I Love St. Patrick's Day!

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in feeling like St. Patrick's Day is just so much fun. I don't know why but I've loved and celebrated it to the fullest as far back as I can remember. I gave myself a good giggle posting some old photos like this below on friends' Facebook walls yesterday:

Man, we look like babies! That was six years ago in Atlanta and, as a side note, I love that all of us in that photo are even closer now than we were then. :) 

Anyway, I've always had such fun celebrating St. Patty's and I laugh out loud thinking of certain memories in the past. This year, I decided to take a slightly different and more "adult" approach to celebrating by having a casual Irish dinner party at my apartment. I invited my ladies over last night for some homemade shepherds pie and cabbage with white beans. Irish food isn't exactly the most elegant in nature but I don't care, I completely love rustic 'earthen' food like that. I originally planned to make corned beef and cabbage but Allison told me she doesn't like corned beef, boo! I make a really great quick shepherds pie though so I decided on that only I did the "long" version with homemade mashed potatoes and all. When the girls arrived, I greeted them with prosecco that I'd dyed green which might have been my favorite part of the meal, heehee:

I'm not patting myself on the back but dinner was delicious. For as much as I love food of vastly different variety, sometimes I think I was meant to be a traditional 'meat and potatoes' gal. There's just something about that combo that is so simple, honest and soulful. For an Italian, I think I did a nice job of being Irish for a day:

For dessert, I baked homemade Baileys sugar cookies. Um, they were freaking delicious. As usual, however, my lack of baking skills came into play when I tried to dye the dough green only to have it come out an oddly greenish brown color, hahaha. They may not be attractive but they were so delicious:

I used this recipe on allrecipes.com and took the advice of the reviewers in doubling the amount of Baileys. I also cut the recipe in half since I surely didn't need to bake freaking 48 cookies and it worked like a charm. I very highly recommend this recipe which is awesome since so often you don't really know how certain baked goods will turn out the first time around (or if someone named Valerie Albanese is baking them).

It was such a fun night with my very favorite women. We laughed so hard and talked about everything under the sun. Next thing we knew, it was after midnight and I'm pretty sure we were buzzed off the cookies alone. :-o I hope everyone else had as great of a St. Patty's celebration as we did!

I'm Becoming One Of "Those" Brunchers

I've never been a big brunch person aside from when I lived with my best friend, Erica. She and I honestly morphed into the same person while living together, I'm convinced. My favorite thing about her is that she loves food every bit as much as me and our thoughts on how much happiness food provides are identical. Let's just say that this made for a lot of eating and drinking during our time as roommates.

Whenever I think of brunch, I think of her and I love those memories. One of our very favorite places back in Atlanta is the oh so simple yet fabulous Goldberg's. It's nothing fancy but they have killer food and do the most amazing homemade granola (even if it may or may not have an odd hint of garlic...). Goldberg's turned me into a brunch person mainly because the food you get is something you wouldn't do at home and it's delicious unlike so many weak places I've gone, even in this city, that serve me eggs for $20 that I could do far better myself. At any rate, there's been a huge rise here with restaurants doing these "unlimited mimosa/bloody mary" brunches with the purchase of an entree so going to brunch has suddenly become a bit more intriguing to me. This month alone, I got three consecutive Sunday brunch dates on the calendar and I've been loving it. Ever since having Bar Boulud's ridiculous croque monsieur, I suddenly have this urge to try as many new places as I can, ha!

I was at Locanda Verde a couple of weekends ago which was just delicious. I had the soft scrambled eggs over crostini with prosciutto and we got fresh squeezed blood/naval orange-pomegranate mimosas:

Gosh, I take terrible pictures. Good thing eating this stuff doesn't rely on that. :P My only complaint is that the portion was just so small. I have a huge appetite and, for what we paid, I feel I should've gotten much more than that. They don't even do a bread basket or anything which is rather disappointing. However, again, the food was fabulous and to have the only complaint be that I wanted more of it seems pretty darn good to me.

Brunch this past weekend was at a new joint that opened up in my neighborhood called MXco. I'd been once prior but only for drinks (watermelon margaritas!) which were fantastic. I've gotten so pissed off about so many places here where the service and management is just flat out rude and acts as though you're an inconvenience. After waiting tables for 8 years and doing my best to make people feel welcome, I can tell you that it infuriates me to deal with snotty service staff. At MXco, they honestly could not be nicer. The greeter, the server, the manager, the bartender...every single person we encountered was wonderful and the food totally exceeded my expectations. I got the breakfast burrito which seemed so simple comprised of eggs, black beans, cheese, tomato, and bacon but it was perfectly balanced and well done. There were five of us dining and all of us truly enjoyed the experience, enough to move to the bar after for a couple of more cocktails. ;) For $10 (with drinks only at $5!), you can bet I'll be frequenting this spot especially with it being so close to my apartment. 

