Journeyman - A Bit of New York in Somerville's Union Square

You know the highest compliment any restaurant could receive is that it's "as good as something in New York."  At least in my humble opinion. 

Journeyman is a true diamond in the rough.  Not only is it located off the beaten path in Somerville's Union Square, it's not even visible from the street.  Tucked away, you'll find an industrial space and an ultra-modern tasting menu ($75 for dinner or $40 for a late supper on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday).  It's the perfect place to celebrate the New Year or go to warm up on a cold night.  In addition to their unique fare, they are masters of the craft cocktail. 

They say you eat first with your eyes and these plates are true works of art. So feast your eyes on these delicious offerings and then make your reservation right away!

Lessons From My Facebook Hiatus

 

This time of year your social media feeds are probably full of people's holiday cheer, and it may be making you sick.  That's okay; you're not a bad person.  In fact, studies show, Facebook is bad for you.

Before I even read about this study, I was noticing that Facebook was not bringing out my best self.  Perusing Facebook made me feel at times jealous, but also superior.  Whenever I would post anything, I would constantly check to see how many "likes" it got.  It was a big game of comparison: who can best edit their life online to make it seem as enviable as possible.  I knew it wasn't reality, but it was damaging nonetheless.  While discussing this phenomenon with a friend, I made a spur of the moment decision to take a break from Facebook and pledged not to check it for one week.

The very next morning I logged on.  Out of habit.  Actually, to figure out what the free cupcake of the day was at Georgetown Cupcake.  But I almost immediately realized what I had done and logged off.  Over the course of the week I got notices that I had been tagged in photos and statuses and it was extremely hard not to check them.  What if I looked fat in that photo and I needed to untag it?  What will so and so think if I don't "like" the photo of the two of us she posted?  I felt compelled to curate my life, and anxious about the consequences of not doing so. 

I admittedly did use Facebook one other time during that week for a very practical purpose.  I was making a photo book of our family vacation as a gift for my parents and my sister didn't want to send over all her pictures so she told me to pick them from Facebook.  I made a point not to look at the newsfeed, and went directly to her page for the agreed upon purpose and nothing else. 

Facebook is a tool, and it can be a useful one.  I reconnected with my college roommate for a surprisingly familiar and friendly lunch once.  I've reached out to old colleagues to help connect them to jobs.  Some day it will be the easiest way to contact former professors about recommendations.  But for the most part, it's a black hole of narcissism and low self-esteem (oh how they go hand in hand!)

I wouldn't say I was "happier" for the week I went Facebook free, but there was a definite absence of bad feelings.  Now I've lifted my ban on Facebook, but I do interact with it differently.  I try not to aimlessly scroll the newsfeed; when I go on, I do so with a purpose.

This article on the motivations behind Facebook statuses made me think harder before I post something myself.  Does anyone actually care about this?  Why do I want to post this?  Is there someone else I can tell instead?  As a result, no one saw would-be statuses like "Enjoying a beautiful day on the North Shore - with Jake" or "Suddenly deciding to be a baseball fan during the World Series is not doing good things for my sleep."  I wanted to show off my fun life (and loving relationship); I wanted to be a part of a group (Red Sox fans).  I wanted to craft a life I wanted to live.  But it turns out, you do that by living it, not by posting about it on Facebook. 

Holiday Party Recipes

Hosting parties is one of my favorite things to do and I recently had a holiday cocktail party.  Many people asked for my recipes so I'm sharing many of them here along with pictures!

Let's start with the all important bar.  A well stocked bar makes for a great party and the whiskey punch was a big hit on this snowy night.  I usually let people try it before I let them know the ingredients because it's deceptively simple.  Empty a can of frozen lemonade into your punch bowl.  Then use the can as a measuring tool to add one can's worth of whiskey and two of seltzer. Mix and serve! 

Then comes the savory buffet...

• Deviled eggs
• Spicy stuffed mushrooms
• Spanakopita
• Mini Reuben sandwiches
• Smoked salmon cucumber boats
• Sweet potato and pecan purses (I substituted goat cheese for blue)
• Pears with blue cheese and prosciutto 
• Smokey and sweet kielbasa bites
• Antipasto skewers (not pictured)
• An assortment of dips and crackers (not pictured)

And not to be outdone, the sweets!

Almond wedges

Linzer cookies

Mini gingerbread cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting

Pecan pie bites

All of which were accompanied by apple tart and eggnog panna cotta which escaped the camera. 

