Things Floridians Love: Stone Crabs

Just heard that BLT Steak has added stone crabs to their menu for ONE NIGHT ONLY. Naturally, as a Floridian, I have already bum-rushed OpenTable.com for a reservation.


Image c/o: Taste With The Eyes

It's Thursday, December 10th and will be $90.00. BLT said in an email, "Chef de Cuisine Victor Albisu has crafted a menu around the infamous native Floridian Stone Crab, Menippe Mercenaria. A rare find on Mid-Atlantic restaurant menus, these southeastern imports will make their way via select fishermen along the Atlantic coast of Florida to our downtown DC kitchen in perfect time to commence the winter holiday season. Per pound, the Stone Crab is the most expensive and coveted seafood in the United States.

Menu choices will include:

"Classic" Chilled Stone Crabs, Jumbo Steamed Stone Crabs and Fried "Saffron" Stone Crabs. All Stone Crabs will be served with classic side dishes to include: Creamy Spinach, Old Bay French Fries and Steamed Corn. Dessert will include a Key Lime Trio with a Marshmallow Pie and Sorbet. As always, our signature BLT Popovers and other special treats from Chef Albisu will start an unforgettable culinary evening."

NOTE: Chef Albisu, please don't forget the mustard sauce!

When you make your reservation, make sure to note that it's for the Stone Crab menu.

Enjoy! (It goes without saying, I'll be live-tweeting the experience at @flordiagirlindc)

Gift Guide: Kimberly Baker Jewelry

If the gal in your life is like me, Zales gives her hives. I like to find interesting pieces that speak to me from designers that are still fairly under the radar. When I was in Seattle I stumbled into Kimberly Baker's jewelry shop and was smitten. She's offering free shipping on orders over $100 too at www.kimberlybaker.com!

One of her collections has a very (not-cheesily) New Moon vibe, with silver and gold pieces that feature wolves, feathers and nature (Team Jacob) Vs edgier daggers, hearts and grenades (Team Edward). I like both.



I want this bracelet, but I also love the ocean themed collection and horoscope necklaces (note: I'm a Leo).

Gift Guide: Bath Caddy with Wine & Candle Holder

File this one under BRILLZ! At Target.com for just $29.99 in the Red Hot Shop.

Recipe: Cranberry Relish Scones

In our house, Thanksgiving leftovers get eaten. But by Sunday, the viable options were cranberry relish or gravy. And, despite thinking that all Thanksgiving leftovers go well together... those two... not so much.

I took to my Twitter Magic 8 Ball for inspiration and the recipe that inspired me most was @Shaw_Girl's Nutty Cranberry Relish Scones. I've never made scones, I like a culinary challenge and I had A LOT of leftover cranberry relish, so off I went.

For me, a kitchen rookie, this meant not just a trip to the grocery store for a few very basic ingredients - butter, baking soda, baking powder and parchment paper - but also a jaunt to Bed, Bath & Beyond for a sifter and pastry dough cutter. I know I'll use them again and they were pretty cheap though, so good investment with the holiday baking season ahead.

Full Recipe: Adventures In Shaw Nutty Cranberry Relish Scones

I got all of my ingredients ready and the recipe was fairly simple. Sifted together all of the dry ingredients.



Cut the cubed butter into the dry ingrediets. Add strained cranberry relish. Mix. Add buttermilk. Mix.

My dough was a little too wet to roll out (I think my relish was too wet - you could cut back a bit on the relish and/or milk to combat this... or just roll with it). Instead I dropped mine, like biscuits onto parchment paper and baked at 400 for 20 minutes.

Sure they didn't turn out as pretty,perfect triangle scones, but they are DELICIOUS. They taste just like cranberry muffin tops.



Try it out (and get rid of a cup of cranberry relish in one yummy swoosh!)

Wednesday in DC: Food Blogger Happy Hour

If you are into eating food, reading about food, or cooking food... come by the Food Blogger Happy Hour this Wednesday, December 2 at ChurchKey in DC. I took a chance stopping by the one last month, not knowing ANYONE, and it was a blast. So cool meeting the people behind the recipes and foodie adventures.

Seattle: 5 Bites

So, here in DC, one of our top food blogs called Metrocurean does this thing where she interviews people for their top 5 bites in town.

