WILD BUNCH SECRET SANTA

Every year we get together to do a Secret Santa gift exchange.  I am reminded of how lucky I am to have made such extraordinary friends.  My extended family.

Jamores gave us all Disney lego figurines. I got Mickey.

He also shared his home-infused rum, which we finished well before the night was over.

Then we played the very cute and even more addicting game, Sushi Go.

My gift exchange haul was perfect.  They know me so well.

Calendar of cats doing yoga poses.

Studio Ghibli Socks

Naruto keychain

We are feeling jolly.

LUNCH OF THE FUTURE

I had the future of lunch with Jonathan in Palo Alto.  First stop, Yayoi, where you order everything by touch screen.  You can even track the progress of your meal on the screen.

Next was Creamistry, where you choose exactly what flavor and mix-ins you want in your ice cream. Then they make it for you on the spot, using liquid nitrogen.

My creation: coffee with oreo cookies

TAROT CARDS AND CATS

Two of my most favorite things in one lovely afternoon with Heather.

My cup overfloweth.

Revolution

CHRISTMAS IN ROSEVILLE

First time back home since moving to Los Angeles and I'm startled at how fast the kiddos are growing up.  Thank goodness I can capture glimpses of these precious moments when for one night, we are all together again.

What a beautiful couple.

SWAG

 

Sisters

Those cheeks tho.

PANKO BREADED MCDONALDS

My brother is a genius.

McDonalds + Panko

0_0!!

CROSSING THE BORDER

As expected, crossing the border back into the United States was far more difficult and took much more time than crossing into Mexico. While waiting in line, people were standing in the streets selling food and goods. We kept ourselves occupied during the wait with music, pictures, and creating an improvised movie.

We held out for dinner until we reached Urban Seoul in Irvine. We ordered the bulgogi sizzling plate and the kimchi chicharrones fried rice. It was a divine dinner after a long car ride home.  

VILLA ORTEGA IN PUERTO NUEVO

Puerto Nuevo is synonymous with lobster.  So after we checked our of our airbnb, we went south about 30 minutes away to try some seafood.

I loved everything about the restaurant Villa Ortega-- the food, the ambiance, and the view. It was a rainy Thursday around 11AM when we arrived. As we pulled up to the parking lot, neighboring lobster resturants approached our car trying to persuade us to eat at their restaurant instead.  We weren't fooled though!  

We entered Villa Ortega and there weren't that many people there, as it was off season.  We really enjoyed having the main hall to ourselves, the decor of gigantic wooden ship was in plain view. We were brought us chips, bread, and salsa right away. We ordered the augachile and a large lobster to share. There was more than enough food for both of us! 

View from our window seat.  What a beautiful day.

Each meal came with tortilla soup.

Andrew's fave, agua chile.

An entire fried lobster just for me.  Served with rice, beans, and butter.

COLECTIVO 9

I have to give Colectivo 9 a shoutout.  Even though the only thing I purchased was the best Mexican Hot Chocolate I've ever had, there is so much more to be appreciated of this place.  It's a food court haven and if I'm ever in Tijuana again I'll come back hungry.

MISION 19

During my research of Tijuana, the resturant Misión 19 appeared again and again. We booked a reservation before we even left LA!  Misión 19 is the flagship restaurant by Javier Plascencia. He introduced a new style of cooking aptly called Baja Med. It takes advantage of local and traditional Mexican ingredients and pairs them with Mediterranean and Asian cooking styles.  All of the ingredients come from a 120 mile radius of the restaurant.

We ordered the 6 course chef's tasting menu and loved every single dish that came out.  The combinations of ingredients, technique, and presentation were phenomenal.  This was by far my favorite meal of the trip.

Our first course, complements of the chef.

Estudio en Atun Aleta Azul

Camote Ahumado

Chicharron de Pulpo

Taco Goloso

Asado de Res

Ricotta de Ojos Negros