;)

During the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach and Quail. I got to go in a 2011 Mercedes SLS AMG.

Dan asked if I got to eat during the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival, or if I had to make a Taco Bell run before my live shot. :D

Getting artsy here. Me doing a live hit for the Stella Artois Belgium lunch at the 2010 Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival.

Underneath Nomex, it was probably around 115 degrees. Putting myself in a firefighter's shoes, or boots.

At the Lockheed Fire in Santa Cruz County.

Yes folks, I've stood on many a box, paint can, log, pretty much anything during live shots. I am short. :)

Happy Chinese New Year!

2011-02-03T08:40:00.001-08:00

Sun Leen Fai Look! Gong Hay Fat Choy!

It's the year of the rabbit. A healthy and prosperous year to all.

Happy Birthday Josie!

2010-12-28T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here's looking at you kid! My adorable niece is 1-year-old today.

Dressed in my Christmas outfit and red silk shoes from Beijing.

Playing and learning on the ExerSaucer.

Love you Josie!

Happy Holidays

2010-12-24T19:38:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Ni Hao!

2010-11-14T18:40:00.001-08:00

Pictures from my recent trip to Beijing. Promise to post more soon.

First full in day in China. Andrew and I conquer the Great Wall with smiles all the way to the top.

The Great Wall.

Andrew and me having way too much fun in the Forbidden City!

I made it to the top of one section of The Great Wall of China (Mutianyu...then I got to ride down on a toboggan!)

May with Mao. At the entrance to Tiananmen Square.

At Tiananmen Square.

In front of the entrance to The Forbidden City.

Meat on a stick! It was goat. Yum!

Me and Mr. Brainwash

2010-10-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

At the Carmel Art & Film Festival.

Smile!

Baila! Baila!

2010-09-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

This video isn't new, and I'm sure some of you have come across this already. It's the dancing merengue dog from Chile.

Cowboy Up

2010-08-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Giddy Up. Me and my pals at the 100th California Rodeo Salinas. Not quite the Daddy of 'em All (Cheyenne Frontier Days), but still a good time had by all.

Passport Check!

2010-07-12T08:39:00.001-07:00

Say Cheese! My 2-minute passport pics from CVS.

Passport fees go up tomorrow. Mine expired in May. Got my photo at CVS (print out this coupon to pay $6.99 for two) and mailed in my renewal. You have until midnight tonight to postmark!

Starting Tuesday 7/13:
First-time adult passport: $135, compared with $100
Renewal: $100, up from $75
Kids 16 and under: $105 from $85.

Info on fees and renewal/applications.

Viva Espana!

2010-07-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

After 31 days of play, the World Cup in South Africa ended today with Spain beating the Netherlands 1-0 in OT. Have to hand it to Paul the Octopus for picking the winner -- again!
Photo courtesy Gawker.

Happy Fourth of July!

2010-07-04T16:54:00.001-07:00

Clearly we are a nation of eaters.

*Americans will spend:

- $203 million on mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup
- $193.6 million on hamburger patties
- $161.5 million for lettuce, tomatoes, relish and onions
- $92 million on chips
- $86.2 million on cheese
- $70.4 million on buns
- $60.3 million on dip

(*National Retail Federation's 2010 Independence Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey)

Get 'em While They're Hot...

2010-06-19T22:38:00.001-07:00

"Moving Day" at Pebble Beach certainly proved true for Tiger Woods, who shot 66 to jump up the leaderboard, closing with three birdies to move into third place behind Graeme McDowell and Dustin Johnson (leader).

If you want to watch what happens tomorrow...tickets are sold out! But you might still be able to buy tickets off scalpers that are legitimate and legal. So are you a diehard fan who wants a ticket?

Check out my story.

(NB: The USGA strictly prohibits the sale of US Open tickets on the venue grounds. If caught, tickets will be confiscated and you'll be escorted out. So proceed with caution, and follow your intuition if someone/thing is shady.)

