one question...when did that happen? i think i have been non-stop since my last post between family visits, work, cookie baking, and other interesting things along the way, i have not had a chance to sit down a write. oh well. i am not going to feel guilty about that, and patrick has been pressing me to write. it is just how it's been...i have priorities and the blog has gone to the wayside.
ok so anyway here is the rundown of what has been going on this month.
1. patrick and i saw over the rhine in concert! unfortunately we stood next to their so-called number one fan and he insisted on singing every effing song...out of tune. for those of you who do not know me, i play the violin, and along with this comes an ear that is so fine tuned that i can hear the slightest sharp or flat note. it is a curse. and it was especially so that night. at one point i stuck my finger in my right ear just so i would hear him less. other than that, otr was amazing as usual.
2. family came to town- we came, we saw, we conquered the christmas time lights of nyc. we also got to see daniel radcliffe in how to succeed in business without really trying. he was pretty good. i would recommend seeing him before he leaves at the end of the year.
3. my brother turned 30! go josh!!!!
4. my friend lindsay and her family came to town...we saw more lights and fun windows. we also were slightly attacked by a flock of pigeons. lindsay and i screamed and all of central park south stared at us in horror (not true but we were scared). btw my two least favorite and most hated birds on earth are seagulls and pigeons.
5. i baked, i sewed, i knitted...a lot! i made hats, ornaments, and lots of cookies (which have been consumed by patrick's and my offices in the past 2 days).
6. tomorrow i am saying goodbye to the place i have worked as a therapist for the past year. i have mixed emotions about it, but i am mostly satisfied that this is the right decision for me and the time.
so now that december is almost over, all i have left to do is head to puerto rico to spend christmas with patrick's family. i am looking forward to it, and hopefully it will be a time to finally slow down and enjoy the rest of 2011. and if i get the chance, i hope to write a post or 2 while in PR!
merry christmas and happy hanukkah to all my friends and family!
love and blessings as i sign off.
mission: accomplished.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
mission: thanksgiving and beyond
so we are almost a week out since thanksgiving, and i hope you all had an enjoyable one. i sure did! this year we traveled all the way down the turnpike to jersey/pennsylvania to spend the holiday with my family. first stop! tori and dylan's new home! we had the pleasure of staying with my sister this year because my mom had a full house...there was literally no room in the inn. we had our pre thanksgiving dinner at shileen's pub in westville where we enjoyed some good ole bar fare and a pumpkin pie shot! pretty good way to kick off the festivities if you ask me!
thursday morning patrick and i got up bright and early to get ready to go to my mom's house in PA. for those of you who do not know my lil mommy, this is her favorite holiday, and she and my step dad, kirk, pull out all of the stops.
this year my mom decided to have not one, but two turkeys. the best part is that she paid under $12 for both of them...total! the trimmings included: her most delicious stuffing, brussel sprouts with bacon, green bean casserole, candied yams, sweet potato casserole (made by yours truly), mashed potatoes, mimom's homemade cranberry relish, and roasted carrots with rosemary. for dessert we had pumpkin pie, apple pie, pumpkin delight cake, cheesecake, roasted pecans, candy...did i forget anything? oh yeah we topped it all with some homemade cinnamon vanilla whipped cream. yum!
before the meal we had cheese, hummus, salami, pepperoni, crackers, fruit...really the list goes on!!! so not only did my mom prepare the food, but she had a beautiful table all set for us.
here are some pics from the day!
me and my mimom
thanksgiving table. candelabra from anthropologie!
kirk grilled one of the turkeys because the other one was in the oven roasting. it turned out great!
turkeys side by side
patrick and i are ready to dig in! yummy!
my mom's dog jack waiting for thanksgiving to begin and hoping for some scraps!
after stuffing myself full of tasty food all day, it was time to head home. a food coma induced slumber began as soon as i returned home to my sister's. the next day we spent the morning lazying around, picked up a new piece to our Christmas village from khols and then travelled to my dad's in millville, nj to get cheeseburgers from jim's lunch and hit up the annual christmas parade. it was fun hanging out with my dad and step-mom, cindy, as well as my brother, sis-in-law, and their son! after the parade we headed back to my dad's house for some hot chocolate and lots of xbox kinect! oh man did we dance our food off!
no pics from the parade...i forgot my camera at my mom's house.
saturday, 15 of us ventured out to hershey park to celebrate mimom's 75th birthday. the family first checked out chocolate world, rode the chocolate tour ride, got our free chocolate, and then stocked up on all the goodies you can't find in your average grocery store! then, everyone went to the hershey grille at the hershey lodge for a wonderful dinner. after stuffing my face yet again (good thing i am training for the tinkerbell half marathon or i would never make it without gaining weight), we went to hershey park to ride the rides and enjoy the 2 million lights they have set up!
mom and zeph at chocolate world
me and mimom on the chocolate tour ride!
josh and zeph...someone is excited to see the lights in hershey park
patrick and i ending the night on the monorail
after all the traveling back and forth from house to house to hotel and back home, i am still recovering! i did have a great time hanging out with my family, and i am looking forward to continuing celebrating the holidays with more friends and family.
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished
thursday morning patrick and i got up bright and early to get ready to go to my mom's house in PA. for those of you who do not know my lil mommy, this is her favorite holiday, and she and my step dad, kirk, pull out all of the stops.
this year my mom decided to have not one, but two turkeys. the best part is that she paid under $12 for both of them...total! the trimmings included: her most delicious stuffing, brussel sprouts with bacon, green bean casserole, candied yams, sweet potato casserole (made by yours truly), mashed potatoes, mimom's homemade cranberry relish, and roasted carrots with rosemary. for dessert we had pumpkin pie, apple pie, pumpkin delight cake, cheesecake, roasted pecans, candy...did i forget anything? oh yeah we topped it all with some homemade cinnamon vanilla whipped cream. yum!
before the meal we had cheese, hummus, salami, pepperoni, crackers, fruit...really the list goes on!!! so not only did my mom prepare the food, but she had a beautiful table all set for us.
here are some pics from the day!
me and my mimom
thanksgiving table. candelabra from anthropologie!
