‘Tis the Season: Make It Count

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At nine years of age it was no great secret to me that my mom was struggling to make ends meet. Waking up for school on wintry mornings in Upstate New York to get ready for school meant I’d bring my outfit downstairs so that I could dress on the heating grate in the living room.  Often, there were mornings when there wasn’t any oil in the tank, which meant there wasn’t any heat to accompany this ritual.  Days like these were greeted by my mother pulling out the kerosene heater and our bundling up in the kitchen and playing board games.

We never went hungry.

The occasional monthly trips to the food pantry provided us bCHEESEoxes of dried milk, canned goods and HUGE blocks of cheese. I remember standing in line wondering what in the world people would make with THAT MUCH cheese. My Grandmother – who lived with us – would make homemade macaroni & cheese, cheesy mashed potatoes, grilled cheese served with tomato soup… The cheese recipe list was endless, as was the knowledge that we would always have food on the table and cheese. LOTS of cheese!

Christmas is meant to be *magical*.

Christmas eve would abound with  my sister’s and my whispering of what Santa might bring us and promises to stay awake until we heard him.  On two occasions, Santa’s delivery stopped short of landing under the tree and instead was found on our front porch. Our questions of “why” were met by mother’s explanation that Santa probably had a busier year than most and was running out of time to bring them inside.  It didn’t matter where the gifts had landed, Santa made me feel like a special little girl.

ME Small

I was an Angel Tree Kid.

Later on in my teens, through tears, my mother shared that my sister and I were Angel Tree Kids and that without this program, and the help of our church, Christmas wouldn’t have been a possibility during those years.  The reality that  those toys and the clothes wrapped under the tree and on the porch came from people who truly cared about kids who were in need moved me then and  moves me today.

There is still significant need.

In 2014,14.8% of the US population were living at or below the poverty threshold and 2015 is on track to exceed last year. “The poverty rate in 2014 for chil­dren under age 18 was 21.1 percent.”  As I type this and you read it there are parents –  like my mother – who are working and struggling to feed and clothe their children.  Children deserve to enjoy the naivety and magic that comes with childhood and the holidays… Sadly, many know that a meal, a new outfit or even a tiny hope for a gift is wishful thinking, at best.

‘Tis the Season

ANGEL TREEAgain, this year I’ve “adopted” a 9 year old Angel. She’s the same age that I was when I first became an Angel Tree kid and she too comes from a single-parent household. Her wish list: a pair of $20 jeans, a candy land board game and three miniature Disney Frozen princess figurines…

Once upon a time, someone made my mother’s, sister’s and my Christmas magical. I only hope that in some tiny way I can do the same for others. Helping a family in need, “adopting” an Angel Tree child, donating food to the local food bank/ pantry or taking a shut-in a Christmas meal truly makes a difference my friends.  And in the end isn’t it always fun to make *magic* happen?

Happy holidays everyone – I hope you make the season count.

Elle of a Good Show

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ELLE KING

“kissing girls like life’s a dream
to be a man would be serene…”

For those of you who read my blog or read this entry, you are aware that I have a love for music and have a fairly eclectic music palette. I happened upon a musician a couple years ago + had the wonderful opportunity to finally see her live last weekend. So, I can’t resist in sharing talent with my friends AND random strangers.

My  “introduction” to her talent was probably when I was MySpace stalking some new tunes/artists or through a series of YouTube music video threads. Either way, I am rambling and how I found her doesn’t matter. What matters is; she’s a banjo & acoustic guitar wielding musical bad ass and if you haven’t heard her stuff – you must.

Enter stage right –  ELLE frikin’ KING

Currently touring with Of Monsters & Men (another great band, by-the-by), I saw Elle perform at the 9:30 Club in D.C.  I had been looking forward to this concert for awhile and it was Elle who I was most excited to hear.

She is authentic…

Laughing with the crowd and laughing at herself, Elle has a wonderful stage presence. What makes it wonderful? She has a “take me as I am” aura and it resonates in her music too. She appears to be pretty damn comfortable in her own skin and I know very few 30 somethings who enjoy this level of confidence, let alone TWENTY-THREE year old women. (Yup, she’s 23.)

