so yesterday i did not do any of the things i had planned. oh well. i do want to still go ice skating, so that will have to be one of those spontaneous date nights i decide to have with patrick. i hope it actually happens this year because we have been saying that we will go for three winters now. i have hope.
instead of macaroni and ice skates, my sis, tori, brought more friends than i thought and so pio pio was the perfect place to go! everyone seemed happy about our favorite restaurant in the city, except those who did NOT get their amazing chicken. boo to them, including tori! but i did meet some interesting and super fun people last night (matt, wakita, sarah, and nick). so holla to ya'll!
after dinner, patrick and i ventured off to the holiday market at bryant park (at least i got to see the rink) and found some last minute gifts. we then left because my bed time was approaching, and i hate being on the subway past 10:00 because that's when it can get a little unpredictable (the people i mean). however, our ride was quiet and we got home safe and sound.
today has been a nice relaxing day (even though my apartment is freezing!!! my nose is running as i type it's so cold) and i have thought a lot about the holidays. like the fact that a yahoo article had to remind me why i celebrate christmas...JESUS! then i thought about one of my favorite christmas eve memories from when i was a child. my brother, josh, tori, and i had decided to stay up as late as we could. i was probably 10 or 11 so this was an easier task than when we were just wee little children. as my brother sneaked into tori's and my room, i suggested that we put on a "show" singing about christmas for our mom and dad. we knew that they would be exchanging their own gifts to one another before christmas morning mayhem began. so the three of us practiced our made up song and choreographed it until it was perfect enough to remember for five more minutes. christmas eve became christmas early morning and we crept down the stairs and put on our song and dance for our parents. we all laughe, checked our what our parents had gotten for each other, and watched the yule log on tv until our eyelids could not stay open any longer. i love that memory, and i think i am the only one who really remembers it because it was my ridiculous idea. but it meant something to me to spend time with my siblings and parents before we got lost in wrapping paper, new video games, and people coming in and out of our house...family and friends alike.
i encourage you, my faithful readers, take the time to pause during the craziness of this week to remember the things that mean most to you...things you cannot purchase or find anywhere else except in your heart.
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
mission: macaroni and cheese with a pair of skates
tonight my sister and some friends are coming into the city for a fun time. what is on our agenda? first, we are going to grab some grub at pinch and s'mac, a dual restaurant that serves pizza by the inch (that's the pinch part) and gourmet mac and cheese (s'mac it to me i say!). i have not been to this place as of right now, but here's hoping that we get that chance later on in the day! after consuming some comfort food, we will then make our way to the holiday market at bryant park. i am hoping that i can get some ice skating in because it is free there! you just have to pay for your skate rentals, which is a pretty good deal i think.
i remember going ice skating at rockefeller about 7 or 8 years ago with my brother, the girl he currently had a crush on, my sister, and maybe a few others who wanted to try it out. it was a bit expensive, but we had a ball. it's just one of those activities you have to do once in your life to create a memory so special that you will never forget it. i felt like i should have been in an old movie, like miracle on 34th street, skating around to the music in the air and the gentle swishing of the fountain by the iconic golden statue.
since that time, i have avoided ice skating in nyc (actually in general...that might have been the last time i went!) because of the cost, and i am pretty terrible at it. i am that girl who pretends to know how to skate on one leg and ends up falling on her butt. it's ok, i have no shame when i am having a good time.
so here's to a good time with some good people!
this is beth signing off.
mission to be accomplished
i remember going ice skating at rockefeller about 7 or 8 years ago with my brother, the girl he currently had a crush on, my sister, and maybe a few others who wanted to try it out. it was a bit expensive, but we had a ball. it's just one of those activities you have to do once in your life to create a memory so special that you will never forget it. i felt like i should have been in an old movie, like miracle on 34th street, skating around to the music in the air and the gentle swishing of the fountain by the iconic golden statue.
since that time, i have avoided ice skating in nyc (actually in general...that might have been the last time i went!) because of the cost, and i am pretty terrible at it. i am that girl who pretends to know how to skate on one leg and ends up falling on her butt. it's ok, i have no shame when i am having a good time.
so here's to a good time with some good people!
this is beth signing off.
mission to be accomplished
Saturday, December 12, 2009
mission: nyc during the holidays
before i venture out to tackle some christmas shopping of my own, i thought i would give some holiday info and hotspots to visit. now we all know that rockefeller center is the place to be right now. you have the tree, the rockettes, and the skating rink all right there. we also know that the macy's window display is on everyone's holiday must-see list, and this year it is super cool! it is interactive, showing us how santa claus receives his letters from children all around the world. however, the holiday fun does not end there. here are my top five things you should see right now!
