Christmas in New York = Happiness

Those of you who know me well (or may have just met me during the winter months) know that I LOVE Christmas. I mean, you have to be a real pessimistic person to be unhappy during this wonderfully happy season, but I would say my love goes far beyond the normal person...just ask my college roommate, Mara...

I certainly miss taking car rides touring the local lights in the neighborhood, caroling to shut-ins from church and baking cookies for neighbors back in Illinois...but I can't tell you how much I love that New York City shares my pure and utter joy for the season. Whether it is the tree in Rockefeller, the traditional lighting ceremony of said tree, all the department stores decked out with window displays or Christmas lights literally twinkling from every corner...even the tried and true New Yorkers have a smile on their faces and a skip in their step.

There is just something about this time of year when you HAVE to slow down, take the time to look back over your year and be thankful for your experiences, the people that crossed your path and made you better and the friends who made you laugh when you were crying... I try hard to stop and smell the roses all the time, but at least I always take the whole month of December to make up for my slack the rest of the year.

Although I am still going through my own mini quarter-life crisis, trying to figure out what I am going to do with my life, nothing can get me stressed the second I hear that first Christmas tune! I mean, what is the point to being stressed when there is so much love and happiness to be had in this world?

As I look around me, I have never felt more lucky and blessed in my entire life. Things always do have a sure fire way of working out and sometimes you do just have to step back and take the time to smell the roses (or the Christmas cookies:).

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Young Innovators

Cool agency setting, swanky snacks, all the stars of [young] Madison Avenue in attendance... Black-tie affair? Upper-crust Manhattan-nite event? No mam, it was none other than the Power of Ideas, Young Innovator event.

I am sort of a nerd (as most of you know) and so I love being involved and attending events like this. As a "young" person with high hopes and big dreams, I (along with my peers) often get excited about advertising celebrities from legendary companies in the industry. It's a classic marketing ploy and it works...important people = high attendance. This event was much different. The people on our panel were no less important than the CEO of P&G, believe me, they just had a fraction of the "experience".

Our panel was made up of four people, all under 30, who have done amazing things by being innovative in their daily lives. Jessica who invented a soccer ball that harnesses energy as you play with it, Josh who built a video game, Elandria who works with schools to teach about creative advertising, and Todd who started his own video production company...all in addition to their "day" job except for Todd. But in his own words, he lives, eats, and breaths the company. Oh and we can't forget the moderator, my co-leader of the young professionals, New Business extraordinaire at Universal McCann, and now owner of a cool ice cream cart business...Ori.

It was truly inspiring to see all these...peers...doing such amazing things! I mean, I am the Co-Chair of a Career Conference put on by the Advertising Women of New York and the VP of the Young Pros in Ad Club NYC, but these people have gone so far beyond that... They excel at their jobs and use that forward thinking in every aspect of their lives. They are marrying their passions with their careers and doing actual good in this world. Motivation and drive aren't even the beginning.

The event was a great success and I wasn't alone in my awe and deep appreciation of these panelists. I chatted with several starry-eyed young execs and felt happy to be part of such a wonderful network of people. It reminds me (and us all) that we really can do anything we want to. Resources and success are measured by your own motivation to make our dream into a reality.

To use a cliché, Paul McCartney was told he had no musical talents. Good thing he didn't give up on his dream or where would rock music be without the Beatles?

Trying new things

I have lived in New York for over three years and it wasn't until this past Friday that I finally tasted a famous egg cream. Now don't go drooling over that name AND if you think either eggs or cream are even in this drink, you would be mistaken. Interestingly enough, it was invented by a candy store owner and has been coined the poor man's root beer float. It is actually made up of chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer water and essentially tastes like a chocolate cream soda.

I tried the egg cream at a New York landmark (and another first for me), Eisenberg's Deli. Katz is a pretty famous deli 'round these parts, but i would say that Eisenberg's runs a close second (not to mention my foodie celebrity favorite, Anthony Bourdain gives it two thumbs up).

A dingy place of sorts, you have to really love those hole-in-the-wall type places to enjoy the experience here. Remember folks, it's about the food. Lucky for me, my friend Peggy was well versed in the menu and ordered a delightful pastrami sandwich decked out with all the fixin's, so I just doubled that order. It was salty, full of fat and therefore full of flavor. The "slaw" packed in alongside the tomatoes and lettuce gave it a nice sour kick to boot.

Overall, between that and the egg cream, I was feeling quite full and quite in need of a workout. I mean their slogan really says it all, "...raising New York's cholesterol since 1929." It's certainly not an everyday choice, but for a guilty pleasure and a darn good sandwich, it is worth every calorie!

Sunday proved to be a day of cooking yet again as I tried a new recipe using pappardelle noodles, butternut squash, baby spinach, shitake mushrooms, parmesan and fresh sage. It was actually quite an easy recipe to make, although it always proves more difficult when I am cooking in my boyfriend's [bachelor] kitchen consisting of one pan, one medium-sized skillet and two barely sharp knives.

Once I got past the utensil deficiency, I was on my way. The pappardelle really didn't take as long to cook as I was expecting. Actually, the toughest thing was getting the squash to soften up. Not to mention the balancing act me and the vegetables played trying to make sure I didn't slop outside the small skillet...

It turned out pretty darn good in the end and I was satisfied with this quite delicious, fall tasting dish. I did add some fresh garlic to mine (which it didn't call for and I really liked). You could also do some substitutions like using part olive oil or light butter instead of the full amount of regular butter it calls for. Lastly, I would be mindful that this recipe makes a lot of food. We cut down the ingredients nearly in half and it still made like 4-6 servings! If you are down to try it, check it out here:

RECIPE: Pappardelle with Squash, Mushrooms, and Spinach

A Spooky Affair...

Dressing up, guessing who is who at parties, eating sweet treats and drinking spiked cider... This is Halloween in my book! I don't know about the rest of you, but October sort of came and went without so much as a "hello." All of a sudden it is cold outside and I am already looking back fondly on my celebration this past weekend. Wow how time moves so fast...

