FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

On The Books

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For one reason or another, I hadn’t seen Skylar since my birthday.  There’s no excuse, but I’d like to blame it on her being a teacher and me being ridiculously jealous of her summer schedule.  But now that her vacation is almost over, I figured it was time to get a date on the books.  I sent her a calendar invite and we stuck to it.

We started out at Cru for half priced bottles of prosecco and cheaper than cheap apps.  And although I wouldn’t order food there again, half priced bubbly could be worth a second trip.  On our way to Peche, we noticed a lone musical soldier playing in the Cedar Street Courtyard.  I couldn’t help but get Miike Snow’s “Song For No One”  stuck in my head…

Peche was on point as usual.  I couldn’t bring myself to order absinthe on a Thursday, so the bartender jazzed up a traditional cucumber gimlet with some bitters.  I haven’t had a flawless off-menu cocktail since  my regular Tampa hangout.  It was nice.

As Skylar and I parted ways in 100 degree Texas heat, we assured each other that we wouldn’t let time fly quite as easily again.  We made plans for a yoga brunchtastic Saturday, plans that I plan on sticking to!

Seafood Solo-ness

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I struggle to find a real difference between conferences and sorority rush: lots of smiling, lots of forced conversation, you selling you, them selling them. Exhaustion.

I headed to Flemings on my way back to the hotel to decompress.  Most of the time I find comfort in take-out and pj’s, but tonight?  Well tonight, I was sucked in like a magnet to fancy food and cocktails.

I ordered The Stiletto (blackberries and gin) and Seared Ahi Tuna off of the happy hour menu and then (this is where the splurging comes in) ventured to the small plates menu for the Lobster Tempura.  It was total seafood overkill, but I went for it.

P.S. Fried lobster may as well be fried shrimp.  Not impressed.

P.P.S.  I heard a quote today that stuck with me – “survival is the new success”. At a point in my life where I’m trying to be less focused on being the best, having the most, all of those -st, -st, -st things, I took a liking to this quote.

What are your thoughts on “survival is the new success”?  Too pessimistic? Deceivingly optimistic?

A Happier Hour

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Robbie, Val, and I had happy hour on the brain since mid-morning.  We headed to Mad Dogs & Englishmen after work and scooped up an outdoor table.  It seemed like such a great idea, but it was a tad on the swampy side – even our drinks were sweating!

Our drinks went down super easy and the hummus went down even easier.  Mad Dogs serves their hummus with warm naan, which is never a bad thing.  It hit the spot, for sure.

Val and Robbie ordered some meaty sandwiches that were served with ridiculously tasty  sweet potato fries.  And amongst the meaty menu choices, I was able to find some veg-friendly dishes.

I ordered the Crisp & Fresh salad which was shredded cabbage, jicama, apples, asian pear, basil, pecans, and apple cider vinaigrette (i.e. perfect salad).  But the side of toasted almond and golden raisin basmati, although photogenic, was a little on the dry side and overall so-so.  I wasn’t too disappointed though, because the hummus and salad filled me up quite nicely.