Straight Up With Olives

Lunch at Sweet Cheeks Q

2012-01-25T13:15:00.000-05:00

Lunch at Boston's Sweet Cheeks Q.

Negroni

2011-12-07T15:13:00.000-05:00

A Negroni is one of my favorite cocktails. It's an Italian apéritif that combines Gin, Campari and Sweet Vermouth. I call the Negroni Italian since that's where Campari is made, and the Negroni was allegedly invented in Florence. This perfectly balanced cocktail is a great choice when you're looking for something to sip on while reading a menu, or even while at home catching up on Netflix.

Negroni
serves 1

Ingredients
Gin
Campari
Sweet Vermouth
ice
orange twist

Instructions
The Negroni is equal parts Gin, Campari and Sweet Vermouth. I usually use about 1.5 oz each, depending on how large my glass is. Fill shaker with ice. Add liquors and stir or swirl the shaker until well combined. You can vigorously shake the liquors to mix them together if you want, but I prefer mine stirred. You can also serve this straight-up, but I think it is best served on the rocks.

Enjoy!

Petal & Pink Giveaway

2011-12-05T15:38:00.000-05:00

My friend Erin is a talented jewelry designer and blogger. Her etsy shop is one of my favorite sites to shop and she inspires me to buy handmade (and local!). Some of my favorite items from her shop include the Beaded Cluster Statement Necklace, Red and Turquoise Earrings and the Green Midori Earrings.

In the season of giving, Erin has generously offered to ease the gift shopping (or, the shopping for yourself!) of Straight Up with Olives readers by giving away a gorgeous pair of earrings, from a line which will debut in her 2012 collection. I love giving (and receiving!) hand-made, unique gifts, and earrings like this will make someone smile.

The chic earrings are swarovski pearl (dark purple, dark green and powder green) on sterling silver chain and earhooks. The length is 2.5 inches. Martini glass not included!

Erin has also generously offered Straight Up with Olives readers a discount code. Any orders placed between today and Thursday, December 22 that use the code "UpWithOlives" will receive a 10% discount to their order. Everyone is a winner in this giveaway!

To win these lovely earrings please comment on this post, telling me what your favorite gift to give is:

For an extra entry, you can:

~Tweet: I want to win the @petalandpink giveaway hosted by @UpwithOlives

~Pin a favorite item from Erin's shop to your Pinterest

~Follow @UpwithOlives on Twitter

~Follow @petalandpink on Twitter

Make sure you let me know what you did to gain extra entries!

Giveaway will end Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 11:59pm EST

Good luck!

Dinner at Garden at the Cellar

2011-12-05T11:28:00.002-05:00

Hands down, my favorite restaurant is Garden at the Cellar. I've been there dozens of times over the past few years because their burger is my favorite. I order it almost every time I go. In fact, in all the times I've been to Garden, I've never actually ordered from the dinner menu, until now.

At dinner we started with appetizers of pork belly and duck leg confit.

The pork belly was served over an apple puree with mustard seed and bourbon. The 4-inch crispy pork belly was flavorful and indulgent.

The long-cooked duck leg confit was fall-off-the-bone tender. It was served with potatoes, walnuts, crispy haricot verts, frisee and a shallot vinaigrette.

The special for the evening was mac & cheese which is all-time favorite of mine. And this mac was cheesy and buttery, just how I like it! It was topped with crispy croutons, which added a nice crunch. We had it as a side to accompany dinner.

The dinner orders at the table were the steak frites and the pork tenderloin. Both were more than generous portions and cooked to perfection, at a medium-rare temperature.

Garden's fries are rosemary-truffle, thin and crispy. The steak was marinated and grilled, then sliced before being plated on a bed of squash puree and spinach.

The tenderloin was served with over spaetzle with cremini mushrooms and roasted brussel sprouts.

I always know that the quality of food and the presentation of the dishes is going to be outstanding at Garden, and I always leave happy and full. The causal, gastropub atmosphere makes it a fantastic place to meet. In fact, I often take out of town guests to Garden for dinner, and they are always impressed.

This past week Garden debuted a new menu so get there and check it out!

Brunch at Craigie on Main

2011-11-21T17:20:00.001-05:00

Not only do I live in the greatest city in the state, but I also live a short walk from one of the best restaurants in New England, Craigie on Main.

I've been to Craigie countless times, I even have a future reservation there to celebrate my birthday, but never for brunch. I don't know if it's extreme laziness about booking a reservation, or the fear of having a Sunday morning obligation, but I always thought brunch at Craigie was out of reach.

With the warmer than usual temperatures this past Sunday we decided to head to brunch - and though we would try our luck at the Craigie bar. No seats were available, and I was ready to concede when the hostess informed us there was a table in the bar area. Victory was ours.

We started with a house blend of coffee and took our time looking over the brunch menu and watching the expert kitchen staff at work. After finishing coffee, we started our meal with cocktails and appetizers. For drinks, we chose the Bloody Mary (I'm predictable) made with spicy vegetable vodka. There were flavors of tumeric and paprika in the house-made bloody mary mix, which gave it a wonderful smoky flavor. The Clover Club, was a potent mix of Bombay, lemon, grenadine and egg white. It was expertly shaken and arrived with a frothy top and a cherry on the side.

The appetizers were house-made donut with confiture du lait and pork belly. Great on their own, outstanding together. Sticky, sweet, warm and fatty. I could have eaten a dozen of those donuts.

After the appetizers, we switched over to beer (Pretty Things and Helles Schlenkerla). My beer selection was based completely on the servers suggestion and he was spot on with this beer, I loved the smokiness and it paired very well with my burger.

Speaking of service, it was fantastic. I know from experience that brunch is the worst shift to work, but our server was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and personable, as to be expected of Tony Maws' expert staff.

Entrees for the morning included Grass-Fed and House-Brined Corned Beef cheek and Smoke Beef Tongue Hash - with slow poached egg and crispy onions.

As well as the Local Grass-Fed Beef Burger - with cheddar, house-made mace ketchup, house-made bun and crispy fried potatoes with a fried egg.

Both dishes were flavorful and beautifully presented. The expertly poached egg on the hash was gently placed on the dish and timed perfectly, as it arrived still piping hot. Despite my many visits to Craigie, this was my first experience of the burger. Served medium-rare, on a soft house-made bun with a melted slice of cheddar, this burger was nothing short of amazing. I took my time eating it. Slowly chewing and savoring the rich meat flavor while mumbling thisissogood over and over.

There's a reason this burger was on the cover of Bon Appetit in August 2010.

I can't say anything more about this burger than I think everyone who loves burgers needs to try it. You'll understand why.

I'm lucky to call Craigie on Main a neighborhood restaurant. It's a place to have a wonderful meal, from start to finish - check it out for brunch!

(all photos taken with an iPhone)

Island Creek Oyster Tour

2011-11-08T11:48:00.001-05:00

A fresh oyster, just minutes out of the ocean. I was lucky enough to have more than my fair share on a recent trip down to Island Creek Oyster.

Island Creek has humble beginnings that started in 1992 in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

On the tour, which consisted of getting on a dingy and touring Duxbury Bay and the oyster flats, we learned how Island Creek gets oysters as very small seeds, and they grow, grade, nurse, plant and harvest oysters over the course of 18 months. The entire growing process can be read about here.

Once the oysters are harvested, they are put through a process called dragging, which we were fortunate to witness.

Eventually the boat docked onto a small boat house in the middle of Duxbury Bay. Here, we learned about the Culling, or Quality Control step, of oyster farming. Each oyster is sorted and measured by hand. According to Island Creek, the perfect oyster is one that has a deep, round cup and is about three inches in length. A ring, which is seen in the Island Creek logo, is used to measure the length of the each oyster.

My stomach was grumbling by the time we docked, and it was time to sample the oysters. CJ, our tour guide, expertly shucked oysters faster than I thought was possible. It's no secret that I love oysters, I order them at whenever I can, so I gratefully accepted each oyster passed my way.

I've never had a fresher oyster. The taste was amazing, briney and sweet. Washed down with a cold beer, as we bobbed in the middle of the ocean - if only they could always be eaten like that!

It was amazing to learn so much about the oysters I love to eat. To learn, and watch how they get from the farm to the table. To meet the men and women who work tirelessly on a craft they love.

To learn even more about life on an oyster farm, I began reading Shucked, a book based on the blog about life on a New England Oyster Farm. So far, so good!

Island Creek offers tours for groups, if you want to check it out.

Sushi at Miyake

2011-10-25T17:25:00.000-04:00

Portland, Maine is one of the best food cities on the east coast. On a recent trip, I wanted to try Miyake, a sushi restaurant that I heard wonderful things about.

Arriving for a late lunch, we sat at the bar and had a close-up look as Chef Masa Miyake and staff prepared for dinner service. Slicing, dicing and chopping, the chefs showcased their knife skills with ease.

I especially love seeing the dishes I ordered come to life, and I enthusiastically watched as the chefs expertly sliced the ingredients for our first dish, tuna three ways (traditional sashimi, marinated in sweet sake soy sauce and tartar) as well as the super toro roll we had next (tuna and avocado roll topped with diced toro, truffle oil, spiced sesame oil and scallions).

tuna 3-ways

super toro

Next up was our one and only hot dish of the afternoon, the yaki buta. Yaki buta is a braised pork belly with scallions. This dish was fantastic and indulgent. Each piece was about 2 inches wide, and had been marinated in a sweet soy sauce. It was grilled, then plated with scallions and hot mustard sauce.

I've had yaki buta before (in ramen) and eating it where the meat was the lone star on the dish was refreshing to see.

yaki buta

Our final dish was a plate of sashimi. Again, the knife work was impeccable and the fish was incredibly fresh. The colors of the toro and salmon really popped out on the slate grey plate.

sashimi

The chic, modern restaurant offers a chef tasting menu of three, five or seven courses and proudly serves locally raised ingredients.

Pizza and Bowling at The Flatbread Company

2011-10-17T15:24:00.001-04:00

On a recent weeknight, I met up with my family for pizza and bowling at The Flatbread Company in Somerville. Located inside an old bowling alley, this restaurant has it all - a fantastic beer list, great food and entertainment for all ages, with a candlepin bowling alley right in the restaurant.

The beer list boasted local brews, and I started with a Pretty Things Jack D'Or.

We started dinner with two house salads (for 5 adults) and ordered two whole (large) flatbreads, as well as a small flatbread for my nephew.

Organic mesclun and organic sweet leaf lettuces tossed with organic celery and carrots, toasted

sesame seeds, organic Arame seaweed, olives, goat cheese and our homemade berry vinaigrette

The flatbreads, while pricey ($17-19, for a large), are creative and delicious and a very generous portion. The menu states that one whole is enough for 2 people. Two of these flatbreads, plus salad, was plenty.

Somerville Community Flatbread – Our wood-fired cauldron tomato sauce, organic caramelized onions,

organic mushrooms, premium whole milk mozzarella and imported Parmesan cheese baked on organic

bread dough with homemade organic garlic oil, sprinkled with our own blend of organic herbs

Jimmy’s Free-Range Chicken – Oven roasted free-range chicken, black beans, organic cilantro

tomatoes, roasted corn, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and sour cream lime drizzle

We enjoyed the tasty flatbreads (I added sliced jalapenos to my chicken pizza) and a few rounds of beer while catching up.

Meanwhile, my almost 4-year-old nephew honed his skills as the next generation of food blogger as he sat by the oven waiting for the perfect shot.

But, the allure of the bowling alley was too much for him, and we hit the lanes. You don't have to go far to have fun, with the lanes just a few steps from the tables. And, fortunately for us, there was not a wait for a lane. There was, however, a mandatory bowling shoes only rule.

The Dude has nothing on this kid

I highly recommend The Flatbread Company for a change of pace - a place for great food and entertainment for the family or a date night.

I've heard there is a wait for both pizza and bowling on weekend nights, but we didn't run into this problem on a Wednesday.

Lunch at The Salty Pig

2011-10-05T14:18:00.002-04:00

One recent Saturday after a training run I was hungry, but wasn't sure exactly what I wanted. There's no lack of great restaurants in Boston, and any new-to-me place would fit the bill. Then I saw something I've never seen before - a restaurant called The Salty Pig. The restaurant opened in July, and is located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. How I haven't heard of it will always be a mystery...

The Salty Pig makes what it was named after: salty pig parts. The menu boasts various pork products such as Porchetta, Speck and Jamon Serrano.

Seated on the seasonal outdoor patio, we started out with beers, as post-long run hydration is very important to me. Great beer list at Salty Pig, I was impressed with the selection of local and seasonal beers. I had an Allagash White (or two).

