‘Tis the Season
December 24, 2011
I’ve been meaning to share these delicious looking brunch shots from a Sunday afternoon spent at Tipsy Parson recently. Tucked in a bay window seat on a cold but sunny Sunday afternoon, a friend and I enjoyed their comfort American menu with a southern flair. If you happen to be around New York for the holidays, I highly recommend stopping in. Closed for the weekend, they re-open on Monday.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday, and I look forward to bringing you some festive feasts I’ll be partaking in throughout the week in Syracuse!
Flaxseed & nut granola, berry compote, berries
Pigs in a Poke-- stone ground grits, andouille sausage, poached eggs, toast soldiers
Side of eggs
Gifts for the Foodie
December 20, 2011
This time of year is always a whirlwind for me. Between holiday prep, recent traveling for work, gift buying and festive gatherings, I haven’t had any time to spare, and am just getting around to sharing some of my favorite gift ideas this season– brought to you by my amazing friend, Leslie. She recently launched Gifts Curated, a collection of carefully handpicked items from independent artists and vendors, ranging from food to body products, candles, bags and more. Last weekend she hosted a brunch and trunk show at her apartment. Not only selling her items, but giving customers a taste of her products and leaving them with inspiring ideas of recipes they could try at home. On the menu was grilled chicken and tofu sandwiches using the spicy pumpkin ginger and tomato apple chutney sauces, popcorn with sea salt, cookies with raw organic cacao chips and her grandmother’s homemade pound cake recipe with caramelized bacon using barrel-aged maple syrup. I also included shots we did for her website of my other favorite products that I couldn’t resist sharing with you. Happy Holiday Shopping! x
Gold rimmed spoon and bowl perfect for olives
Alta Cucina's Basil Olive Oil is perfect dipped in a fresh loaf of Eli's bread
Oil & Bread
Spicy Ginger Sauce and Sandwiches
Saucy By Nature Spicy Pumpkin Ginger & Tomato Apple Chutney
Sandwiches, Pretzels and Saucy By Nature
Popcorn with Salt Farm's gourmet sea salt
Vandalia Street Press Card & Salad
Pancakes with Langdon Wood's Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup
Pound Cake, Bacon and Maple Syrup
Homemade cacao chip cookies
Graham Crackers and cacao chips
JC Hot Sauce
Sydney Hale Company Candle & TM1985 Hand bag
TM1985 Handbag
Aromatherapy bath salts
Annie of Gift Shop Brooklyn makeup bags
Donna D Goes to Seattle
December 16, 2011
For Donna’s second featured post, she took us to Seattle. Here’s what she has to say…
“I hadn’t been back to Seattle since I was in the fourth grade, so needless to say I jumped at the opportunity to go visit my cousin, her fiance and their oh-so stinkin’ cute daughter. My cousin and I are huge fans of oysters, so naturally our first stop was to Pike’s Place Market to find the freshest, fattiest, most juiciest oyster shooters around. We ended up getting a bit side tracked en route and sampled delicious crepes from Crepe De France, one of Nicki’s favorites. We also hit up Piroshky-Piroshky, a Russian bakery; however, the piéce de résistance of the market (besides the oysters) had to have been Daily Dozen Doughnut Company. Pure heaven. These donuts were warm and fluffy but had a marvelous crunch on the outside. I was eating them like popcorn– by the handful. Maybe that’s why I wore sweatpants on the remainder of my trip?
Spinach, Goat Cheese and Tomato Crepe at Crepe De France
Donuts being fried to golden perfection
The smell of donuts permeates the air
Russian pastries from Piroshky-Piroshky
Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie
December 13, 2011
Following the signs in Red Hook, I made my way through some quiet industrial streets before finally landing upon the lively spot of Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie. The sounds of the crowd told us we arrived, and upon ordering our pie were also kindly invited to join in the opening party celebration for the Mexican Folk Art gallery next door, Manos De Mexicanos. What a good time to come by. The party went on, as the view of the sun setting over the Verrazano bridge provided the perfect backdrop. And the best of all was a taste of some of the most delicious key lime pie I’ve ever had.
4" Tart
Key Lime Pie
Inside the party
Homemade in Red Hook
December 10, 2011
My roommate and I took the ferry over to Red Hook last weekend, an eclectic little community in Brooklyn, and one of my favorites. Stumbling upon Homemade, we couldn’t help but go in for a quick bite to eat. It’s warm, welcoming and has great food. I love their attention detail, like the leather and wooden tie around the coffee carafe. Sitting on the comfy white couch, we split the delicious special, charred filone with a ricotta spread.
Bread and Cheese
Bread, cheese and unlimited coffee
How could you not want to visit this place?
