Exploring

The Hub

August 27, 2014

Whenever we visit Maine we go to an island(ish thing) that is called The Hub. I don’t know if it’s officially called that or it’s something that locals call it or just something Price’s family calls it (Elaine… some insight?).

The last time I was there we picked mussels, but this time we just hung out and took some pictures. It was just a nice mellow time allowing us to walk around, check out the seaweed, find teeny penny sized crabs in the tidal pools, and take pictures. Some of the best ones were the ones with Autumn sitting on the rock where Price’s grandmother would spend time sitting as she watched all the grandkids. We think she was pretty stoked to hang out on ‘Olive’s Rock’.

Kemper was so excited to explore with Price. He was probably dying to get off leash and we were tempted to do it had we had more time than before going back home for dinner. We just figured that he would end up climbing up/down the boulders and getting stuck, so then Price would have to save him. ha!

Honey, don’t eat the sand.

See you next year Maine.

Camping with a Baby: Sand Pond Campground- Sandford, ME

August 14, 2014

A few weeks ago Price and I packed up the car to go camping with Autumn and Kemper. Yep, camping with a 7 month old.

Our original plan was to go to Pillsbury State Park in Washington, New Hampshire early Saturday morning to stay at a specific camp site but it is one that can’t be reserved and, unfortunately, someone beat us there and was staying the weekend. So it meant for a change of plans. We sourced some books and searched online and ultimately found a spot at Sand Pond Campgrounds in Sanford, Maine.

Normally we are very organized and have everything packed up properly the night before we go away or go camping. Well, not this time. Of course. Unfortunately, one of our rabbits died that day and Price discovered it when he went down to our den to get camping stuff and feed them. So our productivity on Friday night came to a screeching halt. Instead, it was all about crying, feeling sad, saying good bye, and burying him. All of that meant we threw in the towel before we were done packing and decided to finish it in the morning.

People- don’t do that! I hate to say but we should have sucked it up and finished packing because then we would have (probably) had our act together and wouldn’t have needed to make THREE different stops the following morning. Yep, three. Sigh.

Anyway, after leaving an hour later than expected (hey, not so bad) we headed up to Sand Pond Campground in Sanford, ME. Because I can never resist an opportunity to go to Sonic, we stopped there for breakfast burritos and drinks.

While we left later than planned we still managed to arrive before 8.30am giving us plenty of time to get checked in and begin to get set up.

As we brought a baby and a dog with us, they put us in our own field. Thankfully, it was a quiet weekend and we were only 1 of 2 families tent camping. They have 2 fields for tents so they put us in our very own field, which meant we basically had 4 campsites to ourselves so we wouldn’t be disturbing others (as much) compared to being put right next to the other people. This consideration was so nice as it allowed for us to relax a bit more.

While we unpacked the car and set things up, we put Autumn on a picnic blanket. She loved it. She also loved pulling the blanket up and ripping up (and then eating- ugh) grass.

Did your awful parents forget a bowl for you so you had to drink water out of a pot? yep.

This year we upgraded our 3 person tent to an 8 person tent. We used our 3 person tent for the past few years but with the baby and the dog we knew that we wouldn’t fit in there. I was thinking we would get a 6 person tent but Price decided to ‘go big or go home’ and picked out a Coleman Montana 8 Person Tent.
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It felt funny setting it up as it was just 2 adults, 1 infant, and a dog but we all have a lot of stuff for each of us -bags for clothes, bags for cooking stuff, my pumping bag, stuff for the dog, etc. All of that stuff takes of a lot of room, and even when they say ‘sleeps 8’ they show the people in the diagram practically touching each other so I don’t feel that bad about such a big tent for all of us in the end. The tent was pretty easy to assemble so it made for a quick set up.

I took Autumn to the pool for a bit so she could splash around and play. There were a few families there but it was pretty mellow and quiet. It was a smallish pool but there was plenty of room for adults to hang around the edge while kids played in the deep end (not deep enough for diving!). There aren’t too many umbrellas so be sure to to bring plenty of sunblock, sunglasses, and a hat for you and your family.

Price later on enjoyed some solo pool time so that he could cool off and relax a bit while I sat back at the campsite enjoying some sun while Autumn napped.

Kemper enjoyed swimming around when we were at Pillsbury State Park last year, which is part of the reason that we selected Sand Pond this year. We wanted to give him that same opportunity this year so having a place for him to swim was one of the factors involved in picking out the campgrounds.

After 1 jump from the dock that resulted in him going under the surface, even with the life jacket on, Price would lower him into the water so he could swim out to the sticks we wanted to retrieve. He definitely got spooked going under the water so I’m really glad we had a life jacket on him to make him come up quickly and to have something to grab onto to get him out of the water quickly. Once he caught his breath he was ready to go again!

After Kemper did his swimming adventure… he was exhausted!

Well, we were all tired. 🙂

Autumn loves to be outside. This little camping adventure was right up her alley.

For dinner we ate hot dogs and store bought side salads. We enjoyed the leisurely pace of the evening as we hung out and walked around with Autumn. The sunset was really pretty but the best part was that we went during the full moon. We purposefully planned that when we were planning on when we were going camping during the summer. A gorgeous big moon, camp fire, and s’mores make for the best kind of night outside under the stars. Shoot! I didn’t even mind the squeaky bats that danced and darted above our heads. Thanks for eating all those pesky bugs guys!

Throughout the camping trip I would sneak away to the car to pump. Ah, the joys of pumping! I could have brought my battery pack with me to pump in the tent but I figured I would enjoy some AC in the car so I just brought the car adapter. Plus, it always gave me a chance to charge my phone which functioned as our clock, alarm, and always at hand camera. (I did bring my big Nikon as well.)