2010 US Open at Pebble Beach

2010-06-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you're one of the lucky tens of thousands of people headed out to Pebble, check out my story on dressing for the Open. You can also get a glimpse of what's being sold inside the 30,000-sq foot merchandise pavilion.
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2010 US Open Entourage at Pebble Beach

2010-06-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

Had the amazing opportunity to cover the 2010 Golf Digest US Open Challenge at Pebble Beach this week (Wednesday). Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and actor Mark Wahlberg all tried their best to break 100. Amateur Peggy Ference (Golf Digest challenge winner) also got the chance to break 100. Everyone was so gracious and humble. And I have to thank my photog Andrew Eckman and the kind folks at Golf Digest Magazine for being so helpful.

Check out my story.

This year's open at Pebble Beach is going to be spectacular -- the course is beautiful. I've been covering lead-up and preps for the US Open for the past two months.

Everyone was pretty exhausted at the end of the day, but were nice to enough to do interviews with me. Brees had just arrived from Louisiana where he was helping out with the BP oil leak crisis! I didn't want to bother the players for a photo, but I was able to get one with Mark Wahlberg who was the only one to break 100!

Too cute

2010-05-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

Can't get over how darn cute this is. The kitty's paws!

And then there's this... :)

Meet the sloths from Amphibian Avenger on Vimeo.

A Few Tips for NYC Tourists

2010-05-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

LOL! This is great via Gawker.

Behind the scenes at Pebble Beach Food and Wine

2010-04-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, eating is part of my job. Yes, that's Chef Tim Love of Lonesome Dove behind me. He and Robert Del Grande prepared the menu for the Stella Artois Lunch.

Pebble Beach Food and Wine after dark at Spanish Bay. The after party...before the after-after party.

A look inside the Patron after party at Spanish Bay.

Chef Roland Passot gives me a lesson on cooking with abalone. Taken at the Opening Night Reception at Spanish Bay.

The ever-wonderful Jacques Pepin with his pal Roland Passot. Yes, that's Claudine Pepin. :)

2010 Lexus Grand Tasting

2010-04-12T19:02:00.001-07:00

Exhausted, but enjoying the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival!

Food, Wine Galore!

2010-04-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's the third day of the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival. Yesterday was a super busy day. Covered the Stella Artois and "Top Chef" lunches as well as the Thomas Keller/Charlie Trotter and Sir Peter Michael dinners. Then I reported on the Patron after-party...it's where the chefs come and play, eat and share recipes.

More posts to come, as well as pictures and videos.

Just got back from the Lexus Grand Tasting where 5,500 people packed into a 60,000-square foot tent to eat, drink and be merry. Tonight, is the Grande Finale dinner as well as a tribute dinner to Jacques Pepin.

Want more?...stay tuned. Have a craving now?...follow me on Twitter @MayChow

Pebble Beach Food & Wine is Here!!!

2010-04-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

It's the return of one of my favorite events of the year, the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival. Tonight is the Opening Night Reception at Spanish Bay...and it's serving up appetizers for what's to come these next four days. Food, wine, fun all for a great cause.

Went to the top-secret private Founders' dinner last night in Carmel Highlands...where vintage magnums of Henri Jayer were poured. I was in the presence of a flight of burgundies worth about $300,000. Did I mention that Thomas Keller of The French Laundry was cooking?

Stay tuned for more posts, pics and video. Have a craving...follow me on Twitter @MayChow

It's Almost Time...

2010-04-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

Five days away from the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival, and my stomach is already growling. What an amazing experience last year...the caliber of chefs, the gorgeous food, the wonderful people I met. I hope this year is as memorable as last year's. Cheers to a great one. Stay tuned for more posts, pics and video. Me at the Cristal dinner with Eric Ripert at last year's Pebble Beach Food and Wine.

The Tonight Show...

2010-03-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Me and Jay Leno at the Comics for Kids Charity Auction at Pebble Beach.

Friday funtime at work

2010-03-12T17:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks Andrew.

Random List Part Deux

2010-03-03T14:04:00.001-08:00

Things I don't like to hear/see while standing in line at the grocery store:

1. "Can you ring these up separately?" even better..."Can I get three separate receipts?"
2. Someone who takes out his/her checkbook after all the items are rung up
3. "Can I get six cartoons of __ cigarettes?...they're locked up."
4. "Manager's key on six...override please."
5. Shopping cart filled to the brim, when I all I have is a banana. (Thanks for not letting me go in front of you.)

