Au Courant Columbia

A Chef's Life Fourth Helping

2016-09-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

A Chef's Life teaser from A Chef's Life on Vimeo.

Have you watched this show yet? The "Fourth Helping" (season 4) debuted last Thursday night on SC ETV. A Chef's Life is truly one of my favorite shows--Chef Vivian Howard is a gem, and I enjoy watching her create amazing and creative food using local ingredients.

James and I visited Kinston, NC last year and we LOVED every second of our visit, especially our trips to Chef and the Farmer (Vivian's premier restaurant), and The Boiler Room, her more casual oyster bar. I blogged about our experience here.

Vivian has a new cookbook coming out this Fall and she will be in Columbia, SC on October 12th signing cookbooks with her food truck in tow. You can purchase tickets to meet Vivian, have some of her delicious food, and get an autographed copy of Deep Run Roots.

Here's to many more helpings of Chef Vivian Howard & A Chef's Life!

Save the Easy Way with Digit!

2016-02-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but some days adulting is just too much. The house constantly needs to be cleaned, the kids need a lunch for school, the animals must be fed. I mean, our lists go on and on and on, right? (All good problems to have, I realize--it means I have a home, healthy children, access to schools, and sweet animals...but still). I'm sure you can all relate to the overhwelm that you feel some days trying to be a semi-functional adult.

So, I'm about to make your life a little easier.

You know how you should be saving money for the future? For things like college for the kids, retirement, future travel, a new kitchen sink, and so much more? Well, here's how to do it with as little effort and pain-in-the-wallet as possible: Digit.

Digit is an app that helps you "save money without thinking about it." There are no hidden fees and it has bank-level security. But it's all digital and you can set it up on your phone. The app will move money from your checking account to your Digit account automatically (if you want it to) when it sees that you have enough dough to do so. It analyzes your deposits and expenditures to determine how much would be appropriate and when.

For me, the average savings transfer has been $5, and in less than 2 months, I now have $98 in my Digit account! I know that doesn't sound like much, but it's more than I would have saved on my own in that time. All-inclusive resort vacation, here we come!

I was not compensated by Digit for this post, I just really like their app. I will get a $5 referral deposit for every person who uses my link to sign up, so thanks in advance if you do!

More Forays Into Vegan Cooking

2016-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

Last week I made cauliflower & pea pockets from The Plantiful Table cookbook and whole wheat biscuits from the Thug Kitchen cookbook.

Both of these recipes intimidated me at first. Biscuits are terrifying to me, and always have been--I am a chronic dough-over-mixer and in case you don't know, that is not a good thing.

And phyllo dough is kind of scary...it tears really easily, you have to thaw it in the fridge for a while because it usually comes frozen, you have to keep it moist and brush it with melted butter...it's kind of involved!

Anyway, apparently I was feeling ambitious; here are the results:

The pea & cauliflower pockets turned out great! The phyllo dough wasn't that difficult to use after all; only one wasted sheet for the whole recipe. The pockets were delicious and I ate on them all week long since my kids wouldn't touch them. [They are both in a very picky stage. I don't really want to talk about the angst it conjures in me when they won't eat something I have creatively made for them from scratch...]

Here's the filling for the pockets:

I had some leftover & just ate it plain as a side dish--very tasty.

The biscuits were a bit of a different outcome, but not a total fail:

pre-baking...I was pretty psyched for how they looked right here!

post-baking

Surprise--I over-mixed the biscuit dough. The biscuits were a little tough and very flat. Not unlike hockey pucks. But my kids & ate them just the same! I mean anything's edible with some butter (vegan butter for me!) and cinnamon and sugar, right?

My favorite part of the Thug Kitchen biscuit recipe? This line: "Make your own biscuits because that store-bought shit is shady as hell. Food shouldn't be packaged like a stick on explosives. That shit is unnatural."

Indeed.

Thursday's Thinking of Food: Adventures in Semi-Veganism

2016-01-21T07:52:00.002-08:00

So, I'm a few weeks into vegetarianism and part-time veganism, and I'm not missing meat at all. Even my beloved tacos, (which James and I typically make at least once week), have been delicious; I've used roasted cauliflower & chick peas as the filling instead of ground beef or chicken.

