Beautiful Foods 2023

Thank you 2023 for good health and good food!

Here's to the home chefs and the dishes they prepared. 

Seared Scallops | Angel Hair Pasta, Lemon, Butter, Parsley

Pork Loaf | barbeque sauce, herb roasted potato wedges, green apple + cabbage slaw

 Lettuce Wraps | Sticky Rice, Yellow Pepper + Crispy Prosciutto

Thanksgiving Dinner!

Filet Mignon | mushrooms & asparagus in a bordelaise sauce

Christmas Dinner | Beef Tenderloin, twice baked potato, lemony brussels, homemade Caesar salad 

Mom's famous éclair ring

There will always be solace in gathering around an elegant (Simon Pearce x Target x vintage) table setting graced by a homecooked meal.

Here's to comfort,  joy and S U B S T A C K in 2024!

You can find me over there!

Primo | Rockland, Maine

Primo is the best of the best. I unknowingly had this place on my bucket list ever since Anthony Bourdain / No Reservations / Season 6 / 2010. I say unknowingly because I forgot the name entirely for years, but, traveling up here sparked my memory of the show - and an elusive restaurant - a white farmhouse on a hill - in Rockland, Maine....

Surprise! That's where Bob scored reservations for our engagement dinner (obviously having not discussed any plans with me, definitely having no idea about my memories from watching the show many years prior.) Fun how things work out like that. Very serendipitous!

The experience was unforgettable and the staff treated us like royalty! Seriously, I had never felt so special, post engagement glow and all that.

Seared Husdon Valley Foie Gras ($22) | chive biscuit, seared strawberries, madeira jus
Oysters Rockefeller ($17) | baked in the wood oven w bacon butter, spinach + parmesan
Cabernet Franc, Chateau du Hureau ($48) | “Saumur~Champigny” 2010 France
Pan Roasted Halibut ($38) | Maine shrimp + corn, asparagus, fiddleheads, spoonbread
Pork Saltimbocca ($33) | roast garlic mash, garden spinach, prosciutto + mushroom, madeira jus
Banana Pudding Parfait | house made Nilla wafers and baked meringue

Also check out Eater New England's 38 Essential Restaurants. I was glad to see Primo on that list.

Primo

2 Main Street

Rockland, ME 04841

Newport - Laguna - Huntington | California

Behold the laid back, surfer cool, palm tree lined, wide sandy beaches of Southern California.  It was my first time here!

We were staying in Santa Ana for a wedding and on the day of decided to spend the morning in Newport. We walked the pier and the beach, feeling invigorated by the suns warmth and salt water. Then we headed south to Laguna Beach. Downtown Laguna is bustling with fine art galleries and beachy shops; it is very picturesque and artsy. The landscape is essentially a canyon surrounded by rolling hills with wide arched beachfront coves. We had lunch at Nick's (440 South Coast Hwy) - a go to spot of the bride and groom. It was packed but we managed to snag seats at the bar next to the breezy open windows and street front patio. We loved the California comfort food menu: the Asparagus Fries ($11), Shrimp Taquitos ($13) and Spicy Thai Soba Noodle Salad ($18) were all terrific. The fun pink cocktail is a Spicy Paloma ($14) made with milagro reposado tequila, jalapeño, basil and grapefruit. 

After the wedding we road tripped east and spent time in the desert. On the return prior to our flight out of LGB we hung out in Huntington Beach. We had an early dinner at Duke's (317 Pacific Coast Hwy) located right at the pier - it was recommended by locals in the surf shop across the street and turned out to be a great meal. We started with Moana Margaritas ($11) and the Crispy Coconut Shrimp ($12) with lilikoi chili water + green papaya slaw. I had Sautéed Macadamia Nut + Herb Crusted Ono ($18) - a Hawaiian white fish dusted in parmesan panko with tomato lemon caper butter, house rice, bok choy + macadamia nut slaw. Bob went with the Chef's Cheeseburger ($16) - an angus chuck, brisket + hanger grind with smoked cheddar, black pepper bacon aioli, pickled Maui onions + arugula on a brioche bun with a side of grilled asparagus.  A pretty west coast sunset later and it was off to catch our red eye. 

While the beaches are nice, no doubt relaxed and sunny and beautiful, the desert was life changing and easily my favorite part of Southern California. Can't wait to share more!