Azteca Brownies
05 May 2011 1 Comment
in Around Town, Dessert, Gourmet, Serendipitous Adventures, Sweet, What I think... Tags: Atticus Bakery, Azteca Brownie, Brownie, Chabaso Bakery, Cinco De Mayo
Craving a much desired mid-afternoon pick me up, I dropped into my favorite cafe & bookstore – Atticus Bookstore Cafe.
Atticus Books Cafe The Counter
Here I often find myself drowning in really good coffee, getting lost in unusual books and devouring their famous Azteca brownie within minutes!
See for yourself…
Azteca Brownie
It’s a favorite local hangout for Yale students and locals alike. Always greeted by a friendly staff serving up some of the most incredible sandwiches and desserts in town! And for a good reason… all the bread and desserts are made by the incredibly delicious Chabaso Baking Company . I love their bread… all their bread! And desserts!
Atticus Cafe
Today for Cinco De Mayo, swing by and try their famous “Black Bean” soup and top it off with the infamous “Azteca Brownie”. You’ll thank me and don’t be surprised if you find yourself channeling your inner Lucha lubrie.
Woohoo Elm City Handmade Giveaway! One of Kind Dessert Plate!
08 Apr 2011 15 Comments
in Around Town, Giveaway, What I think... Tags: art, artist, Cake Plates, cakeplate, Collecting, Dessert, Dessert Plates, Etsy, handmade
Some of you may already know about my slight obsession for delicate beautiful glassware, especially Depression glass. Although some of the pieces I’ve bought are for my personal collection, they have sparked my curiosity for the arts. I began upcycling these one-off pieces that have lost their mates in time by making functional art, pairing together plates and stemware to create dessert plates.
Dessert Cake Plate Giveaway 2
I have been giving away these plates as gifts to family and friends and now I want to give one away to you!
This one…
Dessert Plate Giveaway For You
The Rules:
One entry per person, please.
U.S. Residents only.
Here’s how you enter to for a chance to win:
Answer the following question in the comments section of this post.
“What have you created lately?”
A recipe? A piece of art? Decorated a room? Written a story? Let us know!
Winner will be selected at random and announced on the evening of Thursday, April 14th.
Have fun & Good luck!
You can get an up close and personal look at some of my other handmade cake plates by visiting Elm City Handmade. They offer a wide selection of handmade items, like jewelry, art, robots, toys, clothing, vintage items and so much more. It’s like having your very own Etsy store! Swing buy and check out the other fabulous works by local artisans.
Elm City Handmade Store
I want one of everything!
Elm City Handmade Artisan Items
Here’s how you enter to for a chance to win:
Answer the following question in the comments section of this post.
“What have you created lately?”
A recipe? A piece of art? Decorated a room? Written a story? Let us know!
Jeff and I will select a response at random and announce the winner on the evening of Wednesday, December 8th.
Have fun & Good luck!
A Saucy Evening With The Ramones
09 Mar 2011 1 Comment
in Around Town, Gourmet, Italian Dishes, Serendipitous Adventures, What I think... Tags: Brooklyns Own, italian, italian sauce, Marky Ramone, Pasta Sauce, Ramones, The Ramones
A recent trip to Daddy’s Junky Music turned out to be more than just a visit to my husband’s toy store. Jeff’s the musician in the family and has a deep appreciation for all things vintage, especially musical instruments; this often has us searching music stores for the next big score.
Vintage Toy Closet
To my surprise I discovered something to my likeness, “food” and not just any food, Marky Ramone’s “Brooklyn’s Own Pasta Sauce”. Who would have thought, Daddy’s Junky Music was now venturing into the culinary arts.
Marky Ramone Pasta Sauce
I was expecting to keep myself entertained, playing with the usual synthesizers, guitars and drums, while Jeff searched for the next shiny thing. Instead I reviewed the product selection sitting atop of the counter with nostalgic enthusiasm and quickly purchased the Marinara Pasta Sauce. This needed some additional research, the kind where you break and dip your bread, while your pasta takes you for a saucy swim.
Pasta A Cooking
To accompany the pasta we made a quick stop at Bread & Chocolate, our local bakery for fresh baked Chiabatta bread. At home the pans started clanking. Water boiling, sauce cooking – check, bread sliced, table set – soon the tasting will begin.