1. the holiday markets- there are four of these located throughout the city: union square at 14th st, bryant park at 42nd, grand central station, and columbus circle at 59th st. these markets sell beautiful gifts ranging from one of a kind chocolates, to knitted hats and scarves, to handmade jewelry. there is something unique you could find for everyone on your list, and while you shop in these outdoor markets, be sure to drink the hot cider and eat homemade ginger bread. the waffles and dinges cart found randomly around the city usually has a permanent spot at the union square market. i recommend the waffle with nutella on it. oh man is it so good.
2. the holiday star show- if you are visiting the market at columbus circle, head over to the mall for the star show. the first show is around 5:00 p.m. and the gigantic stars light up and change colors to music. to end the show, a flurry of snow falls from the ceiling to create some true nyc magic.
3. 5th ave store fronts- macy's isn't the only place with awe-inspiring window displays. you could start at rockefeller center and watch the snowflake show on saks 5th ave.'s building and then head north (follow the huge snowflake that is down by the apple store). check out cartier, tiffany's, dinsney store's, and bergdorf goodman's displays. they are all amazing!
4. the bronx zoo- true most of the animals are hibernating, but some are still out to see. there is a light display that you can take the kiddos to, but for a real treat, some of santa's reindeer have strayed from the north pole! that's right, you can see real live reindeer located by the mouse house. they are so cute and yet again the magic of christmas comes alive!
5. dyker heights christmas lights- for those of you who have never heard of dyker heights, it is located in brooklyn. actually, it is my neighborhood and we have the BEST lights around. if you are wary about coming to brooklyn, fear not! you can take a bus tour to view these spectacular homes covered in christmas lights, inflatables, animatronics, and even a 50 foot santa! this is no joke and you will not be disappointed. the neighborhood is also easy to get to by car, so get directions and come visit! after viewing the neighborhood, grab a slice of brick oven pizza at bella luna, located on 86th st and 7th ave.
so there you are! i hope that when you come to nyc you too will find your own holiday surprises and cheer!
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
1. the holiday markets- there are four of these located throughout the city: union square at 14th st, bryant park at 42nd, grand central station, and columbus circle at 59th st. these markets sell beautiful gifts ranging from one of a kind chocolates, to knitted hats and scarves, to handmade jewelry. there is something unique you could find for everyone on your list, and while you shop in these outdoor markets, be sure to drink the hot cider and eat homemade ginger bread. the waffles and dinges cart found randomly around the city usually has a permanent spot at the union square market. i recommend the waffle with nutella on it. oh man is it so good.
2. the holiday star show- if you are visiting the market at columbus circle, head over to the mall for the star show. the first show is around 5:00 p.m. and the gigantic stars light up and change colors to music. to end the show, a flurry of snow falls from the ceiling to create some true nyc magic.
3. 5th ave store fronts- macy's isn't the only place with awe-inspiring window displays. you could start at rockefeller center and watch the snowflake show on saks 5th ave.'s building and then head north (follow the huge snowflake that is down by the apple store). check out cartier, tiffany's, dinsney store's, and bergdorf goodman's displays. they are all amazing!
4. the bronx zoo- true most of the animals are hibernating, but some are still out to see. there is a light display that you can take the kiddos to, but for a real treat, some of santa's reindeer have strayed from the north pole! that's right, you can see real live reindeer located by the mouse house. they are so cute and yet again the magic of christmas comes alive!
