It’s been two years since I graduated from UCLA.  Hardly feels like two years, especially considering the fact that I still live pretty close by and I still haven’t picked up my diploma.  June comes around as one of the busiest months of the academic year – finals, midnight yell, cramming, and of course, commencement.  I have the honor of knowing two scholars who have worked their butts off to earn their secondary degree and licenses and I had the opportunity to celebrate with them.  I guess this is where I use the phrase, “here are some photos after the jump”:

On Friday night for Mark’s graduation, we went to Ford’s Filling Station which is a pretty fancy restaurant situated in downtown Culver City.  Beautiful area, surprised to be living so close to it and I never really scoped it out.  Here’s what I ate:

Bread with garlic butter slathered all over it *drool*

Cured Meats

The braised rabbit was all out for the night so I had to settle for this badboy:

Bacon-wrapped quail with mashed potatoes and roasted corn succotash

And then as if that wasn’t enough, I got to spend an evening with Anna the future nurse and the-one-and-only Ming for Anna’s graduation.  More photos “after the jump”: (I think I’m getting the hang of this..)

gnocchi with sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, parmesan cheese, fresh basil

spaghetti with tomato sauce, onions, black pepper, italian bacon

We were disappointed to find that the Torta de la Nona was all out for the night (dammit!) but Ming always has a back-up plan.  Alcove, which is a small pastry cafe right down the street, had THE most amazing cakes I’ve ever tasted in my life.

Revisiting the pictures, now I know why I have so much trouble losing weight.  Because I LOVE FOOD TOO MUCH.

But great food, great company, and great conversation is what makes life so sweet.  It’s definitely priceless to have friends that make you smile.

Cheers!  and congratulations to class of 2009!