Family in LA! Part 2.

Not only did we have Weddings and Baptism's to celebrate, but our Independence on top of it all!

Since Monday was 4th of July we spent part of the morning by my Aunt Linda's with the kids who were playing in the pool and got to say goodbye to everyone, since people were starting to head back home.  Dad and I did a little grocery shopping later on and decided to BBQ at my place with some Brats, drink some beers, and then watched the fireworks on my rooftop!  Rutherford was such a good little boy the entire weekend.  He was quiet in the Hotel, was so social around all the people and kids, and the fireworks didn't even phase him.  Dad, Bobby, and Melissa were so impressed by all the firework shows we were able to see from my roof, we counted at least 10 different shows.  It's been the way I've watched the fireworks for the last few years!

Dad and I at the Petersen Museum!

For Tuesday I had planned a whole day for Dad and I!  I got us tickets to the Petersen Automotive Museum including the Vault Tour which is a must if you're going to the Museum.  We saw cars that Richard Rollins from 'Fast & Loud' owned, Rita Hayworth's gorgeous classic Cadillac, the first ever cars that were built and how they were improved over the years, and armored cars that Richard Nixon or the Dalai Lama had been in!  There were so many neat cars and I'd see a car and say that was my favorite, and then I'd see something else.  Although a Ferrari has always been my dream car, after doing a Driving Simulator I think I love the new Ford GT.  It's got a similar body shape to a Ferrari but it's just as incredible, more affordable, and definitely easier to get.  Dad really enjoyed the tour too!  I gave us a few hours to spend there but we could have stayed longer if we didn't have Dinner reservations at Mastro's in Beverly Hills to get to before sunset!  I had a table set up for us at the Mastro's Penthouse but Dad and I had a drink at the bar before we sat down for Dinner.  We started with a Wedge Salad, and then got Mashed Potatoes and Snap Peas with our Filet, and they brought Chocolate Cake and their famous house-made Whipped Cream with it!  I ordered a glass of wine with my Steak and was able to blind taste and guess which one it was based on the region; it was a really proud moment for me!  Everything was delicious and it was a really fun day, just being my Dad and I.

Dinner at Mastro's with Dad to celebrate Father's Day and my Birthday :)

I knew that week with everything that was going, plus everyone in town, was going to be crazy but as soon as everything began and family was arriving it all fell into place.  I definitely missed my Mom and wish she could have been there with all of us; I know she would have had a blast and things will never be the same without her here but she is definitely proud of all of us and is smiling down on us and the fact that we all held it together!  We celebrated in honor of her.  Being with family makes it so much harder when they're not around but we're all so much closer that I know it's only a couple months and we'll be seeing each other again!

Mom & Dad's September Visit to LA! Part 3.

After working while Mom and Dad were in town the first couple of days and then heading on a Road Trip all over the California Coast we finally had a day with nothing to do!  That's a vacation!

I had actually planned on Hiking up in Malibu where we could see the Waterfall near Temescal Canyon but the 90 degree temperature in Culver City deterred any sort of exercise simply because it was way too hot.  Instead, we spent part of the morning by the pool, mostly in the water, just relaxing and enjoying the day!  We had some Lunch and just hung out that day since it was my parent's last day in LA before they left the following morning.  Of course, we would have this week-long heat wave while they were in town and it was in the 60's back home in Wisconsin!

I set-up a Surprise Dinner at Mastro's in Beverly Hills to celebrate my parent's Anniversary just a little early since I wouldn't be able to spend it with them in November.  Kristina had taken me for my Birthday in June and it was one of the best steaks I had ever had so I wanted to be able to share this with my family as well!

