The Inn At Little Washington Double Date

Last night we enjoyed an Inn At Little Washington double date!

While we shopped at Eataly and The Union Square Farmer’s Market yesterday, Bo and I were inspired to cook in versus going out. The fresh summer vegetables inspired us to create a summer menu from a mix of Inn at Little Washington recipes.

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A few years ago, Bo and I discovered The Inn At Little Washington cookbook while visiting my aunt and uncle in Vermont. Her copy of the cookbook was loved and worn as she references it almost weekly for it’s delicious Southern dishes with a new American and fresh food spin.

IMG_3736 (640x478) Check out those amazing pictures!

Bo wants to cook as much as possible between now and August 15th. Instead of just cooking for ourselves, we decided that having a guest would make for a perfect Saturday night.

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Theodora and Bailey were our dinner date last night! IMG_3740 (640x478)

While Bo started in the kitchen I organized the house and made sure we had a nice dining area, fit for a delicious dinner.

IMG_3733 (640x478)Our kitchen looked like our own farmers market! There were fresh fruits and vegetables bringing color to every nook and cranny of our kitchen! IMG_3735 (640x478) A Fresh Summer Feast Menu

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Two dozen fresh Wellfleet oysters drizzled with fresh lemon juice

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Garden Tomato Salad with Grilled Red Onions, Fresh Basil, and Asiago Cheese

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Lightly fried Snapper

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Silver Corn Sauté

Unfortunately, none of these recipes are featured online but they do have some of their popular recipes on their site.

If you’re looking for a new cookbook to add to your collection, I can’t recommend this one enough. It is a cookbook that even a beginner chef can appreciate as it takes everyday ingredients, many of which are in your pantry or kitchen, to new levels. They are delicious straightforward dishes which will remind you why it eating seasonal and local meals tastes so right. IMG_3760 (640x478)

The entire meal, from start to finish, was delicious, fresh, and left us satiated.

It was such a pleasure sharing our Saturday tradition with a friend..

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Entwine: Food Network’s New Wine

 

Last night was my first blog event that didn’t revolve around a workout, healthy living product, or cooking. Instead, I was able to toast the evening away with Theodora and a hilarious Food Network personality, Anne Burrell.

IMG_3556 (640x478) This Fall, Food Network’s new wine, Entwine, will be hitting your local grocery store and wine store shelves! These four lovely bottles will each find their place amongst the other wines, perched above the Yellowtails of the aisle and below the Cake Bread. Priced between $8-$12, this is a wine from a quality vineyard for the everyday American who can’t understand the average sommelier’s description and is easily intimidated at the wine store.

IMG_3557 (640x478) Theodora and I were greeted at Kitchen NYC by a number of friendly wine and social bloggers along with some amazing press.

IMG_3564 (640x478) Our wine glasses were each labeled with our name and blog or magazine name so there was no confusion. How stinking cute is this? I can’t wait to use the wax crayon method at our next party!

IMG_3565 (640x478) There are four varieties of Entwine, each of which were quite nice.

Everyone started with the Pinot Grigio since it greeted us at the entrance.

IMG_3559 (640x478) The 2009 Pinot Grigio is 13.0% alcohol and comes from California grapes. It is described as crisp, refreshing, and citrusy; perfectly paired with salty cheeses, guacamole, or Asian takeout!

This wine was paired with scallops. The scallop was sautéed and then dressed with a citrus and pomegranate vinaigrette. I love scallops!

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My favorite wine of the night was next, the Chardonnay. This 2009 Chardonnay was aged 15 months in oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Many people were chatting about how easy it went down and they weren’t wrong. This easy drinking wine pairs perfectly with potato chips, grilled cheese, cream sauces, or even roast chicken. This is the perfect wine for a weekday girls night! IMG_3569 (640x478)

It was paired with a delicious chicken and chutney dish.

IMG_3571 (640x478) Next, we ventured into the kitchen area for a taste of red.

IMG_3575 (640x478)Neither the Merlot or Cabernet were memorable but both were more than palatable and could easily be enjoyed curled up on the couch with a good book on a cold winter evening.

IMG_3584 (640x478)The Merlot, was aged for 12 months and is described as being juicy and mouth watering. The suggested pairings are pizza, meatloaf, pasta, and weeknight dinners. IMG_3589 (640x478)The Cabernet Sauvignon, our last wine of the evening, was aged for 12 months and is rich, fruity, and herbaceous. It pairs perfectly with steak and potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, or the delicious lamb in the picture below. The lamb dish is one of Anne’s recipes and was my favorite dish of the night.