I am really giving Mark Bittman's Vegan Before 6 school of thought a go, and during the week it doesn't prove to be too difficult for me. I've been preparing dishes on Sunday afternoon that can carry me through the week for lunch and quick dinners. Dishes like Thug Kitchen's tortilla soup, vegan "mac & cheese" from The Plantiful Table, and veggie samosas.

My new go-to dip, snack, between-meal nosh is this dip I found on the pages of the January 2016 Shape magazine, vegan "Nacho Cheese:"

The first time I made it I was skeptical. The ingredients do not sound like a swoon-worthy culinary combination, but I must say, I am smitten. It does not really taste like nacho cheese, but it is delicious!

And James and I have eaten this dish more times than I care to admit the past 2 weeks: sticky garlic noodles.

image via here

I seriously could eat this every day. I've been using vegan butter and brown rice Japanese noodles, but you could also use zuchinni noodles or gluten-free noodles. I've also been throwing in extra veggies, like carrots and broccoli. Oh, and I always throw in a handful of raw cashews! You could also substitute the brown sugar for honey or some other sweetener. These noodles are addictive.

So, I want to hear--do you have any vegetarian or vegan recipes?

Interested in learning more about the benefits of a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle? My dedication to this new diet was solidified last night as I watched Forks Over Knives, a documentary of the idea that rejecting animal-based foods can actually prevent or reverse certain degenerative diseases such as heart disease. The evidence in the film is pretty overwhelming. I highly recommend it if you're contemplating a veggie or vegan lifestyle, or have a serious health concern that could be treated with nutrition.

Thursday's Thinking of Food: New US Dietary Guidelines

2016-01-07T07:39:00.003-08:00

image via here

The Obama administration has released an update to the US Dietary Guidelines. These guidelines are reviewed and revised every 5 years, and this year the biggest change concerns sugar.

Here's NPR's take on the changes.

I am happy to see some positive changes, as we obviously have some very real health crises going on in the US and many can be attributed to our over-consumption of sugar, namely in processed foods.

What do you think of the changes--did they go too far or not far enough? I personally wish they had called for more explicit changes in our meat consumption, but I guess the meat lobby was too strong for that this go-round.

Eat More Plants

2016-01-06T09:00:00.003-08:00

So, that's pretty much my New Year's resolution in a nutshell. I've decided to give up making huge, sweeping dietary changes that are not sustainable past about January 9th. I've decided not to "diet" anymore, just to eat better. According to Michael Pollan's "eating manifesto," In Defense of Food, the seven words we should follow as rules for eating are "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." In other words, eat clean (not processed), and less meat & dairy.

In anticipation of this goal, I bought myself a new cookbook for Christmas, The Plantiful Table by Andrea Duclos. It is by far my favorite cookbook to date. And it's vegan.

image via here

What? Vegan!? Anyone who knows me is probably laughing out loud right now, knowing that I would never give up cheese. And they may be right. But I'm working on eating less dairy, and for me that means less cheese. I've already made a few recipes involving nutritional yeast (which has a cheesy sort of taste), and I'm a fan. I will probably never totally give up Parmesan cheese, because it is basically my favorite food in the world, but I'm OK with that.

James' first attempt at homemade ravioli!

The very first recipe James and I created from the new cookbook was artichoke, cashew, & garlic ravioli. And we made the pasta with James' new KitchenAid pasta maker attachment! I won't lie, I was pretty intimidated to make pasta at first, but it's really simple. And fun. Just a little time-consuming.

And here's the second attempt, a few days later:

Same recipe, 3 days later. It's that good.

Nearly everyone who tried this ravioli was enamored. We served it with a bit of pesto on top, but honestly, the filling is so good you could eat it alone.

The other cookbook I've been relying on for recipes this week is The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, which James gifted me last Christmas.

menu planning

More recipe adventures to come while I work on eating more plants! What are your New Year's resolutions? Do you have any awesome vegetarian or vegan recipes I should try--I'd love to hear!?

