Take a peek http://www.youtube.com/user/RayBayFilmStudio#p/a/u/1/npdimW9nHFc

What Long Beach was cooking up in 1910!

These recipes are a sampling of the 125 recipes from Long Beach women in the 1908 cookbook. Delightfully provided by Charles Perry, President of the Culinary Historians of Southern California.

BANANA AND GUAVA SALAD (Alice Reynolds, General Delivery, Long Beach) -- Allow 1 banana and half a dozen guavas to each person. Halve the banana lengthwise and guavas crosswise. Place all on a bed of lettuce. Cover with mayonnaise, allowing the fruit to show through. Sprinkle with finely chopped almonds or walnuts.

FRIED SUMMER SQUASH (Mrs. M.E.R., Long Beach) – Cut nice young summer squashes into slices about ½ inch thick. Dip each slice into flour and fry in hot butter. Salt and pepper to taste, and pour over them a cup of sweet cream. Eat hot.

MACARONI SPANISH (Mrs. H.B. Root, RFD No. 2, Box 169, Long Beach) – Add ½ pound macaroni, 1 clove garlic to pot of salted boiling water; cook 15 minutes. [Drain pasta.] Three slices of bacon, cut in small squares, fry brown with 1 onion and 1 red pepper, cut fine. Then add 1 pint tomatoes, salt to taste. Place alternately in baking dish a layer of macaroni, then layer sauce, then layer grated cheese. Bake 1 hour in moderate oven.

PEARL CAKE (Mrs. M.D.R., Long Beach) -- To 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar, creamed together, add 1 cup sweet milk, whites of 5 eggs beaten stiff, 1 cup cornstarch, and 2 cups flour sifted 5 times with 3 teaspoons baking powder. Bake in 3 layers [in buttered and floured pans at 350 until layers spring back when lightly touched in the center and are starting to pull away from the pans, 20-30 minutes]. WHIPPED CREAM FILLING -- Beat 2 cups thick sweet cream one day old, with egg beater; when about half done, or quite light, add 1 cup sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla and finish whipping. Put between layers when cake is cold. FROSTING -- Beat white of 1 egg very stiff; add 11 teaspoons powdered sugar. Beat thoroughly and spread over top of cake.

DELECTABLE COOKIES (Persis Bergen, Box 223, R.F.D. No. 1, Long Beach) – Two cups sour cream, 3 cups brown sugar, 1 scant teaspoon soda, 1 scant teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup chopped raisins, 1 cup chopped nut meats, enough flour to make stiff batter. Drop from spoon onto buttered pans and bake in moderate oven [350 degrees]. Though baking powder and soda are not supposed to be used together, I have better success in using a scant amount of soda and some baking powder.

GRAPE DESSERT (Nina Bell Sherman, Long Beach) – Scald 1 pint milk, add 1 pint grape juice, tablespoon vanilla. When at boiling point, stir in tablespoon flour mixed with a bit of milk when cold. Cook until creamy; add pinch of salt, beaten yolks 3 eggs; cook until mixture coats spoon. Cool and freeze [in an ice cream maker]. Pack in mold and set in ice and salt 2 hours. Unmold and garnish with bunch of grapes.

Patrick Farrand is a Los Angeles based artist who lives and works in Long Beach, CA. In general, his work is very eclectic­-ranging from portraits and surrealistic abstracts, to landscapes and architectural works.  "I first moved to Long Beach in 1986 to go CSULB and have been painting professionally since 1996.  I live in the Alamitos Beach neighborhood and have always, from the first time coming to Long Beach, loved the architecture here.  I believe it's the simple and clean geometric shapes that have drawn me in from day one."

As one of the featured artists at the Rose Park Restoration Trade Fair in September, he was pleased to report that the show proved a success for him. "I gained three new clients for commissions and sold two paintings at the show.  It was a great experience and one that I'm looking forward to next year." 

You can view his work at: www.farrandfinearts.com

 

Susan Jansen - Artist

San Francisco Bay Area artist, Susan Jansen, was also featured at the 2008 Restoration Trade Fair. Her connection to Rose Park is through her sister, Emily, an active member of the Rose Park Historic Neighborhood Association.

Jansen's specialty is in portraiture, be it of people or their pets. She is a sought-after artist whose work is collected throughout the United States, Europe, and in Russia.  "My portraits are well known for having my subject's exact likeness," she explains, "and at the same time for portraying his or her spirit and personality with a beautiful, soft quality."
 