We started with a charcuterie platter on the lunch menu called the Mix-Up. Presented on a wooden board, this platter contained bresola, soppressata, robiola due latte (Italian soft cheese), comte forte St-Antone (cow's milk French cheese), pickles, grilled Iggy's bread and seasonal greens with a honey basil dressing.

Mix-Up Charcuterie platter

A great started, we decided to order two sandwiches to share. I was happy to see that the sandwiches were accompanied by kettle chips. It's not that I don't like fries or a side salad, but chips are perfect with a sandwich.

North End sandwich

Meatball sandwich

It was a good choice sharing both a hot and cold sandwich - two good choices, too. I loved the North End because it had both spicy soppressata and mortadella - as well as arugula (and sandwich green favorite of mine). And, while the meatball sandwich was a little messy to share, it was flavorful and filling. Not smothered in cheese like some meatball subs, the garlicky pork meatballs were the star of the sandwich.

It was a lovely lunch and it reminded me of one I had almost a year ago in Chicago at The Purple Pig. Great company, pork and drinks. In any city, at any time, that's all you really need.

One thing with the dinner menu that we missed out on was where the charcuterie plates can be "mixed and matched" to create personalized boards. The sections are appropriately named "Salty Pig Parts, Stinky Cheese, and Round Out the Plate." Very fun.

Dinner at Toro

2011-09-21T16:24:00.000-04:00

Though my summer semester abroad in Spain is a distant memory, it is still one of my fondest. Young, traveling alone, unable to speak the language, I was immersed in a culture so different from my own. My house mother, knowing my homesickness at first, made meals of comfort foods - chicken croquettes, pressed jamon y queso sandwiches, egg and potato tortilla. These lovingly prepared meals were the first foreign foods I had every experienced in their native country. I tried everything my house mother cooked. I was never a shy eater in the first place (my mother's voice always resonating in my ear, "try it, you might just like it") and so I devoured everything put in front of me (including the hamburguesa con queso she made for the 4th of July). After a few days in my new surroundings I discovered tapas bars. I was in love.

Ever since, my search for authentic Spanish food has taken me far and wide. We even make paella and other Spanish style tapas at home from time to time. Because of this, I knew there was one place in Boston that I needed to try: Toro.

Knowing that Toro has a reputation to be very busy, we arrived on the early side for dinner. There weren't an seats directly at the bar, but we were able to find some on the side rail facing the street. This ended up being a great spot, because as it became busy, people were crowded around the patrons sitting at the bar. We, on the other hand, had plenty of space. And, while space isn't necessarily a given at a traditional tapas bar, I knew we would be at the Toro for a while and thus needed a little elbow room while we sampled and tasted.

We started the evening with tequila cocktails, some pimentos and an order of tuna belly while we looked over the menu.

pimientos

ventresca

Because of the reputation of the kitchen staff at Toro, I wanted to indulge in some of my favorites (white anchovies, serrano) while also trying some new flavor combinations (ceviche and cod).

For the next round of tapas, we decided to go with a wine. As soon as I saw that a txakolina was offered, I knew that's what we were getting. This effervescent white wine hails from the north of Spain. Traditionally, the wine is poured into the glass from 2-3 feet away. This allows the flavors to be released. It's a flavorful wine and is meant to be sipped while enjoying tapas - a perfect choice.

ulacia txakolina

datiles con jamon

boquerones

jamon serrano

ceviche

razor clams

cod

Our food was flavorful and beautifully presented. I love the portion sizes of tapas, and these were no exception. Enough to share and enough to make you feel like you had a good taste of something without getting too full. I also think we did well ordering, because as a compulsive over-order-er, I tend to think that because the plates are small and inexpensive, that I need 17 of them. This was enough dinner for two adults, we ate and drank over the course of 3 hours.

For dessert we split an order of churros and each enjoyed a glass of house Tempranillo. There was a bit too much sugar and cinnamon on the churros for my taste, but they were a wonderful way to end the meal.

I had a wonderful experience at Toro. The restaurant served up the flavors I have known to love in a chic and modern environment, muy bueno!

JoJo Loves You Giveaway

2011-09-19T16:18:00.001-04:00

The earrings that go with everything.

I was first introduced to the Bling earrings from Jo Jo Loves You, by local Boston Designer Josie Hewitt, by some friends of mine, and my collection has been rapidly growing since. I wear them to work, dressed up, dressed down, on special occasions and sometimes on a run. They are my go-to earrings for any occasion.

me, wearing my black blings at the Bean in Chicago, 2010

Because I love these earrings so much, I am giving a pair away to one lucky reader. The color I chose to giveaway is called Green Sheen, and I think it's a fantastic color for any season!

(source)

To win the earrings please comment on this post, telling me what your favorite accessory is.

For an extra entry, you can do any of the following:

~Follow @UpwithOlives on Twitter

~Tweet: I want to win the @jojolovesblings giveaway hosted by @UpwithOlives

Like Straight Up with Olives on Facebook

(please come back and comment, letting me know if you did any of the above for your extra chance to win!)

Giveaway will end Monday, September 26, 2011 at 11:59pm EST

Good luck!

Ultimate Margarita

2011-09-19T15:40:00.000-04:00

To me, the ultimate margarita consists of good tequila, lime juice, salt and ice. Simple and satisfying. For my at-home recipe I add Cointreau, a sweet orange liquor, and a thin slice of jalapeño for a bit more flavor.

Ultimate Margarita
serves 2

Ingredients
4 oz high quality silver or white tequila
2 1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed from 5-6 limes
2 thin slices jalapeño
kosher salt, for rimming the glasses
ice
optional: squeeze of agave nectar

Instructions
Rim glasses. Fill shaker with ice. Add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and jalapeño slices. Shake thoroughly, then pour into salt-rimmed glasses.

Enjoy!

Citrus and Garlic Marinated Olives

2011-09-08T11:13:00.005-04:00

This recipe is one of the best to make (no cooking required!) and these olives are a perfect snack, addition to an antipasti platter, or appetizer at a cocktail party.

Citrus and Garlic Marinated Olives

serves: enough for a party

Ingredients

3 c cracked green olives

3 c pitted green olives

1 c kalamata olives

1/2 c caper berries

3 lemons

1 orange

9 cloves garlic (6 whole, 3 crushed)*

2 quart seal-able jar

olive oil

crushed red pepper, rosemary (optional)

Instructions

Strain olives and caper berries into a colander and rinse thoroughly with water. Soak olives and capers in a bowl of cool water for 10 mins. Meanwhile, peal 9 cloves of garlic. Crush 3 of the cloves and set aside. Thinly slice citrus fruits, saving 1/2 of one of the lemons for juicing.

Strain olives and capers.

In a 2 quart jar, layer olives, capers, garlic (and spices, if you are using them) and fruit slices alternatively until the jar is almost full. Juice the remaining 1/2 lemon and pour juice into the jar . Fill the jar with olive oil, to the top.

The olives last 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator for 25-30 mins before serving.

*use more or less garlic, depending on your taste. I love garlic, and 9 cloves seems to be the perfect amount for me.

Oysters

2011-09-01T13:43:00.007-04:00

I used to be a line cook. It was one of my favorite, and hardest, jobs to date. I learned about food preparation, time management, how not to cut myself while multi-tasking with a knife in my hand, how to use a cherry tomato as a weapon and, most importantly for the sake of this post, how to shuck and oyster. I can happily say that all of these skills are still with me today, many years later.

We picked up a 50 PEI oysters while up in Maine on vacation and enjoyed almost every single one. Buying oysters wholesale or retail means you can get them cheap. They usually sell for around $1/piece while in restaurants they are usually around $2-3.00/piece. Eating oysters at a restaurant is expensive, and while buying them and shucking them means you save yourself some money, you do need to put a little - or a lot - of effort in.

Shucking oysters is easy. I know a lot of people are intimidated by it, but it's a lot easier than it sounds and it gets easier with practice. Plus, I saved around $100 (plus tax and gratuity!) by doing this myself. And, it also ensured that I had the freshest oysters I could get.

We enjoyed the oysters with a bottle of 2010 Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet that I picked up from my favorite wine shop, Central Bottle. I told the sales assistant that I wanted a wine to compliment the oysters - and they delivered. The crisp wine was a wonderful accompaniment.

How to Shuck an Oyster

Remember to keep the oysters cold at all times and to use an oyster knife for the best results. Shucking oysters can be quite messy, so I recommend doing it outside - at least until you get the hang of it.

1. clean the oysters with a brush, removing all dirt, and rinse with cold water. this step is one of the most important, because as you shuck the oyster and run the knife along the shell, you will avoid bringing dirt or sand into the oyster

2. wrap oyster with a towel, to protect your hand*, and place firmly on a steady surface

3. find the hinge of the oyster. here, you will be able to insert the tip of your knife

4. insert the tip of your knife into the hinge and slowly add pressure while twisting the knife slowly from side to side (this is the way I do it, everyone is different)

5. be gentle, but firm and try to pop the shells apart. sometimes the area where you have pointed your knife will start to crumble and fall apart. try moving your knife over to a new section, or cleaning the area and starting again

6. once the two shells have separated, slowly run your knife down the middle**

7. cut the oyster free by sliding your knife under the oyster to cut the muscle that keeps it attached to its shell, while managing to keep the juices in the bottom shell

8. slurp the oyster and enjoy! I prefer freshly squeezed lemon or hot sauce on my oysters.

*some people use a glove or oven mit during this step. the more protection for your hand, the better. getting a oyster knife through your palm is not fun
**another reason to thoroughly clean your oysters, if there is any surface dirt, you will bring it into the oyster during this step
*** don't mind my hair in the above photo

Duckfat

2011-08-03T12:02:00.001-04:00

Seems like every time I visit Portland I have one thing on my mine: Duckfat.

I love visiting Duckfat year after year, summer after summer. While the place has changed in terms of an expanded menu and a busier lunch time crowd, I am happy to say that in the five or so years that I have been stopping in here, the consistency has remained the same - hot crispy belgian style fries with a variety of sauces, and warmly pressed, creative sandwich offerings.

The food (and drink) speaks for itself.

Mint & Lime Soda

Hand-Cut Belgian Fries with Garlic Aioli and Horseradish Mayo

Duck Confit Panini - Duck Confit with Napa Cabbage and Carrot Slaw with sweet chili sauce

Duckfat is fantastic. Creative sandwiches, Belgian fries fried in duck fat, beer, wine, house made non-alcoholic beverages and milkshakes. Mix and match for some great combinations.

Duckfat is a personal favorite of mine, and a place I think everyone visiting the Portland area should check out!

Blueberry-Lemonade Cocktail

2011-07-29T11:37:00.003-04:00

It's blueberry season and what better way to enjoy them than pairing them with gin! This cocktail is perfect for those hot summer days and nights.

Blueberry-Lemonade Cocktail

serves 1

Ingredients

2-3 oz gin, depending on how strong you want your drink to be

1/2 oz St Germain

2 oz lemonade

1/2 cup blueberries

1-2 mint leaves

Instructions

Muddle blueberries and mint in a cocktail shaker. Add gin, St Germain and lemonade. Shake well to combine. Pour into a glass full of ice.

Options:

if you want a sweeter cocktail, add 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.

If you do not like the blueberry pulp in your drink, strain the liquid into the glass - you could even serve this straight up in a martini glass.

Not a gin fan? What is wrong with you?! OK, make this drink with vodka instead.

Nunan's Lobster Hut

2011-07-28T16:27:00.001-04:00

"Our lobster dinners are served the same way they were in 1953. Fresh, locally caught lobster, cooked to order, no frills, simple and delicious."

Nunan's Lobster Hut in Kennebunkport is as simple as it gets. Picnic tables, no reservations, cash only. There's even a sink in the dining room for you to wash up.

The menu is simple, as well. Steamers, Lobsters, Chowder. They also have a garden salad, burgers, sandwiches, but the focus is on the lobster - and it's what they do best.

We started with a plateful of steamers (served with butter and broth) and I had a house root beer.

The lobsters are served with the most simple accompaniments - a bag of Lays potato chips, a roll with butter and pickles. The lobster is boiled, and served on a metal dish with a container of melted butter.

Cooked to perfection, the lobsters at Nuna's were most likely caught the same day. It's as fresh as you can get!

Simple and satisfying.

Dinner at 50 Local

2011-07-27T14:43:00.002-04:00

On my recent Maine vacation, we had celebratory at 50 Local in downtown Kennebunk.

At first look, 50 Local is a chic, clean restaurant with colors of white and silver, and plenty of yellow accents. It's a small, comfortable restaurant, with large windows overlooking Main Street. There is a small lounge area, presumably for waiting, and a bar area off towards the back of the one-room dining room.