XO,
B

Chef & the Farmer and Our Anniversary Trip to Kinston, NC

2015-12-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

(via here)

Have you heard of A Chef's Life? I wrote about it in a post about my favorite "foodie shows" here. It's one of the shows that I make a point to watch each week. Chef Vivian Howard and her husband, Ben, have a restaurant called Chef and the Farmer in small-town Kinston, NC. The show is about their adventures with the restaurant and in life.

The couple is incredibly endearing and very real--and the cooking is fun to watch and farm-to-table, as you may have guessed from the name. Ever since the first season of the show, (they just finished season 3), I have wanted to visit Kinston, NC to eat at Chef and the Farmer. That wish became reality in November, as a mini-getaway for James and my 7th wedding anniversary.

the ceiling at The O'Neil

We drove up on a Saturday morning and stayed the night in a beautiful, newly-renovated boutique hotel called The O'Neil. I highly recommend this place--not only is it beautiful and affordable, but it's right next to all the fun spots in Kinston. The hotel was once a bank, and the decor is made up of mid-century vintage items--carefully curated to provide a cozy and kind of down-to-earth-swanky feel to the place. Check-in and out is extremely easy and our bed was amazing.

To kick-off the afternoon we visited Mother Earth Brewing to sample some local brews. They happened to be having a release party that day for their Silent Night seasonal beer, so there was a great big ole party going on--and everyone was invited! Great beer and a really cool place with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a corn hole game and tours of the brewery every hour.

Next stop was The Boiler Room for more drinks and appetizers before our reservation at Chef and the Farmer. The Boiler Room is a new restaurant also owned and operated by Vivian and Ben--it's a more casual place, but equally delicious and fun. James' favorite thing was the Pork and Beam: bacon-infused bourbon served with a piece of candied bacon.

I loved the broccoli and cheese with crispy fried onions on top. (The best way to eat a vegetable.)

And finally it was time for us to head to Chef and the Farmer. I have to admit, I was a little star-struck and loved being able to look around the restaurant and see staff that I have watched on TV all these years! Ben was working the front of the house, and we noticed pretty quickly that Chef Vivian was not working in the restaurant that evening. (Not that I was going to be an annoying super-fan or anything, promise!)

We started with flash-fried collards with sea salt: addictive. And fingerling sweet potato skins loaded with deliciousness.

Jedd's lettuce salad

Next I had a Jedd's lettuce salad and a savory beef hand pie.

James had dayboat flounder with a mustard and brown butter vinaigrette. His was our favorite of these dishes, but they were all delicious.

For dessert we ordered the bread of the day and a slice of chocolate beet cake. The homemade bread, shaved meat accompaniment, and garlicky whipped butter was hands-down my favorite part of the meal.

To top this amazing day and drinks and food, ever-so-randomly, a friend from Columbia walked through the door with 3 other women, and stopped to say hello on her way to her table. She casually mentioned that she was in town visiting Vivian--an old friend from boarding school--and did we want too meet her? Um, did we want to meet Chef Vivian Howard--my favorite current TV persona? The answer was undeniably yes, so Elizabeth asked Vivian to come say his and she graciously complied. She was exactly as she seems on TV: beautiful, humble, embarrassed by her fame, and very real. Talking with her was the perfect ending to an awesome weekend in Kinston.

Thanks for saying hi, Vivian and thanks for sharing your life with us viewers. And thanks to Elizabeth for hooking it up!

James and I are already planning our next visit to Kinston; well-worth the 4 hour drive from Columbia, SC.

Best Shortbread Cookie in Columbia: Rise Bakeshop

2015-12-03T10:52:00.002-08:00

Birdie and I flitted down to Rise Gourmet Goods &Bakeshop a few weeks ago to grab some goodies as a reward for her finally bring potty-trained! (Anyone who has ever potty-trained a child knows the elation.)

I had first heard of the new bakery when reading this article by Eva Moore of the Free Times. I mean, who doesn't want to try something called a s'moreo?!

Birdie picked out a chocolate crinkle cookie and I chose a shortbread cookie with black pepper for Jones. I am not exaggerating at all when I tell you it's the best shortbread I have ever eaten. And shortbread is one of my favorite types of cookies. These are the best. Buttery and just the right texture, with a hint of pepper. So delicious.

