Sweet Blog O'Mine

Author: Laren

  • On My Mind

    Back from Italy and I've got a great deal on my mind and on my plate this week. Some to share with you:

    – Went to the denist this morning and there was a new hygienist. She did some deep scraping/cleaning that made me feel like I've been punched in the face. Time to go back to the electric toothbrush.

    – I came home to a sick pup. Miss Mox has a cough/respiratory infection of some sort and a touch of Giardia (due to her street snack habit). She's on meds and is hopefully on the mend, but no daycare or dog run for her for a few days, and she's out of sorts.

    – Although I've never met him, I've heard a great deal about Murray Stenson, a bartender in Seattle who is considered by many to be one of the best in the business. He has been diagnosed with a heart aliment that needs treatment and is preventing him from returning to work. You can make a donation to his medical expenses at MurrayAid.org. This makes me worry about all my bartender friends with no health insurance!!

    – And if you're feeling super-generous, Badass Animal Rescue, which brought Moxie into my life, is seeking contributions for general unexpected expenses related to their rescues, mostly vet bills. Having just been hit with a big bill myself, I can certainly see the need. You can donate here.

    – It's National Pro Bono Week. Go do some pro bono.

    – I need an intern.

    That is all for now.

  • Mangia, Mangia, Mangia

    I never thought I’d say this, but this trip has involved a bit too much eating, even for me. I’ve got a free day in Venice today and I’m looking forward to just walking around. Sorry for the lack of posts here, but I’ve been busy on twitter @sweetblogomine and Instagram at sweetblogomine, so go check those out!

  • Mangia!

    Veneto-Posizione
    I'm heading off to Italy to spend a week in the Veneto. I will do my best to post a bit from the road, but if I don't, it's because I'm too busy cooking, eating, drinking, walking, or napping. I've also got one night in Venice. Any/all suggestions welcome. Ciao!!

  • American as Apple Pie

    I baked apple pie this weekend for a small dinner party Sunday night and ended up with a large portion of pie left over, which I didn't really want to have lingering around the house. Monday night I decided that I would deliver slices of pie to friends who work at bars/restaurants nearby, so I set out with four slices neatly packaged, and headed off, texting people along the way to make sure they were working.

    I was somewhat foiled — at least two potential pie recipients weren't working that night. After my first delivery, I was sent on a mission to deliver a special beer to a mutual friend — along with a slice of pie. When I arrived with the goods, I ended up chatting at length to a pair of women visiting from New Zealand. They had just arrived in NYC — their first trip to the US — and were looking for suggestions of where to go in the neighborhood. The bartender and I both shared our lists (mine is here), but since they were staying in an apartment nearby, I gave them my last two slices of apple pie — a true taste of the USA.

    The sole remaining slice was my dinner last night.  I highly recommend running around delivering treats to your friends at work — everybody wins.

  • Booze You Can Use: Have a Brooklyn

    Brooklyn_cocktail_2-266x399

    Photo credit: The Hooch Life

    Here in NYC, autumn is creeping in. Every time I think it's here for good, we get some random 80 degree day, but it's definitely on its way. Fall makes me crave stews, roasty meats and veggies, melty cheese and strong, boozy drinks. As many of you know, I do plan (eventually) to relocate to Brooklyn, and not just because of its delicious namesake cocktail. In the meantime, I'll settle for visits and a drink or two.

    Brooklyn
    2 ounces rye whiskey
    1 ounce dry vermouth
    1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
    1/4 ounce Amer Picon (this may be hard to acquire; you can substitute bitters of your choosing)

    Stir over ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist or brandied cherry if you'd like.

  • Best Things I Ate and Drank This Year (or at least six of them)

    Once again, I was a contributor for Time Out New York's 100 Best Dishes and Drinks in New York City.  The stunner on the cover — the chicken dish at the NoMad that I now refer to as the FUCKING CHICKEN — was definitely one of the top hits, but I didn't write about that one, even though it was on the list. I wrote about these:

    I had many more favorites, but they may have to wait until next year. The new list has already started.

  • The Tourist List – East Village/Lower East Side

    Every so often I encounter tourists looking for places to eat/drink while they're in town. I don't have a definitive list, but I wanted to share a list I made last night. This one was for a French couple who is leaving tomorrow. They're staying at an apartment in the East Village and it's their first trip to the U.S. I tried to think of very New York places, modestly priced, that they could walk to from their home base, or places that they might find something they wouldn't find in their native Paris. They also asked me to pick just one from the list that they should go to if they only had time for one. Based on what they told me, I picked Katz's (but told them they should also go to Momofuku Ssam Bar if they could do two).
    IMAG0650-1.jpg

  • Ode to a Buttered Roll

    Buttered_roll
    Sometimes, there is no breakfast more perfect than a simple buttered roll from a street cart or deli. A thin layer of salted butter on a fresh kaiser roll (I prefer mine unseeded) is always familiar and comforting, and in NYC, readily available.  Zero nutritional value whatsoever, but sometimes it just hits the spot.

  • Booze You Can Use: Dipsology


    Logo
    Dipsology, a new website designed to help guide you through the NYC cocktail scene, is throwing their launch party on September 26th from 7-10pm at Real Proof Labs, 169 Mercer Street.  Bartenders from Lantern's Keep, The Beagle & Raines Law Room will be providing the cocktails, which will be accompanied by cheese  from Beecher's, alcohol infused paninis by Salume and boozy cupcakes by Prohibition Bakery.

    Tickets are $65, available online,  and you'll get a discount if you use the discount code sweetblogomine.  See you there!

  • High Holidays

    It's the second day of Rosh Hashanah, although for the first time in years, I really didn't acknowledge the holiday in any way. No brisket, no round challah, no apples and honey, and no services. I still haven't solidified my Yom Kippur plans either. That said, I have been quite introspective, as I tend to get this time of year, reflecting on the past year and changes I'd like to make going forward. No matter how you and your family celebrate, or even if you don't, I wish you all the best for a happy, healthy, and sweet new year.