Chez Panisse Gala-Part 2

Chez Panisse Gala-Part 1

I had the good fortune of photographing the 40th Anniversary Gala of Chez Panisse this past Friday for the Berkeleyside.  It was absolutely beautiful and spirits where high as everyone celebrated the event!  You can read more about it here and I'll have a few more photos to follow tomorrow!

Breakfast Love

As you can probably tell if you have been around here more than once I think it's pretty safe to say that breakfast is my favorite way to start the weekend.  This morning we had a lovely and simple one and now I'm officially ready to go! Enjoy your weekend!

Foreign Cinema

Welcome to Foreign Cinema!  We had brunch at this beautiful spot last weekend and I'm all ready for round two.   I had been to their bar, Laszlo, a few times before and always had such a great time so I was excited to finally check out the restaurant.  Walk down a red carpet and you are transported to a beautiful industrial space with just the right amount of warm accents.  They change their menu on a daily basis with the exception of a few items.  Everything we had was delicious, from their strawberry basil "pop tart" to the delicious french toast with strawberry lime butter.  Our drinks were delicious and the service and presentation was perfect.  Next up, dinner?

Outerlands for Brunch

The Outerlands is one of my top favorite spots for brunch.  I love the whole experience from driving out to the Sunset to the look and feel of the place itself.  It is filled with warm wood accents and delicious smells from the kitchen.  It is the perfect cozy spot to step in to after waiting outside in the cool foggy weather or on a warmer day sitting outside on the sunny sidewalk.  My absolute favorite item is the french toast which is infused with orange and made from the bread that is made in their own kitchen.  Delish!!!

Happy Weekend

I sure am glad the weekend is here.  I am hoping to get some projects completed, see a movie, get some fresh air, take some photos, put some quarters in a jukebox, and have brunch (one of my favorite weekend activities) among other things.  Hopefully we can make it out to one of my favorite places!  These pictures are from Flora. We finally got a chance to go to their brunch a couple of weekends ago.  I loved the beautiful art deco building and the crisp white linens, beautiful silver serving sets, and fresh delicious food! Fancy!

Banana Toast and Coconut Tea

Breakfast this morning. I just have to share about banana toast. Created by my sister, Brenda, she first made this for me when I visited her in New Zealand. Sometimes I forget about banana toast and then all of a sudden I can't get enough! First, you gotta start with a nice good quality whole grain bread. It can be rustic or sliced, the heartier the better. Next, you toast it to perfection; I prefer mine a little extra toasted. Then you slice up a sweet banana nice and thin and kinda smoosh it on to the bread. Next you drizzle with olive oil, yes, olive oil! For the final and absolutely necessary touch you sprinkle generously with pink himalayan sea salt, it's best if you can grind it coarsely but fine granules will work deliciously too. Voila, banana toast! This was definitely one of my favorite creations of hers. Go ahead, try it, I promise you will love it! Thanks Brenda!