Birds and Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving...literally, the day of Thanksgiving and it's been about a month or so that all we hear about is the bird (in regards to the turkey). The bird in the stores, the bird on tv, the bird on front covers of consumer magazines; making us obsess over making the perfect bird, or craving that perfect bird. Bird! Bird! Bird!

In retrospect, that got me thinking about birds in general. There's so much to say about birds; a little bird told me, birds of prey, birds of paradise, giving someone the bird, that's for the birds, the birds and the bees, birds eye view, birds of a feather flock together, early bird catches the worm, and my favorite from the movie - The Notebook - "If you're a bird, I'm a bird."

Speaking of movies, I do a live segment on Los Angeles's KIIS 102.7 fm where we feature a movie, combine it with a life lesson, and allow callers to tell us all about how they relate. It's just a way of getting out a positive message to younger listeners. One of the upcoming movies is the movie Restless by Gus Van Sant. There's this amazing scene about this beautiful songbird who thinks its going to die every sundown and in consequence, wakes up singing this magnificent song because its so grateful to still be alive. Bird lovers across the globe know this bird to sing the most beautiful song of all humming birds or songbirds. Something about this scene really struck a note in me. Gratitude is instilled even in birds, and that's what Thanksgiving is all about. Gratitude, thankfulness for the abundance we have in our lives.

Today, I don't want to be simply thankful for my family, our health, my friends, etc. I'm thankful for the wonderful things that have happened to me, and I'm also thankful for the horrible things that have happened to me, because they have made me the person I am today. I'm grateful for all the doors that have closed because each time, a window with a better opportunity has opened; for uncertainty and trying times, because it has given me fortitude and deliverance of faith; for hard work because it has given me endurance and dedication; for the things that have fallen apart beyond my control, because better ones have come together; for meeting all kinds of people, even bad ones, because that has made me feel lucky to meet the right ones; for every healthy day because it has given me priority and possibility; for the appreciation of art, because it has given me whimsical understanding; for serendipity because it has given me the assurance that there's no such thing as coincidence; for those days when things go wrong, because it has made me ecstatic when they go right.

Its Thursday, literally the day of Thanksgiving, November 25, 2010, and I feel like that songbird every morning when I wake up. Perhaps it's because I'm the luckiest person in the world to be able to say it in my heart, "If you're a bird, I'm a bird."

Thou shall not wear Khaki Pants...ever!

There are some days where you ask yourself, " Does it get any better than this?" and then, if you're lucky, there are days where you just know that it doesn't.

I still don't know how my head hasn't exploded from an overdose of all things astoundingly beautiful. I'm talking about a day where everything just falls together effortlessly, simple, undemanding, and yet the end result is a masterpiece. This day was in fact a masterpiece.

It began midday with a light patio lunch on the 15th floor, overlooking the prestine biscayne bay. We sat sandwiched between a couple of other gorgeous high rises, nestled in a small marble table sipping on some Purple haze, as we discussed menu items and why I was wearing khaki pants.

Yes, we were debating my fashion sense and how I looked like a billboard for GAP, as I sat there in my black tshirt from Banana Republic and my Khaki cotton pants. Clothes never make me feel self-conscious but debating my fashion sense definetely gets a good laugh out of me, I do admit to overstepping the boundaries of boring and common sometimes - hence the GAP comparison. After a few bites of great guacamole, a shortrib tostada, and an incredible sushi roll, substituting my unexciting khaki pants seemed like the only logical thing to do....actually, substituting my entire outfit seemed like the only logical thing to do. Off to the mall we were! We had a couple of hours to kill before dinner reservations at a well sought out restaurant.

Giving the task to someone to dress you while you watch them choose all the different articles, could be a pretty entertaining thing. It's funny to see the things they'd choose for you, things you'd never choose on your own. I think this shopping process shed some light on my fashion sense. I was able to see that I was attracted to exactly the same type of clothes all around...black, grey, dark green...no ruffles, no strange patterns, no wild colors. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I'm simply more quickly drawn to those other colors rather than something bright or vivid. After a really good time people watching, trying on clothes, and picking just the right outfit for dinner (afterall "khakis were a big no-no) , there was only one thing left to do before our reservaton. Change our clothes in the car! I felt like a couple of outlaws, a scene from a Life Less Ordinary, or something just as sketchy but exhilirating at the same time. We were all set for a fabulous dinner but had no idea what was in store...