I am happy to report that my Halloween "menu" was amazing. First things first, when my friend Peggy decides to throw a party she goes ALL out. I am not talking throwing some chex mix in a bowl and setting out a bottle of Jack. I mean spider webs hugging every square inch with fake rats, severed fingers and sticky eye balls nestled throughout...tea light candles glittering the room to give a spooky feel, scary carved pumpkins, professionally decorated cupcakes and shrunken head cider. Now that's what I call a party...

Seriously, Pegs gave Martha a real run for her money by executing this cider recipe that involved carving faces in apples and baking them...that's dedication. Anyone throwing a Fall-type party should try this out. You could carve different things in the apples if you want to change the theme :)

Not only was the food amazing, the costumes ran the gambit from funny/offensive to down-right creepy. Thing 1 and Thing 2 (a.k.a. S1 and S2 according to my friend Sarah's boyfriend, Frank)...Osama, Pee Wee Herman, Mr. Rogers...need I go on? It was pretty entertaining and I am just glad I have friends with a wonderful sense of humor. The only thing (or person I should say) missing from this festivity was our London-ite friend Thomas - that's right I am calling you out - who we were desperately hoping would surprise us all dressed as an avatar (he is giant tall and would have been PERFECT).

All in all though, I would say it was a successful party full of laughter and yummy food. Although maybe next year the party organizer might want to footnote the invite: no creepy childhood characters...

Check out my "wordle"

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Chicken a la amazing...

On Saturday, Paul and I had bought a large organic chicken from the market with intentions of making a scrumptious meal. Of course we were too worn out from our day of volunteering (yes, we woke up at 7:30am on a Saturday to truck to middle-of-nowhere Brooklyn to plant flowers and paint murals at a local school:) that we didn't quite get to cooking on Saturday. It worked out for the best though, because it is always more enjoyable to cook on Sunday somehow...maybe it's because of the inherent laziness associated with the day of rest or the way we seem to put life on slow pause to keep Monday from coming...

After a fully unproductive, gorgeous day, I decided it was time to get cooking. I chopped up some green pepper, portobello mushrooms, capellini onions and fresh garlic. I seasoned all this with salt, pepper and cilantro flakes and stuffed it into the chicken. The remaining vegetables were sprinkled around the side along with some fingerling potatoes. Rounding out the flavor, I added some fresh lemon juice for a citrus flair. Lastly, I drizzled some olive oil over the whole lot before nestling it in the oven at 350.

I have boiled a whole chicken to make chicken soup before (as you all know from my earlier post), but this was the first time I had baked one in the oven (let alone one stuffed with tasty veggies). I looked up a few tips online and everything said it would take about 1.5 hours or so. This chicken was either stubborn or just incredibly large...but it took about 2.5 hours.

The 10 minutes allotted for cooling could not possibly go fast enough for my fiercely growling belly. Once it was ready for slicing, I couldn't wait for a taste! Juicy, succulent and just plain GOOD, I was wrapped up in the flavor... It could have been the hunger pains talking, but it tasted sooo yummy it was like instant euphoria. The vegetables had soaked up all the chicken juices, the potatoes were cooked superbly and somehow the green pepper still retained a tiny bit of crunch...perfection.

It takes a long time to bake a whole chicken, but I have to say it is one of the easiest dishes to make that is packed with such an abundance of flavor! My only recommendations are to to definitely buy organic (the flavor difference is distinctly noticeable) and give yourself plenty of time. This is definitely not a rush-job sort of meal...

I am already looking forward to cooking this again, although I need to raise the bar a bit, so I might try baking a duck next time!

Decisions, decisions...

To get my MBA or not to get my MBA? That is the question of the hour... I have always wanted to go to graduate school. Call me a nerd and over achiever, but I wanted to feel that sense of accomplishment in attaining a master's degree.

I have been thinking a lot lately about my career and my life. I am a planner, yet lover of spontaneity...however, that first personality trait seems to dominate and hence I am in the "I need to figure out my life now" mode. I don't know why I get like this...what is the urgency? Don't I have the rest of my life before me? It certainly feels like that on Saturday as I bask in the energy of the city among friends, but come Monday morning, reality kicks in and I want my career path laid out before me...I want to know what's next.

Flash back to senior year of college...On top of the world, I really did feel like I had it all together. I had a five-year plan, a new job in New York to look forward to and a new city and 'culture' to explore. Now I am three years out of college and three years into my career and I feel I have hit a wall. Where do I want to go? What do I want to be when I grow up?

I thought I knew the answers to those questions, but as we are all aware, life happens and suddenly things change. I love the industry I am in, but what position am I reaching for in the future? An admirer of super accomplished women (I mean I do work for a company with a kick-ass CEO, Carol Bartz), I strive to walk among them...be that amazing woman that young women look up to and admire. Does that mean being in an SVP, President or CEO role though? Well, I am not quite sure yet, but I am positive I am excited to find out.

New chapters are always stressful, but more than that, they are an exciting adventure. As I begin this phase, I am 99% positive that grad school is in my near future, I just need to hone in on my goals upon completion and find the best possible program to match those aspirations. Let the research begin!!

Stay tuned...

Cupcakes

Every week I get the chance to try amazing food from the seemingly endless list of wonderful restaurants in New York City. I am so spoiled, I forget how wonderful it is to have home made goods. This past weekend was full of home made goods and reminded me that pleasures in food are wide and varied and can include something as simple as one of your best friend's own cupcake mastery.

I was feeling a bit (actually more like drowning) under the weather last week and I had lost my taste and appetite for everything. I was so concerned with not coughing up a lung that food was an after thought. By the weekend though, I was regaining my sense of self and decided to make some home made chicken soup. It is one of my favorite soups to make, because all the fresh vegetables taste so refreshing and healthy.

