Seasons For Cake

Weekend Getaway: Denver and Beyond Part 2

By Hong On April 23, 2012 · 1 Comment · In Flowers

If you are in Boulder, Lucile’s should be your first stop. Fuel up on the home made beignets, biscuits and apple butter. YUMMY!

Walk off an eighth of the calories consumed at nearby Pearl street. If you visit in early Spring you’ll be greeted with all the beautiful tulips in bloom.

Don’t exert all your energy shopping though. Less than four miles away is Chautauqua. If you are feeling adventurous, you may be able to hike off the rest of your caloric intake from breakfast.

A short drive from Boulder is Louisville. You’ll arrive just in time for Happy Hour at the Empire Lounge.

The calamari salad is an absolute must! But check out the rest of that menu…if I didn’t think I’d be judged, I would have ordered one of everything!

One block north of the Empire Lounge is the Fuzzy Antler. Are you sensing a theme here? Eat. Shop. Repeat.

This is a great home decor shop with everything from tabletop to the most beautiful table linens, to locally hand made jewelry.

Rach and I also stopped over at Lafayette. We were running out of time but decided to return the next day for a jaunt at the Flea Market. I found some great linen napkins. My eyes were also set on vintage irons but my carry-on did not allow for it. Such a rookie move…I really should know better than to over pack and not leave room for all my found treasures.

This wraps up my tips for Denver and beyond. I’ll be posting some Baby Love at the end of the week so make sure to check back!

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Weekend Getaway: Denver and Beyond

By Hong On April 22, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In Favorites, Places

This past weekend I was lucky enough to spend some girl time with a couple of my besties and their families in Denver. Rachel and I spent the day in nearby Boulder, Louisville and Lafayette. I was also able to photograph Robin’s miracle baby and will be posting some baby love later this week!

Here’s my guide to Denver. First stop: Snooze for brunch. Must have the Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes.

That’s Rach. Isn’t she adorbs?

dBar is also a must. Although known for their desserts, lunch was absolutely divine at Keegan Gerhard & Lisa Bailey’s culinary sanctuary. I had the Southernfried waffle. Yup, chicken and waffles never tasted or looked so blissful.

And we couldn’t leave without dessert. Molten cake with valrhona manjari 64% chocolate, summer cherries, and sicilian pistachio ice cream. WOW. WOW. WOW.

We rounded off our culinary experience in Denver at Steuben’s for dinner.

Talk about a local hang out. Our wait was 45mins and well worth every second. I had the lobster roll with some of the most delicious fries ever. Follow up dinner with the wacky apples. It will make you feel like you’ve entered heaven.

What’s food without shopping? I’ll round out my visit to Denver with some great hotspots in Boulder, Louisville and Lafayette in the next couple of days!

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A Field Trip to the Zoo

By Hong On March 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In Favorites, Places, Weekend

My Friday was spent with 30 third graders and a trip to the zoo. We were fortunate enough to experience some Spring weather for a change, and to be honest I only had five kids in my group. So the day wasn’t so bad…

We started off petting the goats.

Paused at the beauty of the flamingos.

Giggled to the cuteness of the Penguins. They were being camera shy.

In awe of the Bears.

Basked in the colors of the birds.

By the way, this was my favorite exhibit.

We even walked through an African Village.

It was so wonderful to finally soak up some Vitamin D. It turned out to be a great day with many parents taking the opportunity to enjoy a day at the Zoo. PS. Did you know that you can plan an event at the zoo? How fun would it be to have a child’s birthday party or even a wedding there?!

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, Have a Happy One!

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Pho Goodness

By Hong On March 15, 2012 · Leave a Comment · In Food

Seattle’s weather has been a little schizophrenic lately. Today, I thought my house was going to flood. I actually woke up to a leak and a slight power outage. Since I’m an emotional eater, pho was a must for today.

When it comes to customizing my bowl of pho, I’m quite a simple girl. Actually one can argue that I may be sacrilegious. My preference: noodles, meat, broth, a little fish sauce and a squeeze of lime. That’s right I don’t eat any of the herbs or onions, Sriracha or Hoison sauce. I know quite scandalous. And thus, why Mom’s house is the best place for pho, as it’s made to order without judgement.

Aren’t the add-ons pretty though?

Yes, a lemonade or limeade is also a must.

And this was the perfect addition to Seattle’s schizophrenic of day weather. Here’s to hoping that Spring truly is just right around the corner.

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Vintage Finds

By Hong On March 7, 2012 · 1 Comment · In Home, Places

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Portland via Train

By Hong On March 6, 2012 · 1 Comment · In Places

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Bouchon Bistro

By Hong On March 2, 2012 · 1 Comment · In Food, Weekend

My friend Victoria recently visited a restaurant that I’ve been coveting, Bouchon Bistro. She was kind enough to write about her experience for Seasons For Cake. Not only has Victoria been a great supporter of S4C, but she is one inspirational human being. She has joined me as a contributing editor and I am so lucky to have her partnership.

Here is Victoria’s recap:

Celebrations can be magical. They can turn darkness into light, hard into soft, etc. And they are ours to create wherever and whenever we like.

I got a taste of how powerful a positive goal can be last weekend when James and I turned a medical drudgery into a culinary campaign.

