I'm not sure what we're falling into here in Philadelphia. It's been warm and today was especially hot and humid, even after a serious amount of rainfall. [on a side note: how is it October 1st tomorrow??]
In honor of the season that doesn't seem to want to arrive, I'm going to list my favorite things about fall:
*Cool[er] Weather: har har har, seems like a distant memory at this point.
*Fires in the Fireplace: I guess I can't have one without the other. :(
*Sweater Weather and Riding Boots: one day soon, I can hope
*Trees Changing Colors: I think this is the thing I missed most when I lived in Charleston.
*Anything Pumpkin: Pie, Candles, Ice Cream, Beer, Jack O'Lanterns
What do you enjoy most about Fall?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Good Luck Pam!
My sister is off to Madrid, Spain via Lisbon, Portugal starting tonight! Good luck Pam!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Le Holy Cow
Today, in celebration of my father's birthday, the family and I had lunch at Le Bec-Fin. I mentioned this in an earlier post, as well as the fact that they're closing in Spring 2011, so I was really grateful for the chance to go.
Boy, we were not disappointed. It was a limited menu due to Philadelphia Restaurant Week and among the four of us, I think we managed to try one of everything. I also don't think any of us never need to eat again.
I have some pictures I took, but I apologize in advance for the quality, as I used the camera on my iPhone.
First of all the restaurant is very nondescript from the outside. The sign on the restaurant is very elegant, but I think one could easily miss it. It's on Walnut Street and the particular block on which it is located, there are many clothing stores and not many that scream, "come this way for a fine dining experience."
The dining room is on the smaller side - if I had to guess, I'd say there are less than 25 tables upstairs (the bar in downstairs), but the room is very elegant. There are these beautiful chandeliers and the most color I saw was the flowers on eacfh table. But it really was spectacular.
For our appetizer course, I had a rich duck terrine, my mother had a velvety squash soup, and my father and sister went the most reasonable route with a salad of greens and Manchego cheese. Everything was delicious, but if I could do it all over again, I could have gotten the salad.
For our main entrees, I had Salmon Confit with Brussel Sprouts and Potato Puree (lord was this good! my only complain was the foam, which is one aspect of the culinary world I have yet to fully accept), my mother and sister had this amazing looking hamburgers, and my father had ravioli stuffed with a chicken mousse and a mushroom sauce.
And who can't just leave after a meal like that?! My family, apparently. So for desert, Pam and I had Creme Brulee, my mother had a chocolate cake for which the restaurant is known and dad had a Key Lime Torte.
All in all, it was one hell of a meal. And I'm very excited I finally had the chance to go. And I really want to take the Boyfriend before they close for good. I know he'd love it.
Where have you eaten recently?
Boy, we were not disappointed. It was a limited menu due to Philadelphia Restaurant Week and among the four of us, I think we managed to try one of everything. I also don't think any of us never need to eat again.
I have some pictures I took, but I apologize in advance for the quality, as I used the camera on my iPhone.
First of all the restaurant is very nondescript from the outside. The sign on the restaurant is very elegant, but I think one could easily miss it. It's on Walnut Street and the particular block on which it is located, there are many clothing stores and not many that scream, "come this way for a fine dining experience."
The dining room is on the smaller side - if I had to guess, I'd say there are less than 25 tables upstairs (the bar in downstairs), but the room is very elegant. There are these beautiful chandeliers and the most color I saw was the flowers on eacfh table. But it really was spectacular.
For our appetizer course, I had a rich duck terrine, my mother had a velvety squash soup, and my father and sister went the most reasonable route with a salad of greens and Manchego cheese. Everything was delicious, but if I could do it all over again, I could have gotten the salad.
For our main entrees, I had Salmon Confit with Brussel Sprouts and Potato Puree (lord was this good! my only complain was the foam, which is one aspect of the culinary world I have yet to fully accept), my mother and sister had this amazing looking hamburgers, and my father had ravioli stuffed with a chicken mousse and a mushroom sauce.
And who can't just leave after a meal like that?! My family, apparently. So for desert, Pam and I had Creme Brulee, my mother had a chocolate cake for which the restaurant is known and dad had a Key Lime Torte.
All in all, it was one hell of a meal. And I'm very excited I finally had the chance to go. And I really want to take the Boyfriend before they close for good. I know he'd love it.
