Wanting to Relax...

Yeh, wanting to relax but too many racing thoughts about prepping this dinner tomorrow, and many heartbeats about this unpredictable life. It's all good and I face this with open arms and mind. Cheers to cooking and friends!

Underground Dinners in Tijuana

After many dinners, get togethers, conversations and such at home with friends, in combination with sincere appreciation of foods the world over, the concept of a Summer Underground Dinner Series was born. The idea is to prepare a meal with a unique and fun culinary theme, and enjoy it with friends under the stars. Specifically, one night could be Indonesian food, another Tuscan, and yet another a night of gourmet tacos and salsas. Get the idea? We want you to eat well with cool people in a relaxed and warm atmosphere.The dinners will be offered about twice a month until the summer warmth takes leave. We held the 1st dinner on 25 July 2009 with Thai Time theme.

The 2nd Underground Dinner is tomorrow (Sat 22 Aug '09)! Again Thai Time theme, but with new and polished recipes, this feast promises to delight the tongues and taste buds of several TJ pals. Clearly, all dishes are traditional and authentic to Thai cuisine. Seating is limited to 12-14 people, so we ask that you reserve ahead of time. In addition, to cover costs and support this culinary experiment we are asking for a 20dlls donation fee per diner.

Oh yes, so that you have an idea of the feasting experience to come here's the Thai Time Menu (6 dishes in 3 courses)

1 - Appetizer Course

• Spring Rolls - Served with peanut sauce
• Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad) - with shrimp OR

• Yam Tang Gua (Thai Fried Egg Salad) - with cucumbers and grape tomatoes

2 - Main Course

• Tom Kha Gai (Chicken & Mushroom in Coconut milk soup) - with Shiitake and Button Mushrooms
• Gaeng Panang Nuea (Beef Panang Curry) - with toasted red bell peppers, topped toasted peanuts & lime leaves
• Pak Bung Fae Daeng (Spicy Fried Water Spinach)
• All of the above served with Jasmine Rice

3- Dessert Course

• Mango with Sticky Rice with Coconut Milk

The dinner will be held at my pad in Playas de Tijuana, Tijuana, México. Garden gates open at 7pm. Dinner served at 8pm sharp. It would be very groovy to have enough people to partake in the feasting. And, who knows, if this one is a success the dinners could become a recurring gastronomic event. Calling out pioneers!!!

Beso y abrazo, -- The Underground Dinners Team

With life falling short of defined structure, I am trying to embrace these words I came across while leafing through a book at a Hollywood knick knack shop:

"Be as hard as the world requires you to be, and be as soft as the world allows you to be."

Damn, the hard part for me, well, is being hard...

"Esperanza" = HOPE. I guess the reminder is to have IT.

Angelitos en San Pancho...

"Angels Always Watching... Over You..." Strolling and soaking in the streets of San Francisco I stumbled upon this reminder.  Magical words of comfort and protection from the urban landscape. One never knows what surprises emerge when one actually stops to look.