One of my favorite parts of a dining experience anywhere is the element of surprise. Some places you know exactly what to expect. You know what you're going to get and how you're going to get it. Most places fail to deliver the WOW factor and even though I am always eagerly searching for it, I rarely find it. This time would prove to be one of those rare occassions.

Stepping into this restaurant, you are immediately fascinated by its nautical design - it almost has a Hamptons, northeastern feel to it. Being ten minutes early for our reservation, the hostess politely guided us to the bar and suggested a couple of cocktails before our table would be ready. One strawberry-candy like drink and a mojito. I love watching bartenders make drinks that actually require real fruit and extracting flavors by muddling, squeezing, and stirring - not just pouring and mixing. As the bartending was slicing berries and sqeezing lemons and limes, I was tasting the drink in my head. A couple of sips, and I was a happy camper. The hostess quickly took us to our outdoor table...and there it was....the WOW factor. A corner table at the very edge of the terrace of the hotel overlooking the ocean as the sunset approached. There is something eminently magical about a sunset. Maybe its the way it outlines the tall palm trees, maybe its the way it makes the ocean sparkle, or maybe its the way it signifies the day is ending; ending with hopes that you did it right, with hopes that this day was great. Maybe it the closing of a day, but the beginning of so much more that lay ahead. I tell you...something about those sunsets.

As for the meal, have you ever had a meal where sparks fly? I find it difficult to put into words how amazing this meal was. Luscious, creamy burratta Mozzarella, crusty bread with eggplant capponata, mascarpone butter, and a rustic Italian olive oil. Exuberantly, I awaited the next dishes hoping they'd be better but thinking that wouldn't be possible as this first course held its awesome status. The next dish was delicate and astounding beef tartare with a quail egg and shaved Alba white truffles. The Excutive Chef himself came out to our table to shave the white truffles onto our tartare dish. It was a jaw dropping experience as the aroma from the white truffles perfumed the ocean breeze. It was at that very moment as I sat there while the truffles glided through the air onto the plate ever so graceful, with my glass of wine, in this picturesque setting, and I thought to myself, "I really don't know how my head hasn't exploded from experiencing these outrageous larger than life moments. Sometimes I feel like I'm on ecstasy." Next, was this polenta that was cooked for 8 hours in milk that deserved a standing ovation. I didn't know if I was eating a creamy cheese or a corn product. It was silky, indulgent, and most definetely the kind of food you close your eyes to catch yourself for a moment....Or maybe you need a cigarette after (kidding I don't smoke). Each and every dish that followed was just as wonerful keeping my state of bliss at a steady nirvana. Speaking of bliss, after a couple of handcrafted pasta dishes, we couldn't skip dessert. I never order dessert but how could we skip dessert at a place that exceeded all expectations? A semi frozen pannacotta with a guava soup. Refreshing. Perfect. Soothing. Just what you need after meal made for kings and queens.

As the night concluded with a happy stomach and a good buzz, I realized a couple of brilliant things. Thou shall not wear khaki pants! and the other thing is to be grateful for those days that turn out to be masterpieces...Those days where you ask yourself, "Does it get any better than this? " and then, if you're lucky, there are those days where you just know that it doesn't." Cheers to the masterpieces!

In the words of the Veronica's

So they say that Lyon and Rome have a couple of things in common. One of which is that they are both full of temperamental gourmets eternally engaged with the never-ending search of that imaginary, perfect, unknown, little backstreet bistro where one can dine in the style of Louis the XIV. While I don't consider myself a temperamental gourmet, I have to admit I am fully fascinated by the idea of sharing a bottle of wine, a couple of impeccable dishes, and just sitting there enjoying the company. I've taken my share of mediocre-poorly made dishes with a grain of salt so I find it perfectly natural that I would get uber-excited over a fantastic meal.

