pink rickshaw

imperia

"The more you eat, the less flavor; the less you eat, the more flavor."-Chinese proverb

 

Imperia, the chic Asian eatery, is located on 3rd and Colorado in the live music capital of the world. Or as Carrie Bradshaw once said, the Warehouse district restaurant is pretty much "on the corner of Right Now and Everyone Was There." The crowd that gathers in and outside of Austin's Imperia is pretty and the buzz surrounding the establishment is strong. Imperia was voted best new restaurant by The Austin Chronicle restaurant poll along with a number of other bests including Best Service/Wait staff, Best Other Oriental/Asian and critics pick for incredibly creative martinis.

So does the eatery live up to the hype? Faster than you can say "edamame potstickers", the answer is yes. The ambiance is unique (see tattooed women murals on the wall and elegant red and mahogany decor--a famed Dick Clark design) and reminiscent of Tao. In fact executive chef Joe Tellus was from the famed Las Vegas and New York restaurant.

A full sushi bar is now part of their menu. Being in Austin, a very vegetarian friendly city, it's no surprise, even Imperia sushi chef Tatsu Aikawa's vegetarian rolls are exquisite. Managing partner C.K. Chin (a local celeb in his own right) explained to us the night we were dining there, that veggie sushi rolls are usually an afterthought at most sushi spots. But the Imperia sushi chef has created a unique roll with tastes of tempura asparagus, inari tofu, cucumbers, marinated shitake mushroom and a silken tofu puree sauce. Even a seafood lover like myself did not realize I was missing anything. Shocking.

If you are in more of a dim sum type mood (regardless of what time of day it is), you could easily make a meal of the appetizers or small plates. Notables include the sugar cane duck kabobs, sea bass skewers and the very popular edamame pot stickers (read a buttery taste that would make Paula Deen happy). Wash down the appetizers with fun drinks like the raspberry-lychee or green tea martinis and ginger mojito. For full entrees, options such as lobster and shrimp pad thai and mussels with wasabi mashers make the cuisine stand apart from usual Asian fare.

PR rating: A manicured thumbs up. The hotspot is great for a gals' night dinner or a light meal and cocktails before a night out in the fun Austin Warehouse district.

image source: imperia-austin.com

-SD

4 minutes: back to school

"Better be safe...than punch a 5th grader."-a 1st grader

You always won the perfect attendance award at the end of school year. You received Es in conduct. Your handwriting (using those gigantic pencils) was impeccable. You were even picked to clean the erasers out back.Your classmates had two words for you: teacher's pet.

This month, there is a whole new generation of teachers' pets that are going back to school. Unfortunately, some of these students may not have access to many vital classroom materials. So, how can you help? Aid underfunded public school classrooms through the site, DonorsChoose.org. Teachers at public schools in need, submit proposals for materials required for classroom projects. Just review their request (they can be sorted by location and need) and select how much you would like to donate. Requested materials range from staplers to laptops, so any amount helps. You can even search for projects that interest you, such as supplies for science related activities or promoting Shakespeare.

The result: the pupils receive the tools to get their learn on. You, in turn, get loads of thank you letters, written with those lovely, gigantic pencils. You also receive that warm, fuzzy feeling knowing that you helped educate America's youth. It's an A+ deed. But we would not expect anything less of you...teacher's pet.

image source: A Christmas Story movie still, MGM

-SD

cupcake five: pistachio

"There's nothing inherently wrong with cupcakes...But our society's twisting of the cupcake's role has become a sickness."-Joel Stein, Time Magazine

Nuttiness (of the adjective nutty)
1) abounding in or producing nuts
2) nut like, especially in flavor
3) insane
4) excessively interested, excited or the like

Recently, a friend gave my beau (or as I like to refer to him, my possible soul mate--you can call him SM), a yummy jar of pistachio and honey spread that she had picked up on a recent trip to Hungary. Closer inspection of the label revealed that our friend had not just selected any run of the mill spread. The hilarious label featured a picture of a bald, body builder with English text that read: "super performance doping" and "for everyone who wants to be young with a strong mind, and nerves for every old man who dreams to have his youth back." SM and I deemed the "super doping spread" nutty on all levels--inside the jar and out.

