Feb
14
Valentine’s day dinner with Luxirare
This post is for all my readers who are either getting over a painful breakup, recently divorced, or single. But you know Valentine’s day is just another excuse for couples to go out to dinner or drink (or both)… and why shouldn’t this apply to people who aren’t coupled up?? Valentine’s day is pretty open ended for me.
Obviously today is also just another excuse for companies to make money, whatever, I don’t care. I think it’s fine to get into Valentine’s Day, if you want to wear something red or pink, great. More enthusiasm, the better. Outfit priorities. I designed a new jumpsuit for spring and summer, a spin-off on the older jumpsuit, but tube top style. A little convenience added in though, for girls who are always stressed out about strapless styles and bra situations.
I like to style this with two Hermes cuffs. Why? Visually, it anchors your arms down, because it’s a strapless style without any arm details, your shoulders and wrists are completely bare, where as your body is covered, feels like your limbs will fly away. The two cuffs add some weight. Balance is everything.
Now onto the convenience part, when you wear a strapless style, you always have to think about bras. But me, I don’t like to wear a separate bra, it looks so awkward, and shapes your chest area in a strange way. Instead I integrated a bra into the construction of this jumpsuit through the facing so it looks much more natural. This way you don’t have to think about anything at all when you get dressed. Zip, hook, and voila, you’re done ready to go. No bra to think about.
Bra stays hidden through the facing, but it’s still there to keep you secure.
Anyway, back to Valentine’s dinner. Everyone has a different idea of what they think is ‘really romantic’. I will never forget this one time my grandmother took me to this really classy *best of the best* kaiseki restaurant in Japan. I remember they brought out this sashimi course, and the fish was sliced and presented in this ice sculpture, it was in the shape of an igloo. Of course I was totally startled, how can someone put so much effort into presenting one dish? I mean creating an igloo from scratch out of ice…crazy. My grandmother told me this signified the chef’s integrity, and his devotion to his craft. The more difficult and unique the ice sculpture, the better the kaiseki restaurant was…Seeing this much work put into one course at a kaiseki meal kind of stunned me, felt very romantic and ideal. Did I care that another man of interest was involved? No. I can have romantic feelings for an igloo and some pieces of raw fluke… it’s chill. Not that I am against relationships, but I’m not in one right now, and I simply have to make the best of my sitch.
Now onto my version of this Kaiseki instance. The best kind of sashimi, at least for me, is fluke. This is what the Japanese like to eat too, I know that in the states we all like salmon and tuna, but this is kind of child’s play when it comes to sashimi. Child’s play is fine, I like spicy tuna rolls and all that and from time to time I’ll even eat the bastardized Whole Foods version. But real sashimi lovers love fluke. Koreans enjoy this too, but the difference between the way Koreans and Japanese people enjoy it is that Koreans like to eat it fresh caught (sliced straight out of the ocean or some tank), while Japanese people like to let this fish sit in the fridge for one day. The difference is that the fish will be a little softer a day after. Personally I like to eat it right out of the water, cleaned and sliced of course. The fish is a little harder to chew on, I don’t like the mushier version that the Japanese enjoy. No right or wrong though, just personal preference. Anyway, out of this one fluke I bought from my fish monger, I’m going to do a three course meal and some dessert. The fish will be divided three ways for each of the courses.
To slice fluke, you want to start at the base of your knife and work towards your body. Look at how the corner of my knife is digging into the fish. Press down. Work at a 45 degree angle.
I created my version of an ice mold, mine’s inspired by the bento box style. I made compartments for all my pickled sides as well, my fresh wasabi, and my sashimi. There is even a ditch for my sake. Ha, I like to be thorough? Hate loose endings.
This isn’t for looks only. This ice mold keeps everything cold, and yes, fluke should be cold. Serve on a bed of shiso leaves.
Went to this bougie sushi restaurant last night. Expensive kind of place, and they don’t even give you freshly grated wasabi. Why do restaurants try to insult my intelligence. I don’t know.
Raw fluke is everything…
Onto the second course. A small filet saved for a simple steamed dish, with tons of cilantro and fresh scallion.
Flavors: Soy sauce, fish sauce, water, vegetable oil, and sake, just mix and boil.
Pour this hot mixture over your steamed fluke. Top the steamed fluke with lots of cilantro and fresh scallion. The greens will wilt from the piping hot liquid mixture, so it won’t seem like too much. This is the most delicious thing ever, simple fish filet with a simple sauce and fragrant flavors. I fried the head and tail of the fish for garnish.
