Steve made this loaf of bread. With this recipe. Incredibly easy.
Virgina is for lovers? Maybe. On Sunday, Virginia was for famished people. Ask your wife – when women are hungry, they are HUNGRY and not afraid to be curt about it. We drove through the state today on our way to the National Bike Summit. If we’re on a long drive, and it’s between 12 and 2, the task falls to me (as the non-driver) to Yelp and UrbanSpoon my way to a good restaurant. By the time Steve mentions food, we’re usually both pretty hungry, which doesn’t do much for inter-marital relationships. Restaurants are a crap-shoot on Sundays. Most are closed and those that are open are shi-tay (worse case scenario: baked potato at Wendy’s). I swear, a miracle came upon us this Sunday, as we approached Staunton, Va.: Zynodoa. I have never been happier to be in a high-quality, local restaurant as I was today. It reminded me
Keep reading…
I’m going to end the blogging drought with some food talk! Steve and I visited about 35 states last year, and when I think of each state, one of the first things that comes to mind is food. I like to eat, and when you work on the road, seeking out good food is a hobby. If you know Steve and me, you know that one of our favorite restaurants in Boulder is Khow Thai. Not even because the food is good, but because the food and service are consistently good. I value consistency almost more than the food. It’s comforting to have a favorite restaurant that is consistently good. In any event, our favorite restaurant in Texas (not to mention Rudy’s BBQ, a post unto itself), was also a Thai restaurant: Titaya’s Thai Cuisine. This is the absolute best Thai I have ever had. I might have never been
Keep reading…
I felt bad after posting such a meaty recipe yesterday. Survey says that three out of five readers of this blog poo poo meat. I usually poo poo it too, but I’ve been cooking a lot of meat this week because I was finally able to make the gaggle of recipes I’ve been tearing out of magazines for the past few months, and I found a great local butcher here in South Lake Tahoe. I rarely eat meat at restaurants (bleh), so when I’m home and when I can find high-quality meat, I take advantage of the opportunity. We eat a lot vegetarian or vegan meals, especially when we cook out of a hotel room (read: one burner and at the lower limits of sanitary), so I’m always on the lookout for flavorful and complete meat-free meals. I made this one to garnish a dish last night (don’t ask what
Keep reading…
In September 2008, Steve and I traveled to Sweden on a Salomon-sponsored trip for their now-defunct women’s adventure program. Before and after our time with Salomon, we spent a few days on our own in and around Stockholm. On our very last night in the city, we had balls on our mind, and headed to *the* spot to grab Swedish meatballs: Den Gyldene Freden. As we rolled in and got settled (not to mention found the place), we realized that not only is DGF one of the nicest, most traditional places to eat in Stockholm, but aside from just a few appetizers, the “Svenska köttbullar med pressgurka, lingon och gräddsås” (meatballs) were the very cheapest thing on the menu by at least $15. We wanted the balls, stat, but we didn’t want to seem like cheapies either. But hey, these balls cost $30 a plate, so who’s a cheapie?! We
Keep reading…
Have you ever come across the Edible magazines? They’re usually free, and up for grabs at many local merchants. The magazines are usually written by local food enthusiasts and farmers, and cover all aspects of your local food system: farms, farmers markets, food policy, seasonal recipes, sustainable agriculture and upcoming local food events. The magazine is nationwide, but each region has its own edition (and it’s ever expanding). When we were in Chicago, that region’s Edible steered us to some delicious restaurants. The Santa Fe edition highlighted local food purveyors and growers. I was excited to spot the San Juan Mountains edition (the first edition for this region) while we were grabbing coffee in Cortez on our way to Telluride. It’s a really neat read, and I recommend it for anyone who’s interested in food and eating well. The local Boulder edition is called Edible Front Range. Here’s the link
Keep reading…
Who doesn’t like breakfast? Especially breakfast that involves spiiiice. The breakfast we had in Santa Fe, NM certainly stands out as our most memorable meal in New Mexico. Although we spent a fair amount of time in this state over the months (Gallup, Ruidoso, Las Cruces, Raton, not to mention ample highway miles), only one thing counts: bakery basket. If you are in Santa Fe, be sure to visit Tecolote Cafe. The breakfast entrees span the gamut: French toast from homemade breads, New Mexican spicy specialties (I had the sheepherder’s breakfast: boiled new red potatoes with jalapeño and onion, then browned on the grill, topped with red and green chile, melted cheddar, and two eggs any style), and BAKERY BASKETS! As soon as you place your order here (and regardless of your order), the server carries out a basket of homemade treats (instead of toast), including cinnamon rolls, biscuits and
Keep reading…
After Nevada comes… Arizona! We drifted into Prescott, Ariz. in mid-January, in the midst of an 80-year snow storm. We had plenty of work planned… but the for the first of many times this year, the weather forced us into a bar for the afternoon, instead of scoping out trail. Prescott reminds me a bit of Boulder with its people, awesome food selection and small town, independent charm. I hear the mountain biking is pretty stellar, and it’s relatively close to other mountain biking in the Southwest, if you want to make a roadtrip out of it. When you’re down there, be sure to try these three great restaurants: – Cafe Raven: organic/local cafe, with a beer list to beat the band and a comfy area to relax. – Pasquale’s Place: schnitzel and sauerkraut; what more would you ever need? – Prescott Brewing Company – local brewery with interesting brews
Keep reading…
On our way from Augusta, GA to the New River Gorge in WV, we took a little detour through Charleston, SC. Charleston is a perfect place to visit: very walkable, tasty restaurants, beautiful historic downtown and abounding outdoor activities. A day after the best Southern cookin’ I’ve ever had (I have little frame of reference, but I wholeheartedly welcome competition), we rode our bicycles down to Folly Beach, a little beachside community about 10 miles away from Charleston. We dipped our bikes in the Atlantic, and plan to do the same when we reach the Pacific in October! Here’s the evidence.
I’ve been trying to figure out a way to recount our travels through the United States, as well as characterize the sheer mileage we put in on our trusty Subarus. There are many factors that go into making a visit or trip a memorable one, and the factor that rises to the top is the food. So I’m going to start a new series – 50 States, 50 Eats. I’ll recap each state we’ve been to in culinary terms. For each state, I’ll mention my favorite restaurant, coffee shop, or food experience. And if you are passing through, you’ll know where to fill ‘ur belly! Since mid-January, we’ve been to 23 states – most of the Midwest and the East (aside from New England). We’ll visit about 6-10 more before the end of the year (fewer than the first half, as most of our visits in autumn are in California).
Keep reading…