A Random List

2010-02-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

Things I don't like driving behind:

1. Bad (slow, indecisive, habitual brakers, non-blinkers) drivers
2. Minivans
3. 4x4 trucks with 8 tires
4. Truck beds loaded with stuff, junk and an office chair with wheels sitting precariously on top of all the stuff
5. People who decide to "wash" their windshields every 5 minutes

Happy Lunar New Year

2010-02-14T06:59:00.000-08:00

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chinese New Year falls on February 14 this year; and it is the Year of the Yiger. By the way, people who are born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities and are natural leaders.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T05:59:00.001-08:00

Be good to your heart and to other's as well.

Celebrity Shoot-Out at Pebble Beach

2010-02-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

Margot, pro surfer Kelly Surfer and me at the 3M celeb challenge at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Kenny G, Josh Duhamel, Andy Garcia and Jeffrey Donovan were so gracious and humble. Chris Berman was also funny and very nice.

"Bacon is good for me..."

2010-01-18T10:12:00.000-08:00

For someone who's never had bacon ever -- I find this so enjoyable. Especially the riff "definitely no cheese in a can" and "bacon is good for me." Props to Joy (guest mom) for getting rid of junk food, and I think Curtis the kid would love to have a sit-down with me to discuss the goodness of bacon. ;)

Josephine at 3 days old

2009-12-30T22:10:00.001-08:00

I made her laugh today!

Are you looking at me?

Burp me please.

Auntie Mei

Qu'une belle fille.

Hello World

2009-12-28T18:54:00.000-08:00

My beautiful niece Josephine. Came into the world today at 12:46pm. 6lbs, 10oz of loveliness. Call me Auntie Mei!

Brought to you by the letters "M" and "C"

2009-12-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

All these years I thought it was "five golden rings"... only after hearing Christmas songs for 72 hours, did I learn it's "five gold rings..." The things I learn as I get older every year. ;) Merry Christmas everyone.

Shopping and Eating

2009-12-24T08:04:00.000-08:00

That entails a lot of what I've been doing these past two "holiday" weeks. I've been able to come up for air every once in a while. ;) There was even time for a picture! (The pastry was a tiramisu...followed by a triple-chocolate ganache and mousse menace j/k.) Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday with minimal stress.

Greetings

2009-12-10T10:18:00.000-08:00

I'm still here. Just a bit busy at the moment. In the meantime, a little something for the season.

Gaga, ooh la la...

2009-11-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

Rouge

2009-10-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

A little bit of red at the Redwood Room. (I only took a tiny sip. I was enjoying a muddled mint limeade.)

Go Yankees!

2009-10-25T22:27:00.001-07:00

Beat the Phillies.

Restaurant Fleurs de Mai

2009-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

This restaurant in Paris's Chinatown had the same Chinese character as my name.

La vie en rose

2009-10-06T16:55:00.001-07:00

First day back in Paris after Africa. No sleep, turbulent plane rides, airport delays. But I'm still smiling.

Moto 1, 2, 3...

2009-09-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

The best transportation in Africa -- great views, exhilarating. We rode on motorcycles in Rwanda to get around from village to village (and from Kigali to Nymata). We had our own moto posse, if you will. The lead driver was called Innocent. And we just referred to our bike guys as Moto 1, 2, 3, etc.
I think I ate 2 mosquitoes and a fly on this ride. :)

Vegas!

2009-09-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

Merci Charly. x

Sympa!

2009-09-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

Palais Garnier/Opera de Paris.

I'm going out of order with my pics. Will organize and post album of Paris and Africa either on Facebook or Flickr. On a whim, I'm posting this one of me at the gorgeous Palais Garnier in Paris...it's a girl's (...okay, my) dream come true to be around such beautiful architecture and musical history.

Flash blacked out background.

No flash. You can see the ornate architecture. And I'm blurry! :)

Visiting the Maasai

2009-08-31T14:22:00.001-07:00

Taken at a "boma" in Lemong'o. I'm standing in front of a Maasai "enkaji" (house), which is made of mud, twigs and cow manure.

With some of the children from the boma. They were great.

Maasai boys herding goat and cattle.

Scene from the Maasai market in Lemong'o. The picture doesn't do the village justice. The colors at the market were vibrant and beautiful amongst this dry and arid landscape.

