Out&About > Fun in the Santa Monica Sun

Chase loves sitting on Daddy's shoulders!

We signed up for Benihana's Chef Table - which is such a great deal! In the month of your birthday, you're emailed a $30 voucher to be used Monday through Thursday for either lunch or dinner. There are some limitations, of course - such as showing your driver's license with your birthday voucher. But basically, you eat for free!

Such a happy baby!

So we made an afternoon of it and headed to Santa Monica, along with the hundreds of other people in LA as the streets and beaches were teeming with activity!

Not too hot, not too cold - it was the perfect LA weather! Too bad my hair flew all over the place in the cool ocean breeze! And now that I think of it, I left the house without any makeup. BAH! Thank goodness I grabbed my Chewbeads teething necklace!

First time on the carousel!

We took Chase to the Santa Monica Pier Carousel - something that I remember loving as a little girl. For $2/adult ticket and children under two are free, it looks like the boys enjoyed their ride with the horses.

He smiled for the camera!

When we sat down to eat at Benihana, I knew what I'd order - the Lunch Boat special for about $10. The birthday boy wanted a set of sushi rolls that totaled $30 {in essence, making his meal free}, and received a complimentary bowl of ice cream as well.

While we ate, Chase seemed to keep himself occupied with Sophie the Giraffe along with my new Military Green Jane Chewbeads teething necklace. A great baby find, the necklace is made out of silicone beads - soft for babies to grab, tug and chew. I love how they look and feel, and am so glad that I splurged for the $30 necklace. Thank goodness I had a gift card to do so!

Another great weekend with the family!

Benihana
add: 1447 4th Street | Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel: 1.310.260.1423
url: www.benihana.com

Merry Go-Round Carousel
add: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A | Santa Monica, CA 90401
url: www.santamonicapier.org/carouselparty

Sophie the Giraffe
url: http://sophiegiraffeusa.com

Chewbeads
url: www.chewbeads.com

In the Kitchen > Matcha Green Tea Yodas They Are

My Little Padawan:
The Force is Strong with this One

Daily Gluttony posted a comment about Mi Cielo's Etsy shop that featured Star Wars inspired "Sewing Wars" onesies and shirts. They are "handmade with 100% love in Hawaii." When I saw Youda, I knew I had to purchase it for Chase! Mi Cielo has a ton of cute items and now that I have my own sewing machine {thanks to my husband for getting it for me for Mother's Day!}, I may try my hand at making some myself! I'm thinking... it's not too early to get started on a Halloween costume!

In any event, I learned from reading my AAA Westways magazine that today is the 35th Anniversary of Star Wars' release back in 1977. {Just a year before I was born!}

Matcha Green Tea Cookies

So in addition to modeling Chase's new outfit, I knew that it was time to get out my never before used Star Wars Heroes & Villains cookie cutter set that I purchased several years ago.

Oven Ready Yodas Are

Rather than make the sugar cookie recipe that came with the set, I thought I'd try to make a Yoda inspired GREEN tea cookie instead - especially since I had a couple of packets of Matcha sweetened green tea that needed to be used up.

Matcha Green Tea Yoda Cookies

After a quick Google search on matcha cookies, I found Just Jenn recipes:

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp matcha (green tea powder) {I used two packets of matcha sweetened iced tea packets}
2 tsp of lemon zest
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar {I used slightly less than was called for since the packets were already sweetened with cane sugar}
1 egg

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, matcha and lemon zest. In an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until combined. Then add egg and mix. Slowly add flour until well incorporated. The dough will form quickly, and when it starts to pull away from the bowl, it’s done!

Chill for at least four hours in the refrigerator {I left them in overnight.} When ready, roll out dough to about a quarter of an inch, and use confectioner's sugar to help the dough from sticking to the rolling pin. Place cookies on a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat, and bake for 8-12 minutes in 350 degree oven. Cool on a wire rack.

The cookies reminded me of a light and soft shortbread cookie with a hint of matcha. A bit doughy, these would go well with a cup of coffee.

Happy eating... and May the Force be with you!

Day 1: I Yam What I Yam!

My dumpling loves yams!