kirk grilled one of the turkeys because the other one was in the oven roasting. it turned out great!
turkeys side by side
patrick and i are ready to dig in! yummy!
my mom's dog jack waiting for thanksgiving to begin and hoping for some scraps!
after stuffing myself full of tasty food all day, it was time to head home. a food coma induced slumber began as soon as i returned home to my sister's. the next day we spent the morning lazying around, picked up a new piece to our Christmas village from khols and then travelled to my dad's in millville, nj to get cheeseburgers from jim's lunch and hit up the annual christmas parade. it was fun hanging out with my dad and step-mom, cindy, as well as my brother, sis-in-law, and their son! after the parade we headed back to my dad's house for some hot chocolate and lots of xbox kinect! oh man did we dance our food off!
no pics from the parade...i forgot my camera at my mom's house.
saturday, 15 of us ventured out to hershey park to celebrate mimom's 75th birthday. the family first checked out chocolate world, rode the chocolate tour ride, got our free chocolate, and then stocked up on all the goodies you can't find in your average grocery store! then, everyone went to the hershey grille at the hershey lodge for a wonderful dinner. after stuffing my face yet again (good thing i am training for the tinkerbell half marathon or i would never make it without gaining weight), we went to hershey park to ride the rides and enjoy the 2 million lights they have set up!
mom and zeph at chocolate world
me and mimom on the chocolate tour ride!
josh and zeph...someone is excited to see the lights in hershey park
patrick and i ending the night on the monorail
after all the traveling back and forth from house to house to hotel and back home, i am still recovering! i did have a great time hanging out with my family, and i am looking forward to continuing celebrating the holidays with more friends and family.
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
mission: holidays in the city
every year, NYC becomes simply flooded with tourists to see our tree, our parade, our lights, our windows, our shows, and to shop of course! i also partake in all the amazing festivities, as it is my favorite time of the year. here are some suggestions for you as you visit our amazing city.
1. the tree-in the past i have recommended going to see the tree at rockefeller center, and this year is no different. i love the tree, and the season would not be complete if i didn't stand beneath its majestic bows covered in thousands of lights and topped with a most dazzling swarovsky crystal star. after viewing the tree, head north on 5th ave and check out all the store windows and lights that adorn the famous street.
2. holiday shops- there are three areas where you can shop for unique gifts, finding something special for everyone on your list. you will also find yummy treats to eat, so make sure you include that into your trip. the holiday shops are located at columbus circle (59th and central park west), bryant park (42nd between 6th and 5th aves) and union square (14th and 5th ave).
3. see a show- so you could go traditional and see the rockettes at radio city, watch the nutcracker ballet at lincoln center, or feel holidayish by going to the broadway musical elf. fine. but! if you want a show that will really send you into a joyful spirit, then you must go see godspell. this musical revival is not to be missed, and you will not regret making that choice over the other Christmas shows available in the city. godspell is full of amazing actors, strong singing, and a fantanstic set (it looks simple, but it has more to it than meets the eye). the jokes are modern with an ancient message behind it. please please please go see this show. if you aren't convinced yet, the music to the show was written by the same guy who did the music for wicked, stephen schwartz. i loved it and you may even be asked to join the cast on stage...why miss your chance to be in a broadway musical!
4. give- there are so many opportunities to help out those who are living without. the foodbank of NYC has a program where just $1 can provide 5 meals! wow...that is amazing if you ask me. we have over 20,000 individual and families who are currently homeless. you may pass them on the street, subway, or you may not see them at all. but they are out there, and they could use your and my help! just think, $10 will feed 50 people! i think there is no better way to spend your money than filling the stomachs of those who are hungry. and if you are not coming to NYC this year, you can still make an online donation. just go to http://www.foodbanknyc.org/ for information. if you do not want to donate to our city, why not give back to your own community?
for other suggestions check out my post http://bethinthebigapple.blogspot.com/2009/12/mission-nyc-during-holidays.html for more great ideas.
happy holidays and we hope to see you here!
this is beth signing off.
mission: it's just getting started!
1. the tree-in the past i have recommended going to see the tree at rockefeller center, and this year is no different. i love the tree, and the season would not be complete if i didn't stand beneath its majestic bows covered in thousands of lights and topped with a most dazzling swarovsky crystal star. after viewing the tree, head north on 5th ave and check out all the store windows and lights that adorn the famous street.
2. holiday shops- there are three areas where you can shop for unique gifts, finding something special for everyone on your list. you will also find yummy treats to eat, so make sure you include that into your trip. the holiday shops are located at columbus circle (59th and central park west), bryant park (42nd between 6th and 5th aves) and union square (14th and 5th ave).
3. see a show- so you could go traditional and see the rockettes at radio city, watch the nutcracker ballet at lincoln center, or feel holidayish by going to the broadway musical elf. fine. but! if you want a show that will really send you into a joyful spirit, then you must go see godspell. this musical revival is not to be missed, and you will not regret making that choice over the other Christmas shows available in the city. godspell is full of amazing actors, strong singing, and a fantanstic set (it looks simple, but it has more to it than meets the eye). the jokes are modern with an ancient message behind it. please please please go see this show. if you aren't convinced yet, the music to the show was written by the same guy who did the music for wicked, stephen schwartz. i loved it and you may even be asked to join the cast on stage...why miss your chance to be in a broadway musical!
4. give- there are so many opportunities to help out those who are living without. the foodbank of NYC has a program where just $1 can provide 5 meals! wow...that is amazing if you ask me. we have over 20,000 individual and families who are currently homeless. you may pass them on the street, subway, or you may not see them at all. but they are out there, and they could use your and my help! just think, $10 will feed 50 people! i think there is no better way to spend your money than filling the stomachs of those who are hungry. and if you are not coming to NYC this year, you can still make an online donation. just go to http://www.foodbanknyc.org/ for information. if you do not want to donate to our city, why not give back to your own community?
for other suggestions check out my post http://bethinthebigapple.blogspot.com/2009/12/mission-nyc-during-holidays.html for more great ideas.
happy holidays and we hope to see you here!
this is beth signing off.
mission: it's just getting started!
