Charlotte Au Chocolat

I am having one of the most relaxing weekends in a long time.  I've slept in every morning, gotten in great workouts and had time to cook leisurely breakfasts.  Sure, we've been running errands, seeing family, and even a movie double date last night, but the theme of this weekend is pure relaxation.  It feels long overdue.

When I have free time, I love curling up on the couch with a good book.  I recently received an advance reading copy of Charlotte Au Chocolat: Memories of a Restaurant Girlhood by Charlotte Silver, and I loved curling up with it this weekend. 

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Charlotte Silver is the daughter of Deborah Hughes, the co-owner of Upstairs on the Square and the now-defunct Upstairs at the Pudding.  Charlotte writes about her experiences growing up in the restaurant industry and her two worlds in both the front of the house and in the kitchen of her mother's restaurant.  I easily devoured Charlotte's beautiful descriptions of food (especially her namesake Charlotte Au Chocolat!) and a nostalgic look at a Harvard Square that no longer exists.  But what I loved most was Charlotte's honest look back at her relationship with her mother.  From the book, I gather that we are about the same age and I could relate to her struggles with wanting to please her mother but also just trying to figure out what her mother really is all about.

The book officially hits bookstores on February 16th.  If you read it, I highly recommend that  you enjoy it while snuggling up in a big throw blanket with a cup of chocolate mint tea, as I did.  And make sure you have a pastry or two on hand.  Trust me, you won't regret it.

Do you enjoy reading novels and short stories about food as much as I do?  If so, what are some of your favorite food-related reads? 

The Best Thing I Ate All Weekend

It has been a jam-packed weekend for me.  I started it out Friday night with a tough workout at the gym and then treated myself to Hot Tomatoes takeout and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.  I planted myself on the couch and watched three episodes of the Pillars of the Earth, which was one of my favorite books from A.P. British Literature.

On Saturday Bret and I attended another fantastic cooking class and dim sum at Myers + Chang.  We spent the rest of Saturday down in Easton with his parents and we finally got to try out LOCO, a fantastic Spanish tapas and wine bar.  When we got back to Boston, we met up with my friend Teresa for a few drinks at the Hill Tavern, a local neighborhood bar.

Today was filled with lots of food and shopping at SOWA Open Market and the Boston's 1st Food Truck Festival.  I got to spend time with a few different food blogger and social media pals while waiting in some long lines!

I don't usually post blogs on Sunday but there was so much great stuff going on this weekend and I know that I will be writing more about a few of these things in detail this week.  But for now, as a teaser, I'll have to say that despite all of the great food I had this weekend, one dish stands out as the best thing I ate all weekend...

LOCO's Duo de Pato - seared foie gras and grilled duck sausage, grilled crostini and balsamic gastrique.

What's the best thing you ate this weekend?

Weekend Re-Cap: Spring is in the Air

This past week, the temperatures finally started to rise just in time for the first day of spring.  Due to a combination of the cold and wet weather, along with some major personal stresses going on, I've been keeping a low profile on the social scene but this weekend couldn't have been any more different.  Here are highlights of this past fabulous weekend:

• On Friday night, B and I both went to our respective gyms and then decided to stay in for a quiet date night - pizza and a movie.  We ordered a yummy salad and a ginormous pizza from Hot Tomatoes, a place we've never tried before.  Um, delicious.  The roasted garlic on their pizza was out of this world and they offer free delivery.  I'm definitely putting Hot Tomatoes on our list of go-to delivery places.  We also snuggled up to the movie Sunshine Cleaning.  Normally Amy Adams bugs me beyond belief but she was really great in this.

• On Saturday, I spent most of the day with my friend E who has been a real rock for me lately.  We started the morning off with pedicures (hello OPI Strawberry Margarita) and then shopping in the Back Bay.  

• When I got home, I decided to try a new recipe out for KK's birthday pre-party - mini bacon and cheese toasts!  I threw a half pound of cheddar cheese (cubed), one small white onion (roughly chopped) and two slices of smoky bacon (also roughly chopped) in the food processor and pulse until it makes a thick paste.  You put a generous spread on a toast point, broil it for six minutes and done!  

• After a few generous toasts of champagne at the pre-party, we were off to the Grand Canal for an often wobbly (I was rocking new heels) but always fun evening.  Happy birthday (again) to my fabulous friend and partner-in-crime, Kim!

• On Sunday, I spent most of the day recovering from the previous evening.  I had long standing plans to attend the Kimchi Festival in West Roxbury.  To be nice, I'll say it was interesting.  That's it.  We also ran into my pregnant and ever-fabulous friend J, grabbed a slice at Upper Crust for lunch, and ordered from Comella's takeout for dinner that night.  

All in all, a perfect weekend.  Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend as I did!

xoxo