Casa Vega

One of us had a birthday recently and the big bash was celebrated at Casa Vega on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, CA. We had been curious to see just what Jeff Lewis did to give this well established restaurant a "Jeff Lewis" face lift. The entry and waiting areas are so much smaller than they appear on Flipping Out. It seems that is as far as the redo went-the entry and waiting areas. What could Jeff do if they turned the whole restaurant over to him?? It was dark and FULL to the brim with guests, car after car arrived and the newly arrived entered and occasionally someone would depart. For a Thursday night, the place was rockin. Casa Vega attracts a wide-range of customers, but mostly young professionals flock there in the evening. The cuisine is standard-faire Mexican food elevated with a few unique twists such as, Lobster Quesadillas and Crab Enchiladas-which are worthy of recognition. The only glitch we had was the size of our party-friends just coming in from New York, and all parts of the Los Angeles basin. By the time we were all collected and ready to be seated, we still had a 45 minute wait. Would we go back again? Not unless Jeff gets to finish the project. I'm sure he could make more sense of the space in the interior. After all, food is just one part of the experience and if it is over-the-top-great, we can forgive all the other lacking components.

The Rolls Royce of Wallpaper

In an era when so many 20 and 30 somethings' are fanning the flames of dying arts, one of the forerunners of this movement is Claud Gurney. Headquartered in Kent, England, his company, de Gurnay, is gathering fans from all parts of the globe, such as, Lulu Guiness and Kelly Wearstler. His traditional and non-traditional designs are the ultimate in luxury handpainted wall coverings. We love the agey India tea paper, small stained sheets of lavish quality paper affixed to large 4'x10' panels.

The de Gourney establishment.

They also make splendid 18th century chinoiserie paper and lavish 19th century French designs.

Check out the de Gourney website for yourself, http://www.degournay.com/

A more modern approach.

India tea paper.

Halloween

Whether you celebrate Halloween with chic, artfully carved pumpkins,

or with a proper approach,

or old fashioned, fun-loving way,

Have a safe Halloween!

P.S. Lots to post this week, our trip to Santa Barbara, Casa Vega, Westlake musings, Joan's on Third, The Grove, and Chocolatine. Sorry we have been really busy at Beckwithroad with all sorts of our-of-town guests!

(All photos from Martha Stewart)

Rainy Days

We've had lots of rain lately~so~we've taken advantage of it to curl up with a good book around the crackling fire and lounge and relax and take in all the pleasures of spending time with family and rejuvenating our soul~getting ready for Santa Barbara this coming weekend...time with all the Tracy Porter sorority sisters. We will keep you posted with pictures.

~ Our coastline is just lovely right after the rains~

There is something to be said about solitude and walking on the beach..we collect our thoughts, resolve our feelings and challenge our beings to go on and upward.

Hot Soup on a Cold Day!

It's been a cool, drizzly day today! A great day for soup! We are pulling out our staple creamy vegetable soup. It's nutrient rich---so good for you soup, and the plus is it tastes great too! We made a trip to the market for all the essential ingredients. Here they are pictured below.


This is what you need to make it:

1 quart chicken or vegetable stock (you will find this in the soup section of your market)
1 yellow onion, peeled and rough chopped
2 leeks, remove the dark green stems-split them in half and rinse out all the grit, then rough shop
2 carrots, peeled and rough shopped
1 bunch kale, wash and remove spine
3 stems celery, smaller inner stalks with leaves, rough chopped
2 tomatoes, rough chopped
2 broccoli heads, break into florets
2 handfuls baby spinach
2-3 medium potatoes, peeled and rough chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon thyme or 5 sprigs fresh thyme
salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 dashes cayenne pepper
1/2 cup cream (optional)


Now take a large pot-like you would use to make spaghetti in--bigger than a saucepan. Turn the heat on to medium. When pan is hot add the olive oil, onions and leeks. When they are softened, but not browned, add the rest of the vegetables except the spinach- (that gets added at the end) now pour the stock over the vegetables. Put a lid on the soup as it cooks. It will take about an hour for the vegetables to become fork tender. Remove from heat, add the spinach, and use an emulsion tool blender, regular blender or cuisinart to blend the soup ingredients to a lovely creamy consistency. Add cream (if desired) and blend. Adjust seasoning. You may need a little more salt-careful not to overdo it.


You are ready to serve! You can add a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream to garnish.

As a garnish we used crisp kale, creme fraiche, a toasted garlic sliver and a sprig of fresh thyme. This soup will warm you to the bone!

Comments??

source of photo unknown

Professor Henry Higgins to Eliza Doolittle~Eliza you are to stay here for the next six months learning to speak beautifully, like a lady in a florist's shop. If you work hard and do as you're told, you shall sleep in a proper bedroom, have lots to eat, money to buy chocolates and go for rides in taxis. But if you are naughty and idle, you shall sleep in the back of the kitchen amongst the black beetles, and be walloped by Mrs. Pearce with a broomstick. At the end of six months you will be taken to Buckingham Palace, in a carriage, beautifully dressed...

At Beckwithroad we hope you are enjoying our site. We hope you find us transforming into a proper blog that you visit regularly. To help us know if we are spot on or just an occasional visit, would you post a comment?? You can be anonymous if you like. No one has to know!

To those who regularly visit, we know that your time is valuable and we are ever humbled that you come to visit us here. Our door is always open!

Cure in the Canyons

Cure for the Canyons is a wonderful event that takes place yearly in order to support breast cancer. This years event was sponsored by Bloomingdale's, Sherman Oaks and was hosted by a celebrity fitness trainer, at his Beverly Hills home in the most prestigious gated community, Beverly Park.

Participating brands were some of the following: KIEHLS, Jo Malone, O.P.I., Pop Chips, Echo water, Bobbi Brown, Olivier, etc. We also got our first sneak peek of some of the new Housewives of Beverly Hills! -OOOH Drama!!!

Here is the centerpiece on my table. Flowers By Bristol Farms, Westlake, CA

Set up ready to go!

Partial view of the pool area.

Beautiful grounds!

Mannequin by Jo Malone.

Upload Image