FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

Santa Fe, New Mexico

February 22, 2017 by Kristin

Buffalo Thunder Resort – Red Sage – New York Strip, Carpaccio, Filet Mignon

When Amy {of What Jew Wanna Eat} and I arrived in Santa Fe, we were warned that everyone wishes they had just a few more days to experience everything the city has to offer. Within hours of our itinerary, we already knew the feeling. We jam-packed our Wednesday to Saturday itinerary. And when we missed a beat, we didn’t fret. It was understood that we’d catch that thing on our next trip to Santa Fe.

Buffalo Thunder Resort – Red Sage – Cocktails

It was during our last trip together where I discovered how much I love a scheduled massage first on the agenda. I’m wound so incredibly tight that massages are my best chance for quickly entering vacation mode. Knowing this, we drove straight from the Albuquerque airport to the Buffalo Thunder Resort for our “get into vacation mode” treatment which consisted of an express massage, lots of beautiful cocktails, and the best beef selection imaginable. Every hotel should offer this trifecta upon check-in!

Ten Thousand Waves – Izanami – Interior

From there, we drove up a nearby mountain to Izanami: an upscale Izakaya restaurant located in the Ten Thousand Waves spa. Motivated by our food-driven days ahead, we opted to climb the 91 steps that led to the restaurant rather than hitching a ride.

The interior was intentionally different than most dinner dining experiences. With brighter lighting and without background music, the focus was on conversation without distraction. And with guest attire ranging from spa gear to business suits, the entire vibe of the restaurant was welcoming.

Izanami – Omakase Menu Item

We ordered the omakase {tasting menu} so we could experience as much of the menu as possible. The omakase also included a ton of seafood, which appealed to Amy and me after our beef-filled lunch. My favorite was the hamachi and tuna dish pictured above. I’m such a fan of fish served with citrus.

Inn of the Governors – Santa Fe

After a very long first day, we checked into our room at the Inn of the Governors. I can’t write enough positives about this hotel. First, it was in the center of it all. From the time we arrived, we barely needed to drive anywhere. And the decor let you know exactly where you were at all times, vacation in Santa Fe. I appreciate when a hotel is part of the town. The hotel also had super cute social activities like tea and sherry happy hour where they encourage guests to mingle. And although we didn’t have time to fit it in, word on the street is one of the best burgers in town can be found at the hotel’s bar, Del Charro.

Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen – Breakfast Burrito

Our first breakfast in Santa Fe was at Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen. We shared a few dishes like the breakfast burrito {pictured above} that was stuffed with black beans, sweet potato, fried egg, and green chile. It’s easy for a burrito of any kind to be on the heavier side and I was pleased that Sweetwater Harvest’s version was on the lighter side and made with feel-good ingredients. We also sampled the carrot cake quinoa bowl and housemade kombucha, both of which were fantastic. I’m definitely going to try to recreate carrot cake quinoa at home – so keep an eye out for that on Instagram!

Meow Wolf – Giant Robot in Parking Lot

Next on our agenda was Meow Wolf, an immersive art experience a few minutes from downtown. This was, hands down, my favorite art exhibit of any kind {ever}. It was a cross between a funky art gallery, an abandoned haunted house, and a life-size play house. And I loved it! Amy and I splurged on the one-dollar 3D glasses, which made everything come to life {even more}. And we spent hours climbing through secret passageways. At one point, we climbed through a refrigerator that led us into a room filled with a glow in the dark dinosaur skeleton and then left the dinosaur by crawling out of a fireplace that led into a fully decorated living room.

Meow Wolf – Neon Trees

Left to right, up and down, the inside of Meow Wolf was covered with things that blew your mind. Whether it was a walkway of neon, glow in the dark trees or a wall of TVs playing a combination of old movies and random static patterns, you could never predict what was up next or how one thing led to the other. We could have spent the rest of the day there, but chocolate elixirs were calling our names.

Kakawa Chocolate House – Chocolate Elixir

Kakawa Chocolate House was a place that we couldn’t help but go to twice. During our first visit, we shared a salted caramel brownie and sampled almost ever single elixir before deciding on one to fill our cups. Our second time around, we ordered the equivalent of chocolate “take-out”: a half dozen truffles, chocolate elixir mix to-go, and an elixir cup for our blogger bud in Austin.