Yep, I've officially become one of "those" brunch people and I'm slowly getting addicted. Next up this weekend is Gusto and I'm SO excited for it. I've only had lunch there but it was to die for so we'll see how brunch measures up! All I can say is cinnamon-ricotta fritelle. Yep, I'll be going to town on that I can guarantee.

SIG Training Begins!

I think I'll take a break from talking about chefs, food and restaurants for a bit and turn instead to another passion of mine - cycling! Back in 2009, I got a fabulous road bike complete with clipless pedals and the whole nine. At that point, I'd never been on a road bike, much less while being clipped in, so my first few rides were most certainly very rocky. I may or may not have fallen down within the first 5 minutes of being on. I'm really lucky to live just a few blocks from Central Park so I can easily get up there to ride but it's honestly become so annoying. There are so many people in the park these days and now it's a law in NYC that all cyclists must stop at red lights. There are probably 10 or so lights around the 6 mile circumference of the park so that gets incredibly annoying to stop, clip out, wait and resume. The fine is something like $275 though so I would just be pissed off if I had to pay this city another dime than I already do. Sooo, needless to say, riding in the city has become extra aggravating but I'm just not advanced enough quite yet to go out of the city on my own.

I've written about NY Cycle Club before but I'll just mention again what a tremendous group of people lead it. I've been to a couple of meetings and met some really wonderful folks who are so welcoming and sweet. Last year, I had read about their SIG program, short for Special Interest Group, and it's basically like a cycling college, if you will. There are three levels and it's designed to take a solo rider from the ground up and train them in group riding along with all the tiny details of bike maintenance and the like. I'm solid on the bike now and my fitness level is high but I know nothing about changing a flat, fixing a dropped chain, riding in a group; any of the nitty gritty stuff that makes up the cycling world. While I'm a runner at heart, I absolutely love being on the bike and I've conquered some personal hurdles because of it. There's a different relationship you have with the road when you're a runner vs. cyclist and I feel pretty lucky to see both worlds. Anyway, I'd missed the deadline to sign up for the SIG last year but I was sure to be one of the first to do so this year.

I decided to do the lowest level so I could be a part of learning all the small details of what I mentioned above. It's a rather large committment of 8 straight weeks every Saturday but I'm very excited to do this! Last Saturday morning was the classification ride for our group which was really so fun. It was just three laps of Central Park (a little over 18 miles) and then you wait a couple of weeks to hear which group you'll be in. I appreciate that they do this even amongst the lowest level because there are a fair amount of people who have a great fitness level but feel the same as I do. Basically, it'll be nice to ride with people at the same pace as you even in a lower level group. I got my bike all tuned up and was so excited to get back out on the road:

I had a fantastic ride and I definitely think my training sessions with Jimmy the past few months have boosted my endurance level big time. I'd been sick last week and that, coupled with not having been on the bike since last fall, I thought for sure I'd do some major huffing and puffing (especially up Harlem Hill!). That actually wasn't the case and I had a really strong ride. I surprised myself! Thanks for kicking my behind each and every week, Jimmy. ;)

I haven't heard what group I'm in yet but I look forward to getting that info soon. We officially start on Saturday, 3/26. Woooo! Hopefully, I'll have some fun adventures to share as we finally ride out of this crazy damn city. I can't wait to ride into some beautiful areas of Jersey and upstate NY, soon!

The Path Is Being Carved

In the past few months, I've been seriously making my way through some incredible restaurants. I've been rather dedicated to trying as many new places as I can before life might lead me away from this amazing city. Around every turn, there is something new to eat or drink and I don't know why it's taken me so long to throw myself into experiencing as much as I can. In February alone, I tried over ten new places and each experience was just awesome.

Last week, I had the pleasure of being treated to dinner at Hearth, Marco Canora's incredible restaurant on 12th and 1st. Chef Canora has been very well established for a number of years but he most recently rose to the rank of "celebrity chef" as he competed on the 'Next Iron Chef' show. He lost by a very thin margin to Marc Forgione (whose restaurant I tried a week prior, in fact) but he's become even more well known now due to his television debut. I'd wanted to go to Hearth for a while so the evening was really exciting for me already but Chef Canora is known to be in his restaurant regularly. I was hoping so much that I might have a chance to meet him, especially since our reservation was on the early side.

