Trevis from POP Beauty
Want.
Last night I met one of my best friends from high school, Maron, at Lillie’s for a beer. Lillie’s describes itself as an “Irish-Victorian restaurant”; I’m not sure what that means, other than that they serve Irish pub fare, but I did appreciate the rough wood, antique carvings and extensive beer list. I started with a Bud Light, because…well…I like them, but Maron quickly turned me on to the deliciousness that is Chimay Rouge.
The bar is named for Emilie (Lillie) Le Breton, an actress and model who was mistress to the King of England and served as Oscar Wilde’s muse.
Kendrick’s old (and my new favorite) shirt, vintage necklace.
Contrary to what you may imagine based on my last few posts, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth (I’d generally choose cheese or one of those enormous deli pickles over a piece of chocolate). However, I make an exception for the Five Star bars, which Steve Almond rhapsodizes over in CandyFreak and which I tracked down (at Dean & Deluca) immediately after reading the book for the first time. They are, quite simply, the best candy bars I’ve ever eaten. I’m a little confused why they chose to base their latest bar around granola (seriously…GRANOLA?), but I can vouch that all the other flavors are spectacular.
My favorites: Fruit & Nut and Hazlenut. Order them here.
CandyDirect "Vintage" Candy
Link: CandyDirect "Vintage" Candy
This site is a must-see for anyone with fond memories of a discontinued or vintage confection. Black Jack Gum, Zagnut, Peanut Chews, Cup O’ Golds…they’re all there. You can search by everything from candy type to color to shape, and you can make customized gifts or purchase in bulk (perfect for wedding favors!).
My favorite nostalgic confection isn’t a candy…it’s actually a pastry, and I am totally desperate to hunt one down. When I was a little girl, I used to go to the corner store for single-serving chocolate pudding pies: not-too-sweet chocolate pudding in a glazed pastry shell (I think it may have been cream-colored), packaged in wax paper. I don’t think it was Hostess brand, because I’ve tried those since and they aren’t nearly as good…or maybe Hostess just messed with the recipe?
Anyone know what I’m talking about? Also…what’s your favorite nostalgic candy?
Presenting…a Goo Goo Cluster.
Manufactured by the Standard Candy Company in Nashville (where my lovely friend Nes, who also loves her some Goo Goos, lives), these delicious things are composed of a caramel/marshmallow core, roasted peanuts, and a thick layer of chocolate. They’re pretty tough to find in these parts, but are definitely worth sampling next time you head down South. Standard also makes Goo Goo Supremes (which substitute pecans for peanuts and have a slightly maple-y aftertaste) and Peanut Butter Goo Goos (which I’ve never tried, but which I hear are a touch too peanut butter-y).
If you simply must have one now, go ahead and order yourself a box here.
Our favorite cleanse at Robert Verdi’s fashion week suite. Yum.
And that would be MY favorite cleanse in the background!
Kidding, kidding…sorta :)
What I’m reading while I sit in jury duty for two days: Steven Almond’s Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America. The author, an admitted “freak” for everything chocolatey, sugary, and nutty (although, oddly, not almonds), goes on a journey across America to document the efforts of regional candymakers before they fall victim to the monopoly of the “Big Three.”
Between the World Wars, candy manufacturing exploded in America, with thousands of boutique confectioners springing up in every state. Gradually, however, the three “majors” (Hershey’s, Nestle, and Mars - later renamed Masterfoods) took over, and the smaller manufacturers were slowly driven out of business. Almond travels from Boston, where he meets with the foremost expert in the candy business, Ray Broekel, to Nashville, where he discovers the wonder that is the Goo Goo Cluster (I can vouch for this one), all the while including searingly funny anecdotes and a healthy dose of awareness that this is all, really, quite weird.
This is the second time I’ve read the book, and it’s even better this time around. There are echoes of Sedaris, and even Philip Roth…and for someone who adores both food writing and Portnoy’s Complaint, this book is just about perfect.
The Best Apps for Eating In
Link: The Best Apps for Eating In
The Huffington Post has officially declared Feb 22-28 “The Week of Eating In.” Inspired by Cathy Erway, author of The Art of Eating In (looking forward to reading this!), the experiment is intended to get those who take the pledge to make good food decisions both for themselves and for the planet.
Check out the above link to learn about some helpful apps for eating in, including the Locavore app (which automatically senses your location and tells you what’s freshest in your part of the country) and The Grocery Gadget (which streamlines the food-shopping process).
Love it!
Monday night’s House-Sitting Dinner: 10-Minute Spaghetti “Bolognese” (actually fettuccini) and Mom’s Biscuits.
Mom’s Biscuits
Why is it that parents always have everything you’d ever need sitting in their kitchens? Whenever I cook, I end up running to the store at the last minute (or, more accurately, sending Kendrick running to the store) for some ingredient that I forgot.
