Newport Classics
August 5, 2011
Aside from the wonderful meals at Belle’s and Corner Café, here are some other highlights from Newport that I highly recommend if ever traveling through. We grabbed a late lunch at The Landing, and ended up staying there until sunset, which offered phenomenal views with an acoustic performance in the background and the bar becoming lively by evening. The Clarke Cooke House, also a popular destination, is just around the corner with four floors of various dining options. If you’re feeling ambitious, a stroll through the market at Aquidneck Lobster Co. provides plenty of options for a home-cooked meal, yet Barking Crab just up the road has delicious seafood prepared for you. As for drinks, it doesn’t get much better than Del’s Lemonade, a Rhode Island favorite, and their trucks are conveniently plotted around town for easy access.
If only I could go back again this weekend to do it all over again. Have a good one! x
Yellow tomatoes, feta cheese, asparagus and vinaigrette from The Landing
Salad at The Landing
Aquidneck Lobster Co.
Fresh fish at the Lobster Aquidneck Co.
Del's Lemonade
Spinach and artichoke dip at Barking Crab
Naked lobster roll at Barking Crab
Penne with chicken in a parmigiano cream reduction with mushrooms, tomato, basil, and toasted almonds at Clarke Cooke House
Corner Café
August 4, 2011
This cute little café a few blocks up from the harbor in Newport, Rhode Island is one of the best breakfast and lunch places in town. We were seated in the corner window table with pillows and paper lanterns, and browsed through travel magazines that they had out, being inspired on where to venture to next. We tried their quesadilla that had all my favorite foods wrapped into one– gorgonzola cheese, cranberries, turkey, bacon and avocado. For a taste of breakfast, their hash browns with seasoning were amazing with a fresh glass of their signature cleanser– cranberry, red raspberry and grape juice.
Quesadilla
Hashbrowns
Breakfast at Belle’s
August 1, 2011
Visiting a friend in Newport for the weekend, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a mid-summer Sunday morning than breakfast at Belle’s in the shipyard. Waking up with coffee, breakfast sandwiches and watermelon, we sat back in lounge chairs enjoying the beautiful views.
Bacon, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich
A side of sliced watermelon
The Lot at the Highline
July 29, 2011
New Yorkers love their food trucks, and what could be better than a selection of the best all in one locale? Last night I met a few friends underneath the bridges of the High Line park for food and drinks. Changing daily, there’s a taste to satisfy everyone from Red Hook’s Lobster Truck to Rickshaw Dumpling, Korilla BBQ and Eddie’s Pizza. They’ve also got a pop-up bar serving local wines and seasonal beers from Brooklyn Brewery. It’s like a summer-long fair or a cafeteria for adults, so be sure to stop by before the cold weather comes!
Lobster Roll from the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck
Rickshaw Dumpling Truck
Eddie's Pizza Truck
High Line Park
The Lot on tap
Remember When You Were 5
July 27, 2011
Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned candy shop? Flashing back to Red Lodge, Montana, this nostalgic emporium in the heart of town has every type of treat imaginable. Stepping inside is like a time machine to your childhood, and you can’t help but splurge to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Milk chocolate with almonds
Milk chocolate with almonds and chocolate covered pretzels
Raspberry truffle
Pig Roast
July 26, 2011
Although not the most beautiful looking food shots, pig roasts have become such a tradition in today’s food culture, I just had to post it. This past weekend, two wonderful friends of mine got married in Ellicottville in Western New York, and to keep the festivities going all weekend long, had a pig roast at the family camp Sunday afternoon. Other highlights included picnic favorites– the famous salt potatoes of Syracuse and steamed corn on the cob.
Preparing the pig
Pulled Pork Sandwiches with homemade BBQ sauce
Bartaco
July 22, 2011
When the sun is shining and the afternoon is young, Bartaco’s outdoor patio is a perfect option for lunch. Catching up with a friend, I enjoyed some tacos, a margarita and cheese quesadillas. Tucked against the river in Port Chester, NY, its part surf shack part Mexican vibe does just the trick to make you feel as though you’re on a beach holiday without a care in the world.
Have a great weekend! x
Pork Belly Taco
Bartaco Margarita
Chicken taco
Pool Party
July 20, 2011
Back in a New York state of mind, I recently had some girlfriends over for poolside entertaining at my parent’s house. While my dad took care of the sliders with mac & cheese, I had fun throwing together some dips and bruschetta from Wegman’s, a regional favorite supermarket here in the Northeast. I spread asiago cheese & artichoke dip on the pita and topped with tomatoes and fresh cucumber. And then just plain bruschetta on bread slices, followed by a taste of good old fashioned grape licorice.
Artichoke & Asiago Cheese Dip, Bruschetta, Pita bread and Cucumber
Grape Licorice & Grilled Pita Bread
Sliders with mac & cheese to go with the appetizers
Lunch in Bozeman
July 18, 2011
Bozeman was one of my favorite towns we visited in Montana. With its young and eccentric feel, it gave off a different vibe than the others– the perfect combination of western lifestyle with a hint of a trendsetting city. I heard good things about dining at Plonk Wine, so figured I would try it out for myself. While enjoying our salads, pizza and quiche, we admired the back garden filled with colorful flowers, paintings and sunshine.
Capri Salad
Pizza special of the day with steak and feta
Quiche
Family Homestyle Cooking
July 14, 2011
Sometimes the best meals are the ones shared within the home. In between our daily Montana excursions we relaxed at my aunt and uncles, cooking in the heart of the country. We had steak nights, pierogi nights and sometimes just leftover nights. My favorite though, was when my father prepped his classic Greek-American grilled vegetables and chicken spiedies. For the veggies, he threw together a marinade with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh garlic, thyme and oregano, and let tomatoes, yellow squash, green zucchini, fresh mushrooms, red sweet peppers and large vadalia onions set over night before tossing on the grill. When finished, topping with feta cheese adds just the right extra flavor. As for the chicken, he let it set in a similar marinade of olive oil, crushed garlic and plenty of dried oregano, put on skewers and grilled to perfection.
Prepping the marinade
Fresh thyme
Prepping the marinade and table
Grilled vegetables ready to go
Grilled chicken spiedies
More of the veggies
Some of my aunt's rustic decor
Fresh lemonade on the porch
A grilled steak kind of night
Kitchen condiments
Cooking up Grandmother's pierogies recipe
a camera in the kitchen 