Cowgirl – The Mother Burger

Lunch at Cowgirl gave us a chance to binge on the green chiles we’d heard so much about. Amy added green chiles to her turkey reuben. And my mind was made up as soon as I saw “The Mother”, a winning burger in the Green Chile Cheeseburger Smackdown! “The Mother” is made up of a beef and buffalo patty topped with melted brie, truffled green chile, and tomato with a cheddar and green chile bun.  Typically a burger is a burger is a burger, but this was one of the most creative burgers I’d ever tasted!

The Sage Inn – Tequila Mockingbird

Santa Fe has developed a Margarita Trail that is a really excellent way for restaurants/bars to collaborate and for visitors/residents to experience Santa Fe. We were able to check out one stop along the Margarita Trail by tasting the Tequila Mockingbird margarita at The Sage Inn. In addition to having the best margarita name possible, we both really enjoyed The Sage Inn’s take on this classic cocktail.

The Palace – Porcupine Shrimp

Our final meal of our first complete day in Santa Fe was at The Palace. Upon seating, Chef Jennifer Doughty came to our table to introduce herself and explain the menu. She offered to provide a sampling of a variety of menu items, a suggestion that was right up our alley. I especially enjoyed the porcupine shrimp, which consisted of giant shrimp wrapped in kataifi then fried. The shrimp was delicate and crunchy and totally hit the spot.

Modern General – Green Chile Cilantro Corncakes

The next morning we ventured to the most adorable place on our journey, Modern General. The quaint store was filled with natural light, Anthropologie-esque kitchen and garden tools, and a restaurant that served up sweet and savory pancakes. I can’t recall the last time I had such an internal struggle about offering to share, but it was borderline painful to offer Amy a bite of my green chile cilantro corncakes – I loved them that much. I mean.. an egg on a pancake is just about the most FoodFash thing to do. And the best part of this visit was finding out that Modern General’s sister restaurant, Vinaigrette, serves these corncakes at their Austin location. Hooray!

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum – Santa Fe, NM

Our last day was our first day to explore the downtown area, which was extremely pedestrian friendly and safe both day and night. There are dozens of museums we wanted to explore, but decided that the Georgia O’Keeffe museum was best for this trip. I wasn’t expecting anything other than colorful flowers and I was pleasantly surprised by the range {noticeable in the picture above}.

Andiamo – Linguini Arrabiata

By the time we hit our last lunch spot in Santa Fe, it was difficult to imagine eating another bite. But when I saw linguini arrabiata on the Andiamo menu, I couldn’t resist. I finished the entire dish that I was convinced I barely had room for, all the while shocked at the diversity of the Santa Fe food scene.

LaPosada Resort & Spa – Santa Fe

Aside from all of the food and tourist attractions listed above, perhaps the most special aspect of Santa Fe is how ingrained diversity is in their history and culture. Hearing the following stories about Santa Fe’s history of Native Americans, religious collaboration, and strong women, I couldn’t help but to fall in love with the city even more.

  • Surrounding areas of Santa Fe are home to Native American Pueblos, not reservations. Meaning, Native Americans still reside on their original land and were not forced to relocate.
  • Abraham Staab, a wealthy, Jewish merchant whose grand home was later turned into the LaPosada Resort {pictured above},  helped fund the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi when construction halted due to lack of funds. As a thank you, the Cathedral has a Tetragrammation in Hebrew carved in the arch above the entrance.
  • A powerful woman by the name of Maria Gertrudis “Tules” Barceló ,who made a fortune through gambling and prostitution, loaned funds to the U.S. Army during the Mexican/American War in 1846, leading to continued occupation of Santa Fe.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Park

And after a very food-filled, culture-rich, information-dense few days, we put on stretchy pants and soaked up some nature at the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Park. We took in a bunch of deep breaths and said “See ya again soon, Santa Fe!”.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Park

Disclosure: Although most of the businesses within this post kindly hosted our trip, the opinions in this post are completely my own and based on my experience.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: new mexico, santa fe

A Staycation With Voveti Prosecco

December 5, 2016 by Kristin

Barton Creek Greenbelt

This fall has been filled to the brim with “oblications” {obligation + vacations}. And though I’m beyond delighted to whip across the country for weddings and press trips, it’s important for me to spend quality time with the town I call home. And, equally as important, making time for the people here.

And to make up for neglecting my number one {pictured above}, we planned a weekend of our favorite activities. To add something extra special, we incorporated bottles of Voveti – an upscale {yet affordable} prosecco, perfect for everyday pairing.

Tacodeli Austin, TX

First on our list were tacos and hiking. I love parking at the Spyglass entrance at the Greenbelt and grabbing a few tacos at Tacodeli before hitting the trail. And since it’s been exceptionally rainy lately, the Greenbelt is extra green, super shady, and overall beautiful.