We brought a cooler for our food and for my to store my milk. We just made sure we had plenty of ice and it was simple to keep things safely stored for all of us.

We survived the night!

Of course, right as I was putting Autumn down in the tent a bunch of fireworks went off (off camp property) so she was spooked and took longer to get down. As well, she was up more at night as it was an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar sounds and smells. Thankfully, we didn’t have any close neighbors, but we still didn’t enjoy her crying so quickly brought her onto our sleeping bags (she was on her own at the start) to snuggle. Well, she mostly just batted me in the face!

Price made us breakfast!

Autumn was fussy and I needed to pump so I ending up giving Price some morning peace and drove around with her while I pumped. Plus, I grabbed some coffee’s from Dunkin’s which is just a few miles away (Thankfully, if you forget anything while camping here you can just drive a few miles and grab what you need at the grocery store or (the dreaded) Wal-mart).

Price’s mom sent us this ciao! baby Portable Highchair which is PERFECT for camping.

Price made cornbread just to try out the process. Ultimately, having a lid is key to making it cook properly. Gotta try to learn!

Hello Bacon Egg and Cheese!!!!

In the morning I took Autumn on a long walk around the campgrounds to get some exercise and kill some time while Price tidied things up around our campsite so we could pack up and get on the road early.

On our walk we kept looping around the campsite checking out everything that Sand Pond had to offer. One thing that I really enjoyed was that they have really clean, well organized facilities. There are 2 locations for restrooms and showers, one being by the pool. As most of the people there are in RV’s, which have bathrooms, the facilities were quiet and extremely clean. Even pretty of bugs as the screen doors are on closers so no one can forget the door open and fill the restrooms full of bugs!

They also have spaces for events and places for kids to play around. The playground had a jungle gym and a basketball hoop. Great for kids (even adults!) with tons of energy.

They were hosting BINGO on Saturday afternoon. I didn’t play but it was fun to walk by all the action.

They also host other events throughout the summer, for example, there was a blueberry bake off on the next weekend. Bummer to miss that!

They had a cute little beach which would be fun for Autumn to play in when she gets in older.

After the walk we broke down the tent and chucked stuff in the trunk and we were on our way home. We prefer to just get home and properly unpack/repack thing later. Like the tent was covered in dew so it would have been gross to fold up and put away in it’s case, we unpacked it, let it dry out and then packed it up later that afternoon.

Thankfully we have a car seat cover for our car since Kemper was filthy!!!This Kurgo cover is a lifesaver when it comes to keeping the car clean with Kemper.

We were all pooped when we got back. That is when you know it was a very successful camping weekend. So much fun!

So, we survived our first camping experience with Autumn and are looking forward to going again. Things will be very different next year with Autumn running around but I think it will just make it even more fun! So exciting!

Tips and Tricks for Camping at Sand Pond Campground

Bringing small bills with you will make it easier to pay for firewood. They do accept cards so you can use that for your fee but if you need wood later having cash makes things easier.
If you are bringing your dog then you HAVE TO bring a current copy of its rabies papers. The tag is NOT enough.
As there are a lot of trailers here, there are a lot of activities here to keep the people who summer here busy and happy. This is either your thing or not, just keep that it mind.
Dogs can’t go swimming on the beach but there is an area for dogs. They can use the boat dock but if your dog is not a jumper they might have difficulty getting in the water as there are canoes strapped off the dock inhibiting easy access in that area.
There are small wooden fences prohibiting you from driving up directly to your camp site so be ready to carry things back and forth as you unload/reload your car.

Tips and Tricks for Camping with an Infant

Bring lots of wipes!
Bring a hat and sunblock to protect your little one’s skin.
Use an all natural bug spray, as needed.
If you need to pump, bring a car adapter or a battery pack charger with you.
I suggest this ciao! baby Portable Highchair to make this easier for meal times.
Have some patience! It’s a new experience for you and them. There are all new things to look at which is fun but overwhelming too so they can get over stimulated quickly.
Try to pick a campsite that has bathroom facilities in case of accidents- make for washing things out and cleaning up easier, one that is fairly close to a store incase you forget something that you need, and one that isn’t too far from home just in case you need to ditch your plans and get home quickly. Be flexible. 🙂
Know where the closest hospital is and how to get there. Better to be prepared and never need it then have to scramble later.

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Post Contains Affiliate Links

Enjoying Brunch at Boston Chops with Boston Brunchers

August 13, 2014

I just love to go out for brunch. It’s the relaxed fit and feel of brunch that I love. I mean that I love that you can order whatever… eggs- sure, club sandwich- yep, pancakes- why not?, burger- definitely.I love that flexibility because I’m kinda horrible when it comes to making a decision to eat. More options might scare people but I like to have lots of options to at the last-minute, when the waiter is staring at me go “errr, ummm, I’llTakeTheChickenandWaffles! phew!”

I recently felt that same sense of delightful overwhelm mixed with a great sense of relief when I ordered my incredible brunch entrée at Boston Chops. I was out with a group of Boston Brunchers so I reigned in my indecisiveness and carefully narrowed down my brunch entrée to 2 things so I could just go ‘eeny meeny miny moe’ in my head at the last-minute. (yes, I am a child).

It’s just that they have such a great brunch menu that it was so tough to decide on what to get. Our waitress, Lindsay, was incredible as she was attentive and so well-informed that she was extremely helpful with the ordering process. Her passion for her job and food was clear as she described each element of each dish was inquired about. I couldn’t decide between the Croque Monsieur ($13-$17 w/ 2 eggs) or the Surf and Turf but from Lindsay’s descriptions of the Surf and Turf had me sold.

