*Bathing Suit
I'm a sucker for Japanese-style prints, and I like one piece
suits because I love leotards and they are basically the same thing.
*Italian Class
The Fluent City class is pretty awesome. Very
laid back with a focus on having everyone actually
speak-which can be embarrassing but is the only
way to learn.
*The Guide to Natural Sweeteners
Because I will always have a sweet tooth, but
at least I can make better choices.
*The DesignSponge Instagram Challenge: Pets
The cuteness is overwhelming
*The Butcher's Daughter
Had an amazing gigantic salad there last week, their
juice list looks pretty badass as well. Can't wait to go back.
*St Lucia
One of my favorite bloggers took a trip there recently
and it looks insanely gorgeous. A tropical getaway sounds
pretty tempting at the moment.
Happy Weekend!! <3
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wine: A Tasting
Last Sunday, our friends put together a wine tasting
(and amazing dinner) at their apartment.
The theme was Abe Shoener, who is doing some
pretty awesome things on both coasts.
On the west coast he has The Scholium Project
(the website is a wealth of info on their winemaking-
highly recommend reading through it)
and half of the wines in the Red Hook Winery on the east.
We started our tasting with
"Naucratis" from Scholium and
Clone 95 from Red Hook, both 2009
Naucratis is a Verdelho and Clone 95 is a
Chardonnay. Surprisingly, I preferred the
Chard! It was reminiscent of a lovely white
Burgundy. 36 months on neutral oak gave it
some pretty floral notes but also some petrol,
and because the grapes are from Long Island
you still get those typical stony notes on the back.
The Naucratis just kind of fell flat for me,
I wanted more from the nose, and more acidity
on the palate. It was, however, a good pairing
with sharp cheese.
The net 2 wines were Scholium's The Prince in His Caves,
and the unphotographed Red Hook Gristina Chard.
The Prince and the Gristina are both skin fermented.
The nose on the Prince made me shout (with joy).
Semi-typical Sauv Blanc nose but with a little more
Yuzu, herbs, and light funkiness. I don't really wear perfume
but if I did I'd want the scent to be something like this.
On the palate it had great acidity and a fuller body, I really
loved this wine. As for the Gristina the nose was more of
apricots and herbs, there was definitely a little menthol
hiding somewhere in there. Very refreshing and balanced.
Now for the reds, we tasted the Red Hook Rebirth from
the Sea-which, I should note was named before Sandy struck.
If you don't know Red Hook was basically destroyed because of
Sandy. They recently opened their doors again, the husband and
I are planning a trip out there soon.) Brico Babelico from Scholium
and Groth's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Brico clocked in
at 17.14% alcohol. It is a Barolo style Petite Sirah, and good
gracious it is packing heat, and smells of pancakes. (read: maple
syrup) It was a little too big for me, I felt like I couldn't really enjoy it
and you'd think that it might just need food but I actually think that
food made it worse. The Red Hook wine was a
Bordeaux blend (Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc) and this one
I kind of liked but the presence of vanilla always kind of halts
my taste buds. Sometimes I feel like it hides the varietals under
a cloak of oaky spice- but if I had to choose
oak for my wine I'd take French or Slovenian.
The Groth had a little bit more age to it, being a 2005.
It still had some of the toasty notes, but it also had some
really nice tart cherry flavors as well. It was pretty mellow,
and I'm sure with a few more years on it, it would be
even more enjoyable.
The winner for me, was Red Hook's Clone 95 Chardonnay.
with The Prince in His Caves running a very close second,
I am a sucker for petrol-y, caramel flavors in my Chard-
and this delivered.
An extra thank you to P & J, for being such amazing hosts!
I also wanted to post a photo of the adorable Meester
(and amazing dinner) at their apartment.
The theme was Abe Shoener, who is doing some
pretty awesome things on both coasts.
On the west coast he has The Scholium Project
(the website is a wealth of info on their winemaking-
highly recommend reading through it)
and half of the wines in the Red Hook Winery on the east.