Parties are a great time to make memories.  But they also come with many memories built in.  The punch bowl was a gift from my friend Kristen and the drink tub a gift to Jake from my mom.  The flowers on the table were sent to me by my future mother-in-law.  The copper chafing dish was handed down to me by my grandfather.  I repurposed centerpieces from friends' weddings and showers as additional decor.  A cross-stitch piece of the twelve days of Christmas that my grandmother made hung in the window.  I remembered the last time I made those deviled eggs was for a lovely late summer picnic Jake and I had in Gloucester.  And the last time I wore the sparkly dress was to dinner after our engagement.   

I love the holidays and all the memories they bring, all the chances to spend with the people you care about.  Which is exactly why I love hosting a good party.  May your days be merry and bright and filled with delicious noshes and good company.  Merry Christmas everyone!

Friday Inspiration - 5 days 'til Christmas (gift guide for foodies!)

Okay last minute gift buyers, here's some options for the food lover in your life.  Amazon Prime and expedited shipping are your friend!

For The Baker 
Stonewall Kitchen has a huge variety of baking mixes, including gluten free options.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Mix, $8.95

For The Cheese Monger
Murray's Cheese offers monthly cheese clubs as well as gift baskets

Gift of the Mongers, $120

For The New Yorker 
Chelsea Market Baskets provide a variety of big apple treats, both sweet and savory.

Nosh Above and Beyond basket, $159

For The Tea Drinker 
What goes better with tea than honey?  The Savannah Bee Company offers a wide variety of flavors and honey products that anyone would enjoy.

Tea Lover's Gift Set, $25

For The Booze Hound 
The Boston Shaker is that great little neighborhood (located in Davis Square) that also sells and ships online.  Their huge variety of bitters is the first, but certainly not the only, reason to visit.

Scrappy's Bitters gift pack, $24

For the Chocolate Lover
You've heard me rave about L.A. Burdick's drinking chocolate before; now you can enjoy it in your own home!

Drinking Chocolate Collection, $87

Our Favorite Napa Vineyards (or How Napa Made Us Super Bougie)

In early September, Jake and I went on our first grown-up couples vacation.  We went to Napa and I was instantly in love.  Day drinking in one of the most beautiful locations on earth - yes please!

We particularly enjoyed...

Ridge - where the tour includes a ride up into the vineyards and the tasting includes a cheese plate and a $165 bottle of Cab that was our favorite of the whole trip

Chappellet - an extremely winding drive up to the top of a mountain with excellent white wines and a stunning view

Hall - excellent wines, an informative tour, and grounds dotted with modern art

Since we've returned our new favorite Friday night activity is cooking dinner and splurging on a (mid-priced) bottle of wine.  We actually own a wine fridge (which we rescued from Jake's parents' basement) and we bought half a case of California Cab to fill it with. The number one thing we learned was probably "let it breathe," which if I had to say, would likely be the mantra of life in Napa Valley. 

Say Yes to the Dress Drinking Game

Last week I hope I freed you from the belief that you can't enjoy (insert wedding related item here) and still be a feminist.  And I don't think I've met a feminist yet who doesn't enjoy wine.  So set your DVR, gather your girlfriends, and pop some bottles, because this is the most fun you'll have watching TLC (except maybe that weekend you binge-watched Honey Boo Boo). 

THE RULES

Drink when...

• Someone says "princess" or "cupcake dress" or "fairy tale" 
• Someone says "wow factor" or "over the top" or "bling"
• The bride takes out pictures from a magazine/on her phone
• Someone cries
• (New York) Randy shows up
• (Atlanta) The bride is too young to drink herself
• The consultants talk about how hard it will be to find a dress in her price range
• The bride falls in love with a dress outside the budget
• Anyone equates picking the dress with picking the guy
• Someone insults the dress/bride
• (Atlanta) Someone gets "jacked up"
• Someone says "Are you saying yes to the dress?" and again if she says "yes!" or twice if she leaves empty-handed

Friday Inspiration - 12 days 'til Christmas (Gift Guide!)

So today I'm mixing it up.  In case you're in need of a last minute Christmas gift for someone with an appreciation for aesthetics I thought I'd provide you with a short gift guide to amp up the inspiration without losing any of the pretty. 

Open heart studs by Marc Jacobs for $42

Dip Bowls from West Elm for $4

Note cards from Rifle Paper Co. for $18

Glass pine cone ornaments from Crate&Barrel for $10.95

 

 

 

Feminist Weddings FTW

A few weeks ago we had another couple over for a dinner party who also happen to be engaged.  We got to talking about our weddings and my friend mentioned a movement of brides wearing pants.  I knew exactly what she was talking about, the new feature on A Practical Wedding, my favorite wedding blog.  She said her other engaged friend had turned her on to it.  Similarly, I've convinced my co-worker wedding blogs are worthwhile by introducing her to it.  It's only fair since it was a former co-worker of mine who shared it with me. 