As I was looking through the cabinet for inspiration for the next cupcake, I came across the pistachio spread and the irony of its existence in my cabinet was not lost on me. Was the nut spread given to SM because he is slightly nutty? Yes. Am I nutty about cupcakes? An emphatic yes. A nutty delight would be just the cupcake I was looking for. I instantly knew that pistachio cupcakes were the perfect finale to Pink Rickshaw's Asian inspired cupcake series.

Pistachio nuts are bright green in color and have a mild nutty flavor. They are often used in sweets and ice cream throughout South Asia and Europe. The flavor is gaining popularity in the U.S. as a well-liked gelato flavor and even Blue Bell ice cream recently added the flavor to their collection. Cupcakeblog.com provided the perfect recipe for pistachio cupcakes with rose petal butter cream icing. A word of caution: this recipe is somewhat complicated and requires the use of pistachio cream and rose jelly. These two items may be tricky to find. The good news is, you can make simple substitute of rose water (available at most grocery stores) for the rose jelly. Pistachio cream can be easily made by grinding pistachios with sugar. These delicious cupcakes are well worth the effort, and a perfect demonstration of our favorite nut.

We hope that satisfies your cupcake fix for now. What was your favorite cupcake in the series? Let us know.

image source: cupcakeblog.com

-RW

trend: totally '90s

Lisa: I made these friendship bracelets in Fashion club.
Screech: Did you make one for me?
Lisa: For you, I'm making a friendship muzzle.
Screech: I'm speechless.
Lisa: That's the idea.
-Saved by the Bell

1990s (noun) Collectively referring to the years 1990 to 1999. This decade is noted for widespread adoption of personal computers, the Internet and prosperity in the United States. Fashion was marked with the rise of grunge fashion in 1992.

Sigh, the '90s. Steve Urkel was everyone's favorite geek, Nirvana was on the radio and Donatello was more famous as a turtle than an artist. Times have changed but the fashion from the early '90s (as much as we may want to forget about it), has come back to haunt us.

'90s boomerang trend:plaid.
As part of the grunge revolution, plaid was worn mainly in the form of flannel and with an emphasis on darker colors. Think grunge poster boy: Kurt Cobain. The updated look for today is lighter (color and fabric) and slightly more structured as styled by LA boutique Ron Herman above. Already slated to be a huge Fall trend, celebrities have been spotted wearing the print this summer. To name a few, Jessica Simpson on the cover of September's Elle and Lauren Conrad out shopping. Conrad's button-down is Elizabeth and James but if you do not want to invest in the trend, similar shirts are also popping up at Forever 21 and the Gap. No doubt, the plaid print will be around for a few months and will be seen not just in shirts, but in dresses and skirts.

'90s boomerang trend: distressed, rolled up jeans
Starlets have been the first to wear their jeans a la early '90s. Spotted recently on Katie Holmes and Rachel Bilson, the look has been deemed the "boyfriend" jean for it's baggy fit. Of course, the '90s touch comes not only with the roomier fit but the infamous rolled cuffs. Katie Holmes has been photographed repeatedly in her Prps Barracuda jeans (available at Barneys). Reese Witherspoon and Rachel Bilson have been spotted in Current/Elliott's The Boyfriend Cropped jean. That particular jean is so popular at Intuition, it sold out in one hour. However, it can be pre-ordered for delivery in September. If you can't wait that long, a cheap and chic alternative is the Levis 501 pegged and rolled jean. Also, if the baggy look is not your cup of tea, ease into the trend by rolling up a favorite pair of skinny jeans.