We started our tasting with
"Naucratis" from Scholium and
Clone 95 from Red Hook, both 2009
Naucratis is a Verdelho and Clone 95 is a
Chardonnay. Surprisingly, I preferred the
Chard! It was reminiscent of a lovely white
Burgundy. 36 months on neutral oak gave it
some pretty floral notes but also some petrol,
and because the grapes are from Long Island
you still get those typical stony notes on the back.
The Naucratis just kind of fell flat for me,
I wanted more from the nose, and more acidity
on the palate. It was, however, a good pairing
with sharp cheese.
The net 2 wines were Scholium's The Prince in His Caves,
and the unphotographed Red Hook Gristina Chard.
The Prince and the Gristina are both skin fermented.
The nose on the Prince made me shout (with joy).
Semi-typical Sauv Blanc nose but with a little more
Yuzu, herbs, and light funkiness. I don't really wear perfume
but if I did I'd want the scent to be something like this.
On the palate it had great acidity and a fuller body, I really
loved this wine. As for the Gristina the nose was more of
apricots and herbs, there was definitely a little menthol
hiding somewhere in there. Very refreshing and balanced.
Now for the reds, we tasted the Red Hook Rebirth from
the Sea-which, I should note was named before Sandy struck.
If you don't know Red Hook was basically destroyed because of
Sandy. They recently opened their doors again, the husband and
I are planning a trip out there soon.) Brico Babelico from Scholium
and Groth's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Brico clocked in
at 17.14% alcohol. It is a Barolo style Petite Sirah, and good
gracious it is packing heat, and smells of pancakes. (read: maple
syrup) It was a little too big for me, I felt like I couldn't really enjoy it
and you'd think that it might just need food but I actually think that
food made it worse. The Red Hook wine was a
Bordeaux blend (Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc) and this one
I kind of liked but the presence of vanilla always kind of halts
my taste buds. Sometimes I feel like it hides the varietals under
a cloak of oaky spice- but if I had to choose
oak for my wine I'd take French or Slovenian.
The Groth had a little bit more age to it, being a 2005.
It still had some of the toasty notes, but it also had some
really nice tart cherry flavors as well. It was pretty mellow,
and I'm sure with a few more years on it, it would be
even more enjoyable.
The winner for me, was Red Hook's Clone 95 Chardonnay.
with The Prince in His Caves running a very close second,
I am a sucker for petrol-y, caramel flavors in my Chard-
and this delivered.
An extra thank you to P & J, for being such amazing hosts!
I also wanted to post a photo of the adorable Meester
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Meal Plan: Week 2
So the budget of $80 already kind of went out the window...
For this week we ended up needing more things from the grocery store
than from the greenmarket. (nuts, peanut butter, berries, bananas etc.)
But we also made adjustments to buy more of the things that we ran out of
last week (apples, spinach, other fruits)
But I think the whole process really went well.
We had delicious food to eat, every single day and no
additional money was spent on food. Here is this week's list
I didn't do anything really breakfast-y because we
usually just have oatmeal. I have muesli (misspelled)
on the list but I never found good dried fruits (sans sulphur)
So that is kind of going by the wayside.
Spiced Halibut on Fennel/Grapefruit Slaw (we used tilefish)
Creamy Tomato Mushroom Pasta (we will be adding ground turkey)
Roasted Beets on Greens
Sesame Kale Salad
Lunch meat for sammy's
Veggies for juicing
I made the Westphalian Beef Stew on Sunday so that will be a nice
dish to carry us through the week, and last night the husband made
roasted tilefish with a grapefruit slaw. It was ridiculously delicious.
We had a very small amount of things leftover last week,
we've been trying to find ways to use them or
if it is an item that I can use for stock, I'll just
throw it in my freezer bag filled with scraps
(a fantastic tip that I got from my domestic goddess
friend, Rebecca)
I think this project is going well so far.
Now I really can't wait for the spring/summer
harvests to happen. I am dying for some tri-star strawberries,
heirloom tomatoes and fresh peas.
For this week we ended up needing more things from the grocery store
than from the greenmarket. (nuts, peanut butter, berries, bananas etc.)
But we also made adjustments to buy more of the things that we ran out of
last week (apples, spinach, other fruits)
But I think the whole process really went well.
