TwinsWithOriginality – Page 2

San Sebastián

Published on September 10, 2013September 10, 2013 by T.W.O.1 Comment

It’s one of Europe’s best beaches, home to the gastronomic lifestyle of pintxos and one of T.W.O’s favorite cities in Spain. San Sebastián (SS) is located on the northern coast of Spain in the Basque region near the border of France. T.W.O. enjoyed 5 nights in this beach town and took day trips to Pamplona to watch the Running of the Bulls and to Biarritz to check out the surf capital of Europe.

Accommodations:

T.W.O. stayed in the Iztueta Apartments located on Miramar, which is the street overlooking La Concha beach. Jon, the owner, was very friendly and helpful in recommending local attractions and restaurants. The selling point of this apartment was the location and view. T.W.O. enjoyed many sunsets on their balcony with rosé and cheese while looking at La Concha beach. Being so close to the water, T.W.O. would fall asleep to the waves breaking onto the shore….doesn’t get any better than that!

Pintxos Bars:

Bar Zeruko: A MUST! T.W.O. went here their second night in SS and was a little bit intimated at first by the ordering process. They quickly learned that there was a second menu that you could order from; and that is what they did! T.W.O. highly recommends getting the steak (served on slate) and the papas fritas (French fries).

Atari Gastroteka: T.W.O. didn’t only visit this place once; they usually ended the pintxos bar hopping here every night! Located right across from the church, this place has it all. Great cupas riojas (glass of red wine), pintxos and cute servers! T.W.O. highly recommends the tomato salad and the arroz del día (rice of the day).

A Fuego Negro: Known for their burger pintxos, this place had a great atmosphere. T.W.O. stumbled upon this little gem trying to avoid a rainstorm and was very impressed with it’s menu. You can walk in or make reservations for the tasting menu. T.W.O. love the record-style menus!

La Playa

La Concha: is the larger of two beaches in San Sebastian and is more protected from the open sea. Many fishing boats are anchored here, so it makes for a beautiful setting. T.W.O. spent most of their time on this beach since it was right across from their apartment. They would grab some fresh bread, turkey, and cheese and a bottle of rosé and head to the beach for a couple hours. Of course there was a gelato break here and there! The beach was backed with people from all over the world, which made for great people watching! Some had their bathing suits on, some didn’t! The water was the perfect temperature to cool off in the 80 degree weather. As the day grew longer, the tide came up and then it became a party on the beach! Your sand neighbors became your friends!

La Zurriola: This beach is located east of the old town and river. Known as being the surf spot of SS, this beach has more waves and less people. If you want a quieter beach with a ton of Aussies and locals, come here!

The Old Town

The town itself is filled with shops, bakeries and mercados. T.W.O. enjoyed strolling through the streets and exploring the shops. The panaderías (bakeries) were plentiful and delicious! T.W.O. found the best goat cheese in a local mercado that they can’t seem to find here in the US.

Hike to statue of Christ

An easy hike, T.W.O. ventured to the statue of Christ one morning before the heat. The statue is located on top of the mountain between the two beaches. If you want great photos of the city, take the hike! There were many look-out points along the way to capture shots of the city. Beware of the wild-life….wild cats were roaming around! The old canons near the castle still exist, which is pretty spectacular to envision that those were once used to protect the city. Make sure to bring water; there are no water fountains along the way.

T.W.O. absolutely loved spending time in San Sebastián and would highly recommend this city to anyone. T.W.O. hopes to come back one day and visit their favorite spots again.

Happy Travels!

T.W.O.’s Favorite Orange County (OC) Spots

Published on September 5, 2013September 4, 2013 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

31^st Street, Newport Beach

For many years, T.W.O. has been riding their beach cruises to this street’s beach front to soak up the sun. It’s a great place to catch-up on your summer book read, gossip magazine news and a little game of smash ball. Generally, this beach spot is not too crowded so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to sit.

