One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Kitchen Closed

August 24, 2005 · Narrative

Had an appointment tonight, so instead of making dinner, we got take-out from Olive Garden, using up a gift certificate we had. Just made things a little saner tonight. The Husband got Chicken Parm with spaghetti, Nicholas pizza and me, Steak Gorgonzola Pasta. Also, a side of marinara sauce for the breadsticks, their Smoked Mozzarella Fonduta for a starter and salads rounding out the meal. I figured they wouldn’t give us cash back if we didn’t spend the full $40 of the gift certificate, so there’s enough food that between the leftovers from tonight and what I already have in the fridge, you know what tomorrow’s dinner is going to be … Clean Out the Fridge Night!

We all went to bed at the ungodly early hour of 9:30 last night … gosh, we must be getting old, either that or my sister’s right and my newly acquired age of 35 really IS middle-aged! Whatever the case may be, it certainly felt good. So good, think we’re going to repeat the same practice tonight! Hey, if it ain’t broke…

Steven Shaw, founder of e-gullet, recently released his book on the restaurant industry, from an insider’s perspective. Turning the Tables – Restaurants from the Inside Out is an “Average Joe’s perspective a la Kitchen Confidential.” Being a frequent e-gullet visitor, I heard about this book over a year ago, when Steven was talking about the different chapters and restaurants that he was visiting and eagerly pre-ordered it. Like being a fly on the wall without all the grease, it’s an interesting read so far.

And speaking of Kitchen Confidental, found a link with the Fall TV line-up and looking forward to the premier of Kitchen Confidential on September 19th (Fox). Here’s their write-up:

Based on renowned chef Anthony Bourdain’s best-selling autobiography and from executive producer Darren Star and Dave Hemingson, KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL exposes the secrets of the restaurant business through the delectable story of a talented chef who’s determined to climb back to the top of the food game.

Chef JACK BOURDAIN found enormous success at a young age. Unfortunately, Jack’s culinary genius also let to a lifestyle of boozing, womanizing and drugs – excesses that eventually landed him in the gutter. After hitting rock bottom and deciding to sober up, the only job he could get was slopping soggy pasta for the masses at a tacky opera-themed restaurant.

Out of the blue, Jack is offered an opportunity to get back in the game as head chef at a top New York restaurant. There’s just one problem: the owner gives Jack a mere 48 hours to fully staff his kitchen and prepare to dazzle over 300 customers – including the food critic for the New York Times (who also happens to be a jilted ex).

Jack hastily assembles a renegade crew of colleagues from his past, including chefs STEVEN, SETH and a rookie pastry chef named JIM. Also along for the ride are TANYA, the hostess, and MIMI, the owner’s gorgeous daughter who can’t wait for Jack to fail.

With the kitchen serving as a backdrop, I’ll be there. In case you’re interested in the new Fall TV line-up, including all new shows and canceled ones, you can check it out here. A few of my favorites have been axed, but hopefully the new shows will make me forget them.

OK, all for tonight. Off to spend time with Nicholas, whose favorite new phrase is, “Thanks, dude.” Until tomorrow…

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Clare Eats says

    August 24, 2005 at 2:11 am

    Nick is such a cutie! although you already knew that….

    Reply
  2. Joe says

    August 24, 2005 at 2:59 am

    I’ve been watching Bourdain’s show on the travel channel and like it better than the one he did on FoodTV. I’ll be interested to see how this one on Fox turns out!

    Reply
  3. Stephanie says

    August 24, 2005 at 4:42 am

    I was planning to at least give it a try. Bradley Cooper of Alias and Nick Brendon (Buffy!) are in it…which means I’ll watch a couple to see if it sucks or not.

    Reply
  4. Cate says

    August 24, 2005 at 11:24 am

    Thanks, Clare. Yeah, he’s a keeper!

    Joe – I’ve been watching his other show too. Really interesting to delve into the other cultures from his perspective.

    Stephanie – we gotta at least give it a try, right? ;) Who knows? Maybe we’ll get hooked! I heard that Hell’s Kitchen is coming back too – looking forward to that.

    Reply
  5. BlueMule says

    August 24, 2005 at 12:58 pm

    Kitchen Confidential is particularly amusing if you’ve actually worked in the food service industry.

    I was a prep cook/dishwasher at a restaurant in Stowe, VT during my undergrad education. Nearly everything Bourdain talks about is true! It’s a very different culture than those of us who work 9-5 day jobs are used to.

    I still maintain a friendship with the former Sous Chef from that job and he thought the book was hysterical. He told me that it was likely that he and Bourdain worked together at some point in New York.

    If anyone is on the fence about the book, I couldn’t recommend it more!

    Mule

    Reply
  6. Randi says

    August 24, 2005 at 11:26 pm

    I met Steven at the Heartland gathering last month in Ann Arbor. Interesting person. We made some kick ass food. Check out the thread there for pictures. Its under the heartland forum under US.

    Reply

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One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛

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One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?

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