Passport Not Required: Part II

Bright and early Saturday morning, my parents and I ventured down to Over the Rhine to check out Findlay Market. I've been talking about taking my parents to the market for years, and I'm so glad we finally went!

See, Mom and Dad love a good market as much as I do. The first time I took them to Jungle Jim's, we spent not one, not two, but five hours there. It started innocently enough, mid-afternoon on a Saturday. We posed for a picture with the giant fiberglass banana outside. Then, we wandered up and down each aisle, including the regular ol' grocery aisles, at least once. We lost all sense of propriety with the cheese samples, and bought more ethnic and novelty food items than was probably wise. And we staggered out into the parking lot at 8 pm, feeling as if we'd run a marathon.

So, when we finally got around to making a trip to Findlay Market, I knew we were in for a good time.

We started with breakfast (dessert?) at Taste of Belgium.

Mom and Dad recently took a Mediterranean cruise. One morning, they disembarked in Cassis, France with strict instructions to be back on the ship by 11:00 am. All my Dad really wanted to do that morning was try an authentic French crepe, but none of the creperies in Cassis were open before my parents had to be back on the ship!

I also visited France just over a year ago, and I also left with an unrequited crepe craving.




Not to worry! I assured them. This may not be France, but it's Cincinnati, and Taste of Belgium makes some damn tasty crepes! Oh yeah, and then they have these waffles...

A word about the waffles. They're authentic Liege waffles, made from a thick yeast dough that looks a lot like sugar cookie dough. They're encrusted with a special Belgian beet sugar, which caramelizes in the waffle iron and lends a unique--and addictive--aroma, flavor, and crunch. Jean-Francois Flechet, owner of Taste of Belgium, grew up in Liege--it doesn't get any more authentic than that! And my parents and I were lucky enough to be served by Jean-Francois himself!

Mom and Dad put me in charge of ordering. I stepped up to the counter, thinking about how much Dad would love the Nutella-and-banana crepe. But when I looked into Jean-Francois' eyes, my mind went blank and a bold, adventuresome feeling overtook me. Lavender sugar, I heard myself say...

The lavender sugar crepe was a nice surprise. I was expecting a lavender-scented sugar, or perhaps a lavender-infused syrup. Wrong and wrong. The crepe was filled with a generous sprinkling of sugar and tiny, delicate, dried lavender buds. The lavender flavor was quite strong. If your only experience with lavender has been in the shower, prepare to have your world turned upside-down! The crepe wasn't the favorite of the day, but we were glad we tried it!

But the waffles? Oh, these waffles...they're like nothing I've ever had. They're like...a waffle and a sugar cookie got together, made a whole lot of love, and had these sweet, hot, doughy, chewy, caramelized-sugar bejeweled little rounds of joy. Pure ecstasy is what they are. Half a bite in, Mom pronounced them the most delicious thing she's ever eaten.

Then, we walked.

 

 

The market was in full swing, the streets teeming with people and the farmers' stands overflowing with breads, honey, jams, soaps, candles, and fresh produce.

We even bumped into a few people we knew--Joe and Lois Santangelo of Oakley Wines, a coworker, a friend from graduate school, a new acquaintance from Friday night's wine tasting. Even the guy from Bouchard's with the crooked hat who's always selling fresh pasta at the Hyde Park Farmers' Market on Sundays said hello.

It was wonderful to see so many people out supporting the local culture and economy, and to feel such a strong sense of community.

We were enjoying ourselves so much that we decided to stay for lunch!

After a couple more laps around the market to check out all the dining options, the aroma from Eckerlin's grill lured us in. Mom had a grilled chicken sandwich, and Dad and I had cheese-less burgers.

My undressed little burger tasted just as tempting as we'd all like to look naked. Nestled on a soft egg bun, the moist, fresh beef was adorned only with crisp iceberg lettuce, a slice of farm-fresh tomato, a little sweet onion, and a generous squeeze of brown mustard (because it's mustard, and I'm powerless to resist). I like my burgers medium-rare, and this one was well past that, but somehow still juicy without being overly fatty.