For my cocktail I started with the Jam Jar - Nana Paul's homemade strawberry jam, vodka and lemon. This refreshing drink had chunks of jam and was served in an old mason jar, I absolutely loved the creativity and the balance of sweet and tart flavors.

Jam Jar

We were presented with a few baskets of warm, chewy bread which was served with a white bean dip - a great alternative to butter. We sipped our cocktails and took a look at the appetizer menu. Not wanting to over-order, but wanting to sample a few different items, we took a vote.

Bread Basket

For the appetizers we chose some favorites - Mussles Frites, Mac n Cheese and Calamari. The mussels were served with steak fries and a white wine sauce - which we all took turns sopping up with our bread. The calamari was crispy and served with home made pickles. Hands down, my favorite was the mac n cheese. Made with oricchiette, roasted tomatoes and a dash of truffle oil, this appetizer was wonderfully balanced between creamy and cheesy.

Mussel Frites

Mac n Cheese

Calamari

With dinner we enjoyed a few bottles of Grüner Veltliner, a crisp white wine that easily pairs with most food.

For dinner we had the lobster gnocchi (3 orders for the party of 6, this was the clear favorite of the evening), artic char, penne (unpictured) and chicken (unpictured). All dishes were beautifully presented, and both the gnocchi and char were presented on large, square plates, that really made the colors in the dishes pop.

The entrees were fantastic and everyone loved their dish, which was obvious from the empty plate in front of each guest.

Lobster Gnocchi

Artic Char

50 Local is a wonderful addition to the Southern Maine dining scene.

Local owners, local ingredients, locally sourced. Emphasis on the local, they even have some local links on their website.

50 Local restaurant is located at:
50 Main Street
Kennebunk, Maine 04043
tel: 207-985-0850

Basho Japanese Brasserie

2011-07-13T12:48:00.001-04:00

Sometimes you're just craving soup. Every since I went to Japan last year I get intense cravings for ramen. Sure, we've made our own - but that takes time, a lot of time. And, Boston is not home to a large number of Japanese restaurants. Sure, there are sushi places, but not the specialized ramen, izakaya, or yakitori shops like you would find in Tokyo.

Luckily, there's a Japanese Brasserie - Basho - located on Boylston Street in the Fenway area, just a short walk from where I live - and they serve ramen.

The restaurant is clean, modern and was surprisingly quiet - we were there for a quick dinner before the movies. We sat at the granite top bar in the tiny, chic bar stools and took a look at the menu - despite already knowing what I wanted before I even sat down.

For my cocktail I ordered the White Tokyo Cosmo (Stoli white pomegranate vodka, sake, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice), which was very easy drinking.

For our appetizer we shared an order of the pork buns. These larger than expected pork buns were fantastic - chewy steamed bun and warm, with caramelized pork and thin slices of green onion.

For ramen we ordered one pork and one duck ramen. Unlike the ramen that I tried in Japan, this had a hearty portion of vegetables, particularly broccoli rabe and carrots. It was a large meal, with generous portions of meat and noodles.

Basho was a good option for Japanses cuisine in Boston. While I liked the ramen, I thought the pork buns were fantastic, by far my favorite part of the meal. I look forward to another trip to the restaurant to try some of the other items on the menu.

All photos in this post were taken with a Hipstamatic lens.

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

2011-06-30T10:45:00.002-04:00

"It's just like riding a bike...."

No, no it isn't.

I am the pround new owner of and SE Draft lite, but riding a bike terrifies me.

(source)

You see, I've been on a bike 5 times in the last 15 years, and all were not pleasant experiences:

1. 1999 - The Incident

My face + tree branch = broken nose. You fill in the blanks.

2. 2004 - Ireland

Rented bikes on the Aran Islands so we could get around. First off, bike rental guy asked me if I needed a push. We didn't get far, and missed about half the attractions on the island (that were uphill) since I was so shaky, unsure and stopped any time I hear a car coming.

3. 2006 - Race Training

I was training for a duathlon* so I took my cousins childhood bike for a spin. 5'8" adult on bike for a 12 year old - not good. Not fun, not comfortable.

4. 2006 - Race Day

Took same childhood bike for a 12 mile ride - mostly uphill. Note: I only had one training ride on said bike - see experience #3. (which would be my own fault, but still.....)

5. 2010 - Japan
Why just last year! I misjudged the sidewalk and dumped the bike...about 15 minutes into our ride. The picture below is deceiving, it was before I even got on the bike.

nervous smile.

Despite all of these less than stellar experiences, I still purchased a bike. I haven't had a car for close to a year now, and while walking everywhere is great, it's nice to have an alternate mode of transportation. So I started researching bikes. I knew what I wanted (urban, affordable) and what I didn't (pink/purple, expensive). I wanted something easy to ride and comfortable.

While I am slow to start and still getting over my fear, I am having fun. I'm re-learning to ride a bike - literally.

A special thanks to the guys at Landry's Bicycles who were helpful and patient. I'm looking forward to exploring new places on my two wheels!

*WTF is a duathlon? A duathlon is a race where you run-bike-run. Kind of like a triathlon, without swimming.

Bloody Mary's - The Rocko Way

2011-06-27T14:05:00.006-04:00

When I first saw Rocko's Gourmet Bloody Mary Seasoning Blend over on Indulge, Inspire, Imbibe, I knew I needed to try it.*

I've had this bottle for quite some time, but I was holding on to it. I was saving it, for a weekend that it could be enjoyed with friends. Luckily, with a girls weekend in Wellfleet planned, so I knew what I was bringing to the party.

Rockos' mix is a blend of over 20 ingredients. The website recommends that you use 1 part vodka, 1 part mix and 3 parts of tomato juice per drink. My recipe was more (as in more vodka) or less (as in less juice) what Rocko recommends. I also mixed the mix/juice combo into one container for easy pouring - just add vodka.

Our cocktails contained:

Trader Joe's (low sodium) garden patch vegetable juice/Rocko's combination
vodka
3 olives, plus a splash of olive brine
juice of 1/4 lime
lime wedge, to garnish
celery stalk, to garnish
pepper, to taste
ice

Overall, we were thrilled with the results! For someone who loved Bloody Mary's, I thought this had a great blend of spices. It was just spicy enough to drink (first thing on a Saturday morning) without having to add tobasco or siracha. It was thick, too, but not thick enough where clumps would get caught in your straw.

A whole bottle of this mix made 7-8 bloody mary's and a group of happy girls...the view helped, too! It was a great weekend down the Cape and these drinks were the perfect way to kick off our Saturday.

This mix is a must-try for any occasion. Also, not only is it good for drinks, but Rocko's can be used in the kitchen as well. More recipes are listed on their site.

Thank you, Rocko's!

*I was sent a complimentary sample of this product to review, but, as always, all opinions expressed on this blog are my own.

Lunch at Pearl

2011-06-24T12:55:00.001-04:00

With gorgeous harbor views, Pearl Restaurant in Wellfleet is a picturesque stop for lunch. The upstairs outdoor patio is a great place for lunch and cocktails - the perfect addition to a girls weekend.

It was a gorgeous Saturday - 75* and sunny - so mixed drinks were ordered all around. There were margaritas, moscow mules, a dark n stormy, and a coconut cocktail that affectionately became known as the Coconut Breezy (actual name unknown). Each drink was served in a tall pint glass and packed quite the punch.

cocktails

We looked over the menu and it seemed to offer everything we wanted for a summertime lunch. Local seafood, sandwiches and shared appetizers.

To start, the table ordered steamers and chicken chili nachos - both were devoured within minutes. The steamers were local and fresh - served with broth and a side of melted butter. The nachos were described as being served with a chicken 'chili' but it was more of a spicy pulled chicken (which was much better than a chili would have been on a hot day).

appetizers

Lunch entrees were local friend clams with french fries, strawberry salad with feta and walnuts, crab cakes and a few turkey BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato) sandwiches. All of the entrees were very generous portions for their prices - especially in a tourist destination.

entrees

We sipped on cocktails while we enjoyed the sun, the views and the quality time together. We were at the Pearl for a few hours and never felt rushed. We took our time enjoying our meals and drinking our cocktails and the server was even nice enough to take a group photo:

the girls!

If you ever find yourself in Wellfleet, the Pearl is a great harborside lunch stop (I can't say how it is at dinnertime, as we were only here for a late lunch).

Ginger Scallion Noodles

2011-06-14T09:50:00.001-04:00

This is a go-to meal in my house lately. Quick, delicious and easy - the perfect ingredients for a week night dinner.

Ginger Scallion Noodles
(adapted from Momofuk u by David Chang)
serves 2

Ingredients
2 servings noodles such as ramen or soba or somen (which are used above)
1 large bunch scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
1/4 cup ginger, minced
1/4 cup grapeseed, or other neutral oil
1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions
Mix together scallions, ginger, oil, soy sauce, vinegar and salt in a bowl. Set aside and let flavors blend together for at least 20 minutes.

Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain cooked noodles and toss them with half of the sauce. Separate noodles into two bowls, then top with the remaining sauce.

This recipe actually makes enough sauce for 4 servings, but it's so good that you'll want more on your dish!

Strawberry Basil Lemonade Martini

2011-06-08T18:56:00.000-04:00

For most people, strawberries are a clear sign that summer is here however, the first time I see strawberries each June I am reminded of one thing: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Years ago, my grandmother served a dessert of strawberries sprinkled with sugar. That very same year, the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup. Ever since, the lucky strawberry dessert has been a playoffs tradition. Only one time in my life was I able to enjoy this dessert while watching my team in the finals. For the most part, the Bruins haven't even made it far enough in the playoffs for strawberries to be in season.

Not this year.

I didn't want to jinx the Bruins by starting to eat strawberries as soon as I saw them in the grocery store, I waited. Then, once they defeated Tampa, I knew it was time. I wanted strawberries and sugar, but with a modern twist. The series has been tough, and I have been patiently waiting for my concoction to be ready. And now, on the eve of Game 4, my strawberry infused vodka is ready. I am looking forward to drinking my team to victory.

(source)

Strawberry Basil Lemonade Martini

serves 1

Ingredients

2 oz strawberry infused vodka

2 oz lemonade

4-5 basil leaves

simple syrup, to taste

Instructions

Infuse strawberries by trimming off the hull, cutting in half, and placing in a jar. Fill the jar with vodka and seal tightly. Let sit in a cool, dark place for 3-14 days.

For the cocktail, remove some of the vodka-soaked strawberries from the jar and place them in a cocktail shaker. Add basil leaves and muddle until well blended. Add vodka, lemonade, simple syrup and ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Garnish with a strawberry (optional) and cheer the Bruins to victory!

Homemade Mozzarella

2011-06-02T12:21:00.001-04:00

There's nothing better than homemade. Anything you make with your own hands always tastes better, there's just something about it...

Homemade cheese is something I've wanted to make for a while now, but I've been scared - I find it very intimidating. However, thanks to some googling, encouragement from a chef friend, and a suggestion by Suzanne, I decided to pursue making cheese in my very own kitchen. I did my research online and I found out that very little supplies were needed - just citric acid, rennet, milk and salt.

Through the power of Twitter (and Suzanne), I was sent a link to the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company. This Massachusetts-based company offers ingredients, equipment and recipes for various types of cheese. They also offer kits and for $39.95 I ordered one that has enough supplies (everything except milk) to make mozzarella thirty times!

The cheese was very simple to make. I read the directions over a few times, watched the video on the site, gathered my supplies and I was good to go. The process took me around 40 minutes (I had a little trouble trying to shape my cheese so it didn't look like a butt) from start to finish. It was much easier than I anticipated and the final product tastes amazing.

I enjoyed my mozzarella with an antipasti platter - home made duck proscuitto (more on that to come!), olives, salami and a fantastic bottle of rose.

This bottle of rose is from Central Bottle and retails for just $11! It's a wonderful, not too acidic, rose that is perfect on a hot summer day.

The cheese lasts, covered in plastic wrap and refrigerated, for up to two weeks. I will say that even though I have only made this cheese once, I do not see myself spending money on cheese in the grocery store ever again - it's that easy and that good!

Gin-Grapefruit Cocktail

2011-05-25T13:58:00.001-04:00

This cocktail is a mix of some of my favorite flavors - gin, St. Germain and grapefruit. It's a play on the Bohemian, one of my favorite - and an $8 bargain - martinis featured at Green St. Grill.

Gin Grapefruit Cocktail
serves 1

Ingredients
2 oz gin
1 oz St. Germain
3 oz pink grapefruit juice
2 dash orange bitters
soda water

Instructions
Juice grapefruit. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add gin, St. Germain, and grapefruit juice. Shake well and pour into a rocks glass. Add in two dashes of bitters and top with soda water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit.

