BLOG BELLA » Stan Tran

How to Create a 5-Star Dinner for Your Valentine

Bel — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:41:08 +0000

Los Angeles’ Sustainable Agriculture Examiner writer Stan Tran, cooked me a lovely early Valentine’s dinner in the middle of the afternoon. It consisted of chicken wrapped in prosciutto, wine reduction sauce, colorful veggies, a fresh salad and a surprise desert. Watch the video to learn how to cook this meal for your for your very own Valentine (I make a cameo appearance circa 6:48). Here is the ingredient list.

bottle of white wine

1/2 onion, 4 cloves of garlic, 2 rosemary sprigs

vegetables for 2 (brocolini, 2 carrots), 1/2 lb greens, 1/2 cucumber

about 1 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, tablespoon honey

4 organic skinless boneless chicken thighs, 12 organic chicken wings, can of chicken broth

4 slices of prosciutto, 2 slices of bacon

Surprise dessert ingredients (watch video)

The Los Angeles Hillbilly

Bel — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:34:20 +0000

Yesterday a hillbilly crashed into the car I was in with Stan. Stan and I were heading South on Overland at Venice, just about to turn into the parking lot containing the Famina, Yogurtland and Bally’s, when we came across the hillbilly reversing as fast as he could without looking back – typical hillbilly move. As compassionate as I strive to be, this man’s complete disregard for others by slamming into us with his car without even a glace back as he reversed, instantly lit my temper on fire. His first words when he got out of his car didn’t help either. “That was already there!” He said of the damage he’d caused to Stan’s paint and bumper. Right?! The hillbilly allegedly somehow magically and psychically knew without even looking back as he reversed that all the damage he’d just caused to Stan’s paint and bumper was “already there.” His lunatic delusions continued with the outright lie “I was honking my horn!”

Stan realized there was no reasoning with him and said “Let’s not argue, let’s just exchange insurance information.” The clever hillbilly retorted “So you’re admitting fault!” To which Stan replied. “No, all I said was let’s exchange insurance information.” The hillbilly blinked “So, you are admitting fault!” Yes, Stan was admitting it was his fault that he was hit by a lunatic hillbilly who felt the need to floor the gas pedal while reversing recklessly.

I let him have it. “How can you tell such an outright lie!?” It took him a second to come up with a comeback. “We should just forget all this. You don’t want to have to go to small claims court, do you?” He said. “OH, BUT I DO. I’m sure when the judge looks at your driving record versus Stan’s he’s going to rule against you!?” I said looking at his banged up car. “You’re judging me!” He said. He was right. I was judging him, and judging that if he was going to lie to my face, he was going to lie to the judge’s. “So you’re going to PERJURE yourself in court?!” I glared at him. The look in his intimidated eyes made it clear he had no idea what in God’s good name “perjure” meant. It was at that moment I felt sorry for him and this life he’s leading which probably isn’t a very happy one. Nonetheless, Stan deserves to have his car repaired.

Moving in Life

Bel — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:14:05 +0000

I moved… yada yada and hooray! Below is a video I shot a few days ago. I’m still organizing the new place.

On an alternate, highly personal note and to address a little Facebook uproar I carelessly whipped up with friends on pins and needles that I “quit acting,” my own fault for using those very same words in a Facebook post, I will admit life in Los Angeles was established for me when I moved here a few years ago post college to pursue an acting career, like many in their 20’s.

I’ll still act in films upon request, but am not auditioning several times a week like I once was, but rather writing for iMusicDaily.com, wanting oh-so-very badly to finish writing my book which is a collection of stories yanked straight from my life growing up with tons of brothers and sisters in a crazy Christian missionary group that traveled around trying to get people’s souls into heaven. That’s the unusual life I had until I was 11 years old.

“The world feels unbalanced when an artist gives up their craft.” my friend Luis posted on my Facebook page. I’m not quitting, Luis, just resourcefully funneling the years of skills I gained performing Improvisational Theatre using story narrative, setting, pace, dialogue and character development into my writing. It feels right. Write. Wright. Right here in Los Angeles.

Day ONE of moving

Bel — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:59:47 +0000

Getting a head start on moving was made easier with with Trader Joe’s being so amazing in giving loads of boxes. In Los Angeles, I called the Trader Joe’s on La Brea and they put boxes aside for me.

My New (to me) Car!!

Bel — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:47:55 +0000

I bought a new car! As you can see from my previous blog, my Beetle outlived it’s welcome and so my most wonderful Stanley looked online for me, eyeing a 2007 Honda Fit. The Honda Dealer in Carlsbad was asking $12,000 and so we went in to test drive it and negotiate price. Two guys who were the unpleasant versions of Anderson Cooper and Michael Clarke Duncan were pretty insulting perhaps because I appear goofy and naïve. So I took my business elsewhere, where a nice guy named Jonathon had listed his 2007 Honda Fit for $8,500. Yes, $3,500 LESS. Recently I read a book entitled “How to Outnegotiate Anyone.” It proved to be useful as I told Jonathon after the Pep Boys inspection “I want your car. I have $6,500 cash now to hand you! Or money order, or cashier’s check! Whatever you want!”

