Vegas: Hash House A Go Go at Imperial Palace Casino Hotel

My Vegas quickie trip was missing a dash of old school Vegas kitsch until my breakfast pilgrimage to Hash House a Go Go in the Imperial Palace Casino Hotel. My friend Kristi & her son Kenny picked me up at my hotel and lead me down a winding path of parking garages, elevators, escalators, hallways and slot machine gauntlet... but it was worth it to reach the hallowed ground of Hash House:



Even though I was flying out shortly, I knew I was in the right spot when the first thing on the menu that jumped out at me was "O'Hare of the Dog" which was comprised of a 24 oz Budweiser in a bag & side of bacon. Brilliant. This was the Vegas of lore that I hadn't seen.

After looking over the considerable menu and watching the largest servings I have seen in my life go by to other customers, we settled on our order. Kenny was about to get the first serving of Fruit Loops in his short life. Kristi went for the Famous Sausage gravy and buttermilk biscuits, which came with two eggs and mashed potatoes. And I went for the Tractor Driver Combo which had two Eggs (me: scrambled with cheese), a choice of bacon, sausage or potatoes (me: bacon) and a Hash House signature flapjack (me: I upgraded to the Snickers pancake. Yes, Snickers. I mean, it's Vegas, right, where else am I going to try a Snickers pancake???). Here's what it looked like and let me tell you, in real life, it looked about 10 times bigger:



Now, I know I like to try to eat local and sustainable... even vegetarian most days. But if you're gonna cheat and just be bad... Hash House a Go Go is the place to do it.

Vegas: Nobu at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

I am a terrible food blogger. Last night, I was at Nobu. *Nobu* But I was also working (you know, the real job that pays me as opposed to blogging) and I had to live tweet the State of the Union as my colleagues were settling in to zen foodie bliss downstairs at Nobu. So, I'll apologize it advance. I kept dashing downstairs and they saved me plates of sushi, but I didn't snap good pics or have time to savor my meal... and Nobu is a restaurant that deserves that kind of recognition.

I last ate at Nobu on my first trip to Vegas. I was by myself at the sushi bar and the meal was the highlight of my trip. Of course, that says more about my trip than my love of sushi or chef Nobu Matsuhisa. I recall the best sushi of my life. And the sushi chef sat there with me, talking me through the experience and making new things for me to delight in.


The sushi master at work... He said I should have let him pose.

This experience was a little rushed, but again, the food and the service were amazing. My favorite bite of the meal was the Lettuce Cups. I know, I know... lettuce cups... PF Changs has them. But these took the concept to an entire 'nother level. Crisp buttery lettuce, warm sweet melt in your mouth cod, crunchy toppings. My dining neighbor sent the table into gales of laughter as she couldn't hold in her "OHHH MMYYYY GOSSSHHH... This is the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. Here's a quick snap I took before everyone dove in:


I had to dash upstairs to tweet the Republican response, so I missed snapping the gorgeous sushi platter. Luckily, my colleagues made me a plate of sushi and sashimi highlights. Other than traditional bites like spicy tuna and salmon, my favorite roll was the Yellowtail & Jalapeno.

Nobu, next time I'll do you more justice, but I couldn't pass up a post on your perfection. One day, maybe I'll get close.

Vegas: Bouchon at The Venetian

Very few people wake up in time to explore the Las Vegas breakfast scene, but my East Coaster time clock went off and I found myself with a few extra hours to burn this morning. I cracked open the laptop and asked for recommendations... most of which centered around In-N-Out or Fatburger. But, Katy Perry I was not last night and with a business presentation ahead, I was looking for a little something healthier and more relaxed.

I found it in Bouchon Bistro. Perched in the sky and accessible through it's own elevator at The Venetian Resort, Bouchon got high marks on Yelp and is helmed by famed chef, Thomas Keller.

Bouchon is known for their amazing pastries, so I picked the basket of four offerings and chose a Chocolate Almond Croissant, Lemon Currant Scone, Pecan Bun and Almond Brioche. I also got fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, a water and a latte... 'cause, a girl's gotta hydrate.



Each of the pastries was enormous, flaky and delicate. I left with a full belly and an adorable to go box with half of my basket that I'll eat for breakfast tomorrow.

