Chirashi Bowl Night at Home

On the table:  Hon Maguro (blue din tuna akami), Nama Tako Sashimi (raw octopus), Hamachi (yellow tail), Tenkuu Maguro (blue fin tuna chutoro)
Hiyashi wakame (salad) and Shoyura Ikura

Always a favorite theme night.

Korean Dinner

At our go-to place for Korean food, O. Tofu.

On the table: galbi, beef tendon and beef & octopus tofu

Date Night at Home

Lights dimmed. Candles lit.

The food I prepared, saffron-steamed mussels and paella with shrimp and chorizo.

A  bottle of riesling to wash it all down.  

Cheers to a wonderful weekend!

Greek Dinner

A fun Friday night dinner with traditional Greek music and dancing while enjoying delicious Greek food at The Great Greek in Sherman Oaks.

On the table: tarama, pita, char-broiled octopus, pastitsio, moussaka, dolmathes, spanakopita, lamb shanks, rice pilaf, roasted potato and carrots

Ye Olde King’s Head

From the clinic we went straight to a British pub in Studio City at Ye Olde King’s Head for an early dinner.

On the table:  cod fritters, fish & chips, liver & onions and Fuller’s London Pride beer

A Taste of Lebanon

... at Hayat's Kitchen in North Hollywood.


On the table...

• grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice and vegetables cooked in olive oil and lemon

• kibbeh nayeh is made of minced raw beef combined with wheat, pureed onion and a mix of spices

• makanek is Lebanese sausage sauteed in lemon
• fatoush salad is a mix of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cucumber, parsley, radishes, olive oil, lemon and toasted pita'

• foul mudammas is made of fava and garbanzo beans with garlic in olive oil and lemon

Southern Supper

I went to pre-school to pick-up the Little Guy at around three o'clock, but I saw him playing a ball with his classmates and he seemed to be having a great time so I left.  Went to the mall first and then stopped by the grocery to pick-up five pounds of crayfish. 

So dinner tonight is a platter of crayfish, cajun rice and sweet tea on mason jars garnished with mint from the garden.

Taco Night

Summer Fridays at work started today and nothing really planned for the Friday date night so I stopped by the grocery store to grab some stuff for a taco night...

shrimp, beef and mahi-mahi
radish, avocado, mango
red onions, cilantro and lime
salsa and tortilla wrap
homemade Mexican rice

... and a number of different and surprising combinations.

Fold & eat!

Italian Tapas at Home

What I prepared for our Friday date night at home -- crostini, marinated olives, sautéed sausages, capicola, artichokes, strawberries and cherries.

It's time to kick-off the long weekend!

Sushi Night

At Okumura on Ventura Blvd in Encino to feast on sushi and sashimi.  It’s vegetarian sushi for the Little Guy.

Cheers to Friday and looking forward to a beautiful weekend!

Lum Ka Naad

Friday night dinner is thai food at Lum Ka Naad in Encino.

On the table...

• Khao Soy
• Fish Soup with Tamarind Leaves
• Green Curry
• Salt Mackerel Fried Rice
• Thai Iced Tea

Mussels & Wine from Mosel

I am always looking forward to Friday night -- our date night at home with the Little Guy.  Tonight we had a pot of Moules Marinieres which is black mussels cooked in white wine, butter, crushed garlic, thinly sliced shallot and garnished with parsley. 

On the side we had toasted sliced baguette, a bottle of Riesling from Mosel and a flickering candle light. 

Arabian Night

For our Friday Arabian-themed date night at home, we had  fattoush salad, baba ghanoush, sauteed lamb, stuffed grape leaves, pita and dates.

Moroccan Night at Home

For our Moroccan-themed Friday night at home, we're having chicken tagine with apricot and olives, Moroccan couscous, dates, red & green grapes.

Spanish Tapas

To reminisce our trip to Barcelona a few years back, we're having Spanish tapas for our usual Friday date night at home. 

Tiger shrimp sauteed in lemon garlic butter sauce, a pot of black mussel, cremini mushroom, octopus in olive oil with a squirt of lemon, potatoes and cheese.

Cheers to a lovely weekend!

Paella Night

For this paella, I warmed chicken stock, white wine and saffron on a small saucepan. Then on the adjacent burner I sautéed chopped onion, minced garlic and more saffron on a paella pan.  Poured in the diced tomatoes and cooked for about five minutes. Next, I added the arborio rice, paprika, a pinch of salt and freshly-ground pepper and stirred until well blended.  Then, spooned in half of the wine/chicken stock from the adjacent saucepan, rotated the paella pan and let it simmer.

When liquid has evaporated I added more stock and continued adding until rice was almost cooked.  Then I arranged the octopus tentacles, shrimp and black mussels on top and continued cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Carried the pan to the living room where a bottle of La Cana Albarino from Salnes Valley in Rias Baixas, Spain is waiting.

Sushi Night at Okumura

The night before Valentine's Day we went out on a date night with the Little Guy.

On the table...

- Green tea and beer
- Edamame
- Caterpillar roll
- Sushi and rolls

Gumbo Dinner

It's the end of another work week, but instead of the usual Friday night bites I prepared a pot of gumbo.

 

Yum!

 

 

The Colors of Friday

Today's Friday date night... shrimp sautéed in garlic with butter and juice of half a lemon, shelled edamame, corn, green grapes and strawberries.

Friday Night Bites

It's Friday once again.  It feels like the past week went by in a blur.

Here's a snapshot of our Friday night bites while watching recorded shows on DVR.

Marinated kalamata and green olives, cheese, artichoke, apple, almonds, peaches, cheese bread with bacon and cranberry cocktail garnished with mint from the garden.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!