It was about my fren’s 3rd 30th Birthday, not just boozing!
But tis’ purty!
That happened AFTER dinner. Dinner was in the W’s restaurant. Spiffy.
This was the NY Steak from the restaurant that uses only “organic” ingredients.
This is the duck. It was really good. Not like duck in Chinese restaurants…
This is the W Westwood. It’s hidden along a line of other high rise condo buildings.
When I arrived, I went straight to the pool where there’s a bar. Behind this there’s a small pool with a bunch of cabanas. Since this is not THAT kind of blog, I refrained from pix. Solly! They charged US$12 for a Sapphire Tonic but it was the biggest Sapphire Tonic I ever had!
They even got free Wi-Fi! Waaaaaah!
At Airport Early
I’ve got a flight leaving soon and I’m at the airport an hour early!
Waaaaaaah!
No stress (helps that the airport is kinda empty today) and a lack of screaming rugrats helps this tranquil scene along. Until I walk by the overpriced restaurants and see the prices for snacks.
Hmmm. I think I can wait until I get to LA! It’s only an hour away…
Superman Returns
Went to the late late first showing of Superman Returns last night.
Yeah, I actually went to a movie!!
The movie was done well, with lots of inside nods and winks and great special effects. If you’re familar with the Superman legend, you’ll find some funny bits. It’s also a good idea to watch the first two Superman movies before watching this one, because it’s connected. Supermans 3 and 4 thankfully no longer exist!
There wasn’t a lot of warmth in this movie though. And the best way to describe the movie is “edgy political correctness”. It reminded me of what Syndrome said in the Incredibles: “..if we are all special, then none of us are”.
Also, definitely watch what you drink before the movie; it’s over 2 hours, 40 minutes long!
A Day at the Races
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day in San Francisco! It was warm, it was close to 23 degrees outside and sunny and I got comped for a day at the races at Bay Meadows, courtesy of one of my buds!
That’s how a comped ticket looks like!
Going to the racetrack is one of those things that I’ve never done before. It’s not like it has the same interest for me as, saaaay, hopping a 777 across the Pacific Ocean or having a nice dinner with someone charming in Singapore or Sydney. But the opportunity presented itself and off I went…
There was a buffet set up in the lower patio of the Turf Club.
The Turf Club entrance
The food was nothing really exciting so it’s not worth a photo or commentary EXCEPT that dessert and sweets were at the begining of the food queue. Despite that, there was a lot of cake left over.
Now if you know me well enough, you’ll know that I dun like to gamble. Gambling to me is wagering that I’ll get the upgrade to BZness Class on the flight to Tokyo Narita because I was reallly nice to that hella kawaii gate agent at SFO. Not coughing up real money that could be lost in the bet, that could be used for real things, like food. Or beer.
This follows the horses around when they race. I dun think a horse will fit inside.
But when in Rome, eat Roman (food). Going to the racetrack means wagering, so I decided to give it a shot. After reading the “so you’d like to gamble” brochure thoughtfully left on each table by Bay Meadows’ management, I decided to give it a try. I committed US$20 to gambling, no more! I lost US$2.00 on my first shot. Then, I tried a multiple bet, using the following criteria:
Odds (how much of a long shot)
Lineage (where the horse was raised)
Name (how funky is the name?)
Guess what? I picked the winner (out of three bets on the slip)!
Here’s my bet
And here’s my win!
This is the next race; I bet on #1 to win
More Winnings!
Sooo out of US$16 wagered, I won back a total of US$91.00. Wah! If only I had the guts to wager US$160 instead! Would have made US$910.00! Would be enough for a ticket to Beijing right now!
Guess that’s why I’m not meant to be a gambler…
Kids on Airplanes
I promise, this is the last of the entries featuring little ones…
When I dragged myself into SFO last Saturday AM for my flight to paradise, I mean, Southern California, I ran into a big friend and some little friends (his kids). We wound up on the same flight down to SNA. What a coinkydink!
Maddie and Katie.
Katie is a bit camera shy and Maddie looks upset because she missed her close up. Sooo….
“I’m ready for my close-up now!”
Here you go! This was the start of my busy LA weekend last weekend.
Care Package from the Lion City
I received a care package from Singapore! Yeeeeeah! (thx M!)
Because this is how I get World Cup info!
Some local magazines and cookies from Bengawan Solo. Now I’m craving for some kaya toast…
Lots of kids, big and small
This has been a busier than usual LA trip because I’m visiting with a lot of frens that happen to either have moved back here or are visiting or have come back from overseas.
Interesting thing is that all my frens here have daughters. Wonder what that means?
Here’s one of them. This is Kaylee.
I met up with an old friend in Long Beach. Truc was working in Singapore for a few years before deciding to shoot for her Masters’ Degree at CSULB. We spent much of the day catching up. And eating. Beer!
Truc’s the glam one with the shades..
A busy day.
What I ate in 48 hours
Let’s see…I had a McD’s Sausage McMuffin w/egg on Sat AM. Del Taco Macho Burrito and a Bahia robusto for lunch. Followed by quiche, fruit salad, ravioli and a toll house cookie for dinner.
Then the next day, fish and chips and a full Chinese banquet lovingly ordered. Then today where it was a mole burrito at a local taquiria followed by lots of beer.
Where would I eat such a melange of different kinds of cuisines? Where else but Southern California!
It’s not Asia but it IS out of San Francisco. And the only place where I’d subject my stomach to such differing food! Ha ha.
Dragged Shopping!
I got dragged shopping today! Arrrrgh!
I dun do this for just anyone…
My fren Window Shopping at Two Rodeo Drive
Of course, last time I got corralled into window shopping a few months back, we wound up at Tiffany in Ngee Ann City/Taka’s. Today we wound up, again, at Tiffany in Beverly Hills. Didn’t spend as much time inside this visit. *whew* Must be something about those little blue boxes.
Or my fren. Hmmmmm. *quizzical look*
“Heeeeey, my hand fits!”
Hmmm. My fren. Marilyn. Interesting…
Oyaji
An izukaya opened up in my ‘hood a few months back called Oyaji.
Well, not really “in my hood” as it’s about a mile as the crow flies. Maybe in the other side of my ‘hood. A 2 minute drive or a 20 minute stroll in the howling wind and cold that marks a San Francisco summer out here.
The best way to describe an izukaya is a bar that serves beer and nihonshu and food that goes good with both. So there’s all kinds of stuff, from ramen to a full sushi bar to yakitori and the like. Menu here.
Schu called and wanted to eat. I suggested Oyaji. We went. I ordered a starter of California Maki and Cha-Siu Ramen. The sushi here is fresh made and the rolls were pretty good. Purty too.
Tastes as good as it looks
They have an excellent selection of sake and shochu. Not so much on the beer. Although they did have the dark Asahi I drank a lot of last time I was in Tokyo. Burp.
Necessities of modern life lor.
The ramen arrived and the broth was flavorful, but not too heavy or too full of MSG. The noodles were of the thick kind and were not overcooked. Springy.
Imagine, a nice bowl o’ ramen close by my house! Waaaah!
Not overcooked, they’re springy!
Some minuses though. The egg was unusually salty (maybe stored in soy sauce?) and the bowl didn’t come out as hot as it should have. Nitpicking here though, because…
the cha-siu was tender and there was just enough fat to give it good taste without being gross with the fat on top. Mmmmmm.
It’s best to walk here from the house though. Then can walk back, thus burning off all calories!
Oyaji
3123 Clement St.
SF CA 94121