Favorite Restaurants Ever

Hank and I once went to a beer tasting where we asked the brewer his favorite beer. He had the best answer I've heard. It's not necessarily that my favorite beer is the best beer out there, but the experience that I had while drinking that beer, say the beer I drank after I got engaged, amplified the taste for me, made me want to savor it a little bit longer, and that's why it's my favorite. People always ask me about my favorite restaurants, and I think I answer the same way. My favorite restaurants may not be the best out there, you could try it and think eh, but to me the ambiance was key, the food was great and my memories from that meal make it the best.

1. Hank and I love TV personality Anthony Bourdain. As we were planning our honeymoon to Paris and Rome, Bourdain did one of his shows in Rome and went to the restaurant Roma Sparita. We put it at the top of our list. Hank and I just had an awesome time in Paris and flew to Rome and were bubbling over with love and so excited to try this restaurant. We walked through a tiny rose garden to get to the piazza we needed. We got a table outside and a bottle of house red and ordered our simple little dishes that came highly recommended, cacio e pepe. It was perfect. I daydream often about that tiny little restaurant in that most delightful city. When in Rome...

2. Take me to Little River, S.C. right outside of Myrtle Beach on any given sunny day. You drive down a gravel road to get to a tiny little shack right on the waterfront, Crab Catchers. It's my grab a Corona Light with lime and sit at the closest table to the water under an umbrella kind of place. Life moves slower there. The boats pass by, the sea breeze dances in your hair - it's my happy place. I get the fried oyster, scallop or shrimp sandwich sans bun (because it's cheaper than a basket), and kick back and relax my day away.

3. This next one is a local to Raleigh, N.C. favorite - Dos Taquitos. I'm good for either location, but I've never seen a chip train anywhere else so the Glenwood location has that; although the esquites soup at the Creedmor location is better. Dos Taquitos is the happiest Mexican restaurant. It's loud, tacky and their Mexican flag enchiladas are perfection. I forgo the black beans and rice for their esquites soup, because it's all levels of delicious. I love this place for a fun day, birthday, any day kind of place. It's always a treat.

4. St. John, USVI was an amazing trip, and I'll recap it here one of these days. My favorite day on the trip included this next spot so it's certainly all encompassing as to why I love it so much. We piled eight deep into our red jeep and took the most vertical, hill ridden, scariest drive to beautiful Salt Pond Bay. It was a small hike to get to the actual beach but when we arrived it was a secluded oasis that we had almost all to ourselves. We left much of the group behind and took a quick drive to The Tourist Trap to pick up lunch for all. They are known for their lobster rolls so we grabbed eight of those and brought them back. We ate them on the beach against crystal clear blue waters, sailboats in the distance, a calmness so perfect that you could here the tiny waves dance against the sand. So yeah, the buttered and toasted bun filled high with lobster salad made from fresh, tender meat, celery, light onion and mayo... it was just right.

5. Lastly on my current top five favorite restaurants ever goes to Sauc in Barcelona. Hank and I went to London and Barcelona to celebrate our second anniversary. This dinner was memorable for many reasons but absolutely memorable because of how long we spent actually eating - no less than two and a half hours. This restaurant is a gastronomy delight, and we had whatever the chef had on deck - 15 courses - something like that. Too many to count that's for sure. I remember we were there so long, and certainly the last table, that they were vacuuming. I was laughing so hard I was crying. Back to the food though... the food! It was a visual feast. Each plate was small but creative. The fish was embraced by sea foam, the dessert was a chocolate sphere that melted away to reveal the true dessert. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced. We rolled out of there, just like that chocolate sphere would have, but it was certainly a dinner to remember.

When Hank and I eat at that next best restaurant, these five restaurants are in the back of my mind, and I'm wondering, would this beat out any of those? It would be no easy feat but I'm certainly open to it.

Charleston Happened

Y'all. I love Charleston so. I'm talking favorite city on earth so. May and I tried an Airbnb for the first time, and it was great. I love having all the space of a home, and it just makes you feel more like a local. I already booked another Airbnb in August. Once we arrived to the land of the palms and pineapples, we went straight to newish Tex-Mex restaurant Minero (same owner / chef as Husk - another Charleston favorite of mine). Here's what we ordered up:



Sangria. Chips and guacamole. Their guacamole is amazing with all the cilantro, radish, etc. garnishes - really kicks it up a notch. The chips - those are great too - not your average tortillas. All of their tacos are under $4 each. Resounding favorite was pastor followed by grilled steak and pork carnitas. They don't take reservations so just get there late.

That night we went to the bar Blind Tiger. Inside is definitely college but outside is the polar opposite (well, I can't speak to clientele on the night you're there, but ambiance, yes). The outside patio truly is "an enchanting garden where seating areas are tucked behind crumbling brick walls or under branches." Charlestonians were loving my pineapple spirit. One person did say, "what's up Tupac," so there's that. I'll go with it.