I also grabbed a container of pimento cheese spread to balance my late-afternoon snack, and it was commendable as well.

Fast forward 2 weeks and it was crunch-time to grab some snacks for Thanksgiving dinner pre-gaming. Boiled peanut hummus and caramelized onion dip from their fridge were no-brainers, and the buffalo shmear made the list after I tried some in the store. All paired with some house made pepper crackers.

They had some pretty clever and unique gift baskets made up which would be great for holiday gifting.

In short, Rise Bakery is one of my new favorite spots for appetizers, sweets, and party goodies! And their clean and modern branding and logo is a little eye candy to boot. Check them out for lunch or brunch or snacks or party food! And definitely shortbread.

Dot & Bo are Rad

2015-11-17T06:57:00.001-08:00

I've opined here before about my lust for Fall. And all things therewith, like fires, scarves, sweaters, holidays, parties, comfort food, and cozy nights. Cozying up at home and entertaining guests makes me want to update my decor- or at least dream about it- and Dot & Bo is my new favorite place to indulge those whims.

Dot & Bo is a carefully curated online shop, self-dubbed "inspired design for the modern lifestyle." Here are some of my favorite things:

via here

In addition to beautiful housewares, they have some pretty unique gift items, and these His and Her gift guides are pretty great.

Here's to enjoying a cozy home this Fall!

Give Grace

2015-07-14T12:15:00.004-07:00

While scrolling through the Instagrams recently I came across this photo:

(via Scarlet & Gold's Instagram)

If you look closely, you'll see a delicate gold tattoo on the inside wrist: GIVE GRACE. I was initially drawn to the appearance of the dainty, shiny thing, and then later really ruminated on the meaning of the words.

The older I get the more I realize that every person I meet is dealing with some plight or another. Chances are I may never know it, but it is worth it to remind myself and others daily that we have no idea what is going on in another person's life at any given time.

I recently learned that a friend of a friend's cancer has returned. Another friend had another in a series of miscarriages. And a different friend just had a precious baby boy who has a serious and life-long disability. Heart-breaking stuff.

When I had my miscarriage 3 years ago, I think the part that hurt the most was that not everyone knew. I was almost 15 weeks along, so we had told many people about the pregnancy, but still, afterward I would run into friends and when they didn't ask me about the miscarriage I was almost offended. I wanted people to know I had gone through something unspeakably difficult and sad. Not for the pity, though. I wanted others to know so that I could serve as a comrade in pain. My miscarriage made me realize how many women I know who have had the same experience. And there is comfort in shared experiences, don't you think?

So, back to the GIVE GRACE tattoo. When I commented on the above photo, Megan, of Scarlet & Grace offered to send me 2 tattoos. One for me and one to give to someone else who needed the message.

You can read more about the #GiveGrace Campaign, which aims to bring awareness to infertility and to help couples as they go through the IVF process.

I love the sentiment, and wanted to pass it on. So, go. Go give grace.
If you want a tattoo for yourself or someone who may be struggling with fertility issues or any other issue in which grace could be helpful, you can purchase one here.

XO,
B

Save Summer: No Kid Hungry

2015-06-15T07:59:00.001-07:00

Only 1 in 7 children who rely on subsidized school lunches are reached through federal summer feeding programs. Those kids not reached are most likely skipping meals, or at the very least sharing food with siblings and eating food that is not nutritious enough for growing bodies.

You've most likely heard of my passion for Columbia, SC non-profit St. Lawrence Place before. {Full disclosure, I still work part-time for the agency, and blog for them here.} SLP provides support services, life skills, and transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness. An integral part of the services provided is the after-school and full-day summer program provided for children living at SLP and Family Shelter, the local emergency shelter.

The 10-week summer program serves breakfast and lunch, as well as two snacks a day for up to 35 children. These children otherwise may not have a nutritious meal each day during the summer. SLP is able to provide nutritious, homemade lunches each day through the kindness and generosity of volunteers and donors.