Spring Vegetable Salsa

2011-05-19T14:52:00.000-04:00

This salsa is a great alternative for all the fresh vegetables we see this time of year.

Spring Vegetable Salsa

(inspired by Garden at the Cellar)

serves 6

Ingredients

1 bunch asparagus

1 bunch green onions

1/2 pound peas

1 red pepper

1/2 red onion

2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper (to taste)

1/8 cup balsamic vinegar (optional)

siracha (optional)

Instructions

Blanch asparagus and peas: Trim the asparagus and shell peas (if needed). Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, fill a bowl with cold water and ice. Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Add the peas to the water and cook for 1 minute. Strain both vegetables and immediately then submerge in the bowl of ice water. Let the vegetables cool for 2-3 minutes.

Remove tips from the cooled asparagus and trim the bottom of the green onion. Chop all vegetables into smaller than bite-sized pieces. Mix vegetables with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. For added flavor, use balsamic vinegar or siracha.

Serve with your choice of tortilla chips. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one week.

Granola

2011-05-10T09:55:00.002-04:00

I was thrilled when Flour Bakery opened in my neighborhood. Even more thrilled when Joanne Chang released a cookbook with the very best of Flour's cookies, pastries and desserts. My favorite thing they offer is their "Mom's Granola," so it had to be the first thing I made from my brand new Flour Cookbook.

Yogurt and Granola is one of my favorite meals, and this granola is one of the best I've ever had.

Granola

(slightly adapted from Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe)

Ingredients

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
3 tbsp sesame seed

1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup agave nectar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cranberries (optional)

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, cinnamon and salt. Mix well to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, agave nectar and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients over dry, and mix until all ingredients are thoroughly coated.

Spread mixture in an even layer on top of parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 28-30 minutes, mixing the granola once or twice during baking to ensure even browning. Cool completely, add cranberries if you wish.

Store in an airtight container for up to one week - if it lasts that long!

Moscow Mule

2011-05-06T14:42:00.001-04:00

The Moscow Mule was invented in the 1950's when vodka was first becoming popular in the United States. Its name comes from the homeland of vodka, Russia. Moscow Mules are a favorite drink of mine because they combine three of my favorite things: vodka, ginger beer and lime. It's a refreshing drink that's not too sweet, and the ginger beer is much gentler on the stomach than other sodas.

Moscow Mule

serves 1

Ingredients

1 can ginger beer (I prefer Goslings)

2-3 ounces vodka

1 lime

Instructions

Cut lime in half, cutting one wheel from each lime half (for your garnish). Juice the limes, straining the pulp from the juice if necessary. Set aside. Fill a large glass (larger than 14 ounces) with ice. Add the lime juice, then vodka. Slowly pour in the ginger beer, stir with your straw to mix. Garnish with lime wheels.

Optional: for a sweeter drink, add a 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.

I paired my Moscow Mule with a grilled cheese made with chipotle cheddar.

And, my glass says "May the best days of your past be the worst day of your future".

Blood Orange Spritzer

2011-04-29T10:39:00.003-04:00

There's no shortage of great citrus this season, and I've been enjoying it in different forms, but especially cocktails. In March I made a martini, but this month I wanted something a little more refreshing.

Blood Orange Spritzer
serves 1

Ingredients
1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce St-Germain
juice from 1-2 blood oranges
soda water (preferably from one of these)

Instructions
Juice oranges, straining the pulp from the juice if necessary. Set aside. Fill a small glass with ice. Add the vodka, St Germain and orange juice, then top with soda water. Garnish with an orange slice.

Three Reasons I Love The Lower Depths

2011-04-27T08:30:00.005-04:00

Located in the heart of Kenmore Square, right around the corner from Fenway Park, the Lower Depths is a basement-style bar, which is no frills and no fuss with good food and great beer. It's one of my favorite places in the city, and this is why:

The beer selection here is fantastic. With a dozen beers on tap and close to a hundred bottles, there is something for everyone. The tap list is rotating and seasonal, and the bottle list is organized by country. The staff is knowledgeable and always ready to recommend.

And not just plain old tots, but Kenmore Tots WITH bacon, chipotle aioli and cheddar. tHEY ALSO HAVE Tots Supreme (caramelized onions, blue cheese and balsamic reduction), Tots Mexicana (jalapeno, salsa and cheese) AND Poutine Tots (smothered with cheese and gravy)...and regular plain old tots can be served as well.

These dogs are the Boston Strangler (dog with mackin cheese and caramelized onions) and the Chicago Dog (pickle, mayo, onions, mustard) but they have over a dozen different options for dogs or you can build your own. At $6-$9 each, these dogs are a more creative and delicious option than something you can get in the ball park (though they do sell Fenway Frank style dogs for $1).

And dogs aren't the only thing here, they also have a great variety of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and salads.

It's packed when the Sox are in town, but usually quiets down after the game starts (though non-game days are usually the best time to attend, in my opinion). There's an outdoor patio, if you don't care for the dark basement bar scene, which is really part of the Lower Depths charm.

Tip: this bar is cash only. While they do have an ATM, save yourself the fees and come prepared.

Rendezvous Central Square

2011-04-26T11:13:00.004-04:00

This past weekend I had dinner at Rendezvous in Central Square. I've been to this restaurant a few times, but I've never actually had dinner there, (they have half-priced tapas on Monday nights, so I've done that a few times) so this was a welcome change.

Rendezvous is a locally owned and operated restaurant that has green initiatives including a rooftop garden where they grow many of their herbs. They have a french-style menu, with many local and in season ingredients.

We started the evening with cocktails, while we looked over the menu. Cocktail choices of the night were the Mint and Cucumber (Hendricks Gin, mint, cucumber, lemon) and Orient Express (pomegranate, lemon, rose and vodka), while I had my usual (Grey Goose, dirty, with olives).

Appetizers for the evening were Rendezvous charcuterie assortment, Selection of farmhouse cheeses from Formaggio Kitchen, Potato gnocchi with braised oxtail, brussels sprouts, fresh horseradish and piave and Grilled lamb sweetbreads with smoked octopus, chick peas and romesco sauce.

All of the appetizers were fantastic, but the entire table agreed that the gnocchi would have been a perfectly-sized entree for one. My favorite on the table was the sweetbreads, because I loved the accompanying flavors of chickpeas and romesco, the sauce was outstanding!

For dinner the various entrees were skillet-roasted skate wing with broccoli rabe, meyer lemon and hazelnut brown butter, Gascon-style duck three ways: sliced breast, garlic sausage and confit leg, Braised pork and veal meatballs with toasted orecchiette, maitakes and piave cheese.

My entree was the duck, something I love to order when I am out. The confit leg was outstanding. The meat pulled away form the bone and it was tender and the skin was crispy - perfect. I also really loved the pork and veal meatballs, they had such wonderful flavor and the orecchiette was slightly browned, which was a great touch.

The wine with dinner was a Chante Cigale l'Apostrophe Rouge, from 2009, which was a very smooth-drinking wine.

The food at Rendezvous is creative yet comforting, and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with good laughs and great company.

Favorite Product: Soda Stream

2011-04-22T12:35:00.000-04:00

I am a soda water addict. I love drinking bubbly, fizzy, sparkling water whenever I can. In late 2010 I found myself buying bottles of the stuff almost every day. Not only was this habit expensive, but it was wasteful. It was around then that I heard about a product called Soda Stream. I made a new year's resolution to stop buying bottled water, and I starting producing my own sparkling water at home.

The soda stream is very easy to use. It was a little complicated to set up, maybe because I hate following directions, but I figured it out. The machine barely takes up any space, and it takes about 30 seconds to produce sparkling water and I can enjoy it whenever I want!

(source)

I just had to share my love for this product, with it being Earth Day and all.

Myers and Chang

2011-04-12T12:08:00.003-04:00

If there's one restaurant in Boston that I have been anxious to try, it's Myers and Chang. I've heard so many great things about this restaurant, but it was something I needed to check out for myself. Sunday was a great day to go, as they offer $1 oysters and $1 PBRs and I can't pass up a deal like that!

We started with PBRs and a half dozen oysters and, lucky for us, they ran out of oysters right after we ordered so we ended up with 8 instead of 6!

Our next courses were the braised pork belly buns and the crispy artic char roll - both recommend by our server - and then dan dan noodles and mama chang's pork and chive dumplings.

The food was nothing short of amazing. Everything was fresh, spicy and beautifully presented. The pork buns were my favorite of the night, with their perfectly cooked pork belly, house made pickles, sweet hoisin sauce and the steamed bun. Mama Chang's dumplings were a close second! I also loved our front-row seats at the bar, since we got to watch the wok action up close.

While I think I only scratched the surface on what Myers and Chang has to offer, I'm glad I finally had the chance to check it out!

Cambridge 1

2011-04-11T13:50:00.003-04:00

There's something about Friday nights and pizza that go really well together. Growing up, pizza on Fridays was a tradition. My parents still keep that tradition alive and while I can't make it back home every week, I still crave pizza on Friday nights. That's where Cambridge 1 comes in. Like their sister restaurants (Audubon, Middlesex, Tory Row and Miracle of Science), Cambridge 1 has a simple menu. They make what they do best - which in this case is thin crust charcoal grilled pizzas with creative toppings.

I ordered a Brooklyn Lager to start, this beer is easy-drinking and I thought it would go with whatever we ordered.We sipped on our beers while we watched the Red Sox and looked over the menus. I noticed that both the restaurant and kitchen were clean and bright.

We snacked on the addicting home made spicy bread sticks while we waited for our food. For dinner we ordered two half pizzas to share.The pizzas were great - they were light and the toppings were generous - but it seemed to be more like a flatbread than a pizza. That being said, I didn't feel overly stuffed when we left.

tossed baby arugula, fontina, parmigiano

hot cherry peppers, black forest ham, manchego

I loved the laid-back and fun atmosphere of this restaurant. We arrived early but I noticed that both the bar and the tables filled up quickly (they do not take reservations) but the turnover seemed to be fast. The restaurant is conveniently located, just a few steps from the Harvard Square T stop. The pizza was fantastic, and satisfied my craving for Friday night tradition.

Lunch at Soul Fire

2011-04-07T12:32:00.001-04:00

Sunday afternoon was a perfect day to walk over the bridge to Soul Fire BBQ in Allston for a little lunch and Red Sox. It's Spring, baseball is back and it's finally warming up in Boston.

We sat at the bar and I ordered a tall boy while we looked at the menu.

We decided to start with the southern fried chicken wings, which were nothing short of amazing! They were crispy, tender and hot. The order was also huge, it was only 6 pieces of chicken, but these were good-size wings.

The wings didn't come with sauce, but Soul Fire has 6 different home made sauces to chose from from hot and spicy, to sweet and BBQ. I sampled them all, I love trying different dipping sauces.

For lunch we split a pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac n cheese (topped with pieces of BBQ potato chips!) and fries. The bartender recommended mixing the fiery sauce with ketchup for the fries and it was a wonderful suggestion! While thickly-cut fries are generally not my favorite, these were hand-cut and crispy.

Of course I had a variety of dipping sauces for my sandwich as well. Soulfire, sweet and fiery were the perfect accompaniments for my tender pulled pork sandwich. I loved this sandwich, and will the fries, mac and wings, it was plenty of food, I'm glad we shared it (though I probably could have eaten one myself).

Soul Fire is a small restaurant on Harvard Street in Allston. It's casual and cool, much like the town it's in. The menu has an extensive BBQ selection and various sandwiches and sides. They play some great, old soul music and even have a projection screen for the game. Check it out if you're in the area!

Pretty Things Jack D'Or

2011-03-25T07:39:00.015-04:00

My new favorite beer is Pretty Things Jack D'Or. I've found it in more locations recently - bars, restaurants and liquor stores, and I cannot get enough of it. Not only is the beer delicious, but the label is creative and fun.

Jack D'Or is a Saison/Farmhouse Ale. It's both earthy and fruity, with a great balance of hops and bitterness. It's a great beer because if goes with anything - have it with food or just on its own. And, if you're in the Boston area, this beer is local so make sure you check it out!

(source)

Blood Orange Martini

2011-03-24T08:41:00.002-04:00

There's no shortage of great citrus this time of year, and the beautiful color of the blood orange makes a delicious and gorgeous cocktail.

Blood Orange Martini
serves 2

Ingredients
3 ounces citrus-flavored vodka*
2 ounces vodka
juice from 2-3 blood oranges (about 1/2 cup)

Instructions
Juice oranges, straining the pulp from the juice if necessary. Set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodkas and juice. Shake vigorously and strain into chilled glasses. Garnish with an orange slice.

Optional: for a sweeter martini, add a 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.

*I used Absolut Citron, since that's what I had on hand.