Voveti Prosecco Austin, TX

The next day, we planned for more nature, but this time at Mount Bonnell {one of the highest points in Austin}. Mount Bonnell is always on my itinerary for out-of-town visitors because it’s relatively close to downtown and has the most stunning view of the city. As a resident, the view will still get ya every time.

Mount Bonnell Austin, TX

There are a few tables and plenty of large rocks that serve as quintessential picnic spots. We packed up a loaf of crusty bread, a charcuterie plate, and a bottle of Voveti to accompany us while we chatted and soaked up the beauty.

Mount Bonnell

Kody has been wanting to learn more about photography, so we snapped a few pictures of each other while talking apertures and shutter speeds. I prefer to be behind the lens, but sometimes it’s nice to have photographic proof that you were there. 

Mount Bonnell

And after being out and about for a few hours, we came home and prepared a no-fuss, but still fancy, homemade meal. Verde pork tostadas served with a bottle of Voveti prosecco for the win!

date-night-tostada-dinner-with-voveti-champagne

To learn more about Voveti, a craft prosecco in which only 15,000 cases are produced annually, click here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: austin, prosecco, staycation, texas, voveti

The Tides Inn – Irvington, VA

November 23, 2016 by Kristin

tides-inn

Growing up near the Florida coast, being near the water is something that both calms and energizes me in the best possible way. And as I get older, busier, and more distracted, the craving for time by the water has increased exponentially.  My stay at the Tides Inn in Irvington, VA, more than satisfied this craving! This trip was the perfect combination of taking time to breathe in fresh, salty air and being on-the-go.

the-tides-inn-sunset

Irvington was the loveliest small town destination trip. And although I wouldn’t have changed one thing about my itinerary, I’ve created a condensed version for the DC weekend visitor since this is a trip is a MUST for anyone living within driving distance!

Friday – Afternoon arrival 

3pm – Check-in at the Tides Inn

4pm – Happy Hour on the Tides Inn patio

6pm – Dinner at Merroir

7:30pm – S’mores at the Tides Inn

Merroir BBQ Oysters

The BBQ oysters at Merroir were out of this world good! 

Saturday 

8am – Room Service Breakfast at the Tides Inn

10am – Tides Inn seasonal activity {sailing lessons, oyster harvesting, crab catching}

Noon – Tides Inn picnic lunch and drive to Good Luck Cellars

4pm – Tides Inn seasonal activity {we were in town for Taste By The Bay}

7pm – Dinner at Hope & Glory

oyster-breakfast

I loved that the Tides Inn breakfast menu incorporated fried oysters! Fried oysters make for a much lighter breakfast than fried chicken so you have room in your belly for biscuits and gravy.

catching-oysters

We were able to go out on the Bay with a waterman and see how they catch wild oysters.

virginia-oyster-academy-fresh-oysters

The best part of this adventure, other than being on the water, was eating oysters fresh out of the water!

boat-dog

The second best part was seeing this happy puppy stroll back and forth on the fishing boat.

good-luck-cellars-picnic

The Tides Inn will pack up a picture-perfect picnic lunch. Ours included hummus, cheese, crackers, and brownies, but the Inn will also customize the basket to suit your adventure!

hope-glory

Hope & Glory is an adorable B&B that has a quaint, minimal seat restaurant that serves a multi-coursed pre-fixe menu. Our dinner included cheesy baked oysters, a pear salad, lump crab cakes, and ice cream dessert.

Sunday

8am – More Breakfast in Bed at Tides Inn

10am – Bike to the Steamboat Era Museum 

11am – Bike to Dog & Oyster Vineyard 

1pm – Order Angry Oysters at Tides Inn

2pm – Head back home!

tides-inn-breakfast-in-bed

The smoked salmon bagel caught my attention for breakfast, but there were a handful of options I would have ordered. The breakfast parfait and Chesapeake eggs benedict {with crab cakes} looked super delicious!

steamboat-era-museum

The Steamboat Era Museum was a fun and visual way to learn about the history of Irvington. There is a guided tour complete with light up maps, visual timelines, and replicas of scenes from the steamboat era.

tides-inn-bikes

It had been a while since I had ridden on a bike, but the roads in Irvington are super flat with nice bike lanes and sidewalks that made for a comfortable ride. Bonus – these adorable bikes are free while you’re staying at the Tides Inn!

dog-oyster-shells

The Dog & Oyster Vineyard is such an inviting spot. The owners are super friendly and wonderful storytellers. And the vineyard is filled with rescue dogs that protect the vineyard from critters and appreciate a good belly rub from visitors.

dog-oyster-foodfash

It’s been a few days since I returned to Austin and I’m still rambling about how much I loved vacationing on the Virginia Oyster Trail. As I mentioned earlier, if you’re within driving distance I couldn’t recommend this weekend adventure an ounce more. And as far as flying goes, it’s also worth the trip as the Tides Inn‘s all-inclusive activities balances out airfare quite nicely.