(“Told You I Was Mean“)

…She can write AND sing

Her set was only a mere 30 minutes, but she made the most of her time on stage.  Elle writes her own stuff and combined with her bluesy rock vocals the finished product makes for great ear-candy. The audience was treated to her and her stage partner-in-music-crime’s great cover of Johnny Cash’s Jackson 

(“Song of Sorrow” – Another FAV of mine)

… AND she’s refreshingly hesitant

As with any music fan who attends a show, we always hope we get to hear our favorite song. Did I mention that was the SHORTEST 30 minute set EVER and I didn’t get to hear mine?  Yes, yes I know she wasn’t the headliner and that I was more excited to hear her vs them Why must the best things always go by so quickly?

When the set ended I  *may* have yelled ” please play No One Can Save You.” (yep, I was THAT girl.) Understandably, she couldn’t. But you never know unless you ask, right? RIGHT?

A stop at the bar for a beverage refreshment found me standing NEXT TO Elle.  No, I was not stalking her. That’s rude and, not to mention, crazy.  I did however interrupt her conversation and had to tell her that she put on a great show & that I loved No One Can Save You and that I’ve been a fan for a few years and was excited that she was touring. (I really hope I said excuse me & apologized in my excitement!)

(“Ain’t Gone Drown”)

She was so gracious, sweet and apologized for not singing “my” song. Elle shared her fear that the song’s softer sound wasn’t right for the crowd. When she said that there was hesitancy in her face.

Here is a young and talented woman who is preparing to take the music world by storm and she’s hesitant. In a world today where expressing vulnerability and not giving off an aura of feigned confidence is taboo she doesn’t seem to pay along.

I like it

… and I hope y’all like her too.

A Friend in Review

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Stop…  

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a restaurant review, or anything for that matter. I have a multitude of reasons why and I won’t bore you with any of them. Despite my lack of posts, dining and attempting to live my life to its fullest has been at the top of the daily to-do list… Or at least I was under the impression that the latter was.

For those of you who remember or care, I had promised – on multiple occasions – that a review from me and a group of my friends of Mr. Rain’s Funhouse was on its way.  Did we dine there? Yes.   Did most of us find the food mediocre but the service exceptional? Yes.   Mediocre food and all, the evening was perfect. And in hindsight it was friendship that made it so.

A wonderful friend of ours had invited a small group of us together to catch up and grab a bite. We dined. We sampled one another’s dishes. We laughed at old follies and shared future plans. We hugged and kissed our good byes that evening. It was beautiful.

Breathe…  

Weeks passed by and the friend who planned the evening messaged me with: “when are you reviewing the restaurant?”, “I can’t wait to read what you thought.” & “I really enjoy your blog, Tammi…”

He meant ever word. He’s that friend who wouldn’t have said it, if he didn’t legitimately mean it. As I type that last sentence, I am reminded that now I have to refer to him in the past tense. Sadly, my friend has passed away.

Reflect…

I got TOO b u s y. Too busy to write something as simple as a blog review so that he could read it and comment. Too busy to insist that he RSVP immediately & promise to attend my holiday party so I could see him and his rosey faced smile. Too busy to give him a better and tighter hug that last time I saw him.  Too busy to tell him that I was too busy for a friend.

Embrace…

I am a believer in finding beauty in the spirit of those who pass away. My friend was one of the most reflective individuals I’ve ever known. That evening that we dined out I remember that he looked really happy. He laughed and shared random tid-bits of knowledge about things only he would know. He gave me a wonderful hug and shared that he had a great evening and thanked us for coming. He meant that.

As I reflect upon that evening and who he was as a person, his life inspires me to truly live my life to the fullest, stop allowing “too busy” to define me and do what he did so well in life:

Stop…               Breathe…               Reflect...               Embrace…

That’s my review Bill. I hope you would have enjoyed it.

Vacarro’s: Pastries, Gelato, Chocolate Martinis, OH MY!

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Buon appetito!