Today, it all began by a meandering car ride, to a place I had already been to, and well, I couldn't remember I was there once, much less what I ate when I visited, so that speaks for itself. However, that mistake or blissful indifference lead me to ponder something, I asked myself one of the most common thought-of questions ever---- "What's for lunch?" And after a long list of "been there, done that" places, one restaurant stood out above the rest. This is a place where you can order a few, exquisite dishes, a superb wine, and enjoy an eclectic artsy atmosphere. Don't go for people watching, it seems as though the people that were there forgot their personalities at home, they seemed blase, apathetic almost. Were they just bored of lunch, or bored of life? Okay, so forget people watching; make sure you go with someone who mirrors your passion for food, and you'll be sure to be in a foodie-paradise.

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite foods in the world is a very high quality mozzarella called Burratta. A rich, creamy indulgently smooth cheese, idealy paired with a dense balsamic reduction, throw in some braised red onions, fresh tomatoes, a housemade pesto, and you're in heaven. I paired this with a glass of Lagaria, an Italian reisling, and this combination was a gourmet hyperbole all around. You couldn't help but smile from the first bite, the first sip. The two together was definetely love at first bite. A couple of other dishes consisted of swordfish carpaccio, scallops with preserved lemons, marinated artichokes, and few slices of artisan Italian bread accompanied by a fruity and pungeant olive oil with a light sprinkle of sea salt. Simple, fresh, clean food , a delicious wine, and the company of someone who cracks you up.... really....does it get better than this? I love visting places that grant me the priviledge to say "The best I ever had." In this case, this restaurant allowed me to have the best mozzarella I have ever had anywhere. I guess I can scratch that off my bucket list.

Next time, you're thinking of heading to your local chain restaurant to fill up your belly, take time to think about where you're going. Make it special because dining, is one of the best things that we share as human beings. It should be a wonderful time of sharing, getting to know people, and getting to know yourself. You'll discover new things you like, things you might obsess over for a little while, and things you'll never want to taste again. Take time to actually enjoy sitting in your chair, embrace the atmosphere, and stare at the person across from you, take a mental picture, because in the grand scheme of things - it is a blessing that they are sitting there with you. Pay attention to what they enjoy, their reactions to certain things, and simply take in the dining experience. You'll get to know them a little bit better each time, something I believe my generation lacks of. We often fail to dedicate ourselves to getting to know someone, really. Real conversations, real meals, real time. After all, Bacchus had something right, " In a lot of good food, and good wine, there's a lot of truth."

Lyon and Rome can play host to those in search of the of the perfect, imaginary, little, unknown backstreet bistro where one can dine in the style of Louis the XIV. As for me, today, I consider myself priviledged and lucky to have found a place where I dined in the style of Louis XIV. Next time you go out to eat, I encourage you to find a place that offers a special exquisite item, check out for yourself if its the best you've ever had, order a glass of Lagaria if its available, take a mental picture of who's across from you, enjoy their company to the fullest, and take in the experience. I garauntee you'll be saying in the words of the Veronica's " I could get used to this."

A rock and a hard place

People (including myself) are often unreasonable, irrational, self-centered; forgive them ANYWAY. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind ANYWAY. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create ANYWAY. If you find happiness, others may be jealous. Be happy ANYWAY. The good you do today may often be forgotten, do good ANYWAY. Give the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best ANYWAY. In the end, it was between you and God; it was never between you and them ANYWAY.

While I am used to my erradic, fast-paced lifestyle, there has been few weeks in my lifetime as uncomposed, spontaneous, and poignant as this week. I've been put in all types of positions where I've had to use my judgement, my conscience, and my heart. I've even been asked to play Dr. Phil or cupid by a suprise person. It's been a week of fantastic news, bad news, realizations, and what I like to call U-turns. The funny thing is that in all this sentiment, I've never had more interviews, photoshoots, charity conferences, radio segments, and television shoots all in one week while the restuarant has been off-the-charts busy. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining because I consider myself priviledged to be doing my work, its just been fabulously chaotic.

I am sure you've all heard of the saying " a rock and a hard place." Well, maybe that would be the theme of this week. I believe we are put through tests in life, and its how we react, and overcome them, that makes us the people we are today. I also believe in fate- and that you can't cheat fate so it's up to us to make the right choices along the way, to make it a good journey. We'll arrive to where we are supposed to the easy way or the hard way so we must make the best of it.