As part of the brunch we got some goodies to kick things off.

Homemade Sticky Buns! The mini buns ($7) were light and fluffy and the sticky bun sauce was sweet without giving you a toothache. I enjoyed

The table also ordered a dozen Island Creek Oysters ($29). The 2 plates of oysters were served with wedges of lemon, horseradish, cocktail sauce, and mignonette. I did not have any as I don’t like oysters but those who did have them really enjoyed them.

Homemade Donuts ($7) reminded me more of churros. They were crisp, crunchy, and sugary. The I could have drunk that velvety chocolate sauce.

I can never pass up an oportunity to enjoy a cocktail with bourbon, so I select the Maple Berry Smash ($11) as my brunch beverage. The mix of Bourbon, maple syrup, seasonal berries, and herbs made a lovely combination. The maple went well with the sweet and smokey nature of the Bourbon. The berries made it bright while the herbs rounded it all out to add the ‘wow’ element.

After everyone enjoyed the starters the entrees were served. Plates ranged from the Huevos Rancheros ($15) to the Turkey Sandwich ($13) to the “Surf & Turf” ($23). I was down right giddy when my Surf and Turf arrived in front of me. It was quite a sight to be hold with its 4 ounce beef tournedo, poached egg, lobster claws, asparagus, and Hollandaise Sauce.

The piece of beef so tender that I was able to use a butterknife to cut it. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare but I felt it could have used a bit of char to add more texture, flavor as I felt it was a bit underseasoned.

The farm fresh egg was cooked perfectly so that the white was firm and the yolk was bright and perfectly runny.

Alternating bites of the steak, egg, and lobster with the grits made for a lucious brunch.

Lobster Grits. Be still my heart.

There was actually a goof when they brought the entrée to the table- no grits! I was thinking ‘hmm maybe the grits portion is like the sauce, really rich so there is just a spoonful hidden somewhere under the steak?’ Nope, our plates were missing them so they rushed back and brought us these lovely mini dutch ovens filled with the grits. I’m actually glad that they were served separately, as they normally would have been placed on the plate with everything else on top, because this allowed for the complex layered flavors of the grits to shine on their own and not get muddled up with the egg yolk and Hollandaise. If I ever order this again I would actually ask for it this way.

Well, be still my heart. These grits were the best grits I ever ate! Maybe it was the lobster? The butter? The cheese? Oh God! They were so rich and creamy I gobbled up the whole thing. I just knew I wouldn’t enjoy them as much reheated at home so I just dug down deep and enjoyed the last few spoonfuls of the grits before leaning back in the booth in stuffed bliss. (I did a LONG walk with the dog later!)

This is why runny eggs and Hollandaise are my best friends. No wait, they are the devil and angel that sit on my shoulders. But who is who? I’ll never tell!

Houston, we have a problem.

Not only am I offended that this mirror is for jolly green giants but I’m offended as a designer. But who in their right mind thought it was okay to put the bottom of the miror at 4′-6″?? I would never think that was okay when I was designing it or installing it.

But don’t worry Boston Chops, I won’t hold the greatly mislocated mirror against you! I will be back and next time I’ll get a Croque Monsieur!

Boston Chops

1375 Washington Street

Boston, MA

617-227-5011

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While I received this complimentary brunch in exchange for a review, all options expressed are my own.

Wine and Dine Me: Chefs in Shorts 2014

July 5, 2014

Chefs in Shorts is a great charity based event that brings together local Boston chefs with beer, wine, and liquor companies to create night out that is as equally fun as it is satisfying.

Last month’s Chef’s in Shorts event marked the 17th year of this grill off. It brought over 40 area chefs together for a great night to help out a well deserving nonprofit. The money raised goes towards the organization called Future Chefs, which helps urban teens train and focus their skills in the kitchen to help them get jobs and become successful with restaurant careers.

We had a blast last year, so when I was invited again this year I couldn’t pass the opportunity up.

Here’s a little recap of all the fun things we saw and tried. Enjoy!

Two kinds of grilled chicken served with a fagrant seasoned vegetable rice from Mela created by Chef Jatinder Singh.

Oh Chef Mark J Pocaro (Top of the Hub), these tacos where killer. The fish was fresh and flaky and the slaw on top had such great flavor and texture.

They even offered different sauces to drizzle over the slaw. I tried the verde one that was made with tomatillos. The sauce had great heat without being too hot. Could have easily eaten 4 of these tacos, but I guess I had to share with others…

This fresh chilled gazpacho and grilled shrimp from Prezza (Chef Anthony Caturano) was a great a sip and bite. The gazpacho was slightly smokey and the shrimp was tender with a nice char.

Yep. Massive whole fish and pork tenderloins on the grill. NBD.

Be sure to use your drink tickets up so you can try various bevies. I enjoyed some wine and a killer rum based daquairi.

Such a cute way to present S’mores!

Little plates of yummy-ness from LTK (Chef Shane Queiros) and SkyBoKX 109 GastroSports (Chef Noah Gagnon)

It was such a fun time to try the different samples of food and drinks (beer, wine, and cocktails). We enjoyed the view and the beautiful weather.

I highly suggest attending Chefs in Shorts as you will enjoy helping out a great nonprofit organization, Future Chefs, while trying our dishes from over 40 great local chefs.

