Sometimes Mother Nature is a big help.
I know most of you think I’m nuts based on the US weather as of late.
This was my view this morning:
My camera couldn’t pick up the snow very well so I took some artistic license.
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The big day has arrived.
Hold me.
At work, we host a 3 day conference every year. This year’s being today. It’s been a little nuts (<– understatement) leading up to it… but I am really excited! Here’s a little bite of what life has looked like the past few days.
There have been early mornings.
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Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival is my frenemy.
It knocks me down, and still I come back for more.
It’s not just the wine talking though! Its the food. It’s #strangebutgood, it’s perfectly executed, it’s stuff you’ve never imagined… it’s the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.
Here is just a fraction of the goodness we sampled over 3 days. Some of it I couldn’t slow down enough to photograph. I can’t even believe there is so much fabulousness in the world….
I took a lot of classes this weekend.
If only high school had been this much fun.
Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival is my favorite event of the year. It’s not just another tasting tent cattle call. Food and wine experts come from all over the Southeast to teach classes, host tastings, and showcase their best on the tasting trails.
Food and wine are also great bonding agents. I tend to go to these event alone, which has lead to meeting a ton of great people. This year I went with my friend Stephanie, whom I met at last year’s festival in the beer and doughnut pairing class!
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House guests are my favorite.
Well, some guests…
This weekend I had the best guests possible – two of my favorite blogger friends! Heather and Sarah started out as internet friends, but we become fast “real” friends after meeting in person at food-related conferences (yet another reason you should attend the Blend Retreat!).
I was so excited to spend the weekend showing them more things I love about my city! Our first stop was to Atlanta’s “ethnic” food strip: Buford Highway. We dined on Vietnamese food at Chateau deSaigon. We have some sort of shrimp patty wrapped around sugar cane sticks, a sweet and sour tamarind soup, shaken beef, and burnt rice. The rice was my favorite, but the other tow said it reminded them of burnt popcorn. Probably why I liked it…
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I was going to write a nice, informative post…
…maybe I exaggerate.
I was going to write, but instead I spent the morning lazily making jicama nachos:
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Staying in town can feel like a vacation.
Not quiiiiite like going to Tahiti… but you know.
This weekend Sarah graced me with her presence. She drove in Monday night from Birmingham and we spent the next 2.5 days touring rainy Atlanta. It’s fun to entertain out-of-towners because you get to see your city in a whole new way!
Sarah arrived Friday afternoon with cookies in hand. She shared the Vegan Carob Peach Fudge Cookies from her #strangebutgood post Friday. They were the perfect appetizer before we headed to dinner. We did so much I have to break it up into 2 posts. Today is the “doing,” and the Atlanta food tour will happen Wednesday.
Saturday morning we hit my gym for a glute workout. Check out this IG video for a taste of what we did. Sarah hung like a champ! She’s a natural.
After a solid hour of hard work, I told Sarah she was ready to compete… so we practiced a pose (this is why I don’t do bikini):
Naturally this had to be followed with a trip to Buford Highway to shop the massive international farmer’s market, where we met up with Sarena. We were there for 2 hours… only a food-friend can understand how grocery shopping is an entertaining sightseeing activity.
I had told Sarah how cheap it is, but she was still shocked at how little her market finds were! The new-to-me treats this time were a Ponkan orange and some sort of Korean puffed rice crackers. I also found a giant bag of my favorite Chimes peanut butter ginger chews!
That market is massive – it’s like the size of Wal-Mart. You can browse an entire aisle of Mexican hot sauces, or sample baklava at the Easter European bakery or peruse greens you’ve never heard of before. Watching my friend wander around filled with wonder at all the international delights was the best part of my weekend.
Sarah left yesterday. After trying to convince her to stay, I sent her on her way in true blogger fashion – with a to-go container of protein oatmeal. More to come later in the week… I need to leave room to tell you about an amazing giveaway!
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I have been obsessed with Sizzlefish ever since I had the opportunity to try a box via Fitfluential. The fish is delicious – it surprised me how fresh it tastes despite being frozen.