What kind of wedding blog attracts this much word of mouth enthusiasm from a bunch of lady law students and abortion rights activists?  A feminist one, of course.  Women whose life plans include changing the world are pretty choosy about their online wedding content.  And, it turns out, how they like to get married.

Some people say that "feminist wedding" is an oxymoron.  I've gotten a few sideways glances at my (quite sparkly) engagement ring.  And I've seen many turn up their noses at the word "wife." 

But what I think these reactions miss is that getting married isn't a tacit endorsement of the status quo.  More than ever I hear people, engaged and married people, saying things like "I never thought marriage was for me," or "I was so conflicted about marriage."  But usually these sentences are followed up with, "so then I..." and some explanation of how they did it differently so as to reclaim it for themselves and their partners.

People are not getting married thoughtlessly, as many a rude commenter who loves to bring up Kim Kardashian would have you believe.  Young people are engaging with the institution of marriage in a thoughtful and increasingly progressive way.  For us, getting married isn't signing on some misogynistic, heteronormative dotted line, it's a chance to rewrite the rules little by little to create a revolution. 

Some may still opt out, but all our choices are valid, a feminist principle in itself, and one presented beautifully by my friend (and now recent APW convert) Morgan Hopkins in her blog post on feminist marriage.  That's right, we're taking to the internet to edge out "best day of your life" and "it's YOUR BIG DAY" with some serious (and also pretty) feminist commentary on our weddings. 

So go ahead and pin those peony bouquets, pen that tear jerking ceremony, and embark on a feminist forever.  It's not a fairytale, we promise. 

When a Gingerbread House is More like a Home

You may remember my sister and her culinary artistry from her crab cake, or her last gingerbread house. 

This time, in a blast from Christmases past, her most recent work of holiday magic:

But what makes this gingerbread house truly impressive is its uncanny resemblance to our parents' home in Stonington, CT.   From the garland and wreath, to the detail on the rooflines, they're identical in almost all ways but color! 

Friday Inspiration - 19 days 'til Christmas

It's the first Friday Inspiration in December, and for that I bring you a Blue Christmas.  Inspired by Elvis (sort of) and Christmas by the shore.  We spent last Christmas by the water, but this year we're back inland celebrating the holiday in my childhood home for the very last time before my parents become shorebirds permanently.  Don't forget to "like" my board, or I'll have to make a terrible pun about feeling blue...

Blue Christmas board by Sara. See more Minted.com

Global Inspired Chicken Recipes

We all know chicken can be a healthy option, but sometimes it just gets boring.  Here are three healthy dishes with some global flair to help liven up your weekly fare. 

Chicken Tikka Masala
This slow cooker recipe is a bit more involved (and requires a pretty stocked spice rack) but is probably one of the best things I've ever cooked.  We served it with rice, cucumber salad, and some toasted chickpeas.  You can find the recipe in this fabulous cookbook.

Chicken Taco Salad
This one is a super simple staple in our house.  Cube the chicken and cook it with a taco seasoning packet.  Serve it up with a buffet of black beans, sauteed onions, shredded lettuce, light sour cream, and salsa. 

Sesame Chicken
We decided this recipe tasted nothing like what you get from your local take-out place, but was tasty in its own right.  We served it with a vegetable stir fry. 

How to Throw and Impromptu Dinner Party

Recently, we threw an impromptu six course dinner party for a couple of friends.  We made the decision to turn our night in into a party at around noon and we were serving our guests by six.  Here's how:

First: Be the type of people who are already planning on cooking a four course dinner for two on a Saturday, just for fun. 

Second: Happen to have cleaned your entire apartment the weekend prior for the first time in about two months. 

Third: Run to Whole Foods to put together a beautiful charcuterie plate - three cheeses, three meats, olives, pickled vegetables, crackers, candied walnuts.  Pick up a bunch of flowers on your way out.

Fourth: Take the bus to your local specialty market, I chose Dave's Fresh Pasta, and pick up some fresh ravioli and pesto. 

Fifth: Madly clean, chop, cook, and dress.  

Sixth: Serve and delight your guests. 

