Saturday, January 28, 2012

I'm baaaaaack!

Life at home has pretty much gone back to normal. The first few days back at Hastings I was miserable and grumpy and just wishing I could go back to Italy, but being around my amazing friends and family has made me feel so much better! Plus, I get to hang out with this guy. Sometimes I walk into my room and find him just hanging out.



My buds and I made the trek to Lake Tahoe to ring in the new year. It was beautiful and I had an amazing time, plus I got to eat these chilaquiles.





One of the first things I did after coming home was go on a trip to Lime in San Francisco with some special ladies and gents. I had huevos rancheros and bacon, and of course bottomless mimosas. After brunch we went to Dolores Park and played with puppies. Beautiful SF day!





I also had a sleepover with the incomparable Valerie Hernandez and Saria Mapanao, where we had this pizza. It was covered with Mexican meat like carnitas and asada, and grilled pineapple! Italians would probably faint at its inauthenticity, but I was obviously thrilled.


One of the coolest events in San Francisco is Dine About Town, where you receive a three-course dinner for only $35! I went to Level III and had cream of broccoli soup with Camembert, Arctic char (which I forgot to take a picture of.. oops!) and a delicious cheese plate. The service was lame but the soup was one of the best I've ever had.



My parents and I have been having some pretty amazing food, too. Here's tri-tip, roasted potatoes, and green beans made by my dad. The pasta is in a prosciutto, roasted red pepper, and pea sauce and served with sauteed mushrooms (this recipe ROCKED).



In a stroke of genius, my lovely law school friend Aditi decided to throw her birthday party at a tea shop in the city (Secret Garden Tea House, Lincon & 8th Ave). We had so much fun noshing on tiny tea sandwiches, cheese, and pastries, and I had a delicious and delicate smoked salmon salad. The floppy hats made it all even tastier.





Tonight I got to hang with my old friend Alice, who I met in Paris the first time I studied abroad. We went to The Counter and I feasted on this glorious burger salad with blue cheese, marinated artichokes, tomatoes, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, and grilled onions.


There are definitely times I miss being in Italy, like when I spied panettone in my local market around Christmas. But who knows, maybe I'll go back someday! Until then, at least I have my friends to keep me laughing.



xoxo,
R