Banging bangs

After indulging in a banging transformation taken place at the salon, my cousin Van agrees to a happy hour cocktail and some small plates at Charlie Palmer, a restaurant inside of Bloomingdale's at South Coast Plaza. We found a high table farthest away from the entrance, underneath a 70-inch flat screen, and to settle ourselves in, we climbed into the wooden stools, mimicking  two 2-year-old little girls being picked up by our parents from under the armpits and adjusting their warped  behinds to fit into a booster seat.  We apparently left our legs at home today.

 And with an appetite of two hungry hippos, we rage the menu not minding the limited space our table is capable of holding.  On top of the table is a framed list that offers a large selection of small plates and in a black folder are a variety of cocktails and wines to choose from.  Allowing my cousin to have first look at the food list, I chose my wine - a Pinot Noir.   As I tell her my first pick from the menu- a pulled pork lettuce wraps, I ask for her pick, and with great enthusiasm she points directly at Confit Duck gizzard. My facial expression was that of a little kid being fed purée broccoli and spinach soup, regurgitating as her mom spoons it into her mouth.  We both burst into attention grabbing laughter, agreed to it and added  several more dishes to our order from Roxy, the waitress.

 In addition to the gizzards, plates of prochiutto with chicken liver pâté and pork liver pâté, bacon wrapped dates and flat bread pizza all arrive shortly after the order was taken. We are ready for one wild happy hour.   Rush hour traffic off the 91 freeway is always bumper-to-bumper before 7PM on a Friday evening, still having at least another hour to kill, we drive over to XXI for a quick shopping spree before she hops on the freeway and head into the sunset - or to Palm Desert.

  Van, reluctant to head out without getting caffeinated, we navigate through the parking lot to find a Starbucks, where a coffee was successfully bought and hopefully drank during her 3-hour mini road trip.  Wish I could've gone with her, for a min vacation.  My cousin's banging transformation made my day a special one.