Our mess of food
Cold Weather Favorites
December 7, 2011
With the cold weather approaching, I shot some of my favorite meals to warm up to. Anyone who’s spent time in Syracuse can tell you how Pastabilities’ Hot Tomato Oil could quite possibly be the best dipping sauce that exists. I always try and bring some extra back with me whenever I visit the area. Other favorites for those cold days include my father’s homemade chicken noodle soup and Wegman’s chicken potpie for a quick pre-prepared meal that tastes just as delicious as if you made it yourself.
Pastabilities' Hot Tomato Oil and Sun-Dried Tomato bread
Chicken Noodle Soup
Wegman's Chicken Pot Pie
A Taste of Syracuse University
December 5, 2011
There’s nothing like revisiting your college days. When I was back in Syracuse, my friend and I did a tour of my favorite hang outs around the University’s infamous Marshall Street. Although new additions include chains like Chipotle, the good old classics are still holding strong, so I opted for pizza at Varsity. I haven’t been back since 4 years ago when my professors took us after class. How quickly time flies. I continued my flashback food tour at El Saha, one of my favorite late-night spots, and I’m not the only one that thinks that. A sign in the window said it was rated 29th best late night college eat in the Nation according to complex.com. Already full from pizza, my friend and I split a beef gyro with feta, sprouts, and tzatziki sauce that was just as good as I remembered 4 years back.
Rootbeer float
Pepperoni Pizza
Beef gyro
Troyer’s Country Store
December 2, 2011
A few miles outside the village of Cazenovia takes you to the simplistic and amazingly delicious life of the Amish, where people come from all over to stock up on everything this country store, Troyer’s, has to offer– breads, meats, pastas, candy and anything else you’d expect in your local grocery store, but at prices that can’t be beat, and far more fresh. It was the perfect place to get what I needed for my picnic lunch. My mom and I left with our mission accomplished, more bags than we could carry and continued the drive through Syracuse’s countryside.
Herbs and seasonings
Troyer's Country Store
Fresh bread straight out of the oven
Homemade gummies
Store Interior
Fresh pasta
Circa in Caz
November 30, 2011
While I was home for the holidays my mom and I had lunch at Circa, a small restaurant in the heart of Cazenovia. Using produce from local farmers and regional artisans, and their very own herb garden grown in the window sills, the dishes are prepared fresh and with thought. How can you complain about a sandwich served in the shape of a heart? Alicyn Hart, the chef behind Circa, has an impressive resumé as she’s traveled and cooked her way around the world, including a sous chef at a fly fishing lodge in Alaska, in guest houses in the Austrian alps, on private yachts around Mexico… you get the idea. She’s an inspiration for following your dreams and living life to the fullest.
Special of the day: tofu wrap
Main Street, Caz
Roasted free range chicken salad sandwich
Circa
A Rustic Post-Thanksgiving Picnic
November 27, 2011
It’s that time of year for my second seasonal themed dinner party. For autumn, I decided to go with a rustic outdoor picnic, inspired by my family’s leftover Thanksgiving food and style inspiration from my great grandfather’s fishing gear. For the ingredients I couldn’t find in the fridge, I spent the morning in the quaint village of Cazenovia getting fresh, local food from Troyer’s, a general store opened by the Amish (I have a whole other post on this I’ll share soon).
The Menu…
Drinks: Pellegrino Sparkling Orange Drink and Saranac Craft Beers
Appetizers: Maple Popcorn, Roasted Edamame, Vegetable chips and Homemade Trail Mix from Troyer’s Country Store
Main Course: Roasted Turkey Sandwich with homemade toasted bread, lettuce, tomato, basil infused mayonnaise, provolone and caramelized onions
Side: Saratoga country fried potato crisps seasoned with oregano
Dessert: My mother’s chocolate Italian roll cookies and homemade banana bread
Styling Tips…
• Pack each meal individually in a small cardboard to-go box for an easy transport to your great outdoor picnic location. Cut gift wrap from Anthropologie in thin strips and adhere to the sides of the box and label the menu on a strip of tape on the top of the box
• Birch bark as name cards and propped up at each place setting with one of my grandfather’s fishing lures
• Brown paper bags folded over, tied with ribbon and a burlap bow make for great serving bowls for snacks
• Sprinkle the center of the table with leaves and pine needles
• My great grandfather’s blanket from World War I as a table cloth
• Centerpiece floral arrangement, dried hygendra with a plume from ornamental grasses
Roasted turkey sandwich
Table setting and packed lunches ready to go
Homemade Trail Mix from Troyer's
Floral arrangement
Roasted Edamame
Country fried potato crisps with oregano
Boxed meals and Saranac Craft beer
Maple popcorn and birch bark place cards
Dried vegetable chips
Roasted Turkey sandwich
Drinks and cookies
Chocolate Italian cookies and banana bread
a camera in the kitchen 