Dad and I also shared a Christian Moerlein Helles Lager. Because, well, I like beer. And if it's good and local and there's someone to share it with, so much the better.

Dojo Gelato provided the coup de grace.

From the top: Mom's Sea Salt Caramel and Vietnamese Coffee, Dad's Coconut Stracciatella and Orange Mango, and my Curra's Avocado and Orange Mango.






That's right. Avocado. With lime and cilantro. Delightful, it was!
 

So far, we've sipped wine from Argentina, Australia, Italy, and the USA, and we've sampled the cuisine of France, Belgium, and Italy...all without leaving Cincinnati. Stay tuned for Part III, in which we visit Hungary!

Passport Not Required: Part I

My parents came to town for a visit this weekend, and we spent three pleasurable days exploring Cincinnati. I just love sharing my city with out-of-town guests!

We kicked off the weekend with a wine tasting at Oakley Wines, a little shop around the corner that features a unique and thoughtful variety of wines from all over the world.

Oakley Wines offers a wine tasting every Friday evening. For $5, you can sample seven unique wines, which are often the favorites of owners Joe and Lois Santangelo. In addition to the wine and the welcome mat, Joe and Lois also roll out the snacks. They're all about supporting local business, so they often feature a couple of cheeses from Findlay Market or spreads from Hyde Park Fish Market. They've also been known to serve homemade olive tapenade and hummus.

Says Joe, there are only two rules at Oakley Wines' Friday night tastings: "No empty glasses, and eat a lot!"

And here's one more rule for you: All of Oakley Wines' bottles sell for $20 or less. Now those are some rules I can get behind!

Apart from the casual, laid-back vibe, the wine, and the snacks, I always enjoy a tasting at Oakley Wines because Joe and Lois, and the rest of their clientele, are just so darn nice.

I mean, the first time I stopped into the shop was last October, the weekend after I moved to the neighborhood and the same weekend the shop opened. I was in my running tights, huffing and sweating and panting, "Oh, just moved in and saw you were open--couldn't wait to stop in!". But Joe and Lois welcomed me to the neighborhood and to their shop, and chatted happily with me about the shop, the wine, and their passion for traveling and bring little pieces of the world back to Oakley.

I've been in for the Friday night wine tastings several times this summer, and they recognize me now, welcoming me back each time with a smile and a "Glad you're back! How've you been?"

There's always someone ready to strike up a conversation. On Friday, we all really enjoyed chatting it up with Joe and Lois!

My parents and I sampled a variety of interesting wines from all over the United States and world, including:

• Tierra de Luna Torrontes-Chardonnay 2009 (Argentina)
  
• Yering Marsanne-Viognier-Roussanne 2005 (Australia)
• Payout Longshot 2008 (California), a Viognier with "bits of Roussanne and Riesling
• Il Follo Prosecco (Italy)
  
• Monte Volpe Primo Rosso 2007 (California), a red blend
  
• Airlie Pinot Noir 2008 (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
• Parlay the Bookmaker 2008 (California), a Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Petit Sirah, Zinfandel, and Petit Verdot

Of the whites, Mom and Dad liked the Torrontes-Chard, which was light and refreshing, with just a hint of richness from the Chardonnay. My pick was the Yering MVR, because the flavor seemed to unfold more and more as I sipped.

Of the reds, Mom and Dad got happy over the Primo Rosso, while I fell for the Bookmaker, as much for his full-bodied flavor and silky tannins as for his name!

Of course, no casual night out in Oakley would be complete without a stop at Dewey's Pizza and Aglamesis Brothers. We were crushed to learn that we'd missed the end of Aglamesis' seasonal Peach ice cream, so we consoled ourselves with a selection of their other decadent and delicious flavors. Dad had the Black Raspberry Chip, Mom--the coffee connoisseur--had the Mocha Chip, and I had the Banana Chip. It was serious stuff, people, with big chunks of real banana!