One other quick note, Bouchon is a peaceful, calm oasis in Vegas. It's a white tablecloth, bistro table, tiled floor joint with a view of a cute courtyard and fountain. No slots ringing in the background, waitresses screaming "Cocktails!" or drunken bachelorette parties. If you want break out of the Vegas madness, it's the perfect choice. (Also open for lunch and dinner.)

Vegas: Mon Ami Gabi at The Paris Hotel & Casino

I'll say it. I judge chain restaurants. There. So, when my colleague suggested Mon Ami Gabi for our arrival lunch in Vegas, the food snob in me recoiled. But ya know, when in Vegas, I figured I'd just roll with it.

And was happlly proven wrong. First of all, the location is PERFECT for your first stop in Vegas. Right on the strip, Mon Ami Gabi has a gorgeous patio with a view of the Bellagio across the street. If you like people watching, it's worth eating here for that reason alone.

When our server suggested we start with the scallops... again I judged. I looked at her like, *really?* do you think I just fell off the turnip truck? Scallops are so lamely obvious. And I grew up in Florida eating fresh scallops like they were candy, so I can't stand when scallops are bad.

Again, I was happily proven wrong. The Sea Scallops Gratinées were served in adorable shell dishes where they were marinating in caramelized fennel, an onion marmalade, and mussel cream. Cheesy, buttery goodness:


I ordered the Chopped Salad and a glass of Chardonnay for my meal. It was crispy, simple and perfect:


So, Mon Ami Gabi, I'm sorry I judged you. Sometimes, chains become chains because they are so good, we want more. And I do. See you in Bethesda.

New Orleans: Stanley's for Breakfast

Sunday morning, I was a woman without a plan. Still in New Orleans, I was bound for the French Quarter, stomach growling and in need of coffee. I turned to Twitter and the recommendations started rolling in. Because I was pretty casual and by myself, I picked Stanley in Jackson Square at the recommendation of @NOLATalk. I'll admit as an avowed Twitter addict, my interest was piqued by their chef Scott Boswell, aka @ChefScottB, being on Twitter.



Despite the playoff malay that was descending on the city, I found a seat at the bar and was greeted immediately by a guy behind the counter who set me up with coffee and a menu. When he returned for my order, I told him I was up in the air over the Bourbon Street French Toast and the Eggs Stella. When I told him I really wanted the french toast but couldn't stop thinking about the cornmeal crusted soft shell crab that came in the Eggs Stella, he immediately said, "Well, why I don't I bring you the french toast with a soft shell on the side."... Um, yeah, that would be freaking the best thing EVER.

And it was.

Here's a snap of my french toast, which came with sliced bananas, Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, toasted walnuts and a caramel syrupy "Foster sauce" - decadent!!


And here's the side serving of cornmeal crusted soft shell with (my favorite) Crystal Hot Sauce:


This was one of the best restaurants I've eaten at in New Orleans. Ever. Add it to your list for your next visit!

New Orleans: Cafe DuMonde

I feel like this one is so obviously decadent and must-do that it may not exactly be breaking blog news, but any visit to New Orleans must include a stop at Cafe Du Monde.

My visit this time included a gorgeous foggy walk through the French Quarter and past this ethereal Jackson Square view:


Luckily Cafe Du Monde was only mildly crowded and we found a table right away:


Our server was prompt and friendly. My usual order is a cafe con leche & 3 beignets. They melt in your mouth and it's always entertaining to people watch the performers, tourists and locals that converge 24 hours a day.


It's hard to leave without a little lagniappe so we picked up a cute mug and a can of their hearty chicory coffee to take back to DC with us.

New Orleans: Ralph Brennan's Bacco

This was a quick trip to New Orleans, and my focus wasn't the usual gumbo and hurricane-fueled madness that brings me to town. But with that semi-soberness, I explored a bit more, took photos and per usual, got a million ideas for places to check out from my Twitter community.

The playoffs being in town and us running late nixed my top two dinner choices - Irene's and Galatoire's - due to over two and a half hour waits. (Have I previously blogged about how mean I get when I'm hungry?)

I ended up defaulting to a Ralph Brennan's Bacco in the W Hotel French Quarter. It was a spot I'd been to before with great meals, so even though I wanted to try something new, it was a good backup plan.

We started with the Truffle Fettuccine, which was served with shaved parmesan and slivers of mushrooms:


For our main courses, we ordered the two specialities of Bacco, the Lobster & Shrimp Ravioli:


And the BBQ shrimp:


For dessert, we decided to walk on through the French Quarter to one of our favorite spots, Cafe Du Monde. (Stay tuned for next post...)