Monday, November 21, 2011
mission: an attitude of gratitude
thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and not just because it is full of amazing food, although that is a HUGE perk. in the midst of the hustle and bustle, i like to take time to reflect on the year and allow true thanksgiving to fill my heart and soul. so here are the things i am thankful for this year.
1. family- i think of those in my life who are my true support and give me love year round. i can be a pain in the butt, a disappointment, or say something inappropriate and my family will stick by me through thick and thin. they also know how to bring out the best in me, and they support my crazy dreams, hoping that i find success and purpose in all that i do. my family is every growing too as i will be an aunt to two more little ones in 2012! that always makes me feel so joyful! also, i have family all over the country, and no matter where we are or where they are, i have several places to call home.
2. my husband- so technically he is my family, but i have to give a special thanksgiving shout out to him. he is my biggest fan, biggest support, and my biggest love. i know that he loves me unconditionally because he has to put up with my antics the most...and boy does he know how to handle me. he is the sweetest, most patient person in my life, and i am so thankful that he is mine. i am looking forward to our upcoming adventures we are planning for 2012, and i am glad he will be by my side through it all.
3. my friends- i have some pretty amazing friends, and they, too, are located around the country. i am blessed to see the ones who are close by and get to share in my experiences in NYC. i also get to catch up and receive support from those i can call up or skype with (i should mention that i am thankful for skype).
4. life in general- i am thankful for this life that God has given me. He has blessed us with so much (a roof over my head, food on my table, and jobs to provide us a living), and to Him i truly give all my thanks to. most of the time i am unaware of what God is doing in my life, but i know that he is always there loving me for who i am and guiding me as i try to figure out what i am doing along the way. this life is too beautiful to waste, this life God has given me, and waste it i shall not!
ok so i am thankful so much more, but that could lead to a very long and boring post. so, don't forget to count your blessings, and i challenge you to take time to reflect on what you are thankful for.
this is beth signing off.
mission: continually remembering to be thankful
1. family- i think of those in my life who are my true support and give me love year round. i can be a pain in the butt, a disappointment, or say something inappropriate and my family will stick by me through thick and thin. they also know how to bring out the best in me, and they support my crazy dreams, hoping that i find success and purpose in all that i do. my family is every growing too as i will be an aunt to two more little ones in 2012! that always makes me feel so joyful! also, i have family all over the country, and no matter where we are or where they are, i have several places to call home.
2. my husband- so technically he is my family, but i have to give a special thanksgiving shout out to him. he is my biggest fan, biggest support, and my biggest love. i know that he loves me unconditionally because he has to put up with my antics the most...and boy does he know how to handle me. he is the sweetest, most patient person in my life, and i am so thankful that he is mine. i am looking forward to our upcoming adventures we are planning for 2012, and i am glad he will be by my side through it all.
3. my friends- i have some pretty amazing friends, and they, too, are located around the country. i am blessed to see the ones who are close by and get to share in my experiences in NYC. i also get to catch up and receive support from those i can call up or skype with (i should mention that i am thankful for skype).
4. life in general- i am thankful for this life that God has given me. He has blessed us with so much (a roof over my head, food on my table, and jobs to provide us a living), and to Him i truly give all my thanks to. most of the time i am unaware of what God is doing in my life, but i know that he is always there loving me for who i am and guiding me as i try to figure out what i am doing along the way. this life is too beautiful to waste, this life God has given me, and waste it i shall not!
ok so i am thankful so much more, but that could lead to a very long and boring post. so, don't forget to count your blessings, and i challenge you to take time to reflect on what you are thankful for.
this is beth signing off.
mission: continually remembering to be thankful
Friday, November 18, 2011
mission: s'mores bomb recipe
with the holidays just around the corner, here is a recipe from the buick discovery tour for you to try out! i will definitely be give it a go...and i will let you know how it goes when i do make them!
ben roche's s'mores bomb
the recipe is made up in 3 parts.
graham cracker puree
3 cups whole milk
2 packages graham crackers, crushed
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
put all ingredients in a high speed blender, blend until mixture is warm (about 2 minutes) let puree chill in refrigerator. when puree is cold, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. once frozen, remove "ice cubes" from tray and keep in freezer until you're ready to dip them into chocolate.
marshmallow wick
1 bag of sweet potato starch "glass noodle" style dried noodle (available at most asian ingredient specialty stores)
place dried noodle in microwave for 40 seconds. the noodle will puff up. break noodles into 1 1/2 inch lengths and reserve until serving.
chocolate shell
4 to 6 oz of dark chocolate
1 oz cocoa buter (optional)
chop chocolate and cocoa butter, melt together in microwave until fully melted. chocolate is ready for dipping.
how to dip frozen graham cracker puree
use and 4 to 5 in wooden skewer to stick into top of ice cube. completely submerge ice cube in the chocolate, stirring it around a few time to make sure it is fully covered. tap off excess chocolate back into melted chocolate. place dipped cube on a tray lined with parchment paper, plastic wrap, or nonstick mat, and hold in place until chocolate solidifies enough at the base to hold it upright. remove wooden skewer. allow to "defrost in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving. storie in fridge until ready to serve.
serving
place one wick in the hole in top of the bomb. burn tip and let wick burn, approximately 10-15 seconds. once the flame goes out, eat the entire chocolate in one bit (it will be completely liquid inside)
makes 40 servings.
so, the burnt wick gives the bomb that toasty campfire flavor you get when you roast marshmallows. it really is a wonderful treat, even though it may be a bit time consuming. but if you think about it, so can making and frosting all those sugar cookies you make every year!
hope you enjoy the recipe...you won't be disappointed with it!
this is beth signing off.
mission...gonna try it out for next holiday party!
ben roche's s'mores bomb
the recipe is made up in 3 parts.
graham cracker puree
3 cups whole milk
2 packages graham crackers, crushed
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
put all ingredients in a high speed blender, blend until mixture is warm (about 2 minutes) let puree chill in refrigerator. when puree is cold, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. once frozen, remove "ice cubes" from tray and keep in freezer until you're ready to dip them into chocolate.
marshmallow wick
1 bag of sweet potato starch "glass noodle" style dried noodle (available at most asian ingredient specialty stores)
place dried noodle in microwave for 40 seconds. the noodle will puff up. break noodles into 1 1/2 inch lengths and reserve until serving.