Imagine for a second that you have a strong dislike for chocolate (hypothetically), through the years, you and chocolate have nothing in common, in fact, you don't see eye to eye on alot of things. You don't like all that chocolate stands for and what chocolate consumes its time with. You don't even like the few conversations you've had with chocolate. All of sudden, chocolate comes to you for help. What do you do? Do you turn your back on him? Or do you swallow your pride and lend a helping hand? Do you advise him exactly as you would yourself (from the heart) or do you keep it simple and brush it off?

Imagine for a second that a person who made your life miserable in high school, now crosses paths with you professionally, and their job depends solely on your decision to be part of a business organization or not... do you go with "eye for an eye" or do you turn the other cheek, and take on the business opportunity just to salvage their job?

Imagine for a second, there's a lady selling sunflowers on the corner of a busy intersection in the sweltering hot summer heat every single day. You see her day in and day out covered in sweat, holding her sunflowers trying to make an honest living. You reach for your pocket to buy the flowers...you take out a $20. Do you insist on the change that you'll blow on something stupid or do you opt for giving the small gift that might put a meal on her dinner table?

That was just a little bit of the chaos...lol. So in a time where it's easy to brush off someone, turn the other cheek, or seek and eye for an eye, or just use the excuse that we are too busy to help someone. This is what I found to be utimately true and what I live by everyday, even when you are between a rock and a hard place: " People (including myslef) are often unreasonable, irrational, self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find happiness, other may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the end, it is between you and God, it is never between you and them anyway.

And if you're curious about the choices I made....I helped out the chocolate as best as I could. I took on the business opportunity, and I didn't ask for the change.

Afterall, to me, it's about making it count....

Shangri- La

Shangri La.... the mystical earthly paradise of the Orient, the Hymalayan utopia, and the fictional permanent happy place in Tibetan scriptures that depicts a beautiful azalea garden. The Garden of Eden, if you will, hidden from and treasured by modern man. But Shangri-La was not oceans nor continents away from me on this exquisite dinner. Shangri-La was situated at Hakkasan at the Fountainbleau for this uber-perfect dinner....or gastronomic journey...whichever.

Few things intrigue me and excite me as much as the fuse between cuisine and culture. It's that spark that allows me to travel to a foreign place via its food and tradition and I don't mean to sound cliche or like all those travel channel guys - But there is truth to this amazing taste trek.

Hakkasan is voted as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world, rated AAA four diamond, and I was there to see if it would live up to the hype? Come on, let's face it, most restaurants nowadays are let downs but this one, would prove this theory wrong...........finally.

This unforgettable meal started with these bold, slightly daring, exotic martinis called the Hakka and Lost Heaven laced with flavors of lychee, passion fruit, nashi pear, guava, coconut milk, tequila, and Russian standard Vodka. They made Cosmos look like babies in their diapers. A few sips of these bad boys and you knew you were in some kind of Shangri La for sure. All I could do was sit there in awe of the decor and ambience trying not to be swept away by its aura.

"Here's the dim sum platter, " the server softly voiced over the contemporary Asian music. On the menu it simply reads "Dim Sum Platter" therefore you do not know what's in store. Is it pork? Is it crab? Or is it vegetables? What it should read is " Ridiculously, Insanely, Amazing Dim Sum" I can say this because I have been priviledged enough to eat at the dim sum capitals in the country, New York City, San Franscisco, and Los Angeles, not to mention my little stint at the Mandarin Oriental where I was surrounded by dim sum on the daily. However, this Dim Sum was in a catergory all its own. The pungeant flavors, the precision in the density of the steamed wrapper, the freshness of the ingredients, were all factors in making this the best dim sum I've ever had.