Where have you eaten recently?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
It's a great night
...when the highlight is buying your 2011 planner. I got this beauty last night:
I'd be lying if I didn't say I was excited. :D
I'd be lying if I didn't say I was excited. :D
Friday, September 17, 2010
this week
...is going to be filled with so much activity, I can hardly stand it!
Sunday I am going to my first yoga class at Shine Yoga, not far from my parents house, as well as to a wedding on the beach in New Jersey (no fist pumping for me, sorry).
Tuesday I have a job "interview" at a temp agency in Philadelphia. Will be nice to get into the city, even if it is only for a few hours.
Thursday, the family and I are celebrating Dad's birthday in style at Le Bec Fin. I cannot begin to explain just how excited I am about this meal. Prior to finding out where we were celebrating, I would have sworn that the restaurant had closed. The plan is for it to close in Spring 2011, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to enjoy some good food before then!
Friday, Dad, Pam, The Boyfriend, and I are taking in the Phils/Mets game. I'm very excited, as I won't have seen The Boyfriend in almost 2 weeks when I finally get to see him on Friday.
I can't complain about not seeing him every 2 weeks, because when I was still in Charleston, we saw each other once a month. I guess I just feel like I've grown so close to him over the past few months, that even 2 weeks seems like a long time.
What plans do you have in the near future?
P.S. Can I tell you HOW excited I was when Kevin Sbraga won Top Chef: DC on Wednesday Night. Philly.com is reporting he wants to open a high end restaurant in Philadelphia and I cannot wait to see what he does!
Sunday I am going to my first yoga class at Shine Yoga, not far from my parents house, as well as to a wedding on the beach in New Jersey (no fist pumping for me, sorry).
Tuesday I have a job "interview" at a temp agency in Philadelphia. Will be nice to get into the city, even if it is only for a few hours.
Thursday, the family and I are celebrating Dad's birthday in style at Le Bec Fin. I cannot begin to explain just how excited I am about this meal. Prior to finding out where we were celebrating, I would have sworn that the restaurant had closed. The plan is for it to close in Spring 2011, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to enjoy some good food before then!
Friday, Dad, Pam, The Boyfriend, and I are taking in the Phils/Mets game. I'm very excited, as I won't have seen The Boyfriend in almost 2 weeks when I finally get to see him on Friday.
I can't complain about not seeing him every 2 weeks, because when I was still in Charleston, we saw each other once a month. I guess I just feel like I've grown so close to him over the past few months, that even 2 weeks seems like a long time.
What plans do you have in the near future?
P.S. Can I tell you HOW excited I was when Kevin Sbraga won Top Chef: DC on Wednesday Night. Philly.com is reporting he wants to open a high end restaurant in Philadelphia and I cannot wait to see what he does!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Top Chef Marathon
Today is the finale of the Top Chef: DC. There's a marathon of the season on Bravo today and this is how I'm choosing to spend my day, applying for jobs and watching Top Chef.
Trying to find a job has been tough; mainly because I have no. Clue. What. I. Want. To. Do.
I like working with people, but I don't want to sit at a desk again.
I like food, but I'm not interested in serving or hostessing at a restaurant.
My background is in German.
Boy, am I in for a hell of a ride.
Trying to find a job has been tough; mainly because I have no. Clue. What. I. Want. To. Do.
I like working with people, but I don't want to sit at a desk again.
I like food, but I'm not interested in serving or hostessing at a restaurant.
My background is in German.
Boy, am I in for a hell of a ride.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturdays in September
The Boyfriend and I spent the day along the Delaware River, in New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ. Reminded me what I enjoy here in PA and made me realized how ready I am for fall!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Eat Pray Not-So-Much
I'm probably one of very few people who did not enjoy Elizabeth Gilbert's Memoir, Eat Pray Love. Well, maybe not all of it. I liked the "Eat" and "Love" parts just fine, but the spiritual "Pray" part drove me crazy. On top of that, as someone who has gone through a painful breakup, I found it Liz spending a year finding herself in 3 different countries very pretentious.
Regardless, books I'm looking forward to reading include: My Life in France by Julia Child, Tim Gunn's Golden Rules by...Tim Gunn, and Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain.
What are ya'll reading this fall?
kOb
Regardless, books I'm looking forward to reading include: My Life in France by Julia Child, Tim Gunn's Golden Rules by...Tim Gunn, and Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain.
What are ya'll reading this fall?
kOb
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Cape!
I started off really strong with this blog, but vacation and real life seemed to have gotten in the way. Now that I'm back and attempting to be a productive member of society again (read: find a job!), I'm trying to be better at this as well!