If you live in Columbia, SC, you can help feed these kids! You can send a donation to purchase food, you can prepare a meal off-site and deliver it on your designated day, or you can prepare a meal on-site at SLP. Check out this blog post for details. Jones and I will be providing lunch for two days in July, and I am excited to teach him about the value of helping others.

Help No Kid Hungry: as Congress considers the reauthorization of Child Nutrition programs this year, we have the opportunity to improve the summer meals program so it helps low-income kids no matter where they live. Send a letter to Congress here, or you can sign up for our Summer Action Day on June 22nd!

My Nerdy Hobby

2015-06-08T19:04:00.001-07:00

I've just entered week two of my work-free summer vacation and let me tell you, it really is all it's cracked up to be. Going back to teaching may have been the best decision I ever made.

Along with spending oodles of time with my 4 year old babe, I have so much free-time at night and I can stay up later because I don't have to be up at 6:15 AM, and it really is grand. (Sorry to all of you who are reading this and resenting the hell out of me right now.) In addition to beginning no less than 4 books in the past 2 weeks, I have also started back with my favorite nerdy hobby: needlepoint.

I started cross-stitching when I was in middle school, and recently picked back up the needle-arts. The variety of patterns and kits these days is so much better than in the early nineties when most of what I could find was in the local craft store and most likely involved a teddy bear or a 'country kitchen' theme.

Etsy is a convenient place to find modern and "cool" needlepoint kits, and this SatsumaStreet cross stitch pattern is next on my list:

Pretty Little San Francisco via here

Target has some pretty cool new crafty-items, including this embroidery kit that I completed and framed for my mom for Mother's Day:

via here

They also have these kitschy little wooden boxes with a grid for cross-stitching on the top. I have bought several, and if you're in my family and have a birthday coming up soon, you can count on a trinket box with your initial on top, handmade by yours truly.

This one is for my soon-to-be-5-year-old nephew, Taylor:

And this one is for my brother-in-law, David:

Just yesterday I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Hey Natalie Jean, and she posted this: HNJ Needlepoint Club! If you follow me on the Instagrams, you will be seeing periodic pics of my latest needlepoint creations. Feel free to join me in joining Natalie Jean's nerdy-needlepoint club!

So, do you have any dorky hobbies you're willing to tell us about?

School's Out...for Summer!

2015-06-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

Cue this song's chorus running through your head for the remainder of the day:

Since going back to the classroom as a middle and high school teacher last August, the promise of a 10-week summer has kept me excited nearly daily. It's true that after over 10 years out of the classroom, I was seeking the thrill of imparting knowledge, as well as the challenge of "getting through" to those difficult students. (The more operose the better, in my opinion.) But, really, if I'm being entirely honest, I was at least 50% going back to the classroom full-time so that I could have summers off with my babies.

Here's how we've spent the first few days of summer:

My fruity folks at Cottle Strawberry Farm.

The chunkiest little baby ever and her big cousin, Ben, lounging by my parents' pool. Flanked by dogs, of course.

This dreamy little surfer-dude peering through the rad doll house on the children's floor in the Richland County Main Library.

that Star Wars band-aid is so endearing, isn't it?

Jones and I signed up for the Richland Library Summer Reading Challenge today; I have such fond memories of participating when I was a kid. That end-of-summer reading medal was always hard-fought-for.

What are you up to this summer? So far I'm enjoying not having to give those obligatory "teacher's dirty looks..."

Acquiring Art on a Budget

2015-05-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

Let me start with this disclaimer: I am in no way an artist, art expert, or art critic, nor do I have a degree in art. All I can claim is that I appreciate art, and I enjoy acquiring pieces of original art for my home. And I do not have a large budget for this hobby, but I have acquired some pretty great pieces over the years.

My first tip is to purchase a piece that speaks to you. Purchase a piece if you cannot stop thinking about it. If you can't help but think about that painting as you pass by that spot on your wall where it will surely hang if you ever purchase it, then buy it. I am currently coveting a gorgeous painting by local artist Whitney LeJeune--stay tuned for Fig Columbia blog post about that one as soon as it's mine!

