London. Cute Vehicle.
London. Street Art.
June. Italy. Porto Rotondo.
Good. Fun.
Don't Drink and Drive.
Jerusalem. Shuk. Kotel. and more around Israel.
Whatever it takes.
A bit much.
Dead Sexy.
Beitzim
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Travel Shots
June. London. Portobello Market.
London. Cute Vehicle.
London. Cute Vehicle.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Windy City Steps It Up
A little boring midwest action for me this evening, BUT one good thing i can report on is Graham Elliot- talk about a delicious gourmet restaurant with little pretense.
Start off with the FREE truffle parmesan popcorn. Then we had a delicious ceasar salad. I had the whitefish (I know weird, being that I am a Miami girl ordering fish in the midwest- was trying to be healthy i must admit), which had an indian twist to it, something sorta like gourmet tandoori. We also tried the Wagyu Steak with a truffle butter cream sauce. This was the best of all.
Overall, G.E was just right - not too snooty, nor too heavy.. about $65/head with 1 cocktail each..surely not cheap, but absolutely tasteful.
Bon apetit!
www.grahamelliot.com
Start off with the FREE truffle parmesan popcorn. Then we had a delicious ceasar salad. I had the whitefish (I know weird, being that I am a Miami girl ordering fish in the midwest- was trying to be healthy i must admit), which had an indian twist to it, something sorta like gourmet tandoori. We also tried the Wagyu Steak with a truffle butter cream sauce. This was the best of all.
Overall, G.E was just right - not too snooty, nor too heavy.. about $65/head with 1 cocktail each..surely not cheap, but absolutely tasteful.
Bon apetit!
www.grahamelliot.com
Saturday, June 19, 2010
What type of traveler are you?
Ive been thinking how the word traveling (for pleasure that is; this blurb doesn't apply to involuntary travel) can mean so many things.
You can travel around with the intent to “live” in all the places you visit. That means establishing a routine, immersing yourself in the local scene, regularly visiting your favorite spots, and maybe even grasping how public transportation works. So even on a vacation, it may be your style to stay put in one city, meet friends, sleep in the same bed for the entire time, and settle down there temporarily... These types you can scout out in Florida in the winter aka Snowbirds, aka Quebecians or even in far away foreign lands traveled to by American youth seeking adventure with the intent to find themselves.
Then, there is traveling, more my style(see my 'Brazil Muleki'blog so you can get a taste of SoBitch travel pace), which to me means moving around, seeing new things, carrying a lonely planet book to see where you can go next, feeling the need to explore the majority of the time, and talking to locals but with the clear understanding that this isn’t your home and you aren't settling down.
And then there is being away, where you are disconnecting from your routine life at home, but you’re not immersed necessarily where you are. You may be more interested in sleeping in, lounging by the pool, sipping them cocktails, reading your book, and checking email on occasion just to tap into reality. This sounds sorta like your family vacation at Naples.. ouch sounds painful!
Think about it before you take your next trip - what type of traveler do you want to be on your vacation??
You can travel around with the intent to “live” in all the places you visit. That means establishing a routine, immersing yourself in the local scene, regularly visiting your favorite spots, and maybe even grasping how public transportation works. So even on a vacation, it may be your style to stay put in one city, meet friends, sleep in the same bed for the entire time, and settle down there temporarily... These types you can scout out in Florida in the winter aka Snowbirds, aka Quebecians or even in far away foreign lands traveled to by American youth seeking adventure with the intent to find themselves.
Then, there is traveling, more my style(see my 'Brazil Muleki'blog so you can get a taste of SoBitch travel pace), which to me means moving around, seeing new things, carrying a lonely planet book to see where you can go next, feeling the need to explore the majority of the time, and talking to locals but with the clear understanding that this isn’t your home and you aren't settling down.
And then there is being away, where you are disconnecting from your routine life at home, but you’re not immersed necessarily where you are. You may be more interested in sleeping in, lounging by the pool, sipping them cocktails, reading your book, and checking email on occasion just to tap into reality. This sounds sorta like your family vacation at Naples.. ouch sounds painful!
Think about it before you take your next trip - what type of traveler do you want to be on your vacation??