chocolate shell
4 to 6 oz of dark chocolate
1 oz cocoa buter (optional)
chop chocolate and cocoa butter, melt together in microwave until fully melted. chocolate is ready for dipping.
how to dip frozen graham cracker puree
use and 4 to 5 in wooden skewer to stick into top of ice cube. completely submerge ice cube in the chocolate, stirring it around a few time to make sure it is fully covered. tap off excess chocolate back into melted chocolate. place dipped cube on a tray lined with parchment paper, plastic wrap, or nonstick mat, and hold in place until chocolate solidifies enough at the base to hold it upright. remove wooden skewer. allow to "defrost in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving. storie in fridge until ready to serve.
serving
place one wick in the hole in top of the bomb. burn tip and let wick burn, approximately 10-15 seconds. once the flame goes out, eat the entire chocolate in one bit (it will be completely liquid inside)
makes 40 servings.
so, the burnt wick gives the bomb that toasty campfire flavor you get when you roast marshmallows. it really is a wonderful treat, even though it may be a bit time consuming. but if you think about it, so can making and frosting all those sugar cookies you make every year!
hope you enjoy the recipe...you won't be disappointed with it!
this is beth signing off.
mission...gonna try it out for next holiday party!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
mission: buick discovery tour
this weekend patrick and i ventured up to the suburban land of...connecticut! it is a state we usually drive through to get to new england (which is just about never since we either fly places or never visit new england...sad fact but true). anyway, patrick was excited since he has never stayed in that state, and i had only gone to the small beach town of milford to babysit this past summer. so what brought us to the constitution state? why, the buick discovery tour, of course!
several weeks ago, patrick recieved an email from food and wine magazine inviting us to an exciting event where you can test drive buicks, sample delicious food from some top chefs, and taste test wine. so, being the spontaneous fellow that he is, patrick made a reservation to attend this event. i was kind of into it, but kind of not at the same time. i had this attitude of something like this, "ok...that sounds cool. let's see if this will happen. connecticut? i guess we can go." yes, i know my attitude stunk pretty badly. if you think that is an ambivalent statement above, read it out loud with a whiny tone.
so come buick discovery day, which was yesterday november 12, and my whine turned in complete cranky, stinky, nasty frustration! i had a bad morning as i tried to find something to wear to the event, and yet could find nothing due to the fact that i have not done laundry in, i don't know, several weeks? don't judge. my crankenstein persona calmed down that afternoon after visiting my small mom big city friend, sarah and her family. we enjoyed good conversation and our favorite sicilian pizza in the whole city from l&b spumoni gardens. upon leaving their house, i felt good inside, and i was ready for our night, for the most part. until! we ran into tons of traffic on our way up to CT! i slowly sank deeper and deeper into a black hole of snippy remarks, rude comments, and even let my husband's jokes spear my heart to hurt my feelings when in most situations i would have laughed right along with him.
thus we arrive to the sheraton stamford hotel. luckily, my sister called me as we were pulling into a spot in the hotel parking garage, and she told me a funny story that left me feeling lighter and able to handle this event. oh, and by the way, at this point we are about an hour late from when we were supposed to arrive. we missed out on the test drive for buick, but i was actually ok with that. i was not in the mood to be sold a very expensive although beautiful product.
after checking in, patrick and i went to our room to quickly change into something more suitable and hurried back down to the lobby to register. before we knew it, we joined up with group b and watched our first cooking demonstration with food and wine's best new chef, gavin kaysen who is the head chef at cafe boulud. he demonstrated how to make a current menu item called maine peekytoe crab with orange and pepper gelee, shaved fennel, and tangerine-vanilla vinaigrette. it was light, interesting in a good way, and delicious. i mean, i wouldn't expect anything less from a top chef.
this is what the plate looked like.
i just had to meet chef kaysen afterwards and tell him how much we admired his dish. i also told him how chef boulud's madeleines have changed my life. next time there is a special event, i definitely want to go to cafe boulud to eat more of his food.
me and chef gavin kaysen
our next stop was to visit pastry chef ben roche from chicago's moto. he showed us how to make ice cream using liquid nitrogen. i felt like i was watching mr. wizard create a science experiment right in front of me! it was super cool, and also super cold...you do not want to spill that stuff all over you when cooking. chef roche also made us s'mores bombs, which ended up being like a liquid s'more truffle. it was awesomely creative and yummy! he uses gastronomy as one of his main techniques so that he always comes up with new ways to prepare and create his dishes.
chef roche making maple bacon and sage ice cream with liquid nitrogen. gotta say, i loved it!
here is the finished product of the ice cream and the s'mores bomb.
stop number 3 on our discovery tour took us to some wine tasting with michael green, wine extaordinaire! first he had us sample a rodney strong charlotte's home sauvignon blanc that had pear and melon notes and was also dry. patrick and i loved it! but some people did not as they preferred fruity wines. michael told those who turned up their noses to have no fear, eat a slice of lemon that was given to us on our plates, and then try the wine again. amazingly enough, the wine tasted fruity as the acid drew out the sweet notes within the wine. our next challenge was to sample a lovely yet bitter red wine from m.chapoutier cote-du-rhone belleruche rouge. it was a blend of grenache and syrah, and michael told us to pay attention to how the wine made our lips pucker. upon his instruction, we then ate a piece of salty pecorino romano cheese which transformed the wine to have a smooth finish. it was like magic in my mouth! i have to say i learned a lot.
michael green teaching us the 6 s's of wine tasting: see, swirl, sniff, sip, swish, and savor (or spit if you drink a lot in one tasting)
the final and main event of the evening was a cooking session with michael psilakis, a greek american chef from long island. he showed us how to make a most delicious meatball with a greek twist to it! he also shared stories of how food shaped his life from the time he was a child until now, as a top chef. psilakis's stories were endearing and as i ate my meatball, i could taste all the love and tradition he described to us on stage. it was a wonderful way to end the evening. i also just had to meet him, and i let him know that we would be visiting his upper west side restaurant, kefi, very shortly. we also told him that we had just visited maria loi's restaurant recently, and we shared our sentiments of her food (he was just at loi this past week!) and her welcoming hospitality. patrick took a pic, and we shook hands with the chef and were given a signed copy of his new cookbook for coming to this event. i want to let you know that everyone got a copy, which was a nice surprise for us all.
me with chef michael psilakis
chef psilakis's meatball...i ate it up so quickly that i forgot to take a picture of it. anyway, it was amazing with it's secret ingredient being wonder bread!
the end of the evening was upon me, and i have to say that i am glad i got over myself and went to the discovery tour. i actually had a lot of fun, and the chefs that presented renewed my love of food and cooking something with soul behind it. if you would like the recipes for the peekytoe crab dish and the s'mores bomb, stay tuned for my next post and i will have them up for you within a few days.
