I may have mentioned that being in San Francisco on Saturday for the Remodelista market made Aron and I wax nostalgic for New York–just a little bit. (It happens. No surprise, right?) So I don’t know if it was better or worse that Heath’s display space was filled with goods for the home and table by Brooklyn-based artisans and designers (many of whom we have featured on Hither & Thither in the past–like leather satchels by Marlow Goods, and a canvas tote featuring our favorite restaurant, candies by Liddabit Sweets, and Ginger Syrup by Morris Kitchen).
But in fact, what’s remarkable is that the handmade culture that really started thriving in places like Portland and Brooklyn has taken hold across the country, and we can enjoy these makers–as well as so many others–right here in California. I’m looking forward to discovering a whole new set of “makers” on this coast.
Aron and I wanted to go somewhere special for our date night this past Friday. It was seven years ago Sunday that he opened the door to our Los Angeles apartment to welcome me home: his heartbeat visible through a dusty pink shirt, his face warm from having just lit hundreds of candles. We have celebrated our engagement every year since.
Biba is a classic, grand-dame-of-Sacramento, Italian restaurant (only it’s also sort of a homey, nonna’s-in-the-kitchen sort of Italian restaurant). Around the time we moved here, Sactown Magazine published an article on the restranteur Biba (who greeted us at the bar), lauding her for serving “the city’s most authentic Italian food for 25 years.” We decided it was time to try it.
Prosciutto di Parma con Pera–served with soft, sweet, roasted pear drizzled wtih orange honey
Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese–10 or more layers of spinach pasta with a meat sauce that’s at once rich, creamy, and light.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara–something I don’t usually order for fear that it will be simply Alfredo sauce with Pancetta added, this was was clean and well-balanced with salt, pepper, egg yolk, browned butter, Pancetta, and Parmigiano-Reggiano; no puddle of Alfredo to speak of, thank goodness.
California Sea Bass (the fish of the day) with Celery Root Puree
And a celebratory Tiramisu and espresso to finish.
Despite a recently revamped dining room, I still wouldn’t go as far as to call this spot hip: the clientele seemed squarely in the 50+ category and a couple next to us actually came over before they left to tell us how “cute” we were and used the phrase “we remember when.”
But if you can make a lasagna like mille-feuille, being trendy need not be your concern.
Joanna and Condé Nast Traveler recently asked me about my favorite travel gifts . You can see a couple of my recommendations (and those of many others) here.
What would you add to the list? I definitely second the cashmere socks!
In fact, I’d put together a complete sleep-kit for a loved-one’s carry-on–something utilitarian but also a little luxurious. And what’s more luxurious than getting good rest on a red-eye? Toss an eye mask
(the kind that lets you blink during REM sleep), a double-inflating neck pillow
(for wedging to the side or back of your neck), a pair of socks (cashmere if they’re lucky, or some classic Wigwams), and a pair of earplugs into a Baggu zipper pouch; stash it under the tree and they’ll be eternally grateful.
And, so I never have to go too long without hearing his voice, extra battery life for Aron’s phone. These charge up on your computer and remain on standby (rather than bulking up something he always keeps in his pocket).
[Photos from our 2010 trip to India: (1) Arriving in Delhi as the sun rose (2) Aron on the overnight train from Jodhpur to Delhi]