5. dyker heights christmas lights- for those of you who have never heard of dyker heights, it is located in brooklyn. actually, it is my neighborhood and we have the BEST lights around. if you are wary about coming to brooklyn, fear not! you can take a bus tour to view these spectacular homes covered in christmas lights, inflatables, animatronics, and even a 50 foot santa! this is no joke and you will not be disappointed. the neighborhood is also easy to get to by car, so get directions and come visit! after viewing the neighborhood, grab a slice of brick oven pizza at bella luna, located on 86th st and 7th ave.
so there you are! i hope that when you come to nyc you too will find your own holiday surprises and cheer!
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
mission: chocolate truffles
every christmastime i endeavor the task of making holiday treats for patrick's bosses and coworkers, and if there is enough left over the treats then head to my neighbors, landlord, and family. each year i have made chocolate truffles, a simple and easy, and way more inexpensive than godiva, delight. whenever patrick comes home after giving the gifts, he tells me how everyone ate them right away at their desks. these truffles are quite rich, and even i, a sever chocoholic, have a difficult time eating more than one at a time. yet, i cannot judge, and they do love them.
this year my chocolate truffles include: raspberry almond, mint chocolate, and caramel with ginger.
to make the delectable treats simply make a chocolate ganache out of:
1 stick of butter
1/4 cup of heavy cream
1 (12 oz) bag of chocolate chips (i buy ghirardelli 60% cacao for an extra indulgence).
melt the butter and stir in cream over medium low heat until the mixture begins to simmer. remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips. the heat from the pan helps to melt the chocolate, so don't pour the butter and cream mixture over the chips in another bowl. that will be a waste of your time. to add flavor i add 1/4 cup of alcohol of my choice. so for the raspberry truffles i added chambord and then 1 tsp of almond extract. for non-alcoholic chocolates just add in flavored extract and that will taste yummy too. after freezing the ganache for about an hour, take a small ice cream scoop (the size used to scoop out cookie dough) and make chocolate balls. then roll them in anything you want! i rolled the raspberry almond ones in almonds and drizzled them with white chocolate. yummy! feel free to use any candy or nut or cocoa powder of your choice. for the caramel ginger truffles, i am rolling those in ginger scented sugar. each batch yields about 30 truffles, and it can be a bit time consuming. however, the results are divine and sure to please the chocolate enthusiasts you may know!
i still have to finish my mint chocolate and caramel ginger batches before vacation. i will try to get pics up to show you how beautiful they are! check out more recipes at the williams sonoma website, which is where i got my ganache recipe from. thanks williams-sonoma!
this is beth signing off.
mission: 1/3 of the way accomplished!
this year my chocolate truffles include: raspberry almond, mint chocolate, and caramel with ginger.
to make the delectable treats simply make a chocolate ganache out of:
1 stick of butter
1/4 cup of heavy cream
1 (12 oz) bag of chocolate chips (i buy ghirardelli 60% cacao for an extra indulgence).
melt the butter and stir in cream over medium low heat until the mixture begins to simmer. remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips. the heat from the pan helps to melt the chocolate, so don't pour the butter and cream mixture over the chips in another bowl. that will be a waste of your time. to add flavor i add 1/4 cup of alcohol of my choice. so for the raspberry truffles i added chambord and then 1 tsp of almond extract. for non-alcoholic chocolates just add in flavored extract and that will taste yummy too. after freezing the ganache for about an hour, take a small ice cream scoop (the size used to scoop out cookie dough) and make chocolate balls. then roll them in anything you want! i rolled the raspberry almond ones in almonds and drizzled them with white chocolate. yummy! feel free to use any candy or nut or cocoa powder of your choice. for the caramel ginger truffles, i am rolling those in ginger scented sugar. each batch yields about 30 truffles, and it can be a bit time consuming. however, the results are divine and sure to please the chocolate enthusiasts you may know!
i still have to finish my mint chocolate and caramel ginger batches before vacation. i will try to get pics up to show you how beautiful they are! check out more recipes at the williams sonoma website, which is where i got my ganache recipe from. thanks williams-sonoma!
this is beth signing off.