PS- Do not bring your super cute (and well behaved) baby with you. You’ll get kicked out by the hosting Seaport Hotel because it’s a 21+ event. I didn’t think a stroller bound 6 month old would be an issue but I was wrong. Lesson learned.

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While I was invited to attend this event, all opinions are my own.

Crab Cake Eggs Benedict @ The Cottage- Chestnut Hill, MA

June 5, 2014

Life with a baby certainly changes things. Obvious statement right there! I’m not complaining about it one bit since having Autumn has been that best thing ever but that meant that we missed going out for one of our best friend’s birthday festivities. We wanted to see him and celebrate so we figured out getting together for a brunch would work well.

Neither of us had been to The Cottage in Chestnut Hill, which is actually part of Boston, Newton, and Brookline. Weird little factoid there! It’s a cute village that has some great stores, some of which are in a newly redeveloped shopping center along Route 9.

The Cottage serves lunch and dinner and have a great selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. They even have a wonderful gluten free menu that is more than just ‘can you please hold the bun on my burger’. As well, their brunch menu is a nice mix of breakfast and lunch options. Price had The Garden Fresh Vegtables Omelet ($13) and our friend had the Fish Tacos ($15). They both enjoyed each of them. But let’s focus on the best brunch entree ever (besides waffles)… Eggs Benedict!

Aside from my typical Eggs Benedict, I always like to get Bloody Mary’s. I like the savoriness of it and how it has a kick from the spice and the vodka. Mimosas are fun but I like how Bloody Mary’s come with accessories. Hello celery. Hello lemon. Good Bye Olives. Okay, so I don’t like olives but Bloody Mary’s are still so cool in my book.

This Bloody Mary has a nice crispy flavor from the house-made mix. I really enjoyed how much horseradish they used as well.

I loved the look and feel of The Cottage. I would love to come back in the winter to sit by the fireplace.

There are 2 Eggs Benedict options on the brunch menu. There is the standard Eggs Benedict, which is served with a Wolferman’s english muffin, canadian bacon, poached eggs that are topped off with a house-made hollandaise ($14). And then there is a Crabcakes Benedict, which has crispy crabcakes instead of the english muffin and canadian bacon for $15. Both come with homefries. I chose the later Eggs Benedict option since I enjoy crabcakes so much.

Man the thing I love about Eggs Benedict is that runny egg and that buttery hollandaise sauce that just soaks into the Eggs Benny base and the homefries side. This Eggs Benedict was perfection in that regard.

The crabcakes that the Eggs Benedict were built upon provided a great foundation for dish. The crabcakes were made with large pieces of crab and little filler allowing the shellfish to star at center stage. My only critique of the crabcakes is that they were not very crisp. I would have preferred for them to be crisper as the crunch was needed to balance out the interior crabcake texture as well as the runny egg yolk and the Hollandaise sauce.

The egg was the perfect kind of sunshine yellow that eggs should be. It was only slightly, every so slightly, undercooked (to my preference) where there was some clear albumin not fully cooked. It was slight but something that I had to pick out. Again it might not bother some but I’m a bit picky about the albumin not being fully cooked. Regarding the actual flavor of the egg, it was super fresh and the texture of the egg was lovely as well.

The homefries acted like a perfect little sponge to soak up any yolk that made for a quick escape. They were seasoned well, as nicely cooked with a tender center and crispy exterior.

I would order this again but might specify that I’d want the crabcakes to be very crispy. Kind of like when ordering hash and getting it extra crispy. uummm hash… Oh man, don’t even get me started on that.

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Rating

Crab cake– 32 pts

Poached Egg– 23 pts

Hollandaise Sauce– 25 pts

Hash-brown and Greens– 8 points

Total: 88/100

The Cottage- Chestnut Hill

Boylston Street

Chestnut Hill, MA

The Beauty of the The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

May 29, 2014

Key West Butterfly Conservatory_01

A few weeks back I when I posted my recap/review of Hawks Cay Resort in The Florida Keys I mentioned that I had written some posts about our babymoon but forgot I had done that after Autumn was born. So here is my recap of our afternoon visit to The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory.

We were spending a lovely day wandering around Key West when I started to notice people with these paper butterflies stuck to their shirts. I soon discovered it identified their admission into the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, located at the Southern end of Duval Street. Since my pregnant feet were getting a wee bit tired of walking around we decided to check it out hoping there would be a place to sit down and it had to be cooler than it was outside… right?

Thankfully it was much cooler than it was outside (88!). We walked into the lobby/gift shop/gallery and I almost did a dance of joy for the refreshing AC. Almost danced… I was hot and pregnant… I have my limits.

After browsing the gift shop, learning center, and gallery (soaking up the AC), we grabbed our tickets ($12 each) to go into the Butterfly Conservatory.

To enter and exit the conservatory, you walk through vestibules ensuring that none of the 50 to 60 different species from around the world are able to escape. As well as the multiple varieties of colorful birds.

The conservatory is kept at 85 degrees, with 80% humidity, to create a comfortable climate for the plants, butterflies, and birds. While that is quite balmy, the sun is not beating down on you as there is a screen at the top of the glass-enclosed habitat, so it felt much nicer than being outside walking around.

You have check the path in front of you for resting or basking butterflies and these little birds! Some of these babes had recently hatched.

One of the 2 flamingos hanging out in the middle of the conservatory.

As butterflies get frightened by loud noises, you must talk in hushed tones. As well as keep you phone ringer off. It makes for a really nice calm experience as it’s a swift departure from the hustle and bustle of Duval Street.

It was quite fun and interesting to see some butterflies hatching from their chrysalis.

Oh hello.

