A New England Timeline

Mr. Louisville and I just got back from a trip around New England.  It was a lot of seafood, driving, and fun.

New YorkWe started by flying into Long Island and rented a car for our adventure.  We headed straight to our hotel in Brooklyn.  After a quick freshening up we hit the town. Walked across the Manhattan Bridge and explored downtown.

Stopped for a beer at Loreley then ending up strolling through Little Italy and stopped for another drink at La Nonna.

We ventured back to Brooklyn for dinner near our hotel at Forno Rossa Pizzeria with a dessert shake from Shake Shack.

New Jersey
The next morning we slept in and packed up to head to New Jersey.  This was going to be a quick stop so we grabbed an early lunch from Fiore Deli of Hoboken.  It was amazing!  An old school deli that makes their own mozzarella.  Delicious.  We took our sandwiches to Frank Sinatra Park and strolled around on a perfect day.

Connecticut
After we were full on sandwiches we headed to New Haven. We explored Yale's campus and stopped in Anna Liffey's Irish Bar per the recommendation of a friend then another Irish Bar because there wasn't much else open on a Monday afternoon.

Honestly, I found New Haven to be a bit boring but we did have a delicious dinner of pizza (again!) at Frank Pepe Pizza Napoletana.  Afterwards we picked up some beers and desserts (cannoli for him, cookie for me) to take back to our hotel to watch Olympics.

Rhode Island
Next up was Rhode Island.  A friend of ours went to Brown and she gave us the best recommendations!  We immediately went for lunch at East Side Pockets where I had the most excellent Falafel and Greek salad.  We walked around Brown's campus a bit then I went to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum.  There was a great exhibit on Todd Oldham Fashion and overall a really great collection.  Loved it!

After a few beers in our hotel room we went out for dinner at Red Fez.

We shared the pickle plate, kale salad, poutine and mussels. Everything was very good and it was a hot little spot. Of course we had to get dessert at Pastiche.  We split a cheesecake brownie and then called it a night.

Vermont
This was a big driving day for us.  About 4 hours to Vermont where we went straight to the Ben and Jerry's factory. We took the tour and sampled their Strawberry Cheesecake ice-cream.  It was worth the drive.

We stopped in the little town of Waterbury Vermont for lunch at the Stowe Street Cafe.  I had a really great corn and broccoli chowder with a rainbow salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette.  Then it was another 4 hours to our next destination but the drive was absolutely gorgeous and totally flew by.

Maine
We stayed in an adorable Airbnb in Portland and it was perfect.  We checked in, dropped our stuff and then hit the town.  We walked to the downtown area near the port.  We stopped for drinks at Liquid Riot Bottling Company then put our name down for dinner at Eventide Oyster Co.  While we waited we had some cheap drinks at a dive around the corner - Tomaso's Canteen.

Dinner was great!  We split a clambake some oysters and hamachi.  Definitely worth the wait!

And of course more dessert... we walked to Gelato Fiasco for our nightcap.
The next morning we went to The Bayou Kitchen for brunch which was just okay and then drove out to Fort Williams Park to walk around and check out the Portland Head Light (light house).
I loved Portland and definitely want to go back!

New Hampshire
We left Maine and drove a short hour to Portsmouth New Hampshire.

We parked and walked through the downtown area stopping in some shops and for beers at The Portsmouth Brewery.  The highlight was lunch at Sanders Fish Market!  We shared a lobster roll and clam chowder.  LOVED!

Massachusetts
After all of our adventuring it was time to settle in Boston for a few nights as Mr. Louisville had a work ditty.  When we got settled into our hotel and M returned our rental car we walked to the Barking Crab for dinner.  Kind of an awkward seating situation but nothing a few beers and seafood platter couldn't fix.

The next day we went for a run in the park so I went out for an early-ish lunch at Gourmet Dumpling House via a recommendation I read on a Design Sponge city guide.  It was a good thing I got there early because by noon there was a line out the door!  I enjoyed some steamed veggie dumplings, veggie soup with tofu and some fried pork and leek dumplings.  I felt like I stuffed myself so afterwards I walked a little over 3 miles to Harvard Square. I popped in some shops and checked out campus before I decided to Uber back to town.  I used Uber Pool for the first time, cheap and easy!

For dinner that night we went back to Harvard Square to the Russel House Tavern.  Another seafood platter and then a prix fixe with a wine pairing for restaurant week.  I had some tuna hamachi and some kind of mushroom pasta situation.  It was good but with the cocktails before dinner, rose during and then a pairing with my meal it was too much!  We stopped by Mike's Pastry for dessert but I hardly touched my Boston cream puff.  I was done!