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Bonaroo 2010
Bonnaroo is a four-day, multi-stage camping festival held on a massive and stifling hot 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June. Bonnaroo brings together some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and just about any music you can think of. In addition to dozens of larger than life performances, the festival buzzes around the clock with attractions including a movie theatre, silent disco, ferris wheel, comedy club,and a neon fountain (which recycles its water, so by the end you dont want to go anywhere near it!)
THIS TENT? THAT TENT? WHICH TENT? WHAT !
Roo takes the small town of Manchester (5,000 ppl year round) and turns it into a 75,000 person hippy lovin madhouse, the closest thing i can imagine resembling woodstock! Who wudda thought that a weekend of camping, severe sweating, sun damage, junk food, and a slew of other activities i rather not mention could be so much fun? (I kinda did!)
My highlights included epic performances by Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Conan, The Flaming Lips performing Dark Side of the Moon, Neon Indian, Thievery Corporation, She and Him, Jeff Ross Roast, The Gossip, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ingrid Michaelson (especially that Brittany Spear's cover -wow)!
Seriously, look at the lineup and download tunes from any of the artists that played at bonaroo! http://www.bonnaroo.com/artists.aspx
Ouch, where was his sunblock? 
See ya'll at Roo 2011!!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tribute to Ye'
Anyone know who ye is? She taught me everything I know about cooking. I am not a 5 star chef, by any means. I am a homey, yummy, feel good, light and semi healthy chef with a serious obsession with lemon and all types of oils.
So here are some of my recipes/tricks:
Eggs ~ to get your eggs just right (whether you like them well done or over easy), make sure to cover them with a lid when they are on the pan. Some of you say duh!! Not so obvious to everyone..
Steak ~ the simplest marinade makes a mean steak: olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic (lots of it) - you can even cheat by buying already chopped garlic
Fish ~ a simple sauté is all it takes. Marinade your fish (i like tilapia) with garlic, mustard, olive oil, and salt/pepper. Never marinade fish for too long before cooking, especially with lemon, because the lemon cooks the fish (i.e.: ceviche)
~Hamburger /Lamb Burger /or Turkey Burgers
1. Mix all these ingredients together:
Ground chuck meat
1 Egg
Chopped parsely
Finely chopped onion
Cornmeal (to keep them sticky)
Salt and Pepper
Garlic powder or fresh garlic (my preference)
Ketchup
2. Pan fry on medium; Turn over a few times
~Any pasta Bolognese (I like spaghetti or shells):
1. Let simmer for a while (15mins):
Diced Tomatoes- Use San Marzano canned/diced tomatoes (purple can;not available at all markets)
tad of olive oil
Finely chopped fresh onion
Finely chopped fresh garlic
Sea Salt and Pepper
A "cubito" (seasoning cube)
If sauce seems thick, add 1 cup of water
2. In another dish, mix chuck ground meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and some cornmeal (so meatballs dont fall apart). You can make meat balls, or simply throw in small peices of meat into the simmer. Let cook in simmering sauce for about 10-15 mins(try as you go to make sure meat isn't raw, but also make sure it doesn't dry out). Use a large pot so things do not overflow and the meat has its space.
3. Add Paprika or ketchup @ end to the stew
4. Place on pasta. Make sure to cook your pasta al dente! Top off with parmesan.
You can skip the carbs and just make meatballs.
~Mikey's coconut Thai chick dish:
Ingredients:
Chicken breasts (about 1 breast per person) cut into bite size strips
Scallions, sliced into thin strips, a bunch, half to use while cooking, and half to use for garnish
Cilantro, a handful chopped, save some for garnish (i dont use stems)
Green chilies, about 1-2 deseeded. Don’t fool around afterwards, it stings anything you touch (oucchhhh where the sun don't shine)
So here are some of my recipes/tricks:
Eggs ~ to get your eggs just right (whether you like them well done or over easy), make sure to cover them with a lid when they are on the pan. Some of you say duh!! Not so obvious to everyone..
