Alright confession time: This is not my first time riding in this rodeo. I’ve actually chowed down at Westville more than once and I seriously cannot get enough of it.
Typical monstrous portion. Pictured here: Almond Crusted Trout over mixed greens with sliced pears, avocado, marinated red onions and lemon dill dressing. SHA-ZAM.
Alright, let’s talk fancy New York dining.
A lot of it, over-priced. Some of it, over-hyped. Neither of which I am a fan of.
HOWEVER. There are some places worth that extra splurge.
For my birthday this year, the parental units and I went to Casa Mono (17th st and Irving Place), my very first Michelin Star restaurant experience.
It was incredible.
Squid Ink Bomba Rice and Taylor Bay Scallops
Lobster with Spicy Sweet Potato and Agua de Coco (left) and Sardinas Fritas (right)
We also ate some bacalao croquetas, pork stuffed calamares with wild mushrooms, setas with garlic, and warm pumpkin and apple pie. Not only did it completely live up to my expectations, but some of the dishes absolutely floored me. The pork stuffed calamares was particularly impressive from a technical standpoint, but I think my favorite was the squid ink rice dish pictured above.
The restaurant in itself is pretty small; the kitchen and dining room are all in one space, making for a very cozy, comforting feel. All of the staff were very personable, and the extremely knowledgable house sommelier made me consider a new career… that of professional wine drinker. I think I’m already halfway to pro, anyway.
In short, Casa Mono feels a lot like home. And by home I mean a warm, safe place where exorbitant amounts of quality food are continuously brought to you and you never want to leave.
Whenever I go back to North Carolina, there are three things that I always make sure I stock up on: barbecue, hush puppies, and sweet tea.
Sorry, but there’s just no fancy yankee establishment that could ever satiate this particular hunger.
Ole Time Barbecue (the trailer-looking thing off of Hillsborough St)
The best part about Ole Time? Besides the kick-ass food and homey locale, is the fact that stuffing your face to the point of tears and unbuttoning your top pants button is not only accepted, but 100% encouraged.
Oh and did I mention that included with every meal is homemade hot sauce and free pups??
Here’s the picture I came up with today for a belated holiday card to an old friend, what do you think?
SLASH If you want a copy, let me know.
I really love sending things in the mail.
icanbeyourbabygirlduhh asked: i found your tumblr url on a 10 dollar bill!! love it!!
Awww this is so great!!! Thanks new follower!
That $10 bill was most likely used for a ridiculously large feast in Chinatown…
they usually only accept cash down there and I love me some pork buns.
MURRY CHRISTMAS!!!
In my opinion, the only things missing from my Christmas were latkes. More specifically, fancy latkes like these.
Mmmmmm latkes.
My brother met someone at UConn that went to Bacon Academy… Need I say more?
Who woulda thought the guy on the left would be so lucky to have such an AMAZING daughter like me today?
Yup. it was the big guy’s birthday celebration last week, and boy, did we do it UP.
I somehow got my hands on the elusive phone number for the Bohemian (East Village secret). You normally only get the number to make reservations by knowing someone who has been there before or by contacting a generic email that tends to shoot you down the first few times you attempt. But let me tell you, it was SOOO worth it.
Set up much like a lounge or living room, the restaurant only seats 25 people and serves as a “members-only” bar until about 2am.
The food was amazing: cold cuts, fresh vegetable fondue, sea urchin croquette, short rib sashimi, tuna sashimi over rice, grilled sea bass with vegetables all spread over a 3-hour eat fest.
Dessert was chocolate creme brule and panna cotta with tapioca.
We know how to do.
The weekend before last I went to the greatest human gathering on earth, the North Carolina State Fair. Below is a first-comer’s account of its greatness:
marina and i journeyed to north carolina this weekend for the state fair. this is me with a turkey leg. please note the beams of light shining down on all the turkey legs in the background.
Because the State fair is on the cutting edge of all things fried/on a stick, we obviously ate until our arteries cried… Then we ate some more.
This year’s newest creation was deep fried butter. Last year it was chocolate covered bacon; the year before it was deep fried coke.
Quite simply, the State fair is what Amurican dreams are made of. It’s beautiful.
On top of the fair and copious amounts of Chick-fil-a, my mom also treated us to some AMAZING Japanese food at Yuri (Cary, NC). Thanks momma!