Oh but we are not done yet. I still had a small piece of fluke left, and I need something to munch on in front of an internet connection with some beer. This too, very romantic for me, alcohol and internet… Fish and chips? No. Fish chips..no ‘and’. Slice filets of your fresh fluke, and hammer it down until you get papery thin sheets..
I already said that fried food and beer were soul mates. Get your six pack of soda ready.
Serve this with garlic aioli.
…And I prefer to have some nice jewelry on while eating delicious fluke. (Diamond necklace from tiffanys, my favorite).
Dessert, no fluke for dessert, just cake.
Of course I had to cut it out in the shape of my label. Filled with fresh whip cream, topped with raspberries..and….
Drizzle with chocolate liquer.
Kuhn Rikon Paring Knife
If you’re lonely, or you’re going through something painful..or if you’re thinking about someone that you might not be able to have, just remember what Andy Warhol said..“Fantasy love is much better than reality love. Never doing it is very exciting. The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet”…The only thing sexier than doing it is not doing it. And delaying pleasure is even sexier. I already told you what I think is romantic. Now you tell me. Curious to know. And don’t mention *that* scene where John Cusack holds up a radio in that movie Say Anything…I want unique responses!
You look stunning, and the food looks delicious!
Very nice quote from Mr. Warhol.
Forgot to add that Blue Moon is one of my favorite beers, and you forgot the orange for it! Haha.
Showing equal parts vulnerability and strength is romantic.
This is such an insightful comment. Thank you
I absolutely love this jumpsuit – please have it available it on your e-shop!
As always, your presentation and aesthetic are absolutely stunning…completely jawdropping. Truly amazing.
I love this. I didn’t want it to be over. I’ve fallen in love with someone from Canada that I met online, and we had a Skype date this evening that lasted until just now. I feel deflated now, but I know we share the same emotions about the situation. I hope we can meet this summer, we have plans to, but these things rarely work well for me. My fingers are crossed but my hopes know to stay hidden.
You look very elegant, and beautiful in this post, and very audrey hepburn in a weird modern jump suit way. My version of sexy, is when my husband subconsciously lays his hand on my inner thigh when he is driving. Love the slight possessive gesture.
I think not even having to acknowledge a Hallmark holiday because you are so secure in your relationship is romantic. Today was just another day of my lover & I being good to each other, and that’s all that was needed. No flowers, no expensive dinner in a cramped restaurant…we shared a bowl of soup and cups of tea.
I know exactly what you mean. My fiancee and I perform small, and large, kindnesses for each other every day. Today, just like every other day, we woke up, lingered in bed, and then had lunch together before going off to our respective jobs. Every day is, and isn’t, Valentine’s Day for us.
This is now my favorite Valentine’s anything ever. Or relationship anything ever. Plus I love the jumpsuit.
Sexy? Ultimately, I guess it’s directness. Vulnerable and dominant at the same time; you can’t beat it.
well, my boyfriend and i broke up last night and that jumpsuit and that cake look like the antidote.
oh gosh and there’s nothing sexier than someone fully embodied in their passion, whatever it may be. true romance is coming to bury the dead cat’s body for you so you don’t have to.
oh god ilana–same just happened to me. to read this post, with the sarcasm, beauty, and directness make me feel as if *of course* things will be fine. thanks
I dig the jumpsuit… I like how you styled it. It’s both hard and soft.
As for the food… decadent but simple. The best combination?
Romance is tactile. It affects the senses. Baking bread could be romantic, as could spinning a clay pot, or playing the piano. Some really good comments here though.
“The only thing sexier than doing it is not doing it. And delaying pleasure is even sexier.” – definitely something to think about.
I’m in love with your blog.
My mouth was watering as I was scrolling down, slowly enjoying the eye-candy foods you have bestowed into this post (and ALL of your culinary posts as well). +1 for the Blue Moon, my absolute favorite beer next to Stone Levitation and Gulden Draak. I was wondering what sake were you using? I recently just got into sake and soju (late bloomer), aside from that, what are some good sake?
Love the new jumpsuit and the fact that there is already a bra inside. You look really great in the jumpsuit. Like what Ilana posted above, nothing is sexier than someone fully engaged in their passion for whatever it is.
Thank you so much for that quote. It made me feel so much my hands went numb.
amazing post. thank you. <3
Ji, i love you!