If you live in or are planning to visit Baltimore in the near future, I would highly recommend you stop-by Little Italy’s Italian Festival . A recent outing with the best friend and others lent to an afternoon of spectating intense Italian bocce ball matches, meeting spirited  Italian community members working hard to raise money to support local organizations and an introduction to a wonderful dessert experience at the well-know Italian pastry cafe, Vaccaro’s.

Despite a people-packed festival, we were politely and quickly seated in their cafe area. My group, having generously partook in a filling lunch earlier, decided to skip the menu’s sandwich offerings and order dessert.

My friend, Beth, ordered homemade cream puffs topped with chocolate gelato, whipped cream and a cherry. Given we are best friend’s, I thought it was only fitting that I offer to help her taste-test her dish. This dessert, called a BACI BALL ,
offered up wonderful chocolate gelato and a great presentation.  However, the menu indicated the cream puffs were supposed to be warm and this particular dish missed that part in the plating stage.

“Life is short, eat dessert 1st.”

Our friends offered to let me sample their dessert, MORTE DAL CIOCCOLATO “VACCARO STYLE”, otherwise known as Death by Chocolate. The menu describes this as, “your choice of a slice of our homemade Chocolate Cannoli Cake or Cheesecake served with Chocolate Chocolate Chip Gelato, and topped with (of course) hot fudge with whipped topping …”  The chocolate cannoli cake paired with the gelato was DIVINE! The flavor and moist cake reflected the unique dessert experience that only a cannoli can give, sans the crispy shell.

Dessert doesn’t  ALWAYS need to be in a solid state. Therefore I felt justified, having not order my own personal dessert, to imbibe in Vaccaro’s CHOCOLATE SWIRL MARTINI.  According to the lovely woman who waited on us, this drink is considered to be “heaven in a glass!”  Personally, I have no problem associating a well-made cocktail with a spiritual experience and it WAS heavenly.

Friendly + efficient service, the edgy-meets-traditional-Italian-bistro aesthetics, tasty libations and great tasting dessert makes Vaccaro’s a must-visit for locals + visitor alike. And the six pack to-go order of homemade CANNOLI  made the hubby + kids insist on a family visit in the near future  As they say in Italy:

Complimenti all cuoca!

 

