Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Dining Like the Orange County Housewives

Despite being Orange County residents, we don't normally run in the same circles as the Real Housewives of Orange County. But imagine our surprise when we tuned into tonight's episode of the Real Housewives of Orange County to see Lynne and Gretchen having lunch at Marché Moderne, the same restaurant where we had lunch last month!

James, Amy, Sean, Toro and Tim at Marché Moderne. (11/29/2008)
James, Amy, Sean, Toro and Tim at Marché Moderne. (11/29/2008)

Our friend Sean had invited to lunch there. Marché Moderne is up on the 3rd floor of South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. It's one of Sean's favorite restaurants, and he wanted to share it with some friends. Marché Moderne, which means "modern market," brings together strong French recipes with modern American cuisine. The food was amazing.

Japanese Pain de Mie, deviled eggs salad, cucumber and aioli. (11/29/2008)
Japanese Pain de Mie, deviled eggs salad, cucumber and aioli. (11/29/2008)

Sean not only invited Tim and me, but he also extended the invitation to our pal Amy, as well as Toro, a friend that we met at a party not too long ago whom we later came to realize also knew Sean. It was a fun group (not that I expected differently).

Toro and Tim. (11/29/2008)
Toro and Tim. (11/29/2008)

Sean began his meal with a half-dozen oysters on the half shell, before making his way into sauteed sweetbread a l'echalote. Tim, Amy and Toro each ordered the Spontanée, a three-course menu that changes daily (I think the choices that day were sea bass or some form of beef). We also shared a couple of bottles of great wine, the names of which I can't remember.

The delectable apricot sorbet. (11/29/2008)
The delectable apricot sorbet. (11/29/2008)

I started off with the Marché "Salade Composée" a perfectly seasoned salad with hearts of palm, ham, cucumber, asparagus, P'tit Basque (French sheep's milk cheese), tomatoes, avocado and an agridulce vinaigrette. Then I worked my way into a botique sandwich consisting of Japanese Pain de Mie, deviled eggs salad, cucumber and aioli. Translation: An egg-salad sandwich.

Sean, Toro, Tim and Amy outside Marché Moderne. (11/29/2008)
Sean, Toro, Tim and Amy outside Marché Moderne. (11/29/2008)

But lest you think I'm speaking of it in a disparaging tone, let me say, it was the best egg-salad sandwich I had in my life. And what a beautiful presentation too! We closed the meal with a beautiful hand-made apricot sorbet which was lovely. In all, I can see why the Real Housewives of Orange County, or anyone for that matter, would enjoy lunch there. It was that good.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Happy Holidays from James & Tim's Blog

Breaking news: James & Tim's Blog is alive! Not that you can tell by the frequency of blog posts lately. I've been concentrating on other projects as of late, like organizing and backing up our digital photo library (and we have thousands), or our continuing effort to digitize our family's old slides, like these I scanned today that seemed rather timely.

James (in blue) & Robert throw snowballs as our dad watches. (12/1971)
James (in blue) & Robert throw snowballs as our dad watches. (12/1971)

According to the writing on the box, these snapshots were taken in December 1971 when we drove our 1969 Country Squire Station Wagon to Chicago to spend Christmas with relatives. I'm almost certain that this was the first time I had ever seen snow in person. You can see the delight in my face as I tossed snow balls towards my Mom who was taking the photo.

That was the first and last time we drove to Chicago for Christmas. My dad said the drive home was horrible. It was 14 below and in the middle of a storm. My dad was afraid to turn off the engine, for fear the car wouldn't start again (even filling the gas tank while the car ran). It wasn't until we arrived in Wyoming that we eventually turned the engine off.

I think this was my first time playing in snow. (12/1971)
I think this was my first time playing in snow. (12/1971)

He said the only way he knew he was still on the freeway was because of the poles at the edge of the road that extended above the snow. My brother and I were bundled up inside our coats, inside two sleeping bags, and even with the heater on full blast, we kept complaining about being cold. No wonder we never made that trip again!

In the meantime, enjoy the pics and keep tuned into James & Tim's Blog for new content soon.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Happy 75th Birthday to the Bloody Mary

I wasn't planning on blogging tonight (we've been really busy lately), but when I heard that today was the 75th birthday of the Bloody Mary — one of my favorite adult beverages — I knew I had to commemorate this special event somehow. So in this special edition of the James & Tim Blog, I will write about my three most memorable Bloody Marys.

Bloody Mary on the Space Needle. (07/24/2004)
Bloody Mary on the Space Needle. (07/24/2004)

Space Needle Bloody Mary
One of my most memorable Bloody Marys was in 2004 when we had brunch atop the Seattle Space Needle the day we embarked on a cruise to Alaska. We ordered a couple of these splendid beverages, and were surprised with the garnish they chose: pickled green beans!

Normally you expect a celery stalk and an olive. But green beans? Well, it turns out the Space Needle bartender knows a thing a two about blending flavors, because the combination was freakin' amazing! The only thing that made this Bloody Mary better was the stunning views of Seattle we had while sipping them.

Bloody Mary at Laughlin Ranch Country Club. (11/24/06)
Bloody Mary at Laughlin Ranch Country Club. (11/24/06)

Laughlin Ranch Bloody Mary
I didn't have a lot of expectations when we went to have breakfast at the Laughlin Ranch country club just outside Laughlin, Nevada (technically it's in Arizona). It was our first time there, and when I saw the amazing Bloody Mary they brought out for me, I knew it wouldn't be our last.

Although this looked more like the stereotypical Bloody Mary, with the giant celery stalk, one noteworthy difference between this Bloody Mary and others was the giant prawn used as a garnish. It had a protein. It had a vegetable. Hell, add a slice of bread and it's practically a meal in itself!

Bloody Mary at the Ramos House, San Juan Capistrano. (11/30/2008)
Bloody Mary at the Ramos House, San Juan Capistrano. (11/30/2008)

The Ramos House Cafe Bloody Mary
As you've been reading, I've had some spectacular Bloody Marys over the years. But I think the crown jewel of my Bloody Mary history came just yesterday when we had Sunday brunch with our friend Sean at The Ramos House Cafe in the Los Rios historic district in San Juan Capistrano.

You knew this Bloody Mary was different the moment they brought it out, complete with a fresh clab claw speared into a scotch egg — a hard-boiled quail egg rolled in sausage meat, breaded and deep fried. I kid you not!

Topped with a fresh crab claw and a scotch egg. (11/30/2008)
Topped with a fresh crab claw and a scotch egg. (11/30/2008)

The only thing better than the amazing presentation was the taste. Unlike some Bloody Marys I've had, this one did not have a harsh alcohol taste. The reason why: It's made with fermented vodka, rather than distilled vodka (it has something to do with the classification of the restaurant's liquor license). It was definitely a drink to remember. Talk about a meal in itself!

Happy 75th Birthday to the Bloody Mary!