Balboa Island

This island is famous for its Balboa Bar, which is a chocolate dipped frozen banana. It’s THE BEST in the WEST! Other than these gastronomical gems, Balboa is a great place to stroll along the board walk and enjoy the sun! And if you have young children, the island offers a Fun Zone and a Ferry Boat that will definitely keep your children on Cloud 9!

Sugar Shack

Located on Main Street in Huntington Beach, the Sugar Shack is a restaurant that T.W.O. and their family have been going to for breakfast every Christmas Eve. The eggs, pancakes, hash browns and the hot chocolate are highly recommended. The restaurant is also known for its hamburgers and Turkey Dinners on Wednesday nights.

Fashion Island

Where the shopping bags meet the surf! In T.W.O’s opinion, there is no better way to spend the day shopping than in an outdoor shopping mall that has views of the ocean. The center has many of T.W.O.’s favorite stores- Norstrom’s, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Trina Turk, Rebecca Taylor, Elie Tahari, Kate Spade,Nike, and the list goes on! One of T.W.O.’s favorite spots to dine for lunch while shopping is True Food Kitchen, which has the most amazing salads!

Crystal Cove Shake Shack

Shake Shack is a great place to cool down with a shake and enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean. This small little hut is located on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) near Laguna Beach that is worth stopping at! They are most famous for their date shake creation. So take your next date here and share a date shake!

Cannery, Newport Beach

A local favorite, The Cannery is a wonderful restaurant that is known for its gastronomical, fresh seafood. Whether you go for brunch, lunch dinner, or drinks, this waterfront spot will not be a disappointment. They also offer a fantastic happy hour from 4-6:30 PM daily!

TK Burger, Newport Beach

At the beach and craving a hamburger? T.W.O. would highly recommend that you make your way to TK Burger. This spot is filled with locals because they know that it is the best burger you can get in town with sand on your feet. All their food is fresh- never frozen and cooked to order. They also have locations in Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Anaheim Hills and Santa Ana.

Happy Exploring!

San Francisco’s Off the Grid Presidio Picnic

Published on August 28, 2013August 22, 2013 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

Every Sunday, dozens of gourmet food trucks, bakeries, and fresh produce stands gather in San Francisco’s Presidio for one of the largest public picnics T.W.O. has ever seen. There is live music, vendors walking around with wagons selling Bloody Mary kits, wine, beer and champagne and the best free entertainment-people watching! T.W.O. brought along a picnic basket, blanket and of course, a bottle of Rosé for a lovely afternoon sitting in the sun, while enjoying great company with family and 300 of their closest friends! Below are some photos of T.W.O.’s Presidio Picnic adventure!

(Click the mosaic to see a slideshow of the photos)

Zucchini Noodles

Published on August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

When in Rome, you eat pasta. When cooking with T.W.O, you make zucchini noodles! This is such an easy dish that can be transformed into a snack, a summer salad or an entrée. The most important part of this dish is the peeler….a julienne peeler! You can find it at SUR LA TABLE or even TARGET.

Zucchini Noodles

Ingredients:

– 4 zucchini
– 1 clove garlic, diced
– 1 lemon; juiced
– Olive oil
– Krazy Salt

After washing the vegetables, place the zucchini flat on a cutting board. Hold with one hand the top of the zucchini that is furthest from you, while holding the zucchini peeler in the other hand. The key to creating “noodles” is to peel the zucchini using only one stroke. From top to bottom, peel the zucchini in a straight line. This will form your perfect “noodles”. Continue until the zucchini is all peeled.

Place all the “noodles” in a bowl and add lemon juice, diced garlic, olive oil and Crazy Salt to your desire. Let the noodles marinate for about 10 minutes.