Cleveland: B Spot by Michael Symon

I'll confess straight out. I'm a wuss. I happened upon B Spot for lunch in Cleveland. It's Food Network's Next Iron Chef star Michael Symon's burger/brat/bologna/beer/BLT joint - and he was there... and I just sat at the bar engrossed in my foodgasm until it was too late, and he left.

But, after I was served up the Lola Burger (burger with fried egg, red onions, bacon, cheddar & mayo)...


... I plum forgot my the foodie celeb in my midst. Some of you know, I've stopped eating factory farmed meat, so I rarely get burgers. But Symon sourced his beef right there on the menu, which was like waving a red cape in front of this burger loving babe. Melt in your mouth is a trite thing to say about food, but it seems to have been invented for my first bite.

To add insult to injury, I passed up the fries and partnered Lola up with a chocolate marshmallow shake...


This bad boy came with a straw that could suck up the Hoover dam and a spoon, that was put to good use scraping every last marshmallow from the glass.

Now, eating alone can sometimes be lonely, but not at B Spot. The bartender was smiling, friendly and helpful in steering me to the right order. My neighbor to the right was a burly Trader Joe's employeer and to the right, my new friend, Jim Wallace. This 80 something gent and I struck up a great conversation about the delicious food at B Spot, social media, family, travel, and (sigh), the antics of Washington, DC.

Now, if I had just stepped up and said hi to Michael...

Cleveland: Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar

Life has taken me to Cleveland twice in the last 2 weeks, so I decided it was time to explore their restaurant scene. Recommendations flew in from the CLE Twitterati with recommendations including everything from Top Chef's Michael Symon's empire to and classic brat-serving dives.

I met up with my posse of fellow blondes I've connected with via Twitter: @KristenKaleal, @CaraLageson & @EJHonsa and insisted that we go somewhere that I couldn't go in DC. After much consideration, we settled on Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar.


L to R: @KristenKaleal, @EJHonsa, @CaraLageson & @FloridaGirlinDC... to stay up to date on the latest in Cleveland girls night's out, use #gnoCLE

From the start Paladar was entertaining and colorful, from the decor to the staff to the food & drink that was put on our table. Our server Jill was knowledgeable about the menu and patient in dealing with a gaggle of indecisive chicks that included self avowed steak fiends & strict vegetarians.

I started off with the Pomegranate Caipiroska (basically a Caipirinha w/ vodka instead of rum) and the spicy house made guacamole. Neither disappointed and I liked that the guacamole was served with plantains and yucca chips instead of the more obvious tortilla chips.



Next up, we decided to share the trio of ceviche which was GORGEOUSLY presented and included the Ecuadorian Shrimp Ceviche with Plantain Chips (steamed shrimp, tossed in a tamarind citrus marinade with avocado, pickled garlic, pico de gallo), the Tuna & Watermelon Ceviche with Yucca Chips (a mix of sushi grade tuna tossed in a sweet chili vinaigrette with honeydew, watermelon, basil & hearts of palm) and the Sweet & Spicy Salmon Ceviche served with popcorn (yes, popcorn!) Apparently, popcorn is a traditional Latin garnish with ceviche... who knew? But it works!



Kristen & I ordered the Black Bean Empanadas which were stuffed to the gills with black beans cheeses, topped with pico de gallo and a drizzle of their smoky paprika aioli:


Cara had the Braised Short Rib Taquitos:


And, Emily had the Ropa Vieja (which I was fired up about with my hankering for Tampa-style Cuban food):


Everything was delicious and we had a great time. Granted, the blondes traveling in a pack tend to have fun anywhere, but the staff & the perfect service lended us hand on a cold Tuesday night. I'll be looking for the first expansion for Paladar... rumor has it it will be Annapolis, MD (my neck of the woods!!)...

So, Clevelanders, what should I not miss on my next visit to the CLE? I've heard Symon's Lola, Lolita & B Spot Burgers; Mama Santa; Map Room; D'Vine Wine Bar (I've been made to swear that I'll try the baked brie); Pier W & Ponte Vecchio (bonus: view); Parallax; The Happy Dog (two words: tater tots); and Hot Sauce Williams (though, I've been warned, like Ben's Chili Bowl in DC... it's best about 4am).