I spent several hours mastering my soup on Saturday, first boiling the yummy organic chicken I got from Trader Joe's to not only cook my chicken, but make my own broth...then chopping all the vegetables to add in: red onion, carrot, celery, cabbage, white beans, serrano peppers and white button mushrooms. The smell of the chicken cooking, slightly crept in my nostrils...hurray, my sense of smell (and thereby hunger) had returned!

A few short hours of simmering all these lovely ingredients together and voila, chicken soup. By the end, I was so excited to eat it, it didn't matter what it tasted like. However, it was confirmed by Paul that it did actually have a delicious flavor (either that or he was seriously stroking my ego).

I don't know how that chicken did it, but somehow it made me feel better. Maybe it was just placebo effect, maybe it was the supportive and loving company...but whatever it was, I was grateful to have the energy to go celebrate with my good friend Sarah for her birthday. Not to mention the cookie cake that awaited...

Hanging out with friends is like a natural antibiotic as well and I was feeling better by the minute. Taste buds reawakened by chicken soup were salivating to satisfy my sweet tooth. Just about to dive into her cookie cake and our good friend Peggy arrives with her home made cupcakes! Can you say cookie cake who? Not just any cupcakes, somehow she makes this frosting that just melts in your mouth. Pumpkin flavored to celebrate fall no less... If she wasn't such a talented designer, I might ask her to open an in-home baking business and hire me as chief taste tester.

A week that started out dismally, peaked with even more wallowing in self-sickness-pity, and ending on a note of comfort food surrounded by my friends was the best roller-coaster week ever. I don't really want to go through the sickness part again, but give me the rest any day and I would be happy.

Sunday Funday

I have to say that Sunday used to be my least favorite day of the week. Although since moving to New York, I have really come to love Sundays for their brunch traditions and relaxation vibe. You see, New Yorkers are crazy every second of every day, but somehow we all soften on Sundays. Maybe because it is a combination of the calm before the work week storm or just taking that "day of rest" mentality to heart.

This past Sunday I was accompanied by my good friend Kristen for her first return trip to the city since she moved out at the beginning of summer. We had had a wonderful weekend and fell back into our old patterns of grabbing dirty chai lattes and shopping around soho. Of course a big part of our traditions are brunch. We actually used to refer to Sundays as "eat everything / calorie-free day" to justify gorging on yummy food at least once per week. Let's be honest, this particular [whole] weekend was full of yummy food, but i will focus on the best day overall, which of course happened to be Sunday.

For brunch, a fun group of us met and waited excruciatingly too long for a table at Kitchenette in Tribeca (the one downside to brunching). The food was pretty good, but I have to say that my favorite thing about the meal was actually my Bloody Mary. This could have been a combination of my howling stomach downing the drink before I had a thought of what i was going to eat...but I digress. I had breakfast enchiladas that were terribly tasty...although I can't really separate deep hunger pains with the actual taste of the food in this case. I got mixed reviews from everyone else at the table, so I suppose I will have to ask you to try this one out for yourself for a proper evaluation. I can say the dessert case on the way out was reason enough to venture back...

Sunday Funday continued with a shopping trip through soho (including a highly disappointing trip to Louis Vuitton), wine drinking at Soho Park Grill and back home to get ready for dinner at my fav place in the city thus far, Casa Mono. They have the most amazing food, all filled with interesting flavors and items to compliment each other. It's where Paul took me on our first date and he really wanted Kristen to experience it before she headed back upstate (as if marvelous food would convince her to move back) .

Among many items...we had duck hearts, rabbit skewers, pumpkin and goat cheese croquetas, octopus and of course the best item on the menu foie gras (duck liver). The duck hearts were full-flavored, but if you are at all bothered by texture, i wouldn't recommend them. The rabbit was perfectly tender and delicious. The fall pumpkin flavor was yummy (mostly b/c I love anything fall related on a menu), but was not the most exciting thing we ate. The best was obviously foie gras (like that is surprising given my last entry and was so good that we ordered two) and the octopus...they paired it with a type of grapefruit, fennel and soft spices making it taste quite refreshing.

No fantastic meal like this can go without dessert! We decided to share the ice cream with mint and jellied figs and the chocolate cake with fresh berries and ice cream. Both were light, yet intoxicating but my favorite was shockingly the chocolate cake out of the two. I typically don't like heavy desserts, and just saying cake makes it sound heavy, but I can assure you it was light and fluffy...like eating a delightful chocolate cloud.

It's back to real life at work this week, but I can still dream of the tasty treats we had this past weekend... Anyone have a place for me to try this weekend?

Jetlag Optimism

Before I share my thoughts and reflections about my trip, I have to share my wonderful foodie day experience this past Sunday with Paul.

My eyes shot open just before 7AM and there was no going back to sleep. Rather than be annoyed by my internal clock failure, I decided to embrace my jetlag. I jumped up and headed over to my favorite market previously mentioned in an earlier posting, Agata & Valencia. Since it was only me and the old ladies up at this time on a Sunday, the man working the cheese case was delighted to help me find a perfect Gruyere for the omelet I had in mind. You see, i was already missing Paris and I wanted to recreate a Parisian breakfast...

After I picked out some cheese, I went to the meat counter and was excited to see they had French style ham (or jambon as the french would say) to accompany the gruyere in the omelet. I finished by picking up a juicy tomato, fresh squeezed orange juice, a few spices and of course a fresh baguette.

I have to say when the meal was done, I was rather impressed with myself. The omelet was a great success and the fresh tomato slices and baguette went perfectly together. We finished with dessert of sliced banana. Eating out on the deck atop big, comfy pillows (a.k.a. the fire escape), we imagined being in Paris sipping our espresso and nibbling on our delightful breakfast as we watched the world go by.

Aside from my separation anxiety from Paris, I was also yearning for NYC sushi. So for dinner, we decided to head to Sushi of Gari on the upper east side. Manhattan-ites are quite snobbish about their sushi; Blue Ribbon and this place are considered some of the best. I had not eaten here before and welcomed the opportunity to both satisfy my intense craving and try a new place.