Such a lovely post! To me, the most romantic things are acts of selflessness and sacrifice that show evidence of real effort. I can certainly respect that, for many couples, simple, non-material things are romantically satisfying. But I have to wonder: do you reach that point only later in the relationship? To be honest, for me, “simple” very often translates into lazy. Like, if I have to eat my boyfriend’s spaghetti one more time, that’s it. Maybe it’s just a measure of how immature I am in terms of a romantic life, but I don’t feel like anyone has ever really truly been in love with me, because they’ve never sacrificed or made much of an effort for me in anything they did. This makes me resentful because I’m always making a huge effort and sacrificing in relationships. And so my desire for real, true love just builds and builds and each new relationship I enter has to make up for the missed opportunities of the previous ones, so it gets to a point where I heap unrealistic expectations on him and he breaks up with me and I’m back at square one. But I want to know what it’s like to be granted those experiences that other women get to have: the champagne and dessert, the surprise trip for two. For once in my life I want someone to make as much effort as I do: the fun surprise birthday parties I’ve spent days planning (including one I spent an entire paycheck on), the pumpkin I stayed up until 2 am to carve to look just like him, the ridiculously elaborate meals I’ve made. It isn’t so much about money as effort, and to know I’m worth the effort. That would be romantic. And then when we’re old and gray we can take a walk in the woods and that will be romantic.
Not immature at all, I completely understand this. When I love someone I want to put every effort in to make them feel special, but somehow these efforts are seldomly reciprocal. Of course I do not give with the expectation of receiving, but in the long run it can make a relationship seriously unbalanced?
damn, your blog is a killer. this post… i don’t know where to start and to end. it’s just so good. where do you get your inspiration for all this goodness?
holy fuck you made that ice mold? mindblown.
i think being romantic is doing things you swore you’d never do.
aloha from hawaii!
i am always in awe of your posts! v day is overrated and rather be more practical and go out earlier/later and not give into the hype. awesome you’re able to enjoy the day without a sig other.
sashimi is delicious and i am envious of your connections in NY. we often take nice fresh fish for granted in hawaii.
keep up the awesome work and i love your blog.
long time reader, first time poster
understanding each other’s fears. that’s sexy.
One of my most romantic experiences was with a guy I´d just meet. We were sitting in the same room working on our own thing individually, but somehow it felt like the most romantic thing in the world. Sounds a little strange, ha!
Love your post! Happy valentine!
whoa…amaaaazing! Fuggin-a, can I be your valentine!? Holy-moly.
your food posts are so creative and cool to see! That fluke looks sooooo good! Each and every course. And the gadgets like that scallion slicer and fish basket? genius. The meticulous details are very much appreciated! Man fresh fluke with just a teeny dip of vinegar-red pepper paste…yummm. Gotta try some fresh wasabi and a kaiseki. And that cake looks like spongey deliciousness.
In terms of romance…like real true romance are those moments that define the genuine connection between two people/souls. It’s very hard to witness and have in one’s life, and if you do, you’re very lucky. Because any moment can feel romantic. I feel like that’s why a lot of people have to fake it and pretend, since they lack that genuine connection; it’s mostly in vain.
What the heck is that “Giant” brand thing you put your scallions through?
i know koreans love their fluke from the loads of korean variety shows i watch.. yea i confess to watching them.. they always dip it in some dip.. reddish? made from gochujang? and they catch it fresh and cut it up on the spot.. always wanted to try!!
and you always make even the simplest of things look so stunningly breathtaking.. (the last two words were excessively put together, but i had to pack in the depth of how i felt, which is a lot). that fish recipe, at least in china, is a shanghainese? or is it cantonese? classic that my parents have made since i was a wee child. you steam the fish with ginger and salt, then before it’s served, pour hot oil and soy sauce and scallions over it, and it’s the best stuff in the world.
food has this uncanny was of being incredibly delicious and the best in the simplest of dishes, the ones that every one eats over and over again, and at the least ritzy of places.. one of the most populist things in the world ;D
i love your jumpsuit, and you looked great in it. Nice arms and shoulders. Where can i get one jumpsuit like yours? :p
I don’t really believe in romance. A good S.O. for me would be someone with whom I share mutual feelings with, but is comfortable enough to leave me alone (no facetime, no excessive texting) for two weeks. Or a month. I am a busy woman.
That cake looks so good!
Step into Estherina’s World
Loving that person everyday, right down to the tiniest gestures, is romantic. Nothing can beat that.
Oh, romantic for me is – to do what i really want, i’m busy person.
And dear Luxirare, your blog is my inspiration for 2 years, thanks.
When i think that something is too difficult for me – just open your posts about food.
Many many thanks and happy Valentine’s day.
I think silence is romantic. That of two individuals who are so comfortable with each other without the need for any verbal expressions.
I think feeling even more in love now, after three years together, is pretty romantic.