So this butterfly landed on me and I got SUPER EXCITED which made the staff member crack up since my eyes basically doubled in size and bugged out of my head like Christmas morning when I got the portable stero- with built in CD player! – that I wanted when I was like 7. I practially stopped breating so I wouldn’t scare the butterfly off.

In the end it made itself quite cozy on me and hung around for awhile allowing me to breathe once again and gave Price the chance to get some awesome pictures.

I highly suggest checking out the conservatory. It’s fun for kids of all ages as you get to stroll along the pathways enjouing the beautiful vegetation as you watch the butterflies fly around you.

The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

1316 Duval Street

Key West, FL 33040

(305) 296-2988

Conservatory Hours
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily
Last ticket sold 30 minutes before closing

Gift Shop and Gallery Hours
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily

ADMISSION PRICES
General Admission $12.00
Children 4-12 years $8.50
Under 4 years Free
Seniors and Military $9.00

Monday Munchies: Fajitas and ‘Ritas- Boston, MA

March 17, 2014

Fajitas and ‘Ritas has been serving Boston with fun Tex-Mex food since 1989. Enjoy Texas favorites from Nachos to Tequila Wings, Fajitas to Barbecue, and Chili to Burritos. That’s 25 years of amazing lunches and dinners serving up some delisious food and drinks!

Price had worked near Fajitas and ‘Ritas years ago so we would occasionally meet there for lunches or drinks after work. It was a great place for affordable meals and drinks to help you get though the rest of a rough day.

It had been ages since we went but going back for lunch recently brought back the memories of the great food and margaritas we enjoyed together and with friends among the mural covered walls.

During our recent visit, we had planned on starting with the Build Your Own Nachos. Basically, you start with a plate of tortilla chips with melted cheese ($3.74) and then you pick the toppings you would like. I like that you can make the nachos exactly how you enjoy them with steak ($3.74) or chicken ($2.15) or chili ($1.64) and topped off with things like sour cream ($.75) or jalapenos ($47). Nachos were on my mind but since a basket of warm tortilla chips with salsa were put in front of us the moment we were seated we decided to enjoy those and pick other starters when we ordered our drinks.

I ordered the Mexican Sunrise ($6.07). I wanted something fun and it sounded like a great pick with it’s Lunazul Reposado, Grenadine, lemonade, orange juice, fresh lime juice, and ginger ale. It had great bite from the tequila and the lemonade and was such a pretty color from the Grenadine. I liked the slight effervescence from the ginger ale as well.

Price enjoyed the house margarita ($5.37). Fresh citrus and a hearty amount of tequila always makes for a great drink. Plus, the affordable price doesn’t hurt.

Ultimately, we decided on starting with the small order of 8 tequila wings ($8.18). Price loves wings so this was his pick. He was excited to dig right in when they were set down in front of us and the scent of the wings rose up with the steam coming off the hot wings.

The tequila wings were juicy and really flavorful without being too hot. The tequila adds a really nice flavor. I would have preferred the skin to be crisper but I’m honestly really picky about wings since I don’t actually really like wings. shhh… I prefer tenders but I have to say I did have one of these and it was really good. Loved the flavor from the sauce.

The wings were served with a zesty blue cheese sauce and, of course, celery. I loved the blue cheese sauce as it was really creamy and flavorful. I couldn’t resist dipping some tortilla chips into the sauce as well.

I picked out the special of Jalapeno Poppers since they are some of my favorite appetizers. I love the combo of spicy pepper with cooling cream cheese and the crunch from the crisp coating. These poppers were a perfect combo of that. Plus crazy fresh from the fryer, which is a must with poppers as you want a hot filling and crisp coating.

The jalapeno poppers were served with the same zesty blue cheese sauce as the wings.

Fajitas and ‘Ritas has several zones in their restaurant. It makes for flexible seating when it comes to avoiding loud crowds or for hosting a party in an area.

For my entrée, I ordered the steak and shrimp fajitas ($10.28) because I couldn’t pass up the signature dish in which the restaurant is named.

The fajitas are served with fresh guacamole, chopped pico de gallo, sour cream, and 2 warm flour tortillas.

I loved it all. It was a large portion of vegetables with steak and 4 shrimp. The steak was lean, flavorful, and tender while the shrimp had a nice blackening to it from the heat of the cooktop. The steak was cut into strips so it was easy for stacking into the tortillas.

Because we enjoyed 2 starters, I saved half of my fajitas to have for lunch the next day. It heated up well in the microwave as the veggies were still a bit crisp and the steak was not too well done in the first place so it didn’t get tough and chewy after it was reheated.

Price picked the pulled pork platter ($9.35). The platters are served with a corn muffin, cole slaw, beans, and a side of BBQ sauce. The typical hearty Texas meal!

Price really enjoyed the 12 hour smoked pork that was smothered in BBQ sauce. The thick sauce was smokey and sweet and a great compliment to the beans. A bite of pulled pork followed up with a bite of corn muffin was a great combination.

We both really enjoyed the cole slaw as it was really crunchy and lightly dressed. For us, texture is a big factor in a good cole slaw and this style of cut (like a dice, not ribboned) makes it extra crunchy.

While Price was enjoying his entrée, he had a CoronaRita ($8.41). What’s a CoronaRita? Well, it’s their house frozen margarita served with an upside down 7oz bottle of Corona in it. As you drink the margarita you pull the Corona out of the drink to release more of the beer so it mixes with the ‘rita. yum!

Besides the margaritas, they also serve wine and margarita like drinks with a vodka base instead of tequila. The Texas Sipper ($6.54) made with Titos Handmade Vodka, St. Germain, Grapefruit Juice, soda has my name all over it for next time.