The Boyfriend and I had a wonderful time on Cape Cod. He picked me up Sunday, 8/29, bagels in tow, ready to meet my parents. It went as well as could be expected: no one said anything stupid, my parents didn't bite (as I promised him they wouldn't) and off we went. It was a 7 hour ride to Chatham, where we stayed at the Chatham Bars Inn, pictured below.
The Inn was wonderful! I've compared it to hotel featured on Dirty Dancing, only on the water and this was certainly true in many aspects. They has many activities planned every day and there was always a flurry of excitement in the lobby, near the pool, on the tennis courts, or on the private beach. I certainly could not have asked for a better place to stay.
We arrived Sunday night and set out to explore Chatham. It's a great little town with a main drag that's a little shorter than a mile long, with many stores (hello Vineyard Vines!), beautiful homes, and restaurants. We stopped at the Chatham Squire, a local dive, that had such good food! We split oysters and lobster ravioli, because everyone knows when you split food, the calories don't count at all! ;)
After a good nights sleep in our big, comfy, feels-like-we're-sleeping-on-clouds bed, we continued to explore on Monday. We walked down to the lighthouse and the public beach, where we watched seals sun themselves on an island less than half a mile from the beach and collected seashells. The water on the cape was so clear! I've never stood on the East Coast and been able to see what was in the water!
Tuesday we went Whale Watching off the coast of Provincetown. This was absolutely stunning. It was an hour boat ride off the city, an hour watching at least 12 whales do their thing and another hour ride back. Provincetown is a liberal, artsy, and open town, with the most incredible spot to get lobster rolls!
Wednesday, our last full day on the Cape, we did absolutely. nothing. at it was perfect. We spent most of the day by the pool. It was perfect. We finished the night with dinner at the hotel, which was delicious.
All in all, it was a) the best vacation I've been on in a while, b) the best place the Boyfriend and I could have chosen for our first vacation together, and c) just an all around beautiful place to visit. I can't wait to go back!
Now, can I have a job, please?
The Boyfriend and I had a wonderful time on Cape Cod. He picked me up Sunday, 8/29, bagels in tow, ready to meet my parents. It went as well as could be expected: no one said anything stupid, my parents didn't bite (as I promised him they wouldn't) and off we went. It was a 7 hour ride to Chatham, where we stayed at the Chatham Bars Inn, pictured below.
The Inn was wonderful! I've compared it to hotel featured on Dirty Dancing, only on the water and this was certainly true in many aspects. They has many activities planned every day and there was always a flurry of excitement in the lobby, near the pool, on the tennis courts, or on the private beach. I certainly could not have asked for a better place to stay.
We arrived Sunday night and set out to explore Chatham. It's a great little town with a main drag that's a little shorter than a mile long, with many stores (hello Vineyard Vines!), beautiful homes, and restaurants. We stopped at the Chatham Squire, a local dive, that had such good food! We split oysters and lobster ravioli, because everyone knows when you split food, the calories don't count at all! ;)
After a good nights sleep in our big, comfy, feels-like-we're-sleeping-on-clouds bed, we continued to explore on Monday. We walked down to the lighthouse and the public beach, where we watched seals sun themselves on an island less than half a mile from the beach and collected seashells. The water on the cape was so clear! I've never stood on the East Coast and been able to see what was in the water!
Tuesday we went Whale Watching off the coast of Provincetown. This was absolutely stunning. It was an hour boat ride off the city, an hour watching at least 12 whales do their thing and another hour ride back. Provincetown is a liberal, artsy, and open town, with the most incredible spot to get lobster rolls!
Wednesday, our last full day on the Cape, we did absolutely. nothing. at it was perfect. We spent most of the day by the pool. It was perfect. We finished the night with dinner at the hotel, which was delicious.
All in all, it was a) the best vacation I've been on in a while, b) the best place the Boyfriend and I could have chosen for our first vacation together, and c) just an all around beautiful place to visit. I can't wait to go back!
Now, can I have a job, please?
Friday, September 3, 2010
Home, Again
The Boyfriend and I made it back from the Cape safely, but I'm exhausted. Will post more soon.
But please pray for my friend Lauren's daughter, Willa. She had surgery on Monday and so far, I haven't heard more than that.
But please pray for my friend Lauren's daughter, Willa. She had surgery on Monday and so far, I haven't heard more than that.
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