We spent a lot of time at beaches and pools this spring from Manila to Cebu, Boracay to Palawan, and Burbank to Bali. Seeing my 5-year old nephews Kai and Hoops swimming on their own was such a joy. I marveled at how quickly they learned and how much fun they had in the water. I figured it's time for Amelia to learn how to swim too.


We've been attending a toddler class once a week since June at La Petite Baleen in Atherton, where babies as young as a month old learn to swim. The first couple of session were very light. We were basically just in the pool to get the kids comfortable in the water and get acquainted with the swim instructor. We learned songs and rhymes that we've repeated every week since, in order for the kids to learn the routine and know what to expect. Kids and routines!

"Hold your ribbon, Amelia." At the end of her first lesson, she got a ribbon officially declaring her a whale and a "Save the Humans, Learn to Swim" tee.

Ready for swim class

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Learning about propulsion with the "Kids in the Pool" song

Next we learned submersions, where kids learn to hold their breath and close their eyes and mouth when the go under water. Amelia was a natural at that. She mastered "textbook la Petite Baleen submersion" the first time we tried it, according to Teacher Kevin. She is a survivor. Haha.


Then the kids started to wear goggles and fins, which are part of lessons going forward. The theory behind the goggles is, if they can see underwater then they can orient themselves and learn faster. And the fins help their little feet propel. We skipped a couple of lessons because of a cold one week and then we were in LA the following week, and she regressed a little bit. She wasn't jumping in the water or swimming to the instructor as readily as before.

Going through the tunnel

Kids have to get comfortable being on their backs, which is their most vulnerable position. If they know how to float on their backs, they can keep themselves from drowning.

Sit jump

Swimming to the steps

All done

This week, I've started to let her go in the water and have her swim to the stairs. I think she was mad at me for letting her go. Haha. After 2 months of lessons at 20 months old, she is starting to swim. We're both looking forward to ongoing lessons as our endless summer continues.


La Petite Baleen
60 5th Ave.
Redwood City, CA 94063


Photo credit: Ricci Sylla

Red Medicine is a Vietnamese restaurant that isn't a Vietnamese restaurant. It's not even Asian. The flavors are not what they look like on the plate. It's different. It's exciting. It's so good.

#87 crushed ice, mint, spice, chai.

PORK PATE, clove, rambutan

SANTA BARBARA UNI, cauliflower, chinese sausage

BRUSSEL SPROUTS, shallots, fish sauce

BIODYNAMIC LEEKS, yuzu, buttermilk. My favorite dish of this meal.

SWEET POTATOES, smoked tofu, tamarind

YOUNG TURNIPS, banana vinegar, creme fraiche

WILD ALASKAN HALIBUT, burnt onion, black roots

SWEETBREADS, spice bread, smoked bone marrow

SHAVED ICE OF REDWOOD STEMS, sour red currant berries and jelly, creme chiboust (no idea what that is) flavoured with jasmine flowers, crispy rice crackers, orange blossom bubbles, covered with roasted almond praline disk spray painted with white chocolate

Red Medicine
8400 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Hey, you. Yeah, I’m talking to you.

The red barn is where the baby goats, chickens, roosters, rabbits, ducks, chickens and pigs live. This is Hilda Mae Heifer.

Baby goats playing. Big pigs sleeping and little Amelia peeking.

Old MacDonald had a farm and we went to visit it.

Several months ago, my champagne-loving aunts Thess and Vangie babysat Amelia. We ended up staying for dinner at their place and they served champagne. Of course. I mentioned that I don't have a definitive favorite because my palate does not have a good memory, there are long stretches in between my champagne swillings, and I've never drank more than one type of champagne at a time. We talked about a tasting to resolve the matter. Finally we did. You're invited.

I was thrilled when I read that potato chips and popcorn go well with traditional brut champagne. No cooking required.

L to R: brillat savarin with truffles, truffle mouse, lambchopper sheep gouda, mortadella.

There you go. Everyone brought a different bottle so we can sample a wide variety. L to R: Monthuys, Cuvee des Crayeres, Moet & Chandon, Gaston Chiquet, Perrier-Jouet, Benoit Lahaye.

A generous tasting portion is not so helpful when trying to remember. For dinner I prepared rigatoni with creamy mushroom sauce that went well with the evening's libation.

For dessert I served Draeger's sponge cake with berries and Suzie & Ellen's homemade strawberry jam.

This cake was so good and more bubbles.

The drinking became more of a pairing than a tasting. I still don't know which champagne I like best. Ah, well. We need a do over. Who's in?

To paraphrase Tom Waits, champagne is for real friends. À notre santé!

Located on Venice's hottest block, Superba Snack Bar offers up Southern California cuisine with focus on house made pastas, small plates, and vegetables.

There's a small patio outside for al fresco dining.

Blankets are provided for patio diners in case it gets chilly.

This cold cut plate was too good! L to R: porchetta di testa pastrami on rye with dill pickles; pâté de champagne, pickled mustard seed; smoked bacon & apricot mustardo; Julia’s chicken liver mousse pave, black pepper strawberry gelée

Vegetarian truffle special, spring greens and flowers, truffle oil, crostini

Black kale, jalapeño pickled raisins, pine nuts, pecorino & crouton

Roasted white peaches, coconut "burrata", black radishes, radicchio, basil

Cauliflower T-bone, avocado puree, pickled beets & castelvetranos

My favorite dish was the wakame spaghettini made with uni, Dungeness crab, miso butter & pickled jalapeños. Sublime.

Smoked bucatini carbonara, poached egg, pancetta, black pepper & parmesan

Sweet corn agnolotti, jalapeño butter, ancho, lime & sheep’s milk cheese

Half and Half The savory peach dessert on the left was not a favorite on our table. There was a lot left over, and leftover dessert is unheard of. On the other hand, the smore's like concoction on the right, well, let's just say nothing was left over.

Superba Snack Bar
533 Rose Ave.
Venice, CA 90291

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California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr.
San Francisco, CA 94118