The Bazaar Restaurant @ The SLS Hotel in Los Angeles. Having heard many reviews about this restaurant the bf and I decided to give it a try. First thing I could only think of upon walking into the restaurant was where’s Alice ? Completely a weird, trippy Alice in Wonderland feeling to it, but hey, the restaurants name is The Bazaar right ? Being here on a Tuesday night and the place was ridiculously busy, but that’s just reassurance that they’re doing something right. We opted to sit where the cold bar was where the chefs were preparing the cold items and jamons as we could see everything right in front of our eyes, it was amazing to see how delicately things were handle and the quality of the items. The menu is very extensive and includes modern tapas, as well as the classics. If you don’t know tapas, it’s Spanish for a wide variety of appetizers or snacks. Perfect for me since I’m a big fan of trying different items rather than sticking to one. My experience:

Cotton Candy Foie Gras

This was weird but hey, why not give it a try. A generous piece of colder foie gras with a cotton candy wrapped around. They say this is a one bite, but for me one’s just too rich, taking one bite, cleansing it with some water and resuming was good enough. The flavors were great, who would’ve thought the sweetness of the cotton candy would pair well, but then again the way foie gras melts in your mouth matches with the way the cotton candy dissolves.

Braised Wagyu beef cheeks clementines

The beef was so succulent and braised to perfect, extremely tender that you could just cut the beef with your fork. This has a bit more of a saltier flavor to it so with the sweet tangy flavor of the clementines with the wagyu beef, it was a match-made in heaven.

JAMONES Y EMBUTIDOS

Catalan style toasted bread with perfectly diced tomatoes, I was able to view how this dish was being prepared and they’re extremely pick with how they prepare the tomatoes, a delicate touch only to it. Served with your choice of ham(prosciutto) we opted for the Jamón Ibérico de bellota Fermin. Honestly, the bread and tomatoes were so perfect that I just opted without the ham, which made my bf happy, more meat for him.

Philly Cheesesteak

They explain this as an air bread, just imagine an extremely thin and delicate puff pastry hollowed out in the center, filled with a cheddar foam inside, and topped with thin slices of wagyu beef. I honestly could’ve gone for several orders of this. A deconstructed philly cheesesteak of perfection.

Tortilla de patatas

Potato foam, egg 63, caramelized onions, this dish was just extremely weird, gooey, rich, but absolutely delicious and worth giving a try, I love eggs and it was just really cool to pair this up a new way with foam.

Croquetas de pollo

Chicken and béchamel fritters, this was delicious, I could imagine a deep fried chicken pot pie. If you love rich food, and anything deep fried then this is your dish.

Chocolate au Pain & Passion Fruit Marshmallow

I was disappointed with the chocolate au pain, it tasted a bit dry to me and not as rich as I expected the croissant to be. The passion fruit marshmallow was fun and delicious, I loved how the flavor was infused, it was a delicate fluffy.

Apples Carlota

This bread pudding was very good, it was like a creme brulee topping with that burnt sugar. Along with a saffron sauce and a milky ice cream, the apples were personally a bit too tart for me in this dish, but I couldn’t stop devouring the ice cream, it was rich, but tart, and combination was just perfect, if I could just buy several pints of this and rush it home to my freezer I would.

Traditional Spanish Flan

With a vanilla whipped cream and rich caramel sauce, the flan came out perfect. Sometimes the most simple things are the best. The flavor of a spanish flan is more rich and condensed but not heavy. I could’ve ate several orders of this, but then again with my sweets tooth I could give them plenty of business just on there desserts alone. My bf and I pretty much fought over this dish since my bread pudding was overpowered by the apples.

Overall experience here was great, I would definitely return here once again when I have the chance to which will probably be coming up soon since my bf and I have been dying to have another meal here. I hope you guys enjoy and take this restaurant into consideration and give it a try. Also I will be posting up recipes coming in the soon near future. Apologies for delay posts, my life as a bio-chem major is killing me !

Who doesn’t love to look at images of food and be tempted and swayed to give it a try ? I’m sure as hell guilty when it comes to delectable delights. So if you’re within California, I’d like to share you my food for thought =). Recently for dinner, my bf decided we’d have a romantic date night and suggested we goto LA for dinner at The Colori Kitchen and I’m really glad that he chose this place for dinner because I left completely satisfied in awe with my dinner. We arrived here at around 7:30 pm on a Friday night with very few seats left in the house we got lucky and were seated promptly. A very small restaurant in a VERY hidden location so be on the lookout. Also, parking on the streets are very limited but be reassured that there is lot parking that only costs $3-$4. As we were seated we were given menu’s and inside there went along with there specials for the night, drinks were immediately taken and brought out. I do apologize for the photos as they were taken on my blackberry =).

Started off with there Special of the night.

Fresh Burrata Cheese with Heirloom Tomatoes & Mixed Greens

This dish was done perfect, the burrata cheese was so fresh and you could tell by how soft, warm, & delicate the texture was. I was impressed by how smooth the burrata was as well. Heirloom tomatoes hidden underneath the cheese, I was a little saddened by how small the slices were but it’s okay, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, salt, & pepper. Slithers of basil complimented the dish, all of the flavors paired very well together.