Afterward, it was off to bed to rest up for an adventure-filled Saturday...

Marty's Hops & Vines

Last Friday night, I rounded up a friend and we went to Marty's Hops & Vines, a new wine and beer shop in College Hill. In addition to their selection of fine wines, craft and import beers, and gifts, Marty's has a bar and serves a selection of small plates. Marty's also features Wednesday night beer tastings, Friday night wine tastings, and live music.

The atmosphere inside the shop was warm, comfortable, and inviting, while the service was courteous, knowledgeable, and appropriately playful. It felt like the kind of place where you could relax for awhile, chat with the other patrons, laugh a little, learn a little, and maybe even become a regular.

My friend and I tasted some fabulous vino. My favorite was the Clos de Los Siete, an Argentinian blend of Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

 We also shared a couple of small plates.

Olive Tapenade

Dates with Mascarpone and Shaved Chocolate

The scratch-made tapenades were savory and salty. The dates, with their fluffy clouds of mascarpone filling, sweet and decadent.

When we left around 9, the bar was beginning to fill up and the live music was just getting started. We really enjoyed our experience at Marty's Hops & Vines, and I hope to visit again soon. I'd really love to check out a beer tasting next time!

Let's Get Organized

For lunch today, I polished off the rest of a cold quinoa salad I made the other night. I love cold salads like this because they're healthy, tasty, economical, and really refreshing when it's hot outside. They're also simple to prepare. You really don't need a recipe at all--just use your tastebuds and your imagination!

OK, maybe it wasn't very pretty, but what it lacked in beauty it made up for in flavor. Promise!

I happened to have fresh corn, tomatoes, and a jalapeno pepper from the farmers' market. I also had leftover cilantro, as well as a can of chili beans that I inherited from my grandma's pantry when she moved a couple of weeks ago. (See? Economical!)

Quinoa Salad with Beans, Corn, and Tomatoes

3/4 cup quinoa (or, 3-4 servings of your favorite grain)
1 can chili beans, drained (or, a can of your favorite beans)
2 ears fresh corn, sliced from ear
2 large tomatoes, diced
3 scallions, white and green parts, sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
handful fresh cilantro
1 medium avocado, diced (or, mashed with garlic and lemon or lime juice)

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions.
2. While the quinoa cooks, prepare the vegetables.
3. Add the beans and corn to the quinoa for the last 5 minutes of cooking time. 
4. Mix the quinoa, beans, and corn with the tomatoes, scallions, and pepper.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve topped with avocado.

 

Delicious warm or cold, my salad made enough for four meals. It was perfect for packing in my lunch today--I just tossed it in my lunch tote with an ice pack and I was ready to go!


I spent a productive 9 hours at the day job today, and I accomplished a lot. Right now I'm working on getting organized to start the year, so I spent my morning organizing my files and putting big dates and projects into my planner.

This year I'm trying something new: In my planner, I listed all of my big projects and due dates by month. Periodically, I'll review those lists, break each project down into steps, and make daily to-do lists. I experimented with this at the end of last year, and I found that it really helped me to prioritize, stay focused, and not over-commit myself. There will definitely be things that pop up throughout the year, but it feels good to start out with a clear view of the "big picture." Getting everything down on paper today also helped calm my nerves about starting the year.

I spent the rest of the day working on another fun project, and I also enjoyed catching up with several of my coworkers.

There's no air conditioning in my room at work, and it was screamin' hot today! I worked up a nice sweat just typing away at my desk. Therefore, I'm blowing off my regular Tuesday workout to join my friend Carrie to see Eat, Pray, Love. I'm excited--I read the book a couple of years ago and loved it, and I think they cast some great actors in the movie!

I'm not only trying to get organized at work; I'm also trying to figure out how to balance my new hobby (writing Crave and Create) with the day job and the rest of my life. I'd like to keep writing daily and post at least three times weekly, but the day job has a way of getting crazy, so I think I'll just need to experiment and see what works best. I think we're off to a good start, and I hope you'll stick with me for the ride!