Without hesitation, we both got the chef's tasting menu which included 3 rounds, each with 4 pieces of sushi. Unlike the tasting menu at Blue Ribbon, this place actually focuses on the sauces or garnishes that accompany the fish to create a finished taste that is completely unexpected. After a quick consultation with the waitress to make sure we wouldn't receive anything we didn't like, the first course arrived.

Everything was sooo tasty...buttery, smooth textured fish topped with things like pureed tofu, vegetable crevice or simply marinated in a decadent sauce with a slight grill taste, yet not cooked... I was in a food haze as we glided through the most delicious sushi [meal] I have ever had. The finishing touch and last piece was not even sushi at all, rather my new favorite dish, foie gras (I ended up working a little french into my Japanese night after-all). It was nestled atop rice, covered with some sort of soft vegetable and a deletable brown sauce. I cannot think of anything in a long time (other than my first experience eating this type of dish at Casa Moon a few months ago...another story) that tasted even half as good as this...

After our meal, I literally had a food high...if that is possible. Sorry Blue Ribbon, my vote for best sushi in NYC is currently Sushi of Gari. If you are an avid sushi lover and up for the meal of your life, you need to check out this place. We went to the one on the upper east side, but they have 2 other locations in the city:
http://sushiofgari.com/

I promise you will not be disappointed!

Charming London

I arrived in London a little weary from the day of traveling, but the sun was shining so I quickly snapped out of it. I wandered down the adorable streets with charming buildings and old-school taxi cabs everywhere. I paid special attention when crossing the streets too, as the driving lanes are reversed...they know foreigners too well and have kindly painted "Look Left/Right" on the ground at every intersection.

I had my first meal on the most lovable street (St. Christopher's), which also happens to be where my host/friend Thomas currently resides. I wasn't really expecting much food-wise as it is like any other big city, best known for other cuisine from around the world. We settled on a quaint little place where I ordered a dish made up of 12 tiny portions of meals. There was an edamame puree with nuts and arugula, chick peas and veggies marinated in some lovely sauces, cabbage, cheese and red pepper tucked in a fried egg roll of sorts...the list goes on and on. It was actually quite tasty, not to mention my perfect idea of a meal...little bites and nibbles of so many diverse dishes!

My first full day of exploring, I just walked out the front door and didn't look back. I trotted all over, first starting down the famed Oxford street (the 5th avenue of London), arriving at Trafalgar square, breezing through the National Gallery (accompanied by my trusty Rick Steve's reading tour) and down Whitehall street past Gordon Brown's house and on to Big Ben, Parliament, The Westminster Abbey church and the London Eye (ferris wheel). The sky gave way to short bursts of rain here and there, but I was too starry eyed to notice. It is always interesting to walk around such storied history...thinking back over the tons of millions of people that have walked these paths over the course of hundreds of years. It is truly fascinating.

I continued my journey towards St. James park, Buckingham palace (taking s break to view the Victoria & Albert art collection tour...amazing) and finally leisurely strode through Hyde park...stopping along the way to sit and enjoy the beautiful sky (which at this point had cleared up and was Chrystal blue, dotted with whip cream clouds). It is in those small moments when I really have so much appreciation for life and the ability to truly feel like I am living...taking in this stunning sight, halfway across the world from my home in New York City.

My last day was full of brutal rain and fierce winds...needless to say I didn't make it to much during the day. The two main highlights were lunch of fish and chips accompanied by my first pint of British beer (quite tasty) and the Sir John Soane's Museum. A colleague and former London "local" told me about this obscure museum and I had to make time to check it out. Housed in the owner's original apartment, it was full of all sorts of art from molds used to make famous roman statues to an Egyptian sarcophagus. A tortured soul and art lover, Soane's massed a huge, diverse collection in the hopes that it would be used for teaching the world's future artists about technique and style.

My trip was topped off by a lovely dinner full of new acquaintances and philosophical conversation. I love meeting new people and am always glad to have such insightful conversation about life and love. We had so much fun that we missed the last train home and against our better judgment, decided to walk. Two and a half short hours later...we had trucked all through London, passing by all the familiar, popular sights, this time decorated with colorful lights and calculated shadows. It turned out to be quite perfect and it was cool to see the city in a completely different light (literally). The only downside was that my feet felt slightly raw and I had a chill through my body for the next 24 hours...worth it? Absolutely!

I was sad to bid my good friend and this lovely city farewell, but alas it was time to get back to NYC. I am actually excited for the day of travel home in hopes of reflecting on my trip and gearing up to get back to work, boyfriend and my "mates" (a.k.a. friends)as the Brits would say. Absence sure does make the heart grow fonder...

I am soooo over hostels....at least in Amsterdam

Jumping off the train from Brugge, I was well rested and relaxed given I had just spent 3 days in the most quaint, cutest town ever. Barely out of the train station and BAM, relaxation time over...it was like walking through Times Square on a Saturday afternoon!

Nearly immediately to my right were pubs and souvenir shops galore, the Sex Museum and the distinct scent of our little five-leaf, green friend. Opposite this scene were the adorable dutch-looking houses and one of the many canals that weave through the city. Judging from what I had heard of Amsterdam, I would say this experience pretty much fit the image I had in my mind. Being as I am not really into the whole drug scene, I was in Amsterdam to absorb the culture, check out the museums and take a trip through the canals.

Our accommodations were meager at best...staying in a 12 bed dorm near the center of town, where you can hear every conversation outside within a one-mile radius. To say that we got no sleep our entire stay would be vast understatement. It was then and there, I decided my youth hostel days are over...

We got the Dutch welcome our first full day (a.k.a. rain), but that didn't slow us down. We waited in the rain to walk the eerie halls of Anne Frank's house. The museum is literally the hiding annex in the back of her father's factory. The rooms are all empty (per his request) which was quite fitting and terribly sad. It really just reminds you how horrible people can be and that tolerance is still an underdeveloped trait for many people in this world.