This poster was designed for the recent Avett Brothers concert in Columbia by local design studio & print shop, The Half and Half. I went to the show, but also couldn't take my eyes off of this poster when I first saw it, so I tracked one down.

This piece I purchased at the annual St. Lawrence Place Angels Tea & Silent Auction a few years ago. Tip number 2 for acquiring art on a budget: scope out silent auctions! So many local artists generously donate their pieces to nonprofits for auctions. I have scored many a beautiful piece this way, and the proceeds go to charity, so win-win! The mixed-media painting is by local artist Page Morris.

My husband scored this Hollis Brown Thornton print at the Harmony School Oyster Roast & Silent Auction last year. He actually got into a bidding war with another gentleman for a lot of 5 prints, but we prevailed.

This piece, whose artist I don't know (!?), I actually purchased from a gym I used to attend. The lobby had local artists' work on display and for sale. I saw this cool collage for weeks and decided to make it my own. And there's tip number 3 for purchasing art on a budget: check out your favorite restaurants, bars, local stores, and even gyms for local artists' displays! You can find cool art anywhere.

And finally, to prove my point that cool (and affordable) art is everywhere: a portrait of "Mommy" by my 4 year old son, Jones.

The likeness is uncanny, I assure you.

And there you have it- a tour of some of my favorite art, acquired on a budget and with love. The Columbia art scene is burgeoning with talent; go find some for your home!

Chef Stories

2015-05-06T10:15:00.001-07:00

My husband and I decided to go cable-free over 4 years ago, and I have not regretted it a day since. (I'm pretty sure he has--especially when sporting events are on that we can't stream--but we usually figure out a way to watch.) We did it to save money, but it has ultimately ended up saving precious time and brain cells as well. I no longer watch mindless, numbing TV shows, just to have something on in the background or to serve as distraction from the day. We are now deliberate and intentional in what we watch. And between Netflix and our local PBS station, ETV, there is still plenty to watch--and well-produced stuff that actually informs while entertaining.

James and I are both food-junkies. We love to eat food and make food and grow food and learn more about it; and if that sounds at all like you, then you're in luck. Here are a few of our favorite food shows, all available via PBS or Netflix.

A Chef's Life teaser from A Chef's Life on Vimeo.

A Chef's Life. The titular chef, Vivian Howard, is endearing and funny and self-deprecating and I have a giant girl-crush on her. She runs 2 restaurants in Kinston, NC, and I devour every episode of her show. I gave James a gift certificate to her restaurant Chef and the Farmer for Christmas, and we'll be taking a trip to Kinston to try it later this summer. Stoked.

The Mind of a Chef. This was recommended to us by a food-loving friend when we lamented the fact that we couldn't wait until Netflix's new show Chef's Table was released. We binge-watched over the course of a few days, and I can't wait for the next season. Season 1's first episode is about Chef David Chang's love for ramen, and you cannot watch without insanely craving a big bowl of brothy-noodles.

The 5 Ages of Parmigiano
via here

Chef's Table. So far we've only seen the first 2 episodes, but as expected, I'm hooked. The first episode, about Chef Massimo Boturra, is half love story, half chef-show. And the love story is so sweet. Plus, he serves a dish called The 5 Ages of Parmigiano. Eating it in his restaurant in Italy is now on my bucket list.

Lucky Peach Issue #15, via here

While researching for this post, I came across a blog post about a magazine called Lucky Peach. It's a quarterly journal of food and writing, and Chef David Chang is an Editor. I already subscribed, and cannot wait to have this gold in-hand. I mean, the cover of the most recent issue is a true work of art, no?

So, are you as food-obsessed as I? What other shows, movies, journals, mags, websites, podcasts should I be watching, reading, listening to?
XO,
B

Babies and Bourbon and Zombies

2014-07-18T08:20:00.001-07:00

How's that for a title?

We have had a sick baby on our hands this week, and let me tell you, it is no cake walk. I am in awe of parents who care for seriously ill children on a regular basis, because sick babies are pitiful and exhausting. Birdie had the coxsackie virus. If you've never heard of it, consider yourself lucky. If your kid has had it, you feel my pain.