mission: 1/3 of the way accomplished!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
mission: christmas party part 2
it has taken me four days to get to this blog, what with recovering from the party, working, and getting sick all preventing me from writing, but i finally get to write.
prepping for the party began on friday night, as i made a scrumptious apple toffee cake while watching up. that is one great movie, a little sad, but heart warming all the same. i went to bed around 12:30 a.m. which is two hours past my usual bed time, yet the cake had to be done for the next day.
i woke up the next morning at 6 to the sound and blazing heat of my radiator that is located two feet from my side of the bed. this is not a good situation for me, because i hate being hot while i am sleeping. i have always preferred being cozy inside my bed with a nice cool temperature around me. i even stick my feet out from the covers if i am too hot. my dad does this too, so i must have gotten that from him. anyway, i tried to fall back asleep, but my mind began to reel with all the things i needed to do for the party! this trait i get from my mom. i began making mental lists then forced myself to stop. i couldn't, so i finally got out of bed around 7:30, made coffee and read a bit.
at 9 a.m. i started searching for some serving dishes and knocked a fleet of travel coffee mugs off of our refrigerator, which consequently woke up my poor sleeping husband. good thing i had the coffee going to ease any potential irritation he might have had, but when he moseyed into the kitchen, there was only a look of confusion across his face. "sorry for the noise," i explained to him. he accepted the coffee with delight and we ate our breakfast.
from that point on is a total blur of grocery shopping, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning the apartment, finding decorations, and trying to get myself ready and cute for my company. it was non stop for me the all day! i mostly had to do it by myself because patrick ended up working a bit from home. but i didn't let that ruin my christmas spirit! i sang songs and danced my way through all my party activities. the really fun thing that happened that night was it snowed! the weather had been a drag all day, but flakes began to appear and made it feel a little more like christmas.
when 5:30 rolled around, the supposed start of the party, no one had shown up yet, except for my neighbor who lives across the hall from us. side note: she was such a big help, offering food, drink, help, and dishes if i needed any or all of those things. it was so nice of her! anyway, the snow had slowed down my guests but eventually everyone had made it.
we drank really good wine and everyone loved my menu. my friends said martha stewart had nothing on me, which was probably one of the best compliments i have ever received...so take that martha! after eating and conversing for a while, a white elephant gift exchange took place. there were some really good gifts given, but the best was when my friend michael received a neon green christmas boa with a christmas tree necklace. good thing he has a little girl who adored them right away.
by 9 p.m. the party started slowing down. kids had to be tucked into bed and my friends had to travel far and wide to return to their homes. after all was said and done, it was a beautiful and joyful party. i am thankful for all the wonderful friends i have been blessed with and am glad they could come to my home and start off the holiday season with us.
i think this will be a lovely holiday tradition for years to come!
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
p.s. i wish i had pics of the night, but my camera is still broken. hopefully pictures will return soon.
prepping for the party began on friday night, as i made a scrumptious apple toffee cake while watching up. that is one great movie, a little sad, but heart warming all the same. i went to bed around 12:30 a.m. which is two hours past my usual bed time, yet the cake had to be done for the next day.
i woke up the next morning at 6 to the sound and blazing heat of my radiator that is located two feet from my side of the bed. this is not a good situation for me, because i hate being hot while i am sleeping. i have always preferred being cozy inside my bed with a nice cool temperature around me. i even stick my feet out from the covers if i am too hot. my dad does this too, so i must have gotten that from him. anyway, i tried to fall back asleep, but my mind began to reel with all the things i needed to do for the party! this trait i get from my mom. i began making mental lists then forced myself to stop. i couldn't, so i finally got out of bed around 7:30, made coffee and read a bit.
at 9 a.m. i started searching for some serving dishes and knocked a fleet of travel coffee mugs off of our refrigerator, which consequently woke up my poor sleeping husband. good thing i had the coffee going to ease any potential irritation he might have had, but when he moseyed into the kitchen, there was only a look of confusion across his face. "sorry for the noise," i explained to him. he accepted the coffee with delight and we ate our breakfast.