Mentally exhausted and chilled from the rain, we ducked into the "Pancake Bakery" to have some famous Dutch pancakes. These were no ordinary pancakes...much resembling Swedish pancakes or French crepes, they are garnished with savory or sweet toppings. Of course I went for the sweet version and got my favorite fruit in pancakes...bananas. The taste was somewhere between luscious and HEAVEN (especially when you add a touch of their home made caramel syrup). Can you say food coma [again]? Worth it.

Vacation is often abundant in food and sightseeing and this trip was no different. Off to our next meal...My former colleague (and now friend) took us out for a lovely dinner and then lead us to a charming pub (his local go-to), flanked with Amsterdam locals. We took his advice and got a double espresso along with a glass of Grand Mariner after dinner. Surprisingly yummy food and drinks, followed by delightful conversation running the gambit from political to childhood memories, was more than I could have asked for to top of the day. It really is these fun, unexpected and local experiences that truly allow you to get to know a place in my mind anyway...

The rest of our time was spent in the Van Gogh museum (amazing doesn't explain the half of it), taking a boat ride through the canals and wandering through the quite unimpressive red-light district. Overall, I really liked Amsterdam by the end of our stay. I think at the end of the day, it always comes down to what you want to get out of any given experience. I got a taste for the city (literally) and I would explain it as an aged whiskey served in a fancy glass. It can be smooth, rough and beautiful all at the same time. NOTE: Just don't stay in a dodgy youth hostel if you decide to visit.

Next (and sadly, last) stop... Cockney island (a.k.a. London)! Watch out Buckingham Palace, the New Yorker is coming to town...

Chocolate, waffles and beer...Oh my!

Decadent, scrumptious and luscious are the best adjectives to describe these popular Belgium foods. The chocolate literally makes your eyes roll back in your head...the waffles give you food coma (in a good way) and the beer...think vanilla, buttery and robust. Oh and side-note, the beer here is STRONG...after 2 and no dinner, I was feeling quite tipsy! My favorites were (in order):

1) Tripel Karmekiet
2) Augustijn Blonde
3) Piraat Blonde

I will most definitely be seeking these tasty brews out when I am back in NYC, although I can hardly believe they will taste half as good...

If you know anything about Belgium, you will also know they are not really known for anything else (food-wise) besides those items mentioned above. However, something I quite loved about this country (and in particular in Brugge) is the architecture. The houses are all are snuggled tightly together, but each one has its own little personality shining through. They all have little steps on the peeks of the roofs which indicated wealth back in the day (i.e. the more steps, the richer the family). I learned that handy fact on our canal tour of the city!

Brugge has also been called the city of love and I believe it...every bar or restaurant we wandered into was somehow warm and cozy...so much so that you never wanted to leave. There are also people from all over the world gracing the streets. We met a Romanian, German and some British blokes in our hostel. It's always fun to gather 'round a pint and share travel stories filled with moments of joy and struggle, enlightenment and enrichment...

After a few short days full of quaint shops, yummy beer and wonderful street markets with marching bands (yes, did I fail to mention that we saw nearly 3 different marching bands coming through the street market?) it was time to head to my third destination on this adventure...Amsterdam, the land of funny wooden shoes and windmills in the Netherlands.

Pondering life on the way to Brugges (Belgium)

Coming and going...lots of people from here to there... As i sit here on the train from Paris to Brugges, I love the freedom and having the chance to wander from place to place with no expectations or intentions. It breathes new life into me each time I step foot in a new place.

All around me, the French countryside has cute little farm houses dotted all throughout the hills...not that different than what you would see in parts of the U.S., yet somehow more charming. Maybe it is because the houses are so old and it feels like glancing back in time? Even the suburbs are charming...not every house is cookie cutter like back home. It makes me think that America's focus on cost and time efficiency forfeits our personality as a nation. I wander when value shifted from one to all?

I guess that is more of my fascination with France currently... They seem to truly value history, art, bread from the baker, meat from the butcher, cheese from the fromagerie (cheese store)...Specialization overall and not the "Wal-Mart" one-stop-shop mentality. America started with having homes modeled the same after each other, forfeiting "character" and identity, the same way we devalued our food and small business owners by introducing large chains.

Don't get me wrong, I love my country and am quite happy to be a citizen...these are just unfortunate truths. Hopefully, we can get back to the butcher shops and the bakeries at some point. I think this is a perfect example of what traveling shows you...the world out there is so different. Unless you get outside your comfort zone, you will never know the richness the world has to offer you.

In reverse, there are things that really make you appreciate things in America...such as not having to pay for a public restroom or tap water at a restaurant. These are things we take for granted (I know I did).

I wander what Belgium will offer me...here goes nothing!

Flavor abounds...

Crispy, salty, sweet, crunchy, creamy.... Depending on the treat you eat here in Paris, you can get any or all of these in one bite! Today was full of tasty delights. For breakfast we munched on fresh croissants and jam. I am not one for bread in the morning, but somehow eating it here is wonderful. It is also quite filling and prepared us for a full day of activities.

We started at the main cemetary on one end of the city. I can't say I was too thrilled about making this venture, but my mind changed rather fast as soon as we stepped into this historic place... All the graves are above ground and there are brick roads winding all through it. It was quite amazing to see such old and uniquiely decorative graves. Of course we went specficially to see Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde's graves (which were really cool), but just the view of this place in general was like walking back in time. From tiny, to the size of a house...the graves covered every square inch.

For the afternoonm, it was on to see some more history and some French paintings at the Louvre next. Of course we couldn't continue on wihtout nourishment, so we stopped for a bite to eat at a small cafe. I mistakenly ordered steak tartare and was served raw beef with a raw egg on top... It was interesting to say the least and I actually enjoyed it in the end! It was odd to be eating raw meat, but with the garnishes of capers, finely chopped onion and pickle, it turned out to be quite yummy.

The louvre was unexplainably awesome...point blank. Mona Lisa was neat to see only because I have grown up seeing it in textbooks, but there were so many other amazing paintings as well. The building itself was the best work of art...

