I recently re-discovered figs and inspired by this awesome culinary blog I was able to create the BEST PANINI EVER. Technically that is a panini bread in the photo. I have yet to get a panini press that is why the bread still looks fluffy. But anyways all of the ingredients were store bought from Trader Joe's. The gourmet-cook-wannabe in you has got to love the store since you can make exquisite meals without having to do it from scratch.
Basically, you take some frozen chicken strips. Microwave it and shred it up a bit. Then you prepare thin slices of brie while you toast the bread. After that start assembling the panini. Spread some fig jam/preserve (in this case I still have the home-made fig jam I made last summer) on one side of the bread. Then place the brie followed by the chicken. Then get some arugula mix and sprinkle it on top. While pressing the bread together get some grapevine tomatoes and some arugula mix to arrange on the plate beside the panini.
I added an optional fig yogurt spread as kind of like a "dipping sauce" on the side. It's just plain cheese yogurt mixed in with my jam. I then slightly spread it on the bread as I bite. Trust me, it's eye rolling yumminess. The texture and the flavor is unbelievable. Let me know how good it is when you make it!
The Best Panini Ever
Top 5 Social Media Lessons from a Taco Truck
If you are an Angeleno you probably know that one of the best things about this city is the Mexican food. However, not known to many is an existing subculture of taco lovers that make a pilgrimage to the streets in order to taste some of the yummiest amalgam of meat, cheese, beans, vegetables and tortilla one can only get from a...taco truck. Yes folks, blogs have even been dedicated to our flourishing taco scene. Check out the brave Bandini's The Great Taco Hunt for the evidence.
But before this turns into a foodie post. I bring ye the social media tale of The Kogi Taco Truck. Here are several lessons I have learned from them that I would like to share:
1. Don't be afraid to be different
The Kogi Taco Truck is different because it uses korean bbq to create a taco. Kogi actually means meat in Korean. Just take a look at their signature taco: The Korean Short Ribs (prntscrn image below). 
Ultimately, what makes Kogi unique is the fusion of these ethnic ingredients. In a time where society is more aware of the importance of diversity their product has never been more appealing.
Lesson#1 in Social Media Terms: Get creative. Fuse ideas don't cut and copy.
2. Go flaunt your goods
According to Co-founder Chef Roy Choi, they didn't sell a single taco when they first opened. So they began peddling until the people finally caved in and took their first bite. Unable to resist the yumminess, the people started taking pictures of their taco sending it to friends and uploading it on facebook. This in turn made a lot of other people curious which obviously translated into a lot more sales for the Kogi team.
Now they have a Flickr photostream that makes my stomach grumble every time I look at that glint of grease in the night. 
Lesson#2 in Social Media Terms: Spread the word out through pictures. A single jpg can be as powerful as 140 characters.
3. Unleash your inner cuteness
One of my most favorite blog posts on their website has to be Alice Shin's Things To Do WhiLe Waiting For KoGi #1: Romance is in the Air. Best line ever: "Dude, the crowd here is totaLLy different from the SiLverLake crowd. It’s cooL how each location has a different fLavor. Is this your primary KoGi spot?"
If there is anything we have learned from sites such as cuteoverload.com and icanhascheezburger.com is that cute is more than accepted in the web-o-sphere. It is embraced.
Kogi's blog is as cute and as funny. They're not out to impress their reader with fancy shmancy verbiage. They want to talk to the people in their own voice.
Lesson#3 in Social Media Terms: When communicating be yourself. Write as you speak even if you sound like Betty Boop.
4. Learn how to hustle
Aka "innovate"...the Kogi Team saw the power of web 2.0 and ran with it. Now dubbed as "America's First Viral Eatery", these Taco Trucks invaded the streets of the Twitterverse. Aside from tweeting times and places where they would be, they also tweet to tell everyone if they are stuck in traffic. I think that is just darn awesome. 
Lesson#4 in Social Media Terms: Why re-invent the wheel when you can just tweak it? Working smart means leveraging on tools.
5. Take it to the streets
Photo credit: astrobuddha
As you can see, people line up for The Kogi. This is the result of their mastery over social media marketing. I Survived The L.A. Kogi Truck Line: Masterful Marketing Meets Meaty Munchies is an excellent blog post about this. Going offline and taking it to the streets is still the best course of action. Online conversations are good but real life conversations are even better. It's all about communicating and building lasting relationships.