Yes, there is a slight chance you will look back at this look and wonder "What was I thinking? (Again...)" but at least the new jean look let's you show off a great pair of shoes. We think Zack, Brandon and all your other favorite '90s TV friends would totally dig it.

image source: today outfit: ronherman.com, 90210 cast: imdb.com, kurt cobain: Rolling Stone magazine, katie holmes/rachel bilson: popsugar.com

-SD

loyal fans

"Herman's the man."-Michael Phelps

Like most of the television watching world, we have Olympic fever and we have it bad. Usual runway fashion talk now consists of China's gymnast attire and the daily read of Popsugar has been replaced with Yahoo!Sports. Just call us Olympic fans. So while you can get the real action on NBC, we wanted to salute the loyal fans (who you may not be familiar with) of our favorite gold medal winners.

Athlete: Michael Phelps; Loyal Fan: Herman, his trusty bulldog
Michael Phelps' To Do List:
-attend Beijing Olympics--check
-smash current world records--check
-become world's most decorated Olympic athlete--check
-walk Herman

As of Wednesday, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has a whopping 11 gold medals under his belt and is not showing any signs of slowing down. For those of you that may have been living under a rock, Mike is on his way to breaking the record for the most gold medals won at a single Olympic event. While the international superstar's fan base is growing exponentially with each new win (he averages 83 new fans per minute on his Facebook page), his most loyal fan is back in the U.S....waiting for his walk.

If Phelps is the media darling of these Olympic games, his pet bulldog Herman (featured in his very own NBC commercial above) takes the silver medal. How incredibly adorable do they look sprawled out on the couch watching TV? It is a pretty safe bet that win or lose, Herman is anxiously awaiting his best friend's return to the U.S. Forget the gold medals and million dollar endorsements, with an owner that requires a daily 8000 calorie diet, the table scraps alone are pure gold.

Athlete: Abhinav Bindra; Loyal Fan: Babli Bindra, his mother
Sure, most of us had no idea that the 10m air rifle shoot, was an Olympic event. But for the medal-starved nation of India, the rifle shot never sounded sweeter. Ecstatic India has been celebrating Bindra's gold medal, making it the country's first individual event win. While his father may have flipped the bill for the training for the expensive sport, we absolutely adore Momma Bindra's quote that has made it into most major news stories about the Olympic champion. She says, "Yes, I have already started the search for a bride, as he is the most eligible bachelor in the country now." Just like a mom to look out for her baby. This was Bindra's third Olympics and he was considered quite the underdog entering the competition. It's doubtful Mrs. Bindra will be including that info in her son's matrimonial.

Athlete: Yang Wei; Loyal Fan: Yang Yun, his fiancee
Veteran Chinese gymnast Yang Wei clenched the gold after his stellar performance on Wednesday in the individual all-around event. This is in addition to leading his team to the gold medal in the team competition. So it's shocking to think that four years ago he was considering retiring and giving it all up due to his age. The gymnast is 28 years old, considered ancient in the sport. However, according to media reports, it was Yang Yun, once a national gymnast herself winning bronze at the Sydney Olympics, that convinced him to return to the team instead of retiring. The Chinese media reports that according to him, at events like the World Championships, his fiancee has sent motivational text messages that have given him that extra confidence. At other meets, seeing Yang Yun has kept him from being distracted on the difficult pommel horse. Wei says, "As soul-mates, we can read each other's minds without uttering a word." Can we just get a gigantic "awwwwh"?
So, it's no surprise, it was his soul-mate that convinced him to stick with the sport he excels at. The result: this week's golden victories. Guess it's true: behind every good gymnast, is a good female gymnast. What can we say? We flip for a good love story.

video source: youtube.com

-RW/SD

tshirt road to the white house

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go pick out a vice-president. I'm thinking Rihanna."-Paris Hilton (for president)

Years from now, when future generations look back at the great presidential election of 2008, will they recall the proposed energy plans? The great health care debate? It's likely, even the economic woe solutions will barely be remembered. But odds are, the "My mama's for Obama!" t-shirt will live on. Or maybe the "Mac is back" shirt will fondly be found in a vintage store.

