Archive for the 'Lifestyle' Category

Woa – what a whirlwind (extended) weekend! From birthday dinners to beach-side bago, I’ve had a fun yet busy few days.  Stay tuned for a line up of restaurant reviews and some fresh new dishes for summer!

As I put the finishing touches on the posts, I’ve compiled a list of my recent kitchenware favs from Anthropologie.  Typically, I only like to use white serveware with clean lines.  I think that food should speak for itself and the best dishes are enticing both to your taste buds and your eyes.  However, as I make my monthly perusal of Anthropologie’s online site,  I just can’t help but envision some of these charming and colorful pieces in my kitchen.

Do you have Anthro-kitchenware in your house?

L’Epice Jar:

Into the Jungle Trivet:

Plate Presentation Apron:

Dining Room Measuring Spoons:

Atom Art Bowls:

Monogrammed Mugs:

Amazon Dreams Pitcher:

Mina Round Tablecloth:

HELLO 2011!!!  I cannot believe we’re here.

Well, it’s now the 3rd day of January as we all prepare for the onslaught of resolutions, both our own and others’.  While winning the lottery has always been at the top of my list, I figured it might make sense to offer a few more “realistic” resolutions, of a food-related nature.  Now I must preface this post with the fact that I absolutely love ‘To-Do’ lists.  There’s something about writing everything down and crossing off each complete item that thrills me (I’m easy to please).  I make lists for work, the grocery store, packing, cleaning my room, daily/week/weekend to-do’s…you get the picture.  So resolutions shouldn’t be any different right?  Wrong-o.  Like my fellow resolution-makers, I often forget my personal ‘promises’ by February 1st.  But this year will be different; like my precious ‘To-Do’ lists, I’ll write my resolutions here on the blog, waiting to be crossed off with each completion.

Every day I read fantastic food blogs and captivating cookbooks, each with recipes that jump off the page and spark my imagination for kitchen creation.  Then they remain hidden, bookmarked or otherwise, only to remind me when I reopen the dusty pages or hit the ‘Recipe’ category in Gmail.  The first week of January 2011 is the perfect opportunity to breakdown the dam and let the food fly, so to speak.  As such, here are my 2011 food-related & blogging resolutions:

• Post at least twice a week, every week – Neither busy work weeks nor vacation nor snow nor sleet nor hail shall keep me from posting at least twice a week.
• Take better pictures – I don’t know about you, but if something looks good, I’m probably more likely to make/eat it .
• Attend three cooking classes – The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and The Boston Center for Adult Education are just two of the many venues offering cooking classes in the Boston area.
• Make more meat – Beef, chicken or pork, there’s a serious lack of meat on my blog.  While I’m all for veggies, and lots of ‘em, adding protein to my diet keeps me fuller longer and adds diversity to my meals.  Brownie points if I nab organic selections .
• Same goes for fish – Omega 3′s, vitamins and minerals; seafood makes for happy, healthy people.
• Bake and construct a 3 layer cake – Fun, impressive and sweet – you gotta have balance right??
• Hit up two food festivals – Last year I went to the Phantom Gourmet Wine & Food Fest and the Boston Local Food Festival.  There’s no shortage of food fun in the Bean.
• Volunteer – Find at least two volunteering opportunities where I can offer my time or cooking to help others.

A few more ‘to-make’ specifics:

• Scones
• Cheesecake
• Salmorejo
• Ravioli
• Braised short ribs
• Kibbeh
• Stuffed grape leaves
• Gnocchi

So there we have it, my 2011 resolutions for cooking/baking and this blog .  Here’s to a prosperous new year and and a very active kitchen.

- Christina

What are your 2011 resolutions?  Is there something you’d like to see on Bon Appetit Beantown this year?

What a perfect weekend!  Delicious food, a festival, fooseball, football and I even saw The Town (great movie if you haven’t seen it yet!).

On Saturday the BF and I headed toward the Fort Point Channel area near the Children’s Museum to hit up the Boston Local Food Festival.  Looking forward to it all week, I even decided to forgo one of my other favorite Boston events.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous; cool and crisp with lots of sunshine – oh Fall, we were meant for each other . 