The “Epicureal Magic” that is Alchemy

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al·che·my
noun
Whether you’re grabbing lunch at your tried and true neighborhood honkey-tonk or having dinner at an elegant 5-star brasserie, dining out should be an excursion. Alchemy, located in the quaint area of Hampden in Baltimore, delivered an excursion for the palette AND more!
Rumors through Twitter, friends and acquaintances indicated that the upstairs dining area was the best seating in the house.  Having already made the dinner reservations through Opentable a few days prior to dining, I called to see if my husband and I could request a spot upstairs. HEY if you don’t ask, you’ll never know! The woman I spoke to was very kind and indicated that she would do her best to accommodate us. The word HOLLA may have escaped my mouth after I got off the phone (random side note.)
The big day arrived and the husband and I were greeted by an upstairs table, chic surroundings and a first course dish that truly turned past ordinary mussel experiences into a new & extraordinary one.  Their Mojito Mussels are plump jewels cooked with kaffir lime, blood orange, cilantro, seafood-based broth, garlic, dark rum, mint and a chipotle butter. We were enamored with  Michael and Debi Matassa’s, the owners,  twist on a relatively common dish. Debi, who was stopping by each table to welcome guests shared the story behind the recipe. While preparing to make dinner at home, Michael needed white wine for the mussels. Debi, a sommelier, refused to sacrifice a $50 bottle of white wine to the kitchen gods… Rum was readily available and VOILA this  fabulous dish was born! I’m pretty sure they are food magicians.
My entrée, Tournedos Crab a Roony, presented two beef tenderloin medallions topped with marinated wild mushrooms and lump crab. This gluttony sat atop a bed of roasted garlic mashed potatoes with a béarnaise  glaze. The potatoes were whipped perfectly, the meat cooked to medium-rare perfection and the crab
meat… DO YOU SEE the SIZE of the crab meat people?!? Amaaaaaaazing.
The hubby’s Chile Rubbed Pork Tenderloin was a great choice as well. This was served with an ancho sauce, pecan butter and sweet potato tamales which melted in our mouths. My description to my husband after the first bite “oh my, the tamales taste like Grandma’s sweet cornbread!”  The pork rub had a nice chile flavor; however, my husband isn’t a huge fan of the chile and similar spices. I enjoyed what I did taste. My husband acknowledged his faux pas, but did note that the pork was tender and well cooked and he enjoyed the tamales.
The balsamic vinegar & chili olive oil turned run-of-the-mill bread into a tasty palette neutralizer, as well.  Side dishes of caramelized Brussels sprouts smoked with bacon and cream and roasted veggies flanked our main course.  The veggies were roasted to perfection and the Brussels sprouts were sinfully delicious. Only magicians can make Brussels sprouts sinful, right?!? Either way, bacon makes everything awesome and cream makes it doubly so.
And just when you think it can’t get any better and the thought that the dryer must have shrunk my dress interrupts my thoughts, our awesome server offered up the desert options. While neither of us have a sweet tooth, it was our anniversary AND if I’m going to review a place I may as well go all the way for you guys.  Sadly, I cannot recall the name of the deliciousness we had, but take it from me the fruit was fresh, the cream homemade and the chocolate divine. Our evening was topped off with a sweet anniversary surprise of champagne with a candle.   I did this for you guys, remember that!
 If owner’s, Michael and Debi Matassa, could bottle the  magic that they create in their hospitality, service and dishes this world would be a better place and the populace a “robust” one! Al·che·my is defined as “any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value.”  Common foods come alive at Alchemy and I recommend you see for yourself.
 

Alchemy: Here I Come!

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Next up this week for a dining review is Alchemy in Hampden. The husband and I will be celebrating our wedding anniversary and hopefully enjoying what their website describes as, “creative fare.” Be on the look out for the review!

Can’t Get Enough- San Sushi Too

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Can I Get Another? Fun dining friends can make a mediocre dining experience a good one. However in last week’s friend-filled dining adventure, San Sushi Too didn’t need any assistance. Located in the heart of downtown Towson, MD, San Sushi Too offers up fresh and fabulous Maki, Nargi, and Sashimi sushi options and other traditional Japanese fare in a relaxed dining environment.

Having lived in Japan for five years, I have a passion for traditional Japanese fare and an adoration for wakame (a.k.a. seaweed.)   Though the menu did not offer a black seaweed salad option, their green seaweed dish was a nice complement to our sushi extravaganza. Did you know that seaweed salad not only tastes amazing, but is also good for you AND can help burn fatty tissue? This mere fact totally justifies an extra roll or two, right?!?

From the dynamite and spicy tuna rolls to the Thousand Island maki roll – the words fresh, flavorful and fun are still foremost in my mind and that of the group.  Even the sushi-hesitant will be blown away by their options and happy that they went out of their safety zone. My husband, who is the last to offer up Japanese as a dining option, thoroughly enjoyed the food and his “surprise me” roll, that our server personally selected.

Our server was attentive, but not over-the-top and had a great sense of humor. The restaurant was relatively busy and clientele ranged from young families to couples looking for a sushi-fix.  San Sushi Too is also owned and connected to Thai One On and if you desire adding some Thai cuisine to your dining experience, feel free to let your server know. We tried their Plar Goong, which is a half cooked shrimp, lemon and lime grass leafs  with a spicy Thai sauce, and it was dynamite! Oh, and SPICY... They’re not kidding when they use that descriptor folks. I enjoyed it, but my friend Rachel was a bit taken aback by the heat.

So, you might be saying, “there has to be something that this restaurant doesn’t do well.” Honestly, I didn’t find anything but a great casual dining experience. Maybe their bathrooms could use an aesthetic update… or perhaps, they could change the “motif” of their extra-large Saki service set. The Saki was wonderful, but I will admit that we referred to the set as the “hulk-stick” and may have ordered a 2nd and 3rd by this name. As you can see for yourself above. The verdict from the group was: San Sushi is a do-over, again-and-again! Have fun and grab yourself a “hulk-stick” while you’re at it.