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished.
several weeks ago, patrick recieved an email from food and wine magazine inviting us to an exciting event where you can test drive buicks, sample delicious food from some top chefs, and taste test wine. so, being the spontaneous fellow that he is, patrick made a reservation to attend this event. i was kind of into it, but kind of not at the same time. i had this attitude of something like this, "ok...that sounds cool. let's see if this will happen. connecticut? i guess we can go." yes, i know my attitude stunk pretty badly. if you think that is an ambivalent statement above, read it out loud with a whiny tone.
so come buick discovery day, which was yesterday november 12, and my whine turned in complete cranky, stinky, nasty frustration! i had a bad morning as i tried to find something to wear to the event, and yet could find nothing due to the fact that i have not done laundry in, i don't know, several weeks? don't judge. my crankenstein persona calmed down that afternoon after visiting my small mom big city friend, sarah and her family. we enjoyed good conversation and our favorite sicilian pizza in the whole city from l&b spumoni gardens. upon leaving their house, i felt good inside, and i was ready for our night, for the most part. until! we ran into tons of traffic on our way up to CT! i slowly sank deeper and deeper into a black hole of snippy remarks, rude comments, and even let my husband's jokes spear my heart to hurt my feelings when in most situations i would have laughed right along with him.
thus we arrive to the sheraton stamford hotel. luckily, my sister called me as we were pulling into a spot in the hotel parking garage, and she told me a funny story that left me feeling lighter and able to handle this event. oh, and by the way, at this point we are about an hour late from when we were supposed to arrive. we missed out on the test drive for buick, but i was actually ok with that. i was not in the mood to be sold a very expensive although beautiful product.
after checking in, patrick and i went to our room to quickly change into something more suitable and hurried back down to the lobby to register. before we knew it, we joined up with group b and watched our first cooking demonstration with food and wine's best new chef, gavin kaysen who is the head chef at cafe boulud. he demonstrated how to make a current menu item called maine peekytoe crab with orange and pepper gelee, shaved fennel, and tangerine-vanilla vinaigrette. it was light, interesting in a good way, and delicious. i mean, i wouldn't expect anything less from a top chef.
this is what the plate looked like.
i just had to meet chef kaysen afterwards and tell him how much we admired his dish. i also told him how chef boulud's madeleines have changed my life. next time there is a special event, i definitely want to go to cafe boulud to eat more of his food.
me and chef gavin kaysen
our next stop was to visit pastry chef ben roche from chicago's moto. he showed us how to make ice cream using liquid nitrogen. i felt like i was watching mr. wizard create a science experiment right in front of me! it was super cool, and also super cold...you do not want to spill that stuff all over you when cooking. chef roche also made us s'mores bombs, which ended up being like a liquid s'more truffle. it was awesomely creative and yummy! he uses gastronomy as one of his main techniques so that he always comes up with new ways to prepare and create his dishes.
chef roche making maple bacon and sage ice cream with liquid nitrogen. gotta say, i loved it!
here is the finished product of the ice cream and the s'mores bomb.
stop number 3 on our discovery tour took us to some wine tasting with michael green, wine extaordinaire! first he had us sample a rodney strong charlotte's home sauvignon blanc that had pear and melon notes and was also dry. patrick and i loved it! but some people did not as they preferred fruity wines. michael told those who turned up their noses to have no fear, eat a slice of lemon that was given to us on our plates, and then try the wine again. amazingly enough, the wine tasted fruity as the acid drew out the sweet notes within the wine. our next challenge was to sample a lovely yet bitter red wine from m.chapoutier cote-du-rhone belleruche rouge. it was a blend of grenache and syrah, and michael told us to pay attention to how the wine made our lips pucker. upon his instruction, we then ate a piece of salty pecorino romano cheese which transformed the wine to have a smooth finish. it was like magic in my mouth! i have to say i learned a lot.
michael green teaching us the 6 s's of wine tasting: see, swirl, sniff, sip, swish, and savor (or spit if you drink a lot in one tasting)
the final and main event of the evening was a cooking session with michael psilakis, a greek american chef from long island. he showed us how to make a most delicious meatball with a greek twist to it! he also shared stories of how food shaped his life from the time he was a child until now, as a top chef. psilakis's stories were endearing and as i ate my meatball, i could taste all the love and tradition he described to us on stage. it was a wonderful way to end the evening. i also just had to meet him, and i let him know that we would be visiting his upper west side restaurant, kefi, very shortly. we also told him that we had just visited maria loi's restaurant recently, and we shared our sentiments of her food (he was just at loi this past week!) and her welcoming hospitality. patrick took a pic, and we shook hands with the chef and were given a signed copy of his new cookbook for coming to this event. i want to let you know that everyone got a copy, which was a nice surprise for us all.
me with chef michael psilakis
chef psilakis's meatball...i ate it up so quickly that i forgot to take a picture of it. anyway, it was amazing with it's secret ingredient being wonder bread!
the end of the evening was upon me, and i have to say that i am glad i got over myself and went to the discovery tour. i actually had a lot of fun, and the chefs that presented renewed my love of food and cooking something with soul behind it. if you would like the recipes for the peekytoe crab dish and the s'mores bomb, stay tuned for my next post and i will have them up for you within a few days.