Saturday morning came and we walked it out to the Charleston Farmers Market in Marion Square. I don't think I could ever miss this market on Saturday. The hustle and bustle in the heart of it all really gives you the pulse of the place. It opens at 8 a.m. so I try to get there right around then. At the start of the market there are a good amount of breakfast and coffee vendors so that's always my first stop. We're talking giant breakfast croissants that two people need to share. Oh, and bring cash here. Many of the shops take cards but not so much the food spots so $20 will do you good. 

As for the shopping, Rewined candles are here cheaper than we can get them at home since they're Charleston made - perfect souvenir. My favorite Rewined scent is pinot noir and their second line, Produce candles, the scent wildflower is pretty great. They'll hold them for you while you walk the rest of the market. I love the Charleston Soap Chef too. Try her sugah scrub and the lotions and bath salts are great as well. I have almost the whole line (whoopsies!) in her sweet magnolia scent. Both of those vendors have the Square, so cards accepted. 

After the Farmers Market we walked King Street to City Market. May had to buy a bag for her bags so I suggest packing a reusable shopping tote with shoulder straps (just sayein'). My favorite shop in City Market is the Historic Charleston Foundation. They have everything pineapple you could dream of. I recommend their pewter pineapple bottle opener (at only $6 it's an absolute steal). Since they are a nonprofit, you don't pay tax so that's a pleasant surprise. 

From there we went to all of my favorite stops that I'll stop at every time I am in Charleston no matter what. Even though I've already seen it, it doesn't seem like a visit to #Chas without seeing the staples: Rainbow Row, White Point Gardens at Battery Park (where Hank and I got engaged!) and the Pineapple Fountain. 

We seriously could not have done it without Phil. We hitched a ride at City Market and he pedaled us and our bags to all of those stops. It was delightful or as I said, PHILnomenal. He took us to favorite beer shop The Charleston Beer Exchange where I picked up Westbrook's Mexican Cake beer for Hank. It only comes out once a year so the odds of us being there the day the shop stocked it is beer fate. Souvenir for Hank, check! 

We did all of that by lunchtime. Whew. Phil pedaled us all the way back to our Airbnb. Bless him. It was hot. May and I popped on our suits and made our way to favorite beach Sullivan's Island for some fun in the sun. We called ahead at Poe's Tavern and got takeout for the beach. Surprise... more tacos. The line for Poe's is always long in the summer so I'd recommend a call ahead. The parking for Sullivan's Island is sparse so patience and it will happen. 

After the beach we stopped by Sugar bakeshop, and oh my goodness it was so good. 

So cute, so good. I picked up an ice cream cone shaped ginger snap dog treat for Bentley and a coconut cupcake for myself. Seriously delicious. Next time I'm picking the one with sprinkles. 

We got dolled up and it was off to Moon and Lola as May was teaching handlettering. 

I organized some things. Wrote some things. And posed with giant pinata letters. 

After a job well done, we went to Leon's Oyster Shop for dinner. Hank said he wasn't seeing enough seafood so by golly I will eat seafood. May and I started with their char-grilled oysters and fried brussels sprouts. The brussels were amazing. Then we ordered more oysters but raw this time, and I always love oysters so those were of course great too. Next time I want to try their crushed avocado toast as it seems like that's what people are eating these days. Leon's has an abundance of outdoor twinkle lights so yippee for that. 

On Sunday we woke up and had more seafood. We got to Hominy Grill (UNC alumni owners and chef!) right when they opened. I had their shrimp and grits. I just couldn't not order them. 

Afterwards we packed it up, went to see my favorite potter, Elizabeth Carlton, grabbed iced chai tea lattes at Kubu, walked down the middle of King Street because it was Second Sunday, their celebration of the arts, and then worked an alumni event where there were benne wafers (another Charleston staple). Then it was off, off and away back to the land of the pines. Until next time, Charleston.

P.S. If you're interested in trying Airbnb, here's $25 off your first adventure. As for my past Charleston adventure recaps, here and here.

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Sea Leg Salad

Here we go again! This time down by the sea with another Hank-family staple.

Ingredients

16 oz. package elbow macaroni, cooked
14 oz. package flake style imitation crab (found in fresh catch section), roughly chopped
12 oz. tail off 71-90 count cooked shrimp, thawed and roughly chopped
1/3 cup dill salad cubes (dill relish)
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3/4 cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Mix all together and done. Seriously! The dill relish, mayo and salt and pepper can certainly all be added to taste - more or less than mentioned above depending on your style. The mayo simply serves as a light coat so don't go too crazy. This makes a ton too. Refrigerate and serve. Shell yeah.