Grand Cru = Far from Grand

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Good customer service is hard to come by these days. Should you plan on dining at Grand Cru in the near future, plan to keep on searching.

This wine bar is located in the Belvedere Square area of the Baltimore City and suburbia-Towson corridor. Parking can sometimes be a challenge, but the neighboring Belvedere Market is worth the hassle.  The wine bar on the other hand, not so much.

As far as wine and beer selections go, they do provide a nice array of options for the intermediate to above-average wine crowds. For Baltimore County resident’s who have few options for wine and beer “to-go” purchases on Sundays, Grand Cru is open for your imbibing fix.

My partner in wine/beer crime, Rachel, joined me here last night for some small snacks and a drink. Upon our entrance and inquiry about a table, the server stated, “I will take care of you when I’m done taking care of this dirty table.” Note; there were a number of clean tables available. After cleaning the table and shooting the proverbial shit with the bartender for ten minutes, he decided we were worthy of assistance.

With beverage and small plate orders in mind, we eagerly awaited – for another 10 minutes – to give our order. This was done by politely asking the bartender if we could order and if there was table service. His response was, “I guess I can walk over there and take your order.” P.S. There is table service, but apparently they weren’t in the mood and our original server never reappeared.

Our frosty beverages arrived in a timely fashion. Rachel selected a hoppy beer and apparently enjoyed it, given she ordered another later in the evening. (Yes, I did too!)  Yard’s Pale Ale. was my selection and it was quite refreshing.

Charcuterie and an alsatian creme fraiche, onion and lardons”pizza” arrived. Fortunately I was ravenous; however, I will not order the latter again.  The carmelized onions and lardons (savory cubed pork) overwhelmed the hands and palate with grease.The charcuteire was fairly well presented and tasty, but wasn’t a stand-out for these smoked meat fans.

If you’re in a bind on a Sunday and need a nice bottle of wine or a varied selection of beers for a dinner party, Grand Cru can serve this purpose. As far as serving up good service and a nice small plate to go with a fabulous glass of wine, don’t bother. This is not my first visit nor the only time the staff behaved like they’re doing me or my guests a favor.  So do yourself one instead – save your money and your pride.

After seeking out the bartender, successfully ordering and finishing one last pint, we decided we would call it an evening AND our last time at Grand Cru.

My (__Music__) “Problem”

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No MusicWho am I kidding? I have lots of problems!  But rather than unleash every skeleton in my already over burgeoning closet, today’s “problem” du jour is my affinity for music.

My affair with music began at birth. My Papa, Dad and Uncles played the banjo, the mandolin, the guitar – you name it – and Bluegrass was at the heart of nearly every song.    I could carry a note or two and was often found singing a song on Dad’s demand at a  jam-session with his buddies or at one of his band’s gigs at a local bar. Sitting at the end of a bar with my own personal trough of beer nuts, listening to my Dad sing, and play the guitar with as many Shirley Temples as I desired was my Daddy and Daughter time. Music joined us then and, to a degree, joins us today.  I may have successfully blamed a parent for one of my issues. Yay me!

Love for music continued through my youth and excitement for a dual tape deck with the ability to make mix tapes is as fresh in my memory as yesterday’s 100 degree 5 mile run. I still recall listening to Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” to lull my first broken heart, over-and-over again… Yup, I just admitted that.

My palette has and continues to grow over the years at a higher rate than the standard 4% of inflation – much to my budget conscience hubby’s chagrin.   This is where my music-love becomes problematic.  As far as iTunes is concerned my “problem” is lining their pockets and on a nearly daily basis.  If you also experience anxiety because you can’t afford to download every album and song you fall in love with, feel free to keep on reading. Those of you who abhor music should stop right now and put your head back in the sand.

Pandora and Rdio are great spots to stream tunes and discover new music that is similar to your “meat and potato” artists. (This would be my 2nd food reference.  I’m ravenous – random side note.)

