Mel

{nom} FOODZIE!

In creating my holiday gift guide, I mentioned my obsession with monthly subscription clubs. A lovely blogger-friend told me about San Francisco-based FOODZIE — a gourmet, nom-tastic snack company. I received my first Tasting Box just before Christmas. Oh, I am pleased. In the box: - Bissinger’s Blueberry Acai Gummy Pandas -...

Mel

{cooking for the boyfriend} redemption island: moussaka

Coming back from the disaster known as Eggnog French Toast, I needed to redeem myself in the kitchen. And what better way than with mother-fucking moussaka. Making moo-sa-KAA is no small feat — you’re guaranteed to be in the kitchen, actively cooking something for nearly 2 hours (and then another hour to wait for the fruits of your labor). I’ve made the Greek casserole only a couple times...

Mel

{I want!} DIY Cheese Kit: NO CHEESE FOR YOU!

SOLD OUT?! I hope this means that one of you was SUPER, DUPER awesome & already bought a DIY Cheese Kit for me! Or is currently making me cheese from their recently-purchased DIY Cheese Kit. See UrbanCheesecraft on etsy for more kits (currently sold out for the holidays *whomp*) and cheese-making...

Mel

My “Learn How To Cook” Missive for the New Year

I’m so horrible at this that I can’t even come up with a decent list of 25 items of what I want to learn how to cook. I can bake fairly well and make salads. I do especially well with dressings, so I suppose that makes me a stellar prep cook. Or something. See? I don’t even know proper kitchen terms. And I make sandwiches like nobody’s business. Oftentimes, opting for the use of the...

Mel

One week in Pittsburgh. The first of many.

Let’s start with food, shall we? First things first, I am in LOVE with the Pittsburgh Public Market (I’ve already been twice this week), and I am totally excited for its growth (and the eventual addition of East End Brewing to fill my Uni-growler). The vendors are great — and the herb guy even sells catnip. Love. The Strip is both a wonderful and annoying experience — much like my...

Mel

But you should see how I order a pizza!

I take the prize in many areas for Best Girlfriend Ever and would probably even be a good choice for a housewife, if that was truly my calling — you know, save for my arachnophobia and the watering of plants above my reach and my preference for truffles, not Bon Bons. But what lends very little to my contribution to a successful relationship is my cooking. My parents are good cooks. They seem to...

Mel

City Exploration: The Chicago Experience

This is a recap of our Chicago long weekend a couple weeks ago. Every time I visit Chicago, I have a list of places where I want to eat, and most of them, I never get to. I have had Hot Doug’s on my WANT list for far too long. Added as well was Kuma’s Corner (a burger place). With plans already set for Whiskey Fest on Friday night and dinner plans for Saturday night with friends, there was not...

Mel

A Listy Things of New!

Let’s not overwhelm you, Dear Readers. I do a bulleted list to prevent your brain from exploding unnecessarily. I joined fellow Tweeps last week for a dinner at AMP150, which was wonderful. For newbies, I recommend doing the six course Chef’s choice. And yes, Chef Cooley even arranged his selections around my shellfish allergy.  I will go back for another dinner soon — it was that...

Mel

City Exploration: Pittsburgh (Part Three)

Here is Part One and Part Two of my Pittsburgh Adventure, if you missed them. Continuing on my eating adventures of Pittsburgh, I walked (again, the 20 blocks or so) for pancakes at Pamelas in The Strip. This is the cute old-style greasy spoon diner that Obama loved on his visit to The ‘Burgh. What’s good for Mr. President is good for me, right? Unfortunately for my waistline that morning, I...

Mel

City Exploration: Pittsburgh (Part Two)

A huge “thank you” goes to Chris from Yinz Hungry and Jay (referred by our new friend, Kyle) for their restaurant (and more) recommendations. Holy crap, it’s a good thing I did a lot a walking because I did a LOT of eating. The hotel was in the perfect location downtown, enabling me to get out in the mornings to walk around and explore. I was up early because AB had to work. At least I...