Mentally and physically winding down, we had to take a coffee break. A rhubard tarte for me, peach and apple tarte for Kirsten and a chocolate criossant for Storrie...this followed by un cafe (coffee) was delightlful! Of course the coffee is ten times better than anything you have in the states no matter where you get it...don't understand why we can't get that right. Not to mention the pastries we got here for equivalent of $2 would be twice that at home!

We finished the day grabbing fresh baguette from the local bakery, some brie and a few bottles of wine. Beleive it or not, this has served as dinner twice now and I would eat it every night! The smell of fresh bagegette alone is enough to make your mouth water. I guess I am just easy to please, but I presume all would agree with me in the end...

Time to hit the hay and fall asleep to the low hum of the city... Next time I write I will be in the heart of Germany at Oktoberfest...wish me luck!

J'taime Paris!

Sleepy eyed and anxious, I walked off the plane at CDG airport in Paris with high expectations. As i regained consciousness, it started to kick in that I had finally made it to my soon to be favorite city in the world. I somehow made my way on a bus to the city and was off to start my adventure. Funny enough my first perceptions were familiar at best...corn fields on my left and a huge IKEA on my right. I laughed at the coincidence of it. As we got closer and closer to the city though, it began to take shape. Lots of small cars, beautiful streets, decorative buildings and the hustle and bustle of a city.

I literally got off the bus feeling like I was wandering through a living museum. My eyes couldn't stop jumping from person, to building, to dog, to cafe... I made it to our hostel in just under 2 hours, which would normally be quite frustrating, but believe me, nothing was going to make me mad when I was in the view of this wondrous place.

Later on my doughy-eyed amazement continued as we met our good friend Thomas for a glass of wine overlooking the Eiffel tower at sunset. I have seen some pretty beautiful sunsets, but this may have been launched to top 5... It was so relaxing to be amongst such great friends, drinking wine and looking at an iconic site. It's funny that I have hung out with Thomas and Kirsten so many times, but now we are half way around the world sharing the most interesting experience. Funny how life brings these moments and drops them in your lap to remind you how large (yet small) the world it.

Stay tuned...

It's the simple things in life...

Sometimes all it takes to have a nice evening is good company, tasty snacks and a cozy couch. After a long and HOT bikram class, I decided to have my friend Sarah over for a glass of wine. If any of you know the two of us at all, you know that a “glass” of wine turned into 2 bottles… Anyway, we got to chatting about my upcoming trip to Europe and it spurred the need to watch Anthony Bourdain’s travel/food show “No Reservations.”

If any of you have not seen this show, check it out. He basically travels to cities around the country, getting in tight with the locals and trying local delicacies. He always seems to find the most interesting tastes and people wherever he is…

While we were not eating luxurious food like Mr. Bourdain, we were snacking on some of my all time favs… Tortilla lime chips, salsa (mild of course, because poor Biffen cannot stand my taste for spice), sliced cheese and crackers. Now to some of you this may sound like a pathetic meal, but I tell you if I had to choose a “last supper” of sorts this just might be it… Although I would need to add a dirty chai latte from The Bean and a slice of cheesecake to round it off.

After a while, we got lost in wine and conversation and before we knew it, the clock struck midnight. Lucky for Sarah, she didn’t have to go to work in the morning, but it was time for me to hit the hay. As I lay in bed that night I thought of all the wonderful adventures I was about to have in Europe… I am so excited to try new food and experience different cultures, but I have to reflect again on how good I have it right here where I am. New York is full of life, love and happiness. This includes all the great food, sites and of course friends and connections I have gathered along the way.

I am off to Paris today, but I already can’t wait to get back and share my stories with me friends and family. Au Revoir NYC! The next time you will hear from me will be either from Paris or Munich for Oktoberfest!

Shiny, Happy People

I love to cook, but living in the tight, confined spaces of New York leaves kitchen space something to be desired. However, I do try to cook meals as often as I can. In fact, when I first moved here I cooked quite a bit (even took a whack at Thanksgiving dinner) and I used to get teased as being the only person in NYC using their oven for cooking purposes (oddly enough, I found that most people use it to store things like their sweaters in the summer). One of the reasons I love cooking so much is that it brings people together. Cooking something…and by that I do not mean throwing a bag of frozen stir fry in a skillet…usually demands lots of tantalizing ingredients and an audience of at least four people.

Last week, my friend Peggy emailed me with a short, yet compelling note saying there was this cookbook I just had to pick up. Honestly, I try not to buy cookbooks because I typically find recipes online (again, no space to store things), but the fact that she took the time to write me a note about it peaked my interest.

Let’s start with the name of said cookbook “Shiny, Happy People.” At first thought, it seemed more like a hippy/cult book to me, but that thought was immediately abandoned upon reading the tagline: “These are my friends. These are their tastes.” As I have already mentioned, I love cooking because it brings people together, so what better idea for a cookbook then housing all of your friends’ favorite recipes? This had to be good…

Instantly, you are drawn in with the introduction page where this South African author describes a world of change; where the word “home” has a new definition in that it is not uncommon to have family members scattered across the globe. To fill the void, friends become local family members. Being 16 hours from my family, I consider myself beyond lucky to have such a colorful and loving group of friends who provide comfort in hard times and warmth, laughter and smiles the rest of the time:)

Rather than a normal cookbook being broken out by cuisine type, Neil’s book is organized by each friend and their respective recipes. Their stories, houses and lives come to life through his stunning photos and their attractive recipes. You also get to learn a bit about each person and why certain recipes were chosen. Even the presentation of the actual recipes is unique and is accompanied by little anecdotes and artistic images. Side note…even if you don’t like to cook, you should buy this book simply for its aesthetic value….

My favorite parts of the book (other than the recipes of course) are the rapid fire Q&A pieces at the end of each section. As a reader, you nearly feel like you have gained new friends. It’s like you have been invited to a dinner party; first starting with a tour of the home to get a feel for the personality of the owners, socialize with interesting people, eat yummy food and leave with the knowledge of something new (either a life lesson, enlightening quote or a new recipe to try on your own).