Thelonious Monkfish

2011-03-18T10:25:00.007-04:00

I love hearing about new restaurants in my neighborhood, so I was thrilled to hear there was a new Japanese, Sushi and Thai place opening up on Mass. Ave. Thelonious Monkfish is new, clean and modern restaurant with huge front windows. The restaurant has tables as well as a 6-seat sushi bar. It has an extensive menu and a very cool name.

I haven't had sushi in ages (I actually think the last time may have been last year in Japan) so I was looking forward to this meal.

This was a workday lunch so we kept things simple. Seaweed salad and edamame to start. Two of my favorite things, with lightly salted edamame being one of my favorite vegetables. These two made a great starter, and gave us something to snack on while we looked over the menu.

Like I said, the menu is extensive. There is so much to chose from - sushi, sashimi, rolls, vegetarian options, soups, noodles - this menu has it all. We decided to keep things simple and order what we came here for - sushi. The main course was maguro sashimi, Alaskan roll (salmon, avocado, cucumber, scallions) and Crazy roll (shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, tobiko, spicy mayo). Everything was fresh and made to order. I love maguro, it's my favorite, and this was fantastic. The rolls, not something I usually order, were delicious as well. I liked how different they were from each other.

The best thing about a sushi lunch is that no matter how much you eat, you don't feel awful afterward. I'm not sure if this place has a liquor license, but I'm sure I'll find out on my next visit! While it wasn't a cheap lunch ($20 each), for a sushi restaurant Thelonious Monkfish is affordable and is a very welcome addition to the Central Square dining scene!

Restaurant Week: Craigie Style

2011-03-17T14:35:00.011-04:00

After hearing about the special that Craigie on Main was offering as an alternative to restaurant week, I knew it was a deal that I just couldn't pass up. We decided on the 6 course tasting, and were anxious to see what we were going to get.

We started with a wine recommended by our server. It was a smooth, easy drinking wine that complimented the meal well.

Course 1

House cured salmon with Dijon vinaigrette.

Course 2

Tuna salad with hackleback roe and red bliss potatoes

Course 3

Tempura fried cod cheeks with squid ink sauce and dried olives

Course 4

(L) Cardoon with bechamel and bone marrow; (R) Beef tongue with crispy garlic

Course 5

Bacon wrapped pigs foot galantine with blood orange, mushrooms, pistachio butter.

Pork Belly

Course 6

(L) Panna Cotta (R) Chocolate and anise dessert

Tasting menus are a great way to sample new menu items, or to get a sense of the creativity of the kitchen. I love the fact that you never know what you're going to get! Every dish what was presented was a pleasant surprise. My favorites for the night were a tie between the cod cheeks and the pigs foot. Both were incredible dishes, like nothing I've had before.

As always, Craigie did not disappoint. All of the food was creative, beautiful and thoughtfully prepared. It's a great restaurant to try and they have multiple menus to chose from (tasting, bar and dinner). I highly recommend trying this restaurant, if you haven't already.

Croque Madame

2011-03-14T07:45:00.003-04:00

This sandwich is indulgent, a fancy take on a grilled ham and cheese but with an oh-so-French twist. The croque madame is the epitome of french sandwich. Same sandwich as the croque monsieur, except the madame has an egg on the top - what's not to love?

Croque Madame
serves 2

Ingredients
4 slices pain de campagne (french country loaf)
10 slices black forest ham
8 ounces gruyere
2 Tablespoons butter
2 eggs
2 tsp dijon mustard, plus more for dipping

Instructions
Butter one side of each of the 4 slices of bread. Shred gruyere. Place two of the slices of bread butter-side down and spread 1 teaspoon of dijon on each slice. Layer half of the ham on each of the sandwich, then add 1/4 of the shredded cheese to each sandwich. Top the sandwiches with the remaining slice of bread, buttered side up.

Meanwhile, heat a skillet on medium heat and turn your oven to broil. Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter to a skillet. Once the butter melts and begins to bubble, place the sandwiches (cheese side down) on the skillet. Cook the sandwiches on each side, 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown.

Remove the sandwiches from the skillet and place on a cookie sheet. Top the sandwiches with the remaining gruyere, and place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, until cheese bubbles and starts to brown.

While the sandwiches are broiling, add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of butter to the skillet. As soon as the butter melts and starts to bubble, carefully crack the eggs into the pan, making sure the yolks do not break. Cover the pan with a lid and let the eggs cook, about 3 minutes. The eggs are done with the whites turn opaque.

Remove sandwiches from broiler and set on a plate. Center a fried egg over each sandwich.

Serve with chilled wine or beer.

Tips: I recommend cooking the sandwich cheese-side down first so that the sandwich is easier to flip. I also recommend cutting the sandwich in half before serving, so that the yolk breaks open.

Bon Appétit!

Help Japan

2011-03-13T11:45:00.001-04:00

The earthquake and it's aftermath has caused so much destruction in Japan. It's devastating. The Japanese people need our help.

Donations can be made to the Red Cross by clicking here.

Built Giveaway Winners

2011-03-08T09:51:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the Built lunch tote giveaway.

Congratulations to Melissa from The Foodies at Work and Tiffany from Stuffed wtih Fluff on winning. Please send your mailing information to betsy@straightupwitholives.com and I will get those out to you.

A Favorite Burger

2011-03-07T11:06:00.006-05:00

Not only is Garden at the Cellar one of my favorite restaurants, it's also home to my favorite burger. This is my go-to burger, the one I think about when I am craving a burger. The one I always go back to. The one I order more often than not.

The Cellar burger is a tender, juicy burger (made with locally raised beef) paired with fresh arugula, cheddar and a home made aïoli. I love the full flavored taste of the beef, and the peppery greens and aïoli compliment it so well. The burger is cooked to order, assembled with care, and not only is the burger wonderful, but it comes with the rosemary truffle fries. Hot, crispy fries that taste amazing. I usually pair my burger with a Dogfish Head 60 min IPA or a PBR. Quite a perfect combination.

And, even though this burger is my #1 choice on the menu, I love everything else at Garden at the Cellar as well. The appetizers, entrees, brunch, bloody mary's and beer selection are outstanding. The grilled cheese/tomato soup combination is my second favorite menu item, a great choice when I am not in a burger mood. The quality of this restaurant should be celebrated and it is my favorite place for many reasons.

Tip: at dinner service, burgers at Garden at the cellar are served at the bar and in the cellar only.

Dinner at Prime 112 in Miami

2011-03-02T08:30:00.006-05:00

Prime 112 was the highlight of my recent business trip to Miami. We picked this restaurant not only because of it's great reputation as a steak house, but also because I have a friend on the staff.

The funky, modern restaurant was very busy on the Wednesday night we were there, and from what we heard it's like this every night. In my opinion, every night is Saturday night on South Beach!

As soon as we sat down we were presented with heavy menus with hefty prices as well as one of the best bread baskets I've ever had. The cheesy baked bread was like nothing I'd ever had before, cheesy, buttery, flaky. The way that bread should be!

We started our meal with the pan seared diver scallops with slowly braised short ribs and truffle mashed potatoes ($25) as well as a bottle of the Prisoner. The scallops were a huge hit - I loved this dish and the fantastic blend of flavors. I wasn't sure about the short rib and the scallops together, but it worked well. Very, very well. It was by far my favorite thing of the night!

For the main course we shared a 12 ounce filet mignon ($52), five cheese truffle macaroni and cheese ($13) and white truffle french fries ($15). Yes, there was a truffle theme at dinner. The 12 ounce filet was a perfect size for three people to share, especially since we had so many fabulous sides (like the un-pictured beets and a second bottle of wine) to accompany it.

The, just when we thought we had too much to eat, the kitchen sent out complimentary desserts of the chocolate and peanut butter s'mores with vanilla ice cream and peanut brittle and deep-fried oreos. Both were amazing!

Our bill came to around $300 for three people so dinner was pricey, however the food and service at Prime 112 were fantastic and it's worth checking out when you are in town.

Lunch Tote by Built and Giveaway

2011-03-01T11:37:00.000-05:00

One of the things I do to stay healthy is to bring my lunch to work. This simple act ensures that not only will I have healthy foods available to me at work, and I will save money by not getting takeout, or lunch in the cafeteria. I recently purchased a Built lunch tote, and I am in love with it. The bag fits a variety of different sized containers, it's machine washable, and it fits perfectly in my bag. I am rather boring when it comes to picking out items - I usually go with neutral colors for things like jackets and bags - but when I purchased this lunch bag I bought this fun, colorful polka dot pattern.

Because I love this product so much, I am giving away two of these Gourmet Getaway Lunch Totes!

Stats from the Built website:

Insulates up to four hours (time varies depending on external temperatures)
Tested for lead safety—no vinyl or PVC used
Made from neoprene (the wetsuit material)
Zip closure
Machine wash cold, drip dry
Soft-grip handles
Stores flat
Stain resistant

W 12" x H 11.5" x D 6.75"
(W 30.5cm x H 29.2cm x D 17.1cm)

To enter this giveaway simply comment on this post, telling me what your go-to lunch is: brought from home or purchased! For a second chance to win, you can tweet "I want to win @UpwithOlives lunch bag giveaway." You have until Monday, March 7 at 5 pm to enter. I will pick two winners at random.

Good Luck!

Dinner at Coppa

2011-02-25T16:08:00.002-05:00

I've heard fantastic things about Coppa, in Boston's South End but I've apparently turned into one of those people. Those people, meaning the people who only eat in their own neighborhood or town. Now, there's nothing wrong with being one of those people, especially if you live in a neighborhood like mine (Central Square) with an abundance of fantastic restaurants. Now don't get me wrong, the South End isn't far away, but it's been a miserable winter and the last thing I want to do is walk/wait for the bus/train. I know I'm not the only one.

However, I've heard so many great things about Coppa that I have been anxious to go there and check it out. So, I made the trek across town....and am I glad I did.

Coppa does not take reservations. Like most restaurants in the South End, it's small (but that's not a bad thing) but cozy. the 10ish seat bar is a good place to wait for a table. We were quoted a 45 minute wait for a table for two. We took a look at the drink list and I headed to the bar. Before even making eye contact with the bartender, the people in front of me stood up to get seated - so we took their seats at the bar. Most of the time I prefer eating my meal at the bar, so this was perfect.

Everything we ordered was fantastic. We started with the duck proscuitto and the coppa salumi, and somehow the meal went up from there. Everything was so fresh - the meats were sliced to order and most of the small plates were prepared right at the bar - one of the benefits of my front-row seat was to see everything being prepared.

The next few small plates - burrata (fabulous, with a touch of sweetness in the honey), beef tongue (interesting texture and taste) and anchovies (white ones, my absolute favorite) were enjoyable, and I appreciated that they were staggered so we could enjoy each on its own without mixing flavors.

Our 'main course' was the carbonara and the brussel sprouts. I loved carbonara, and it's not something I order often because of it's richness, there's only so much you can eat. The portion appears to be small, but because of the richness of the dish, it's just right. It's was a good entree to share, since we had already had a good amount of starters. The brussel sprouts are oven roasted and drenched (in a good way) in horseradish, and were a wonderful accompaniment. We finished the meal with my favorite dessert - cheese and a Miller High Life pony.

Coppa is a must-try. I am looking forward to the warmer weather to enjoy some of their great food and drinks on the patio!

Bourbon County Beer Tasting

2011-02-24T14:22:00.000-05:00

Last weekend my brother brought some beers to my parents for a little tasting. I'm familiar with Goose Islan d, a craft beer company based in Chicago as I've been to their Wrigleyville location for lunch (back in 2006) and I was handed one of their 312 beers at the finish line of the Chicago Marathon. I love their unique beers, so I was more than happy to see the Bourbon County Stout ready and waiting.

Goose Island's "extreme ales" are aged in bourbon barrels - hence the name and the distinct caramel flavor. These beers are so flavorful, and very rich. They are sipping beers, meant to be enjoyed slowly, as to taste all the different flavors. They're also very high in alcohol, so there's only so much you can drink in one sitting.

I have listed them below in order of which I liked best. All of the beers were fantastic. It was great to be able to try some new to me (Rare and Vanilla) flavors. It was also special that the Rare had a hand-written number on it (we sampled beer 3093), showing you just how few of these bottles were brewed and distributed.

The Stout was my favorite. I've tried this beer before, so I knew I would like it. The strong caramel and dark chocolate flavors are outstanding. The second beer, the Rare, tasted similar to the Stout yet had a more intense, deep flavor. These beers are aged in the bourbon barrels for up to two years! The third beer, Vanilla, was my least favorite. I thought it didn't hold up against the other two beers. I also didn't love the vanilla undertones in the beer. We took our time drinking the last two beers, as the Rare and the Vanilla are no longer in production.