During the entire dinner Jeff and I hardly spoke, other than those few descriptive words we mumbled between bites… that went something like this…
Georgie: Wow… hm-mm… this is good.
Jeff: Yeah, surprising really tasty!
Georgie: Seriously for store bought sauce in a bottle, this is really good.
Jeff: Did we get just one bottle, we should get more.
Marky Ramone’s Marinara Pasta Sauce passed the test! Rich and flavorful you can taste all the ingredients. Unexpected freshness of tomatoes, basil and assorted spices jumped out to greet your palate.
I found myself flashing back to my college days in the early 90’s, hanging out at the Agora Ballroom in Hallandale Beach, Florida, watching The Ramone’s play live. The stage was set aglow in a light blue hue and music was echoing throughout the auditorium. We danced and flicked our lighter’s to the bands cult classics like, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”, “Gabba Gabba Hey” and “I Wanna Be Sedated”. It was a great night.
The Ramones in Concert
Above the stage you could see the VIP glass room, which seemed to be floating in mid air. The guests were mingling amongst one another and enjoying themselves. A few moments later entered Joey and CJ and all I could think of was… I have to get in there, but how could I sneak in? I summoned up all the nerve I had, approaching the body guard and said, “I’m a friend of the bands”. Next thing I knew we were heading up to the VIP room, apparently cleared for access.
Ramones Autograph
Woah – that’s right, baby… we had VIP access. We joined the small elite group of privileged punk rockers. Schmoozing with Joey & CJ, we ate Domino’s’ pizza, ironic I know and I got this awesome autographed Domino’s Pizza menu as a keepsake from this remarkable night!
As for my musical attempts, well, let’s just say they usually involve a fantasy filled with everyone’s hair blowing back from my awesomeness, for real!
Chinese New-year
03 Feb 2011 2 Comments
in Around Town, Holiday, Love My Local, What I think... Tags: art, artist, Chinese New Year, Create96, creativity, drawing, Holidays, New Haven Connecticut, New Year
A Chance to Create96
Tonight’s First Createup
Because it’s Chinese New Year a time to start anew with inspiration and second chances, I’m embracing this occasion to be more creative. I’m attending Create96’s first createup this evening at The Grove New Haven.
Create96 is the brainchild of my lovely & talented husband Jeff, who has one of the most beautiful minds I have ever encountered, one of the many reason why I married him. A child at heart who is forever creating, inventing and exploding with new idea’s daily, seriously! I think he has more ideas within a day then there are actual minutes in a day, if that’s at all possible… they’re super incredible ideas!
Jeff has partnered with an equally talented friend & co-worker Mason whose inspired enthusiasm may give Create96 one of its competitive edges, making these two a great team. And then there’s me… who hides behind the scenes, adding my two cents on occasion that usually goes something like this… I created a new recipe, want to try it?
Because my original New Year’s resolution is to get skinny, which I’m doing quite well with, Hooray! I really haven’t been eating much, other than loads of salads like this one, Arugula, Grilled Chicken & Salsa Salad with slight variations. So I’ve turned my focus onto creating other things, for now.
This renewed passion has taken me down memory lane… reminiscing my childhood reflecting a disheveled eight year old, chalk in hand, lying on the side-walk, drawing houses, designing art deco furniture and space planning where all the furniture would go. And when there was no more chalk left to draw with – I would use white rocks as chalk to finish my masterpieces. I never became an Interior Designer; I’m far too eclectic for that, as I’ve been known to wear pink sued heels, green satin slacks and a fedora to pull it all together.
I never really explored art, drawing or panting until later in life persuaded by a dear friend to take a drawing class, thus began my passion for drawing once again, while I don’t think myself a good artist – at all, it’s more of a meditative obsession for me.
So for today’s post…
For Chinese New Year and renewing my artistic side.
For New Years and getting super skinny.
For Create96 renewing my inspiration for the arts.
I’m sharing a serious of self-portrait drawings I rendered over the years.
Circa 1994 – 2002
So go create, will ya!
And… if you find yourself inspired swing by and join us at Create96 createup this evening!
Self Portrait 1
Unrequited Love
Self Portrait 2
Awaken
Self Portrait 3
Discovery
Self Portrait 4
Quaiattini
Self Portrait 5
T.V Hair
Self Portrait 6
Nizami
Self Portrait 7
Internest
Aφροδίτη Aphroditē
When all is said and done with my new years resolution to be super skinny, I hope to look something like this!