And its no wonder, because as the election heats up, the fun shirts just keep rolling out. T-shirt mega websites like Cafepress and Zazzle have hundreds of creative wearables to express your candidate's endorsement. Tell the world "McCain is my homeboy". Democrat? There's the "I rock with Barack" shirt or the "Da Bama!" design with a tasteful sketch of the presidential-hopeful's head. McCain supporters will not be disappointed either. Proudly wear your "McCainic" shirt or the "Use your brain, vote for McCain" tee. And in all fairness, after Paris' video comeback, there's the overexposed but one must admit slightly funny:"Vote Paris for President, not that white-haired dude.". As expected, the shirt comes in pink.

Feeling political?
Obama T-shirts
McCain T-shirts
Bark Obama v. McCanine

Image source: cafepress.com

-SD

cupcake four: mango

"Mango is like a drug. You must have more and more and more of the Mango until there is no Mango left. Not even for Mango!"-Mango, Saturday Night Live

Generally, there are two types of people that eat at Thai cuisine restaurants--those that order the sticky rice with mango for dessert, and those that do not. Fellow PR gal SD and I proudly fall into the first category. Regardless of the price, time, the fullness of our stomachs or the fact the dish is only offered when mangos are in season; we always request the fruit dish. Occasionally, we start to talk ourselves out of it ("Surely, mangos are now out of season??"), but it's no use. Recently, over a plate of the mango/sticky rice combo, SD shared her very own mango story. I like to refer to as the great mango tree fable. The story unfolds with SD as a young girl visiting her grandfather in India. Allegedly, she threw a mango seed out the window. While one might normally chastise her for inconsiderate littering habits, this now fully green do-gooder was onto something. You see, over the years, a mango tree sprouted up precisely where she had tossed the seed. As she shared the story, we marveled at the fact that the earth, rain and sun had to all align in the perfect way for that seed to become a mango tree.

While we would both like to believe there was a little magic involved in the great mango tree fable, the simple fact may be that mango trees, indigenous to India, flourish in the subcontinent. In fact, over 50 percent of world-wide mango production is cultivated in India. When ripe, these mangos are sweet and juicy with peels ranging in multicolor tones of yellows and reds. Unripe or green mangos are generally sour and used in savory dishes or ground up as a spice. Mangos now grow in most tropical climates and are popular throughout China, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

As a tribute to our mango amour (and SD's magical tree), the fourth Asian flavored cupcake is food blog Cinnamon Love's chocolate rum and mango cupcakes. These delights are fudge chocolate rum cake with a mango rum glaze, topped with whipped cream and fresh mango slices. One bite and you'll experience the mango magic first hand.

image source: cinnlove.blogspot.com

-RW

4 minutes: the long and short of it

"I have very short hair. It's the only cute haircut I think I've ever had."-Jamie Lee Curtis

Much like celebrity romances, celebrity hairstyles do not last very long. Extensions today, bob tomorrow. However, there has been a noticeable trend this summer of our Hollywood pals going a la Posh Beckham with stylish short dos. Hayden Panettiere, Eva Longoria, and Gwenyth Paltrow have all chopped off their long locks. Even Bollywood belles Bipasha Basu and Preity Zinta, who traditionally wear their hair long and chi-licously straight, have been spotted with short and sleek hairstyles. Inspired? According to my summer magazine reading, here's the drill. Step one: Save that picture of your fave celeb haircut. Step two: Good hair = good stylist. Often, the best recommendations for a good stylist can come from strangers you spot with great hair. Don't be shy; they'll be flattered. Step three: Bring said saved picture to the salon. Most stylists work better when you show them what they are trying to achieve. Step four: Enjoy.

Easy, right? Not so fast.

For some, step five may soon follow: Experiencing haircut remorse.  And yes, you know exactly what that is . Haircut remorse is that slight tinge of regret that your lovely long tresses are gone. So, what is a girl to do?