This man was sitting at the market sewing on this old-school machine. Pretty cool.

Grace (and Smiles) Under Fire

2009-08-30T15:41:00.001-07:00

Taken right after a very improv live shot on first day of Gloria Fire (Thursday) with a cell phone. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the soot on my hands and arms and my tired, tired eyes. Of course, I say all of this in vain...nothing like the firefighters who are my heroes.

More Fire Breaks...

2009-08-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

Fire. A little bit of France. Vegas. Fire and more fire.

That pretty much sums up these past two weeks.

Currently covering back-to-back fast-moving blazes. My lips are chapped and I have a permanent smokey, fiery scent to me. The hazards of being a reporter on the fire lines: My lip balm melted and exploded in my pocket today after being in 100-degree plus weather and flames. But all of this pales in comparision to what the amazing firefighters do.

Promise to post Africa/France stories and pics soon.

Fire Break

2009-08-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

Jambo. My blogging has taken a break because I've been covering the Lockheed fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Have been working 12 hour plus shifts this past week..and though I love the breaking news aspect, I am tired. Not as exhausted as the thousands of firefighters battling this blaze, but pretty exhausted. Was beginning to get over jet lag, but fire schedule set me back a few hours.

Promise to write more and post pics. Have been looking through my journal of Paris and Africa and reliving some amazing moments in my head.

Laugh May!

2009-08-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

I am having way too much fun in this photo. Don't know why I'm laughing so hard. Jean-Claude snapped this. Who knew that this day would end up being one of the longest, tiresome, but most memorable days in Rwanda.

My Little Friends

2009-08-08T05:04:00.000-07:00

I bonded right away with this little bundle of joy and cuteness at the MCW center in Majengo, Tanzania. Karibu!
With some super kids in Kayensi, Rwanda. Taken by friend and MCW volunteer Jean-Claude Harabagabo on his lovely Nikon D90. Rwanda Rwiza!

Paris-Africa

2009-08-06T07:14:00.001-07:00

So much to write about my travels. Sipping on a hot cup of Rwandan chai -- and thinking about my lovely time here in Africa. I'm sad, though, it is an emotional trip. I tweeted throughout my trip, but it looks like Twitter wiped out all my tweets. Very upsetting. I've kept a journal, and will write about all my experiences. Pictures and posts to come. In the meantime, here are some photos from Africa. Jonathan and me at the MCW center in Majengo, Tanzania. The children here are amazing.

Me and Tete ("Tay-Tay"), our surrogate mom at our house in Nyamata. She is a wonderful cook!

Jonathan, Cesar, Me and Jean-Claude in front of our house in Nyamata, Rwanda.

TeTe

2009-07-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

TeTe ("tay-tay") is our wonderful cook/surrogate mom in Nyamata. She graces us with her smile and wonderful food. Eating red beans, rice and African fries (frites). Will post more later, will now enjoy this lovely food.

Have so much to write, and so little time.

Jambo

2009-07-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the dilatory post. In Africa. Left my heart -- and sunglasses -- in Tanzania and currently in Rwanda. Internet connection is spotty, as is the cold water that we use to shower. Love Africa and have enjoyed every minute of my volunteer project, Pictures, memories and details to come soon.

Have enjoyed being among the locals in the villages. Travel should be about exploring the food and immersing yourself in the culture. Can't stand travelers who go to foreign countries and go to the bars, clubs and nightclubs. (You're bound to hang out with ex-pats, righteous NGO's workers and non-profit volunteers who think they're holier than thou.) Seriously folks, you can do that in your own hometown. Not saying all non-profit volunteers are righteous, but they're out there.

Okay, will call it a night before the cold water stops and I have to do bucket showers.

Bienvenue

2009-07-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

D'accord. Allo.

Je suis tres fatigue. Will post more later. Need nap(s) and then nightlife a la City of Light. Bon.

Very Soon...

2009-07-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

Gum Etiquette

2009-07-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

What's worst than people cracking and smacking their gum? ... GUYS who do it. Honestly guys, that is one of the most unattractive things you can do. On the street this morning, the guy in front of me cracked and popped his gum and then turned around and looked at me. Ugh, not pretty folks.

Oh, and another thing you can do to get me running the other way: smacking your gum while at the gym.