Couldn’t stop drooling (at the food and you accessories)!! Great post.
Ah great post as always and beautiful jumpsuit. Romantic and sexy ah great question. I’m not super romantic, so it’s always a surprise to me what I find sexy.
Damn everything looks amazing. Who needs a boyfriend if you have great food? Pffft.
Can I have Valentine’s Day dinner with you every year? =)
Great post as always. Romance to me is perseverance and loyalty, sticking by your partner and putting him/her first amongst all else. Some people think it’s a gesture, candlelight dinners and such but I couldn’t care less about that stuff personally.
You have the most professional blog I’ve found so far. I love your creativity. “Luxirare” is an inspiration. Hugs from Rome <3
Just beautiful! My jaw is always hanging open by the end of your entries. Damn, girl.
I thoroughly enjoy every part of your blog posts. Usually I don’t like to read long, descriptive posts (I prefer pictures) but I love reading about how you get from a to b on any particular project.
Great morning material.
sandronewyork.blogspot.com
one of your best posts ever! Love how meticulous you were with the fluke.. really reminded me of a kaiseki where 1 fish is prepared in multiple ways to showcase the various flavors and textures of a single fish. fantastic. and the way you ended it with fried fish for beer in front of a computer screen? The contrast is too good.
and thanks for V2 of your jumpsuit. Was sooo tempted to buy V1 but like you said, am petrified about going without a bra. I’m traditional like that.
I might just have to get this one.
xxx
Beautiful everything! I’d praise more, but people above said enough already.
I too don’t understand how most expensive sushi places in the states will not serve you real wasabi. Not even talking about freshly grated… Just real. I’d estimate that over 90% of sushi fans here have no idea what real wasabi tastes like
Onto romantic things not involving your partner – top of the list for me is summer sunrise and me driving far on some trip. Pleasure, not business of course. Going to the Home Depot to pick up some things with my 3 y.o. daughter is close second.
Onto St.V. day – naming a hallmark holiday after a priest who didn’t have wife and died a horrible death – is a strange choice. We don’t tie romantic things to that date in my family.
So, how did you make the candle out of the mini skill vodka bottle? I want to do this!
It seems like a lot of people conflate (confuse?) “romance” and “pleasure.” Isn’t there an important distinction? Romance implies an interaction between people, while pleasure does not require another person to be experienced.
My idea of romantic is the idea that everything is chance and also that everything has a time limit but maybe these are more nostalgic notions than romantic ideas.
The bento box ice tray you’ve made is really interesting, just a change in materials changes the qualities of the object so much, and I also love your logo set into it. I love your attention to detail and functionality in every post you make and your writing is something I always read to find out why you’ve made certain design choices… although I think this is the first time I’ve actually commented. I’m an illustrator/graphic designer so your work is particularly inspiring to me.
you’re a genius mami
Beautiful, beautiful food. Thank you.
My idea of romance is being invited to my fiancé’s home for dinner. He cleaned every inch of the place. Not the way a man cleans, but the way a woman cleans. Thorough, the opposite of lazy. You know what I mean? Dusted shelves, clean under the bed, socks in pairs, no streaks on the mirrors… the whole nine yards. I sat in a chair and cried (tears of joy).
He doesn’t know how to cook, but he learned a few dishes for his proposal dinner in July when he asked me to marry him. Last night, he made cajun shrimp, a filet mignon, asparagus. Not super unique choices, but the way they were prepared… he knows I like to eat healthy so there was no butter, no cream (I like both too much for my own good). Not too much salt. He used these fairly unique spices for an inexperienced cook; adobo and cajun spices he mixed himself… he learned what it means to use one clove of garlic (that it’s not “a head of garlic”) and learned how to peel and devein every single shrimp… he’d never done that before.
This last point may be TMI, but he had me on the couch. He could have “had me” if he wanted. But we’re waiting until marriage. I fell asleep (exhausted from work and down with a bad cold). He washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. He walked me back 12 blocks to my place in the freezing cold. To have the gift of loving someone more than yourself, to me this is romance.
I really like the jumpsuit, so I need to buy it when it’s available!
This year’s Valentine’s day was my first that wasn’t depressing. It was my first with a boyfriend. It was lovely. And I’ll admit, it still wasn’t “perfect”. This holiday does more harm than good.
You had a post where you were hanging out with a girl friend who talked at length about her man problems. That can’t be fun for you, but your advice to her was “men are a mystery, I don’t know” or something like that. Really, Luxirare?