I had been hoping to enjoy some dessert but we had filled up too much on our meal. Only means we need to go back for some Sopapillas (One for $1.64, Three for $4.40) and, of course, more ‘ritas!

And a big THANK YOU to our waitress who gave us awesome service, as well as being super sweet to Autumn. Just the sweetest thing ever!!!!!! Love the extra attention for our little one. Made my day.

Fajitas and ‘Ritas

25 West St #1

Boston, MA 02111

617.426.1222

*While a portion of my lunch bill was comped by Fajitas and ‘Ritas these opinions are entirely my own.

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Monday Munchies: Brunch at Local 149- Boston, MA

March 3, 2014

As part of my Monday Munchies series, I will feature a different eatery for a review on the first and third Monday of every month. Hope you enjoy!

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Oh man, I love going to Local 149.

I love the food. I love the drinks. I love the decor.

I’ve gone for work outings. I’ve gone for birthday celebrations. I’ve enjoyed dinner and drinks. And for brunch and drinks. Ah, drinks. 🙂

I had been thinking about going to Local 149 for the past month. I was craving a good brunch and had been thinking of Local 149 since I had gone there back in October with my mom when she surprised me when we came up from Florida for my baby shower.

On this recent brunch outing Price and I enjoyed some Bloody Mary’s. The Bloody Mary ($10) has a homemade horseradish tomato juice base. They came garnished with an olive, a slice of pepperoni, and a peppadew pepper. Their Bloody Mary is really good but I like mine with more lemon juice- just my personal preference.

I am looking forward to the next time I go and trying the Irish Breakfast ($10). The Irish whiskey, cereal milk, amaretto, and cold-brewed coffee sounds irresistable. I just love whiskey and amaretto. And combined… sign me up!

I had suggested that we kick off brunch with the Mac and Cheese Fritters ($7) but Price suggested the Crispy Beignet Bag ($7). Being so close to Mardi Gras I was sold on the idea of some beignets!

These are not like the beignets we had at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. Those were big pillowy beignets, but these were little beignet nuggets. Very different than what we were expecting but still very good!

As soon as these little beignet nuggest are out of the fryer they were tossed into a bag with a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Then to take thing to the next level, they were given a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar before being served to you. So yummy.

Price had an order of the Chicken and Waffles ($17). A huge crisp sweet waffle made for a great pedestal for some crispy, crunchy fried chicken. The chicken breast, thigh, and drumstick were all very juicy and tender. But what tops it off is that the Chicken and Waffles are served with warm maple syrup, a warm nutmeg butter, and apricot jam. The nutmeg added a bit of spice to the butter.

The best way to eat this is to cut a piece of syrup drenched waffle, then put a bit of butter and jam on the waffle. Okay, got that? Then you rip off a piece of chicken and stab your fork through the chicken and waffle and take a big bite. Enjoy!

Now the thing that I had been craving was the Texas in Southie ($12). It all starts with a slice of buttery texas toast that is surrounded with a generous portion of corned beef hash, that is packed full with seasoned homefries.All of that is then topped off with a fried egg and hollandaise sauce. Glorious.

The dish comes with a sunny side up egg but I prefer mine over-easy so I requested that instead. The egg was so runny, soo sunshine yellow happy. Mixing together the runny yolk with Hollandaise and then scooping up some hash and swooping it through the sauce is such a perfect bite. Try it, trust me.

Now that was an awesome brunch!

Be sure to arrive right after Local 149 opens at 11 if you don’t have a reservation, or just be flexible to wait. And just maybe, you can try to snag one of the tables by the fireplace! I’d totally request that when making a reservation.

Local 149

149 P street

South Boston, MA

617 269.0900

Brunch on Saturday and Sunday 11am-3pm

Monday Munchies: The Fat Cactus- Lynnfield, MA

February 17, 2014

I swear I could eat Mexican food twice a week and never get bored of it. It’s just a cuisine that is so flavorful and delicious. I can’t resist the opportunity to have it. And we had been recently been talking about going out to dinner so I just knew we had to try a place that we always say ‘oh we should go there!’ every time we drive by. So we headed to The Fat Cactus- A Mexicali Cantina for a great dinner.

The Fat Cactus is located on Rt 1 in Lynnfield, MA

Price enjoyed both a frozen Fat Cactus Margy and a Fat Cactus Margy on the Rocks ($6.59). The Fat Cactus is their classic margarita consisting of Tequila, triple sec, sour mix, and fresh lime juice. He said that both were good but he preferred the one on the rocks much more.

I had the Prickly Pear Margy, which is their #1 best selling special ($9.95). I thought it had a great boozy kick to it as it was pretty sweet from the prickly pear juice. Because the margarita had orange juice instead of lime juice I decided to get it with sugar on the rim as I thought the sweetness would be a perfect pair. I would definitely order this margarita again.

We started with some complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were crisp and salty, which went well with the salsa that came with a kick. Typically restaurant salsa is pretty plain and mild but this was good with some bite.

The Baja Spicy Popcorn Shrimp ($8.99) sounded like a great appetizer so we ordered that. It was a great alternative to the calamari that we typically order. The shrimp were small and the perfect poppable appetizer. The shrimp’s light coating was lightly fried to a toasty brown color. The shrimp were flavorful on their own but even better when dipped into the Baja dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was creamy and really quite spicy amping up the flavor of the shrimp even more. I dipped some chips in the sauce as well since I enjoyed it so much.