We had delicious food to eat, every single day and no
additional money was spent on food. Here is this week's list
I didn't do anything really breakfast-y because we
usually just have oatmeal. I have muesli (misspelled)
on the list but I never found good dried fruits (sans sulphur)
So that is kind of going by the wayside.
Spiced Halibut on Fennel/Grapefruit Slaw (we used tilefish)
Creamy Tomato Mushroom Pasta (we will be adding ground turkey)
Roasted Beets on Greens
Sesame Kale Salad
Lunch meat for sammy's
Veggies for juicing
I made the Westphalian Beef Stew on Sunday so that will be a nice
dish to carry us through the week, and last night the husband made
roasted tilefish with a grapefruit slaw. It was ridiculously delicious.
We had a very small amount of things leftover last week,
we've been trying to find ways to use them or
if it is an item that I can use for stock, I'll just
throw it in my freezer bag filled with scraps
(a fantastic tip that I got from my domestic goddess
friend, Rebecca)
I think this project is going well so far.
Now I really can't wait for the spring/summer
harvests to happen. I am dying for some tri-star strawberries,
heirloom tomatoes and fresh peas.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Just Like Honey pt. 2
So the countertop Mead is is happening.
Not necessarily bubbling up in the way the kombucha does,
but there is a release of pressure when you unscrew the cap
and the smell is definitely that of fermenting honey.
According to the book, there should be an intense bubbling
so we'll see if that happens. I'm wondering if I'm just expecting
something grand and the above photo is considered "intense".
Oh well, this is a learning process. I'll keep everyone posted!
Not necessarily bubbling up in the way the kombucha does,
but there is a release of pressure when you unscrew the cap
and the smell is definitely that of fermenting honey.
According to the book, there should be an intense bubbling
so we'll see if that happens. I'm wondering if I'm just expecting
something grand and the above photo is considered "intense".
Oh well, this is a learning process. I'll keep everyone posted!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Latest Obsessions
*Lopez di Heredia 1995 Vina Bosconia ($97) &
Zilliken Saarbuger Rausch Riesling Kabinett ($34)
Ok these are above the normal wine budget, but
they both blew my mind. I never imagined I'd
a Spanish wine that was so magical- I think it's the mix of
new and french oak, and the extreme aging.
*The Story of Cosmetics
This is why I use baking soda and apple
cider vinegar on my hair, coconut oil on my skin,
and natural toothpaste. Because sodium lauryl sulfate
is in everything, and if I'm trying to get it out of my shampoo
why would I want to brush my teeth with it.
*Getting Rid of Clutter
I started going through our studio yesterday and cleaning
some things out. We now have 3 massive bags of stuff to
donate to Salvation Army, and I haven't even gone through
the whole room yet. I'm not going to go super minimalist,
but I don't think I need to hang on to my whole Kinder Surprise
collection (just the little Painty Ten figure) or to my required
reading for some of the Pratt classes.
*Breathing Deeply
It fights anxiety and stress, and gets me to sleep quicker.
Something I've taken from yoga classes.
*Peanut Butter Bites
They are raw, and ridiculously delicious
AND they really help with my cravings for sweets.
Did I mention that they are highly addictive?
*I can see buds on the trees in the backyard.
Despite the flurries that keep showing up,
I know that spring is trying to break through.
Zilliken Saarbuger Rausch Riesling Kabinett ($34)
Ok these are above the normal wine budget, but
they both blew my mind. I never imagined I'd
a Spanish wine that was so magical- I think it's the mix of
new and french oak, and the extreme aging.
*The Story of Cosmetics
This is why I use baking soda and apple
cider vinegar on my hair, coconut oil on my skin,
and natural toothpaste. Because sodium lauryl sulfate
is in everything, and if I'm trying to get it out of my shampoo
why would I want to brush my teeth with it.
*Getting Rid of Clutter
I started going through our studio yesterday and cleaning
some things out. We now have 3 massive bags of stuff to
donate to Salvation Army, and I haven't even gone through
the whole room yet. I'm not going to go super minimalist,
but I don't think I need to hang on to my whole Kinder Surprise
collection (just the little Painty Ten figure) or to my required
reading for some of the Pratt classes.