The Sweetest Things
06 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Around Town, Cookie, Gourmet, Serendipitous Adventures, Sweet Tags: Baking and Confections, Cookie, Food, Home, Shopping, Sugar
Who doesn’t love a weekend day trip? Especially throughout the New England countryside traveling and discovering the different captivating villages, charming people and great new-fangled eats. Initially these getaways were a necessity – a much-needed sabbatical from the hectic work week, while in the end roaming into the unknown landscape was the sweetest of all pleasures.
Kim Welch Baker Owner
Our most recent spree was all about the sweets. We did all the sampling for you so all you need to do is show up. Red Rooster Baking Co. is neatly tucked away in a quaint country barn strip mall, beside the winding lush garden of Boston Post Road carefully preserved with traditional antique shops, Inn’s and local farms.
Owner and baker, Kim Welch who is as sweet as her offerings, has created some of the most memorable cookie combinations, mixing super scrumptious flavors like Kahlua Espresso Bean Chunk, Key Lime Butter, Oatmeal Butterscotchies and Lemon Poppy Sugar to name just a few. When visiting it’s a good idea to leave with as many as you can carry.
If you’re not a local and are craving something sweet, you can order online to quickly satisfy any cookie monster craving. Seriously these are some of the best, chewiest, moist and flavorful cookies ever!
Kahlua Espresso Bean Chunk Cookie
Lemon Poppy Cookie
Oatmeal Butterscotchies
Tastiest Burger I Ever Ate
27 Aug 2010 1 Comment
in Around Town, Food, Gourmet, Serendipitous Adventures Tags: burger, cheese burger, Hamburger, louis lunch, louis's lunch, new haven
I have to agree with The Travel Channel for choosing Louis’ Lunch as The Tastiest Place to Chowdown in America as well as The Tastiest Burger ever! As rich in history as they are in taste, discover Louis’ humble beginnings while they journey through a century of the American Burger.
For the record, Louis’ is credited for inventing the hamburger as we know it today. Legend has it one day in the early 1900s; a man rushed into Louis’ Lunch requesting a meal on the go. Louis Lassen owner prepared his ground grilled steak, slapped it between two slices of toast, and hence, the American hamburger was born. How’s that for history! Louis’ hamburgers have changed little from the original recipe and are made fresh daily, cooked to order in the original grills from 1898.
For generations, Louis’ Lunch has satisfied perhaps millions of devoted burger lovers all over the world. Louis’ has endured the change of time with its unchanged décor and iconic personal story, making this landmark a must do on anyone’s bucket list.
Louis’ simple menu offers the original burger, tuna sandwich (Fridays only), potato salad, chips, homemade pies & assorted drinks. A family friendly environment that’s super cozy with a small seating area, the occasional entrainment featuring proprietor Jeff Lassen with his witty outbursts, together with affordable pricing make this the best burger joint ever!
When heading to Louis’ be sure to read the house rules (no ketchup) before ordering all that good burgerliciousness!
Love My Local Apizza
24 Oct 2009 6 Comments
in Around Town, Food, Gourmet, Love My Local, Serendipitous Adventures Tags: apizza, new haven, new haven pizza, pizza, pizza pie
My husband and I recently moved to New Haven and were pleasantly surprised to find a gastropub of remarkable restaurants! We quickly began the inventory of good local eats and geared up for a full course of a voluptuous gumbo of ethnicity sure to stir any haute cuisine foodie into delirious addiction! It’s nearly impossible to cover all these mouth-watering venues in one sitting, so I’m left with no other choice then to write about New Haven’s most famous food… pizza!
New Haven is known for many firsts and legend has it in 1925 Frank Pepe made the first Neapolitan style pizza called “apizza” (pronounced ah-BEETS). The original location known as the “The Spot “ for takeout only is tucked away behind its new location on Wooster Street. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana best known for their white clam pie, they make all kinds of great pies. However, I’m more partial to the summer tomato pie, loaded with fresh mozzarella, scrumptious summer tomatoes and a perfect sultry mix of garlic, olive oil and basil atop a perfect flat crust. There’s always a line with up to an hour wait, pizzas are reasonable priced and the service is good with a great atmosphere for family & friends. A must try for any pizza connoisseur.