For dinner I ordered the Tacos AL Pastore ($9.99). The pair of pork tacos came with a choice of rice, refried beans, or black beans. I selected therice, which was seasoned nicely and loaded with vegetables as well. The portion was rather large, and I was looking forward to dessert, so I only had 1 taco and some rice but that taco was so dang good. The pork was dang tender and flavorful. The rotisserie pork was marinated with pineapple and red Chilies, and then topped off with fresh onions, cilantro, and the same Baja sauce that was served with the Baja Spicy Popcorn Shrimp. So many layers of flavor!

Price had a Chimichanga filled with Carne Deshebrada ($12.99). Carne Deshebrada is marinated, slow-cooked moist shredded beef. It was a perfect filling for the chimichanga, which basically is a deep fried burrito, which is then covered in queso. umm… yum! Again, the portions were generous, as the chimichanga was served with rice and a choice of refried beans or black beans, so Price saved half of his to make room for dessert as well.

We shared the Deep Fried Ice Cream dessert ($5.99). A softball sized ball of ice cream was plated before us. We dug into the ice cream which is rolled in cinnamon and sugar and then coated with crusted cornflakes. And if that wasn’t enough it was topped off with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and a cherry! It was really good but it honestly would have been a bit better if it was softer as it was rock hard, but I suppose it’s tricky frying ice cream.

We are already looking forward to our next visit to The Fat Cactus. They have great deals during the wee, like on Monday any Burrito or Chimichanga is just $5! As well they post specials on their Facebook page.

The Fat Cactus- A Mexicali Cantina

215 Broadway

Lynnfield, MA 01940

781.592.0077

The Jane Hotel, NYC- Review

February 4, 2014

Way back in June I attended Alt Summit in NYC. I needed an affordable hotel for 2 nights where I could dump my stuff and get on with my day. It’s New York, I don’t need to waste time hanging in a hotel (accept for that nap I had…).

Well, I had remembered reading about The Jane on the Hither and Thither Blog ages ago so I figured I should check it out as an option as I was only looking for a place to crash and not spend too much. Since The Jane has some teeny tiny rooms (50 sf!) the rates are really affordable.

Why are rooms so small? Well, the hotel was built in 1908 and a boarding house for sailors called American Seaman’s Friend Society Sailors’ Home and Institute. William A. Boring, the architect renowned for Ellis Island’s immigrant station, designed cabin like rooms for the sailors to enjoy for their short stays while in port at a charge of 25 cents a night for seamen and 50 cents for others. In 1944, the YMCA took the hotel over and in the 80’s and 90’s the hotel was part of the downtown’s bohemian culture, hosting many rock-n-roll events. And then it was renovated in 2008 to be the lovely hotel it is today by the developers Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode.

You enter a charming lobby. that has beautiful ornate wood moldings and painted tin ceilings. The front desk, which is manned 24-hours a day by costumed staff. The uniforms are as charming as the staff themselves. While you check in be sure to check out the marble accents

After a very tight elevator ride up to your floor you are on your way to your room. They offer three kinds of rooms- The Standard Cabin, Bunk Bed Cabin, and The Captain’s Cabin. Both the Standard Cabin and Bunk Bed Cabin are 50 sf and have flat-screen TV’s with DVD player’s, iPod dock, and an in-room safe. And of course you can’t have a modern hotel without free WiFi. you know… to tell everyone you’re staying at The Jane! The Captain’s Cabin is large at 250 sf and feature the same amenities at the smaller rooms with the addition of full, queen or king beds and private bathrooms. These rooms all have river views and/or terraces.

I stayed in a Standard Cabin and it was just perfect for my 2 day stay. I was able to breeze in and out of the hotel with my room key that also served as my on and off switch for my lights, AC, and TV. The key is a little bulky but it is a really easy to find in your purse! Since the key turns the electricity on/off in your room you have to be patient in the summer with a hot room when you first get in as the AC only kicks on when you turn it on. I thought the room was a bit dry as well so I wished that it had some tissues but for about $90 a night I can’t complain!

The room is really small but the use of space is really efficient. I was standing against the wall when I took the photo of the room’s bed. Below the bed is the safe and storage for your luggage. The TV is mounted on the wall so that you can easily watch it while laying in bed. The ledge below is perfect for your toiletries and holding your electronics. I brought my laptop, cell phone, and cameras so I needed plenty of hook ups and thankfully the rooms had an adequate number plugs for my needs.

The Standard Cabin and Bunk Bed Cabins don’t have bathrooms so they share communal restrooms. The idea of sharing a restroom with some strangers might be a scary concept but trust me when I say that they were exceptionally clean and I didn’t have to deal with much waiting for a restroom. Which at the time was really important as I was 4 months pregnant! These restrooms have beautiful white and black subway tile adorned walls, marble sinks, and the showers have rainfall showerheads. I personally don’t like rainfall showerheads and I don’t wash my hair everyday and these basically force you to do so as you can’t avoid your hair getting wet. While the showers were very clean I still suggest using flip flops so that you can comfortably get to and from your room.

While visiting The Jane be sure to enjoy the amenities that the hotel has to offer, including Cafe Gitane, which is located off the lobby. I didn’t get to enjoy the cafe but the menu looked very tempting. As well, I didn’t get to use their complimentary bicycles, nor their parking that is located across the street, but I saw plenty of people using their bikes as they rode around the neighborhood, which is perfectly located right by The Highline- one of my favorite places in New York!

Thankfully, The Jane worked out perfectly for my needs and budget! I would highly suggest it to anyone who was looking for an affordable, beautiful place in the Lower West Side. Staying at The Jane is a real treat. And I am looking forward to my next visit to New York and staying in The Captain’s Cabin!