Heirloom Tomatoes & Burrata

We were seated upstairs towards the back of the bar but still in ear-shot of the piano player and singer.  When Kristina and I were there it was more mellow music and this was really fun too.  The songs ranged from new and old, sang by the piano player at times, and then a female singer as well.  I really liked it!  Mom and I ended up getting the Blueberry Martini while Dad got his usual Maker's & Coke.  Dad decided on the French Onion Soup while Mom and I split the Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad.  I was so impressed with the Soup, it was so yummy and perfectly seasoned.  And for me, you can't got wrong with an Heirloom Salad!  Mom and I were splitting a steak and Dad got his own and we were barely able to finish all of it, with Mom wrapping the rest of hers to go.  Of course, the steak was accompanied by the Snap-peas which Dad even commented, 'Never would I have thought I would be ordering peas at a restaurant' and yet he loved them!  We also got the Garlic Mashed Potatoes that were a little runny but still delicious.  They brought out a Chocolate Cake with 'Happy Anniversary' written on it for dessert.  By the time we were done, we were so full and barely able to make our way back to the car.  Mom said it was the best steak she ever had and Dad said it was one of the best!

Before Dinner at Mastro's in Beverly Hills!

That night we opened one of our Dessert Wines from Daniel Gehr's and also had some of the Port Wine too to cap off a great Dining experience.  We played Spades before heading to bed and then I took Mom and Dad to the airport the following morning to head back to Wisconsin.

I can't believe how quickly the time flies when they're out here visiting, and even though they were here for a week, it felt like just a couple of days!  I'd definitely like to try to make it to Wisconsin this Fall before all the snow comes :)  Thanks for coming to visit Mom and Dad, I love and miss you guys <3

Birthday Dinner at Mastro's!

I love food and trying new places and even have a list of my Top 5 Favorite Steaks so I was stoked when Kristina said she was going to take me to Mastro's in Beverly Hills for my Birthday Dinner.  I've been wanting to try Mastro's for a long time but I was also a little nervous, knowing how fancy it was.  Kristina assured me it was a special occasion since we weren't able to celebrate my 30th in style last year like we had planned so we were going all out!

Wine & Martini's

We enjoyed some Rosé before Dinner while we got ready at my place and then took an Uber to Mastro's.  Our table was quaint and close enough to the piano player to hear him singing Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, and The Beatle's songs during Dinner.  Kristina had brought a really nice bottle of red wine so we got that started along with two martini's that had Stoli Blueberry and St. Germaine which were called Fleur de Blu and absolutely delicious.  Kristina suggested we start with Oysters and even though I was a little apprehensive, I was up for the adventure.  They were kumumoto Oysters and served with a healthy side of Horseradish.  I topped all of mine with it and that certainly did the trick as they went down easy with a little clearing of my sinuses.  So yummy!  

It was time for our salad and we got an Heirloom Tomato and Burrata and from here on out they split everything for us.  There was so much food I'm surprised they were halved because the portions were huge!  The salad was amazing and I loved how the timing of all of our courses was literally perfect.  We were never waiting and getting hungry but able to enjoy the food, let it settle, and then the next course would show up.  Before we knew it, it was time for the main entree; a beautiful 12 ounce Filet cooked an impeccable medium rare.  We decided on sides of Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas.  The snap peas were the best I have ever had as they popped in your mouth with a sweet but savory flavor and the mashed potatoes were so fluffy and had the perfect amount of garlic and butter.  The steak.  Let me just say, after I took that first bite, I sat back in my chair and sighed...out loud.  It was that incredible!  We savored every last bite and then they packed the leftover snap peas for me to take home.  No Birthday is complete at Mastro's without Birthday Cake so they brought Chocolate Cake with home-made whipped cream.  The whipped cream was so impressive and I loved that there was plenty for each bite of cake.

Dinner at Mastro's...being fancy with Kristina!

After Dinner we went to the bar so I could get us some Dessert Wine to finish off the fabulous dining experience and as some gentlemen allowed me to get to the bar, they overheard Kristina saying it was my Birthday and in typical gentlemanly fashion, ordered us a round, which was very sweet.  I appreciated the gesture and bought them their next round only to have that countered with another Birthday Cake and some Espresso for me.  They all sang Happy Birthday and this time it was an Olive Oil Cake and more whipped cream!  I could not have felt more special being treated by Kristina and being blown away by such an amazing meal :)

Thank you Kristina for introducing me to Mastro's; this is definitely going to be trouble because now I'm already planning my next visit, and next paycheck!  And thanks for making me feel fancy!