Peru is INCREDIBLE! My ten day visit went by in the blink of an eye. When I look back through my photos and my journal and I can't believe we managed to do everything that we did. I also can't believe that I ate everything that I did. In case you didn't know, Peru is the gastronomic center of South America. I'm sure Colombia or Argentina may dispute that but they would lose. Badly.
Read MoreWell helloooooo there! I'm still here, it feels more like I've been everywhere else, but yeah, I'm here. Today I share with you this gem in Westport, Connecticut. It all starts with fifteen year old me falling in love with Anthropologie. The unique, eclectic design and delicate, but cozy materials were everything I ever wanted in my sundresses and cardigans. Then I discovered BHLDN. Not that I need it any time soon but, WOW, I'd get married over and over just to wear these gorgeous frocks. When I thought it couldn't get any better I found the topic of today's post: Terrain.
Read MoreWith Thanksgiving over and all things Christmas taking over our every waking second, I wanted to get in one more non-holiday related post. The week before Thanksgiving I actually had a little holiday of my own in San Diego. I was there for work but I made sure to capitalize on my free time, which turned out to be mostly breakfast. San Diego is a huge, unconnected city so I tested out the tried and true places in the Gaslamp District and Hillcrest neighborhood. I will most definitely be back to see and taste more of this fun city but in the meantime, here are the places worth sampling.
Read MoreI don't know about you but the last thing I need right now is one more post on stuffing. I'd like to look ahead at what I'm going to eat after the three day supply of leftovers is gone. More specifically, how the heck I'm going to detox my diet. If you too find yourself in need of a delicious, health conscious meal may I suggest Rosemary and Vine in Rye, NY.
Read MoreAfter a three and half hour drive north I finally see the faded, familiar flag that marks my aunt and uncle's house set amidst the golden leaves. The dogs come bounding down the stairs as I fight my way up with a bottle of wine and an overnight bag. I greet my family and take a look around the Adirondack style house. Same as ever, it brings a smile to my face to be somewhere so peaceful, so beautiful and surrounded by family and the great outdoors. It was a quick one night stay but being in the middle of the wild Adirondacks works wonders to calm my overactive mind and my growling stomach.
The towns in the Gore Mountain area all seem to blend into one another. The large swathes of land and the winding Hudson River make it difficult to draw boundaries but that's never stopped me from finding good food. Basil and Wicks in North Creek has been around for ages pleasing both locals and visitors. Conveniently set on the way towards the mountain is the lodge style building that has burgers, salads, steaks and the best crispy duck wings in a sweet chili sauce. There's also O.P Fredrick's with a surprisingly seafood heavy menu but I swear by all things duck here. The duck burrito and half roasted duck are house favorites for a reason.
This weekend though I had been craving the Korean barbecue wings from barvino on the "main drag" in North Creek. The menu stresses local and fresh ingredients meaning the menu changes daily. There are a few more permanent items such as the mussels, the frites, and the wings. I am not ashamed to say that between my sister, cousins and I we have demolished four to five plates of wings a sitting. Supremely crunchy (they're fried) and drenched in sauce with a gentle toss of sesame seeds and scallions these wings are the stuff dreams are made of. During this past visit I got a plateful as well as the salad with preserved lemon and lavender honey goat cheese. The salad was a welcome bite of bright, floral flavors to counter the wings. Sadly, the gnocchi with brandy, cream, bacon and almonds (I know, right?!) was not on the menu, which means I'll just have to come back, oh drat.
Any trip up north wouldn't be complete without a trip to Oscar's Smokehouse . The deli counters are full of plain and marinaded meats, various sausages, and deli style salads and cheeses. It's hard to exercise self control but when it comes down to it there are three must have items: bacon, maple breakfast sausages, and smoked chicken salad. The bacon is thin cut and simply awesome. The maple breakfast sausages are unlike any other I've had; the flavor legit explodes in your mouth. And the smoked chicken salad never gets old and I now have people placing orders with me for the next time I go up. Oscar's does ship certain items but the chicken salad isn't one of them...which means I'll just have to come back, oh drat. Noticing a theme are we?
Oscar Wilde said, "I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best." and the best is exactly what this area of upstate New York is. Whether it's scenery, food, or recreation, it is sure to be a wee bit wild. Until the next dish, ciao!
Hello and happy Friday! I've been keeping busy on my day off, mostly running painfully boring errands. Whenever my tasks are boring I seem to find myself looking for excuses to eat, hence avoiding said tasks. My excuse today came in the form of Port Chester's Kneaded Bread. Whatever, the post office will be there tomorrow.
Read MoreHello again! After another long hiatus, this time due to bronchitis, a virus and guests packed in between, I am here with another post. Two of my friends from college came to visit last weekend while I had, what I know was, bronchitis. Despite my evolving illness and the frigid winds of Joaquin I finally got to Eataly's La Birreria. I was hoping for a better forecast to visit the rooftop locale but let me tell you, those temps but the brrrr in birreria. I've experienced the marketplace before but it's such a delightful sensory experience that I love any excuse to walk through. My eyes widen at the aisles (plural) of pasta, clattering utensils and the sizzle of oil in a pan excite my eardrums, and the olfactory glands are reeled in by the faint yet pleasing aroma of freshly baked bread. Besides the weather, what's not to love?
Read MoreComing home from this vacation was tough. I hadn't posted in two weeks, I realized I didn't get to post as much as I wanted this summer, and there was barely anything to eat in the fridge upon my return. I probably should have just stayed on vacation. I found some new eats in the Westerly area that definitely would have made my stay worth it.
Read MoreTell me if this situation sounds all too familiar: You're at brunch. The server has been by at least twice to take your order and since everything looks so good you can't decide. Sweet or savory? Sweet or savory?
Read MoreSitting at our table among what had to be all of Ulster County’s retirees, my cousins and I sipped our wine, finished forkfuls of near perfect homemade lasagna and asked each other, why don’t we do this more often? It wasn't a family function so to speak (none of the silver haired folks were ours to claim) but it was functional for our family. We're Italian. Food, drink, accordion music, and dropping final vowels in words like "prosciutto" are in our nature and we should do so whenever possible. While geography has proved a bit tricky, we found our way together this weekend at Magnanini’s Winery and Restaurant in Wallkill, New York.
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