If you're ever at the liquor store looking for something different, I highly recommend Bourbon County Stout. Around $13 for a bottle, it's a high alcohol content beer that's reasonably priced. It's a great stout with a strong caramel and chocolate flavor, that's good alone or paired with a favorite dessert. Perfect for a Friday night at home!

Bourbon County Stout

Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout*
Alcohol by Volume: 13%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black

Bourbon County Rare
Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout*
Alcohol by Volume: 13%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black

Bourbon County Vanilla

Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Vanilla Stout*
Alcohol by Volume: 13%
International Bitterness Units: 60
Color: Midnight
Hops: Willamette
Malt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black

*this information taken from the Goose Island website

Dinner at 10 Tables

2011-02-23T13:00:00.080-05:00

For a recent dinner at 10 Tables in Cambridge, we opted for the 3 course tasting menu.

10 Tables is a small (I mean it's called 10 Tables, after all) restaurant on Craigie Street in the Harvard Square neighborhood of Cambridge.We made reservations and when we arrived, we were surprised to find that it's so small, that there is no bar. No worries, though, as the hostess handed us a menu and we ordered glasses of cava that we were able to enjoy while our table was being re-set.

We had talked about trying the tasting menu, at $40 per person, it's a steal, but first we wanted to check out the menu. Unable to pick just one thing from their appealing menu, we decided to go with our first instinct and try the chef's tasting menu.

Before making our decision, we started with a bottle of wine and some olives - I can't resist.

First course: onion tartlet with romesco sauce and watermelon radishes.

Second course: local haddock with sauce vasquez with serrano chiles and a spinach puree.

Third course: pork loin with baby brussel sprouts, bacon, cauliflower puree and pomegranate arils.

There was nothing that wasn't fantastic. The onion tartlet was a nice, sweet start to the meal. I was amazed at the size of the mid-course - such a large portion of haddock - but, of course, it was delicious. The spinach puree on the dish was outstanding. If I had to pick I would say that the pork loin was my favorite. It was cooked around medium-rare and had amazing flavor. All of the dishes were timed perfectly, so we waited just long enough in between courses. Just when we didn't think we could eat anymore we were presented with desserts - chocolate terrine with sea salt and thai basil ice cream and a poached pear. We finished off the desserts with a glass or port and some coffee. All of the dishes were beautiful and put together with such care, it was a wonderful meal.

The inside of the restaurant is dark, as seen in my pictures, but perfect for a date or special occasion meal. I think it's a great date-night restaurant, but it would also work for a smallish group of friends. While we went all out and ordered a starter, a semi-expensive bottle of wine as well as dessert wine - the bill was reasonable. You can eat amazing food at 10 Tables without spending an extraordinary amount of money.

Everything at 10 Tables was fabulous, from the wine to the food to the ambiance..please check it out!

Long Weekends are for Projects: February

2011-02-22T10:58:00.001-05:00

A long weekend in the middle of February was just what we needed to get some long-awaited projects completed.

I have a lot of projects I want to complete in the kitchen - and getting the pantry organized was a top priority. After a visit to one of my favorite stores where were purchased some storage jars, we were able to organize the dry goods in a very efficient manner. And I got to play with a label maker.

We also canned some pickles, experimented with a cookie recipe, sampled beers and ate ramen. I think I spent more time in the kitchen this weekend than anywhere else - fine by me!

Organized Pantry

Pickle "Practice"

Beer Tasting

And then there was ramen. Momofuku ramen, to be exact.If you have the time for this I highly recommend it...not that I cooked it! I've had some fantastic ramen in the past, and every bite of this reminded me of being in Tokyo. It was fantastic. And, we have leftovers.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Anyone else complete any fun projects lately?

Two-Bite Peanut Butter Cookies

2011-02-19T14:07:00.000-05:00

Today I had two cravings: cookies and peanut butter. What I should make was pretty obvious.

Two-Bite Peanut Butter Cookies
recipe inspired by James Beard's American Cookery

Ingredients
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions
Cream butter and peanut butter. Add in sugar, then beat in egg. Slowly add flour and salt, mix on low speed until well-blended.

Roll the dough in parchment paper into logs about 1 inch in diameter. Freeze for 60 minutes. Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Once the dough has hardened, remove from freezer and carefully roll out of the parchment paper. Slice log into 1/4" rounds. Place on cookie sheet. With a fork, gently press down on the cookie in one direction, then the other, making a crisscross design. Bake in the oven for 9-10 minutes, until slightly brown on top.

Serve with milk.

Dinner at L'Ardoise - Paris, France

2011-02-18T08:00:00.077-05:00

Full of expats, English-speaking tourists and the like, this small, modern bistro is crowded and noisy. Like a lot of restaurants in Paris, L'Ardoise (in French) has an affordable pre-fixe menu, hence the crowd. For 35 Euro each, we were served a starter, and entree and a dessert. We were seated immediately and were offered menus in English, despite the fact that the menu was written on the wall in French (somehow they just know). There was a choice between ~8 different starters, ~10 entrees and 5 desserts.

We started dinner with a bottle of Cotes-du-Rhone. It was good. So good, in fact, that it was bottle 1 of 2. We were on vacation, after all!

For my first course I had the foie gras. I was surprised by an unbelievable generous portion, around the size of my palm. It was so rich that I thought I would have a hard time finishing it, but it's not often that you have that much foie gras on your plate - so I did my duty and enjoyed every last bite.

For dinner we ordered the scallops over cheese risotto and the squab with mashed potatoes and black truffle shavings. Both of the dishes were so go we practically licked our plates clean. Each dish was prepared with obvious care. My scallops were cooked perfectly, and the mashed potatoes with the squab were some of the best I have ever had.

For the third and final round we opted for the sweet (chocolate cake, unpictured) and the savory. My plate of cheeses was fresh and amazing, it was the perfect way to end a meal in Paris!

I loved my dinner here, despite the fact that it was obviously a tourist destination. The guy at the next table is from Minnesota instead of Marseilles, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the food was is fantastic, and such a deal.

Centrally located, L'Ardoise is a place that I would recommend to anyone traveling (or living!) in Paris.

Restaurant l' Ardoise
28 rue du Mont-Thabor 75001 PARIS
+ 33 1 42 96 28 18

Chunky Tomato Soup

2011-02-16T21:47:00.001-05:00

Weeknights call for easy dinners. Thankfully, Food and Wine arrived in the mailbox when we were fresh out of ideas for dinner. Right there, on the front page, was a picture of tomato soup - perfect. Nothing like the old school combination of grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner.

Chunky Tomato Soup
Recipe inspired by Food & Wine

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and finely chopped
4 thyme sprigs
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 cups water
Two 28-ounce cans peeled Italian tomatoes—drained and finely chopped, juices reserved (for this I find it's easier to hand squeeze the tomatoes rather than to chop - much less clean up).
Good quality olive oil, to garnish

Instructions

In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, fennel and thyme and cook the vegetables over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion and fennel are softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the water and the tomatoes and their juices and bring to a boil.

Simmer the soup over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced by one-third, about 30 minutes. Discard the thyme.

Remove pot from heat. Blend with immersion blender and puree until smooth. We served our soup with grilled cheese, because that's the way it should be.

Tip: make the grilled cheese in a cast iron pan. Ours got a tad burnt, but the grilled cheese comes out crispier than when cooked in a normal pan.

Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa

2011-02-14T08:00:00.011-05:00

There's really nothing better than a warm glass of hot cocoa on a cold day, and this rich chocolaty treat totally hits the spot.

Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Recipe by Martha
Makes 3 1/2 cups; Serves 2

Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
whipped cream (optional)

Instructions
Warm milk and cream in a medium saucepan over a medium-low heat. Add chocolate. Whisk until melted and combined. Add sugar, and whisk until dissolved. Continue to warm mixture until thick, about 5 minutes. Whisk in nutmeg.

Chocolate Martini

2011-02-11T09:00:00.004-05:00

Most people associate Valentine's Day with chocolate. Eating chocolate. I, on the other hand, prefer to drink my chocolate. A chocolate martini is one of the easiest to make, and with a little chocolate garnish on the side, you have the best of both worlds.

Chocolate Martini
Serves 2

Ingredients
2 ounces vodka
4 ounces chocolate liquor

Instructions
Add both vodka and chocolate liquor to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into chilled glasses.

Optional: garnish with a Hershey's Kiss

For a little something different, add a splash of creme de menthe for a more mint chocolate taste.

A Hearty Winter Lunch at Harvest

2011-01-19T10:40:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago we headed to Harvard Square for a nice, leisurely lunch. The choice was mine, and I chose Harvest. I had recently been to Harvest for a work function and was eager to go back for a meal. Harvest is tucked away down a small alley off Mt Auburn Street and is a Harvard Square institution.

We were seated in the Fireplace room, a warm, cozy room in the back of the restaurant. We had plenty of time to look at the menu and take it all in. We ordered a bottle of wine, and slowly decided what to order.

First Course
Our starters included French Onion Soup, Charcuterie, Caesar Salad and a bread basket (with fantastic, home made corn bread). I was craving a caesar salad for some reason. More specifically, I was craving my mother's caesar salad with home made dressing. The fresh, crispy romaine and thick, creamy anchovy dressing hit the spot. The balsamic on the plate was a nice touch, too. Everyone else loved their first courses as well. So far, so good!

Second Course
There were so many great options on the lunch menu that I really didn't know what I wanted. My salad craving had been met, and I wasn't sure what I wanted next. Most of the time I go out to eat, I order things that I can't, or won't, make at home. Today I ordered pulled pork. I love pulled pork, and it is something I can make at home but when I do, we end up with enough for 3 months worth of meals. Good choice, because this pulled pork was fantastic. Smoky, a bit spicy, and it came with a salad which helped me think this indulgent sandwich was on the healthy side. Well that, and whenever I get fries I eat all of them first, and don't leave enough room for my sandwich. Then I am chock full of grease and still not satisfied and still hungry! Salad was a good accompaniment.

Other entrees at the table were steak, cod sandwich and a burger. Everyone was thrilled with their entrees. We ordered more wine, and had a nice, long, casual lunch. Rushing through meals is not something I like to do. Sit down, talk, drink some wine, enjoy your food and your company and relax! Far too often people scarf down their meals or, even worse, eat while working. The shame! I am guilty of it recently, but those 5 days in Europe last month reminded me that meals are meant to be enjoyed...so enjoy them!

Dessert
I have a confession. Before going to France in December I had never had crème brulée. Ever. I am not a fan of custards, mouses, and the like. I've also never given them a fair chance, to be honest. Well I hadn't been in France too long (it was the first day) when I had my first creme brulee...and I am in love. So, it was only natural that I wanted this for dessert. Harvest has a pumpkin creme brulee on their menu. Pumpkin AND my new favorite dessert. This was a no-brainer. And it was fabulous. I would go back there just for this.

Overall, it was a fantastic meal. I was happy from start to finish. Good food, good wine and great company, that's all I need.

Dirty Martini with Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

2011-01-10T13:44:00.011-05:00

Blue Cheese stuffed olives make a great addition to a cocktail but the store-bought brands can be pricey and are not very fresh. One very easy option is to make your own!

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

Ingredients

1 jar of quality olives

3 ounces blue cheese

1 Tbsp cream cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

salt & pepper

Instructions

Empty olive brine from jar and set aside. Remove olives from the jar and set on your workspace. Meanwhile, mix blue cheese, cream cheese, garlic, salt and pepper into a bowl. Once combined, place in either a pastry bag or a plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe a small amount of the mixture into each olive. Once the olives are complete, put them back in the jar. Add the olives back to the jar and cover with the brine. Store the olives, in and air-tight jar, in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Classic Dirty Martini

Ingredients

3 ounces Vodka

Olive Juice (brine)

3 blue cheese stuffed olives

Add vodka and olive juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with olives.

On LOST and the Lottery

2011-01-05T09:43:00.012-05:00

source

If there's one thing was truly awful about 2010, it was the series final of LOST. A series based on people stranded on a deserted - or is it - island. A series that I was obsessed with the show. I started watching it late (when it was in Season 3) so I watched both Season 1 and Season 2 on Netflix in a matter of days. I loved the show and the characters and their personal struggles.

The show ended in May. I was gallivanting through Asia when the show aired so I did my best to avoid any message boards and news regarding the final. I was having the time of my life on vacation, but I couldn't wait to get home for the series finale. I was one of 'those' people with a theory on how it was going to end. I searched Lostpedia for summaries on characters, read the people.com sightings of stars in Hawaii (is Charlie there because he's going to make a guest appearance?). I counted down the days to the finale. I couldn't wait to see how it all played out.