The next morning was feeling a little rough so I walked a few blocks to Mike & Patty's for a breakfast sandwich.  Much needed!  After the week of travelling and eating I was feeling run down so I went to the movies. I saw a matinee of Suicide Squad and I really enjoyed it.  Afterwards I walked around some more, shopped a bit and treated myself to a milkshake at JP Licks.  Fun Fact: they call milkshakes Frappe's there.

For dinner that night we walked to JJ Foley's Cafe (another Irish bar!) for drinks before dinner at Boston Chops.  Really the only picture I took in Boston was of the Halibut I ordered and devoured!  A great last meal.

New England, you are charming!  I'll be back!

Where I ate in San Diego

I tagged along an yet another work trip to San Diego with Mr. Louisville. We stayed downtown and it was pretty low-key.  Got to work in a few visits with baby bro and Uncle Eddy in North Park but otherwise just chilled and explored the downtown area a bit.  So in lieu of another timeline I'll skip straight to the good stuff - where we ate!  Our hotel had a free hot breakfast and happy hour that we hit up a few times which is why I don't mention breakfasts below.

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We arrive fairly late and grab a snack and drink at Kansas City Barbeque.  Ew.  Cold fries, okay wings.

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Lunch with Eli at Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria.  We split a big pie with pepperoni and elephant garlic.  It was so good and the guys working there were so cute and gave excellent service.  Always a plus in my book.

Fancy dinner at Water Grill. Give me all the seafood!! 

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Lunch again in North Park at Swami's Cafe. I had a tuna fish sandwich which was quite good.

We had a reception in the evening with wine and cheese so we had a fun dinner at Barleymash afterwards.  Excellent bar food and a fun time!  Highly recommend. 

After dinner drinks at some bar in the Gaslamp district.

Heyyy...

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Lunch at La Puerta for some super delicious Mexican food.  Everyone in our group loved it.

Afterwards we went on a little walking brewery tour to Half Door Brewing (small and super chill), Mission Brewery (dog friendly and lively) and Ballast Point (too crowded for my liking and I was craving a cocktail over a beer at this point).  

Shuffleboard at Mission.

Pre-dinner drink at Entrada mainly because Ballast Point was crazy busy.  Had the displeasure of ordering two of the same cocktail which tasted completely different from each other.  Not good.

Dinner at Civico 1845 in Little Italy for a nice little Italian meal.  The meatball was the tastiest thing I ate.

Little Italy with my Italian.

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Lunch before we leave at Zanzibar Cafe. Okay kale salad and a strange chili to end our trip.

We'll be back to San Diego yet again this March for a wedding so until next time!

Austin... a timeline!

Another trip, another timeline.

Saturday
Head to Louisville to catch my flight.
Arrive in Austin around 9pm.  Mr. Louisville arrives shortly after that and we grab our car and head to the hotel.
After a quick change we venture out on 6th Street.  Craziness... I can't imagine going to college here!
We duck into Eurekas! for a late supper.  I had an amazing kale and watermelon salad. 
Side note: I was trying to explain Eureeka's Castle to M but he had no idea what I was talking about.

Sunday
We head out first thing to Ennis TX to spend the day with his family.

We returned to Austin later that evening and met up with some friends at the Cedar Door.
Afterwards, we walked back to our hotel via 6th Street and ducked into Coyote Ugly.  It totally ruined the movie for me.

Monday
Mr. Louisville is in town for a conference so I have the day to myself!  I worked out at the hotel gym then met Mr. L and some of his colleagues for lunch at The Shady Grove.  I had the cobb salad and it was seriously a high lite of the trip for me!
Afterwards I shopped around.

That evening we went to Vince Young's Steakhouse for dinner with drinks before at Handlebar.

Tuesday
I was able to squeeze in another workout before taking myself out to lunch at Moonshine Grill.  I tried a local beer, pimento cheese and a delicious salad.

Afterwords I went to the Contemporary Art Museum and ducked into a few shops and then did a little more exploring.
That evening we went to Black's BBQ for supper then I called it an early night because... too much food!!

Wednesday
Another quick workout and then out to lunch at Numero 28 for the worst meal of the trip. It was so hot and I had planned to do more exploring outside but I relented and went to a cool little movie theater instead.  I saw Martian and LOVED IT!  Afterwards I made my way back to the hotel stopping at the shops along the way.

Cool blue.

That night was date night!  M and I went to the bat bridge and waited around for an hour for those stupid bats to emerge but gave up because we were going to miss our dinner reservations at Parkside.  We shared oysters, crab fritters and great kale salad, strip steak and amazing pumpkin beignets.