Atfer my week in Seattle, here are my top 5 bites:

Tom Douglas' Triple Coconut Cream Pie
This pie was so good, I had it TWICE. It's on the menu at Douglas hot spots Dahlia Lounge and Palace Kitchen. The toasted coconut isn't overpowering and it's softly piled on a pile of white chocolate cream nestled to a pretty pile of tangy pomegrante seeds. I'm now a Douglas devotee and can't wait to try his other restaurants, especially the one that got away... Serious Pie. [Note: I also picked up Douglas' I Love Crab Cakes book with 50 recipes from across the country at Elliott Bay Books in the used section for just $6! #recessionita #win]


Breakfast at 5 Spot
I had the Cinnamon Swirl French Toast which was dipped in a vanilla batter and griddled... served with Nat's caramel instead of syrup. Worth getting up for. [Runner up to the food was the friendly neighborhood service and clientele. One local was telling the bartender that he was in the Marines for 35 years and didn't get off on Thanksgiving, why should she?]


Buffalo Mozzarella with Pear and Arugula at How To Cook A Wolf
Please don't make me choose just one thing at How To Cook a Wolf! As you saw in my previous post, I might be equally smitten with the chef, the service and the food. If I had to pick one thing to eat again today, I'd pick the buffalo mozzarella. To call it a salad is a disservice, though it came piled with earthy arugula tossed in a tangy balsamic. The cheese was soft and more delicate than any mozzarella I've ever had. And the sliced pear on the side was an unexpected sweet punctuation mark.


Cuban at Paseo's
I'll start by saying I know my Florida friends will find this heresy. I was raised on Cuban sandwiches in Tampa, FL. But the Cuban sandwich at Paseo's in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle is more inspired by authetic Cubans than a carbon copy. In it's own right, it is a masterpiece of a sandwich. The marinated pork shoulder is juicy and has just the right amount of kick. It's layered on a toasted French baguette (no, not authentic flaky Cuban bread, but delicious nonetheless) with aioli, cilantro, crisp Romaine lettuce and pickled jalapeno peppers. Floridians and native Cubans alike, you may quibble with the moniker, but there's no doubt why this concoction is Paseo's top seller. [Note: I shouldn't leave out the side of corn on the cob that accompanies the sandwich. I swear to you, it's served up rubbed down in the juices of the pork drippings...]

Photo via http://returnoftheyummy.blogspot.com/

Squash & Mushroom at Harvest Vine
I'm so mad I didn't get a photo of this simple dish that showcased these two fall vegetables. It was sweet and nutty. Served artfully in a layered cylinder of farmers market bounty, with a quail egg on the side. Instead of a great photo of the dish, I'll give you a Flickr of the chef. The entire menu was seasonal and creative. The chef and his team making your dinner right in front of you was all part of the evening's entertainment. The space is really intimate, which so long as you aren't waiting outside, is fantastic.


Honorable Mentions: Dixie's BBQ for lunch, latte & lox at Lowell's, coffee at Cafe Ladro in Queen Anne, Bloody Mary at Buckley's

Must do spots for my next visit: Pink Door, Serious Pie, 13 Coins, Monsoon, Steelhead Diner, Cafe Campagne & Bizzarro Italian Cafe

Seattle: Shopping

Ok, I don't typically think of myself as a grunge kind of gal, but Seattle shopping really spoke to me. I discovered so many cute shops, interesting local designers and artists. Here are a few of my faves (some that I could afford and snapped up, and some that I'll save for later).

Wooden Ships Knitwear: cute sweaters, scarves and hats... but I took home the warm, knit fingerless 3/4 mittens. I feel like a cozy, chic hobo in them. I bought mine at Fini near Pike's Market.


Kimberly Baker Jewelry in Fremont where I was equally enamored with the owners Boston Terrier as I was with her funky Indian and Octopus rings, dainty jewelry that incorporated hearts and grenades, and horoscope necklaces.


Dolce Vita in Ballard: I snapped up the over the knee Eva boots here and a pair of fleece lined tights (I know!!! Who knew fleece lined tights exisited!!), but I was equally smitten with plum leather flats with zipper rosettes and an array of not too delicate booties. Definitely not the best photo of the boots but here's me in the boots and tights.