Steak ~ the simplest marinade makes a mean steak: olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic (lots of it) - you can even cheat by buying already chopped garlic
Fish ~ a simple sauté is all it takes. Marinade your fish (i like tilapia) with garlic, mustard, olive oil, and salt/pepper. Never marinade fish for too long before cooking, especially with lemon, because the lemon cooks the fish (i.e.: ceviche)
~Hamburger /Lamb Burger /or Turkey Burgers
1. Mix all these ingredients together:
Ground chuck meat
1 Egg
Chopped parsely
Finely chopped onion
Cornmeal (to keep them sticky)
Salt and Pepper
Garlic powder or fresh garlic (my preference)
Ketchup
2. Pan fry on medium; Turn over a few times
~Any pasta Bolognese (I like spaghetti or shells):
1. Let simmer for a while (15mins):
Diced Tomatoes- Use San Marzano canned/diced tomatoes (purple can;not available at all markets)
tad of olive oil
Finely chopped fresh onion
Finely chopped fresh garlic
Sea Salt and Pepper
A "cubito" (seasoning cube)
If sauce seems thick, add 1 cup of water
2. In another dish, mix chuck ground meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and some cornmeal (so meatballs dont fall apart). You can make meat balls, or simply throw in small peices of meat into the simmer. Let cook in simmering sauce for about 10-15 mins(try as you go to make sure meat isn't raw, but also make sure it doesn't dry out). Use a large pot so things do not overflow and the meat has its space.
3. Add Paprika or ketchup @ end to the stew
4. Place on pasta. Make sure to cook your pasta al dente! Top off with parmesan.
You can skip the carbs and just make meatballs.
~Mikey's coconut Thai chick dish:
Ingredients:
Chicken breasts (about 1 breast per person) cut into bite size strips
Scallions, sliced into thin strips, a bunch, half to use while cooking, and half to use for garnish
Cilantro, a handful chopped, save some for garnish (i dont use stems)
Green chilies, about 1-2 deseeded. Don’t fool around afterwards, it stings anything you touch (oucchhhh where the sun don't shine)
Veggies (Broccoli, Mushrooms, Bean Sprouts, Bok Choy all add a nice textural crunch)
Thai fish sauce, about 1-2 table spoons
Osem chicken consommé powder, about 1-2 heaping tablespoons, to taste (check before you add all of amount, its salty)
Coconut milk
Zest of 2 limes (you need to buy a proper lemon zester for this, look for a "microplane" available at your grocery store)
Thai fish sauce, about 1-2 table spoons
Osem chicken consommé powder, about 1-2 heaping tablespoons, to taste (check before you add all of amount, its salty)
Coconut milk
Zest of 2 limes (you need to buy a proper lemon zester for this, look for a "microplane" available at your grocery store)
1. In a bowl, add chicken with lime juice and lime zest and try to marinade for an hour, but not necessary
2. Heat up olive or sesame oil (my preference) in a wok , about 2 tablespoons, and add the meat pieces and brown. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until toasty
3. Add green chilies and cook for another minute-on medium -high heat4. Add any veggies you like (Broccoli, Bok Shoy, Bean Sprouts, Mushrooms). I like to pre-marinade the veggies with salt, pepper, chilli, lemon, garlic salt, and garlic powder)
5. Add coconut milk, fish sauce, consomme cube, half of scallions, half of cilantro and cook until chicken is cooked and tender being careful not to overcook it and not to make the veggies soggie. (About 5 minutes on low heat)
Serve over fragrant Thai rice and garnish with fresh cilantro and scallions.
I have tried this recipe with chicken and veal, and both have been delicious. I have also included broccoli (step3). Feel free to add any veggies to this dish (spinach, bok choy)
~Broiled Veggies:
1. Steam or sauté your veggies adding salt, pepper, garlic, and chilies (just a hint to give it a kick).. Then place them in a pyrex with olive oil or sesame oil (depends on the veggies) and broil them in the oven for about 10 mins til they seem BBQ'd
~Quinoa
1. Heat coconut oil or olive oil in a bowl on high heat
2. Toss in some chopped onions til brown
3. When onion are almost brown, throw in some fresh garlic
4. Add 2 cups of water + cubito
5. When water boils, add 1 cup of quinoa
6. Lower heat to medium, cover the pan. Let simmer for about 10 mins until water is evaporated
*ratio of water to quinoa is 2:1
~Smoothies:
- Easy breezy. Add fresh fruit and coconut water plus ice+ maybe honey. Any fruit goes. Add some rum, for a daiquiri kick.
~Chimichurri
this is a major mish mosh of ingredients and I can't give you exact amounts. Use a food processor to crush up parsley (leave the stems out).. then in a bowl, mix the chopped up parsley, add finely chopped garlic,oil,lemon,white vinegar,salt/pepper. Vuala!! you have now fresh chimmi- makes for great topping over skirt steak,fish,and i love it with quinoa too,.