Once the “noodles” have marinated, squeeze the excess juice out of the “noodles” so your meal isn’t soggy. Now comes the question….What can I do with these “noodles?” T.W.O decided to make a summer salad. To make this, you will need the following ingredients:

Summer Salad

– Zucchini noodles
-8 to 10 mini balls of fresh mozzarella
-1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
– 4 Tablespoons fresh basil
-Balsamic vinegar to drizzle

Add the mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil to the noodles. Finish the dish by drizzling the noodle mixture with balsamic vinegar. Now it’s time to enjoy this tasty, light summer salad poolside!

T.W.O. in Madrid

Published on August 26, 2013August 26, 2013 by twinswithoriginality1 Comment

After a plane flight, metro ride, and adventure walking with our suitcases over cobblestone, T.W.O. made it to our first stop in Spain- MADRID!! Ole! Madrid is an amazing city full of history, architecture, exquisite restaurants, friendly people and not to mention, ZARAs on every corner! T.W.O. was in heaven!

T.W.O. was in Madrid for 4 days at stayed at the Vincchi Soho hotel in the heart of the historical area of Madrid. T.W.O. would definitely recommend Vincchi Soho- it is clean, modern, the staff is very friendly and it is in a great location of the city- walking distance to everything!

While in Madrid, T.W.O. explored everything- from plazas to palaces, ZARAs to bull fights, restaurants to mercados, and Rosés to papas fritas. T.W.O loved it all! Here are just some of the highlights of T.W.O.’s adventure in Madrid!

Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor was one of the biggest plazas in Madrid. T.W.O enjoyed stopping by this plaza one, two, even three times a day to see this beautiful site.

Mercado de San Miguel

Mercado de San Miguel is a must-see if you travel to Madrid. This mercado is a great spot to head for lunch if you don’t want to deal with a restaurant. Inside the mercado, there are over 30 merchants selling their respective tapas specialties. T.W.O would highly recommend the burrata cheese crostini with pesto and the croquette with cheese and jalapeno.

Palacio Real de Madrid

Palacio Real de Madrid is another site to see in Madrid. Pay the 12 euros and enjoy the breathtaking art and architecture inside the palace. You won’t be disappointed.

Plaza de Santa Ana

Plaza de Santa Ana was T.W.O.’s favorite plaza in Madrid. They spent everyday in this plaza whether is was for breakfast, lunch, dinner or their siesta!

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas

When in Madrid, go to a bull fight! T.W.O. enjoyed this amazing experience and would suggest everyone see one if they are in Madrid. The art of this sport is spectacular and the local people are so passionate about it. Bull fights typically take place on every Sunday during the summer months.

Lateral

Lateral was T.W.O.’s favorite restaurant in Madrid. It is located in Plaza de Santa Ana (how ironic!). T.W.O. would suggest the stuffed piquillo peppers, goat cheese with caramelized onions, and the patatas bravas.

Strolling around Madrid and Parque del Buen Retiro

T.W.O. enjoyed strolling around Madrid, especially when it involved shopping at Zara! During the stroll, T.W.O. walked through Parque del Buen Retiro. It was absolutely gorgeous and reminded T.W.O. of Central Park in New York City. This park is a nice place to take a picnic, go for a run, or just enjoy an evening walk!

T.W.O. truly enjoyed Madrid and would definitely go back- well actually; they did, for one day! In terms of the future, Madrid will be revisited. It is a great city for everyone- young adults, couples, families and elders! T.W.O. me encantό Madrid! #gemelasenespana

Friday Night Pizza

Published on August 23, 2013August 21, 2013 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

Friday Night Pizza has been a tradition in T.W.O.’s family for decades. It’s one night of the week that everyone partakes in the preparation of dinner by creating his or her own pizza. It’s all about the dough, the ingredients and the cooking style that makes every week a unique experiment. We aren’t afraid of trying new recipes and of course making it our own….T.W.O.!

T.W.O.’s first featured Friday Night Pizza was taken place in San Francisco with family. Around 6pm, everyone was in the kitchen chopping, shredding and dicing their favorite ingredients.