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
mission: get through thursday
you know things are bad at work when you begin to read through your own blog (totally guilty of that right now) and then decide to write a new post. oy vey is it a slow day, but i am hoping things will pick up a little more this afternoon.
as i sit and wait for some of my clients to show up for session (i am a psychotherapist on wednesdays and thursdays at the moment, in case you were wondering), i am pondering good thoughts about the upcoming weekend. i am going to see the musical Godspell, which i am super excited to see! my good friend sarah and her husband just saw it this past weekend and loved it! check out her blog, small mom big city, to read what she had to say about it. i am going with my dad and step-mom and of course patrick, and this musical means a lot to me. i grew up listening to my dad playing the songs on our cream colored yamaha upright piano. my mom would sing a saucy rendition of "Turn Back Ole Man," and my brother and i would always burst out in the duet "All For the Best" on any given saturday morning or at a late night coffee house. i even saw a small production of it at a local community college once. so now, i get to see it on BROADWAY (i sung that in my head)!!!!!
also happening this weekend is the NYC Marathon. myabe i have become a running dork, but i love watching the race on tv each year. no, i will not be running in it myself..as if! but i do know a few people who will be running all 26.2 miles of NYC streets in each of the 5 boroughs...to them i wish them the best of luck and safety as they race to the finish line. i will watch you from afar, and maybe i will venture into midtown to congratulate some of the runners as they pass by.
so here is to the weekend. i just have to get through today...
this is beth signing off.
mission: wishing away my thursday :(
as i sit and wait for some of my clients to show up for session (i am a psychotherapist on wednesdays and thursdays at the moment, in case you were wondering), i am pondering good thoughts about the upcoming weekend. i am going to see the musical Godspell, which i am super excited to see! my good friend sarah and her husband just saw it this past weekend and loved it! check out her blog, small mom big city, to read what she had to say about it. i am going with my dad and step-mom and of course patrick, and this musical means a lot to me. i grew up listening to my dad playing the songs on our cream colored yamaha upright piano. my mom would sing a saucy rendition of "Turn Back Ole Man," and my brother and i would always burst out in the duet "All For the Best" on any given saturday morning or at a late night coffee house. i even saw a small production of it at a local community college once. so now, i get to see it on BROADWAY (i sung that in my head)!!!!!
also happening this weekend is the NYC Marathon. myabe i have become a running dork, but i love watching the race on tv each year. no, i will not be running in it myself..as if! but i do know a few people who will be running all 26.2 miles of NYC streets in each of the 5 boroughs...to them i wish them the best of luck and safety as they race to the finish line. i will watch you from afar, and maybe i will venture into midtown to congratulate some of the runners as they pass by.
so here is to the weekend. i just have to get through today...
this is beth signing off.
mission: wishing away my thursday :(
Friday, October 28, 2011
mission: creating
lately i have the bug for creating things, anything, everything. something made from my hands and sharing it with others really does bring me joy. it is my way of saying, "i love you. here is a part of me." patrick has been asking me to start making things for us and to not give away something for once. so here is what i have been making in the past month or so...just for us.
i made this neck scarf using some lovely wool yarn in teal. it is mostly stocking stitch, and i used to big buttons to make it a true wrap.
acrylic paintings of birds on a wire. 1-3 of 9 all 9 paintings make a 9"x9" work.
4-6 of 9
7-9 of 9
close up of #4
close up of #5
hope you like what i have been up to. happy friday everyone, and as snow hits the eastern seaboard this weekend, it may a great time to begin some projects of your own!
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished for now...more creating to come.
i made this neck scarf using some lovely wool yarn in teal. it is mostly stocking stitch, and i used to big buttons to make it a true wrap.
acrylic paintings of birds on a wire. 1-3 of 9 all 9 paintings make a 9"x9" work.
4-6 of 9
7-9 of 9
close up of #4
close up of #5
hope you like what i have been up to. happy friday everyone, and as snow hits the eastern seaboard this weekend, it may a great time to begin some projects of your own!
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished for now...more creating to come.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
mission: loi
For the past several days, I have been laying around the house sick with the flu. This has been tough on me because this lady has things to do! Patrick and I had just returned from a wonderful mini vacay in Cancun, Mexico, where we spent 5 days playing in the pool, eating lots of yummy Mexican food, and trying to find indoor activities as there was a tropical depression swirling around the Yucatan Peninsula. But this is another blog for another time....
So last night, Friday October 21, Patrick and I were trying to decide what to do, as I desperately needed a change of scenery and I was beginning to feel a bit more like myself. I suggested going to the movies. Patrick suggested going to Loi.
Loi is a new Greek cuisine restaurant that opened just last night, and it is located on West 70th Street just West of Amsterdam. Maria Loi is the owner and head chef, who we happen to know (and love), and so I slapped on some makeup, put on my best outfit (made sure I wore shoes I could walk in) and headed to dinner with my husband.
When we walked into the restaurant, the place was a soft glow of blue hues found on the coasts of Greece met with sandy brown accents and crisp white linens. A lovely panoramic picture of the Aegean Sea encompassed the entire back wall, providing a view for New Yorkers that you can only find in Greece. I felt comfortable in this atmosphere, but not only is the restaurant warm and cozy, but it has elegance and charm as well.
After perusing the menu and ordering our wine, we began the night with the tiri fournisto, which was a baked cheese with herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. I piled my cheese onto my fresh bread, and instantly I was taken back to one of my first meals I had in Greece. We polished off the cheese, and we were then greeted by Maria Loi herself. She was as bubbly and friendly as ever, and I was mostly glad that she remembered who I was! We caught up with her for a few moments before she greeted her other diners, making them feel welcomed to her new restaurant.
Our second course of the night, which Maria ordered for us, was a most delcious salad called the Roka. It was sweet, salty, peppery, and smoky. It was a great recommendation, and if you go, you should order it too!
My main course was the lamb chops and loin with lemon smashed potatoes. The portion was appropriate, not too small and not too big, and the flavor profile was balanced- full round flavor of the meat paired with the bright lemon flavor of the potatoes...perfect. Next time, however, I must order my lamb medium rare, and not medium.
Patrick's main course was the giant prawns in a caramelized tomato and pepper sauce with feta cheese. I had to have a taste and I was happy with the balance of the flavors yet again- butteriness of the the prawns (she does not use butter...prawns just naturally have that flavor I think), acidity of the tomatoes, sweetness of the peppers and savoriness of the feta...yum!