If you have a special place in your heart for Independent artists & are budget aware – check out NoiseTrade  This FABULOUS website is one where you can download FREE albums, EPs, singles, or live recordings. However,  I do invite you to consider making a donation in Noise Trades “tip jar” to assist them in continuing to bring us  über talented artists. The word free and the act of donating to a good cause makes me all fluttery inside… Click here to read a great article about NoiseTrade, should you want to find out more about the site and it’s platform.

Another great spot to listen to some fun new music is by streaming my favorite local radio station, WTMD. They’re the bomb-diggity and run the gambit of indie and classic artist selections. They also play some Bluegrass which, as you know after my T.M.I. moment above, makes me a very happy girl.   I should mention WTMD was also one of the first radio stations to highlight what was once a little known artist named Adele back in the day. Neat-oh, eh?

Perhaps calling this music obsession of mine a problem is unfair. Rather than giving it a negative connotation maybe I should thank my Dad and Papa for giving me this gift of love.  Music has given me a great deal of somethings and a filled the void of whole lot of nothings. Taylor Swift said it best, “People haven’t always been there for me but music always has.” WORD, sister, word…

I hope this diatribe helps ya’ll find some new-found music to celebrate your somethings and fill your moments of nothings with. (Yes, that sentence ended with a preposition. Deal with it.)

 

 

I Run… What Do You Do?

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As a high school and college athlete, I despised any form of running. But as one matures (a.k.a. hits their 30s ), we often seek new adventures and challenges.  I did just that. Running and I renewed  a relationship around three years ago and, as many can attest to, I’m hooked!

Hooked not only encompasses a number of changes in my lifestyle , but also solicits many opinions from  family, friends and acquaintances.  So for you non-runners out there, I want to shed some light on we running-types.

Not every runner wants to run a marathon or has run one. SHOCKER, right? I started this running gig to find some “me time” and  “zen” (zen = meditative state, for today’s purposes.) Kudos to you Yoga folks who twist, turn and lift yourself physically and mentally. I tried it and it wasn’t for me. Running is: me, the road, my shoes, the horizon, the rhythm of my footfalls, and clearing my mind of the garbage. Along this ride, thus far, have been some 5ks and half-marathons with goals. #1 goal: finish the race ALIVE and if I can do better than I did last time that’s awesome!

As far as a marathon goes, I will do one someday and probably within the next 18 months. Why? Because I can do it, despite my brain and many of YOU thinking that I can’t.

YES, we runners can go on-and-on-and-on about running.  We get up at 5:30 a.m. for a run, while many of you are still sleeping and it can be a struggle to do so.  Our success/sense of accomplishment is based on sticking to a plan and often pushing ourselves through a weekly “I-almost-puked” speed workout to shave SECONDS off of our last and/or best race time.  Running involves challenging yourself and discipline. Both of which children subconsciously yearn for and many adults don’t have. I’m proud of myself and all be damned you might just hear about it.

Just because we run, does not mean we can eat what ever we want, and as much of it as we’d like. I wish this were true! As a runner increases their mileage they burn more energy and that means we may need more fuel, but how much fuel depends on how much you are running. I am not running a marathon in the near future, therefore I should not be eating like I am. I do however sometimes think I am a fish and therefore drink – on occasion – like one. Yes, some runners do, can and like to drink alcohol too. However, please accept our apologies if we don’t want to go on a bender with you the night before a 14 mile morning run. There is NOTHING cool about how that run goes and feels, if we give into  peer pressure.

We pay to run races that 99.9% of us will NOT win.  Yes, it is true.  Running, for most of us non-Olympian types, is about doing our personal best. Come on, isn’t that what life is about anyhow? Why not pay for a day to join a group of people who are reaching for that very same goal and along the way you get a cool shirt, medal, cheering squads and a celebration at the end for all of that hard work we’ve put in to get there?

People have hobbies and make different life style choices. Mine is running. I’m not crazy or obsessed. I’ve found my passion and I challenge you to find yours.