Daytripping

I love a good day trip, especially when it involves sampling the local foodie hangouts with family or friends.  Westport, CT is perfect for doing just that {so much so that we have tripped twice over the past few months}.  At a little over an hour from the city, Westport offers a healthy mix of restaurants, shops, and opportunity for outdoor explorations.

Our first stop, on both of our trips, has been the Saugatuck Craft Butchery, a butcher shop with a lovely cafe.  Think Connecticut's version of NOLA's Butcher.  The menus change weekly and, as you probably guessed, meat tends to be the star.  That being said, the accompaniments to the dishes, shine too.

Once you have eaten to your heart's content, head over to Sherwood Island State Park to walk along the beach and enjoy the scenery.  If you want to bring Fido along, note that dogs are allowed only from October 1st to April 14th.  If you are looking for more greenery, head to Trout Brook Valley Preserve which has over twenty miles of trails.

While there are many shops to explore in Westport, there is one which really makes me swoon, Terrain.  It is a huge space with treasures around every corner.  If you are a gardener or just like admiring all things green, the plant selection alone will impress.  The store offers a variety of workshops {for a small fee} - I had the opportunity to explore sun-printing with my mom, sister, and nieces in the beautiful outdoor garden.  If hunger strikes again, the store cafe features a farm-to-table lunch and dinner menu where you can sit indoors or out - definitely worth at least a nibble.  Compo Beach offers the perfect ending to a sweet escape - a place to enjoy the twinkle of the starlight and the sound of the waves.  









 

Canyon Lands

When originally mapping out our itinerary, I admittedly was less enthusiastic than I usually am.  Jesse had been dreaming of this trip for months, Canyon Lands 2014 {not to be mistaken for the park named Canyonlands}.  While the Grand Canyon had been on my to-visit list, our other stops did not grab me in the same way.  Nonetheless, I was up for an adventure and let Jesse take the lead.  He painted such an amazing picture of our plan that a couple of dear friends decided to join us on our excursion.

First stop: Las Vegas.  Since half of our group had never been, Vegas was a must.  One night was just right for me - enough to soak in the sights of the town and play a few hands of blackjack or a few rounds at the slot machines.  A few standouts were our stay at the Vdara and our brunch at Honey Salt.

We left the glitz of Las Vegas to immerse ourselves in the beauty of the West - in this case, pictures can tell only a piece of the experience.  The crisp, fresh air and the boundless landscapes bring such reprieve, especially when escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.

Our next stop was a two and a half hour drive from Vegas -- Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah.  If this destination is not on your radar,  add it because it will exceed the wildest of expectations.  Breathtaking {not the Seinfeld use of the term}, invigorating, and peaceful.

Sunsetting in Zion National Park

While we only had two nights here, we certainly took advantage of every minute, savoring the fresh air and the sunshine.  We filled our days with multiple hikes - the most memorable being Angel's Landing.  The trail was about 5 miles round-trip with multiple switchbacks, steep inclines, and narrow ridges wide enough for just one person to pass with sheer drops on either side.  Not exactly what some imagine for vacation, but it felt incredible to indulge in adventure.

Climbing Angel's Landing

Atop the trail

The town of Springdale was charming and had exactly what you want after climbing a trail like Angel's Landing - hearty meals and comfortable places to sleep {and a good coffee shop to fuel your mornings}.  

After saying goodbye to Zion, we drove east to Page, Arizona to stop to see Upper Antelope Canyon, which is a slot canyon where you could snap amazing photographs of scattered sunlight. Unfortunately, visitors are required to utilize a tour group, which ultimately means that dozens of people are herded through the canyon at one time while the tour guide snatches each person's camera to capture the supposed outline of a bear or the face of George Washington in the canyon walls.  If you are contemplating adding this to your itinerary, skip it and explore online or in guidebooks.

Onward we went to the Grand Canyon, where we had the opportunity to stay at one of the hotels right on the South Rim.  Two things caught me by surprise, although they really should not have.  First, the immensity of the canyon simply cannot be experienced until you are standing there overlooking a field of canyons for as far as your eye can see.  Second, I did not expect to be surrounded by people - not quite as bad as Disney World but close {maybe not that close}.  Certainly, the Grand Canyon is a sight to behold, but not necessarily a place to commune with nature and rejuvenate, unless you spend the time {and energy} to hike to the bottom.  While the Rim Trail did not sound as exciting as getting to the floor of the canyon, it was a great way to enjoy multiple perspectives and watch the sunset. 