*Special of the Night*

Spinach Gnocchi with bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, & ricotta in a red sauce.

I can’t express to you how well this dish was done. My bf happened to order this as I literally took the plate from him & switched it with my dish. Gnocchi is very hard to make and can be overly done to give you a very starchy consistency. The gnocchi here at Color was light and delicate, as the bacon gave it that salty bite with an earthy flare from the mushrooms. I’m glad the onion gave it some texture as the tomatoes happened to be roasted to perfection. Finished with melted ricotta on top just made my mouth melt. I hope if you give Colori a chance that they have this item on there menu because it was to die for !

Spaghetti Carbonara, al dente spaghetti with a rich carbonara sauce and best of all, bacon everywhere ! This dish is great, but I think it was more of a dish my bf’s would order, and for dinner, we happened to switch plates for the first time ever rather than sharing and eating off one anothers plate. I know carbonara is a very rich sauce since it’s main ingredient happens to be butter, cream, & egg yolks. Done very well with perfectly cooked pasta.

Italian Style Cheesecake

Our waiter asked us once we finished up our dinner if we’d ever tried there cheesecake, I actually responded with no since I’m not really a fan of it, besides cheesecake factory’s vanilla bean, BUT I have to stick it in the freezer for a bit cause once it’s frozen, it taste just like a smooth, rich, & creamy ice cream ! Okay but back to Colori kitchen’s cheesecake, he told us that this was there special cheesecake that everyone infamously loves so my bf and I decided to give it a try although I was in a creme brulee mood. Baked with ricotta the cheesecake was quite delicious, although for me it started to become very rich afterwards, topped with powdered sugar, drizzled with raspberry and an anglaise I believe. Without your typical graham cracker crust it reminder me of a baked pound cake on the outside texture. Personally for me I think this dish would be perfect with that a little refreshment factor, it was just missing something.

Overall experience was great, the restaurant lived up to it’s hype and my tummy was expanded to the point where I was glad I decided to wear some leggings that night. The restaurant because extremely busy and lines were just out the door and I completely understand why not. Authentic Italian food at it’s best, unfortunately I do think they need some more staff since at times they were a little behind, but all the workers besides bus boys seemed to speak the language so I guess they just need that perfect person with a touch. Will be back here sometime to give furthermore reviews, I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter !

A(r)mor Jewelry is an extremely intricate,  phenomenal jewelry line. Fashion forward with amazing pieces from rings, to ear pieces, and the ones I completely adore, there body jewelry. I had a chance to take some time away from Sandee Shin, Creative Director/Owner of of A(r)mor Jewelry to get to know her and her line. Let me tell you this, Sandee is the most patient, friendly, and absolutely generous type of person. I was able to play with Sandee’s pieces and utilize it on a blank canvas just to express her art, I chose a white background for a subtle romantic look to show off these pieces. Hope you guys enjoy this !

1) How did you come up with the name Armor Jewelry ?

I have to say coming up with names is such a difficult thing to do! However, in this case, it was just organic. The name is based on the words armor, because the pieces are like body armor, and amore because each piece is made with much love, Simple right ? Even though the name is spelled ARMOR, it’s pronounced like ARMORE (minus the E).

2) What encourages your design from each season ?

I am constantly doing research or finding influences for my next pieces. I try not to limit my thinking to just fashion, but to think of it as art. Living in a place like NY, you get influenced by so much on a daily basis. There is so much life here, that it’s hard not to be motivated. Having that constant push and keeping myself on my toes is what helps me to go beyond.

3) What inspires you ?

Everything, I know this is very broad, but it’s very true! I get inspired from watching movies, listening to music, people watching, the world really is my oyster .

4) Where are you located ?

Located in the grand NYC !

5) If you had an opportunity to do a collaboration, whom would you choose ?

Oooh I’d probably have to say ACNE. I just love what they do and what their brand represents. Even though they have such a minimalist approach, I think they are one of the best. Their well0constructed silhouettes speak for themselves.

6) Who are your personal favorite designers ?

There are so many wonderful designers our there, and it’s always difficult to answer, but right at the top of my head I’d say, Helmut Lang, ACNE, Margiela, Alexander Wang, Carine Wester, Preen, Pleasure Principle, Opening Ceremony… I could probably go on and on.

7) How did you get started ?

I’ve always been a strong believer in accessories. My daily outfits are kept very minimal and simple, but I always use accessories to give the outfit just a little flare. I had this drawer that was just a hodge-podge of material. One day I just decided to go through it, and see what I could create. I just started to mix and match the materials. After that, I was hooked. I never had any formal training in jewelry making; everthing up to now has been a trial and error thing for me. But I’d like to think of that as a good thing.

8)Did you work for any other fashion lines prior to Armor ?

I have also been a lover of fashion, but I never worked in the industry. Prior to A(r)mor, I worked as an art director at an ad agency.

9) Do you have a Brand Philosophy ?

