A couple weeks back I had a layover at O'Hare Airport. Guess where I went? None other than the airport location of the Berghoff Cafe, where I walked up to the sandwich maker and he said "You want a good sandwich, I make you a good sandwich," in that Chicago tone of voice.
I ordered me-self a roast beef sandwich toasted with cheese. He cut the hunks of roast beef off right in front of me and I downed the whole thing quickly, along with the Berghoff's homemade root beer.
When I got back to town I told none other than my friend Ricky, who being from Chicago understands what I mean when I say Chicago style roast beef. Then I found out the best. news. ever. When Ricky's parents came to visit a couple weeks back from Chicago, they brought him a hunk of roast beef. Being a good Chicagoan he turned the roast beef into Italian beef for sandwiches. Then he saved the dripping to turn into gravy for our Turducken this holiday!
Yum. Delicious. I tasted it this morning and it's GREAT.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Ready to Rumble!!!
My friend has written the following about the beloved turducken basting in our oven this festive holiday:
In this corner, in the black suit, weighing in at 172 pounds…
The Chow Hound from Chitown,
The Culinary Connoisseur
The Goofy Gourmet…
RICKY!
And in this corner, in the birthday suit, weighing in at 16.14 pounds…
The Fowl Triumvirate,
The Nesting Doll from the City of Dis,
The Savory Cerberus…
The Turduckn!
LET’S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMBLE!!!
In this corner, in the black suit, weighing in at 172 pounds…
The Chow Hound from Chitown,
The Culinary Connoisseur
The Goofy Gourmet…
RICKY!
And in this corner, in the birthday suit, weighing in at 16.14 pounds…
The Fowl Triumvirate,
The Nesting Doll from the City of Dis,
The Savory Cerberus…
The Turduckn!
LET’S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMBLE!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
It's time to cook our turducken! We are hosting Thanksgiving today in our beautiful old brownstone in Washington. I am enjoying the day with friends. Part of me is a Monica type from Friends in that I really enjoy hosting gatherings of friends. Today is hosting central for me and I love it.
Yesterday, after I stocked up on wine I was walking back up the street when - lo and behold - Mr. Prez, his girls, and his mother-in-law walked out of Martha's Table, a nonprofit near my 'hood! How funny that I ran into them while I was doing my T-Day errands.
So anyway back to Thanksgiving. I cooked cranberry sauce and pie; now we're roasting our turducken - a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey. Yum. Nothing says Thansgiving like a bunch of poultry.
Yesterday, after I stocked up on wine I was walking back up the street when - lo and behold - Mr. Prez, his girls, and his mother-in-law walked out of Martha's Table, a nonprofit near my 'hood! How funny that I ran into them while I was doing my T-Day errands.
So anyway back to Thanksgiving. I cooked cranberry sauce and pie; now we're roasting our turducken - a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey. Yum. Nothing says Thansgiving like a bunch of poultry.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Twenty Something Kid
I emerged from the farmer's market, grinning like a 5 year old kid, with the remains of my morning chocolate gelato smeared all over my face. More evidence of my morning reward was dribbled down the front of my sweater. And I thought to myself, this is the best phase of my life. I have minimal responsibility, a great job that I like, and because of aforementioned minimal responsibility I can do what I want when I want to do it.
This week was filled with my extracurricular activities: volleyball, tennis, dance class. Its like I am indulging in every afterschool past time my parents may have deprived me of. I love it! I am a twenty something kid with a checking account.
This week was filled with my extracurricular activities: volleyball, tennis, dance class. Its like I am indulging in every afterschool past time my parents may have deprived me of. I love it! I am a twenty something kid with a checking account.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Meditation
I went to my first meditation class on Thursday and it was fabulous, like cleaning out the attic except I was cleaning out my brain.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Peace Corps Update
In my effort to join the Peace Corps while still leading a busy life (causing me to procrastinate incredibly on the paperwork), I am still in the midst of the nomination process. A few things have slowed me down, namely the fact that I'm treasuring the moments I am having with friends in DC right now, life is hectic, and work has been busy. But I got what *should* be the last of my medical info over to them last week.
After yoga on Sunday, I went to coffee with a girlfriend who had volunteered to answer any questions I had about Peace Corps as she served in China. My one question for her was: "How do you deconstruct your life here and go somewhere else?" Tonight as I am looking at the application toolkit there are all sorts of checklists. Checklists for making sure you get your medical forms in, your legal stuff taken care, and so on. Where's the checklist for "How do you transplant your life to another continent?" It seems the harder things in life do not come with checklists.
My friend's simple answer was: "You just do."
After yoga on Sunday, I went to coffee with a girlfriend who had volunteered to answer any questions I had about Peace Corps as she served in China. My one question for her was: "How do you deconstruct your life here and go somewhere else?" Tonight as I am looking at the application toolkit there are all sorts of checklists. Checklists for making sure you get your medical forms in, your legal stuff taken care, and so on. Where's the checklist for "How do you transplant your life to another continent?" It seems the harder things in life do not come with checklists.
My friend's simple answer was: "You just do."
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Talk
Last night the most hilarious thing happened, at least in terms of dating relationships. Back in late May, I had a blind date with a guy who amazingly, despite my streak of bad dates, was not crazy and in fact met two out of three of my deal breakers. For some people, serious things like religion or family values are deal breakers. Not me: 1) Must live in DC. (This has actually been surprisingly difficult); 2) Must share my politics; 3) Must like to travel.
Enter Blind Date Boy. We've been dating since our late May connection through mutual friends. He's the first boy I've dated since I've lived in DC who both lives in the District and has a full-time job. He meets my first two deal breakers but is not as much of a traveler as I am. But I've been doing enough travel these days for the both of us so that one's OK right now.
Anyway I've been avoiding "the talk" which I've learned is referred to as the State of the Relationship address, DTR for Define the Relationship, and any myraid of other names. Every time I bring this up with a friend they're like "Wha??? You haven't had the talk?" Um, no.
So the funny thing last night is he brought up the talk as in we haven't had it, we laughed about how we haven't had "the talk," and then we still didn't have the talk. I like hanging out with him, he likes hanging out with me, end of story.
Enter Blind Date Boy. We've been dating since our late May connection through mutual friends. He's the first boy I've dated since I've lived in DC who both lives in the District and has a full-time job. He meets my first two deal breakers but is not as much of a traveler as I am. But I've been doing enough travel these days for the both of us so that one's OK right now.
Anyway I've been avoiding "the talk" which I've learned is referred to as the State of the Relationship address, DTR for Define the Relationship, and any myraid of other names. Every time I bring this up with a friend they're like "Wha??? You haven't had the talk?" Um, no.
So the funny thing last night is he brought up the talk as in we haven't had it, we laughed about how we haven't had "the talk," and then we still didn't have the talk. I like hanging out with him, he likes hanging out with me, end of story.