She's finally feeling better, and James and I are excited to escape the house for a date night tomorrow night. We're heading to Bourbon for an early dinner and then to see Evil Dead, The Musical at Trustus Theatre. If we have time, we may sneak by Craft & Draft for a pre-dinner nip. Have you heard of this new craft beer store & growler shop on Devine Street? We're excited to try it out.

It's crazy how valued a date night is once you have kids...you try to cram so much into the night, when really you should be home getting a good, uninterrupted night's sleep...
Nope, I'm too excited for a baby-free night out!

What are you up to in our fair city this weekend?

Check out this review of Evil Dead, the Musical in the Free Times.

Also, have you partaken in Bourbon's weekday 2:30-5:30 PM "Bite the Bulleit" special yet? It's a bump of Bulleit bourbon, a draft beer, and a burger for only $10!? The burger alone is worth more in my book--you must try it! Ordering the house made pimento cheese on top is essential. You will thank me, I promise.

I'll be posting about our date night on my Fig Columbia site blog soon, so check there for the details!
XO

BisQit at the Beach

2014-06-18T12:43:00.002-07:00

My family vacations at Litchfield Beach in SC every summer. Have since I was in elementary school. It's a beautiful, easy, old-school-feelin' beach town and I love it.

On our most recent jaunt to the shore, we discovered a new restaurant that we all now love: BisQit. (In a span of 12 days, we ate there 3 times.)

BisQit is located in the Pawley's Island Hammock Shops, and it has a great menu of burgers and beer and milkshakes. You can elect to have your burger made with a beef patty, a falafel patty, or chicken breast.

American Beauty Burger (with a falafel patty!), includes American cheese, bacon jam, pickles, shredded lettuce, and kinda secret sauce. I got mine with a Gatherer salad. Delicious!

my sister enjoyed the burrito

The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, (on a screened-in porch), and it is super-kid-friendly- as evidenced by these happy customers:

And the perfect ending to any meal at BisQit is a milkshake. I prefer spiked, but you can get a virgin one too ;)

Granny's Secret: Four Roses Bourbon, vanilla ice cream & caramel. Indeed.

Read a more detailed review of BiQit here.

Have you eaten at BisQit; what do you think?

On Repeat for Days

2014-06-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

I cannot stop listening to this tune. I am enamored of John Fullbright's voice and piano skills.
First heard of him two nights ago while listening to this Fresh Air NPR interview.

Thursday's Thinking of Food

2014-05-15T11:06:00.001-07:00

So, I haven't posted anything from this bygone series in quite a while...

I am excited to hear about this film by (and starring) Jon Favreau. He's been a favorite of mine since Swingers.
Sidenote: I also fell in love with Vince Vaughn while watching Swingers. I still love him.

Chef looks to be funny and chock-full of amazing-looking food, and movie stars. According to this SceneSC blog post, the soundtrack's pretty awesome as well.

Here's to hoping it plays somewhere nearby for us Columbians.

Soapbox Moment: What is the Opportunity Gap?

2014-05-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Basically, low-income students of color in America lack the same access to opportunity as compared to their white peers. Combined with the educational disparities these demographics also face, known as the achievement gap, this is a deleterious abhorrence. It is in everyone's best interest to seek ways to enhance equal opportunity and achievement for all.

I am a sucker for a cool infographic and I also like Good magazine.

Stitch Fix #2

2014-05-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting patiently for a piece of jewelry to be included in my Stitch Fix box, and last month it showed up. And I am in love with it. It is by far my favorite item from this fix.

This month's fix also included this lovely white blouse that I couldn't wait to wear:

It's super-comfortable and I'll wear it with jeans or a casual skirt on the weekends, and it's nice enough to wear to work too. The lace detail is not usually something I would pick out for myself, but I really like it.

I am also in love with this black and white striped cotton skirt. I requested a summery-skirt, and my stylist delivered!

I also received this skirt, which was made of a great material, and I liked the pattern, but it was not very flattering on my hips:

I also received this dress, which I liked OK, but not great,so back it went:

Once again, I was really pleased with my fix. I received 3 pieces that I will wear in various settings all throughout spring and summer. Well done, Stitch Fix!