Corn-fed Chicken and Jellyfish....WTF??? Yes, Jellyfish and guess what? It was delicious! I'll admit, I was bit apprehensive at first, being a jellyfish virgin and all, but with a little open mindness and strong curiosity, this attested the notion of "don't knock it, till you try it." The texture and flavor is similar to seaweed so imagine having a seaweed salad or something similar. Next, I enjoyed a fried softshell crab with Chili and Curry leaf which turned out to be perfectly fried crispy, not greasy, and full of flavor. Now remember, inbetween bites and dishes were the sips of the Hakka and Lost Heaven elevating the experience more and more. I felt like I was about to ....???? Kidding, but I do confess that I had to brace myself for the star of the evening - Ostrich! Yes, I'm talking about the huge bird with the long neck that's super awkward and kinda funny even just to look at. Boy, is ostrich delicious. It tasted just like beef tenderloin. Following the orgasmic overload of deliciousness, was a crispy duck roll. Truthfully, I am not a fan of Chinese five-spice because I don't "usually" enjoy cinnamon and other strong spices in my food, but I use the term "usually" because this time, Hakkasan made me enjoy Chinese five spice. The duck was moist and crispy; and oxymoron by nature and the wrapper was delicate and crunchy.

Now that brings us to the grande finale, and my head feels like it's about to explode from epicurean euphoria (something I am proudly addicted to), a white chocolate mousse with a passion fruit sorbet. If you read that sentence over again, atleast the part of white chocolate mousse with passion fruit sorbet, it sounds so modest and noble. NOT! This dessert deserved a standing ovation. The rich velvetty white chocolate mousse, with a delectable brown sugar crust complemented the sweet and sour passion fruit sorbet. The passion fruit sorbet was so vibrant and fresh, it felt like a firework in my mouth. Actually, it was like 4th of July in there. I was very close to getting out of my chair and giving it a round of applause before I realized that would have been categorized as wierd by other diners. Honestly, at that point, I didn't care what was wierd or not. I had just experienced what few ever get to even dream of experiencing. The food, the ambience, or the smile across from me...I don't know which one it was that had me high but the fact remains, I was high. As my quest through Asia came to an end, I realized few meals are as wonderful as this...I had experienced my very own version of the paradise of the Orient, the Hymalayan utopia, the permanent happy place in Tibetan scriptures. With every bite, every sip, and every look, Shangri La was at Hakkasan on this day, and now as I look back on it, it was a Lost Heaven....or just heaven...whichever.

I hope that's me

There's a few times where special things happen that most of would like to say at some point, " I hope that's me." At 6 years old, we see a superhero or princess on tv or in a storybook, and we say " I hope that's me" with an innocent aspiration that one day, we will fly above the earth or wave a wond and wear a crown. At 13, we see our first crush with someone else during lunchtime, and we think, " I hope that's me." From 15-17 years old, we watch movies like Fast and the Furious or Can't Hardly Wait, and say " I hope that's me" in anticipation of that car, or that guy; the new mustang, being popular, and wearing the right clothes has your head spining. As highschool comes to a close, you begin to think about your future, what you'll be, what will make your parents proud, and what will give you the life you've always dreamed about. Even though you'll think about those things, its not until voting for your prom king and queen that'll have you wishing, " I hope that's me." Before you know it, you're like Asher Roth and you love college, and road trips to Daytona and endless games of beer pong have you saying, " I hope that's me."

Then one day, all of a sudden you're stuck in an early morning class getting over last night's festivities, and the beaming sunlight through the classroom window reminds you of the days when you were little, and you splashed around having fun in an inflatable pool full of dad's hot air, and it made you think how much he loved you to fill up that pool with his breath, and that made you think " I hope that's me" one day.

At 23, you're graduated and it's the first day of your first job as what you studied to be, and you look at your boss and you plan in a few years, " I hope that's me." Now you're 25 and head over heals with enough sense about life, and they get a cold, someone's got to run and get them nyquil and soup, you say to yourself, " I hope that's me. " Now, every Valentine's Day comes around, and someone's got to get all dressed up for an unforgettable night and your heart says, " I hope that's me." Now, you go to your first wedding as an adult, and you look at the happy couple starring into eachother's eyes as they say I do, and all the moments flash in your mind, how you met, the magic that lays between the both of you, and as he lifts her vail the world stops for a second, your soul says, " I hope that's me."

