I HATE CONDE NAST!!!

I stumbled this morning upon my usual perusal of Frank Bruni's Diner'ss Journal a piece about the impending death of Gourmet Magazine.

Wait. WHAT!?!?!?! Bon Appetit, ok, sure, it's kind of a dumbed down, ho-hum magazine and thus I could see cancelling it with out much to-do. A single tear, maybe.

But GOURMET!? Lush, vivid, fountain of inspiration?! I absolutely can't believe it. I have been a subscriber as long as I can remember and I am pretty much devastated, and I am surely not alone.

I'm also a little disappointed in my fellow food loving cohorts, everywhere I see R.I.P. Gourmet when I feel like I should be seeing a Vive la Revolution! Let's band together and revolt! Cancel those Vogue subscriptions and send nasty (conde nasty, sorry I couldn't resist) letters! Let's save Gourmet!

VIVE LA GOURMET MAGAZINE!!!!

Miranda & Maison & Magnolia, Oh My!

Calming, isn't it? I just hope you appreciate how impossible it was for me to narrow these pictures down. Lesson of the day (which I suppose I of all people should have already known!):

Chocolate is Beauty.



Following a brief (and unfortunately rawther early) foray into DUMBO, my current favorite 'hood here in the BK for what should be OBVIOUS reasons, David and I felt the need for a little play time in the city! Hmm, but what's the perfect short but so satisfying adventure?



La Maison du Chocolat of COURSE!!



Very New York and glamorous, La Maison is tres chic and tres luxurious. You sort of simply must take a petit bite. . .ChocoCarnage! Sacre Bleu!



Mmmm, tres shiny!



When at La Maison, it is important to allow oneself time to take in every last detail and read every last petit label. Ask questions, but if you know what's good for you I'd steer clear of price issues- c'est TRES gauche. This is a treat, so just . . .



...drink it up and don't worry your pretty little head. Chocolates, like cheese and wine, are an everyday luxury and isn't it that so lovely of them?

Oh yes, and then it's often a good idea to follow up La Maison with a little jaunt to Magnolia Bakery for a 75 cent palate cleanser of all-American goodness.



They're even better than they look. Oh YES. Peanut Buttery goodness. YES.

MANHATTAN

(mn-htn, mn-)
1. A borough of New York City in southeast New York, mainly on Manhattan Island at the north end of New York Bay. Peter Minuit of the Dutch West Indies Company bought the island in 1626 from the Manhattan Indians, supposedly for $24 worth of merchandise. The settlement of New Amsterdam, renamed New York when the English assumed control in 1664, quickly spread from the southern tip of the island, eventually becoming the financial and commercial center of the United States.

Play was the sole purpose of this particular Monday. In fact, I propose that play should be the purpose of every Monday from here on out. At least as long as I live in this pounding, pulsing heart of a city.

Determined to start at the obvious beginning as a tourist in my own city, heading up todays itinerary was Battery Park, the glorious Empire State Building and a speakeasy of sorts, with a little wiggle room here and there. Sunshine pouring in our windows this morning helped to get the day going a little sooner than usual, and with the exemplary Empire State of Mind on repeat in our heads and our MetroCards in hand, we headed out!

Sitting at the very tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is already pretty dramatic place. Choppy, glittering waters of the Atlantic crash up against the Pier (Peir 1, hahaha. I'm such a nerd), and then you look up and she's just sort of there.


Smaller than I expected, the Statue of Liberty is powerful in a way that few other things are, not to state the obvious or anything.

The weather started to cloud up a bit, and we really wanted to get to the top of the Empire State Building before the forecast thunderstorms, so we hopped the 1 train up to Penn station! Phew all that transit hopping and sightseeing left us in need of a pick me up, which lead to my second Pumpkin Ale of the season.

By the way, it was hugely more delicious than the first, which really surprised me seeing as this pub was actually inside the ESB and thus assumed to be an icky tourist trap.

Despite the very kind warnings of the neon vested vendors out front (who promised that the special express tickets they sold for just twice the price of a regular ticket)we were zipping up the 86 floors to the top of the city before we knew it! Apparently Monday afternoon is an excellent time to go. Who knew!