 

Last, but not least, we drove two hours to Sedona for our last two nights.  Here, we slowed our pace a bit and reveled in the splendor of the red rocks {and even enjoyed a javelina sighting}.   We rented mountain bikes and set off for the Bell Rock Pathway.  I definitely learned that mountain biking is not as easy as it looks, but certainly a thrill. 

After an afternoon of biking, we refueled at ChocolaTree.  Sometimes healthful and delicious do not go hand in hand, but they definitely do at this cafe.  Restorative and refreshing smoothies were so craveable that we returned the next day before we headed to the Phoenix airport.  In fact, upon our return, we picked up a new blender to recreate our Sedona cafe experience.

This trip was unlike any other - incredibly active while also being invigorating.  Traveling with friends also proved to be wonderful.  Not only was it fun to catch up during long car rides, but also the additional companionship throughout the journey motivates the group to continue with the next adventure.  This type of trip though made it unbelievably difficult to return to a normal work routine where your hours are spent indoors behind a computer.  Weeks after our vacation we are longing to return - a sure sign of a well architected itinerary.

{If you want to view more landscape photos like the ones above, hop over to Jesse's flickr site}  

Best. Chocolate chip cookie. Ever

Look at this photo - need I say more?   

 

If you are in search of something to satisfy your sweet tooth, the Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookie is a fantastic bet.  Buttery crisp on the outside, pillowy soft on the inside, with melted chocolate swirled around hunks of walnut. 

This cookie is not dainty by any stretch of the imagination.  Instead, it is a perfect treat to share with your someone sweet {grab an early dinner because the bakery closes at 7!}.   

A Burger for Any Budget

While I am not a meat-centric gal, sometimes the craving for a burger strikes.  When it does, dozens of places may come to mind, but these two stand out amongst the rest.

Shake Shack is a New York institution, which has rapidly spread its reach across the nation and even beyond.  When I first moved here, Shake Shack was as close to a shack as a NYC food establishment could be with one small kiosk in Madison Square Park where patrons lined up {sometimes for over an hour} to sample something from the roadside-style menu.  Now, with Shake Shacks scattered throughout the city, it is a breeze to grab a cheeseburger whenever the craving strikes.

     
While many may prefer the ShackBurger which features the {not so secret} ShackSauce, I opt for the single cheeseburger {antibiotic and hormone-free} piled high with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle on the potato bun.  I know that west coasters praise In-N-Out, but Shake Shack has the go-to burger in my book.

When you want to splurge, Minetta Tavern is the place to visit.  When you walk in, you enter what I think of as classic New York - black and white checkered floors, tin ceilings, red leather banquettes.  Black and white photos line the walls, making you wonder who dined here decades ago.  While there are many items on the menu worth trying, I highly recommend their famous Black Label burger.  I typically am not a burger purist and instead add all of the possible accoutrements.  This burger was different though - prime dry-aged beef, caramelized onions that melt into the meat, and a sesame brioche bun.  It was simple, delicious, and craveable.

       
The Black Label burger costs a pretty penny, but it is worth it when you want to treat yourself.  Shake Shack, though, is easy on your budget and still satisfies the craving.  Find out for yourself and report back :)

Escape to New Orleans

This time last year, we were eating our way through New Orleans.  Very spontaneously, we planned a trip within just a few days, scooped up our parents since neither set had ever been, and we were on our way.

We had just two nights to explore the city -- and that was our only regret.  We arrived at the Hotel Modern in the Warehouse District, dropped our bags, said a quick hello to Miss Scarlett, and dashed off to our first stop.

Miss Scarlett

Butcher happened to be within walking distance of our hotel and was the perfect way to begin our tour of New Orleans.  This sandwich shop paid homage to a time when butcher shops thrived as part of a family's regular shopping routine.  Upon entering, we were greeted with sounds of the 50s - the likes of Elvis Presley and Little Richard - where you can't help but sing along.  I was transported back to my grandfather's butcher shop, dreaming that this is what it would have been today if it still existed.  I immediately knew that my parents would truly enjoy this pitstop and in fact, the entire group did.  My favorite was the muffuletta, a New Orleans classic, which certainly hit the craveable mark.