Faster than you can say "Jessica Simpson Home Shopping Network clip-on extensions", there is a benevolent solution. When making the transition from a longer style to a short bob, donate the hair to those who need it. Organizations like Locks of Love, Wigs for Kids and Pantene's Beautiful Lengths campaign all accept hair donations to make wigs for disadvantaged children or women with cancer. Check out their sites for details on the condition of the hair and length. The Pantene campaign accepts the shortest length (an eight inch ponytail) where as Wigs for Kids has a minimum of 12 inches. Your good deed will instantly wipe away any remorse of cutting your hair short. Guaranteed. Also, participating salons will discount or even comp your haircut if you are donating. A potential discount, a good cause and an entirely au courant hairstyle? That's enough to even put a smile on Posh's face.

image source: people.com

-SD

trend: calling cards

"Who was it that said--in the Victorian era probably, and a man of course--'The only mechanical tool needed by a woman is a hair pin?' He might have added that with a hair pin and a visiting card, she is ready to meet most emergencies."-Etiquette by Emily Post

 

calling card (also known as visiting card) (noun) a personal card that was common amongst the aristocracy of Europe and the U.S. As part of French and English etiquette, the elite would deliver this card inscribed with his or her name on it to one's home and request a visit. The appearance of the cards ranged from the ornately engraved to plain. It's modern cousin--the business card.

Sure the elaborate Victorian era rules regarding the calling card have relaxed into 'Hey text me!' Yet it looks like the old fashioned social networking tool has made its comeback. Call it the original Facebook. Confused? Aren't we just talking about Daddy's business cards? Not exactly. As Crane & Co describes on their website, these colorful, bold, design filled personal cards are "the perfect personal introduction for those occasions when a business card is too business-like." 

Printed with one's name, contact info and a personal logo, these cards are popular among playdate-seeking moms, retirees, college students, yuppies and barhopping bachelors. So popular, according to Time magazine ("The Return of the calling card"), Peter Hopkins of Crane & Co, says "Is it technology fatigue? A colorful way of branding yourself? We're not sure but the demand is clear. They are our fastest growing item." So fast, in fact, the article states sales of these cards at Crane & Co have doubled in the last two years.

I witnessed the trend myself at my high school reunion. From SAHMs (that's "stay at home moms" for those who have not yet attended a reunion) to entrepreneurs, they all had their chic and fancy calling cards ready to distribute. And they worked. Stodgy business cards work for exactly that--business. But the inviting canary yellow calling card with its fun, whimsical font that I found in my wallet from the reunion did make me want to call my old friend from middle school.

The fun comes in designing or finding a card that reflects your personality. Stationary stores have some templates ready with designs ranging from corvettes to flowers, bold to subtle. Or if you are feeling creative, try designing your own with software like Microsoft Publisher. Take it into your local Kinko's and you'll be handing them out in no time.

See you later business cards. There's a new card in town...and she's much prettier.

Inspiration and more info:
The return of the calling card
Crane & Co personal calling cards
Papyrus custom printing

Image source: pinkrickshaw

-SD

fig

"The statue that advertises its modesty with a fig leaf really brings its modesty under suspicion."-Mark Twain

Until very recently, my only knowledge of figs was in the Newton form. However, when a co-worker happened to bring a bag of fresh figs to work, I was immediately hooked on the sweet, mellow fruit. I scoured local gourmet grocery stores looking for more figs, but was disappointed to learn that figs are generally not stocked by stores due to their incredibly short shelf life. While planting my own fig tree was an option, the fruits of my labor (excuse the cliche pun) would not be available until next Spring.

The perfect solution for a fig fix presented itself when Food and Wine magazine recently featured famed chef Todd English's Fig and Prosciutto flatbread recipe as part of the publication's 10 Famous Chef Dishes simplified. While this dish may be simple, it is in no way modest, with its inspired use of sweet fig jam, gorgonzola and salty prosciutto. English, the mastermind behind the renowned Olive restaurants, was voted best new chef by Food and Wine magazine and has also been voted one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people.

Image source: foodandwine.com

-RW