What I found most striking up there was the peace and quiet. It was almost like being in church, and everyone around you is worshiping at the alter of Quintessential Manhattan. Maybe they just want a better view of Central park. Maybe they're reliving a marriage proposal, or showing their kids something new and special. Or maybe they just want a moment of calm, a chance to grasp a city that can be so elusive.

Personally, I'm rather partial to the Chrysler Building.


Back on the ground, I found that I just couldn't resist the pull of H&M. Poor David was quite patient, so as a reward I took us out for an absolutely cocktail to toast our day on the town.

By the time the F popped us out at 14th street, rain was posatively spilling down on us. Thankfully, the Flatiron Lounge is cozy and luscious and it made me sort of feel like Nora Charles, which is exactly what I want to feel like all the time, most especially at the end of a long day. Doesn't everyone?


David sipped blissfully away at his usual, a lovely sidecar. Best he'd ever had! And for me, a lovely spritz of a drink called a Lullaby- Apricot eau de vie, bubbles and a little whisper of Absinthe.


A perfect New York day. There really isn't anyplace I'd rather be, and that's quite a nice thing to feel.

A lot all at once

Between school and work I am totally fried.Things will surely be better soon, as I'll likely be quitting said job tomorrow (details to come pending coherency) which I know sounds sad and drastic is actually something I've found enlightening and even quite empowering!!

However, I do still love you little blog, and have thought of you often! See, here's photographic evidence!

Firstly, I was here:



having the first Pumpkin Ale of the season, a little pick me up before class...



with this guy:



Wondering how you become fabulous enough to live here:



So much to think about! We're getting more settled by the day and though much is not perfect, I finally have a kitchen I can really cook in. To celebrate, I procured myself a little bit of a treat, namely these lovelies:



and I chopped them up with my fancy pink knives and turned them into this:



topped with this:



and there you have it! I got more pleasure out of that simple act then any meal out we've had yet, even Shake Shack!! (which as you saw is saying a lot!)

Well, sorry to be of so few words, graduate school seems to demand most of my word-use ability these days, but once I get in the swing of things, watch out!! I'll be back in force, NYC style!

SHAKE SHACK!!!!

Shake shack shake shack shake shack! I'd like to thank the fine folks over at Ed Levine's mahhhhvelous website, Serious Eats, for informing me of the fact that the Upper West Side outpost of the Shake Shack was serving up this Labor Day treat :



That's right, the Most Delicious Corn Dog You Have Ever Had. I ordered with guilt-free abandon as we had trekked all the way across the Brooklyn Bridge this morning in our Lazy day wanderings. Mmmm I love my new home.



During and after the blissful ingestion, I could be heard mumbling 'Perfect Ratio, Perfect Ratio', which pretty much sums up the experience. Really nice ratio of beefy, seasony hot dog + crispy on the outside, slightly creamy corny on the inside shell = Happy Me.

A few bites of the unbeatable classic rounded out this perfect Labor day repast.



Thanks, D. You're the best, even if I only got one bite.

School starts tomorrow, and I'm feeling quite fortified! Cheers!

No Sleep Til. . .

Brooklyn!!

Well, we're here! We've already been here a week actually, and it's taken that long for us to get settled enough just to have an actual place to sit in our apartment that is comfortable enough to perch on for long enough to write this blog! (How many times can I say 'enough' in one sentance?)

Phew! But I haven't forgotten you yet, my dear blog, and I even took a few pictures of our new life here.

The first meal cooked in our apartment! Salade Nicoise, or as we call it, Stuffy Salad. And wine of course!



Speaking of, there is a wine shop on EVERY LAST corner here in New York, which really assisted in making me feel welcome and at home.

Seriously though, I've got to admit, I'm pretty proud of us. This is a big move, two west coasters making a new life for themselves here in the Big Apple. I know it's an old tune, but it's quite something. We're growing up before our very eyes! New York City feels like a test, and I know it's too early, but I have a sneaking suspicious we're going to pass. Thanks to a few good friends, our apartment has been thouroughly warmed and even reheated!



All in all, I'd say we're pretty lucky. I can't wait to see where this ride takes us.

Beaker & Flask

Two days to go here in my beloved Portland, and I realized today that meant I had some serious prioritizing to do! Between Laurelhurst Market, Beaker and Flask, Evoe, and of course revisits to some old stand bys, I was faced with too many meals and not enough time to eat them in!