I bet all this sounds like a funny description of a cookbook though, right? Well, not to disappoint, it is! But that was the main reason I enjoyed it so much and I can tell you that I could not put it down until I had gotten through the entire thing. My only complaint is that the ingredients need to be converted. However, this is truly an insignificant deterrent and small price to pay for the delight you will get from this book! I will leave you with one of my random favorite quotes of all time, but also happened to find its way into this book:

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”
– Harriet Van Horne

Hurry, go pick up your copy and let’s have a dinner party!

P.s. I found my copy at Anthropologie… Title: Shiny, Happy People. Author: Neil Roake

"Aggressive American" Cuisine, just my style

Ever had a meal with equal parts Asian, Italian and Jewish influences? If not, you apparently do not live in New York City for starters... I had the pleasure of sharing an interesting and delightful meal with my boyfriend at Joe Doe's in the East Village. A former client (and major foodie) recommended this place to me ages ago and I finally made it a point to wander in on Tuesday night.

Decked out in old antiques with a very “homey” feel, we found ourselves immediately at ease. The kitchen is tiny (as is typical with most amazing, hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the city) and can be seen by all patrons. The menu is limited and changes based on the season and what the farmers have available. That’s right, FARMERS; the owners have relationships with local farmers and only serve the freshest items in season! Out of 6 possible entrees, we went for the most exotic—John Fazio Rabbit, wrapped in empanada dough, tomatillo, jalapeno and onion—but were sorely disappointed to learn that the farmer was fresh out of rabbits this week (just an excuse to come back!). However the charming co-owner, Jill, gave us the rundown of the other items on the menu including appetizers such as poached duck egg and warm Turkish Lavash. It was a tough decision…but we settled on the Gin cured Scallops served nearly raw with jalapeno mayo and large homemade croutons to start. Now, I should start by saying that I am a big believer in simple dishes done extremely well. I mean it really should not take multiple hours and mounds of ingredients to get a flavorful meal. It’s simple really, and this dish hit a home run. The scallop nearly melted in your mouth, but not before it gave a citrus flavor followed by a slight bite on the tongue from the jalapeno mayo.

Instead of bread with dinner, Joe Doe’s serves fried chick peas. Sound crazy? I thought so too, but it was the perfect combination of crunchy and salty.

And for the main event…we decided on the Za’atar Spiced Stripped Bass served with red lentils, spicy yogurt and topped with pickled onion AND the Sumac Marinated Beef served with roasted potatoes, spicy steak sauce and fried pickle. Beautifully presented, I nearly didn’t want to disturb the artwork on my plate. However, my hunger pains from bikram overtook me and I had to dive in and take a bite. The fish had a warm, soft taste with a kick of spice. The yogurt sauce added a lemony flavor, but just enough to really bring out the flavor in the fish. Red lentils added a nutty undertone and the pickled onion wouldn’t seem to fit in, but it found its place in adding a sweet and sour punch to the whole bite. Each of course was tasty separately, but together it was magical. The beef was recommended rare, so of course we had to have it at its best. It was “cooked” absolutely perfectly. I can only describe the taste as having the same effect on you as a genuine kiss from someone you love…warm and buzzing all over with a zest of spice at the end. The fried pickle on the side was just plain delectable…enough said (ok, maybe not for everyone, but I am a huge fan of pickles as Kristen and my sister can attest to).

Convinced? Try it out for dinner or go for brunch and get the famous poached duck egg. That will be my next venture to the restaurant that is literally a stone’s throw away from my apartment. Oh and I need to have that rabbit at some point…
http://www.chefjoedoe.com/restaurant.html

Dark ‘n Stormy

In my opinion, the best recipe involves a road trip, home cooked meals and good company. This past weekend, some friends and I hopped in a rental car for a 7 hour trek to see our good friend Kristen and her family in upstate New York. If anyone has met the Bargars you would know that 7 hours is a minimal inconvenience compared to the amazing company and fun that awaits you. After some initial hurdles…horrible signage in New Jersey, fallen trees, and unmarked back roads… we were met with open arms and cold Corona’s upon arrival to nurse us to sleep after the long journey.

Saturday, we awoke to the smell of fresh coffee in the air. Upon wandering downstairs, a full breakfast of poached eggs (of course I added hot sauce to mine), fresh cut melon and bacon awaited us… After gobbling down this scrumptious meal and getting our daily caffeine fix, we were off to a must-do whenever I visit…Wegman’s. Most of my friends and family probably don’t know what Wegman’s is, but it is only one of the best grocery stores on the planet. You really don’t understand the meaning of a nice grocery store until you live in a place without them. It is full of fresh produce, a great mix of organic and traditional brands, neatly organized, yummy fresh bread and the best part…Bosari Salt! Kristen introduced me to this seasoning when we became roommates and I have been in love ever since. You can pretty much put it on anything from meat to salad, or even fruit and it packs a flavorful punch. As of late, you can now buy this amazing spice at Whole Foods. Before you had to truck to Lakewood, NY to get it… Not only does it taste great, it is made by friends of the Bargar family so you would be supporting the local economy.

Although I could have hung out at Wegman’s all day, it was off to the boat for some fun and relaxation. We had several pit-stops along the way to enjoy all the fun lakeside bars the town has to offer. Each venue had their own special concoction, but none topped the Dark ‘n Stormy. This drink delights the palate with a sweet, tangy flavor followed by a slight tingle on the tongue. It’s one of those drinks that make you go “how in the world did this flavor come from those ingredients?” I can’t promise you will be able to recreate the magic of the bartender at the Lenhart Hotel, or the feeling of sipping this delight while in a rocking chair overlooking the lake, but you should give it a whirl.