Okay, but for reals.  Some actual tips:

• Make stuff the night before.  Appetizers like soups and desserts like panna cotta are great to make ahead of time and keep in the fridge.
• Have a few labor unintensive dishes.  Cheese plates are fantastic.  Ditto for frozen fresh pastas.  
• Set the table.  With six courses, you need to make sure you have enough plates, bowls, and silverware to handle it all.  Count it all out ahead of time. 
• Make a schedule.  Working back from the time your guests arrive (and when you expect to be serving each dish) determine when things need to be prepped and put in the oven.  See tip above about making sure you have enough sheet pans/pots/etc. to do the job. 
• Enjoy yourself.  AKA buy lots of wine. 

 Our Menu (plus pictures!)

Charcuterie platter

Seared scallop with mushrooms

Butternut squash soup with toasted pumpkin seeds

Sweet pea and ricotta ravioli in an arugula almond pesto
Roasted pork with brussels sprouts and parmesan herb spaghetti squash
Panna cotta with raspberries 

Friday Inspiration - 26 days 'til Christmas

This will be my first Christmas as an engaged lady.  I still remember the first tree we bought after we moved in together and how much it meant to me.  Jake carried the tree all the way up to our little apartment on the fifth floor and for me it represented everything about being a family and having a home together.  This board is about that feeling, that you can be "home" for the holidays in a new place all your own. So find your sweetie, give them a kiss under the mistletoe, and "like" my board!  Less than a month 'til Christmas!

new home for the holidays board by Sara. See more Minted.com

Clover Food Labs: Wherein I find (and enjoy) down to earth vegetarians and their food

Clover is the kind of place I should hate.  It should be one of those pretentious, overpriced, hipstery joints that make me feel badly about all my life choices as soon as I walk in.  It should be the kind of thing that gets lambasted on Portlandia.  Except I love it.  Trust me, no one was as surprised as me.

Clover is an all vegetarian restaurant that started off as a humble food truck.  A genuinely friendly person takes your order on a smartphone when you walk in.  The Harvard Square location has big windows, split level seating, and large planters.  You can cut your own piece of parchment paper to lay on your table to catch all your mess, and your doodles.  Every single thing is compostable.  The people milling about are the quintessential mix of Cambridge locals: old professory types, nerdy students, young families with small kids, someone in costume for no apparent reason, young professional/grad student couples.  The menu is small, but tasty and I highly recommend the falafel, or what clover calls "chickpea fritters."

Bundling Up in Boston

It's the first genuinely freezing work day here in Boston.  I bundled up in my warmest coat and scarf to brave the weather on my way to work today.  And I wasn't the only one!

The ducklings donned red fleece scarves

Ice hemmed ducks into a small swimming hole

DIY Champagne Bar

I love hosting parties and I love being the center of attention.  So I decided to throw myself a birthday party.  The theme was "cake and champagne." 



I bought several bottles of champagne and chilled them in a beverage tub.  I got plastic (one piece) champagne flutes on Amazon.  The bottoms always fall off the two piece versions.  Then you can set out your additions with little menu cards for your guests to choose from.  You may notice in my photos that my menu cards are in the wrong spots, but you get the idea.

I offered the following options because they were simple, but you can find a wealth of champagne cocktails online if you want to get even more creative

• Kir Royale: Creme de cassis and blackberries
• Classic Champagne Cocktail: a sugar cube and bitters
• Bellini:  peach puree

Top it all off with Georgetown Cupcakes, a cake from Finale, some sister made cupcake cones and a few hot pink balloons and it's a party! 

Friday Inspiration - 33 days 'til Christmas

It's a very vintage Christmas!  When I was younger I had the Molly American Girl Doll and I loved her stories of wartime Christmas celebrations. This is an ode to trimming the tree and looking forward to your loved ones coming home for the holidays!

Vintage Christmas board by Sara. See more holiday cards

Click the link above to help me win prizes.  Santa knows who's been a naughty or nice blog reader!

The Short Life of the Harvard Little Free Library

A few weeks ago a new addition popped up at Harvard - a little free library.  It had beautiful woodwork, windows, and held a few books on its two shelves.  I was excited about the idea so I contributed two books myself.  But as I walked by the little library on my way to work each day, the books seemed to disappear.  At one point the only book inside was a copy of Sarah Palin's autobiography.

I was familiar with the little free library concept from this much smaller version on Cambridge Street:

I've walked past this little library on several occasions, months apart, and there are always books.  Who can say what the difference is?  Perhaps less traffic past this library means fewer people borrowing books, or maybe someone on the block carefully stocks it. 

Now Harvard's version is gone.  I don't know if they removed it because of the lack of books or because its base was making unsightly marks on the infamous grass or because it was always meant to be temporary. 

In any case it was a beautiful, if brief, addition while it lasted.  Elsewhere it seems to be a more enduring community concept.