A(r)mor is an arsenal of high fashion jewelry that dances between understated minimalism and highly conceptual edge of fashion. It is a unique sculpture for the body that reflects the lifestyles of those who aren’t afraid to push boundaries.

10) How would you describe A(r)mor’s personal style ?

I design for myself. But that is the philosophy for me behind each piece. If I don’t see myself wearing it, then I won’t design it. I am confident in what I like and dislike. This is how I would perceive a women who likes to wear A(r)mor as well. She would be confident woman who knows who she is and what she wants. She is simple in certain ways, but has the little quicks about her that make her special.

11) Any advice for fashion lovers attempting to start up there own business ?

Just go for it. If you’re really passionate about what you’re doing, you will pour everything you’ve got into it. Sometimes you fail, but when you succeed, oh man, that victory tastes so sweet. The only person who can stop you is you. You really are your own worst critic.

12) So we hear each piece is made with love to order ?

From picking the materials, to making the piece, it is all 100% me. Because each piece is a personal work for me I construct with attention to every detail. I just want to ensure that when a buyer receives their piece, it is made with the utmost quality.

13) Where could online viewers purchase your beautiful items ?

All of the pieces are available on the brand website, ARMORJEWELRY.COM, you can also check out the stock list section to view in store boutiques that currently carry the line.

14) What’s an average day in the office like for you ?

Wake up. Emails. Surf the net and visit my daily stops, or as I like to call it “morning coffee” Work out. More emails. Design.Construct. Construct. Construct. Glamorous isn’t it ?

15)What should we expect in the future ?

I have a few upcoming projects that i can mention, but I am very excited for them! For now, I am just taking this one-day at a time, and trying to continue to let A(r)mor grow.

16) & of course, how much do you looooove Art of Clean =) ?

I have nothing but amore for Art of Clean !

Model: Crystal Leland

Photographer: Paul Do

Hair & MU: Jadyn Ngo

Another season of Formula D, another year of crashes, passes, high speed, high horsepower (sadly) mayhem.  This year’s initial Formula D race went off with a bang, mostly because the ridiculous amounts of teams running V8’s now.  From Challenger’s to Mustang’s to Supra’s to RX8’s, there was something for everybody.. maybe too much.  I’m as sick as a dog sitting here writing this but anyways, enjoy the photos and hopefully i’ll be able to muster up the energy to do a proper write up.

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Currently right now we have Lira clothing  featured on our Eye Candy Section so check that out ! Lira’s definitely working hard and using the best of the best, I really like there tees/tanks for womens, that soft comfort quality feeling pressed against my skin feels so smooth. They’re also killing with there cut/sew pieces, such as that jacket featured in the first image, it’s really comfortable and light yet keeps you warm. Lira currently has an awesome line with some rad pieces that I’d definitely wear on a regular basis. & guys, don’t feel left out, Lira also offers a mens full line, my current favorites right now are there jackets, definitely creative and to die for. Here’s a list of Lira Clothing Retailers =), happy shopping !

Last night I found out that Jun Seba, aka Nujabes, had passed away February 26th, 2010; the cause.. a fatal car crash. Jun Seba was one of the most innovative, talented, and humble beat makers.. in my books one of the greatest of all time. I was pretty rattled to say the least when twitter posts started showing up. At first I thought it was a joke but then it was confirmed via e22. Nujabes, you’ll be sorely missed and while the world mourns your loss, I want to take this moment to pay tribute to one of the greatest artists of all time.

Okay, I REALLY want a pair of these, and i’m a huge critic when it comes to shoes. Created by Bedega and Converse, the original high-top can be rocked rolled down. The kicks are made of a waxed canvas upper complimented with a deerskin lining to create a completely unique experience that’s both durable and resistant to abrasive materials. With a charcoal colourway and gusseted tongue and waxed laces, the shoe is set to release March 13th at Bodega, including an etched flask for those of 21+ years. Retailing at $120, the piece is set to 100 pairs. To those that are reading this, my birthday is coming up and I would kill to purchase a pair.. and a gift would be even more awesome!

BODEGA
6 Clearway Street
Boston, MA 02115
617.421.1550

Pulled from Hypebeast

Labeled as one of the greatest classics in Hip Hop Raekwon the Chef’s solo effort “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” still sounds as fresh as in 1995. Witty wordplay and grimy beats were all a true Hip Hop fan could ask for. Thanks to dirt_dog of Philaflava the music world can now rejoice as a digitized version of Rae’s promotional cassette hits the internet. Here’s detailed information on this special treat.

I had mentioned in the forum a few days ago that I stumbled across a box of old tapes in my basement. Some mixtapes, some promo samplers, some custom tapes from the days of trading. After posting a short list, it looks like the people have spoken and they want to hear just about all of them. So first up is Raekwon’s 1995 promo cassette sampler for the upcoming release of “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.” Nothing mind blowing here, but an exclusive freestyle and (at the time) an advance opportunity to hear a couple album cuts. NOTE: all scans are included in the .rar file as well as a full scan of the sleeve.

enjoy,

–dirt_dog