Thursday
We both woke up and were able to get a quick workout in before packing up for our return home.  We stopped for lunch at Homeslice Pizza which was definitely  another food high lite!  Nice crisp crust, fresh toppings... everything I love about pizza!  On the way to the airport we drove by a strip of the cutest looking shops!  Was bummed I hadn't discovered them sooner.  Next time, for sure.

So long Austin... Until next time!

610 Magnolia

Mr. Louisville might not be the best at coming up with gift ideas. But that's fine by me because that means I get to choose what I want!  For Christmas this year, I chose a trip to 610 Magnolia since it's more fun to spend money doing things together instead of getting stuff.  (Related: We are leaving for Jamaica in 10 days. Happy Birthday to me :)

The evening was perfect.  We grabbed a drink beforehand at Magnolia Bar (known to the locals as Mag Bar) and then it was off for our 7:30p.m. reservation.

The dining room was small and cozy.  

We each opted for the 6 course prix fixe menu over the 4 course and whenever there was an option of 2 things we ordered 1 of each so we could try everything.

Because it was a special night I even sprung for the wine pairings! I loved our waiter for the generous pours and messing up on a course resulting in 2 glasses of champagne instead of 1.  Score!
Chef Ed Lee came out of the kitchen and greeted a few tables.  I wish I would've gotten a picture but I kept quiet.  It was still cool to see him since I'm a huge Top Chef fan.

It was one of the longest dinners I ever had.  We were there for about 2.5 hours but it felt relaxed and fun.

The meal was excellent.  All small plates, intricate, delicious.  I asked the waiter for a copy of the menu to have it framed because I imagine it will probably be the only time we go since the bill was around $350 for two people!  

I'll spare you every last garnish but here was the gist of it.  Oh!  And excuse my poor iPhone photos, I felt nerdy enough trying to take a picture of every course!

To start

//610 BLT

First Course
// Bison Rib-eye Carpaccio

Second Course

// Duck Confit and Foie Gras Ravioli

// Surf & Turf: Veal Sweetbreads, lobster mushrooms, grits, mustard seeds

Third Course
// Buttermilk Panna Cotta, Fennel, Pickled Grapes, Celery, Red Wine, Orange Pumpkin, Smoked Greens, Country Ham
This course was the salad and you were meant to take a little panna cotta in with every bite, like a dressing.

Fourth Course
// Diver Scallops, Butternut Gnocchi

// King Crab, Cashew, Banana, Mango, Coconut, Cilantro and Mint

Fifth Course

// Seared Duck Breast

// Beef Rib Eye

Sixth Course

// American Artisan Cheese Duo

// Three Chocolates, Saison-Orange Ice Cream
This was the only course we didn't 'split!  I want all the cheese all the time!!

To finish

Chocolate Truffles

These truffles left quite a last impression!!  They were minty and fresh and smooth.  The perfect last bite.

Overall, I was seriously impressed and so fortunate that Mr. Louisville was up for splurging on a most excellent experience.

Read, Watch, Eat: Volume 2

Read
I pre-ordered Lena Dunham's book, Not That Kind of Girl, and I'm liking it.  Like, not love.  I haven't devoured it like I thought I would but her essays are interesting.  Very much like her tv show, GIRLS, I can't stop but it's nothing I'd re-watch or re-read.

Watch
I don't subscribe to any cable service, I'm a Netflix and Hulu gal.  So, I'm throwing things back to one of my favorite tv shows of all time. Gilmore Girls!  I'm currently on a casual binge of the entire series.  It is so witty and fun!  The best part about watching it for the second time through (aside from no commercials!) is discovering some guest stars.

Like Jon Hamm.  Helllloooo, Mad Men!  Another series that I've watched twice.

And Nick Offerman aka RON SWANSON of Parks and Rec fame.

Eat
I hit up Kenwood with my sister and her bebe today and we stopped by Maggiano's for lunch.  This was the first time going somewhere nice to eat with Charlotte.  It was... different. Bebe was great but it was a tiny bit hectic. Related: I tipped 30%.

Gratuitous pic of Bebe and me!

Anyway, we restrained ourselves today but we love love love their fried zucchini.  It's so good! I make a version for myself in the summer when fresh zucchini is aplenty so yeah, it's a favorite.  So, I was excited to try Trader Joe's Zucchini Fries.  Verdict: I was impressed!  I kept them in the oven a bit longer to ensure optimal crisp and ate them with my favorite go-to marinara. I'll be adding it to my TJ list!