As if the day could not get any better, Kristen hosted a dinner party for us gals and a few close friends. She made the simplest, yet savory dish with wild caught shrimp, pineapple, and cilantro all wrapped up in a number of Thai spices. We lingered around the dinner table swapping fun stories while enjoying our wonderful meal and sips of tasty wine for hours… I could not have asked for a better day! Basically, if I had one key take away from the weekend, it would be no matter the distance, it is always worth the journey to spend time with good people and take pleasure in tasty food.

Dark 'n Stormy
2 oz Gosling's Black Seal Rum
5 oz Barrett's Ginger Beer
1 squeeze of fresh lime
1 pinch fresh nutmeg (optional)
A couple shakes of bitters (optional, but Kristen’s mom swears by the bitters)
Ice
Mix and enjoy!
NOTE: Add rocking chair and lake view for most enjoyment

Shrimp & Pineapple Curry
One half fresh pineapple (cut into bite size chunks)
1 3/4 cups coconut cream (comes in a can)
2 tbsp Thai red curry paste (more if you like it spicy)
2 tbsp fish sauce
2 tsp sugar
12 oz/350g jumbo shrimp (caught in the wild are yummy!)
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
cooked jasmine or white rice
Directions: Peel the pineapple and chop the flesh. Heat the coconut cream, pineapple, curry paste, fish sauce, and sugar in a wok until almost boiling. Shell and de-vein the shrimp. Add the shrimp and cilantro to the wok and simmer for 3 minutes, or until the shrimp have turned a bright pink color. Serve the shrimp with steamed rice.

Life Choices

Yesterday morning I went to a breakfast event hosted by an organization I am actively involved in called AWNY (Advertising Women of New York). Gina Garrubbo, Executive Vice President of BlogHer, Inc. was the speaker. The focus of the discussion was about mentoring and how to use it effectively to get ahead in your career and in life. I was inspired by everything she had to say, but mostly by her seeming philosophy about living... Here is a woman who has taken a pay cut three times in order to gain the experience she knew she needed down the road, raised a child on her own amid her busy career (her daughter was a platinum American Airlines member at age 3) and has started her own skincare line. Having “done it all” isn’t even the half of it. Her comment on life management was something like “If you want to do something, then just do it” (nod to Nike for that lovely, truthful line). Oh and organization, determination an optimistic outlook on life doesn’t hurt either...

She also spoke a lot about surrounding yourself with good people who care about you and want to see you do well not only in your career, but in all aspects of your life. This really hit home with me, because I have been thinking a lot about what makes me happy... and ultimately what work and people bring me the most enjoyment. If we encircle ourselves with compassionate and caring people, we can do the things we love without stress or hesitation. A great support system whether at work, at home, or in relationships is the foundation to success. Being young and currently a bit short on life experience surely does not make me an expert, but I have definitely come to some sort of self realization about this... Life is too short to work at being friends or lovers with someone who doesn’t care about you or doesn’t put as much effort into it as you do. Likewise, working with people who are too concerned with their own accomplishments and an organization that doesn’t put people first is a waste of time and effort. All in all it comes down to taking control of your life. I think it is best put in the final lines of a poem written by William Ernest Henley and often referenced by the great Nelson Mandela:

“…I am the master of my own fate; I am the captain of my soul.”

Can't beat fresh salsa

I am a huge fan of everything spicy and I like to try new salsa brands all the time. However, when I am feeling domestic, I enjoy making my own. This weekend, I made my favorite recipe for a BBQ I attended and thought it would be fun to share. Try making it yourself and add or substitute ingredients at will, according to your tastes. I personally like to add lots of hot sauce to give it a nice kick!

Ingredients:
- fresh tomatoes (make sure they are big and juicy)
- corn (avoid sweet corn if you can, unless you like it on the sweeter side)
- bell peppers - chopped (I use green and orange for color)
- cilantro (just use the leaves, no stems) - I like a LOT of cilantro
- red onion - chopped
- fresh garlic - minced
- Fresh lime juice (use more than you think you should, helps bring the flavors together)
- Black-eyed peas OR Black beans (both are yummy...or choose your favorite bean)
- salt & pepper
- garlic salt (if you are a big fan of garlic, you can add a little of this in addition tot he garlic, use sparingly though)
- your favorite hot sauce (I prefer Cholula or Louisiana hot sauce)
- olive oil

Directions: Just chop your vegetables and combine all together. Put in a little or a lot of hot sauce, depending on the spice factor you are going for. Jalapenos might be a nice addition too, but I haven't tried that yet. Go easy on the olive oil, it is mostly used to preserve the vegetables, not for taste. Cilantro and lime juice amp up the flavors of everything, so don't use them lightly!

If anyone has suggestions or comments, please post them. Also, do you have a favorite salsa recipe?

New Beginnings

As I sit down at work this fine Monday, I realize that I have somehow had this blog for over a year and never written a thing. It was one of those spur of the moment ideas when I returned home from a wonderful trip to Thailand last spring. That trip really made me realize how much of the world I have yet to experience and along with that all the tasty treats that await me. I actually made a pact with myself to take 2 weeks off every year to leave the U.S. and totally immerse myself in something new. This year my journey will lead me to Paris, Munich for Oktoberfest, Amsterdam and possibly London. I am extremely excited to see what new things await me.

In the meantime, I have been trying all sorts of new foods recently which also sparked me to start writing in this blog. Lucky for me, living in New York, I have access to all sorts of interesting food choices. For instance, my Sunday breakfast/lunch included the following:

• Home made banana pancakes made by yours truly
• Eggs with peppers, red onion and spicy sauce
• French baguette with slices of cured pork
• Mussels in a spicy vinegar sauce
• Escargot with garlic butter and pesto

Now, this may sound like a lot, but we had bits and pieces of everything. I guess this is the type of meal that results in a small town girl from Illinois dating an Eastern European...but I wouldn't have it any other way. And if you are looking for these types of tasty foods, check out the market we got our treats from on the upper east side in Manhattan:

http://www.agatavalentina.com/

Anyone else into interesting food choices? What is your favorite Manhattan market?