Joy Street by Shannon Koszyk in Fremont was having an amazing sale where I snapped up a star studded thick brown belt and two soft as cashmere burnout t-shirts.


Last but not least, Les Amis... where I fell in love with dainty party frocks and an array of amazing options from bold named designers. Alas, my budget did not commit, but I'll definitely be back.

Seattle: How To Cook A Wolf

I'm starting to narrow down WHICH food to blog about from my Seattle trip. Everything has been so amazing. But last night's dinner in Queen Anne was such a great experience, I've run straight to the computer this morning to share with you.

First of all the name - How To Cook A Wolf - is so unique. It's from a 1942 culinary novel by M.F.K. Fisher which spoke of the hunger (the wolf) and the joy of eating. The space is small but envelopes you in cozy curved wood (like the inside of a ship or modern cabin) and stone. We were greeted by the lovely (and cute) Jordan who sat us at the bar and provided both banter and menu guidance for our evening.

We started out with the Buffalo Mozzarella salad. I have never tasted mozzarella this soft. It blended perfectly with it's accompanying tart pear and earthy arugula. Here's a pic of the absurdly sexy chef making it:



and the finished product (sorry I promise to get better at food photography one day)



Next up was the Seared Scallops. I usually don't order scallops - it's hard to get them right and they are so trite amongst the food industry. But Jordan hadn't steered us wrong yet and we scooped up the last order of these little babies.



They were cooked perfectly. Soft, sweet and I loved the side drizzle of olive paste and bed of pearl pasta they were laid across.

Next up was the Gnocchi with bacon which was also perfect. We had been tossed up between the gnocchi and the bolognese and had asked the couple next to us, which had one of each which was best. They each thought their own was the best. And they were probably right. The gnocchi was perfectly pillowly and melded with the salty bacon crisps and sweet onions. But any of the pastas would likely have been transcendent.



We ended up getting a dessert that was so-so, so I'd advise at leaving it there. We enjoyed our last splash of prosecco and went home in a haze of foodie bliss.



Cheers from Seattle!

Seattle: First Impressions

It's my fourth day in Seattle. Everyone tells me this is the worst wind and rain they have had all year, but I have to tell you, I'm falling in love with this city.

The food, the people, the architecture and the stunning natural landscapes have kept me wide-eyed for days. Yesterday I glimpsed Mount Rainier for the first time and had to stop the car. I'll do additional posts about my favorite things but here's "the view" (and this does not do it any justice)





Photos taken from Kerry Hill Park, Seattle, WA on November 18, 2009

Friends & Family Discounts: Juicy & Bloomies

It's Friday. It's pay day. I'm still broke-ish. But these make it better. Hope they will help you get a little retail therapy this weekend too!

Juicy Couture: In Store ONLY


Bloomingdale's: In Store or Online

The Scoop: Jimmy Choo at H&M

Just scanned the Jimmy Choo for H&M website and it looks like a pretty cool collection filled with flats, over the knee boots, sexy heels & booties. You can preview them on their website.

Here's the skinny. The first 160 in line will get bands. Doors open at 10am. Those with bands will be allowed in small group at staged times to shop. You can only buy one of each kind... and all must be in the same size (I guess so you can't buy for all of your friends).

After 2 hours, it's open season on what's left. Prices are from $69 - $299.

ONLY IN LA, NY and Chicago stores. (Boo for DC!)

Challenge: All Natural Nyquil

@floridagirlindc has been down for the count with a cold. Thanks to Daily Candy, I just stumbled upon this recipe for all-natural Nyquil. Sounds like the only foodie challenge I can handle this week. (The Pumpkin is staring at me, but he'll keep.)

Link to: All Natural Nyquil Recipe by UrbanHonking.com

Finds Under $50: Red Lumberjack Scarf

I've been digging this red plaid lumberjack print this season, but didn't want too much of it. (Have seen dresses, cardigans, jackets...) I like it in the scarf version for a pop of color and outdoorsy fall season edge. Luckily I found two under $50. I got the one from Target. (Cause, ya know, we're in a recession...)

J.Crew for $45

Target for $14.99

Cute Glove Trend Alert!

Love these extra long, aubergine leather gloves with bow accent from Cole Haan.

AND the brilliantly named "Texting Glove" Which. I. Need.