Good Eatin' in Louisville

It's no secret that I have been spending lots of time in Louisville as of late.  One of my favorite things about the city, aside from Mr. Louisville, are all the restaurants. There are so many and I just don't feel like Newport/Cincinnati compares!  I've listed some of my memorable food moments below.

I'm still thinking about the cornmeal pancake I had at Silver Dollar months ago.

North End Cafe is my favorite.  Maybe my most favorite?  I've only ever been for brunch but I am obsessed with their salads. I like to pop in by myself and chat with Andrew at the bar.  We even invented our own drink.  A Black and Rad.  Stiegl Radler on the bottom Guinness on the top and the perfect brunch beer.

I had the most amazing ribs at Doc Crow's and I really dug the atmosphere.

Cumberland Brews is my go-to when I want to grab a beer.  Also, their fried green tomatoes are delish!

I'm a sucker for some good Mexican food and El Camino is a fun place for it.  The atmosphere is the coolest!  I could eat chips and listen to the vintage surfer music all day. They were even nominated by Bon Appetit as one of their 50 best new restaurants for 2014!

Speaking of Mexican, we went to Wild Rita's before catching Bill Maher one night and I loved their cocktails!  WARNING: I LOVE spicy food so I was excited to try a sampling of their salsas.  However, their hottest, pinche caliente, was inedible.  TOO HOT!! Pinche caliente = Hot shit.

Mr. L's favorite restaurant is Ramsi's.  The service was too terrible the time I went there for me to take it seriously but they have a very eclectic menu so I'll definitely give it another try.  It reminds me of my Newport favorite, York St. Cafe, but 10 times the menu.

Monday night is wing night at Shenanigan's and I could drink their mixed BBQ/Hot wing sauce.  They also have my favorite kind of jalapeno poppers filled with cheddar cheese.  Bar food at it's best!

I've mentioned the burgers from Grind before.  So good!  But they've recently added a permanent location in addition to their food truck that I can't wait to try.

We stopped into Baby D's Bagel and Deli before a bike ride one day and I was seriously impressed.  Their bagel sandwiches are so good!   I crave a good veggie sandwich so I loved their Hogan's Fountain with cream cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, cheddar and brown mustard on a bialy.

Sapporo for sushi and hibachi has always treated us right!

Mr. Louisville loves his steak.  We've been to Jeff Ruby's and Morton's.  Jeff Ruby wins, obviously.  I'm not much of a steak snob but the service was amazing.

There are some places that are on our list like Mussel and Burger Bar, 610 Magnolia, Harvest, Bahn mi Hero, Sergio's, just about every new restaurant opening up on Bardstown Road and so many more!

What am I missing, Louisville?  Any other suggestions?

San Francisco, a timeline!

It's time for another timeline since I just returned from an 8 night trip to San Francisco.  Mr. Louisville was going for a variety of actuarial ditties and invited me to tag along.  Oh, hell yes.

**Fair warning: Long trip = long post.

Wednesday, July 18, 2014
Hop on a direct flight from CVG to SFO.  I leave at 5 and arrive at 7.  Score!
Tyler picks me up from the airport and takes me to his favorite little taqueria for chorizo tacos and beer.

The view from Tyler's balcony.

We go to his new apartment in the Cathedral district to have a bottle of wine, catch up and play Monopoly Deal. 
Since it doesn't take me long to adjust to the new time zone I stay until around 12:30am until he drops me off down the street at Hotel Nikko.

Thursday
Up and at 'em to check out the neighborhood shopping situation and meet up with Tracie.
We head to the Ferry Building to explore and then discovered Belden Place for lunch.  We decide on Belden Taverna because it had an outdoor dining area.  We each had the Warm Brussels Sprouts Caesar and split the asparagus.
After a little more shopping we retired to our rooms to get ready for the evening.
Around 6 Mr. L and I walked to Water Bar to meet a group for supper.
5 of us shared an obscene seafood platter of oysters, clams, shrimp, lobster, crab and ceviche.  Afterwards, I enjoyed the peach and fig salad with chevre stuffed squash blossoms, rosemary, watercress and white balsamic.
Perfection.

Friday
At 10am Tracie, Kathleen and I are off to walk 3 miles to rent bikes for the day. Coincidentally near Haight/Ashbury and a place called MILK Bar which reminds me of my homey, Damon.
We go on a nearly 3 hour tour of Golden Gate Park, along the coast, across the Golden Gate Bridge and into Sausalito.  Biking in SF is no joke!  No shame in walking the bikes up some big hills a few times.

A view along our ride.