Frank Pepe New Haven
Summer Pie
Not far down the street you’ll find another line forming at Sally’s Apizza. Sally got his pizza savvy straight from the family business, that’s cause, well, Sally is Frank Pepe’s nephew. While Pepe has been moving and growing, Sally’s has been using the same brick oven for more than 60 years serving up his well seasoned, crunchy flat brick oven pizza crust that’s seared to perfection. One must try the “mootz” apizza; it’s the traditional Neapolitan style pie that’s rich with homemade mozzarella, a sweet and spicy red sauce full of plump fresh tomatoes, garnished with roasted garlic and fresh basil, served on a large rectangular baking tray. This pizza is absolute perfection! Well worth the wait to get in, service can be slow with the original brick oven so expect to wait some more. The décor features Sally’s most famous client Frank Sinatra and the place sings with deliciousness, oh and the prices are as perfect as pie.
Sally's
Mootz Apizza
Love My Local in New London, CT
27 Sep 2009 3 Comments
in Around Town, Food, Love My Local, Serendipitous Adventures Tags: Clam chowder, Cooking, Fish and Seafood, Home, Lobster, New England, Shellfish, Soups and Stews
A day trip to New London, CT is a great way to spend the start of fall. You get to glimpse the beginning stages of autumns foliage change while cruising along the shoreline enjoying everything New England has to offer. This has become a passion of ours while exploring the local cuisine each unique area has to offer, we simply love to pay homage to all the good food. It is the least we could do and oh’ boy are we glad we stumbled upon this special town. Secluded in the back of New London’s marina off Shaw’s Cove you’ll find a hidden gem in Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock.
I was pretty sure we found Captain Kidd’s loot, they do say it’s buried someplace nearby, instead we found the holy grail of lobster rolls and not just any lobster roll, it was a foot long, buttered to perfection and loaded with the most succulent tender morsels, this is by far one of the best, yet! Seriously, what would New England be without New England clam chowder; here they serve it piping hot, creamy with delicate slivers of tasty clams and chunky potatoes, a perfect mélange of flavor. Ahhhh’ the lobster bisque with its unique sweet spice dappled with an affectionate sum of lobster meat. Why even the Fried Sole Sandwich tasted as if just caught and hand delivered right to your plate and did I mention the Cole slaw, one of the best I’ve ever had.
We plan on making plenty of treks back here and certainly plan on bringing our entourage of guest to enjoy what we consider one of the best local dining spots in New London. And of course, there’s still the pirate booty someplace out there, at least we’ll have full tummy’s while treasure hunting.
Inspiring Bakers & Bloggers
18 Sep 2009 1 Comment
in Around Town, What I think... Tags: baking, Cake, Dessert, Food
As I explore my gourmet magazines & cook books looking for next inspiring meal to make, I decided to take a completely different route from my normal routine and stumble through the web. This was fun and exciting and much to my surprise I was served up an endless amount of information. Weeding through all of these incredible sites to uncover what fit my culinary style the best.
Here are few of my favorite sites:
The first site that challenged my senses and engaged me for hours with its unique combination of sugar & spice was Cupcakes by Chockylit Cake Shop: the Green Tea, Lavender & Honey Cupcake Bomb are sure to please any baker extraordinaire.
Next I stumbled upon Smitten Kitchen: one must attempt her version of Red Velvet Cake – the best I’ve ever had! I must confess pretty much anything she makes is oh’ so yummy!
My search continued with my most beloved dessert of all… Carrot Cake and oh’ boy did I find the mother lode of all Carrot Cakes at Zoe Bakes: Every time I make this cake for friends or family everyone seems to leave intoxicated with sweet pleasure. Zoe is for sure a keeper!
As these are just a few sites to mention and as I continue to travel around through my culinary adventures I will persist to explore and share my most adored recipes with you. Before I bid you adieu… yesterday I discovered The Pioneer Woman through twitter, she features some really good home cooked food that I’m longing to try and has launched another food social site The Tasty Kitchen I’m sure will quickly become my new obsession, a great place for meet and greet and exchange recipes.
So far this exciting and entertaining journey has given me several new friends and taught me delicious recipes. For sure this little chef in training has taken one step closer to that big dream bakery.
