london via eurostar

Did I tell you I went to London this past weekend? (This photo may have given it away.) I was especially excited because it was my first getaway since moving to Paris, my first international train ride, and my second visit to the UK. You may be surprised to hear then that graduate school was the occasion. I spent most of two whole days within London offices meeting industry professionals in public relations, new media, branding , and advertising. What a fantastic opportunity.

I wasn't purely studious though. On Thursday and Friday nights, the entirety of Saturday, and Sunday morning, I enjoyed London to the fullest by drinking far too much beer, visiting The British Museum, tasting British and international cuisine, and spending a tad bit too much money at Top Shop. Um, I saw the sights last time?

[Thursday's happy hour at BrewDog Camden]

[Thursday's dinner of skirt steak, kale, and "chips" at Market]

[Thursday's local dessert from Whole Foods]

[Friday's perfect-for-the-rain "hot pot" lunch at Eat.]

[Friday's happy hour at The Craft Beer Co.]

[Friday's "Cod Father" dinner at Friend At Hand]

[Friday's cocktails at ECC London]

[Friday's late night dancing at... a local pub?]

[Saturday's full English hotel breakfast: grapefruit slices, orange juice, coffee, bran flakes with milk, poached egg on brown toast, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms]

[Saturday's morning visit to the Bloomsbury Festival]

[Saturday's afternoon visit to the British Museum]

[Saturday's evening: Indian food at Dishoom followed by brews at Punch & Judy]

[Sunday's brunch of scrambled eggs, brown toast, and tea with milk at Silva's]

[Sunday morning shopping on Oxford Street]

I wish I had more time to really share how much fun I had. Unfortunately-ish, I over-did this weekend trip in more ways than one and have an incredibly busy week with classes, midterm assignments, and a new internship. Hopefully I can handle it. Cheerio, lovelies!

simplicity in the west village

Hunger is effortless. I can always count on it to come around every four hours or so, giving me yet another opportunity to whip up a great meal. When I don't want to cook for myself, finding a place to enjoy a great meal in this city is a cinch, too. And Restaurant Week makes it all the easier (also known as affordable.)

[Crusty bread served with house-made hummus]

[Fresh Garden Vegetable Salad: market vegetables, herbs, aged sherry, olive oil]

[Ottomanelli Dry-Aged Filet Mignon: smoked bacon wrap, grilled vegetables, basil mashed, red wine reduction]

[Chocolate Cake "Brioche:" chocolate sauce, salted caramel sauce, marmalade, strawberry whipped cream]

If only for a few moments, this evening--an American meal and wine pairing (my first!) at 10 Downing Food & Wine with a forever friend--made life simple as well.

what the rock is cooking

As I mentioned yesterday, the boys and I dined well in Boquete. We found a local magazine that had published a story highlighting of the best restaurants in the area and we decided to review them ourselves. This, is a story of the best.

The Rock Restaurant is located a quick 15 minute cab ride outside of the center of town. It stands in it's own contemporary building decorated on the inside with natural woods, stones and clean lines. The wine list is comprehensive and menu small yet seasonably thoughtful.

We decided to begin with a Carmenere from my beloved home away from home and a vineyard that I visited myself, Concha y Toro. As I told the boys, Carmenere is wine derived from an ancient French grape brought to South America in the early 1800s and extinct in it's native France today. Up until the past few decades, actually, wine connoisseurs thought it was a Merlot; A distinct Chilean mellow merlot with soft tannins and herbal accents. Funny, don't you think?

To begin, J.P. and I split a green house salad. It was unlike any salad I'd had south of the American border. It was filled with various greens, crisp, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, sweet orange tomatoes, sliced almonds, and shredded carrots.

With it we also had warm, fresh baked bread, high quality olive oil (I could taste it) and real balsamic vinegar. In my travels throughout Latin America, I've often been unimpressed with their pan. I prefer a heartier loaf with thick crust and soft interiors. This one, however, was anything but disappointing.

Matt had the duck as his appetizer. I wish they had a menu online so I could explain to you what came with it, but alas, they do not. It was delectable though. I can say that, he gave me a taste. And I don't even like duck to begin with.

As my entrée, I ordered the river trout wrapped in bok choy, over white rice, and in a coconut milk-based sauce. They did a fabulous job. The last time I had trout was in Ecuador and dare I say that this might've blown that trout out of the water ;).

J.P. had a filet mignon with corn and julienne vegetables,

Matt had fall-of-the-bone pork ribs with papas fritas and corn.

We were ridiculously happy diners. It was like a meal I could've eaten in New York, or any other cosmopolitan city for that matter, but instead, I was in the small city of Boquete, in Panama, sitting beside a friend from Canada (that I met in Costa Rica) and another that I was working with at the time. A happy diner, indeed.

And then came dessert. The three of us split the Brownie Sunday. Or rather, I ate 60% of it, Matt had a bite, and J.P. finished off the rest. Details, details.

If you ever get a chance to smell what The Rock is cooking, (sorry, I couldn't help myself), than please make sure to pay a visit to this spectacular restaurant. In addition to great, fairly-priced food and a lovely atmosphere, it also has amazing service. I found Panamanian food to be rather disappointing, mostly fried, and oftentimes flavorless, but The Rock Restaurant truly does create a dining experience for senses. I'd go right back for dinner tonight if I could.

surrounded by sun devils (phoenix, az)

'ello doves. Long time no type! I really miss being able to truly explain everything but that's what the vlogs are for... right? I hope you've been enjoying the pairings :). This time around in Arizona, I didn't do many outdoor activities since I had been able to do so much in my last visit. To look back, check out these posts. Either way, please enjoy the following:

[Friday's breakfast: yogurt with strawberries, ground flax, and sliced almonds alongside buttered toast, tea, and a local magazine]

[The view from my great aunt's backyard]

 [The view from within my great aunt's house. Many of her furniture pieces and accents are from Japan, where she lived for a period of time]

[Day activity #1 to avoid the heat: the Phoenix Art Museum]

[Countless permanent exhibits with special ones of Cezanne and Tatianna Sorokko's wardrobe]

[A late lunch (salmon niçoise salad) with my brother (!) at the Nordstrom Café]

 [Day activity #2 to avoid the heat: four hours of my brother's birthday shopping spree. I swiped.]

[His birthday dinner at 5th and Wine with my great aunt and uncle]

[Appetizer: fried calamari]

[His dinner: filet mignon, roasted potatoes, and haricots verts. His words: REAL food, finally!]

[My dinner: tomato and mozzarella panini with a side salad]

[His "Happy Birthday to you!" dessert]

 

 [My night of debauchery with 18-year-olds. If that ain't sisterly love, I don't know what is ;)]

[Saturday breakfast: same food, different angle]

[Day activity #3 to avoid the heat: the Heard Museum]

 

[A look at American Indian art & culture]

 [My fabulous great aunt (Debbie) and I]

[Late lunch/early dinner for her and I at Z'Tejas]

 [My entrée: Grilled Ruby Trout Salad]

[the ASU-Oregon game with my little brother]

[GO SUN DEVILS!]

I can't even explain how much I'd missed my brother. So much so though, that I don't think I realized until I saw him again. And now... I miss him once more.