To end our meal, we were given complimentary desserts of an almond and honey cake and a custard cake, which unfortunately I cannot remember the names of, but they were tasty.
I am looking forward to going back to try Maria's famous Moussaka! I hear it is fantastic...and light! Patrick and I spent the subway ride home reveling in our friend's restaurant, wishing her all the best! Even if I didn't know Ms. Loi, I would tell you my friends to go check it out and enjoy the flavors of Greece in a new way (sorry...no Gyros or tzaziki here, but you won't miss it to be sure).
this is Beth signing off.
mission: accomplished
Patrick and I with Maria Loi in Greece!
So last night, Friday October 21, Patrick and I were trying to decide what to do, as I desperately needed a change of scenery and I was beginning to feel a bit more like myself. I suggested going to the movies. Patrick suggested going to Loi.
Loi is a new Greek cuisine restaurant that opened just last night, and it is located on West 70th Street just West of Amsterdam. Maria Loi is the owner and head chef, who we happen to know (and love), and so I slapped on some makeup, put on my best outfit (made sure I wore shoes I could walk in) and headed to dinner with my husband.
When we walked into the restaurant, the place was a soft glow of blue hues found on the coasts of Greece met with sandy brown accents and crisp white linens. A lovely panoramic picture of the Aegean Sea encompassed the entire back wall, providing a view for New Yorkers that you can only find in Greece. I felt comfortable in this atmosphere, but not only is the restaurant warm and cozy, but it has elegance and charm as well.
After perusing the menu and ordering our wine, we began the night with the tiri fournisto, which was a baked cheese with herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. I piled my cheese onto my fresh bread, and instantly I was taken back to one of my first meals I had in Greece. We polished off the cheese, and we were then greeted by Maria Loi herself. She was as bubbly and friendly as ever, and I was mostly glad that she remembered who I was! We caught up with her for a few moments before she greeted her other diners, making them feel welcomed to her new restaurant.
Our second course of the night, which Maria ordered for us, was a most delcious salad called the Roka. It was sweet, salty, peppery, and smoky. It was a great recommendation, and if you go, you should order it too!
My main course was the lamb chops and loin with lemon smashed potatoes. The portion was appropriate, not too small and not too big, and the flavor profile was balanced- full round flavor of the meat paired with the bright lemon flavor of the potatoes...perfect. Next time, however, I must order my lamb medium rare, and not medium.
Patrick's main course was the giant prawns in a caramelized tomato and pepper sauce with feta cheese. I had to have a taste and I was happy with the balance of the flavors yet again- butteriness of the the prawns (she does not use butter...prawns just naturally have that flavor I think), acidity of the tomatoes, sweetness of the peppers and savoriness of the feta...yum!
To end our meal, we were given complimentary desserts of an almond and honey cake and a custard cake, which unfortunately I cannot remember the names of, but they were tasty.
I am looking forward to going back to try Maria's famous Moussaka! I hear it is fantastic...and light! Patrick and I spent the subway ride home reveling in our friend's restaurant, wishing her all the best! Even if I didn't know Ms. Loi, I would tell you my friends to go check it out and enjoy the flavors of Greece in a new way (sorry...no Gyros or tzaziki here, but you won't miss it to be sure).
this is Beth signing off.
mission: accomplished
Patrick and I with Maria Loi in Greece!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
mission: a wedding in charleston
everything was perfectly in place. the centerpieces, vibrant in violet, sunset, and chartreuse. handmade accents around every corner, and the bulbous lanterns purple and white dangling like grapes on a vine over the dance floor. the cake, elegant and surrounded by candlelight. a wedding was in place, and i felt proud to have been a part of it.
as soon as i was donned in my kelly green dress, hair in a side braid, and strutting in my new wedge sandals, i was finally ready to see the bride. she is my dear friend from graduate school, and she is a person of great support and so much love. when i finally saw her, my heart was so full of joy, that i began to well up in tears. this made her eyes brim as well, and so the two of us were left laughing and fanning away our almost tears. she then began to thank me for my hard work to make her wedding beautiful, and felt humbled and honored to have given her this gift.
this gift all began when adam davie proposed to laura jacobs, right before they moved down to south carolina so that he could attend medical school. laura asked me if i could help her plan the wedding...or maybe i offered? either way, i was up for the challenge. she was to take care of the arrangements until i was able to come down the day before and finally bring it all together. i was also there for every phone call along the way, and every detail laura ran by me, sent pictures of, or emailed back and forth until a plan was derived. the final result...perfection (at least in my opinion).
i, too, had help along the way (thanks to allison, lindsey, jess, patrick, dave, and adam...what an amazing help you were to realize the vision laura and i had in mind). the morning of the wedding, the group of us gathered at the reception site, the sand castle on kiawah island, and began plucking and pruning flowers. we arranged, fluffed, poked, and prodded every stem until everything was in place. i focused on the bridal party's bouquets and barked out orders (or politely asked for as long as i could) all the while singing show tunes. everyone was willing to help out in any way possible, and i had plenty of jobs to delegate. it was like clockwork, and we were able to make that place as lovely as we could in a matter of 4 hours.
the beach, just around the corner, also had to be set up, complete with chuppa, lanterns, parasols, and water for the guests. that did not take so much time, but as soon as everything was in place, it was show time. the bride never looked so lovely, and the groom never so in love. i cried during the vows, and mazel tov'd as the glass was shattered at the end of the ceremony. we partied all night, ate great southern food including: local wreckfish in a shallot chardonnay sauce, fried chicken, mac and cheese, crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, and cornbread. we had good wine, lots of beer, sweet tea. there was dancing, laughing, and the best rendition of "don't stop believing" sung by all to end the night.
here are some pictures from the wedding day...
the sand castle.
creating laura's bridal bouquet- made of creamy white peonies, white listhianus, and lavendar.
place cards in wine corks. chalk board. mason jar of flowers.
mason jar centerpieces filled with purple hydrangeas, hypericum berries, and orange star of bethlehem. handmade menus and chalkboard table numbers.
wedding program. white parasol.