With a love for the Art Nouveau and Art Deco style, Jansen says the Long Beach neighborhoods are a huge inspiration for her and in her work. "Walking through the neighborhoods in Long Beach, lined with arts and crafts bungalows, is like stepping back in time for me. I can think of no better way to complement a restoration than to add a portrait painted in the style of the house.  Combining my love for painting portraits with my love of that art period, has resulted in a very enthusiastic reception of my work among my clients, especially in the Long Beach area."

Jansen also was pleased with the reception she received at the RTF. "The trade fair exceeded my expectations, and it was a joy to spend the day there.  The public was very complimentary, the location was pleasant, and I have three new portrait commissions as a result.  I think the fair was a resounding success and I look forward to an invitation next year!"

Visit her website at: www.susanjansen.com

 

Dorette Marie Amell - Artist

Dorette Marie Amell's artistic endeavors span over 25 years-as both a fine and decorative artist and muralist. Her work has taken her from southern Maine to Southern California-and to Long Beach where she currently resides.

As a decorative artist and muralist, her services include trompe l'oeil painting, custom artwork, portraiture, hand lettering, gilding, furniture painting and exceptional faux finishing, for both trade and individual clients. She has completed projects ranging in size from 4 to 40,000 square feet. She also provides professional restoration, having brought back to life antique frescos, paintings and murals, as well as furniture, wood graining and wall coverings.

As a fine artist, her style has been described as "an imaginative representational style that references art historical and religious paintings as well as pop culture and folk art."  Her works have been exhibited throughout galleries in Maine, Washington, and Virginia.

"Long Beach is a big inspiration for my work," Dorette reflects. "The architecture, light, waterfront, foliage, characters and cultural diversity all combine to make a compelling place for me as an artist. As it pertains to my decorative and restoration work, good restoration requires sensitivity to those who have gone before, as well as a respect for the original designer and craftsperson. In both my decorative and fine art, I incorporate contemporary materials and approach along with time tested technique and the principals of good design. I've learned valuable technical lessons from every restoration I have completed. Long Beach is rich in the work of past masters-which I'm often reminded to look at, to see what can be learned."
 
Dorette says the trade fair was a great opportunity for her to network and meet potential clients, and to that end, she made valuable contacts for future commissions.

You can view her work at: www.doretteamell.com

 

Sarah G. Vinci - Photographer

Inside and Outside on Orizaba

 

If you want to follow in their footsteps here is what you need to do. First know that you want a home in an historic district, one with character and one you can afford. Afford to buy and afford to restore, but maybe not all at once. In the summer of 2005, Jeff and Torey started looking, thinking Rose Park was out of their price range. But with a little digging they found their home listed at a price far beneath those nearby. And the reason was. . . .it had not been maintained for over two decades.

 

In two and half years always with a mind to the overall budget (could they help with our economic bailout?) they started from the ground up. Plumbing, wiring, gutting bath and kitchen, installing historically correct windows and French doors to a new backyard. What is their secret for staying on budget, just that, "we managed the process ourselves", per Jeff Anderson.

 

Did we mention permits and COA's (certificates of appropriateness)? Their entire plan stared with a conversation at the city of Long Beach's Historic Preservation office.  Things did not always go as hoped. Contracting with friends proved to be a mistake, assuming a discussion with a foreman was the same as the contractor, again was bad thinking. They thank Tom Barnes for introducing them to talented artisans and craftspeople many listed as vendors at our recent Restoration Trade Fair.

Just before 9am, there was a steady crawl of cars onto the grounds paying their modest admission. Many, who had seen the signs around town or heard about it from friends, said they were only going to stay a short time. Yet on average, folks stayed at least two hours, enjoying the speakers, the free hot dogs from our Firemen’s Union, popcorn, ice tea (courtesy of Portfolio Coffeehouse) and the experience of being outside the beautiful 1920’s art deco school building under the trees. Rounding out the entire scene was colorful tents and banners, the Cal Heights truck (which is always an attention getter), and the last Cyclone Racer car from the Heritage Museum.

The vendors were selected based on their local LB identity and knowledge of historic restoration, were quite pleased at the attendance and reception to their services and merchandise. Most left with scheduled appointments, possible new clients, and contacts to follow-up with. Many of the guests returned to the RPNA membership table to share their appreciation for our efforts. How did they know to come? The dedicated website for all-things-restoration in Long Beach, www.rpna-tradefair.org, received over 2100 hits the week prior to the event, and the Trade Fair was well publicized in both local and national venues thanks t the experienced hand of Diane Gershuny, DG•PR.

Keep comin’ back to www.rpna-tradefair.org for more news, information, events, and articles to keep the restoration vibe alive in Long Beach!