The chefs made a total of 4 pizzas:

1. Peach & Ricotta Pizza with Arugula
2. BBQ Chicken Pizza
3. Deep Dish Pizza
4. Chicken & Pesto Pizza

PHOTOS BELOW:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

T.W.O. will be featuring the Peach & Ricotta Pizza with Arugula

Ingredients:

1 – pizza dough (T.W.O. suggests using SF’s Molinari’s pizza dough or Whole Food’s brand)
1 – yellow peach, ripe
1 – cup ricotta cheese
2 – tablespoons honey
½ – cup balsamic vinegar
1- tablespoon olive oil
¼ – cup lemon juice
8-10- fresh basil leaves
1 ½- cups arugula
¼ – cup cornmeal
Flour
Pizza Stone

The key to having a perfectly rolled out pizza is to make sure the dough is at room temperature. Roll out the dough on a floured surface that is lightly sprinkled with cornmeal. Once rolled out evenly in a circular shape, place the dough on a pizza stone. T.W.O. decided to bake their pizza on a stone so that the crust would be thinner and the peaches would not be buried inside the dough.

In a separate bowl, mix the arugula, olive oil, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. Place aside for later.

Now it’s ricotta time! First, add the honey to the ricotta and mix well. Spread the ricotta/ honey mixture evenly on the dough. Make sure your spread it all the way to the edges. Thinly slice the peaches and remove the stems from the basil. Next, place the peaches and basil on the ricotta. Once the pizza is “dressed,” start the BBQ. It is important to make sure the BBQ is pre-heated so that it cooks at the set temperature. (The temperature should be around 414° – 450° depending on your BBQ)

BBQ the pizza for about 15 minutes, depending on how you like your crust. T.W.O. highly suggests that you take your glass of wine out to the BBQ and watch the pizza, so you achieve the perfect crust and not a charbroiled crisp!

Once the pizza is done, drizzle ¼ cup of the remaining balsamic vinegar on the peach, ricotta and basil topping. To finish, add the arugula salad to the top of the pizza. Now you are ready to serve! Bon Appetit!

Wine Pairing Suggestions: Kaz, Winemakers Red Blend (of course, signed by the winemaker himself!)

Toasted Quinoa

Published on August 22, 2013August 22, 2013 by twinswithoriginality1 Comment

Quinoa. A superfood, high in protein and dietary fiber. By now, everyone has either heard about it, cooked with it, or both! It is a great addition to any breakfast, lunch or dinner! But most of the recipes out there are just so similar- so soft!! So T.W.O. has decided to change up the texture of this superfood and “crunch it up!” Toasted Quinoa! It is a great addition to any dish you would like to add some crunch and protein without the added fat or gluten.

Toasted Quinoa

Ingredients:

-2 cups of water
-1 cup of Quinoa, rinsed
–Crazy Salt
-Garlic powder
-Cayenne pepper powder
-1 tablespoon of olive oil

Bring water to a boil in a sauce pan. Once boiling, pour quinoa, crazy salt, garlic powder and cayenne pepper into water. (Please note that seasonings can be added to your liking!) Bring water to a boil once again, then reduce to low-medium temperature and cover pan. Allow quinoa to cook for about 10-12 minutes. When complete, use a fork to “fluff” quinoa and transfer to a cookie sheet to cool down. Once quinoa is cooled, heat up a sauté pan with olive oil. When pan is hot, place quinoa in pan and reduce heat to medium. Make sure to mix the quinoa often so it doesn’t burn. Toast the quinoa for about 6 minutes or until golden brown. Wah lah- it’s done! Toasted quinoa can be eaten hot or cold and can be stored in an air-tight container for about 5 days. Just make sure that the quinoa is cool before placing the lid on the container- you don’t want it to get soggy!

T.W.O. decided to add the warm, toasted quinoa to a salad. It added not only crunch, but protein to this gastronomical meal.