Let me emphasize how difficult this prioritizing was-- VERY VERY difficult. However, Beaker and Flask leapt to the front of the list when peckish-ness struck this evening because they have a fab happy hour and I am being cheap-o these days for quite obvious reasons. (I hear NYC is a bit on the pricey side, please let me know if I'm incorrect. I doubt I'll believe you though.)

Beaker & Flask was SUCH a disappointment because I am moving in THREE DAYS and I can only conceivably imbibe another three (four if I push it) of their dazzling cocktails.

THIS is the seductively named Night & Fog;



Cynar (pronounced CHI-nar), Oloroso Sherry, Ginger Beer, and just a splash of bitters. Savory, caramel and smooth all at once, I could drink these all night, especially at happy hour prices-- $5 is hard to beat.

As for snacks, which I believe I have mentioned are my favorite food, B&F outdoes itself. See?



Or if you really must have some greens, as I often must, lovely lettuce with creamy tarragon vinaigrette is passable I'd say, wouldn't you?



Stupidly reasonable price-wise, happy hour or no, these will keep you cocktailing responsibly until the wee hours.

Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs? Yes, please.



Beaker & Flask. If you have the means, I highly recommend a visit. It is so choice.

Low Browin' it up, jet lag style

Can you have jet lag when you're only gone for 24 hours? I suppose its more like a bizarro sort of that-trip-didn't-really-happen lag. Yes, that has a nice ring to it.

As you can tell, whatever kind of lag this is, I am not at my tip toppy-est. However, I wanted to give you a litte taste of what I ate, with more to follow in the detail and description dept. at a later, more functional date.

There was a little of this:



With a delicious dose of:




Best of visit in the gastronomical delights arena was easily this:



Can you guess where its from? Its' called an Arsenic and Old Lace, which I know a certain person will appreciate. . . The picture doesn't really do it justice, but I tried nonetheless-- and made a complete NERD out of myself doing I'll have you know. I have a new favorite cocktail spot in my new hometown, and I may never again be able to show my face there thanks to morello's insatiable hunger for photographic evidence of my every consumption!

I am very inconsistent

DUH. I suppose that is a bit of an understatement. Poor morello, she has been so neglected, and I don't really like excuses, so suffice it to say that this move to New York at the end of August has really been taking its toll on me.

Time is flying these days, I'm in my last week of work at my very beloved Sahagun and I've begun to make packing lists. As I lie in bed waiting for sleep, I can't ignore the thought that my room will not be my room very soon. At least it won't be the room I've known and loved for more than 20 years. Blushing ballerina pink walls I chose at 5 will soon be stripped away in favor of something more adult. I suppose that's alright, I can't say it isn't time for a new paint job, but I also can't say my heart won't ache a bit when it happens.

It's not all heartache though, because I know now (just heard!!) that David and I will be moving to a fabulous new home in Brooklyn! Thanks to a WONDERFULLYGLORIOUSPERFECTLOVELY family friend, we will be subletting a sweet one bedroom apartment 1 block from Prospect Park in we-aren't-rich-enough-to-live-here-we-are-just-posers Park Slope!!!! It is rent stabilized and we are disgustingly lucky. I'll be in New York this weekend (yes, I'm a fab jet setter) to sign the papers to make it OURS! Hahahah! I'll try and take some drool-worthy pictures if I eat anything drool-inducing. On second thought, might be more cocktail focused than food. Have you read about NYC cocktail craziness???!! Very exciting, very overwhelming. I want to go to go everywhere at once but obviously I can't so then I feel stuck and like I should just not bother going anywhere. Which is silly, but you know how that happens. They all call to me, maybe you have a favorite? White Star, Milk and Honey, and Death & co, and PDT, Clover Club(my personal favorite, name-wise)...so many cocktails, so little liver!

On that note, I've missed you bloggy blog and readers (if you're out there). I'll try to be around more, and thanks for sticking it out with me. We're making some big changes around here, its nice to know that you're in it with me.

Droplets of Summer

A taste of June 1st here at morellobello HQ. . .



"One must ask children and birds how strawberries taste."
~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe






I think the responsible thing to do would be to obviously stuff myself silly and then jam. Yes. Obviously. Oh and I should probably do all of the above whilst enjoying the musical stylings of Coldplay, more specifically the best song ever "Strawberry Swing" on repeat.

Done.