It's Close

2009-07-13T08:06:00.001-07:00

Risotto

2009-07-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

Why is it that I find a guy who can cook perfectly simple and delicious risotto so sexy? It's even more attractive if his job has nothing to do with food. I appreciate anyone who enjoys cooking. Seriously, if you enjoy, have patience and appreciate cooking, your food will turn out well. Risotto is one of those dishes which require patience, love and happiness. They say the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach...I think it also may be a detour to a girl's heart as well.

New iTunes app

2009-07-06T17:37:00.001-07:00

I don't know how to start this without sounding like one of those spam-porn-Twitter/email posts. But here goes, check out my friend's new app on iTunes. It's called Global Eater and it's a pretty handy food reference guide for any of you out there who like to go out and be adventurous on your restaurant journeys. The app has Italian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese food glossaries, and there will be a Chinese section too.

But Mr. Peabody...

2009-07-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

A classic. Would love to have a Peabody...and Sherman isn't that bad.

Luscious

2009-06-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Is it me, or have chefs been thrusted into the "sex symbol" status as of late? Cooking can be very sensual and expressive, but I've known a fair share of chefs who are anything but. Try manic, rude, arrogant, spastic and weird. I guess whatever twists your noodle. Enjoyed New York restaurant critic Gael Greene's write-up on The Daily Beast about the secret sex lives of chefs.

OMG

2009-06-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Went through my phone and scrolled through my recent calls. You'd think I was dating someone who has a toll-free number. No, folks, that number belongs to Delta's customer "service" line. It has been 10-plus straight days of long, taxing phone calls to Delta. I wasn't born with a silver spoon, but I hardly think that air travel is this difficult, especially if it just involves pressing a button that says "save."

Sad Week

2009-06-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

What sad news we had this week. It's still so hard to believe that Michael Jackson is dead.

Frontline/WORLD Iran: The Stem Cell Fatwa

2009-06-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

My friend, Jonathan Schienberg's piece on stem cell research in Iran. Please also read sidebar story on Iran's juvenile executions.

On Second Thought...

2009-06-13T00:08:00.000-07:00

Maybe I shouldn't have went to the gym so late tonight; now I'm having a hard time falling asleep. Knew I wanted to turn in early tonight, but my trip to the gym got delayed by phone calls. Not a bad thing actually, since something one of my friends said really got me thinking.

"It seems like every time you mention him, it's always something bad. It's never anything good."

Many second thoughts now...
I need to stop putting myself into situations where I end up sabotaging, hurting myself. Funny how we DO hold the power to make ourselves happy, miserable, sad, ecstatic. (I'm worth it...you are not.)

Thought of The Day

2009-06-12T08:33:00.001-07:00

"...And go out
And just loose it all

I feel stressed out
I wanna let it go
Lets go way out spaced out
and loosing all control..."

Oh Ikea

2009-06-09T21:46:00.001-07:00

To the European couple in front of me in line at Ikea tonight:

Thank you for not offering to let me go ahead of you even though I only had one item, and you had about 50 small, odd items. I know you two were very excited to find an "EE-key-ah" in Palo Alto (East Palo Alto to be exact -- that's right, it's in the 'toh), but I would have appreciated it if you had offered to let me ahead to so I could pay for my one futon cover. I especially liked it when you didn't know how to work the ATM machine and your gazillion items used up all the cash register tape.

Sincerely,
I'm over it...I just wanted to blog about it. :)

Just Stop

2009-06-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

Finally realized why I check my Facebook less frequently now:

1. Status updates
2. Conversations on "Walls" and those little "comment" boxes.

Per #2: Really people? The fact that you have to broadcast your long-drawn convo's for everyone to see makes me think you're that person who talks really loud on your cell phone in public or just loudly in general. Why don't you email the person? Or better yet, pick up the phone.

I always thought the purpose of the Wall was a quick hello! Shout out!...and the purpose of "comment"...umm, yeah, it's is to comment on something. Comment on a photo, on one of those overly-annoying apps or quizzes, etc.

I don't think Facebook was intended for status updates. That's what platforms like blogs and Twitter are for. People know what they're going to get. I just get turned off when I log on to FB and immediately get inundated with "I combed my cat" and "I am bored" or "so and so is in (fill in the city)."