Leave me your favorite spot and what I should order there in the comments section or tweet me @FloridaGirlinDC!

Things Floridians Love: Pirates

Ok, so being a food blogger is about as opposite as gangster can get, but being from Tampa and bred with a love of pirates & food... I had to get this t-shirt when I saw it at the DC Penn Quarter Holiday Market. (I forbade myself from enjoying it until after Christmas since I was supposed to be shopping for my loved ones instead of myself.)



The artist is Jon Wye, here's his site. He also makes bad ass leather belts, cuffs and dog collars.

Tales of the BBQ Virgin...

So, Twitter collectively was aghast when we realized our pal @MissMolly_DC had never had BBQ in her life... ever. @JeffDonald, @BlairDC and I sprang into action and invited our online pal offline to Old Glory in Georgetown to rectify the situation.

Now, *where* you get the Q is a hot debate, no matter where you are in the US of A. In my hometown (Tampa, FL), I like either First Choice BBQ or Smoke BBQ & Grill. @BlairDC's partial to Smithfield's for Eastern North Carolina Q (btw, LOVE that Smithfield's tweets, Facebooks AND ships their BBQ!) and Joe's BBQ in Whiteville, NC. @JeffDonald gives his hometown shout out to Speedy's BBQ in Lexington.

Now, I know DC *thinks* it's the South sometimes, but those of us from Virginia and below disagree. Still, it does have passable BBQ, namely Capital Q in Chinatown, Rockland's in Glover Park, & Kenny's Smokehouse on Capitol Hill. We chose Old Glory because they have a variety of sauces from across the country: Texas, Savannah, Carolina, Kansas City & Memphis. If we were going to make @MissMolly_DC love Q, one of the first decisions was gonna be what kind of sauce do you like. [Also, we'd be lying if we didn't say that their bourbon selection/challenge wasn't a factor.]

Our crew grew to include @SarahStanley, @DCMaryMargaret & @xristoargyris and @JeffDonald had to drop out (prolly to head to NC for BBQ). We ordered up Old Glory's Frickles & Bottle Caps (fried pickles and jalapenos with a Memphis BBQ dipping sauce) because @AndyMacMiller tweeted us that we had to (also I've never turned down a fried pickle chip in my life.)

My standard order is pulled smoked pork with two sides. I'd get 6 sides if I could fit them in my gut, for I think sides are one of the best things about going for Q in the first place. This time, I settled on the fried okra & cole slaw.



@MissMolly_DC ordered up the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Fried Okra & Collard Greens. Fairly bold, I thought for a gal from Binghamton, NY who's never had BBQ.



We also grilled @MissMolly_DC about her hometown's foodie claim to fame, which are "spiedies" (also on Facebook)... anyone up for a road trip to Spiediefest 2010??

Operation BBQ Virgin was thus complete. Half of the fun of getting together for BBQ is that it's super laid back, everyone's got their favorites and even meh BBQ is still delish.

[PS. For those of you following my veggie adventures, this was my meat cheat of the week! I almost always save it for BBQ or bacon!]

Cold Mornings Made Better By Cuban Toast & Coffee

Good morning! So, for all of my Floridians out there struggling with another sub freezing morning, here's how I survive in DC. Smuggled Tampa Casino Bakery Cuban toast - fresh from the freezer, straight into my toaster oven. Pot of Dunkin Donuts coffee (sorry, Cafe Con Leche preferred but harder to come by here) & a cozy fire.

If you're cold, it's a good time to get out and get some comfort food or fire up that oven! Have a great Sunday!

Self High Five: FloridaGirl's Hometown Paper Profile

Thanks to Tampa Trib foodie, Jeff Houck for this great write up of my blog in TBO.com, and even more for the fun walk down memory lane about great Tampa area food.

On the right hand side of this blog you can follow these blogs post on Facebook via Networked blogs (which is great bc you don't have to come back to this page, it comes to you!)

I've still yet to meet up (I promised Jeff I wouldn't say tweet up) with someone who was fantastic on Twitter that wasn't just as interesting in real life. If you're a foodie and not following Jeff, make it happen. He's knowledgable, funny and snark-alicious.

PS. Leave me your MUST EAT Tampa recommendations in the Comments section below for my next visit home.