from that point on is a total blur of grocery shopping, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning the apartment, finding decorations, and trying to get myself ready and cute for my company. it was non stop for me the all day! i mostly had to do it by myself because patrick ended up working a bit from home. but i didn't let that ruin my christmas spirit! i sang songs and danced my way through all my party activities. the really fun thing that happened that night was it snowed! the weather had been a drag all day, but flakes began to appear and made it feel a little more like christmas.
when 5:30 rolled around, the supposed start of the party, no one had shown up yet, except for my neighbor who lives across the hall from us. side note: she was such a big help, offering food, drink, help, and dishes if i needed any or all of those things. it was so nice of her! anyway, the snow had slowed down my guests but eventually everyone had made it.
we drank really good wine and everyone loved my menu. my friends said martha stewart had nothing on me, which was probably one of the best compliments i have ever received...so take that martha! after eating and conversing for a while, a white elephant gift exchange took place. there were some really good gifts given, but the best was when my friend michael received a neon green christmas boa with a christmas tree necklace. good thing he has a little girl who adored them right away.
by 9 p.m. the party started slowing down. kids had to be tucked into bed and my friends had to travel far and wide to return to their homes. after all was said and done, it was a beautiful and joyful party. i am thankful for all the wonderful friends i have been blessed with and am glad they could come to my home and start off the holiday season with us.
i think this will be a lovely holiday tradition for years to come!
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
p.s. i wish i had pics of the night, but my camera is still broken. hopefully pictures will return soon.
Friday, December 4, 2009
mission: christmas party
tomorrow patrick and i are hosting our very first party since moving to nyc in 2007. it's about time! i have been preparing the menu for weeks, tweaking it, changing it, and finally deciding on what we will be eating.
my first thought was to host a dinner party and roast my first turkey. however, i realized that being only a week after thanksgiving, i should forgo the turkey and focus on fun party foods. so this is my christmas party menu:
we will begin with cheese and crackers/ crusty bread. but not just any cheese. i will have baked goat cheese to spread on bagel chips topped with an italian style tomato basil salsa. also, baked brie and a cranberry white stilton will be served with herb crackers, bread, pears, and grapes. i also plan on having chips and dips for my guests to nibble on, and my neighbor, meredith, is bringing spinach dip in a bread bowl and prosciutto bread...yay for lots of bread!
my all hors d'oeuvres main course will include: mini meatballs in bertolli sauce, mini mac and cheese, grilled lime and cilantro bbq shrimp, pot stickers of all sorts from trader joe's, quesadillas, and cheese and onion pastries. i will also be making grandma's waldorf salad and provide an all green and red veggie platter. all of the delicious foods will be paired with cakebread wine, a variety of beers, and punch.
for dessert, my favorite, i will be making an apple toffee cake, ginger snaps, and laura is bringing her famed mint chocolate chocolate cookies. peppermint bark will be lingering the party scene as well!
after eating our food, my guests and i will have a white elephant exchange, play games, watch christmas movies, and have a good yuletide time.
this is beth signing off.
mission: to be accomplished tomorrow night!
my first thought was to host a dinner party and roast my first turkey. however, i realized that being only a week after thanksgiving, i should forgo the turkey and focus on fun party foods. so this is my christmas party menu:
we will begin with cheese and crackers/ crusty bread. but not just any cheese. i will have baked goat cheese to spread on bagel chips topped with an italian style tomato basil salsa. also, baked brie and a cranberry white stilton will be served with herb crackers, bread, pears, and grapes. i also plan on having chips and dips for my guests to nibble on, and my neighbor, meredith, is bringing spinach dip in a bread bowl and prosciutto bread...yay for lots of bread!
my all hors d'oeuvres main course will include: mini meatballs in bertolli sauce, mini mac and cheese, grilled lime and cilantro bbq shrimp, pot stickers of all sorts from trader joe's, quesadillas, and cheese and onion pastries. i will also be making grandma's waldorf salad and provide an all green and red veggie platter. all of the delicious foods will be paired with cakebread wine, a variety of beers, and punch.
for dessert, my favorite, i will be making an apple toffee cake, ginger snaps, and laura is bringing her famed mint chocolate chocolate cookies. peppermint bark will be lingering the party scene as well!
