Sweet & Savory Bakery

Sweet and Savory is finally opened in San Marino. I met the cafe proprietor, Dora Liang when we were taking baking class at Chef Eric's Culinary Classroom in Los Angeles. Pharmacist turned baker, Dora is always passionate about quality feel-good food. YES! Dora was a pharmacist which already explained her great potential in formulating and executing awesome bake goods recipes for her bakery/cafe.



I already made Dora sounds like a Nazi in baking but she doesn't stick with the originals only. She develops her recipes to a higher level and differentiates her baked goods and food from others. The most popular lunch item at the cafe - Curry Chicken Salad is a good example. The chicken is tender, not dry and the blend of curry/spices with mayo is just perfect. Toasted cashew nuts are added for crunch. If you order it as a sandwich, it comes with a side salad and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The dressing is not vinegary at all and it has mustard seeds in it for extra kick.

chocolate cupcake (left) and red velvet cupcake (right)... carrot cupcake (in my tummy)

Baked goods.... I had the most amazing carrot cake at Sweet & Savory. The pineapple makes the cake moist and flavorful. Dora doesn't have fancy dots and mountain high frosting on her bake goods. Her cakes are so perfect by themselves already. With just the right amount of frosting and filling, Dora brings the cakes back to the center of the stage.

The food is extremely fresh and only the finest ingredients are used (yes! butter.... I'm very sure that Dora uses one of the best butter and cream on earth for her baked goods). Most importantly, it's the passion and hearts from the owner and staffs preparing the food. The bakery design is clean and modern with fresh floral displays. I adore the little details that Dora had put in to her bakery/cafe. Dora's attention to details is very thorough from her food, store design, branding, to decorations. I would love her to expand a little bit more so there are more dine-in seating. The bakery/cafe is pretty new and the staffs are still working on the flow of the operations. Please be patient if you are waiting your food there. If Dora serves Italian coffee, it will totally win my heart.... I still prefer Italian roast coffee over German roast.

Sweet & Savory
2142 Huntington Drive
San Marino CA 91108
626.293.8877
http://www.sweetandsavorysm.com/


Chef Eric's Culinary Classroom
2366 Pelham Ave
Los Angeles CA 90064
310.470.2640
www.culinaryclassroom.com

books arrived!

I was so excited when I received Mylien and Nick's press print book. I had designed a custom made guest signature book that contains a collection of their engagement photo session. The guests are invited to write their best wishes and advices on the book at the wedding ceremony/reception. If you are looking for an alternative guest signature book for your wedding, this is one great and meaningful option.

The layout and wordings are totally customizable. The book is in 8x10, 4-color printing on 100 lb silk finish paper with black linen hardcover and laminated 4-color dust jacket. Additional sizes are available.

The little 7x7 photo album for Noelle had arrived at the same time as well. It is so cute. Slightly different from the Mylien and Nick's guest signature book, Noelle's book is in photo-wrapped hard cover.

water baby

Last Saturday, I spent a little time with this water baby - Chloe. When this 16 months old little girl got to the beach, she just ran (well... half walking, half running to be exact) straight to the water! Nothing can stop her, she is just obsessed with water. Chloe is starting her first swimming lesson this week. I'm sure she will have a lot of fun in the water this summer.

We were playing sand later that afternoon. I still had some sand in my mouth when I got home that evening which made me giggle through the night. Hope to see Chloe again soon.

mylien + nick | engagement

I had such a wonderful time running around Shoreline Village at Long Beach with Mylien and Nick for their engagement session. They are so fun and energetic.

Thanks for Nick's enthusiasm after his 72-hour shift. I am so proud to have Nick stationing at the fire station in my area. =)

It's my first time using my brand new packaging system for my CD and DVD! It's so cute - subtle shimmering petal pochette in silver with printed insert and cover (hand-crafted). I love it!

Food styling for Capo

It was a great pleasure working with the passionate (and strict) chef, Ricky Morenoa and the talented photographer, Selim Mete and his lighting specialist on the press images photo session for Capo Restaurant in Santa Monica. Capo Restaurant is an Italian restaurant serving traditional Italian cuisine with modern flair. The restaurant's setting is elegant and intimate. They are open for dinner only but they serve lighter fair - breakfast and lunch for Cora Coffee (the little lovely patio cafe right adjacent to the restaurant) during day time. I can't wait to see the pictures. Here's a sneak peek.

The wood-burning hearth in the restaurant

The Chef teased us by preparing this for the last dish of the day... totally gorgeous (drooling)

Capo Restaurant
1810 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401

http://www.caporestaurant.com/