Blackberry Jam

A few weeks ago, I went to the Northside Farmers' Market and brought home some beautiful fresh blackberries. I love to cook, but most of the fresh fruit that I buy goes from hand to mouth far too quickly to be made into anything. No shame there--it's one of nature's best examples of how delicious simple can be! But visions of jewel-toned jars of homemade jam from the market were dancing in my head, and I decided that my blackberries were grown just to be turned into jam.

I had never tried to make jam, so I did a little Googling and found this recipe for blackberry jam at Savory Sweet Life. Like most of the other recipes I read, this one called for a 1:1 ratio of berries to sugar. Unlike most other recipes, this one didn't call for pectin, which I liked because I wanted to keep my jam as simple as possible.

I was also curious to see if I could reduce the amount of sugar in my jam while holding onto the yum factor. Since the berries were so sweet already, I reduced the amount of sugar in the original recipe by half, and I used just a touch of champagne vinegar in place of the lemon juice.

The jam was so simple to make, and really delicious! The vinegar added just the right amount of tang to counterbalance the sweetness. I enjoyed it so much that I also made a blueberry jam using the same recipe.

Here's the recipe with my changes: 

Basic Jam without Pectin
(makes about 1 cup, or 16 servings)

1 cup fresh berries
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons champagne or apple cider vinegar

1. Combine the berries and sugar in a small saucepan and heat until bubbling, stirring often and mashing berries with a spoon. (If you're using blueberries, you may wish to add just a touch of water.)
2. When sugar has dissolved, reduce heat and simmer until the jam is almost as thick as you like it. (It will thicken slightly as it cools.) Since we aren't using pectin, you may need to cook your jam for quite awhile if you like it thick!
3. Stir in vinegar to taste. 

 Enjoy!

Charge Me Up

My day job recommences at 6:30 AM tomorrow. I'll return with a mixture of hope and trepidation. Along with the inherent rewards of my profession, my daily work brings with it a lot of stress and anxiety. I expect that this year will be a wild ride, filled with work and change, growth and loss.

My main goal this year is to keep working toward a healthier balance. Work, with play. Self-improvement, with self-love. Dreams, with action. I don't want to feel like I'm fighting and pushing all the time. I'd be happy with a nice, healthy strive.

Today I took some time to breathe, be kind to myself, and charge up for the months ahead.

I said nice things to myself. (You should try it, too.)

I took my weekly walk to the Hyde Park Farmers' Market, where I bought heirloom tomatoes and apples (my first of the season!).

I also bought two great big cookies from Donna's Gourmet (to be shared with friends), and this beautiful and delicious cappuccino from La Terza.

On my way home, I stopped to sit in the square.

I listened to a woman play the piano.

















She played with her eyes closed, swaying to the music. At one point, after a flamboyant run, she threw back her head, smiled, and then bubbled over with laughter.

I asked her how long she'd been playing. She said, "Since I was nine." Did she play professionally? Another laugh, "Sometimes." Ah, maybe she has a day job, too.

Is that the key to happiness and balance? Finding the thing that makes you throw your head back and laugh, and running with it?

Try This: Frozen Yogurt

You've heard of freezing regular old yogurt for a cool treat, right? Me too. I'd even tried it a few times, always ending up with an unappetizing, rock-solid, yogurt ice cube that you'd need an ice pick to eat.

The trick, as I learned from Sarah at The Smart Kitchen? Just don't leave it in the freezer for so long! (Gotta be smarter than the freezer, right?)

Want to try it?

Go get a single-serving container of yogurt in your favorite dessert-y flavor.

Pop it in the freezer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It should take a good, hard squeeze to get the sized of the container to give in a little.

Rip the top off and dig in. Marvel at the frosty perimeter and cool, creamy center.

I like Trader Joe's European Style Chocolate. It tastes sort of like...a Wendy's frosty. The only thing missing? French fries for dipping!