*Breathing Deeply
It fights anxiety and stress, and gets me to sleep quicker.
Something I've taken from yoga classes.
*Peanut Butter Bites
They are raw, and ridiculously delicious
AND they really help with my cravings for sweets.
Did I mention that they are highly addictive?
*I can see buds on the trees in the backyard.
Despite the flurries that keep showing up,
I know that spring is trying to break through.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Just Like Honey
I randomly pulled out my book on fermentation last night
and started flipping through it. I landed on the page for how to
make Mead and it seemed so easy, the husband and I had to try.
1 part raw honey to 4 parts filtered water in a jar with a lid
shake vigorously to combine and continue to shake a few
times a day for about 10 days. (a jar without a lid is recommended for
honey that isn't raw) Be sure to release the pressure
that will build up by unscrewing the lid after shaking.
The natural yeasts in the raw honey should start the fermentation
and the bubbling should begin.
This is a shot of day 2, after shaking there is a thick foam of
bubbles at the top. I was told our honey was raw-I guess
this will be the true test!
After our little experiment last night I started really
reading through the book and it is extremely fascinating.
Just the history of fermentation, the current war on bacteria,
and all of the things that you can ferment. I told the
husband that I thought it would be awesome if we had a whole
countertop of jars with fermenting foods in them. We already have
the kombucha looking like an alien specimen-why not add a few more?
and started flipping through it. I landed on the page for how to
make Mead and it seemed so easy, the husband and I had to try.
1 part raw honey to 4 parts filtered water in a jar with a lid
shake vigorously to combine and continue to shake a few
times a day for about 10 days. (a jar without a lid is recommended for
honey that isn't raw) Be sure to release the pressure
that will build up by unscrewing the lid after shaking.
The natural yeasts in the raw honey should start the fermentation
and the bubbling should begin.
This is a shot of day 2, after shaking there is a thick foam of
bubbles at the top. I was told our honey was raw-I guess
this will be the true test!
After our little experiment last night I started really
reading through the book and it is extremely fascinating.
Just the history of fermentation, the current war on bacteria,
and all of the things that you can ferment. I told the
husband that I thought it would be awesome if we had a whole
countertop of jars with fermenting foods in them. We already have
the kombucha looking like an alien specimen-why not add a few more?
Saturday, March 16, 2013
The Meal Plan
Something that I have been trying to work on
is cutting down my food waste. I read that each year
Americans waste 33 million tons of food, an absolutely
nauseating amount - don't you think?
I've definitely been guilty of this-I'll buy too much
of something or forget about some leftovers in the fridge
next thing I know, they've passed their prime and it's time
for the trash. I feel like this is a common issue, especially for
people that cook a lot.
The husband and I are putting ourselves on a bit of a budget
for the next month or so, and one of the things that we've decided
to do was to plan out our weekly meals before shopping
and then buy accordingly. This way we have food to eat throughout
the whole week, and (hopefully) nothing will go to waste.
I'm hoping to keep our weekly budget around $80
This week's menu options look like this
Breakfast
Oatmeal
Apple/Banana Muffins
Juice
Eggs
Snacks
Channa Nuts (roasted chickpeas)
White Bean dip
Raw peanut butter cookies
Fruit
Lunch
Salad
Sandwiches
Entrees
Roasted Portobello Mushrooms with Kale
Mushroom and Leek Barley Risotto
Enchiladas Verdes con pollo
Westphalian Beef Stew with root vegetable mash
I think it looks pretty good for week 1
I'll keep you posted on the progress.
is cutting down my food waste. I read that each year
Americans waste 33 million tons of food, an absolutely
nauseating amount - don't you think?
I've definitely been guilty of this-I'll buy too much
of something or forget about some leftovers in the fridge
next thing I know, they've passed their prime and it's time
for the trash. I feel like this is a common issue, especially for
people that cook a lot.
The husband and I are putting ourselves on a bit of a budget
for the next month or so, and one of the things that we've decided
to do was to plan out our weekly meals before shopping
and then buy accordingly. This way we have food to eat throughout
the whole week, and (hopefully) nothing will go to waste.