Oils to experiment with: sesame oil, coconut oil (only with starches, very oily for meat), hemp oil, almond oil, avocado oil (only for salad)..
These are nothing fancy. Simply homey, delicious, quick, and easy.. Bon appétit. Fellow readers, please post your recipes below!
5. Add coconut milk, fish sauce, consomme cube, half of scallions, half of cilantro and cook until chicken is cooked and tender being careful not to overcook it and not to make the veggies soggie. (About 5 minutes on low heat)
Serve over fragrant Thai rice and garnish with fresh cilantro and scallions.
I have tried this recipe with chicken and veal, and both have been delicious. I have also included broccoli (step3). Feel free to add any veggies to this dish (spinach, bok choy)
~Broiled Veggies:
1. Steam or sauté your veggies adding salt, pepper, garlic, and chilies (just a hint to give it a kick).. Then place them in a pyrex with olive oil or sesame oil (depends on the veggies) and broil them in the oven for about 10 mins til they seem BBQ'd
~Quinoa
1. Heat coconut oil or olive oil in a bowl on high heat
2. Toss in some chopped onions til brown
3. When onion are almost brown, throw in some fresh garlic
4. Add 2 cups of water + cubito
5. When water boils, add 1 cup of quinoa
6. Lower heat to medium, cover the pan. Let simmer for about 10 mins until water is evaporated
*ratio of water to quinoa is 2:1
~Smoothies:
- Easy breezy. Add fresh fruit and coconut water plus ice+ maybe honey. Any fruit goes. Add some rum, for a daiquiri kick.
~Chimichurri
this is a major mish mosh of ingredients and I can't give you exact amounts. Use a food processor to crush up parsley (leave the stems out).. then in a bowl, mix the chopped up parsley, add finely chopped garlic,oil,lemon,white vinegar,salt/pepper. Vuala!! you have now fresh chimmi- makes for great topping over skirt steak,fish,and i love it with quinoa too,.
Oils to experiment with: sesame oil, coconut oil (only with starches, very oily for meat), hemp oil, almond oil, avocado oil (only for salad)..
These are nothing fancy. Simply homey, delicious, quick, and easy.. Bon appétit. Fellow readers, please post your recipes below!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
School's out for Summer!
My apologies for going MIA (no pun intended) in the last few weeks. What can i say, i have commitment issues...
Most people find Miami's summers to be brutally hot and humid. But I appreciate the 4 pm monsoons-gives me a great excuse to let my hair go frizzy. It just feels so sexy to get out of the shower and never dry. That’s one of the ways I got my nickname “Sweaty Broad.” Secret tip: to tame the frizz call The Beauty Factory at(954) 783-7270 for the Brazilian keratin treatment. As natural as it gets (compared to all other salons), and done by only Brazilian ladies themselves. Warning: não fale inglês.
Ive' put together a list of great ways to spend your summer without breaking the bank completely (well, kinda, key word being "completely"):
1. PrayerDanse at "The Sacred Space" Sundays 10-noon; a chance for creative movement and soul cleansing.. Whether you’re just getting off last night's high or starting fresh, prayerdanse has no rules. Show up, open up, danse it off. No dansing experience required. 100 NE 25th St., Miami - Find out more at www.prayerdanse.com
2. Fanagle a membership to Miami's new Soho BeachHouse. Don’t ask how I'll do it- I have no clue? Under 27's get 50% off the "private membership" fee. Samantha Jones couldn't even get in here...hmm
3. Take a yoga weekend off. Check out retreats at the Standard Hotel (Miami Beach), Samasati Hotel (Costa Rica), or Yoga Farm (Costa Rica)
4. Enroll your rugrats in SwimGym Aquatic Sport Camp, Key Biscayne's funnest acquatic sport camp for kids ages 3-17. Counselor positions available. www.swimgym.net
5. Eat latin food: Ceviche 105, La Lupita, SuViche, Casa Juancho, and the South Florida staple, Versailles! (see past blogs for more info on Miami's latin food)
6. Get your festival on: Bonaroo is a road trip away (June 10-13)-- Feel free to stop by my tent and holla... look for my neon tent with 3 hot chickies and a handsome half naked BBQ griller named Alan. http://www.bonnaroo.com/
7. Check out Legacy Fit. Find 4 friends and get personal training for $25/hour/person with former football player Manning Sumpter from Birmingham, Alabama. He's quite the looker, but beware of his Puerto Ricena fisty ladyfriend, scary!. This isn't your usual gym rat workout. You will get a glimpse of what real football players train like. http://www.legacyfit.com/(305) 799 0850
8. Join an organic food co-op. Pick up fresh organic groceries from your local host for only $45. Visit www.AnniesBuyingClub.com for more info. This is a great way to eat right and support our local FL farmers.
