You Really Should Enjoy Downtown Savannah…

Sometimes the world works in crazy ways.

We arrived at the airport yesterday, exactly one hour before our flight, only to find out that it had just been cancelled. While most of the Midwest and Northeast flights yesterday were cancelled due to weather reasons, ours was cancelled due to mechanical issues. However, these weather issues meant that there was no way they could rebook us on another flight yesterday.

Before he left the ticket counter, the kind ticket agent gave him a tip, "You really should enjoy downtown Savannah. It’s quite lovely this time of year."

Bo, my mom, and I each quickly embraced the idea of enjoying the sunshine and 70 degree weather for one more day!

Taxi and food vouchers in hand to use Tuesday morning, we decided to embrace the extra day and spend it enjoying downtown Savannah.  Luckily, my mom didn’t have any plans yesterday so she was able to enjoy the day with us.

IMG_0496 IMG_0498 IMG_0497 Our first stop was Soho South Cafe, one of our favorite lunch spots in downtown. A funky, hip art boutique and restaurant, their menu is extensive and always delicious. This is one of those restaurants where anything you order arrives just as your taste buds imagine.

IMG_0506 Soho South Cafe Savannah We each tried something different than normal, but also decided that we were in the mood for their famous sandwiches. They make their chicken and tuna salad in house as well as their pork. Armed with this knowledge, my mom and I decided to order the Waldorf style tuna salad sandwich and the chicken salad sandwich, sharing each of them.

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We weren’t able to finish either of these sandwiches due to their enormous size, but they were out of this world! The toppings (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and sprouts) were piled high and both salads included apples, grapes, and the perfect level of seasoning!

Bo ordered their Cuban sandwich as it came highly recommended and is always one of his favorites.  As Cuban sandwich lovers know, this is often a risky sandwich to order at restaurants. It is either delicious, and spot on, or it is underwhelming served with one slice of cheese and a slice of ham.

As you can tell from the below picture, this Cuban was a gooey mess of ham and cheese.

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If you’re ever in Savannah, I highly recommend stopping by Soho South Cafe for a wonderful lunch break. They feature indoor and outdoor seating, a full beer and wine menu, a large assortment of sandwich and salad options, as well as some out of this world desserts!

After our lunch, we spent the afternoon walking around the historic downtown area and City Market.

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IMG_0525 IMG_0523 Garibaldi Seafood RestaurantA final vacation day wouldn’t be complete without a dessert stop, now would it? 🙂 Luckily, we came across a new to us cupcake shop. Mabel Francis Potter’s Cupcake Emporium has been in Savannah for 5 years, serving creative cupcakes and cookie cupcakes to locals and visitors alike. outside of Mabel Francis Potter's Cupcake EmporiumMabel Francis Potter's Cupcake Emporium

Unfortunately, a busier than normal holiday Monday caught them off guard yesterday. Therefore, they only had two flavors when we arrived- cotton candy or coconut.  The owner warned that the cotton candy is a child favorite due to it’s extreme sweetness. We tried the coconut, thinking it was a safer choice.IMG_0509IMG_0510Coconut Cupcake with Coconut Buttercream IcingThe coconut cupcake with coconut butter cream icing did not disappoint! The cake was very moist, one of my requirements for a good cupcake. The icing was a traditional butter cream with only a slight hint of coconut extract topped with fresh coconut.  While I was disappointed in their selection, the cupcake was perfect and my mom said she would definitely order cupcakes there in the future.

 

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Spontaneous Date Night: Barbounia and Black Swan

Good morning! I’m up early so I can get my check list done before spending the afternoon in Hoboken with a girlfriend I haven’t seen in ages! Today’s list includes:

  • Grocery store for dinner ingredients and breakfast ingredients for the week
  • Gym elliptical and abs session
  • Put away laundry
  • Blog

Let’s rewind to yesterday. :)

After yesterday’s lovely girls day out , I was craving a date night with Bo.

After busy weeks, we tend to spend our weekend nights at home, relaxing. This is normally okay with me but last night I wanted nothing more than to sip a glass of wine over a delicious relaxing dinner.

We spent 30 minutes looking up some of our area restaurants and other restaurants that have been on our list to no avail. Everywhere had an hour to 2 hour wait time or they couldn’t ft us in at all. I even tweeted about our search, hoping to find somewhere. Unfortunately, New York isn’t the best city for spontaneous date nights.

imageWe finally decided to bundle up and walk in the direction of Union Square, hoping we’d find a bar spot at either ABC Kitchen, Craft Bar, Gramercy Tavern, or Barbounia. In the end, our stand by favorite, Barbounia, won with 2 corner seats at their bar. Barbounia NYC

Bo and I have been to Barbounia 6 times since we moved to Gramercy and we’ve never been disappointed! You can read my full review of the restaurant here .

