Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

11 Apr 2017

Weekend Brunch at M.B. Post (Manhattan Beach)

Filed Under:

I just wrapped up one of the busiest work weeks ever—six straight days of shooting on location for an upcoming marketing campaign. To gear up for what was to be a very demanding stretch, The Astronomer, June, and I spent some quality time together beforehand.

We arrived in Manhattan Beach just after 10 and played in the sand and water until noon. Brunch at M.B. Post came next, and just in the nick of time; we were famished from running up and down the beach with our little lady.

Even before perusing the menu, I placed an order for “Bacon Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits” ($6). A meal at M.B. Post, whether it’s brunch, lunch or dinner, isn’t complete without an order of these savory, flaky, beautiful biscuits. They’re just about perfect eaten as is, and quite possibly even better slathered in whipped maple butter. Mmm!

(more…)

Potpourri

05 Apr 2017

Suburban Years: In Praise of Design Mood Boards

Filed Under:

2 Comments

Since we last connected on suburban happenings (previously: Welcome to the Suburban Years, Lessons Learned in Home Buying, and Move-In Ready), I’ve been channeling my inner Emily Henderson. One of the best #protips that I’ve gleaned from reading way too many design blogs is the general helpfulness of mood boards.

Pinterest is a great tool during initial ideation, but mood boarding allows for the best ideas to be culled in a useful way. Best of all, you don’t even need Adobe Creative Suite or any other fancy software. PowerPoint gets the job done, allowing you to virtually build a room to your heart’s content.

In our old apartment, the furniture was composed of either used finds from Craigslist and thrift stores or basic builds from Ikea (hello, Malm). Hand-me-downs from family filled in the gaps. The generally mismatched nature of all of our furnishings didn’t bother me in the least. However, now that I’m hardcore adulting, I am insisting that our house be at least presentable.

For a non-designer with a track record of prioritizing function over form, being able to visualize a room’s color palette and layout prior to buying anything is incredibly helpful. Mood boarding also lets me sit with an idea for a few days and show my vision to The Astronomer for his buy-in and input.

(more…)

Restaurant Review

29 Mar 2017

California Chutney Tandoori Kitchen – Pasadena

Filed Under:

1 Comment

When the mood for Indian food strikes but time isn’t on our side, The Chaplins head to California Chutney for our South Asian fill. This fast-casual spot in Old Pasadena opened two years ago, and we’ve been fans since the start.

The menu isn’t expansive, with just six “proteins” to choose from (chickpeas, paneer (cheese), lamb, shrimp, and two kinds of chicken). Everything is boldly spiced, so when you see a dish denoted with three chili symbols on the menu, get ready for some serious heat. On a previous visit, the “Lamb Keema” made us sweat.

A notable aspect of the restaurant is the made-from-scratch chutney bar that includes traditional varieties like tamarind and cilantro, as well as more inventive concoctions like cinnamon-pineapple and mango-ginger.

June and I usually order two “Naan Tacos” ($8.80) to share. The “Paneer with Kale” is my filling of choice, while June tends to favor the “Tandoori Chicken.” While the fillings are both very good, it’s the house-made naan that keeps us coming back.

The yogurt-based flatbread is freshly prepared throughout the day in the restaurant’s tandoori ovens. It always tastes super-fresh, with a texture that’s tender and wonderfully chewy. We always order an extra piece or two on the side ($1.75 per piece).

(more…)