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!

Ransom Tavern | South Woodstock, VT

The Kedron Valley Inn is a brick colonial beacon of elegance on a dark December night, situated at a crossroads in South Woodstock, Vermont. Wide hewn wood floors and worn loom rugs give way to a procession of glass lamps and evergreen boughs dangling with dried oranges and Christmas ornaments. The Ransom Tavern is a bar full of intimate conversation over savory Neapolitan fare. 

Thick embroidered drapes hang in grand colonial windows. Eye-catching antiques, soothing artwork, and creamy upholstered furniture such as duo of royal blue velvet chairs framing a portrait of Abe Lincoln meet a festive, modern Vermont dining room. The brightly lit space is full of wooden tables, clipboard menus, cheerful waitresses, and an open kitchen backed by a wood fired pizza oven.  A convivial tavern is bustling with patrons and families. Reservations are recommended. 

The food is wonderfully good, soul nourishing, and executed with finesse. Cocktails abound from Nonna's Old Fashioned ($12) to the Wassail ($14) which comes steaming hot in a joyfully round teacup and saucer. The wine list is award-winning, I opt for a glass of R. Stuart + Co. Big Fire Pinot Noir ($14). It tastes of fig, rich cherry, and nutmeg. The Meatballs and Ricotta ($15) come with two nestled in a glistening red sauce. The Roasted Beets Salad ($15) hits just right with mixed greens, red and gold beets, goat cheese, and toasted pumpkin seeds in a maple vinaigrette. The pizzas achieve that outstandingly chewy meets crisp Neapolitan excellence, with topping combinations to swoon over. Consider a trio of mushrooms: shitake, cremini, and oyster, plus roasted garlic, mozzarella, arugula, and shaved parmesan over a fresh roasted butternut squash puree ~ The Gardener ($24) should be your #1 pizza pick.

Broccoli Rabe and Sausage ($24) lends a distinct flavor and spice from the fennel sausage, roasted red peppers, and an elegant chili oil. The Capricciosa ($28) with tomato sauce, artichokes, cotto ham, fresh mozzarella, and basil rounds out the parade of pizzas nicely. The kids ordered ice cream sundaes ($8) for dessert while the adults enjoyed a Tiramisu ($12) and a Mille Foglie ($12). With final sips of Carpineto Dogajolo Rosso ($11) we wound down our precious time at the Kedron Valley Inn.

From Church Hill Road to Peterkin Hill, we navigated the mountain back roads and excitedly crossed the Ottaqueechee River over Lincoln Covered Bridge. Crossing a covered bridge by happenstance is so quintessentially Vermont, a moment that always deserves just that - a moment.

Ransom Tavern | Kedron Valley Inn

4778 South Road

South Woodstock, VT 05071

AC Hotel Marriot | Boston

We recently had a really fun mid-week holiday staycation at the AC Hotel Boston Downtown; technically located in the South End at Ink Block and easily accessible to all the city has to offer. For us this meant even shorter commutes to work (to Assembly Row on the Orange Line for me and a 10 minute walk into South Boston for Bob) and the excitement of walking just a few blocks to some favorite South End restaurants for dinner!

AC Hotels are a new chain from the Marriot Brand where the experience is meant to feel stylish yet efficient. The sophistication is realized in the Boston Ink Block location through common spaces built with a designers eye featuring alluring artwork and unique décor. 

Rooms are sleek and purposeful, with bathrooms that by city standards are delightfully spacious. (It is such a shame when you arrive to an adequate hotel room but then the bathroom is poorly lit and cramped, am I right?) AC Hotels grasp the weary travelers need unpack and spread out, with a brightly lit wall to wall bathroom vanity and a large, relaxing spa shower. 

We stayed in a Larger Guest Room with a King Bed and a sofa which is harmoniously accommodating for a couple looking to unwind and rest easy. 

Travelers can expect similar amenities within each AC Hotel: a 24 hour fitness center, a full European inspired breakfast and a cocktail + small plates bar/lounge. Room Service is not offered. 

The AC fitness center was in excellent form. I loved how organized and inviting it felt and took advantage of the elliptical, the free weights and the yoga mats. On the elliptical I watched Netflix while I got in some cardio - (that is Schitt's Creek - hilarious show btw!) 

I freshened up and met Bob at the lounge for a soda water ;) (Clearly, I am pregnant and my drink photos a lot less exciting these days.) The menu at the AC Lounge looked pretty good, however, we were off to Myers + Chang for the best Chinese food in the city followed by cocktails and mocktails at Shore Leave - a new subterranean tiki bar that is a stones throw from the hotel. 

On our second staycation evening I met my sister for dinner at The Beehive meanwhile Bob attended his work holiday party at Bastille Kitchen. He also took advantage of a nightcap in the lounge before retreating back to our 6th floor accommodations. 

The AC lobby and lounge area proved a chic, welcoming atmosphere to kick back and unwind.

If everything else hadn't charmed and relaxed us, the full European inspired breakfast with a buffet plus two plated options from the AC Kitchen was sure to do the trick. 

You are greeted with a choice of coffee or Nespresso - take a seat in the spacious dining room and let the waitstaff brew you a latte or cappuccino. Then set your sites on the most impeccable breakfast spread to grace a hotel chain. The first day I tucked into an egg cazuela (which was flavorful but a little dry) and the most heavenly mini mason jar of maple walnut muesli. 

Fresh La Quercia Prosciutto is a thoughtful addition to the spread!

The second day, lavish steel cut oats to start topped with pecans and brown sugar, dried cranberries and apricots, plus fresh pineapple and blackberries - all the oatmeal fixings your heart desires. An a la carte open faced toast with scrambled egg, manchego cheese, arugula and La Quercia prosciutto was served warm and toasty, a preferable egg option. Also - slices of scali bread toast were essential because - those little squares of butter, apricot jam and nutella! 

This truly was one of the most inviting hotel breakfasts and a proud highlight of the brands job well done. 

Bob, Baby Luiso and I had a wonderful South End staycation amidst the December holiday rush. It is nice to welcome a fresh faced hotel to the scene - additional locations in the Boston area include: Cambridge (near Alewife), Station Landing in Medford and Cleveland Circle in Brighton. 

AC Hotel Boston Downtown

225 Albany Street

Boston, MA 02118

1-617-848-9063

Our stay was complimentary and included breakfast ($18 pp) and valet parking ($50 per day), all opinions are my own.