First of all, the restaurant is so pretty. It's so much of what I'm drawn to with the dim lighting, dark wood, dramatic red wall. It was inviting and cozy while being romantic and a little seductive. I felt really at home there which I happen to think is deeply important for a restaurant. We'd asked the server if Canora was there and he was in fact with his family in the back room so already I was thrilled. There were six of us dining so we decided to try a bunch of different appetizers which were all fabulous, namely the octopus and the quail with farro. I'm telling you, never would I use the word 'tender' to describe octopus but that's exactly what it was and it was divine. The quail was perfectly cooked as well and so delicious. They do half portions of their pastas also (only two on the menu) as an appetizer if you choose so we had the bolognese. Homemade pappardelle, a touch of ricotta, and a sprinkling of fried rosemary which was just heavenly. I swear, I'm not even sure how I had room for dinner. As we finished up the appetizers, I was wondering if I really would get to speak with Canora and, next thing you know, he's right next to me saying a big hello to all of us. I almost died and, like a five year old child, looked at him and said oh my gosh, can I give you a hug?!?. Yes, I said that. Yes, I gave him a hug, too. I was totally embarrassed but that awesome red wall cast just the right amount of color to hide how much I was blushing. He stayed and talked with us for some time, particularly about my chef aspirations, and then proceeds to say well, I think you need to come spend a couple of nights cooking with us in the kitchen here. Holy. Crap. I'm pretty sure my heart stopped for a minute. He was dead serious and I just don't even really have words for something like this. He told me to get ready to be crushed which turned on my competative switch instantly. ;) I like that kind of challenge and I'd welcome the chance to get beaten up by Chef Canora. We all know I usually learn best the hard way, ha. We talked for a few minutes more and, as soon as he walked away, I cried.

How often do we 'wander around the desert', so to speak, looking and searching for answers in life? I mean, I've spent a decade trying to find meaning and purpose and focus yet I feel like I've done that from a place that has been so wrong and confusing. It's only been in this last year and a half that I have gained new ground in terms of who I am as a woman, as a christian, and as a person. My life stems from the very lifeline of who god is and my focus is on listening out to hear where he is calling me to go. I'm not concerned anymore with the anxieties I once had and what used to be self-doubt and fear in my life is now hopeful anticipation, joy, and excitement. It's been one long road but my life is no longer about what I can't do and fully about what I can. Having this talk with a master of Italian cuisine is yet another step forward. I can hardly believe the things that have happened to me in just this past year be it Jewels and Jill, the wonderful Cesare Casella, or now with Marco Canora. This path of mine is being carved before my very eyes and I'm being shown where to go, one step at a time. My passions are being affirmed and I feel that god is totally directing my steps. I trust so whole-heartedly in his perfect timing and, for the first time in my life, so many things are just easy. I used to think I'd always have to encounter something terribly difficult in order for me to learn a lesson yet my heart has always been in such a tumultuous state. I've never been at ease or at peace with who I am or what I believe yet, now that I AM, I feel like life is really happening just as it should. I'm in awe of the experiences I've had and of what's happened to me recently. It is divine and magical and it's like a dream in some ways.

I called Hearth today to set something up and the smile on my face couldn't be bigger. Am I freaked out about getting my behind handed to me? Of course I am but you know what I'm not? Scared. That is exactly how I know I am meant for this.

PS - I have to note that we had the apple cider donuts, warm chocolate pudding cake, and mascarpone cheesecake for dessert and I did everything but lick all of the plates.

Inoteca Organic Wine Tasting

I'd written about Twitter not too long ago and how I'd finally succumbed to the conformity. I'd also mentioned how awesome it's turned out to be in terms of following chefs and restaurants all over that I love. Well, it's proven yet again to be tremendous because I found out about an organic wine tasting at Inoteca happening on the 1st and I got all excited! It was taking place at their 24th Street location too which I was looking forward to checking out for the first time.

