Bear Flag Fish Co.

One of my favorite spots! The best seafood in town.

The Los Angeles Times calls it --

"A vision of seafood simplicity, the type that should exist along every waterfront but that rarely does. The Bear Flag Fish Co. in Newport Beach is a fish market that also serves a loyal crowd with fresh seafood, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, salads and more."

 

Dan and I LOVE their Ahi Poke and chips. You might just see us here after our sailing class on Saturdays or in the evenings after work. I can't get enough of this place! They bring in fresh fish daily and use local bread from the C'est Si Bon Bakery for grilled fish sandwiches and bowls of clam chowder. They also have fun drinks like Wild Poppy's, grapefruit ginger, plum licorice, vanilla peach, peppermint lemonade and young coconut water straight from the coconut! 

Vanilla Bean Peach Cake with Peach Soaking Syrup

Oh Yum.

By: Joanne Choi

From Week of Menus

  

Makes 10-inch bundt cake, serving 12 to 14
Cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 vanilla bean, split, seeds
1 cup sour cream
1 ½ cups diced fresh peaches

Syrup:
⅓ cup fresh peach puree, strained
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice

Method:
Place rack in center of oven, and preheat oven to 350. Grease and lightly flour inside of 10 inch bundt pan.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
Using either a stand mixer (paddle attachment) or a hand mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar and beat at medium-high speed until the mixture is light in texture and color, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating for 30 to 40 seconds after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl as necessary. Beat in vanilla bean. At low speed, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with sour cream. (Add a bit of flour, a bit of sour cream, a bit of flour, a bit of sour cream, a bit of flour.)

Scoop half of batter into pan and spread with spatula. Sprinkle with peaches. Scoop remaining half of batter on top of peaches. Smooth with spatula.
Bake cake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a cooling rack for 10 minutes, then invert it onto another rack. Place the cake, on the rack, over a baking sheet.

While cake is baking, make syrup. Combine peach puree, sugar, and orange juice in a small non reactive saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Using a pastry brush, dab syrup generously all over surface of the warm cake, allowing it to soak into the cake before reapplying. Let the cake cool completely.

Pictures:Week of Menus

DIY: Votives

#1 Romantic Painted Votives

Use complimenting colors of a water based paint and muddle them around on the inside of a clear glass votive (be sure to water down the paint thin enough for the light to shine through). Let them dry and place a small candle inside.

These are so beautiful, but I would advise that you only use them outside...most paints are flammable once they're dry, despite being water based. But they should be safe to put on an outside table for your backyard parties!

 #2 Lavender Love

 Find a narrow glass and cut your lavender stems just below the rim of the glass. Tie with twine. The heat from the candle will help carry the smell of the lavender.

#3 Simple Thyme in Baby Masons

Tie some thyme to a baby mason jar with twine. Simple and sweet

Pictures: Painted Votives, Lavender, Thyme

Vodka Gummy Bears

This is funny... I am definitely going to try this at our next party!

Adults only -- Vodka Gummy Bears

Soak a bag of gummy bears in vodka for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. The Gummy Bears will absorb all the liquid! Serve at a party for a bit of fun!

My favorite gummy bears are by Albanese.

They have fantastic flavors like:

Granny Smith Apple

Watermelon

Wild Cherry

Lemon Meringue

Peach

Orange

Pineapple

Banana

Lime

Strawberry

Blue Raspberry

Grapefruit

Concord Grape

Might Mango

Photo:timeinc

Adorable Bikinis!

Oh! I want one for summer! These cute bikinis are handmade by Eva Elz of Amourouse -- an adorable shop specializing in creating fun, feminine bikinis and intimate apparel that is based in Holland. Aren't they the the cutest? Summer here I come!

A note from Eva,

I've been sewing for a little while now (my mother, is very experienced with sewing and fabric, she is the also a seamstress for our business) and I am very happy with what we do -- creating feminine and fun clothing for beachwear and intimate apparel. Our bow bandeau design is an original pattern; custom fit and fabric choices are unique to Amourouse Boutique. My inspiration often comes from my own imagination wishing to create something that's very handmade with artful, quality fabrics. And then there's little things that inspire me, like whales, colors, the snow, and music.
Much love, Eva

So Cute!

Pictures:Amourouse

$5,000 Nail Polish! Say Whaaa?

This is hilarious... who has $5,000 to throw down on a bottle of nail polish?

Cracks me up.

"The polish, Red Carpet Manicure’s Amor 24, runs $5,000 per bottle!

 It contains over an ounce of gold dust was used to create the limited-edition polish." - Luuux

Bridesmaids Dresses

My Bridesmaids and I are going dress shopping next week! Here are some styles that we have been looking at. I'm liking the lacey vintage look. P.S. some of these dress are a bit high end, but I wanted to post them just to help you fellow Brides with style ideas.

Hope you like them ladies!

Sue Wong Illusion Bodice Lace Sheath Dress

Dolce & Gabbana Tweed and Lace Dress

Alex Eenings Sequin Lace Overlay Sheath Dress

Sue Wong Layered Skirt Cocktail Dress

V-Neck Short Length Silk Dupioni Bridemaid Dress

For Esmé Dress

Tracery Dress