I’m a bit late on the post and I’m sure you’ve seen a couple others, so I’ll leave it to pictures.  Overall we a fun time, but it was very crowded – we only lasted about an hour.  The food was delicious though (most offerings were under $5!) and I scored some hot pepper jam that I can’t wait to spread on every veggie, cracker, piece of bread I can find .

Save That Stuff set up Zero Waste Stations to dispose of 'trash' properly

Chicken Roti

Pumpkin Pie Soda

Effie's Nutcakes

Enjoying some coleslaw from Haley's House Bakery Cafe

Heartbreak Sauce

Hot Pepper Jam from Hedgie's Hot Stuff

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie from Dough Raise Me

Yum!

Once we had our fill of food (and crowds) we took a short jaunt:  

Cold beers on the roof deck – perfect end to a great day!

- Christina

Well summer, we had a good run – beachin’ in Wells, ME, warm weather walks around the city, reminiscing with the fam in Canada, countless ice cream cones and grilled everything .  Thanks to the wonderful weather (a nice change from last years endless monsoons), it turned out to be a great season.

In addition to lots of relaxation, I had the chance to go hiking in NH twice this summer: a few trails in the White Mountains and this past Labor Day weekend, Mount Cardigan.   Two weekends ago, the BF and I headed north for a little R&R.  Our plan (hatched the day before….procrastinate much?) was to stay at a Bed and Breakfast then try to hike a few trails in the White Mountains.  At the last minute we found The Mulburn Inn in Bethlehem, NH.  The reviews on trip advisor looked great and after speaking with the Mary the Innkeeper, I knew we had a winner.  Bethlehem is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes from Boston – a bit of a hike, but once you cross the N.H. boarder the views are gorgeous.  Mountains dressed in lush green forests, endless blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds and a sense of boundless freedom . 

Before reaching Bethlehem, we stopped in Woodstock, NH at the Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery for lunch.  We started off with a couple beers, made on site. Raspberry Weasel Wheat Ale & Loon Golden Ale

The BF got the mac & cheese ( a Woodstock Inn specialty), spiced up with a sweet chili cheese sauce and spicy chorizo.  I had a few bites and we both agreed it was in our top 5 mac & cheeses (the best still being from Oceanaire…crazy good….).  I ordered the Bison Burger, ‘Rajing Style’ with pepper jack cheese and hot onions.  I know bison is a leaner meat, but I think it might have been over cooked.  The topping however, was pretty good – suuper spicy, but tasty nonetheless.  We of course couldn’t finish a meal without a sweet treat .  The Brownie Sundae (and yes, we polished off the whole thing )

After lunch it was off to Bethlehem and the Mulburn Inn! 

The Inn was gorgeous, filled with history.  Built in 1908, the Inn originally served as a residence and summer home, frequented by the likes of the Rockefellers, Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and Thomas Edison.  The Mulburn has 7 guest rooms named after various early presidents, each with a private bath.  The majority of the fixtures in the Inn are original with a mix of current and Victorian furniture. 

Not only was the Inn clean and comfortable, the Innkeeper Mary was an absolute delight.  From the moment we arrived, it felt like we had been friends for years.  Mary recently moved back to NH from San Francisco and bought the Inn in June of this year.  Her excitement about the property and each of its guests is contagious – not to mention, she makes the most amazing chocolate chip and dried cranberry cookies (that were always warm and waiting in the foyer whenever we returned…incredible ).  Both mornings Mary made a hearty breakfast for us all; an estratda with fresh veggies and ham and stuffed french toast with warm blueberries.

On Saturday with Mary’s guide books and suggestions in hand, we headed to the Franconia Notch State Park to do some hiking – we hiked the Coppermine Trail to the Bridal Veil Falls and the Bald Mountain Artists Bluff Trail. 

Bridal Veil Falls

View from top of Bald Mountain Artist Bluff Trail

It was a wonderful weekend filled with good food, fresh air and R&R .  If you’re thinking of getting away for a few days, I highly recommend the Mulburn Inn – close to Lincoln, N. Conway and the Franconia State Park. 

It’s that time of year – the Haddad Family reunion.  Once a year my Mom’s side of the family gets together in Canada for a weekend to catch up, play wist and eat lots of delicious food.  I’m headed up today, but will be back bright and early on Monday to share recipes & a recap of the weekend.

Have a great weekend!

-Christina