We enjoy lunch with a view of the water at the Barrel House Tavern.
I have the grilled peaches and burrata salad with pistachios, honey, arugula and balsamic gastrique.  I also share the flatbread with local mushrooms, caramelized onions, fontina and ricotta cheese,arugula and truffle oil.
After lunch we take the Ferry back to the city, return our bikes and head back to the hotel.
From 5:30 - 7 we partake in free drinks and snacks at the Actuary recepection with our fellas.
Around 7 we go out with a group up many hilariously steep hills to dine at Osso Steakhouse. More seafood for me!  I have a large helping of iron skillet-roasted shrimp and mussles.

Saturday
Adventure day with Tyler!!
He picks me up at 8:30 and takes me to breakfast at Hollywood Cafe.  Seriously good fruit!! 
Afterwards we pick up supplies and head to Muir Beach.

The essentials: Champagne & OJ, Jerky, beer, wine, water.

Me and Tyler at Muir Beach.  A passerby offered to take our picture because he said we looked like we were having such a good time.

After we finished the bottle of champagne we head up Hwy. 1 to Point Reyes National Seashore.
We stop off at Kehoe Beach where we have to hike about a mile back to reach the shore.  Hardly anyone is there besides us.  Bliss!

The hike back to Kehoe beach.

After Tyler drops me off back at my hotel I get ready for date night!
Mr. L and I head to Tony's Pizza to put our name in for a table and go to Rogue for a beer and an appetizer of bacon to hold us over.
Once our table is ready we enjoyed meatballs and pizza and walk back to our hotel.  Perfect evening.

Sunday
Napa Day!!
Mr. L and I switch hotels in the morning to the Hilton.  Luckily, right next door!
A limo picks a group of us up at 10am to head to Napa.

We stop off for beer for the non wine drinker but we all partake.  It's going to be a long day.
We do official tastings at Cakebread and Mumm with a lunch at Mustard's in between.  We stop off at another winery but I can't quite remember which.  It was such a fun day!

ML and I.

Tracie and I at one of the wineries.  We been drankin'.

As soon as we return we meet up with Aaron and Heather who were in from Colorado!!
After a drink at the hotel bar we go to a quick little sushi place and then for a nightcap at Jasper's.
It was a long day!

Monday
We take it easy after Napa!
Kathleen, Tracie and I meet for back in Belden Place where we dine alfresco again at one of the restaurants there.
We walk to Union Street where there are a strip of neat boutiques and then back to our hotel.
It's round 2 for an Actuary reception. Free drinks and snacks!
After the reception a group of us head to Kuleto's, per my mom's recommendation for an Italian feast.
Mr. L and I go out for one more drink at Jasper's, yet again.

Tuesday
I meet up with Heather first thing and hop on the BART to meet her friend, Stacey in Berkley.
We have breakfast at a diner and poke around at the shops.  One of the only things I buy from the trip were a few boxes of iced tea (mango and peach) from Peet's. 
We head up the hill to pick up Stacey's husband from the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.
I have the best deep dish pizza of my life from Zachary's then mosey around Telegraph Avenue and UC-Berkley's campus.

So good.  Soo good!!

I head back on the BART by myself to get ready for dinner.
7 of us randomly take a limo to Forbes Island and from there take a 2 minute ferry to the restaurant.

Brian, Tacie, myself and Mr. Louisville on the ferry to Forbes Island.

After dinner, M and I have a nightcap with some of his friends at the Hotel bar.

Wednesday
I meet Heather for breakfast at Cafe Mason.
Mr. Louisville finishes around 1pm and we head immediately for lunch at Akikos.  The place is busy so we grab a drink next door at a bar where everyone was watching the World Cup.
Soon our table was ready and we had the best sushi ever.  Highly recommend this gem!
We catch the Trolley with the Pauley's and head to the Wharf where we meet Heather and company at The Buena Vista for Irish Coffees.
M and I decide to stroll back to our hotel and go down Lombard Street for kicks.
We meet the whole gang for dinner at the Redford where we had the entire balcony to ourselves.
Many drinks and much merriment was had with good food, to boot!
Heather and Aaron and Mr. L and I stop off at Jasper's one last time for a nightcap.  The service sucked there but it was so close we kept going back.  Ridiculous.

Aaron, Garrett, Heather and I.

Thursday
Mr. L leaves at 5:30 to catch his flight home.
I wake up around 8 and walk to Boudin to pick up some fresh sourdough to bring home.
I meet Heather and Aaron at Cafe Mason for a quick breakfast before catching Uber to the airport with them.
I randomly run into my bro-in-law, Ryan, at Detroit on my connection home.

Shew.  What a trip!!