Exhaling Life

It was back in January. I wanted a proper afternoon tea with a book, so I made a reservation for one at The Living Room in The Peninsula Beverly Hills. I sat with Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life and indulged in a lovely afternoon tea until I was surprised by a parade of cakes. I realized that every table was celebrating a birthday, and not another table was being occupied simply to enjoy the afternoon tea. I pondered and smiled at the reminder that I don't save good china for special occasions. Afternoon Tea at The Living Room Special occasions... Those words lingered in my mind. The only thing guaranteed in life from the first breath to the very last breath we take is death. Birth and all the days we lived seem almost infinitesimal compared to today, our present. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it is called the present." I like that saying, the best present is the present. There are days

Autumn is upon us! I appreciate the cool breezes and gentle sunlight after summer's blazing heat. Some folks become pumpkin-obsessed, but I think of wine in the autumn months. Perhaps, it is because grape harvesting for winemakers in California is done from August to November. Another reason may be because the weather is cool enough to enjoy red wine while I tend to stick to white wine during the heat-intense months.  So! Last month, I took a day trip to Santa Barbara with a friend for wine tasting in its Funk Zone. We took Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner for our trip, which gave us time to chat and relax without the hassle of driving with serene views of the farmlands and ocean. We stopped by Melville Winery's lovely tasting room, shown above, where I picked up a delightful bottle of 2023 Grenache Estate Rosé. With the change of season and very welcomed cool temperature, I decided to switch the layout of this month's Style LookBook. Rather than showing the curated pieces in

We've had it. We know it is simply delicious. Miso dressing is a delightful way to dress up a salad with salmon, chicken, and steak. Shown above drizzled over Spring Mix greens in a salmon rice bowl, this miso dressing is a cinch to make.  INGREDIENTS two tablespoons of rice vinegar two tablespoons of vegetable oil one tablespoon of red miso one teaspoon of sesame oil one teaspoon of tomato paste one teaspoon of grated ginger one teaspoon of brown sugar Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and now you have delicious miso dressing. The dressing keeps well bottled in a refrigerator. 

More commonly referred to as Korean Steamed Eggs, this Korean Savory Egg Soufflé recipe has been in the works for years with me, on and off. I wanted it to be quintessential to my Grandma's gyeranjjim, Korean Steamed Eggs, although I knew nothing could ever be like the ones Grandma used to make. Perhaps my pursuit to make the perfect Korean Savory Egg Soufflé was an homage to Grandma, whose memory makes me melancholy with longing aches.  While simple to make, this egg dish can be temperamental. I recommend using a  Korean clay pot when making Korean Egg Soufflé since I had much better success using the clay pot. Using both traditional and non-traditional ingredients, the recipe reflects the love my Grandma put into her cooking and my love for her.  INGREDIENTS two eggs, whisked a half teaspoon of salted fermented shrimp (saeujeot) a third cup of water a third cup of half-and-half two green onions, diced Bring water and half-and-half to simmer in a thick clay heat-safe pot over hig

This month's LookBook is all about Autumn while Los Angeles faces an Extreme Heat Warning this week with temperatures exceeding 100°F. Kicking into Autumn, two pieces curated for September's LookBook that will make fabulous staples for the coming months are a trench coat by Ganni and a pair of knee-high boots by Senso . [DRESS] ERDEM Floral Cut-Out Midi Dress [TRENCH COAT] GANNI Checkered-Lapel Belted Trench Coat [BOOTS] SENSO Zandar Knee-High Boots [BAG] GUCCI Small Logo-Print Tote Bag ps: While all items are curated by me, I receive commissions from retailers on purchased items. pss: Items shown are not shown in scale.

Fermented pollock roe, Mentaiko in Japanese and Myeongnanjeot in Korean, is a common ingredient in both countries. Growing up, I was not a fan of fermented pollock roe but was told that it was good for me. According to Google AI, my Mom did not lie. They are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamins E, B1, B2, A. They also have roe phospholipid, which benefits brain cognition and mental health.  Ceramic bowl wheel-thrown and glazed by me. Fast forward to recent years. The first time I had Mentaiko Pasta was at Pasta e Pasta by Allegro in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles,  as a mature adult. I was reluctant to order it since I wasn't a fan of fermented pollock roe. I couldn't wrap my foodie arms around the flavor but was too curious to pass. My curiosity turned out to be a blessing since I fell for Mentaiko Pasta's layered flavors of sharp savoriness and buttery creaminess. The saltiness from the fermented pollock roe enhanced the spaghetti while the cream sauce curved to balanc