Mel

Cleveland weekends are not for amateurs.

Internet friends, I have a confession: I have lived downtown — East 4th, the premier entertainment and food district — for six months. I have visited all the newest restaurants, including several during opening nights. Yet, I still had never eaten at Lola. I know. It hurts me too. Could I in good conscience move from 4th Street without eating at THE most popular joint in town? (At least I...

Mel

The Google Reader (as with life) overwhelms

I haven’t been interested much in your life. Right. So, why should you care about what I’m writing about? With the little free time I have, I’ve been learning how to sharpen my copywriting skills. How to run my own little business. Learning how to sprint with control using the front of my skates. Filing taxes. Chasing this damn cat away from chewing holes in the brick walls: Meanwhile, AB...

Mel

How to spend a Valentine’s Day together.

I know you are all jealous of my ability to wrangle not only a Valentine’s Day DATE, but a true life Valentine’s Day boyfriend. We started off our Romantic Weekend at the West Side Market Cafe for hash and egg benedicts (and way too much Bailey’s for my coffee… yes, I did actually just type the words “too much” in front of something containing alcohol). We shopped for...

Mel

Week of Sandwiches & Reasons Not to Do Adkins Diet.

For the love of whole grain Cleveland, can we get a bakery somewhere around East 4th Neighborhood for fresh breads, buns and like sandwich rolls? Yes, I could go to the market (even if NOT ONE COUNTER HAD FRESH CROISSANTS!), but I am now an urban dweller with TWO FEET THAT WORK properly. West 25th is a bit too much of a walk for bread — and a bike ride over that bridge in these temps is downright...

Mel

What’s new?

I caught up with my ex — The Fiance — yesterday. And no, it’s not some big secret that we conversed. AB knows we’re friends. “What’s new?” he asked, in request of status from our last conversation a couple of months ago. Everything is JUST as fantastic as the last time we spoke – downtown living arrangements, permanent awesome boyfriend placement, upcoming ...

Mel

The spirit of giving (and not just presents)

The last two nights have been wonderfully good-hearted and spirited. Thanks to a charity beauty event hosted by blogger pal All Lacquered Up, a few of us friends and bloggers were able to contribute to a good cause — all in the name of discounted beauty products. Our event raised over $700 for Dress for Success. Much awesomeness. More on my cool schwag in my next post. This blogger world is such a...

Mel

Leftovers… from Penis Tuesday.

After taking a giant heapin’ helping of stuffing and mashed potatoes, why not meet me here: Well, what did you think that Granny did with all the turkey’s extra gizzards and such?

Mel

I’m Getting Chocolate for Christmas!

It’s Christmas time… yeah, ALMOST Christmas time. Puke. Time to make stupid lists and spend stupid amounts of money on stupid people. Who does that? Well, I did for years, but thankfully my shopping list has been drastically cut this holiday. You know what’s on my list (and has been at least every year since my first German class in 8th grade) — chocolate. A gift that keeps on...

Mel

The promotion that well, doesn’t really seem to promote anything.

Cleveland Restaurants Week sounds like a great way to get folks out to a restaurant not previously visited. This is the second year that I have participated in Cleveland Restaurant Week, and have been left, well, very hungry. There seemed to be a lot of buzz with friends on Twitter — even if I couldn’t seem to find a username for Cleveland Independents or Cleveland Restaurant Week. During...

Mel

Cleveland Beer Week continued…

Our location for CBW Day #4 was the Stone Brewing Company beer dinner at Crop Bistro & Bar. Bravo to Chef Steve and the guys from Stone. You really should NOT have missed this event! I know I still have not posted on L’Albatros (also delicious), but Steve’s braised short ribs (at Crop) were the perfect consistency and texture I pray to Meat Gods for while fine dining.  Oh, there was SO...