A few years ago, when I went to my first Chef's Congress in New York City, I was merely 21 years old, I remember seeing all the star chefs representing their restaurants. They were proud, shining of their craft, it was something that made them stand out from the masses. I remember walking and tasting all of their dishes, and wondering, how much work and effort did they undergo to get there? I remember standing there as an outsider, as a fan, as a student, and thinking that my admiration at that point was a testament to their passion, and I stood inspired for the rest of my life. They were successful at the riskiest business in the country, and I thought that day at 21 years old, " I hope that's me."

I am so grateful for all I have seen and done in my life up to now, and excited for what's to come, but that only leaves one thing to hope for. When I am old and gray, sitting on a front porch on a swinging bench, remeniscing of all the crazy wonderful stories my life allowed me to experience, laughing to tears at some of them, holding a Pellegrino water bottle in one hand, and looking at the person who allowed me to share the most beautiful lifetime possible, the person who gave me a reason to be better, the person who gave a definition to the things we hope for. As we swing, as we'll remember everything, I'm thinking now, " I hope that's you."

Sublime Wavelength

I'll never forget the first time I didn't eat with you. Yes, I said I "didn't" eat. I think it was nachos....

Have you ever stopped to think about the sublime moments in life, the ones that seem too good to be true, 10 feet off the ground, or you have to pinch yourself to make sure you're not dreaming? Being a chef, of course some of these moments revolve around food in some form. Nonetheless, to me, food cannot be completely spectacular without someone great to share it with. Something I like to call a sublime wavelength. There is something remarkable about the euphoric suspense of experiencing a new restaurant, a new dish, something foreign or strange, an exalted wine, or something noble and close to home that everyone is raving about. You know that feeling...you know what I am talking about.

I love all kinds of foods; I'm into all types of Asian cuisine, I consider myself a hotdog conisseur, and well, if it's Mexican, it's got me all over it. Like a little kid at Christmas, I anticipate a great meal, like a child anticipates Santa Clause. While this might spell out nerd for many people, for me, its quite brilliant to spend a couple of hours with someone and get one-on-one time. It's usually around a table, sharing something good, that great conversations rise. Some famous philosopher once said that you'll get to know a person's best qualities sitting around a dinner table - and well, I agree. Around a dinner table, you'll see if someone is daring, you'll see if they are conscientious, if they are well mannered, if they have a sense of humor, if they're cultured, and if you're sharing a bottle of wine, you'll see their views on anything from politics to love and everything in between.

Going to an exotic or interesting place can mean traveling without leaving your seat. I know I am not the only one that imagines themselves in Japan, while they're in a great Japanese place or in Italy when they're eating a rustic Italian dish. All jokes aside, sharing a great dining experience with someone special can be phenomenal and unforgettable. I remember one time we sat outdoors in this small but highly reccommended posh-posh restaurant, the sun was beaming off the blue sky making it warm on a winter day, we ordered Japanese oysters and a lobster po'boy. No oysters have ever been that good, but I still don't know if it was the setting, the company, or the oysters? But I sure feel lucky to ask myself that question. Another time, we were oceanfront in a cantina, eating the best chicken wings on earth, I'm at a loss for words here. And I can't forget the time, we picked up stone crabs and champange to eat at the very edge of Key Biscayne. See what I mean about a sublime wavelength? Grab someone who's on the same wavelength as you, go out there and enjoy the great restaurants your city has to offer, taste things you've never tasted before, don't be afraid to get to know your server just a little (you might learn something - atleast about the menu - if not, they'll entertain you somewhat.)

But most importantly, next time you're out somewhere, it could be at a burger joint or a 5-star place, don't forget to pay attention to who's sitting right across from you. Pay attention to their stories, their reactions to the foods, what they pick off the menu, if they smile at the server, because there is something magical about sharing a meal, trust me. In a fast paced world where our minds are on everything but what actually matters, there's one thing we can keep slow and special, Baucchus and Robert Mondavi both couldn't be wrong about the finest things in life.

A million bites later, a thousand stories ago, and hundreds of restaurants under our belts, I still remember the first time I "didn't" eat with you. I think it was nachos....and it was the beggining of foodie oddessy....a sublime wavelength.