Sweet Corn Soup

I had a love affair years ago... the year was 2000, the location was Northern Thailand, the object of my affection: corn soup, a particular corn soup. Seriously. I still lust after the memory of this soup.

There's a restaurant in Chiang Mai where this corn soup is served only for lunch. At the time I was studying at the Traditional Medicine Hospital and I would spend my afternoons of class dreaming about this corn soup. I could only manage to get there if I rode with a friend who spoke Thai (otherwise the Tuk Tuks would drive you in circles to make the ride cost more and waste too much time) and/or a friend with a motorcycle - as I had to get to and from school within our short lunchtime. The ladies at the hospital made us thai lunches, so I was not starved by any means (awesome cooks, I loved the food at the school) - but this corn soup was so damn good, it was worth it.

Sometimes its the smallest pleasures that make the heart pitter patter.

No corn soup I have had ever since has lived up to the memory. I always try, whenever I see the option... always disappointed.

This soup was simple and golden. Definitely included a little coconut milk and was cooked to a smooth consistency with just a hint of corn niblits. It was just gorgeous, savory and sweet.

So this afternoon I attempted my own version (why did it take me 10 years? I dunno) and it was not the same, but pretty damn good. Both Tim and Tony loved it. As you can see from my empty bowl, I loved it as well

Ingredients: carmalized sweet onion, roasted garlic, roasted corn (cut off the cob after roasting and I also scraped the corn milk off the cob), chicken broth and coconut milk. I blended 1/2 the mixture to add smoothness...

Millions of Peaches

I had an itch to go out to Sauvie Island and pick some fruit, didn't really know what would be perfect - turns out its peach time right now! It was crazy awesome.

The smell is so insanely beautiful. The feeling of warm peach juice dripping down my chin... the soft dirt of the peach orchards... I had to share online here - if you were thinking about going, definitely do!!! These pictures are from Sauvie Island Farm - I took lots of shots (there are more on my flickr page) and at some point I found Tim relaxing under the trees in the grass. I really wish I could share the smell - the air smells so good in a ripe peach orchard!

Good Food Here

Tim and I checked out a new food cart cluster on SE Belmont (right by Movie Madness) - its called "Good Food Here" and there already is quite a yummy selection...

We tried the rib plate from Namu. Super yummy! The cucumber salad was delish, and there also was a good seaweed salad and kimchi and rice with peanut sauce - all this with the ribs!

And we had an Elvis sandwich from Rockabillies - also very yummy, it even came with a chocolate honey dipping sauce.

Portland is brimming with all these amazing food cart clusters. Skilled ambitious cooks with culinary degrees and small budgets, forging a new path for themselves by opening food carts. I think its a very interesting business model for a new generation of cooks. There are some hugely popular restaurants in Portland that started as food carts. Inspiration and proof that it can really work.

What am I working on?

Custom projects are consuming my studio time this week. Some are small private orders, some are larger installations. For instance, I am just finishing up and shipping soon some big mobiles that are going to be installed in the new library at the Hong Kong International School. Fun bright pieces that will hopefully look amazing in their library

What: 8feet wide mobiles, 4 of them

Where: Hong Kong

How are they shipping? DHL

How did they find me?: the designer contacted me thru Etsy

How am I making these?: I design the mobiles and make all the glass, my friends at Ekko mobiles engineer the frames and make them for me

these are some of the common questions my friends and loved ones seem to ask about this project, so I thought I would share.

The kilns are hot and there is a lot of colorful glass coming and going... restocking on inventory, completing orders for custom mobiles... and its beautiful outside! Tonight I am going to a concert on the lawn at the Zoo.

Taking a Mini Vacation into the Woods of Oregon

After a long few weeks of making-marathon and working my tail off - I took yesterday to unwind and take a day vacation. Tim and I went to Bagby Hotsprings and soaked away any muscle soreness. It was bliss.

I've been going to the Bagby Hotsprings ever since I moved to Oregon - honestly I think its one of the most enchanting places I've ever been to around the world. You drive out on logging roads up Mt Hood, then park and walk a little over a mile thru old growth forests on a well maintained trail that follows along a beautiful river (there are two amazing bridges you cross).

Once you are seriously out in the middle of now-where you come upon the Bagby Station which basically is an 100+year old log cabin and shed, a bathhouse. There are private bath tub rooms (each with a bench and posts to hold your bags and clothes and a hollowed out old tree to fill and soak in) as well as a more public space with long tubs and round tubs (the round tubs hold up to 5 or 6 people). There is another round tub down the trail past the log cabins and a few out houses for potty use. The buildings have so much character and there is steam coming up from the natural hotspring water... the trees are all dripping with moss and the steam makes the air sort of misty and mystical.

Mt Hood hotspings water contains natural lithium and other wonderful stuff to soak in. The water is very soothing and good for the body/mind/soul.

Its just incredible to experience Bagby. I swear it feels like some sort of hidden secret world, walking thru old growth forests and then finding this old well loved hot springs location. I love hot springs and I have enjoyed different natural springs around the world. This particular spring is above and beyond. Although it is getting more and more popular - so I wouldn't recommend going on the weekend.

Now adays its really safe (the forest service patrols the parking lot and volunteers maintain the station) - when I first starting going there I used to see a lot of broken glass in the parking lot (from vandalized cars) and this sorta freaked me out, but now 10 years later its really different. In fact, I found this great video about how its been cleaned up:

Tea Time in Laurelhurst Park

Its finally warm outside (although not in the morning lately) and time for tea parties in the park! Well, this is not so much a party - but a get-together. I call it Tea Time - it all started as a way for local makers and sellers on Etsy to get together and chit chat about their businesses and

network with each other. Anyone is welcome to come, its a lovely group of local creative people that get together when we can, bring our crafts and some snacks.

If you can make it - this Thursday (July 22nd) out in Laurelhurst Park - anytime between 10am and 2pm - NE corner of the park (near Ankeny Street) - find a group of chatting crafting ladies sitting at a picnic table. Its lovely. Even if you can only make it for a little bit of time... I will be there around noon - see you there!

Rave Review of the Salem Art Festival

I had heard this was a great show, the Salem Arts Festival (one of the top 10 art festivals in the country) - it was certainly a pleasure to experience for myself and my business.

• good neighbors (aka amazing artwork and interesting new artists I got to know)
• amazing site (Bush Park is full of old beautiful oak trees, sunshine and shade in a beautiful big green park) and great weather (it was a mild/warm 80degrees all weekend)

• good munchies (Kettle Chips sponsored the show and provided artists with endless little bags of chips - wha?! - there was also fresh fruit, iced tea (hot tea, lemonade and coffee as well), trail mix, pastries... oh my)

• they made us breakfast! picture this: in the morning at the artist hospitality booth there was a string quartet playing exclusively for our breakfast... there was a line of husbands making omlettes to order and a group of ladies making pancakes with fresh local berries. It was insanely nice. Both Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday the fresh berries had been made into a fruit compote for our pancakes. And picnic tables to have our breakfast on while greeting friends.
• good business (aka financially lucrative)
• lots of water (they gave us water bottles and had volunteers come by and refill them every day)

Every art show should treat the artists this well! It made things much less stressful and way more fun. I had a lot to smile about all weekend.