Getting Local: Blue Ridge

One of the things I love about dining in the DC area is the trend of chefs and restaurants that are focusing their menu on sustainable local ingredients. One of the leaders of this movement is Chef Barton Seaver who previously lead the kitchens at sustainable seafood stars Hook and Tackle Box. As a lover of Southern tinged comfort food (especially on a cold winter weekend), I really wanted to try his new restaurant in Glover Park, Blue Ridge.



I met my friend Caroline there for a holiday catch up. As the first to arrive, I had the chance to check out the bar menu... as well as the bartenders. I loved the seasonal cocktails that seemed designed to warm you up... lots of ciders and bourbon based concoctions. At the urging of a Twitter-pal, I went with the Mississippi Punch (really, when is rum punch NOT in season...) It was potent and punchy, a perfect kick off to the meal that was about to unfold. I should also mention that in addition to the seasoned paper bags of popcorn at the bar, they also served fried black-eyed peas as a treat for the New Year. The black-eyed peas were addictive and would be the first sign that each visit to Blue Ridge would have surprises in order.

The menu has a lot of hits if you like Southern food - fried fish, cheese grits, fritters, hush puppies. I liked that our server not only guided us to our choices, but let us know they were using the freshest ingredients available. We decided to start with a bottle of wine and the sweet potato fritters, which were sweet & spicy.



For dinner I had the Fried Cod over Greens & Black-Eyed Pea Hummus. It was perfectly cooked - crispy outside, moist inside... and I loved the nod to New Years -- and want the recipe for black-eyed pea hummus.



Caroline had the Fried Green Tomato BLT. Now, in my mind, nothing can be bad about this order... and there wasn't. It was perfectly done and I loved the deconstructed presentation.



If there was one slight disappointment in our meal it was the hush puppies. They were seasoned well with a jalapeno kick, but ours came out perhaps a little overdone and dry.

Overall, Blue Ridge was my favorite new restaurant in months. This blogger plans on trying it out on a regular basis since the menu promises seasonal surprises for each visit. And if you don't want a whole meal, the bar was a comfortable and cozy spot to meet for drinks and small bites. Check it out!

Cat's Famous Sausage Dip

This dip has been a staple since my old roomie Cat Thomas introduced it in our grown-up Glover Park sorority house (it was pink and contained a bunch of FSU girls, whaddya want?) It's great for game days, cocktail parties or hungover Sundays.

Cat's Famous Sausage Dip
Ingredients
- 1 lb (tube) of Jimmy Dean pork sausage (To make it vegetarian, I used a spicy soy sausage, like Soy-Chorizo, which is found in the vegetable section... it looks, smells and cooks just like the Jimmy Dean.)
- Add 2 blocks of cream cheese (It's fine with the light cream cheese also)
- One can of Ro-Tel

1. Brown the sausage and crumble into bite size pieces. Drain any oil. Add Ro-Tel until warm.



2. Cut the cream cheese into chunks and mix into the sausage and Ro-Tel mixture. Stir until melted and combined. You can serve straight from the sauce pan (it's also fabulous to make this in a Crock-Pot so that it stays warm) or refrigerate and warm for your party.



Serve with your favorite chips. I like it with Fritos, Tostito's Scoops or Stacy's Pita Chips.

Best Bites: Tampa Christmas 2009

Here's my lineup of favorite dishes from my Christmas visit to Tampa, Florida:

Flash Fried Oysters at Bin 27 Bistro
2702 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33609
Of all of the places I dined the week I was home, this was my favorite Tampa contender. Creative menu, attentive & fun staff, new cuisine, but with a nod to Tampa historical cuisine. I *loved* my starter of flash fried oysters with boniato potatoes, tamarind chorizo BBQ, and chipotle aioli. They are presented in the shell with dramatic flair, but more importantly, the taste.

Check out the oyster photos and more at Tampa Tribune food writer, Jeff Houck's Bin 27 Flickr from our lunch.
I went for the Ropa Vieja, a nod to childhood meals at Latams, and it delivered. Bin 27 Bistro served the slow cooked pulled brisket with sofrito rice, sweet plantains, cuban black beans, and a cilantro-lime crema.

Finally, I capped the meal (how could I stop there when it was my last full day in town to eat) with the special dessert - a Chocolate Torte with Roasted Marshmellow and Graham Cracker Ice Cream.