When you come home from a vacation there's always a part of you that's sad. You're back to your normal life, back to work, back to mundane every day tasks. I had such a fantastic time on my trip to Asia that the vacation-high lasted for more than a week. That is, until we had a chance to watch the LOST series finale.

In 90 minutes, my vacation high was gone. I wanted 4 years of my life back. I was disappointed, even upset. Then I was embarrassed that I let the show get to me. I tried to forget how much I hated the finale and I hid those feelings, until today.

LOST haunts us once again. Last night the Mega Millions Jackpot was $380 million dollars. Four of the winning numbers matched the numbers that Hurley played when he won his jackpot.

from boston.com

Last night's (real) winning numbers were:

4, 8, 15, 25 and 47, with the "Mega ball" 42

The "Lost" numbers:

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, with the "Mega number" 42

What does it mean??

Ugh, so here I am, AGAIN, looking up reviews and blog posts and articles about LOST and what the series was and what it meant. Damn you JJ Abrams.

But what are the odds? Not only the odds of winning the lotterty in general, but that four of the winning numbers match lottery numbers used on one of the highest rated television shows ever.

I would bet the odds are pretty high, but I'm not a gambler. I work hard for my money, and would rather buy items and save my money than take my chances on a bet. But, like most people, I bought a lottery ticket last night. With $5 in my wallet, I took my chances. I didn't pick my numbers, I left it up to fate with a quick-pick. If I was a real LOST fan, I would have gambled Hurley's numbers, and today I would have an extra $150 in my pocket. But that $150 still wouldn't make up for a highly disappointing series finale that continues to haunt me. Maybe it was the universe's way to make amends with jaded fans like me??? I guess we'll never know...

"Three days ago we all died. We should all be able to start over." - Jack Shephard

Joyeux Noël

2010-12-25T13:34:00.002-05:00

Save as Draft

Christmas in Paris, even more amazing than I expected...

Merry Christmas!!!!

Affordable Holiday Entertaining with Whole Foods

2010-12-15T15:08:00.004-05:00

There's something about the Holidays that makes people crazy. I think it's because they try to be super-human. Cooking, cleaning, decorating, shopping, wrapping, addressing cards, baking, giving to charity, etc. It's all too much for one person to do - somethings gotta give.

That's where Whole Foods comes in.

The prepared foods section at Whole Foods is one of my favorite places . When I shop there during the week I usually pick up a salad for lunch, their mac n cheese fueled me for more than a few long runs this fall. This past week, Whole Foods invited some local Boston bloggers to come check out their prepared foods and sample some of the thing they offer.

Whole Foods can supply you with food for any sort of party, large or small. They have a huge variety of items from Spring Rolls to Satay to Deviled Eggs to Sushi, Lasagna and Turkey dinners. There's almost nothing they don't have! And, what makes it even better is that it's affordable. They have budget-friendly party packs starting at just $9.99 that offer things like cubed cheese trays, antipasti and guacamole.

Some of the items we sampled could be split into three categories; cheese, appetizers and dessert. The cheese table displayed the different ways goat cheese could be used. There were a variety of dips and, of course, the olive one was my favorite. The appetizer table had everything from chicken and beef satay to arancini - the star of the table, in my opinion. For dessert there were two bite mini cupcakes (two thumbs up), mini cheesecakes and any type of miniature decadent dessert that you could think of. Something about a 'mini' dessert makes it feel so personalized and indulgent - perfect for a party!

And then there was alcohol. What party is complete without it?! We sampled a Mionetto Il Prosecco (less than $6/bottle) and a new line of wine that Whole Foods will be carrying called Three Wishes ($2.99/bottle) , which has a fantastic Cabernet. Can't beat that price, especially around the holidays. My personal favorite of the night was a wine called Bodega Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros Vinos de Madrid. It's a light bodied, smooth wine that retails for $13.99/bottle and is something any wine lover would enjoy - and it has a pretty label.

So, if you need help this holiday season, go no farther than your neighborhood Whole Foods Market (mine is the one on River Street in Cambridge, who hosted this shindig!).

2010 Holiday Gift Ideas - Food and Drink

2010-12-06T11:04:00.026-05:00

Some of my favorite things...

Cocktail Recipe Book

Map Coasters - Can be personalized!

Wine Tags

Stemless Wine Glasses

Dishtowels

Sangria Pitcher

Olive serving dish

Pasta Machine

Coffee Maker

Coffee Cup

Dinner Napkins

Cocktail Stirrers

Flamingo Cookie Cutter

Cookbook

French Oven

Wall Art by how fab on Etsy

The best blueberry jam in the world. Or, anything else from the Stonewall Kitchen site, since it's all fantastic!

Chocolates by Vianne Chocolate

Jelly Beans

Sea Salt Caramels

Lollipops

Bacon of the Month Club
Wine of the Month Club

A cable-less life

2010-11-29T11:41:00.007-05:00

We recently decided to cancel cable. (What? No cable! Well how can you live?) It's easy, really. After a few days of panic, and then relief, and then embarrassment that I panicked (because really, there are way more important things in the world. I am lucky to have cable in the first place), I am happy with our decision. Part of this decision was due to expenses, as in, cable is so damn expensive! But the other part was because we rarely watch television. As in, rarely sit on the couch and flip through the channels until we find something to watch.

The Boss was right. Although instead of 57 channels, it's more like 999 channels and still, nothing is on. Nothing. Sure, I'm always Keeping up with the Kardashians as well as who is in - or out - of fashion each week, but those few shows don't justify the $130+/month cable bill. A bill that we paid for in addition to other things like Apple TV, Netflix and Hulu Plus.

I love television and movies, don't get me wrong, but there are so many channels on cable and I really only watch a few of them. With companies like Netflix, movies and television shows can be accessed and watched instantly - from anywhere. I can watch a movie on my computer at work, at home, on my iPhone or on our television. You can't do that with cable.

Also, by canceling cable, we cut our bill in half. We still pay for high-speed internet, and have access to all the major networks but we have no remote, no dvr, no rewind function. Yet, I feel like we're more connected than ever - we don't need cable. Both Netflix and Hulu can be streamed through the Apple TV, a recent purchase and a fraction of the size of a cable box. The Apple TV was a one-time cost and our Netflix and Hulu accounts are a fraction of the cost of cable. And, most shows can be watched online for free. We're saving money but still get to watch the shows we (I) want to watch (Glee, and anything with Cheerleaders).

The not-having-cable-thing is working out well so far. Yes, I miss the food network and other cable channels like that, but there's nothing on there that I can't get online. I would definitely recommend canceling cable to anyone out there who is thinking about it!

And, of course, on our first weekend without cable Comcast experiences a Boston-wide internet outage! HA.

Photo Editing with Picnik

2010-11-16T12:19:00.015-05:00

My new favorite hobby, when I am not catching up on sleep and episodes of Greek, is photo editing. I am trying to use creativity as an outlet for my stress over the next few weeks, and so far it seems to be working. It's nice to be able to take a break and do something creative, fun, and totally ridiculous - like giving myself a mustache (it is movember after all). Plus, taking the time to edit photos makes them that much better. I don't always edit my photos when I blog, but I do notice that they look so much better when I do.

On of my favorite platforms is Picnik. With Picnik, photos can be uploaded from your computer, Facebook account, Picassa, MySpace (really??? people still use Myspace?), and work can be done anywhere. I'm also loving aperture, which was recently gifted to me, but I am still in the process of learning all it has to offer. Plus, it's at home on my Mac, so I can only access it at home. For now, Picnik is my go-to photo editing site. I love all of the premium features - especially the ability to make a collage. You can do anything with the photos and even order printed copies and gifts. I am just so impressed with Picnik that I had to share...

For the most part, my pictures are all ridiculous - but it's fun. And that's what really matters.

Oxo Giveaway Winner

2010-11-12T10:14:00.003-05:00

Congrats to Elizabeth from On Tap for Today for winning the Oxo hangers!
email me at betsy@straightupwitholives.com to claim your prize!

Pink - it's my favorite yogurt

2010-11-10T10:34:00.002-05:00

Strawberry ice cream is my favorite...because it's pink. Or, at least that's what my little 6 year old brain decided back in the day.

So, its no wonder when I went to grab a yogurt from the stash that the nice people at Chobani sent me, that I grabbed the pink one. Raspberry, if you will.

Coffee, yogurt & granola. My favorite breakfast.

Thanks Chobani!!

Cleaning Out my Closet with Oxo & Giveaway

2010-11-08T09:56:00.013-05:00

Over the course of the last month I have become a disorganized mess. I have too much stuff - and no where to put it. I have been so busy that I am neglecting to keep anything organized or put away in the correct spot - and then I can't find things when I need them! I put away my summer clothes at the beginning of October. Then, because of the freakishly warm weather in Chicago I had to take them back out. Now, I have a closet full of summer and winter clothes...and a headache.

Some of my mess comes from the fact that I am a product junkie and the other because I have a hard time throwing things away. Yet I seem to always be cleaning out my closet because I have so much stuff - yet I complain that I have nothing to wear (woe is me!). At the end of each season I try to get ride of clothes that I haven't worn. It's always very hard to let things go - despite the fact that I live in the city and have a very small amount of space to work with.

Recently, via the power of Twitter, I saw that Oxo, one of my favorite companies (I swear their salad spinner changed my life!), announced that they were looking for bloggers to test out a new product. I jumped at the chance. The product was closet hangers, too, so talk about fate. Just what I needed to get me out of my closet-hating funk.

More closet inspiration came from a fashion challenge on one of my favorite blogs, Kendi Everyday. In this challenge, participants are urged to take a second look at their closet and use 30 different items (clothes and shoes) to make outfits over the course of 30 days - and no shopping is allowed. While I would love to participate in this challenge, my brain can only handle one challenge at a time. Still, I find this challenge inspiring and I decided to get rid of things I just do not wear and focus on the things I do have, and how to make them work. Now that I have less clothes to fuss over, I can spend more time in the morning at the gym and less time in front of my closet deciding what to wear!

The hangers given to me where shirt hanger, suit hanger, skirt hanger, and multi-tier pants hanger. Let's see how they fare.

Before

I actually cannot even believe I am sharing these photos, this closet was a disgusting mess! I had things everywhere. Clothes on the floor, jewelry tangled up in my jewelry box, mis-matched socks, nothing was put in its proper place. Ugh.

During

My bedspread is green, would you even know? And why do I have sports beans and GU in my bedroom? (note: not all of these clothes are mine, we both cleaned out our closets this weekend!)

After

Clean and organized, just how I like things. Note the gigantic pile of magazines I have to tackle next weekend!

These hangers were the perfect motivation to get this job done. It was lot of run trying out a new product - and also finding a solution to many of my closet woes.

In the photo above the hooks on the wall next to the mirror are attached with velcro - a great way to display jewelry and also prevent it from getting tangled! I also use plates and other small containers (above) to hold jewelry that I wear the most often, that way it's easy for me to find.

And for the closet - clean, concise and color-coordinated! Although it doesn't look like it, black is not my favorite color (and maybe this is a hint I need to add more color to my wardrobe - but no shopping for 30 days!). I cannot find anything unless it's in color order, either.

The oxo hangers worked wonders. I have (too) many pairs of pants, and while I thought the multi-tiered pants hanger was a bit bulky, I loved the convenience that the bars snap in and out, making it that much easier to get the pants out. The suit hangers are great, too but I used them to hang up my dresses - I only own one suit! They are wide enough to prevent dimples in the shoulders of a dress, which is fantastic!

My two favorites, however, were the shirt hanger and the skirt hanger. The shirt hanger (bottom left) has a non-slip grip so my green shirt - wrinkled from always falling off a regular hanger and getting buried at the bottom of my closet - now stays put. This is also a good hanger for tanks and other delicate items. And the skirt hanger (bottom right) has a good grip on my skirt, but doesn't dig into the fabric.

Now, while this closet/bedroom organization couldn't have been done without the help of my Oxo hangers, some wine helped, too.

Las Perdices Malbec - medium bodied with a taste of blackberry. Perfect for forgetting that the Patriots got spanked and that your closet just shrunk.

By the end of the day we had two bags of clothes to donate to charity - such a good feeling. But best part about this is that Oxo has offered to give away a set of these fantastic hangers to a reader! Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as I do!

To enter, please comment on this post and let me know what your favorite item in your closet is! I'll randomly pick a winner on Friday.

The Purple Pig

2010-10-29T09:42:00.015-04:00

The best thing about traveling to a new city is checking out its food scene. One of the places I wanted to try in Chicago was The Purple Pig. I had heard some good things about the Purple Pig, not only from a Chicago-area friend but people who had recently visited the city and stumbled upon the restaurant. I also knew that it was named one of the 10 best new restaurants in America by Bon Appetit. And I knew there would be plenty for me to enjoy.