“Cash.. Hmm… That’s very tempting. How about $7,800?” We finally settled on $7,400. I’d been nervous during the entire day, all skeered and shit about anticipating having to negotiate as we test drove Jonathon’s vehicle, asked questions, requested to have it inspected by Pep Boys (I paid the $100 cost), drove Jonathon back to his car, ate lunch with Stan at Costco’s while we awaited the inspection, etc. I pretended like I wasn’t though, even though at one point I had a minor meltdown, outbursting at Stan during lunch, as the car awaited inspection “OKAY, I WILL!” when he’d insisted I should offer a little less than I’d originally thought so I’d have more negotiating room. In the end it turned out to be simple and perfect and the best car-buying experience I’ve ever had with Stan and I browsing Autozone together, buying the two items the car was lacking for under $50. Brand-new silver hubcaps and clear floor mats.

Goofy? Yes. Naïve? Not this time.

Laundromats in Los Angeles

Bel — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:02:48 +0000

Shocking to me when I first moved out here to Los Angeles, was the prevalence of apartments without washers and dryers. Sure, a bunch of apartments have a washer and dryer on the premises and there are dozens of laundromats within easy driving range, allegedly. But seriously to not have a washer and dryer in your very own apartment seemed downright third world. And I know about third world, girlfriend. Yes, in Brazil where I lived till I was 15, we didn’t even have laundromats. A washer woman came once a week and washed our laundry, hanging it out in the air on the clothesline to dry. Her name was Dona Maria.

Anywho, I compromised my standard of living by moving to Los Angeles since living in a nice apartment in Florida with rolling green lawns, a swimming pool, jacuzzi, tennis courts, washer and dryer (inside our apartment), etc, cost far less than a bare-bones okay apartment in an okay neighborhood in these parts. Of course, I do live in Koreatown where I get to see cute asian guys wherever I go, am now engaged to one of them, live a few blocks from the Wiltern where the hottest bands play, live a block away from the Brass Monkey bar where I just found out Seth MacFarlane tends to hang out. So there’s that. Back to laundromats… we all sort through our whites and colors, measure our soap, fold our underwear and prepare to get on with our lives.

Senior Citizen First Date

Bel — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:51:05 +0000

I was at the Coffee Bean on Wilshire and Vermont in Los Angeles yesterday trying to write my book when I inadvertently and advertently overheard two senior citizens on their first date. They’d met on Match.com. Hilarity ensued. Here’s my video about yesterday that Stan shot on my iPhone.

Love and Engagement

Bel — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:03:38 +0000

This didn’t happen in Los Angeles, but I feel the need to write about it here. Stan and I have been together for four months and on Saturday night I took a 2 hour Amtrak train ride from Los Angeles to Solana Beach to meet him. He had a pink rose waiting for me along with lovely floating candles in glass, flames quivering in their various places around the room, casting the perfect moving hue of light on his tan skin, freckles, and curly black hair. He tends to do random amazing things so I didn’t suspect unusual and in fact wasn’t aware of what I was in for… fast forward to the phone conversation I had with my brother who is in Florida just now.

Me: I just got engaged!

Taurug: No you didn’t.

Me. Dude, I did!

Taurug: Are you serious?

Me: Yes, bro!

Taurug: No, you’re not!

Me: Yes, I am. Look on Facebook!

Taurug: That’s crazy. I didn’t expect that. Are you happy about it?

Me: Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Yes!

Taurug: Makes me wanna meet the guy now.

Maybe I seem too independent or insane for marriage, or perhaps too goofy and naïve. But whatever. IT HAS HAPPENED. It feels right. Lovely yet perfectly natural and ordinary. Stan is the man.

David Sedaris in Long Beach

Bel — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:09:46 +0000

Stan is the most amazing boyfriend ever. I’m not just saying that cause he’ll read this and then I’ll get some action later. Anyway, he got us tickets to see David Sedaris, who currently happens to be my favorite book author. This was last night and we drove for about an hour down to the Long Beach Terrace Theatre. We were in the 3rd row, the room buzzing with excitement. I turned to see a few rows behind us Jeff Goldsmith, the senior editor of Los Angeles’ Creative Screenwriting Magazine.

“We got better tickets than he did!” Stan stated. Moments later David Sedaris came out onto the stage in what he claimed was a “Pussy Wagon” but in reality it was just some sort of vehicle in the golf cart family.

He started off with a story about a control-freak rabbit whose character he based on an airport employee he met while going through security check. He’d asked why he had to take off his vest since he’d already taken off his shoes and jacket when she yelled “LOSE THE VEST!” Well. “I think I’ll write a fable about you, he silently thought.” With that, I realized once again why I love Sedaris.

Venice Canals

Bel — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:04:03 +0000

I like Ashton Kutcher and in Valentine’s Day his character lives in a home overlooking the Venice Canals. Today I took a leisurely stroll through the Los Angeles district of Venice, namely the canals, randomly toured some multi-million dollar homes having Sunday open houses, and saw lots of ducks and a security patrol on a bicycle who kept yelling to his co-worker as he pointed at an unusual looking duck “Look, it’s Wilbur!”

Unfortunately the ducks became camera-shy and vanished once Stan began shooting this video, much to my chagrin since I look like a tool saying “Show the ducks!” when there are none within sight. Either that or they were mad that I thought Wilbur was one of them, when in fact he was a Western Grebe (a swan), according to Stan.