after eating our food, my guests and i will have a white elephant exchange, play games, watch christmas movies, and have a good yuletide time.
this is beth signing off.
mission: to be accomplished tomorrow night!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
mission: radio city and blue hill at stone barns
there are times in my life when i recall a day that was meaningful, exciting, fun...memorable. yesterday was one of those days. it was a day that i got to spend with my mom, step-dad, mimom, and, of course, patrick. the day started off with my family stopping by our apartment to look at our tree, new bed, and new tv. they oohed and aahed over our holiday decorated place, chatted for a few minutes, and then we were off to the city! but before we left, patrick accidentally locked mimom in our apartment! he thought we were all out, but we weren't. it was quite funny.
when we arrived, we first stopped to eat some lunch at heartland brewery. i have mentioned this restaurant previously, but the one we went to this time was near rockefeller center on 51st between 6th and 7th. this time i had the tortilla soup, and boy was that delicious. it was loaded with veggies and shredded chicken, savory and and slightly spicy. i complemented my soup with their buffalo chips, homemade potato chips with a ranch buffalo dipping sauce. also a very tasty choice.
after lunch, we headed to radio city music hall! this was very exciting for me because the last time i actually went inside for a show was when i was 10 to see the easter show! i didn't remember much, so everything felt new to me...the glittering christmas decor, the art deco architecture, the dueling organists playing the pre show entertainment, the beautiful stage. i was 10 again for sure. the show was great too, and i told patrick that if i had longer legs, i would have made an excellent rockette. he just laughed at me.
the show ended with a beautiful nativity scene and then we shuffled out to meet a bustling street. kirk wanted to take a quick stop to go inside st. patrick's cathedral, and so we all went in to admire the beautiful and sacred space. we spent about 15 minuted to enjoy the cathedral and then loaded into kirk's suv to drive up to westchester county for our dinner at blue hill at stone barns. <-- click on link for more information.
i was very excited to come back to this restaurant, as it is a favorite of mine and patrick's. it is a special restaurant for special occasions, and this night we were celebrating kirk's birthday (along with mom's because i messed up her present back in may, and mimom's birthday too which was only a couple of weeks ago).
when you walk into the restaurant, you are met with a rustic yet modern atmosphere, lit with a dim glow of candles and soft lamp lighting. the exposed rafters of the barn add charm, and everything for the center pieces to the place setting creates a the warmth of this exquisite place. the wait staff are attentive and helpful, and they descend each course as if they practiced a synchronized dance.
as a table, everyone decided to have the farmer's supper, which is a three course meal that included dessert. we ordered our drinks, and i had a lovely macari 2008 sauvignon blanc, which was light, semi-sweet with hints of melon and kiwi. it paired well with my striped bass that was cooked to perfection and covered in a green creamy sauce. patrick had an amazing belgium beer that washed down his venison very nicely. i must say that the venison at blue hill is the only one i have enjoyed thus far. it is a must try if it is available. my favorite course however, was my first one. it was a lovely fresh green salad (all the veggies are grown on the farm at the stone barns!) with that morning's egg. the egg was AMAZING!!!! chef barber soft boiled the egg (to perfection...perfectly gooey in the center and the white was soft and creamy) and then dipped it in batter and fried it! genius i say! it was the best egg i have ever tasted in my life. as we waited for each course, we sampled several amuse bouche. we were offered beet burgers, a root wrapped in pancetta and coated in sesame seeds, deluxe deli meats, as well as the best bread served with cottage cheese and freshly churned butter, both made on the farm. compliments of the kitchen also included savory and hearty calypso beans and sweet and salty peanut potatoes during our dinner course. for dessert i had tiny chocolate cakes with ginger ice cream; however, i like patrick's dessert better, which was a poached pear, a yummy cake and chestnut ice cream. the kitchen sent out a dessert with maple ice cream and chocolate crunchies that we all shared, as well as pumpkin seed brittle, yogurt marshmallows, ginger chocolates, and apple slices. i paired all of my desserts with floral oriental beauty oolong tea and honey. a perfect way to end the meal and a great day!
this place is not for the picky palate or the tight wallet. prepare yourself for some pure indulgence as you experience your meal like you never have before. i give this restaurant my highest praise and i thank chef barber for another amazing meal! if you are in the city and would like to try out blue hill, there is another one located in greenwich village. the food is impeccable there as well.