I'm pretty much following the Baby & Toddler Cookbook and am proud that I have yet to buy a jar of pre-made baby food! {But will do so, just to have in the cupboard - for emergencies. Now I just have to figure out which ones to get.}

Lately, Chase has been fussier than usual. I'm not entirely sure, but I'm thinking that maybe he's teething. There's something that looks like a top tooth trying to poke through, but it could be that I want to see something poking through to help me figure out why all the fussiness.

He's rolling over a lot more and I can see that he's trying very hard to crawl. He also loves standing up when he's held up with support. I'm thinking... trouble's coming! We'll have to baby-proof our place soon, but I have no idea where to start or what to get for our tiny place. At least we have a little more time before he's crawling and walking.

I keep telling myself... one breath at a time, one day at a time. 

For now, we've conquered pureed yams that have been peeled, chopped, steamed and mixed with some breast milk. Next on the baby menu - APPLES!

Eating Out > Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe

Lunch with Chase

I love my little man! He was so good today {minus the constant hair pulling}!

We walked over to Sawtelle with my girlfriend TW for lunch, and it was my first time taking Chase out in his Baby Bjorn rather than his stroller. {It took about half an hour just to get his diaper bag and the carrier ready; and boy, is he heavy at over 18 pounds!} It was also our first look at the new kid on the block, Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe.

There was a small wait for a table during the lunch hour, but we were graciously offered water while we waited. Maybe it was because I had Chase on my front and his diaper bag on my back, but I gladly welcomed a cup. And Chase got many smiles from patrons, servers and random strangers passing by. His cheeks are a serious magnet for attention!

The modern space at Nong Lá was clean and beautifully decorated with large photographs of Vietnam life, taken by none other than Chase's Uncle Dylan from Eat, Drink + Be Merry. Coincidentally, we ran into him as we were heading home.

TW and I shared the Goi Cuon / Spring Rolls {4.95}, the perfect starter for lunch. Refreshingly light with fresh ingredients, it was also the perfect finger food for a mom carrying her baby! I ordered the Com Rice Thit Nuong / Grilled Pork {7.95} and ended up finishing every bite, including the cilantro and green onion garnishes! The meat was tender with a great flavor, and I enjoyed the pickled carrots and daikon - mostly because it wasn't too pickled. TW ordered the Pho {7.95} but unfortunately, had to dine and dash to make a work meeting that was thought to be on another day. Oops! It happens.

I can't wait to return with MS - he loves pho and I want to try their Banh Mi sandwiches and homemade passion fruit iced tea. This newcomer is sure to be a hit with the Westside crowd and one that will definitely be added to our rotation of good eats!

Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe
add: 2055 Sawtelle Boulevard | Los Angeles, CA 90025
tel: 1.310.268.1881
url: www.nonglacafe.com 

Eating Out > JINYA Ramen Bar

Sexy Bowl of Tonkotsu Black

Why yes, that's a baby bottle next to my bowl of hot ramen. Whoever eats at a ramen-ya with a six-month old baby might be crazy to do so, but it wasn't too bad. There wasn't enough room for our stroller or car seat to hold Chase, and he's not big enough to sit in a restaurant high chair or booster. So, MS and I took turns holding Chase while the other slurped the tender noodles in their salty pork broth.

Both MS and I ordered the Tonkotsu Black {$10.55} - ramen with pork chashu, spinach, bamboo, green onions, cabbage, dried seaweed, special flavored egg that comes on the side, and garlic oil. I gobbled up every morsel since I could tell Chase was getting fidgety.

A plaque on the wall touts Jonathan Gold's stamp of approval at the restaurant's entrance, and while the above bowl of ramen was comforting and good, it didn't compare with the perfect bowl I had in Japan. In fact, that's how I feel about most ramen places in LA and there are plenty to choose from within walking distance on the bustling street of Sawtelle, including Tsujita LA, Asahi Ramen, Chabuya, Tatsu Ramen, Miyata Menji and Ramenya {just a couple blocks down on Olympic}.

Jinya West LA just opened the week we stopped in and was taking cash only at the time. Seemed as though some of the servers were still getting into their groove as we had to ask a couple times for extra garlic paste, small plates to share an appetizer, and more water.

We also saw a few Tsujita LA workers share some plates before starting their evening shift down the street. I wonder if they were checking out the competition or just curious for some good eats.

JINYA Ramen Bar West LA
add: 2208 Sawtelle Boulevard | Los Angeles, CA 90064
tel: 1.310.481.0977
url: http://jinya-ramenbar.com