T.W.O. has also added the toasted quinoa to Greek yogurt and fruit. It was just like granola, but better! If you are planning on using it with yogurt, T.W.O. would suggest eliminating the seasonings above (salt, garlic and cayenne) and add cinnamon or nutmeg!

Enjoy “crunching” it up!

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Published on August 22, 2013August 22, 2013 by twinswithoriginalityLeave a comment

T.W.O. is featured in the Huntington Beach

WAVE!

“Gemelas en España!”

The Silk Headband

Published on August 21, 2013August 21, 2013 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

Many of our favorite designers featured silk, twisted headbands in their summer line this year. T.W.O. was in search of the perfect one for their trip to España. After a couple shopping trips, T.W.O. decided that there wasn’t a print out there that was worth the money, so T.W.O.’s mom stepped in and offered her sewing services. Technology these days helped T.W.O. select the material in a matter of minutes since they were unable to accompany their mom to the fabric store. Thank you Apple!

Great job T.W.O Mom!!!!

We received the headbands the weekend before our trip to España and were able to enjoy them with the entire family!!!

Here are some photos of T.W.O. enjoying our headbands in San Sebastian, San Diego, San Francisco and Sausalito:

Peach + Boysenberry Pie

Published on August 20, 2013September 21, 2013 by T.W.O.2 Comments

The ultimate summer dessert – Peach Pie!!!! It’s a fresh, light and sweet ending to a perfect barbecued meal. Grab your rolling pins (or wine bottles!) and let’s start baking!

Ingredients:

Flaky Crust:
2 cups flour
¾ cup shortening (T.W.O. uses butter flavor)
2-3 Tablespoons sugar
5-6 Tablespoons cold water

Pie Filling:
5-6 yellow peaches
1 cup boysenberries
1 Tablespoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a bowl mix the flour, shortening, sugar and cold water. T.W.O. uses a pastry blender to mix the dough together. Form the dough in a ball and set aside.

Now for the filling! Make sure the peaches are washed and dried well. You don’t want extra protein in your pie! There are two ways you can remove the skin from the peaches…either blanch them in water or peel the skins off or you can take a carving knife and remove the skin like a peeler. T.W.O. removed the skin using a small knife.

Halve the peaches and remove the pit. Cut the peaches in thin slices and place in a bowl. Once all the peaches are sliced, add the nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar and boysenberries. Mix well, but not too much since you don’t want the fruit to break.

Let’s roll that dough now! Make sure your surface is floured well so that the dough doesn’t stick to your countertop or mat. Take a “hand-full” of dough and put aside. (This will be for the lattice top) Using your rolling pin/ wine bottle, roll the remaining dough out evenly in a circular shape. With the assistance of a spatula, move the rolled out dough into the oiled or “PAM’ed” pie dish. Pinch the crust tops with your fingers to make a stylish pattern. Once the dough is set, sprinkle the bottom of the pie with cornstarch. This will absorb the juices from the peaches to prevent a soggy crust.

Take your peach filling and place it in the pie dish. Make sure the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Almost there! Now it’s time for the lattice. Roll the remanding dough out thinly with your rolling pin/ wine bottle to form a rectangle. Take a sharp knife and cut long stripes in the dough. Use these stripes to create the lattice formation for the topper. Be creative with your placement!

Place the pie dish on a cookie sheet lined with foil to prevent any excess juice from the pie to drip onto the bottom of the oven. Also, put foil around the pie crush so that it doesn’t burn. It’s oven time! The pie should take about 45 minutes, but let’s face it, not all ovens are the same, so just keep an eye on it! T.W.O. knows the pie is ready when the juices are bubbling!

Once the pie is removed from the oven, T.W.O. likes to place it on a wire rack so that the pie can cool down a bit. Wait 15 minutes, 45 minutes or 4 hours to eat this pie- it’s delicious anytime! T.W.O. suggests adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your slice! Enjoy!!!