Sadly, I'd come down with a nasty cold and I was feeling pretty crappy but we still went. I was told I looked high since my eyes were half shut and glassy but hey, come hell or high water, I was going to that tasting. :P First off, the setup was so lovely! We'd gotten there a little early so we got some lambrusco at the bar before everything started but we watched as the folks set everything up. Normally at a wine tasting, you get a cheese and possibly a meat plate but Inoteca went well beyond. They had beautiful platters with their delicious paninis cut up, breadsticks, olives, cheese, salad...it was so nice! The tasting was being put on by people from Organic Wine Journal and they were great. It was an interesting look into the organic wine world overall though it wasn't really as in depth as I would've liked. The people came around after each pour to answer any questions and to explain more of what their mission is. Organic wine is pretty tough to sell and to get people excited about. The reputation just isn't the best so the guy who spoke was trying to go more into the fact that these winemakers simply make good wine, period. It isn't about the organic craze but more about how simple wines can be full of flavor. These were our selections for the evening:

Aside from the fact that at one point I rudely got pushed out of the way by none other than the journal's publisher, we had such a great time. I wasn't blown away by any of the wines we tasted but it was worth going for Inoteca's snacks at the very least. I must add that they even did little nutella paninis and coffee 'floats' for dessert. Very nice touch!

I'm definitely having fun seeking out new and fun experiences through this Twitter phenomenon so I guess I'm not a hater anymore. :-o Come follow along with me as I find and share new things like this as they come my way: @ValerieAlbanese.

Ladies Who Brunch

Holy moly, what a beautiful weekend we had a few days ago. After coming off such a fabulous anniversary celebration, it made me even happier to have a long awaited brunch date at Bar Boulud with my ladies. The best part is that Amanda was able to join us since she wasn't leaving town until Monday. That made all of us ecstatic since Amanda is really the missing link in our dinner crew. Myself, Allison, Abbey, Kristine and Amanda are the original five who used to plan dinners together as often as possible so, with Amanda having moved to Atlanta two years ago, we've missed her very often when we've gotten together.

I'd been drooling for a while over how good the croque monsiuers look at Bar Boulud so the girls indulged my request to finally go there and try them! Um, I don't really need to say more than this:

They do everything homemade from the bechamel sauce to even curing the ham. It is so delicious, I can't even say. We had terrific mimosas while catching up, we laughed just like we always used to, and we reflected on how incredibly lucky we all are to have one another. It's pretty awesome where our conversations find themselves these days vs. in the past. We've all grown so much and we've shared in some really significant changes over the past few years. I constantly say this when I talk about friendship but I simply love what years do to build relationships. It's all of the ups and downs, good and bad, laughter and tears. It's the humanity that you see in its raw and real form when someone you love goes through something heartbreaking or when they're celebrating their best and happiest moment. I love that the five of us share all of those things together and my life in New York would never be what it is today without those girls. It was such a wonderful meal and yet another memory made.

After we ate, we all decided to walk through the park back to the east side:

There is something so special about being able to enjoy the simplest of pleasures with someone such as a casual walk on a sunny day. I feel so blessed because of who I get to share my life and these joys with. I can't wait to continue walking through life with these ladies and see where the years bring us from here:

Five Years in the Big Apple

This is an extra special post I write today and I'm so excited about it! Last Saturday, Allison and I celebrated five years to the day of living in New York. Being the sappy folks we both are, we decided that we must celebrate at the places we've loved with the people we've loved over each of those years. That said, we planned a pub crawl in our neighborhood and man oh man, did we have an absolute blast.

We started the day out at Cilantro which most would say is a horrible idea (until I reminded them that ending there would be even worse). Cilantro has been a staple in our lives almost monthly since we moved here (no lie) and I honestly think I've consumed my weight in margaritas there over and over. We discovered Cilantro only a couple of short weeks after moving here and it became "the" place to bring anyone we know be it visitors from out of town, new friends we've made in the city, or 'regulars' that have made a million Cilantro memories alongside us. The trick is that their margaritas are insanely strong and, while we've warned many many people about that who haven't heeded said warnings (hello Brant!), you have to be super careful how many you have since they taste so good. This is precisely the reason that ending a pub crawl there is a terrible idea but we were oh so happy to begin there, tee hee:

Throughout the day, we had the sincere pleasure of celebrating our anniversary with everyone from our closest friends to our newest friends. I got so emotional at one point looking around at the huge group of people that came out to celebrate not only us but what it's meant to us to be here for so long. I felt humbled by the people joining in our fun and it really touched my heart. I know something like this might not mean anything at all to some people but, for me and honestly the people who I'm closest to, they just 'get it' and it's why they came to celebrate:

Hahahaha:

Last but not least, the photo that is priceless and will remain a classic til the end of time:

Overall, we did five bars for five years and they were all bars that we've made the most memories at. I could go on and on gushing about each person and how they've affected me and so on. But, I won't and I'll just say that we had one heck of a time and I'm a very lucky lady. Here's to the next five years and to wherever this crazy journey called life will take us all!