Disclosure: Although the Tides Inn kindly hosted me, the opinions in this post are completely my own and based on my experience.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: irvington, tides inn, virginia

The St. Anthony Hotel – San Antonio, TX

November 11, 2016 by Kristin

st-anthony-hotel-sun-room

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had the biggest, baddest travel bug. Exploring new places, eating meals in different settings, and breathing in unfamiliar air – I just can’t get enough. So when I found out Haven’s third birthday {my boyfriend’s daughter} fell on an event-free weekend, I suggested we celebrate on the road.

San Antonio is a quick 90-minute drive from Austin, which is perfect for a 3 year old’s {and 33 year old’s} attention span. We planned a simple itinerary, packed up the car with presents, and headed to the St. Anthony Hotel in Downtown San Antonio.

st-anthony-hotel-room

With an unassuming exterior, the St. Anthony quickly transformed into the most beautiful, elegant space the moment you passed through the front door. Green and gray {my two favorite colors} were dominant throughout. And there were no less than fifty chairs that were so cozy, so inviting, that you longed to plant yourself and take an extended seat.

haven-presents-2

Thankfully there was also a cozy seat in our room, because Miss Haven was in the biggest hurry to open presents. After all, they had spent an entire 90 minutes looking at her during the ride. We opened a row of gray, floor-length drapes to let in some light. And then she eagerly plopped herself up on the wingback chair to see what year three was all about.

bread

The weather had been gloomy all day, but decided to clear up just in time for an early dinner on the patio. And a very shy Haven warmed up quickly after a handful of hotel staff wished her the happiest birthday.

watermelon-salad

Following typical blogger suit, we requested menu items that were as photogenic as they were delicious and went the small plate route in order to maximize our exposure to the menu. The dishes I liked best included the watermelon salad pictured above.

We’re in the final days of watermelon season and warm weather, so I was happy to have one last hurrah of a watermelon dish. Watermelon and feta is always a winning combination. And this dish inspired me to look for ways to incorporate sumac into my cooking at home.

ricotta-broccoli-raab-pancakes

Next up was ricotta and broccolini pancakes. Not only do I love, love, love savory pancakes, I really liked how this dish was predominantly vegetarian topped with a meat accent.

octopus

And the octopus! Filled with texture and vibrant colors, this dish was my favorite to photograph. And when it was time to eat, I was pleased with how tender the octopus was as well as how it paired with the pesto.

We had plans to walk the Riverwalk after dinner, but since the weather wasn’t cooperating we headed back to the room to play with new toys and called it a night.

steel-cut-oats

The next morning we took it easy and ordered room service. Pancakes for the birthday girl, steak and eggs for Kody, and steel cut oats for me. This steel cut oats was another dish that sparked inspiration for me at home. How fun would it be to have some girlfriends over for a breakfast get-together with an oatmeal bar?

haven-sun-room

After a leisurely breakfast, we spent the rest of the morning touring the hotel. I can’t tell you enough how perfectly each room was decorated. The hotel went through a major renovation beginning in 2013 and they did such a wonderful job preserving the historic elements of the original design.

st-anthony-hotel-pool-deck

It was too dreary to spend extended time by the pool, but the rooftop pool deck would be worth coming back for. A super crisp and clean design with gorgeous views of the surrounding historic buildings. The lounge chairs were also partially submerged in water which, if you’re familiar Texas heat, couldn’t be more perfect for summertime sunbathing.

sky-terrace

We ended our tour with a visit to the Sky Terrace, which was BEAUTIFUL. The hotel is currently working on programming for the space, but could you imagine a sunset concert series or a cocktail hour lounging on this deck?

Overall, our quick stay at the St. Anthony Hotel was a delightful escape from our daily routine. I look forward to coming back to visit my newest favorite hotel in Texas and exploring more of San Antonio soon!

Disclosure: Although the St. Anthony Hotel kindly hosted us, the opinions in this post are completely my own and based on my experience.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: downtown san antonio, san antonio, st. anthony hotel, texas, travel, weekend trips

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