I know it's trendy to reinvent an old favorite, in this case s'mores, but the graham cracker ice cream was so shockingly good, I begged them to send me home with a pint. (I know what you're thinking, but I assure you, TRY IT)

Crunchy Olives with Three Meats at Pelagia Trattoria
4200 Jim Walter Boulevard, Tampa, FL

I really liked this new restaurant tucked into the Renaissance Hotel. There wasn't a menu miss in our group of seven picky girls. I thought the standouts were anything recommended by Chef Fabrizio on the menu. While he wasn't there the night we dined, I'd been told to follow his lead and that served us well. My favorite were the crunchy fried olives stuffed with three meats and served with lemon.

BBQ Ribs with Mac-n-Cheese with Green Pepper Salsa
Smoke Barbeque & Grill
901 West Platt Street, Tampa, FL 33606

Despite my attempts to eat more veggie, I'll always be a BBQ aficianado. Smoke's got solid Q, but I *might* be more obsessed with the firey green pepper mac-n-cheese. Next time, I'm begging for a recipe!

Cuban Toast & Cafe Con Leche
La Cubanita Cafe
3240 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Valrico, FL 33596-5680
Phone (813) 655-6499

This is our neighborhood Cuban joint. They know my parents by name, the owner gives my dad shit, and the food is always good. My favorite breakfast when in Tampa is a simple Cuban toast and Cafe con Leche. It's important that it's perfect, and theirs always is.

Roberto's Farm Salad & Floribbean Grouper at Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island, FL
OK, I'm a terrible blogger, because I let my Blackberry die and didn't have my camera with me to take pics of the gorgeous meal at Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island. In my defense, I thought we were just going to The Sand Bar (which I also love, in a different way) for fruity frozen sunset drinks. Instead, we ended up at this Gulf beach side culinary mecca. Everything everyone had was amazing, but my two favorites were the Roberto's Farm Salad which was served with a punchy sorbet on top of fresh vegetables, cheese and fruits... and the Floribbean Grouper which was local Gulf grouper with a toasted coconut and cashew crust, Pan seared, oven finished and "caressed with a red pepper papaya jam". [PS. The amuse bouche of "One Helluva Soup", "lobstercargot" (Florida spiny lobster tails served up in butter and spinach in an escargot pan) and the Key Lime Pie ("has won prizes" lol) were also worth the price of admission. One last rave, this is one of the most creative, amusing and well written menus I have ever seen. Not only are the dishes delightful, but the writing and descriptions make you want to try everything! Ok, more last raves, they have smaller plates and half options which make it fun to try a variety of dishes and manage a budget... James the server and the whole team were fantastic... they fit us in without a reservation... And the view... sigh.]

(Photo from TasteWeb.net)

Cuban Sandwich at Hugo's Spanish Restaurant
931 South Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL

Next trip, I'm going on a quest to find the Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa... but this trip, I knew I could count on Hugo's (since 1955) for a hit of one of my favorite Tampa tastes. I like 'em pressed and dressed...

And, the list wouldn't be complete without Mom's Fresh Squeezed OJ, picked with oranges from the neighbor's tree each morning:

Resolutions for 2010

I once heard Oprah say that goals without deadlines are just dreams... well, here are mine for 2010:

Health & Wellness:
- Incorporate SOME exercise into my week at least once a week - walking, running, yoga, biking, golf - *anything*
- Stop eating factory farmed meat. (Luckily my farmers market has bacon, sausage, etc.)
- Shop at local farmers markets when possible.
- Master 4 killer vegetarian recipes that meat eaters love.

Financial Security:
- Pay attention to Mint.com, ie save more, get on a path towards buying a place.

Passion:
- Learn to surf.
- Master my new digital camera.
- Paint at least one painting that I love.
- Learn how to improve my blog design.

Relationships:
- Learn to make fudge and fried chicken for my dude.
- Share in real time, rather than internalizing.
- Plan a fun trip together with my dude someplace neither of us have been.
- Stay in better touch with old friends.
- Call Nana more often.

Food Blogger Pot Luck: January 6th

Write a food blog? Tweet about food? Like to read about DC food? Join Gradually Greener, ModernDomestic, The Arugula Files, Capital Spice, Capital Cooking, DininginDC, WeLoveDC, & Beerspotter at the Post Holiday Potluck on January 6th at 6:30. RSVP here and bring a dish.