I'm hoping to keep our weekly budget around $80
This week's menu options look like this
Breakfast
Oatmeal
Apple/Banana Muffins
Juice
Eggs
Snacks
Channa Nuts (roasted chickpeas)
White Bean dip
Raw peanut butter cookies
Fruit
Lunch
Salad
Sandwiches
Entrees
Roasted Portobello Mushrooms with Kale
Mushroom and Leek Barley Risotto
Enchiladas Verdes con pollo
Westphalian Beef Stew with root vegetable mash
I think it looks pretty good for week 1
I'll keep you posted on the progress.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Latest Obsessions
*Angie's Truffle Risotto
couldn't.stop.eating.
*The Battle for Wine and Love-or- How I Saved the World from Parkerization
by :Alice Feiring
Great book about natural wines, raised a lot of questions
highly recommend it if you love wine.
*Spring Cleaning
The give-away pile is getting pretty huge-
I also discovered dresses that I forgot I had.
bonus!
*Charles Joguet Chinon
dreamy, dreamy cab franc.
*The baking soda/apple cider vinegar hair treatments are finally
agreeing with my hair. Took about 5 weeks to adjust
Mission accomplished. No more chemicals.
couldn't.stop.eating.
*The Battle for Wine and Love-or- How I Saved the World from Parkerization
by :Alice Feiring
Great book about natural wines, raised a lot of questions
highly recommend it if you love wine.
*Spring Cleaning
The give-away pile is getting pretty huge-
I also discovered dresses that I forgot I had.
bonus!
*Charles Joguet Chinon
dreamy, dreamy cab franc.
*The baking soda/apple cider vinegar hair treatments are finally
agreeing with my hair. Took about 5 weeks to adjust
Mission accomplished. No more chemicals.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
A Farewell
Goodbye, beloved Vans slip-ons.
2004-2013
I got these shoes before I left for Charleston,
I'm fairly confident that I was the only girl down
there wearing skull sneakers and not Rainbow flip flops.
(very popular in the south-for whatever reason)
These sneakers moved up to NY with me and that is
where they really met their demise. The city is so cruel to shoes.
I did try to wear them last summer but they barely functioned
as footwear at that point. I had to part with them, and as
I put them in the trash my heart did break a little.
I should note that I'm not a hoarder, just a sucker for nostalgia.
2004-2013
I got these shoes before I left for Charleston,
I'm fairly confident that I was the only girl down
there wearing skull sneakers and not Rainbow flip flops.
(very popular in the south-for whatever reason)
These sneakers moved up to NY with me and that is
where they really met their demise. The city is so cruel to shoes.
I did try to wear them last summer but they barely functioned
as footwear at that point. I had to part with them, and as
I put them in the trash my heart did break a little.
I should note that I'm not a hoarder, just a sucker for nostalgia.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Pursuit
If I experience/hear/see something twice in a short period of time
I started to wonder why happiness played such a big part in the minds of
people. Then I realized that it's part of the American mantra.
"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
What they don't tell you is that you need to find your own form of happiness.
So I encourage you to find it. Whether it is something huge and life changing
or something as small as taking time to cook dinner or enjoying how the warm
sun feels on your face.
Make thoughtful daily decisions, stop and enjoy things, do what is right for you.
Perhaps that should be the new mantra..
for further curiosity:
The Happy Movie
The Happiness Project
I consider it something worth delving deeper into. Happiness
is the latest of those things. The Happiness Project sparked this.
I read about it briefly yesterday, and then last night- in a
continued conversation about being happy- my friend also
mentioned it.
This is something I've been working on in my personal life,
finding happiness. When I say that I don't mean that I'm struggling
to get through a deep depression or that I'm unhappy with my place in
this big world. It means that I'm trying to enjoy life. Being able to
look back on each day and be happy about the decisions that I made
for myself, whether or not people agree or understand.
look back on each day and be happy about the decisions that I made
for myself, whether or not people agree or understand.
The husband and I have started reading about Buddhism
(part the inspiration? MCA) Because let's be honest,
you cannot find something if you never start to look for it.