The Jane Hotel

113 Jane Street

New York, NY 10014

212.924.6700

Monday Munchies: Morada Bay Beach Cafe- Islamorada, FL

January 21, 2014

As part of my Monday Munchies series, I will feature a different eatery for a review on the first and third Monday of every month. Hope you enjoy!

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For Price’s birthday this year we were in The Florida Keys on our Babymoon so we had great dining options right at our finger tips. We ended up dining right on the beach watching the sunset when we discovered Morada Bay Beach Cafe on Islamorada.

Dinner on the beach right at sunset… perfection.

We started the birthday dinner off with some drinks and appetizers. Fresh drinks and fresh seafood to kick things off.

Price enjoyed a margarita while I enjoyed a kids smoothie. That’s just what happens when you’re pregnant! Ha! The margarita was large and in charge as it was served in big ball jar. It could have used some extra tequila though!

While we sipped out drinks we just took in the gorgeous view.

We shared the Conch Salad which was made up of fresh bell peppers, red onion, jalapenos, tomatoes, and a citrus juice sauce. ($13) I had not had conch in years! It was so good. The conch was fresh and perfectly ‘cooked’ from the citrus juices. Tender conch was mixed with thinly sliced vegetables that had a lovely contrasting crunch. The salad was served with come crackers but I don’t think they were needed.

As well we enjoyed the Ahi Tuna Tartar appetizer. ($18.50) The marinated tuna was served on top of some pureed avocado and served with pickled ginger, wasabi, and a sesame soy vinaigrette. The diced tuna was mixed together with some cucumber and jalapeno providing a nice textural contrast as well as flavor contrast.

After we enjoyed the appetizers we shared, we had our entrees. Price decided to order the Pasta of the Day ($24). The chef’s special that day consisted of spaghetti served with large shrimp, spinach, and tomatoes in a light sauce. He really enjoyed the pasta mixed with the fresh vegetables and the perfectly cooked shrimp. There were plenty of shrimp on the generous portion as well.

I was in the mood for some steak so I jumped at ordering the steak special. The steak entree was served with 3 delicious sides- a mixed greens salad, plantains, and a coconut cous cous. All of those were a nice accompaniment to the steak. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium- rare, and was nicely presented on the dish. Almost too pretty to eat… almost.

We finished the night off with some Key Lime Pie. We unfortunately did not photograph this delightful dessert but the sun had set upon us. A great way to finish an evening out with sand between our toes while we shared some silky smooth Key Lime Pie.

The one disappointing thing about the Beach Cafe were the condition of the bathrooms. The bathrooms are in a building off to the side of the performance stage. They just seemed like they needed some attention in terms of getting an updated design with new finishes. As well, the bathrooms were in need to some attention to clean them up. There were rolls of toilet paper on the floor. Maybe someone had just come in and made a mess prior to the staff going in but it was disappointing to see.

If you are looking for a beautiful place for a dinner in The Keys then look no further than

Morada Bay Beach Cafe

81600 Overseas Highway

Islamorada, Florida 33036

Sausage and Gravy Eggs Benedict @ The Stuffed Pig, Marathon FL

January 12, 2014

When Price and I were on our Babymoon in the Florida Keys we found a place called The Stuffed Pig and absolutely fell in love with it for breakfast. In the 4 mornings that we were there we ate there twice. So yeah, we loved it!

The Stuffed Pig is a fun open air restaurant that features down-home fresh cooking. It’s a simple place with plastic chair with a gravel ‘flooring’. Pick up a laminated menu or check out the specials on the chalkboard to select some damn good breakfast or lunch. And be sure to say hi to the cats that roam around the property.

the stuffed pig_shrimp and grits

Shrimp & Grits

Grilled shrimp w/Bacon & Cheddar on Grits, 2 Eggs, Toast $12.00

On the first morning we went there I got the Shrimp and Grits. So much food!! I skipped the toast and just dove right into the rest. I took the time to take the shrimp off the skewers and then took the tails off so I could get a shrimp with every bite of cheesy grits and eggs.

I made a friend on the first day. Tigger the cat was very friendly so she rubbed up all against the belly bump and kneaded the napkins I had on my lap. Then sat on my lap while I ate, I think she was hoping I’d share some shrimp!

the stuffed pig_big breakfast

Price also enjoyed one of the breakfast specials that had a pancake, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, and toast. Basically, a half portion of their World Famous Pig’s Breakast.

As well, they have $2 mimosas and $3 Bloody Mary’s!!! I was so jealous of Price as he enjoyed them with his breakfasts. I figure it is just another reason for us to go back- when I’m not pregnant- to enjoy their great food and very, very affordable drinks!

the stuffed pig_eggs benedict_02

Sausage and Gravy Eggs Benedict

Of course when I saw they had a Sausage and Gravy Eggs Benedict on the special’s menu I had to get it.

It’s a great combo of 2 great breakfast plates. It was a change up for me since I love Hollandaise sauce so it was a big departure for me not to have that when having Eggs Benedict. But I embraced the change and really enjoyed the special.

As well, instead of the typical English Muffins the Eggs Benedict was set upon freshly made biscuits. They biscuits were really tender and soft. They became a great sponge to soak up the sausage gravy and runny egg yolks. Then a sausage patty was set upon each biscuit to make this super sausage-y. That’s right double sausage!!

The side of homefries were great as they were well seasoned with the onions they were cooked with and from some of the char they had from the griddle. It was really good to mix them into the sausage gravy.

the stuffed pig_eggs benedict_01