I can dig that this post is more about singles, but I want to share that after experiencing Valentine’s days where I wanted to kill myself, I will cherish yesterday as if I will never experience a good Valentine’s day ever again. I feel lucky, because I know that any day I can be back, single and self-pitying on Valentine’s day. When one gets to have a special Valentine’s day, fuck everyone and just take advantage of it. I visited him at school with some In-N-Out, and we exchanged candies and other chocolate treats. I made him a card, and he admitted that he wanted to write me a love poem, but he had to study for his exam. Like I said, not perfect.
As far as what is romantic to me, I don’t fucking know anymore. There’s too many to list. After we say goodbye and I leave his house, he always texts me something. When he sings songs, he substitutes my name for whatever verb or noun in the song. I’m most impressed when I make him laugh. But the most romantic thing is when he says, “I’m sorry.” Ha!
I think sexiness is in the uncertainty. The work you do to make someone see you, trust you, love you. If you never lose that, you never lose the sexiness.
Most romantic valentines gift ever was a pack of multicolored sharpies. Much better than the jewelry that boys tend to pick out
I find that most romantic. It truly is about the thought.
Although a Tiffany would be awesome to any girl, I find socks to be a much more meaningful gift.
I like to think that every day is Valentines day, especially to treat yourself to something special!
Love the post and that awesome ice tray.
Oooh, I LOVE this jumpsuit! This plus that awesome shorter skirt you made once upon a time are absolute necessities.
I absolutely loved this post. Everything you do is so amazing! The fried fluke chips look so good…I won’t be trying it myself, but damn, what i’d do to be able to reach into my computer screen and grab one.
For Valentines dessert I made my girlfriend your avocado sorbet and bloodless mary (although not to your standards). So thank you for sharing the recipes and making our Valentines dessert fun. A picture of them: http://www.nzarchitecture.com/luxirare_dessert.jpg
i would eat your fish chips forever
NO INNUENDO INTENDED
sorry didn’t even think of that until after i submitted. ha.
you know what’s sexy? simple, honest food executed perfectly. love your stuff, but this? AMAZEBALLS.
xo i lurv fluke too.
The daisies. I skipped everything as soon as I saw them to comment. LOVE the daisies, so cute <3 Thanks for the flowers for Valentine's day!
Ji, Please please please give us instructions on how to make that ice mould!
i love the tiffany’s but that kiki de monteparnasse necklace u posted about awhile back would have been waay more seasonally appropriate! HA
I was with someone from age 15 – 19, and although it was beautiful and magical, the most romantic experiences I’ve ever had happened last summer, after we went our separate ways. Learning that I could bring to myself the kind of happiness that I thought required another was more ‘romantic to the core’ than any gesture from someone else.
I spent Valentine’s Day by giving my mom a polaroid postcard with roses on them (she loves roses but hates the smell; go figure!) and it made her laugh. Been doing this since last year and it’s really… a nice feeling, when your mom is able to laugh.
Side note: If you’re making this jumpsuit, I’ll be the first person to get it!
true romance to me is unrequited love as well.
wonderful meal and jumpsuit. its unfortunate for me though, as a bustier gal, built in bras and corsets are never roomy enough!
Love love love the fluke chips.
Also you – jumpsuit is beautiful.
Also, Kuhn Rikon – I have the small hot pink utility one, love.
I love love love your way of “playing” with food if you will! so fantastic
The bit about the freshly grated wasabi made me actually laugh out loud
The fish chips look sooo goood!
I love the honesty and thought you put into your blog posts! I especially love this post :3 Your iceblock bento is AMAZING. I wish I had that much patience to put into things I do. I totally agree – not having what you want is so sexy. It’s like in tv shows or movies – people really only care about the characters getting together – not staying together
girl…you rock. fluke chips=pure genius
my husband and i think that vday is pretty lame. although secretly, one day I would like to receive a huge box of chocolates in a heart shaped box from him…so lame of me, but i can’t help my secret desire. I do have a “thing” for boxed chocolates. Ever since I was a youngster and saw forrest gump. Aside from all that, I do appreciate thoughtfulness quite a bit. I’m not a romantic person really, so I guess being thoughtful would be the closest thing to romance for me.
not giving you what you want on purpose before you know it’s what you want.
Romantic…..at the time I was too preoccupied to think so, but….after giving birth to my only son on Vday in 2008….I awoke to a see my husband with a potted plant and 2 cards (one from him of course and the other from our son). Neither one got me, but the gesture unforgotten floored me. Romantically sexy post down to the last simplest detail. Thank you.
Dude, u really something.
Your ice bento creation is amazing…hope you are able to explain how it’s being made….