And we felt like that was a good place to start. I was about to write
that it's less about religion when it became apparent that labels
are so important to everyone, why did I have to clarify that
it's not about religion? Why do I feel the need to ascribe my
eating habits to an -ism? Why do we constantly have to justify
our choices? Maybe true beauty (and happiness) lies in living without
some of the constraints. By forging your own path and finding ways
to make things fit for you.
it's not about religion? Why do I feel the need to ascribe my
eating habits to an -ism? Why do we constantly have to justify
our choices? Maybe true beauty (and happiness) lies in living without
some of the constraints. By forging your own path and finding ways
to make things fit for you.
It's really an interesting concept, happiness, but also something
that is so different for everyone. On the materialistic level I used to
find happiness in shopping at Burberry, at the sweet age of 19 I felt that
being able to afford these"luxury" items gave me a sense of feeling fancy.
Now, in terms of consumption happiness I find the most happiness
getting lost in used bookstores, buying wine, and shopping
at the greenmarket. It changed from items to experiences, engaging with
the farmers at the market, taking the food home to make dinner with
the husband, sitting down and enjoyinga bottle of wine together or with
a group of friends. What makes you happy? How has it changed from
a decade ago? It's interesting to see how priorities and beliefs shift.
I think it's possible to see so much beauty in those changes.
at the greenmarket. It changed from items to experiences, engaging with
the farmers at the market, taking the food home to make dinner with
the husband, sitting down and enjoyinga bottle of wine together or with
a group of friends. What makes you happy? How has it changed from
a decade ago? It's interesting to see how priorities and beliefs shift.
I think it's possible to see so much beauty in those changes.
I started to wonder why happiness played such a big part in the minds of
people. Then I realized that it's part of the American mantra.
"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
What they don't tell you is that you need to find your own form of happiness.
So I encourage you to find it. Whether it is something huge and life changing
or something as small as taking time to cook dinner or enjoying how the warm
sun feels on your face.
Make thoughtful daily decisions, stop and enjoy things, do what is right for you.
Perhaps that should be the new mantra..
for further curiosity:
The Happy Movie
The Happiness Project
Sunday, March 3, 2013
A Year in Books: February
I did a lot of reading last month, but I really only finished one book
The Moving Finger- Agatha Christie.
Everything else has been sections of bigger reference books (Vino Italiano and
other wine books) or it's been from magazines (Living, Bon Appetit, Lucky Peach)
This Lucky Peach issue is especially worth reading. The article by Michael
Pollan is excellent, and the content is always way more interesting than your
standard food magazines. Pick it up if you can find it.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Spring Wish List
Things are slowly beginning to change,
the sun is feeling (slightly) warmer, little daffodil greens
are popping up in the gardens, and my patience
with winter has worn extremely thin.
Perhaps making a list of spring activities will
pull me from the final throes of winter blues.
*Meander around the Met's new exhibitions,
grab an Austrian treat at Cafe Sabarsky, then take
in the view at the Central Park reservoir
*Stay at The Graham & Co. for a day or 2
*Explore the labyrinth that is the West Village
(eat at Buvette again)
*Take the ferry
*Go to the Cherry Blossom Festival @ Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
*Take a free yoga classes in Socrates Sculpture Park
*Hang out in Beacon, NY for a day
*Get out to Spa Castle for some pool/sauna time and some
delicious Flushing fare.
*See the Royal Ballet of Cambodia @ BAM
*Maybe get up to Stone Barns....just maybe.
the sun is feeling (slightly) warmer, little daffodil greens
are popping up in the gardens, and my patience
with winter has worn extremely thin.
Perhaps making a list of spring activities will
pull me from the final throes of winter blues.
*Meander around the Met's new exhibitions,
grab an Austrian treat at Cafe Sabarsky, then take
in the view at the Central Park reservoir
*Stay at The Graham & Co. for a day or 2
*Explore the labyrinth that is the West Village
(eat at Buvette again)
*Take the ferry
*Go to the Cherry Blossom Festival @ Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
*Take a free yoga classes in Socrates Sculpture Park
*Hang out in Beacon, NY for a day
*Get out to Spa Castle for some pool/sauna time and some
delicious Flushing fare.
*See the Royal Ballet of Cambodia @ BAM
*Maybe get up to Stone Barns....just maybe.
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