One issue though: I wasn't with the most adventurous eaters.

Now I don't consider the Purple Pig that adventurous, but bone marrow, burrata cheese and whipped feta are different - and all new to my mother. However, knowing she would be eating her own words from 1987 if she did not at least try something first before she claimed she didn't like it, my mother was brave and tried a bit of everything. And, of course, she loved everything she tried!

I loved the laid-back atmosphere of the Purple Pig. We were there at off-peak hours (around 2 pm) and the restaurant wasn't too busy but still had the good vibe of a busy restaurant - which I love. The large windows and long, high-top communal tables were very modern and fun. The food was fantastic, gorgeous and arrived quickly.

My father and I split a carafe of Garnacha - the perfect amount of lunch-time wine. There was also water (marathon hydrating!) served in a recycled bottle on the table, and my mother and aunt had the flavored ice tea. For our meal we had the manchego cheese, burrata cheese, bone marrow, whipped feta, eggplant caponata with goat cheese and serrano ham - plenty for four people. There was so much more on the menu I wanted to try but we were heading to dinner in a few short hours so this meal was more of a snack than lunch. I would have liked to have gone back for dinner but they do not take reservations and I didn't want to chance not being able to get a table (it was kind of a busy weekend in Chicago).

The tapas-style of eating is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a meal. You get to try a lot of different things and you walk away satisfied (but I usually want more, which was true in this case!). The portions are perfectly sized (I actually thought the bone marrow portion was huge!), and we were all very happy with our choices. If you live in Chicago or are just there visiting, make sure you check out the Purple Pig, my only problem with this place is that it's not in Boston...because if it were I would eat there every day!

No Boston Bib? No Problem!!

2010-10-20T18:27:00.011-04:00

With the internet running a muck (a muck, a muck a muck!) with the story that the Boston Marathon sold out in less than 8 hours, let me be the first to tell you about a fun alternative to running 26.2 miles on Patriots Day.

Drinking.

And not just drinking, but watching baseball, enjoying the fact that you live in Massachusetts and you have the day off, and attempting at drinking 26.2 drinks in one day* - as there is no better homage to the runners on the day of Boston's famed event.

This is how it's done:

1. find a friend that likes to have a good time

This is Dan, he was a good guy and tested out the marathon course first thing in the morning.

2. set ground rules for the day

Just like the race, pacing yourself is the best plan of attack. Start out too strong and you will fall in the back of the back - and not even make it to sun down. If someone offers you tequila, say NO. However, if you have rules (our was, you couldn't drink the same thing twice on one day) then you won't fall victim to sabotage.

3. acquire Sox tickets

While this is easier said than done, this is one of the best games of the year - it starts at 11:05 am so that the time the game is over, the majority of the runners are heading into the Kenmore Square area.

4. don't pay too much for Sox tickets

Then you won't have any money for beer...

5. enjoy the game

even if you team isn't that great this year.

6. carbo-load

beer, burrito, GU, hot dog - whatever it takes.

7. run it out

don't make your friends wait for you - hustle to your next location.

8. check your heart rate

running is hard.

9. do a little cheering

everyone wants to be cheered when they're running a marathon

10. enjoy some champagne

You're celebrating , after all

11. cheer a little more

it's the least you can do!

12. behave yourself

The marathon is a family-friendly event. if you're not careful, security will get you.

13. don't double-fist

it's going to be a long night!

14. get to the finish

walk or crawl, just finish the damn race in the best way that you can!

So, there you have it..a great alternative to running a marathon!!!

*please please don't take everything I say seriously, this is totally not recommended

(originally posted October 20, 2010)

The Chicago Marathon

2010-10-13T09:36:00.028-04:00

On October 10, 2010 I did something I only imagined I could ever do:
I ran a marathon.

I woke up around 6 am (not that I really slept all that much) to get ready. My morning fuel consisted of a bagel with chocolate almond butter , some of a Clif bar, Gatorade and water.

Ready to Go!

I joined a Nike Pace Team at the Expo. I decided to go big - and wanted to start with the 4:30 group. This was very fast for me, and while I started out strong, I just couldn't keep that pace up for all 26 miles.

The Nike people gave out pacing tattoos, which were very cool. Looking back, it was too much for me to think about during my first marathon but it's a great idea!

Tattoo!

I left the hotel along with thousands of other people. I ended up walking to the starting line with a guy from my hotel - he was trying to BQ (and did, as I found out the next day!). It was about a 20 min walk to the starting line, and I had butterflies the entire time.

I had two GUs, a hand-held water bottle, and chapstick with me for the race. I took the GUs at miles 6 and 14 and had 1/2 of a Accel Gel at Mile 19.

On my way to the start!

I spent the next 45 minutes looking around for people I knew, waiting in the bathroom line, eating (and sharing) a banana and drinking more water. I thought about going back to the 5:00 pace group, since I knew it was going to be hot, but stayed where I was.

Seemed like a good idea at the time!

And we're off.

It took about 17 minutes for me to cross the starting line. I had an idea of where my family was going to be waiting, and I couldn't wait to see them. They ended up taking some great pictures of the start.

Pace Car.

Elites.

I feel like everyone who ran saw this guy. Insane.

I started out fast and strong! It was around 70* or so at the start and it was perfectly comfortable running conditions. I made a friend at the starting line and we spent the first 3 or so miles together.

I didn't find my parents at Mile 4, because the crowd (both in the street and on the sidewalk) was so thick. I don't think the pack I ran with ever thinned out.

The crowds throughout this entire race were amazing. I saw some of the funniest signs, such as:

run like you stole something
run like Chuck Norris is behind you
smile if you're horny
toenails are overrated
free beer at the finish

As cheesy as I thought it was to have my name on my shirt, it really was motivating to have people yelling my name. At one point I was trying to take a picture and a woman said "Betsy, put down your phone and run!"

Mile 8 was through Boystown and was by far my favorite few minutes of the marathon. The energy, the crowds, the music, the sequins, the sights - it was perfect! I wish Mile 8 was actually Mile 22, I think it would have done wonders for my mood.

Mile 8

At mile 11 I saw my family for the first time. My mom was crying! Somehow I managed to keep myself together. We took a few quick photos and I was off.

Family photo at Mile 11

By the time I hit Mile 13 I was slower, but still had a pretty decent time. It was here that I really started to notice the heat. Not only that, but I noticed how quickly the medical tents were filling up.

Halfway There!!!

The next time I saw my parents was at Mile 17. I remember running over to them, yelling that I felt like shit, and throwing them my water bottle.

The crowds were so thick around here that people were practically in the way! It was amazing that people were still so enthusiastic.

Mile 17.

Temperature around mile 20 - 87*

At Mile 20 I was hot. So hot. People around me were realllllly slow - and so was I. I was trying to take a picture of the temperature at the bank when my parents spotted me.

I gave them two thumbs up and a smile. I had to keep smiling - it was either that or crying.

There were a few moments in the race where I started to tear up - crossing the starting line, seeing my mom and dad for the first time on the course, when I got a text from Missy at Mile 14, running through Charity Village, and when I saw the sign for Mile 26. It was really an emotional journey for me.

Right before the Mile 20 marker

After Mile 20 I hit a wall. I was tired, and all I wanted to do was sit down. At this point I thought that running a marathon was a really bad idea. We ran headed towards Chinatown, and hit Mile 21. I had a new personal distance record...but didn't even care. I started to feel defeated and wanted to stop - but I knew I couldn't. Stopping at this point would have meant that the last 17 weeks of my life were a waste. Then my phone rang.

I had been receiving texts from friends for some parts of the race (which is so amazing, thank you!!!) but I didn't expect anyone to call me! I was so happy to look down and see Jesse's name pop up. It was exactly the push I needed! We chatted for a minute, and he wished me luck and told me I was almost there.

Almost there. Those words were true at this point - I only had about 5 miles to go. But the people yelling almost there around Mile 17? Well they deserve to be slapped!

I started taking 2-3 cups of water at every aid station. I would drink 2 and dump the third over my head. It was hot and at this point the alert level was raised to High (if it had gone to Extreme the race would have been canceled). I noticed that throughout the route, the citizens of Chicago were giving out snacks, water, ice, and had their sprinklers pointing out on the street. The Fire Department had hoses pointed on to the route. Everyone was doing their best to make sure the runners stayed hydrated and cool.

I probably should not have taken this photo of myself because looking at it now makes me cringe, but it's exactly how I felt at the time.

Ugh. So awful.

No running.

The "other" Sox play here.

From 21 to 24 was pretty much a blur. There was more walking than running at this point and I saw people passed out on the side of the road, stopping to vomit and dropping out of the race.

I had to keep reminding myself of the one goal I had when I started this journey: to finish.

Mile 23 or 24

Every mile from here on out seemed to take twice as long as the first. I made friends with a fellow runner and we alternated walking with running for the next two miles. We pushed each other to keep on going. It was amazing the support that runners were giving each other at this point. More and more people were dropping out - the medical staff was on the course to make sure people were OK. My mom saw someones pulse being taken while they were running and am ambulance driving through Mile 25.

1 mile to go!

Thrilled to be 1 mile away.

When I saw the 1 mile to go sign I was thrilled. I also saw my family, and my aunt handed me a much needed bottle of water. Seeing them was the final push I needed to head to the finish. I really started to pick up my pace and tried to take it all in.

As I headed up S. Michigan to Mile 26 the crowds were going nuts!

I rounded the corner and saw it - the sign for Mile 26. I was overcome with emotion. The final stretch of the race was uphill (so unfair) and I ran as fast as I could, I yelled into the crowd, I screamed my heart out.

Speechless.

And then it was over.

I finished a marathon.

I gathered my things and an ice cold beer and hobbled out of the (gigantic) finishers area.

Chicago delivers on their promise.

My parents found me in this position - and then had to help me up.

So happy to be done!

Final time: 5:45 and could not be more proud! Running this race was the hardest thing I have ever done. It was an amazing experience - one that I will never forget.

Everyone I've talked to says there is no feeling like crossing the finish line of your first marathon, and they're right!

Chinese Food in Sinapore

2010-09-27T11:11:00.003-04:00

One of the best things about where Evan lives in Singapore (Chinatown) is the food. One day for lunch we went to the 2nd floor of his apartment building - there was a hawker center there with stalls and stalls of food for sale. I was completely overwhelmed, so Evan picked out a items from different stalls, so we would be able to try a little of everything.

It was the best Chinese food I have ever had (ironically, when I was in China, I had a BLT for lunch).

We purchased a few cans of 100 Plus to go with our meal. I loved this stuff when I was in Singapore. It was the perfect liquid to re-hydrate in such a hot and humid climate.

source

Since it was a 90* day, we got takeaway so that we could go back upstairs to the air con (as they call it!).

pan fried pork dumplings

hainanese mixed rice with eggplant, green beans, and chicken

steamed pork shumai

garlic and salt pork ribs

My Plate

It was all so fresh, delicious and cheap! The hawker stalls really are the best way to eat in Singapore - no matter what cuisine you're interested in.

Chili Crab in Singapore

2010-09-15T10:43:00.005-04:00

After watching the Top Chef season finale, I have been reminiscing about my trip to Singapore. There was one thing we needed to try while we were in town: Chili Crab.

Chili Crab is a dish that originated in Singapore. The crabs are steamed, and then stir-fried in a thick, sweet chili sauce. They are served with little rolls, that are great for mopping up the excess sauce.

We headed to the waterfront (well it's an island so the whole place is a waterfront!) to the East Coast Seafood Center and Jumbo Seafood. It was a Thursday night and this place was packed! Luckily Evan was smart enough to make a reservation, and we were seated immediately. We were a little overwhelmed by the menu, so Evan did the ordering.

The meal started with a pitcher of the local brew, Tiger Beer.

We then had cereal prawns (so sweet and crunchy!) and satay (who doesn't love meat on a stick), as well as some rice.

The came the chili crab. We ordered the traditional chili crab as well as the black pepper crab. It was good, but way too messy for me. I enjoyed the flavor of the black pepper crab much better than the chili crab. I thought the crab with each had good flavor, but it was way too much of a hassle to eat. It was sticky and slippery and kind of a pain in the ass to get the crab out. It was an experience though, and I'm glad I tried it.

We also had some steamed Sea Bass, which I loved. Much easier to eat then than damn chili crab, and so delicious - even if it was staring at me the whole time.

As much as I didn't love the chili crab in Singapore, it was still a great meal and a lot of fun to sit outside and enjoy a local dish - despite the scent of oil in the air.

After a few more pitchers of Tiger we were off to a Thai nightclub, now that was an experience...