Why Miso?

2014-04-23T06:12:00.001-07:00

While lying in bed last a couple nights ago I read the words "Why miso?" in my Real Simple magazine. I don't know that I've ever tried miso--not intentionally anyway--but the article describes it as having an "umami-rich flavor."

So, now I'm intrigued because I've recently learned that many of my favorite flavors are umami. (I mean, I already knew these were my favorite foods, but I just recently learned they fall under this particular flavor category...) Like Parmesan cheese, aged & blue-veined cheeses, almonds and other tree nuts, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce. All favorites of mine.

I could eat Parmesan and balsamic vinegar on anything. Or by themselves. Two of my very favorite flavors.

So, what is umami, you ask? In Japanese umami means savory and delicious taste; we've translated it to almost be one of the basic taste sensations like salty, bitter, sweet, or sour. Who knew, right?! Check out more umami information and foods here.http://experiencelife.com/article/umami-the-secret-flavor/

So, now I need to know how to cook with miso... One of my favorite food writers, Mark Bittman of the NY Times gives me a starting point; what else have you got? Do you love umami-flavored foods as much as I do?!

Hints for the Easter Bunny

2014-04-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hints for the Easter Bunny, or alternately titled: candy substitutes and things I wouldn't mind my children finding on Easter morning:

adorable Maileg "Little Sister" mouse with tutu and "sleeping box" from My Sweet Muffin

wind-up bunny rabbit from KD's Treehouse in Columbia, SC

rad recycling craft stickers from Box Play- these are binoculars! available at KD's Treehouse

pirate shrinky-dinks from My Sweet Muffin (they also have fairy tales Shrinkables)

Poppy Drops temporary tattoo earrings, available at KD's Treehouse; see all my favorite toddler-tattoos here

;

a Box Play camera sticker (fits on a macaroni & cheese box) from KD's Treehouse

this sweet little book, Jojo's First Word Book via Cool Mom Picks

Hape people, transport, and book set- my 1 year old is obsessed with hers! at KD's Treehouse

a harmonica- simple, classic, cheap; our 3 year old's favorite toy (idea borrowed from You Are My Fave blog)

Obviously, I'm a little biased, but KD's Treehouse is by far my favorite place to grab creative and unique gifts, toys, and clothing locally, (and it's all eco-friendly to boot!)

What are you wishing the Easter bunny to bring your kiddos?

Wholesome, Indeed

2014-04-07T13:57:00.001-07:00

Have you seen the Honey Maid commercial everyone is talking about? If not, see it here:

Then, watch this: I love this so much.
And, the whole thing is eloquently discussed by The New Yorker's Andrew Solomon here.

Columbia Open Studios- You Should Go

2014-04-04T06:47:00.001-07:00

preview party art

James and I went to last night's Columbia Open Studios Preview Party. I fell in love with a couple things that I cannot afford.

We have Birdie's 1st birthday party and a play to attend this weekend, so not sure how much time we'll have to actually see some of the open studios, but here's my priority list if we can work it in:

Studio Carlisle: this one gives you a ton of bang for your buck. Five artists' works are housed here; I actually own a painting by Page Morris, see below. She, plus Julia Moore and Kevin Smith are generous donors to the St. Lawrence Place Angels Tea silent auction, so patronize them if you can! All of their work is gorgeous.

Page Morris collage/painting

One Eared Cow Glass: I have not been here in ages, and I think Jones would love seeing the craftsman at work. They have some really affordable art pieces for sale every day; unique gift ideas! Maybe I'll look for a Mother's Day gift...

Nora Floyd & Ruth Bayard of A Checkered Past: My mother has been a long-time fan of the jewelry these ladies create, often from re-purposed vintage items.

mom's necklaces from A Checkered Past

Viridian Gallery & Studio: Another spot where you can see four or more featured artists' works, including long-time St. Lawrence Place supporter, Nini Ward. She is an extremely generous woman and talented artist.

Which ever artists' studio into which you may venture, you're sure to glimpse some of the amazing talent that Columbia has to offer. Print off a guide with maps here, or grab this week's Free Times. Go, enjoy!