Lesson#5 in Social Media Terms: The real world is where the real magic happens. Go out...unplug yourself from the web.
Music Round-up...Scenes from Holy Week in Hollywood
I know! I have been very delinquent with my posts since I have been busy working on several projects and entertaining out of town guests from AZ. I am forgoing my weekly news roundup in order to bring you "intel" from the LA music scene. Loading up some Iphone snapshots in 5...4...3...2...1
AVALAND - Axwell, Steve Angello, Annie Mac
Ja, the Swedes were out in full force that night to support(duh)Swedish DJs Axwell and Angello. This was my first time at the infamous Avalon and while a lot of people were there for the love of music there were a few hooligans present trying to disrupt the peace. Maybe I'm just getting too old for the rave scene...in fact, I didn't even get to see the main act (Steve Angello) because I was simply too exhausted from dancing with four inch heels on. By the way, Annie Mac killed the opening set. Girl Power! 
Le Cercle
Not really a good photo but this was taken inside Le Cercle "Super Club" which used to be called Le Prive. It's mostly frequented by Koreans or Asians and is notorious for their booking system (make sure to click the link since it is a must read). I would never have gone to this place if it weren't for my guests although it has to be one of the strangest experiences I've had in a long time. Basically, waiters were pulling ladies from different spots at the bar to introduce to men at other tables. There was also a live dance performance from some crew that was part of that MTV show. Like WTH, right? And oh there were a lot of rude pushy people including the club staff. Boo!
Digital LA's Band Jam at The Mint
I have blogged about Digital LA before here and for this event they featured 3 bands: 1. The Dreamers 2. Ryan Collins and 3. Allensworth- in my opinion they were the best. I think they are opening up for Erykah Badu. Did I mention that before the bands played they had a speed networking event? It's similar to speed dating except you get to talk to "VIP guests" from the music business instead. They were all great and friendly with the exception of this one guy who obviously did not want to be there and talk to the little people. Super boo!
Passport Approved, Marketing Manchester, Raise Up Music Present...
A Taste of Manchester & LA: Featuring: Meiko, The Answering Machine, Casteneda & The Idyllists
My friend and I are big fans of Meiko so we have been stalking her all over LA. She was still awesome that night although she looked so exhausted after her SXSW stint. This gig held at The Viper Room was sponsored by Passport Approved which was my favorite program from the now defunct Indie 103.1 (Imagine tuning into your favorite radio station one morning only to hear mariachi music blaring from your speakers? I thought I was going crazy). The bands they featured were all good. I liked The Answering Machine a lot. Lots of energy and spunk. The biggest question of the night for me was: "How can they fit everything into those ultra skinny pants?"
The Happy Phantom Gets Engaged
I probably may have been the last to know (yes despite having the internet and a mobile phone) but it's wonderful news. Socs aka The Happy Phantom and I have been friends for more than a decade. We met in high school when were still both living in the Philippines. She's a great friend and a fellow world traveler. We even shared a blog when she was living in Australia and I in Japan. This just makes me really happy. I mean who doesn't like a good love story especially when it happens to people we care about.
To get the full account click here:
Lock and Load - the future groom's blog
The Proposal - the future groom's accomplice's photo blog
Brilliant!
By some twist of luck I just came upon this website. I aim to make it to the April 10th deadline so wish me luck!
Week in Review: from March Madness to April Fool's
Interesting Photo of the week by: rerinha
G20 summit: Press reaction
The Binghamton Massacre
California sales tax rises to almost 9 percent
IBM-Sun Merger Talks Off
Conficker Virus Attack
Cells Renew in the Human Heart
Strong Quake in Italy
North Korea launches long-range rocket
Large ice shelf expected to break from Antarctica
North Carolina face Michigan for NCAA crown
Top 10 April Fool's Day Fake News Items
Brangelina in Manila?
Twitter helped stop a suicide
Help me join the fight!
Save a Life, Make a Pledge.
Click here: http://idek.net/6Gz
On Saturday, May 9th, I will be participating in the 16th Annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women. You can join me in the fight against women's cancers by making a donation on my behalf. Your donation will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs. Every donation will help bring us one step closer to a cure. Until a cure is found and we know that all women are safe, we must continue the fight.