9. Paddleboard for charity on June 12th. For $35, you can provide a homeless person food for an entire week at Camillus House. Start your day early (8:30am) at the Purdy Lounge boat ramp. Race begins at 9am. All spectators are welcome to watch from the Standard. Even if you don't wanna race, at least you can play too cool for school at the Standard. Hipster or not, it’s for a great cause.
www.paddle4people.com
10. Summer is always a good time for Blockbuster movie hits! Start the summer off with Sex in the City 2 (the girls are baaaaack, el grupo whose game?)…
how bout the A-team?! (a new rendition of the 80’s TV show…”I pity the fooool”), you want a real thriller, how bout Inception with Leonardo di Caprio and Michael Caine (this comes from the director of The Dark Knight and Memento, even the plot has not been made publicly available yet)…there will be plenty others, but the theater is always a nice way to escape the heat!
11. Check out my favorite fellow blogger www.youngvelveteen.blogspot.com , make yourself cooler. Also visit http://www.daytrotter.com/ for more free music from the finest indi bands!
12. Last but not least, foam parties. Woops, its 2010, not 1996…get your miami pool parties on. Get those oversized sunglasses out, short Villebrequin bathing suits(gentlemen), and take your Euro ass to the W, Standard, Raleigh for a Fantastish time...
Enjoy and don't forget your sunblock!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Bub- Ba- Q
A few days ago i promised myself i would only eat meat in those "worth it" moments. Of course "worth it" is subjective. To me worth it means a home cooked brisket, or hamburgers on the BBQ (camping style in the everglades), or a cuban style picadillo (love my carne molida) . To others it means a juicy american rib eye from Prime 112 Steakhouse. However, I have found the "worth it" meat that takes subjective to OBVIOUSLY worth eating!
Last night I ate at Q American BBQ. Boy oh Boy. The baby back ribs were absolutely scrumptious, fell right off the bone. Even their bowl starter-salad was spectacular. It was Beale Street in the heart of Miami's Design District.
Though the service is lagging a bit (In their defense, only been opened a few weeks), these folks know what they are doing. I highly recommend their Kentucky Lemonade, their blend of three bourbons and fresh lemonade, just perfect to quench that thirst! Don't miss out on the cheddar cheese grits and the mashed potatoes. I didn't get to have their sliders, but will do so on my next visit. On the table they serve different BBQ sauces. I drenched my ribs with their Memphis Vinegar sauce.
Q also turns it up with live music on some nights, typically American rhythm and blues, hard country, that sort of thing. Not your usual downtown tunes, more of the Mississippi Delta... if you do not know what that means, go watch the movie Road House.
VEGETARIAN mission ABORTED!
4029 N Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 227-2378
www.qamericanbarbeque.com
No reservations needed- no hassle, no frills, get sloppy and grub on down.
Last night I ate at Q American BBQ. Boy oh Boy. The baby back ribs were absolutely scrumptious, fell right off the bone. Even their bowl starter-salad was spectacular. It was Beale Street in the heart of Miami's Design District.
Though the service is lagging a bit (In their defense, only been opened a few weeks), these folks know what they are doing. I highly recommend their Kentucky Lemonade, their blend of three bourbons and fresh lemonade, just perfect to quench that thirst! Don't miss out on the cheddar cheese grits and the mashed potatoes. I didn't get to have their sliders, but will do so on my next visit. On the table they serve different BBQ sauces. I drenched my ribs with their Memphis Vinegar sauce.
Q also turns it up with live music on some nights, typically American rhythm and blues, hard country, that sort of thing. Not your usual downtown tunes, more of the Mississippi Delta... if you do not know what that means, go watch the movie Road House.
VEGETARIAN mission ABORTED!
4029 N Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 227-2378
www.qamericanbarbeque.com
No reservations needed- no hassle, no frills, get sloppy and grub on down.
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