Ambiance? Check. Large portion size? Check. Unique food with punchy flavor? Double check. Long wait? Triple check and two thumbs down.
While visiting Charlottesville last month, I finally had a chance to eat at The Shebeen, a South African restaurant near Downtown. And though our party of three waited more than an hour to get seated, the food was worth the wait.
So, how did your National Day of Unplugging go? As ashamed as I am to admit, I may have only participated 50%.
I did, however, step away from my devices long enough to do some cleaning and to make this delicious baked polenta recipe…
T.G.I.F.! And in the spirit of the weekend just around the corner, here is a collection of links to the fun and informative reads/videos I’m loving right now:
From Serious Eats: “Grocery Shopping with Fuchsia Dunlop in Chinatown, NYC”
Chinese food is delicious to eat, but for those too discouraged by its mystifying ingredients to cook it at home, this article is for you. It breaks down the most essential ingredients in Chinese cooking, complete with a photo gallery of Chinese food scholar and writer Fuchsia Dunlop picking them out in the store.
As Max Falkowitz writes, “If you ever wanted to know more about all those dried fish and mushrooms but were put off by a language barrier, consider this a helping hand.”
I posted yesterday about useful apps that can help us streamline our crazy-hectic lives. But while technology is great for advancing our productivity and allowing us to do so much more than we could ever imagine, there are consequences to our obsession with smartphones.
Have you seen this Quicken Loans commercial? It’s pretty hilarious and on-point with how many of us under-utilize smartphones.
For years, whenever anyone told me that I NEED a smartphone, I would always ask, “Why would I ever spend that much money on a phone when I could buy something useful?”
Well, I finally caved in and bought an iPhone 5 when it launched last fall. And, after having it for four months, I can say that I finally GET IT.
Not only do I use it for playing Solitaire (I know, I’m a grandma) and [attempting to beat] Subway Surfers, but I also discovered ways to maximize its utility for simplifying my life.
I love that this one slim device allows me to do everything, from taking pictures and listening to music, to reading email and my latest magazine subscriptions.
But, with the endless lists of new applications available every day, there is a whole world of untapped productivity potential in your do-everything phones.
These are just seven of the most useful and budget-friendly apps I’ve come across that really do motivate, organize and simplify my active and hectic life.
Of course, while they are definitely available on iOS, Android users should check availability for their devices.
Dreaming of…
An Oreo milkshake from The Nook in downtown Charlottesville.
Though the stretch of shops and restaurants Downtown offer countless high-end and gourmet options, sometimes all you want is quick and comforting diner fare.
New Jersey is the capital of American diner culture, so of course we set high standards.
The Nook’s food can’t compare to Jersey diners, but this Oreo milkshake did not disappoint. Creamy, not-too-sweet, concentrated Oreo flavor and slurped up in under a minute.
The Nook
415 East Main St.
Charlottesville, VA
434-295-6665
If you read Bon Appetit and follow their social media accounts, you’ve probably seen them advertise the Cook the Cover contest.
After seeing the delicious pasta recipe featured on the February issue, I knew I had to give the spicy rigatoni ragu a try.
Last weekend was Chinese New Year, and for Chinese families, this holiday is a big deal. The day marks the beginning of the lunar calendar, but it’s also a time when everyone travels back to their hometowns, leaving work and school for weeks to celebrate the festivities with their families.
Most of my family is, unfortunately, separated by oceans and continents. Despite not having all of our relatives with us, my mom and I made the most of celebrating the holiday this year by making dumplings entirely from scratch.
So there are only two hours left before your super-romantic and perfect Valentine’s Day dinner, but you’re still scrambling for a dessert idea.
Well this molten lava cake recipe from The Tasty Kitchen may be the perfect solution.
When walking around the Flatiron District in New York City, it is almost impossible to miss the entrance to Eataly. Located on Fifth Avenue, across the street from the iconic Flatiron building, Mario Batali and Lidia/Joe Bastianich’s gourmet Italian market houses beautiful foods from as far away as Europe and as close as New York.
Stepping into Eataly is like arriving in foodie heaven, if your vision of heaven includes Italian-style meats, cheeses, fish, produce, pasta, pizza, wine and espresso. Read more »