Last night, we started with their mezze sampler which was delicious as always. We chose the hummus, spicy feta, and roasted eggplant. The spicy feat was especially delicious last night.IMG_1310

There was lots of energy in their bar as the restaurant was packed. Luckily however, our service was better than normal and we were able to order a glass of wine with ease and even enjoy our conversation.

IMG_1311We decided to try something new last night and sample some of their appetizers. We’ve never ordered any other appetizer than their mezze sampler so this was a treat.

The charred octopus was my favorite by far. It’s flavors were surprising mix of sweet and savory as the mint balanced the smoky octopus and the fennel provided a refreshing crunch. The portion size was perfect for sharing.

Barbounia Grilled OctopusBo was intrigued by the iron skillet shrimp after seeing it go out to three other parties. It did not disappoint, though the oil was a bit overwhelming for my taste. Bo loved the strong garlic flavor of the dish paired with the tender shrimp.

Barbounia Iron Skillet Shrimp

By the time our entree arrived, which we planned to split between us, we were stuffed. Instead of wasting it, we asked our bartender/waiter to box it up so we could enjoy it for leftovers.

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Our relaxing Saturday date didn’t end there. Instead, we finally saw The Black Swan together. We’ve heard so much about it through friends, bloggers, and the news that we had to experience it for ourselves. WOW! Natalie Portman was absolutely amazing in this role but the movie itself was quite intense. After the first hour I think my eyes were covered by my hands more time than not but it was still a wonderfully performed story. I think it shows the true side of the pressure we often put on ourselves to be perfect.

What did you think of Black Swan? Would you see it again? Do you think it’s too extreme?

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Sensebowl: Fast, Fresh, Sensible

Every now and then, the angels listen. Tonight was one of those nights when luck was on my side.

IMG_1247After a long day of work  and miserable weather, following a lovely three day weekend, all I could think about on the treadmill tonight was what I was making for dinner. I knew I wanted something healthy, but my stomach was already growling and I was only half way through my workout, including some grueling TABATA intervals.

As I ascended the stairs from the Equinox locker room to the lobby, the faint aroma of Asian food engulfed me. There, in front of me, like a mirage, stood two tables and four employees serving up heaping bowls of Asian fare, FREE for Equinox members.

IMG_1252Tonight, JK, the owner and employees of Sensebowl, a new restaurant in midtown New York City, treated members to a taste of their bowl meals. Sensebowl opened their first location on November 29th, hoping to bring affordable, fast, and fresh Asian cuisine to hurried New Yorkers. Their head chef, Beena Yu, studied at the Culinary Institute of America and has experience at Jean Georges and Bouley. The flavor combinations on the folded menu are reflective of her commitment to bold flavors which stand apart from other fast food Asian restaurants. IMG_1267

Even tonight, on the two folding tables, the fresh flavors were overwhelming. It’s rare you see a setup like this, displaying multiple bins of fresh vegetables and a full rice and noodle setup.

IMG_1262 IMG_1251 IMG_1261 Their bowls or meals, are built through five steps:

  1. Base: 1 included, (Choose between white and brown Asian rice or white or buckwheat noodles)
  2. Protein 1 included (Choose between slow cooked beef, baked chicken breast, slow cooked chicken thigh, spicy pork loin, herb shrimp, or steamed tofu)
  3. Toppings: 3 included (Choose from baby bok choy, baby corn, broccoli, carrots, and more)
  4. Sauce/Dressing/or Broth: 1 included (Choose from one of 4 sauces or 3 different broths)
  5. Seasoning: 1 included (Toasted Seaweed, Sesame Seeds, or Furikake)

Tonight, I chose the following for my bowl of delicious goodness: brown rice, baked chicken breast, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, Kim chi, and bean sprouts, sensebowl Signature Sauce, and furikake seasoning.   IMG_1264IMG_1270 IMG_1265IMG_1266

This meal was incredible! It followed the perfect ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. The unique flavor combination and crunch left my senses satisfied and my stomach satiated. I will definitely be taking advantage of my free bowl coupon I received tonight.

Have you ever tried a restaurant like Sensebowl? Interested in finding out more? Head over to their website for the full menu and more information or follow them on Twitter!

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