Last week I pulled out a piece of the salmon to cook when I was short on groceries. It thawed while I was at work, so all I had to do when I got home was squeeze some lemon juice, dill, and pepper on top before broiling it for 7 mins. Easy dinner!
The awesome people at Sizzlefish agreed to do a special holiday giveaway! Not only will you win a box of this Holiday Sampler (worth $59!), but they will also send a box as a gift to a person of your choosing! Feel free to pick me. 😉
I’m a little sad it rained all weekend – I wanted to take Sarah on a walking tour! From the looks of it, everyone else had rain or snow too. Bring on the sunshine!
What is your favorite fish?
Do you consider grocery shopping a form of entertainment/tourism?
This weekend was relaxing.
My version of relaxing… which is active relaxed.
This was the first weekend in a long time where I didn’t HAVE to do anything productive. I still did lots of things, but it was nice to not have a set agenda.
Friday night I had an impromptu dinner with my mom at local Italian restaurant Double Zero. We had a great time catching up and eating. I hadn’t seen her since my competition!
My favorite dish was the grilled octopus with pancetta hash, asparagus puree, and citrus vinaigrette, but the lamb farro was a close second. It was a smoke and braise lamb shoulder with apricots, figs, fresh ricotta, and a poached egg. Next to all that the beet salad was underwhelming.
This next morning I woke up ravenous, so I threw together some quick pancakes. I am not the Pancake Queen, so I was surprised when they turned out to be quite good!
I posted this Almond-Chocolate Pancake recipe here. The topping was the icing on the (pan)cake. I used Lorann Oils Irish Cream flavor in it!
Then it was off to the gym for a glute workout with some of my teammates. I normally workout solo and forgot how much fun it is to have a gym morning with friends!
After the workout we stood around talking about food (of course), and my friend Rachael revealed she hadn’t been to Whole Foods before! I suggested a post-workout trip and off we went. 2 hours later, we were full of samples and hot bar boxes and Rachael learned why we lovingly call it “Whole Paycheck.” She Instagrammed her finds – have you ever tried any of these items? Black bean pasta and no-salt mustard are awesome!
Saturday night I had a friend date with Kat. I’ve been looking forward to catching up with her for weeks! We talked and laughed for hours. You know those friends who just “get” you? That’s Kat.
We ate at the bar at Kimball House. Their cocktail program is incredible! Their take on a Manhattan used cola bitters – coolest thing ever! The food was ok… I’d go back for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap.
Their take on a Manhattan with cola bitters, sautéed mushroom salad, and beef tartar
I took an “artsy” shot! Sort of:
Sunday was a beautiful day in Atlanta. It was sunny and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! I decided to go for a run and enjoy the weather… as soon as I stepped outside I realized that – despite the sun – it was in the 30s. About a mile into it I thawed out and enjoyed myself.
I love the trees with the red leaves. They look like they’re on fire!
When I returned I had a lot to do in the kitchen. All fun creations! It was kombucha-brewing day. I have been brewing my own for over a year now. It’s really easy, especially if you have a starter kit (you need a “mother” called a scoby). Mine was from Brooklyn Kombucha, but you could also beg a friend who brews for a scoby.
This week’s flavors are cranberry-ginger-lemon and blackberry-lemon-mint.
I also did some baking for the Sunday evening end of season party at my training gym, House of Payne. I’ll share my #strangebugood brownie recipe next week. 😉
This is what happens when a bunch of competitors get together for a post-season party. It’s ok… we’re bulking…
There were plenty of green veggies, clean sweet potato casseroles, and protein. That pic just wasn’t as much fun.
I am so thankful to have found Steve and his gym. This group of competitors is top-notch. Everyone is kind and always willing to lend a hand. They are funny, genuine people who I am proud to be associated with.
Linking up to Katie’s MIMM again – I’d say this “relaxing” weekend was pretty marvelous!
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I’m 100% enjoying food freedom again. Bulking season is my favorite.
When was the last time you had an agenda-free weekend?
Have you been to Whole Foods? Do you remember your first time?