Tests needed to be done. Poking, prodding, and the rest. Fine. I would submit. But, if you’d asked me why we were going to Las Vegas, I would have said nothing about doctors. Food was tops on our minds, specifically the gastronomic delights at Bouchon, the Las Vegas outpost of Thomas Keller’s original Yountville, CA bistro

Tucked away on the 10th floor of the Venetian Hotel, the restaurant has a wonderful blue and white tiled floor, brass and mahogany accents, and banquette and individual table seating. The ceilings might as well be in the clouds they are so high, and the dining room looks out over a serene courtyard. We started with fruits de mer, the petit (!!) plateau, which included ½ a lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams, and mussels. Our choices were no surprise. Onion soup followed for James, with a towering, layered salad of watercress, endive, Roquefort, Fuji apples, walnuts and walnut vinaigrette for me. Steak frîtes and a croque madame were next for us respectively. Our inner wine snobs were on vacation that night, so I drank a white Burgundy from Vézelay. James drank Kronenbourg beer. Delicious.

After that barrage of victuals, we were full. Desert could not happen. This would have tragic except that Bouchon has a separate bakery, also at the Venetian, that serves pastries and coffees all day. Sunday morning was Bouchon, Part II.

Their chefs must be trained in pastry heaven. Just one bite of the bakery’s almond brioche or chocolate croissant and you will forever be in search of another that’s as good. My favorite breakfast treat was a half croissant layered with apples and a streusel topping, baked to crispy golden deliciousness and sprinkled with flurries of confectioner’s sugar. A bite or two of that with black coffee and any day seems full of possibility, any obstacle surmountable.

Delicious food creates strong connections between minds and bodies. The healing effects of those connections are intense. Whereas the doctoring part of the trip was unmemorable, the dining part was a soothing joy. I’d also say that, although our original mission was the bigger meal at the bistro, the bakery alone is reason enough to go back.

Just one croissant can make any kind of journey a season for cake.

Photos by Bouchon Bistro

Thank you Victoria, for reminding us to celebrate the journey. Happy Weekend.

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More Baby Love

By Hong On February 28, 2012 · 1 Comment · In Family, Favorites, Weekend

As I mentioned on Monday, I spent the weekend photographing a couple of sweet babies. This time my friend Lindsay wanted family portraits and it just so happened that her baby ended up being the center of attention.

Yeah, I know hard to fathom right?

I honestly just couldn’t help myself. I love this stage where their tiny baby teeth are just coming through.

Speaking of being the center attention….Baby M is the first grandchild for Lindsay’s parents. Can you tell?

What about with Grandpa? Can’t you just feel the adoration?

And of course there’s no attention shortage with Aunty Em.

I did manage to keep it somewhat professional and deliver what the clients wanted…

I couldn’t leave without photographing this little cutie:

Thank You Baby M, Lindsay & Family! I had such a wonderful time.

XXOO

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Baby Love

By Hong On February 26, 2012 · 1 Comment · In Family, Favorites, Weekend

I had an amazingly fantastic weekend with friends and babies (humans & chicks)! Our friends Anne and Nate came over for lunch on Saturday and we finally met their new Baby D!

It was so wonderful to hold a little baby in my arms again. Baby D was perfect the entire time! He has such a great disposition and you can tell he’s pretty easy on his parents.

Talk about love at first sight, right? Can’t you just stare at him forever?

And what about the baby rolls…my favorite! Actually….I think the smell of babies rivals the rolls.

Are you checking out that red hair? I have a feeling this kid is going to be quite the charmer (as if he isn’t already).

Yeah, this kid’s got his parents wrapped around his little fingers! There is no shortage of love for this one!

Speaking of being wrapped around one’s fingers…..we couldn’t let Baby D leave without a special gift.

I was lucky that Anne and Nate didn’t already receive these for Baby D. I was ecstatic because it’s my favorite gift to give new parents.

Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny are classics. Five Little Chicks was just appropriate as I’m on a Chick Kick!

Congratulations Anne & Nate! And Welcome to the World Baby D!

XXOO

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Chick Love

By Hong On February 24, 2012 · 2 Comments · In Favorites, Home

I’m so excited to welcome a few new chicks into our home! The Geek and I have been talking about raising chickens for awhile now and it usually stops short of us getting into an argument. So today I went to the feed store and decided I was going to raise chickens!

Here’s how I broke it to him.

It went on like this for a little longer and then I bit the bullet. I sent him a photograph….When he came home from work he had a little smile on. Although he won’t admit it, I think he’s secretly pleased. Besides how could you not love these little furry balls of cuteness?

We’ll keep them in the house for several more weeks and then it’s off to their coop. By the way, The Geek totally hooked them up with all the appropriate “nursery” stuff. He even rigged the brooder lamp so that they receive just the right amount of heat. He’s also been looking at coop plans…. I’m guessing he’s not upset.

We’ll come up with some names in the next few days but for now….I can completely understand why having animals around can be quite therapeutic.

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← Previous Entries

Weekend Getaway: Denver and Beyond Part 2

Weekend Getaway: Denver and Beyond

A Field Trip to the Zoo

Pho Goodness

Vintage Finds

Portland via Train

Bouchon Bistro

More Baby Love

Baby Love

Chick Love

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