6.18.14

Around Town ... La Brasa

In case you hadn't noticed, I love food. Most of my outings usually revolve around food. It should be embarrassing but eh, I'm okay with it. My most recent food outing was to La Brasa. New to Somerville, I made it here by way of le boyfriend. Walking in, I instantly knew I would like it. It's a little industrial but yet super homey. Let's just say, it made me feel "cool" but not so cool that I wasn't approachable (that makes sense, right?). The menu is tapas style, which really works here because although we ordered 6 items off the menu (yes, there were only 2 of us), we left satisfied and not stuffed. The menu brings together influences from Mexico, Peru (!), the Middle East, and so on. My favorites of the night were the Tiradito and the Benton's ham with ginger-rhubarb chutney. Oh, and you should probably check out their great cocktail list too ... if you're into that sort of thing.

Benton's ham.

Tiradito.

3.31.14

The Final Countdown

Wow wow wow. Do you ever think "Oh, my life is so boring" and then life answers by sending you a personal Tasmanian-devil that whirlwinds through your life and leaves you with whiplash? That's kinda how I feel right now. March has been a filled with friends and family, midterms, trips, and a little snapshot of what life will be like after school ends. It's hard to believe that in just one month, I will be done with school for (hopefully) ever. Time is flying by and while I love it, at the same time I feel like it makes it harder to savor the little moments. Moments where my cousin is next to me and I feel like I'm 10 again or when my girlfriends make me laugh so hard I feel like my abs could burst or when sitting in the library for hours feels like minutes (just kidding, it still feels like hours but I can't believe it will soon be over). Here's a few snapshots of those little moments:

Samantha and I enjoying live music at the Bell in Hand Tavern.

Had to check out Harpoon Beer Hall.

St. Patrick's day in Boston is a sight to see. 

Green beers at the Yard House.

Fenway Tour.

My cousin, Dominic, enjoying the array of small plates at State Park.

New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.

Peruvians love soccer fútbol.

Dominic brought me the best cider ever all the way from Sacramento.

A moment of quiet (and a dash of Spring?).

1.29.13

Around Town ... Olives and Grace

This past weekend, I was on a MISSION. The mission was to get myself to the South End and into Olives and Grace. Seriously. From the moment I saw what Olives and Grace was, I knew I had to see it for myself. This cute boutique is tucked away right off off Tremont St. Inside are the most carefully curated products from around the country, ranging from peanut butter to aprons to wood work. Not only did I walk away with great gifts but I also got the chance to meet store owner, Sophie. Hearing her talk about her vision for the store was inspiring. As an added treat, the very talented Sarah Sturges brought homemade good-for-you pesto and wine to try. All in all, it was absolutely lovely!

Run, don't walk. 

1.6.14

Weekend Recap

Hello, 2014! Less than a week into the new year and already I feel like I am off and running. After touching down from the Dominican Republic (post to come later), I had two days to unpack and repack. We drove up to Montreal where we were greeted by below zero temperatures. Even though I was wrapped up like an eskimo, it was still a great time. Back in Boston, the snow felt like it was never ending. Regardless, seeing friends, having a date night, and enjoying a 49ers win was the best kick off to 2014 I could have asked for.

Our fourth New Years Eve together.

Le Bier Markt. 

Great beer based cocktails and a very LONG list of imported beers.

If you ask people in Montreal, this is what I looked like. 

Our drive home took longer with the snow storm, but it made for a beautiful view.

Friday night we braved the cold to check out State Park with our friends. 

It has only been open for a few weeks but it feels like it has been around forever. The food was excellent (Kentucky Hot Brown, pictured above), they had pitchers of mixed drinks, and games! If you're in the mood for shuffle board, pool, or pin ball machines, this is your place!

My 49ers went up against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. In an attempt to make healthier snack choices, I made this roasted brussels sprout dish. Although the wrong color, it was a a hit (I'll make sure to put the recipe up soon!).

Tonight I'm off again, this time to California! 

I'm already loving 2014 so much.

12.6.13

 Around Town ... Daddy Jones

Every so often my friends and I take a break from grad school to check out new places or new-to-us places. I drove by Daddy Jones for almost a year until finally walking in. Being a wine girl, I didn't try the cocktails but let me tell you about the food. The menu is made up of Greek specialties and they're all pretty fantastic. If you're looking for a relaxed, cozy atmosphere for a girls night, I would recommend this place.