eats - A-frame

took a trip to restauranteur roy choi's newly opened A-frame in culver city and enjoyed one of the better dining experiences i've ever had in socal. billed as a modern picnic, it expands on the hip & casual vibe previously set out with choi's kogi/alibi room and chego, and the food is more of the same - asian-inspired but with a twist.

the space is actually a former ihop locale, gussied up to utilize the gorgeous architectural structure of its namesake. the interior resembles a contemporary ski lodge with its birch-tinged walls and cozy confines.

seating takes advantage of its space constrictions with its liberal use of communal tables, which is an added bonus. we sat next to a friendly couple who were equally excited to be there, so all of us ended up eating family style since we ordered distinctly different items.

we opted for the:

* island farmer's salad (shaved maui onions, tofu, fried garlic, seasonal fruit & ginger shoyu vinaigrette)
* blue crab cakes (w/ginger lemongrass creme fraiche, baby lola rosa perilla leaves and eaten like a taco)
* cracklin beer can chicken (peruvian style w/century egg, salsa roja & salsa verde)
* kitchen fries (purple sweet potato, yam, korean sweet potato w/kimchee sour cream & sea salt)
* fried apple pie w/southern comfort caramel & cheddar ice cream

A-frame
12565 washington blvd.
los angeles, CA 90066
http://aframela.com/

a GIANT thank you

Dear Giants Fans,

On behalf of the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, I want to thank you for your support during this remarkable season. You stood by us through the nail-biter games that Duane Kuiper famously described as "torture." You so thoroughly embraced this team and its gritty style of play that the players and coaches came to see their home fans as true partners.

When the Giants won the National League West title by beating the San Diego Padres on the last day of the season, the team took a lap around the park to shake hands and celebrate with the people they saw every day in the stands, the ones who "never stopped believing." The players, coaches and everyone in the Giants organization are grateful for the extraordinary bond we enjoy with our fans.

After 52 years of waiting, the San Francisco Giants won its first World Series Championship. When Brian Wilson threw the final strike in Arlington, Texas, and Giants players leapt with joy and amazement, so did Giants fans everywhere. The triumph is so thrilling and satisfying because all of us own a piece of it, from the diehards who weathered bitter nights at Candlestick Park to recent converts in Panda hats and black beards. None of the 2010 Giants players landed in our clubhouse by happenstance. None of the extraordinary performances was born of luck. Our scouts, analysts and coaches drafted and developed the best young talent in baseball: Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Brian Wilson, Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey and Jonathan Sanchez. During the winter and throughout the season, General Manager Brian Sabean found key players to fill specific needs by making strategic trades, signing free agents and plucking solid contributors from the waiver wires. Manager Bruce Bochy arranged and rearranged the pieces, using 126 different lineups during the regular season. Most important, he melded players of vastly different personalities, nationalities, skills and experience into a single unit that focused on one goal: Winning.

As thrilled as we are to win the World Series this season, we are already back at work, looking toward tomorrow. Our goal is to field a contending team every season. We are committed to developing the smartest, most skilled and most prepared players in baseball. On and off the field, in dugouts and cubicles, hotdog stands and ticket booths, the "Giants' Way" means working hard and working smart to build the most successful franchise in Major League Baseball.

Through this wonderful, improbable season, your loyalty and passion energized every player and coach. When we chose "It's Magic Inside!" as our slogan for 2010, we had no idea how true those words would be. From all of us at the Giants, thank you for sharing the magic.

Sincerely,


Bill Neukom
Managing General Partner and Chief Executive Officer

today's lunch

and here is today's lunch, courtesy of chasen kuyo ('chasen' is the bamboo tea whisk used to make a bowl of matcha) at zenshuji temple...

SF giants - world series champs

a lifetime pursuit has finally been realized with my giants taking out the rangers to capture their first ever world championship for the city of san francisco. a quick recap of memorable events over the years:

johnnie lee lemaster. mimicking the batting stance of C milt may



receiving my first croix de candlestick.

veni. vidi. vixi. indeed.




will 'the thrill' clark's HR in his 1st major league at-bat in the astrodome.

landing my first gig at candlestick park. chillin in section 23 with the rest of my fellow vendors. trying to see carnation chocolate malts on a wednesday 7:35pm game against the montreal expos at the stick with an announced attendance of 7,902, yelling "ice cream here!" while fans in parkas wrapped in blankets peer out with icicle stares. candy maldonado's misplayed ball against the cards in the NLCS.

mike krukow's eephus pitch.

kevin mitchell's bare-handed catch of a fly ball down the LF line against the cards. watching my buddy frank ask dave dravecky for his autograph when his left (pitching) arm was in a sling. talking to SS jose uribe before a home game, then having him dart away to take a dump. sprinting home from school to catch clark's game winner against mitch 'wild thing' williams in game 5 of the NLCS against the cubbies. the thrill's 1.200 slugging percentage in the series. in attendance at game 3 of the world series when the earthquake struck at 5:04pm, racing on to the field and remembering the look of terror on everybody's face.

the arrival of barry "US" bonds.

matt williams' 33 HRs at the 1994 all-star break threatening the all-time single season HR record before the strike prematurely ended the season and his pursuit.

trying to catch game 6 vs. anaheim while in maui participating in jay's wedding. when i raced away from the proceedings to find a bar, my elation at a 5-3 lead turned to horror after scott spiezio's 3-run HR in the 8th.

at dodger stadium when bonds was at #754. going to the concession stand with a friend attired in dodger blue and her hearing catcalls of "honey, i feel sorry for you!"

2010 - broke the streak of the giants losing every game i've attended at dodger stadium (previously 0 for 5) on an improbable come from behind victory. stressing about playing game #163 in san diego on a monday, then traveling to atlanta for #164 the next day in the event of a three-team tie. taking the division on the final sunday, the same sunday i arrive to scale mount whitney. 2010 world series champs. elation, tears & pride. so this is what it feels to be a winner...