Turtle dish by Vietri; my favorite table ever by Hank

Orange You Glad Salad

I love asking people about their staple dishes or what they're making that week for dinner. I'm always down for new recipes - I'll try any recipe once and am always looking for that next best recipe to add to our signature line up. My sister-in-love Amy and I were chatting the other night, and she had this mandarin orange salad on deck - a Hank's family staple. I seriously could not keep the spoon out of the bowl as I was putting it in the refrigerator. It makes a ton so plenty to share at a party or with your lunches all week. Here we go:

Ingredients

8 oz. lite cool whip
16 oz. low fat cottage cheese
3 oz. package orange Jell-O (keep as powder)
20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
15 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained and roughly chopped

Directions

Fold first three ingredients in a large bowl together and mix well. Remember: You're adding the Jell-O to the cool whip and cottage cheese in powder form. Mix in your drained pineapples, and drained and roughly chopped mandarin oranges. Refrigerate prior to serving.

Fish dish by Vietri; my favorite table ever by Hank

Empire State of Mind

I'm back from NYC and Charleston. Let's start with NYC. The weekend was amazing and all to celebrate one of my best friends - Maura (we met at Carolina). My friend Cara and I flew up on Friday morning. We took this photo with one of the best $9.99 purchases I've made - a hot pink selfie stick from the Maxxer (T.J. Maxx). 

Cara and I like to throw up peace signs because we endorse peace and because why not. Our first stop was the North River Lobster Company. It's all levels of Midtown happy. 

North River Lobster Company: You climb aboard and hike straight to the top. There's a bar up there with picnic tables and views. Lots and lots of views of a big city pretty. We ordered drinks and lobster rolls. All was delicious and spot on. The boat takes off and for about 45 minutes you cruise around the Hudson River. The music is going, the American flag flapping and the sun kissing your face. It seriously couldn't be more delightful. We took the Friday at 3 p.m. cruise, and we pretty much had the upper deck all to ourselves. It's not cheap but neither are lobster rolls, cocktails or a boat ride with beautiful views so I think it's totally worth it i.e. I'd definitely hop on board again. 

Afterwards we headed back to Maura's cutest apartment in Hoboken. 

We listened to the jams, drank sangria and reminisced. Then it was off to my favorite (!!!) Grimaldi's for pizza al fresco. 

No other pizza can touch New York pizza with those pepperonis all 'up like a cup' (to hold in all that greasy goodness). Aside: All my family is from upstate New York so this is the pizza I've grown up on for all of my days. #rekindledlove 

That night we played around on the waterfront, hit up the bars and recreated a favorite emoji. Then we had bridal shower dreams in anticipation of the Saturday ahead.

I can't say this enough: this shower was the funnest. I laughed and smiled the entire time. It was beautiful. And they know how to 'do it up' in the North. 

All of the paper products were from Minted. The invitation matched the place cards that matched the menu that matched the thank you cards. The place card holder above was made by one of the sisters, Chrissy, and she seriously outdid herself with all of this paper flower bliss. 

The restaurant, Apertif, was very French and very cool, and the cocktails - bellinis, champagne and mimosas - unlimited. I wore a big bow for the occasion and started my delicious meal with the French onion soup. Dress from Red Dress Boutique.

Then it was onward to the entrees, and then dessert and then a second dessert. 

Here's me and the lovely bride to be.

Maura was a great present opener - with lots of varied sayings. I love watching people open presents - just so much darn joy. I was in charge of a timer and every time it dinged! I got to award whoever's present was being opened a prize. So cute. 

Photos above are bridal party, with the moms, and Carolina gals, respectively. And yep, that selfie stick came in handy yet again. 

That night we played in Maura's parent's backyard for hours and hours. We sang a lot, danced it out and dined on Italian. 

Then Sunday came. Which meant it was Bachelorette Party day. We woke up and had some breakfast and opened swag bags before we paraded onto our party bus, flower headpieces and all. 

We cruised to North Fork, land of the vineyards. Our first stop was River Bend.

Big fields, horses, barns, picnic tables and all that countryness. 

The sweet sisters served apps of cheese and veggies. Then it was off to Duck Walk.

We had boxed lunches and wine in mason jars. Yum. Then it was off to Vineyard 48. My favorite. It was like Cancun spring break in vineyard form. There was a cookout, DJ, dancing, people everywhere, and... Sangria buckets. Pink ones.

The sisters brought dessert including fruit and pink sprinkled oreos. Yay, sisters!

That night we played in downtown East Rockaway to keep the celebrations going. We popped the confetti like it was NYE. Monday morning came quick, and we said goodbye to an awesome weekend and that big pretty city.