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished
when we arrived, we first stopped to eat some lunch at heartland brewery. i have mentioned this restaurant previously, but the one we went to this time was near rockefeller center on 51st between 6th and 7th. this time i had the tortilla soup, and boy was that delicious. it was loaded with veggies and shredded chicken, savory and and slightly spicy. i complemented my soup with their buffalo chips, homemade potato chips with a ranch buffalo dipping sauce. also a very tasty choice.
after lunch, we headed to radio city music hall! this was very exciting for me because the last time i actually went inside for a show was when i was 10 to see the easter show! i didn't remember much, so everything felt new to me...the glittering christmas decor, the art deco architecture, the dueling organists playing the pre show entertainment, the beautiful stage. i was 10 again for sure. the show was great too, and i told patrick that if i had longer legs, i would have made an excellent rockette. he just laughed at me.
the show ended with a beautiful nativity scene and then we shuffled out to meet a bustling street. kirk wanted to take a quick stop to go inside st. patrick's cathedral, and so we all went in to admire the beautiful and sacred space. we spent about 15 minuted to enjoy the cathedral and then loaded into kirk's suv to drive up to westchester county for our dinner at blue hill at stone barns. <-- click on link for more information.
i was very excited to come back to this restaurant, as it is a favorite of mine and patrick's. it is a special restaurant for special occasions, and this night we were celebrating kirk's birthday (along with mom's because i messed up her present back in may, and mimom's birthday too which was only a couple of weeks ago).
when you walk into the restaurant, you are met with a rustic yet modern atmosphere, lit with a dim glow of candles and soft lamp lighting. the exposed rafters of the barn add charm, and everything for the center pieces to the place setting creates a the warmth of this exquisite place. the wait staff are attentive and helpful, and they descend each course as if they practiced a synchronized dance.
as a table, everyone decided to have the farmer's supper, which is a three course meal that included dessert. we ordered our drinks, and i had a lovely macari 2008 sauvignon blanc, which was light, semi-sweet with hints of melon and kiwi. it paired well with my striped bass that was cooked to perfection and covered in a green creamy sauce. patrick had an amazing belgium beer that washed down his venison very nicely. i must say that the venison at blue hill is the only one i have enjoyed thus far. it is a must try if it is available. my favorite course however, was my first one. it was a lovely fresh green salad (all the veggies are grown on the farm at the stone barns!) with that morning's egg. the egg was AMAZING!!!! chef barber soft boiled the egg (to perfection...perfectly gooey in the center and the white was soft and creamy) and then dipped it in batter and fried it! genius i say! it was the best egg i have ever tasted in my life. as we waited for each course, we sampled several amuse bouche. we were offered beet burgers, a root wrapped in pancetta and coated in sesame seeds, deluxe deli meats, as well as the best bread served with cottage cheese and freshly churned butter, both made on the farm. compliments of the kitchen also included savory and hearty calypso beans and sweet and salty peanut potatoes during our dinner course. for dessert i had tiny chocolate cakes with ginger ice cream; however, i like patrick's dessert better, which was a poached pear, a yummy cake and chestnut ice cream. the kitchen sent out a dessert with maple ice cream and chocolate crunchies that we all shared, as well as pumpkin seed brittle, yogurt marshmallows, ginger chocolates, and apple slices. i paired all of my desserts with floral oriental beauty oolong tea and honey. a perfect way to end the meal and a great day!
this place is not for the picky palate or the tight wallet. prepare yourself for some pure indulgence as you experience your meal like you never have before. i give this restaurant my highest praise and i thank chef barber for another amazing meal! if you are in the city and would like to try out blue hill, there is another one located in greenwich village. the food is impeccable there as well.
this is beth signing off.
mission: accomplished
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