The food tour did not stop there.  We did not have enough meals in the day to sample all of the treasures of New Orleans, but we hit upon a few.  We devoted our time to walking between all of the sites, making sure sprinkled our walks with plenty of food stops to refuel.  While we stopped at some standbys such as Cafe Du Monde for beignets and Verti Marte for po-boys, we also took a gamble on an Italian restaurant called A Mano.  Not exactly what we had envisioned for our New Orleans experience, but it became a highlight {unfortunately, I learned it has since closed}.     

We ended our stay with the big brother of Butcher, Cochon.  The meal was delicious, but the muffuletta still wins the craveable prize. 

Introducing the craveables

As someone who lives in a city with restaurants, cafes, and bakeries dotted block by block, the options of what and where to eat next are truly never-ending.  Some of my friends, in fact, vow to never {or nearly never} eat at the same place twice.  I, on the other hand, am drawn back to my standbys because at least one item has lured me time and time again.  One word describes the exact feeling that these foods have the power to evoke - craveable.  After trying countless restaurants over the years, this is how I measure a restaurant now - did I have anything that I craved days or even weeks later?    

On a rainy day like today, I want to share the first of my craveables.  A cappuccino and a doughnut - a perfect pairing, especially these.  And they just so happen to be within close proximity of one another so that you can easily marry the two.

I recommend you start with the cappuccino from Oslo {422 East 75th}.  Otherwise, you may devour the doughnut just a few steps out of the bakery.  There are plenty of superb coffee shops in NYC, but the Oslo cappuccino has something different than the rest.  There is a depth of flavor which I do not find in most others.  Try it - you'll see.

Then, head up to Orwasher's {308 East 78th} for a hand-filled homemade-jelly doughnut.  If you do not normally like jelly doughnuts, know that neither did I.  This version converted me and has now ended up on my craveable list.  Go early because many others apparently have this on their list, too.
 

Winter Boost

The winter months, especially this year, beckon getaways to warmer climes.  Sometimes though, an escape, even if just an hour away, is enough to restore and recharge.  Hotel Fauchere {in Milford, PA} did just that for us last month.

When researching weekend getaways, I happened upon this hotel.  While the town of Milford has lovely small town allure, the draw was the hotel itself and it did not disappoint.  The staff warmly welcomed us on a very cold Friday evening, escorting us to our rather spacious {especially by New York City standards} room.  The hotel has the charm and personal touches of an inn, but also the luxuries of a grand hotel.

On Saturday morning, we woke to a continental breakfast, which typically does not entice me.  This, though, was crave-able.  Freshly squeezed orange juice.  Homemade vanilla bean yogurt.  Granola.  Cheddar and chive scones.  Bruleed grapefruit.  This set the stage beautifully for the rest of our day in which we gathered with our families, savoring meal upon meal, with some activity sprinkled in between.

Milford is situated perfectly for an outdoor enthusiast.   The Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area is a hop, skip, and jump away.  While the mounds of snow prevented us from viewing the waterfalls in the area {which we heard are quite scenic}, we did manage to find an open trail where we were able to take in the beautiful, crisp air as Friday bounded through the snow. 

Our next stop was Foster Hill Farm to visit the llamas - while it was a brief stop, it is not everyday that we have the opportunity to experience dozens of llamas. 

     
We returned to the hotel for a late lunch at Bar Louis, the more casual of the dining options at the Fauchere.  Our parents had sampled the cheeseburger the night prior and could not stop raving about it.  Of course, we had to try it - they were right {aren't they always?}.

 

We meandered through shops on the quaint Broad street - my favorite was Upriver because I swoon over home goods.  We ended our day with dinner at the Waterwheel Cafe.  We had arrived just as the kitchen was closing with just enough time to make flash decisions for our order.  The menu had a French and Vietnamese flair - exotic enough for those who are a touch more adventurous but also traditional enough for those who prefer meat and potatoes.  The dessert - one I never would have been tempted to try - has now become a favorite.  The sweet Marjolaine was the perfect end to a wonderful day.

After a restful night's sleep and another leisurely breakfast, we said farewell, grateful for the escape that made a regular weekend feel like a long one.