back from hiatus

it's been exactly one month since my last post. shame on me. but i got busy. very busy. between work and friends coming to visit, i've basically eaten every meal out for the last 4 weeks. yipes.

during my "prepped food" splurge, i had many a good, but unhealthy fast food meal. c'est la vie.

from nations' cheeseburger made with a juciy patty, fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce and pungent white onions with a smear of tangy miracle whip, accompanied by french fries and a vanilla shake on a wednesday nite after work...

to...

where the special sauce is still special to me, i grubbed down. when i get super busy, i get lazy about cooking. thank heavens for fast food.

i took several trips to L&L's for...

gosh their hawaiian bbq chicken and pork lau lau is so good. and who can resist that macaroni salad?? no wonder they win best plate lunch of the year over and over.

when not working, i spent some quality time with friends this past month. two visits to sunflower vietnamese restaurant in the mission meant i got to feast on...

shaken beef and giant prawns with garlic noodles... twice. crepevine, just for you cafe, osha thai, san tung, los flamingos and chow were all visited by me and my friends. yum.

on my trip to LA this past weekend, at 3:30am saturday nite i gorged on...

my reun par standards are the stewed pork leg and preserved vegetables over rice and the bean sauce morning glory.

the tom gah gai...

that randy ordered was spicy, sour and creamy-ly excellent with chicken, mushrooms and lots of lemongrass.

the next day yielded 85 degree and shorts 'n' flip flop weather so i took a stroll down 3rd street promenade and decided to enjoy a...

while i lazily walked towards the santa monica pier.

making it all the way to the seacliffs, my reward came in the form of a gorgeous...

truly breathtaking. and i was still in my shorts and flip flops. in mid-february.

sunday's late lunch with the family consisted of cuban soul food. my personal favorite...

#1 cuban roast pork. the westside-famous versailles did not dissappoint, although i experienced sticker shock: the price of #1 is now $9.95!! (it used to be $6.95 in college.) my parents became instant fans as well.

later that afternoon, i joined ellen at this...

a quaint and down-to-earth cafe in silverlake.

it being chinese new year, of course i partook in my aunt's cooking...

only 6 of the 9 dishes are shown here. i had to leave early to catch my flight home to the bay area which was why not all the dishes were out yet. but i got to nibble before everyone else did.
and once back, although i was wearing shorts and flip flops no longer, something about the crisp, cold air in the wind whispered, "welcome home," and i felt happy to be back, well-rested and relaxed.

*edit - oh yes, as you might have deduced, i have replaced my poor lost camera and 1 gb memory card. back to posting!