they are married!!!
second kiss as husband and wife.
patrick and i out on the deck where we had appetizers and drinks. it was so pretty.
congratulations to laura and adam. we love you and may your marriage be happy and blessed.
this is beth signing off.
mission: wedding accomplished.
as soon as i was donned in my kelly green dress, hair in a side braid, and strutting in my new wedge sandals, i was finally ready to see the bride. she is my dear friend from graduate school, and she is a person of great support and so much love. when i finally saw her, my heart was so full of joy, that i began to well up in tears. this made her eyes brim as well, and so the two of us were left laughing and fanning away our almost tears. she then began to thank me for my hard work to make her wedding beautiful, and felt humbled and honored to have given her this gift.
this gift all began when adam davie proposed to laura jacobs, right before they moved down to south carolina so that he could attend medical school. laura asked me if i could help her plan the wedding...or maybe i offered? either way, i was up for the challenge. she was to take care of the arrangements until i was able to come down the day before and finally bring it all together. i was also there for every phone call along the way, and every detail laura ran by me, sent pictures of, or emailed back and forth until a plan was derived. the final result...perfection (at least in my opinion).
i, too, had help along the way (thanks to allison, lindsey, jess, patrick, dave, and adam...what an amazing help you were to realize the vision laura and i had in mind). the morning of the wedding, the group of us gathered at the reception site, the sand castle on kiawah island, and began plucking and pruning flowers. we arranged, fluffed, poked, and prodded every stem until everything was in place. i focused on the bridal party's bouquets and barked out orders (or politely asked for as long as i could) all the while singing show tunes. everyone was willing to help out in any way possible, and i had plenty of jobs to delegate. it was like clockwork, and we were able to make that place as lovely as we could in a matter of 4 hours.
the beach, just around the corner, also had to be set up, complete with chuppa, lanterns, parasols, and water for the guests. that did not take so much time, but as soon as everything was in place, it was show time. the bride never looked so lovely, and the groom never so in love. i cried during the vows, and mazel tov'd as the glass was shattered at the end of the ceremony. we partied all night, ate great southern food including: local wreckfish in a shallot chardonnay sauce, fried chicken, mac and cheese, crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, and cornbread. we had good wine, lots of beer, sweet tea. there was dancing, laughing, and the best rendition of "don't stop believing" sung by all to end the night.
here are some pictures from the wedding day...
the sand castle.
creating laura's bridal bouquet- made of creamy white peonies, white listhianus, and lavendar.
place cards in wine corks. chalk board. mason jar of flowers.
mason jar centerpieces filled with purple hydrangeas, hypericum berries, and orange star of bethlehem. handmade menus and chalkboard table numbers.
wedding program. white parasol.
they are married!!!
second kiss as husband and wife.
patrick and i out on the deck where we had appetizers and drinks. it was so pretty.
congratulations to laura and adam. we love you and may your marriage be happy and blessed.
this is beth signing off.
mission: wedding accomplished.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
mission: brooklyn weekend fun
this is the ranch burger i got at 67 burger. it had ranch dressing, cheddar cheese and crispy onions. so freakin gooooood!
like i said, so freakin good.
our greeter at the brooklyn brewery. he was making sure we were buying our 6 beer tokens for $20!
patrick in front of the beer brew kettle. this is where the beer ferments via the yeast which turns sugar into co2 and something else i can't remember right now. whatever it does, it is good.
old timey beer bottles.
on our tour we got to see the beer bottler. behind me is the logo created by milton glaser, the man who also came up with I <3 NY. his payment, free beer...for life!
during our tour, our guide told a story about how dangerous the williamsburg neighborhood (where the brewery is located) used to be back in the 80's and 90's. one day, a guy came and took a forklift right out of the brewery's warehouse....in broad daylight. the owners were too poor to lose such a precious piece of machinery, and so they searched all day until they found the forklift at a pawn shop. so they stole it right back! now that is some true brooklyn courage.
patrick is loving his irish stout.
me finishing up my free lager...our bartender messed up our order so this one was on the house!!!
as it was a fine day outside, many people came to enjoy their saturday at the brewery. patrick and i learned a couple of things that day to make the most of your visit there (a must i should say if you are visiting or a native new yorker).
1. get there early. the brewery opens at noon and closes at 5 (or until everyone leaves). we waiting in a long line for our beer, but no worries. the line moves quickly enough.
2. bring your own picnic lunch, or order pizza if you like. there are many take out menus floating around, and so it is a good idea to plan for an afternoon there. it is a hang out kind of place.
3. play some games. i am not talking about beer pong or anything like that, but many a group there brought playing cards and other games. however, heed idea #1 in order to get a table.
4. take the tour...it is free and they tell lots of fun stories. make sure they tell you about a certain italian investment group from brooklyn, if you know what i mean.
well that was our fun saturday. check it out for yourself, and be sure to tip your bar tenders.
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished.
Monday, March 7, 2011
mission: philadelphia flower show 2011
it is almost spring time in paris, france but paris is blooming at the philly flower show this week at the convention center. my family and i went on opening day to view the artistry, listen to french music, and appreciate the true beauty of unique flowers. my camera died halfway through our visit, so i didn't get to take all the pictures that i wanted to, but here is what i did capture.
eiffel tower entrance
camel made out of flora
artist and subject
beautiful orchid
amazing archway for a wedding
bed of roses
a lovely ascending garden...this is what i want someday
azaleas and daffodils
super swanky trees- the water system for the leaves dripped down into the pond, making it look like rain. this was my favorite display.
tour de france
purple gem iris...another favorite.
sailing away on a sea of flowers
pretty little yellow house. can i live here?
so if you are heading out to the show throughout the week here are some tips for you.
1. eat at the reading terminal right next door. the concessions are way over priced and not that great. the terminal has a variety of mini restaurants with all types of fare to suit your fancy!
2. go after 4 p.m. that is when the crowds die down and you can really appreciate and see everything that is there.
3. don't forget to hit up the vendors on the other side of the room- there are lots of great artisans and landscape-y type kiosks peddling their wares.
so have fun and enjoy paris in the springtime...locally that is.
this is beth signing off
mission: accompli, no? oui?
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