IMG_3591 (640x478) During our tasting, the men and women behind Entwine were around for meet and greet sessions, including Anne Burrell and the very attractive Karl D. Wente, the fifth generation winemaker behind the wine.

IMG_3581 (640x478)386 (640x446) Anne was by far my favorite person! She was just as hilarious in person as on Food Network.

DSC_0772 (1) (640x428)Unbeknownst to me, she used to teach at the Institute of Culinary Education. During her time there she instilled upon her students her love of wine in simple terms. You should drink what you like, versus trying find the “light forest floor or leather notes” in wine. Wine shouldn’t be scary or intimidating. This is one of the reasons why she’s so passionate about Entwine. Entwine is all about loving your wine in the same way you love your food. The descriptions sound more like menus than wine labels.

It was an amazing evening with some wonderful new friends. I look forward to following some of the New York City wine blogs and Entwine. Hopefully it will hit NYC shelves quickly as it is definitely a perfect weeknight wine choice. If you’re a friend of mine, you’ll more than likely be offered a glass of the chardonnay this Fall!

Thank you Food Network and Wente Wines for a wonderful evening!

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Hershey’s Air Delight Helicopter and Hot Air Balloon Adventure

 

Never in my life have I had an experience quite like last night. Theodora and I had the incredible opportunity to be whisked away by a black car for an evening adventure with Hershey’s who was celebrating the launch of their new aerated chocolate, Air Delight Chocolates.

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Our first destination was the 30th Street Heliport. I have run past the heliport many times but never been inside the gates.

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While they didn’t know it at the time, Hershey’s was giving me the opportunity to check off two items from my bucket list: helicopter and hot air balloon rides.

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I was so excited I could barely take a normal picture; while Theodora was scared sick. We were each other’s date for the evening but my sole purpose was to give her the confidence to enjoy the trip.

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It was everything I hoped it would be and more. While the ride was quite noisy it was very relaxing and the views were unbelievable. We were lower than a plane, so you could make out the sights perfectly but we were high enough to be able to see for miles and miles!

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Once we climbed in and buckled up we were off! I think she almost killed me when I requested the front row seat for us. Oh well, it resulted in amazing views!

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Theodora and I spent the next 20 minutes in awe taking hundreds of pictures and just gasping.

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Clearly Theodora and I both love our Jack Roger sandals and bright toenail polish; perfect for this summer adventure!

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From our view, Newark Airport looked more like a toy airport with little planes than a bustling international airport.

In case you ever wondered where all the cabs hung out, we spotted them!

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Within twenty minutes we reached a huge field in rural New Jersey where the New Jersey Hot Air Balloon festival is taking place.

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There was a golf cart awaiting our arrival, ready to take us to the hot air balloon! The Hershey team was super friendly and very excited to see us and hear that our first ride had been smooth and breath taking.

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Upon arriving, we found out that the hot air balloon would remain tethered to the ground during our adventure but we’d still be able to go up over 100 feet and see what it feels like to ride in a hot air balloon.

It’s hot but incredible!

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The Hershey Company launches new Hershey's Air Delight Chocolate with a sky-high tasting experience at the site of the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, Thursday, July 28, 2011, in Whitehouse Station, NJ.  Throughout the weekend, festival attendees can enjoy a hot air balloon ride while experiencing the new aerated chocolate in take-home bars and Hershey's Kisses chocolates.  (Diane Bondareff for Hershey)

The Hershey Company launches new Hershey's Air Delight Chocolate with a sky-high tasting experience at the site of the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, Thursday, July 28, 2011, in Whitehouse Station, NJ.  Throughout the weekend, festival attendees can enjoy a hot air balloon ride while experiencing the new aerated chocolate in take-home bars and Hershey's Kisses chocolates.  (Diane Bondareff for Hershey)

While in the air, we had the opportunity to sample the new chocolate.

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Hershey Air Delights comes in two forms, bar and kiss. My favorite was the kiss form as it allows you to enjoy the flavor in a perfect package. These were lighter in flavor and texture due to the aeration but equally delicious! Hershey Kiss have been my favorite form of candy over the past few years as they are portion controlled and diet friendly. You can have 11 for 200 calories which is a large amount of chocolate, if you ask me. I don’t know that I could eat that many without a stomach ache!

After the samples we had some fun with Stan the Man, our pilot for the evening and also a member of the US Hot Air Balloon Team!

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Within minutes, our adventure was over and we were being transported back to Manhattan! The ride back was a whole new experience due to the night sky and skyline.

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Thank you again Hershey’s for a once in a lifetime adventure! I will always remember it anytime I see a Hershey’s chocolate candy- especially Air Delight!

Question: If you could take a hot air balloon ride anywhere, where would it be?

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