Take a Chance and Take It Offline

Today's been a big week for taking chances and meeting new people for the FloridaGirlinDC. First, I overcame my high schoolesque anxiety and went to the super fun DC Food Bloggers Happy Hour where I met the real people behind Arugula Files, Pete Bakes, Modern Domestic, Adventures in Shaw, The Bitten Word, Glamazon Diaries and Urban Bohemian. They were all cool, funny, interesting and creative. No one was standoffish and everyone just connected. We spent the evening swapping cooking stories and ended up deciding we needed a food blogger reality show.

Today, I met the famous Twitter Grams, @msphixit for lunch at Zola. She's been in town with her husband visiting family and meeting Twitter pals. We shared stories about how our significant others think we are crazy for meeting each other... But it was great! We're from different coasts and different generations, but here we were gabbing like sorority sisters, sipping wine and splurging for dessert.

Sure, she could have been a 40 year old sketchy man instead of a 70-something surrogate grandma to legions of Tweeters... But she wasn't AND we were safe by picking a public place for lunch... And were rewarded by taking an online friendship into real life.

And it was awesome.

Friends & Foodies: Megan

It's so great to catch up with old friends... especially when after many years apart, you still feel like you can pick up like you left off.

My friend Megan was in DC tonight from Austin, TX for work and we discovered we both were experimenting with foodie blogs. I want to share hers with you all here (and have added her to my blog roll for future reference.)

Megan blogs at Olive's Backyard Herbs and features restaurant reviews, recipes and fun glimpses into her life. Check her out and follow along.



PS. Stay tuned on her blog for a review of DC's Founding Farmers!

DC Food Blogger Happy Hour TONIGHT

Just wanted to post this event for tonight... I'm going to make a point to go by. I think bloggers by nature like to hide out behind our keyboards. I know I do. But one of the most fun things I did last week was to drag myself out of bed to go to the DC Food Blogger Bake Sale at the 14th & U market.

Now, I LOVE farmers markets of all kinds, and it was for charity, and it involved cupcakes... but the neatest part was meeting in person the real people behind Adventures in Shaw and Urban Bohemian. (I also now cultishly follow Modern Domestic after her amazing chocolate peanut butter cupcakes recipe.)

If you're on the fence just stop by. Everyone is so friendly and cool. And it's become so much more fun to share recipes, ideas and advice after meeting.

Hope to see you there!
- Tammy (IRL)

PS. Thanks to Arugula Files for organizing. We haven't met yet, but yours was the first foodie blog that inspired me to blog about my farmers market and cooking challenges.

Target Market Fail: Bob McDonnell & White Jeans

Just noticed that VA Gov Republican candidate Bob McDonnell is advertising on my blog... next to white jeans after Labor Day...



Do I have a secret massive readership of Republicans? Or is this just a case of poor targeting considering I plan to vote for Creigh Deeds despite what I view as a piss poor campaign.

So, my own personal counter-ad... #VoteDeedsAnyway

Jeans at the Office? Yes, please!

I read with great enthusiasm this Wall Street Journal story on so-called "Power Jeans"

You see, I've long been a jeans kind of gal and feel confident that the right pair of denim paired with the right heel, top and blazer can be perfectly professional.

I'm not talking a slouchy college kid look... but a confident professional with great style can definitely pull this off. My denim at work rules:

1) No rips, holes or bedazzling.
2) Pick a dark shade of blue or black.
3) Always pair with a work-appropriate jeacket and heels.

Examples of doing it right:

From ShopBop.com:




From More.com:


From Blog on the Cusp:


From Star94.com:


And (seriously) from a website called beautytipsforministers.com


PS. POTUS wears mom jeans and should NOT try to pull off power jeans unless Michelle gives him a style update. I respect that he wants to remain true to his stonewash... I just don't want to see it representing the free world.

Ironic Retail

When I first spotted this Jonathan Adler needlepoint pillow in his South Beach store, I adored it. After all, the juxtaposition of the sweet needlepoint with the angry message mirrors my salty-sweet personality.

Was so excited that it was on Gilt Group's sale today and I purchased it to sit sweetly and ironically on my sofa. I think it will make me smile when I'm in an angerball mood.

If you need a Gilt Group invite (invitation only sample sales), here ya go.