Palena - A resturant review

Monday night I met up with my two friends, John and Joe from my old job. While I don't miss a day at that place, I do miss my old co-workers. I love that I stay in touch with most of them and try and get together often.

John's company builds out restaurant's in the Metro DC area. Cava, Mussel Bar, and Vapiano are just a few of them and I am always lucky enough to be invited to have dinner at one of the restaurant's his company has just completed. Monday night we went to Palena in Cleveland Park in DC. Palena is one of the only restaurants in DC to have been awarded the prestigious James Beard award. Earlier in the day I emailed John after looking at the menu online and had one word...FANCY! Foie Gras, rabbit, duck breast...all way too fancy for this palette, however I can thank Top Chef for teaching me what foie gras is :)

We ended up dining in the more casual Cafe area with menu items that were definitely more my style. The wine was fabulous, the Mozzarella de Buffalo appetizer was amazing, frites were delish, however, I are the most amazing hamburger ever in my life. It was so tasty, juicy and I ate every single bite! I was still full the next morning from that meal. John said that other top chefs come specifically for the burger! The picture does not do it justice - stupid Blackberry with no flash :(

What a great night with great food and even better company!

Back to my roots!

Last week I decided to highlight my hair a little darker. While I am real blonde (insert funny comments, jokes, etc.) my hair has gotten darker over the years, so I went back to my natural color...I think this is what it is. :)It's hard to tell from this picture, but you get the idea. Here we are celebrating Kristy's birthday!

Don't fret, I will be blonde again in 6-8 weeks!

PS - Need a new do?!?! You must go see my stylist, Felicya at PR @ Partners in Shirlington. I have been going to her for 4 or 5 years now and she is AMAZING!!!!!!!

The Devil Wears Secondhand Prada

Most of my friends know that as of recently I have become a regular thrift store shopper. I feel like all my sentences start with, "When I was at Goodwill...." I have scored some amazing finds that I love to brag about. Maybe I will get one of those photo brag books that parents carry around to show off their kids. Because in my eyes, that Tory Burch tote for $10 and pair of True Religion jeans for $7 are my prized possessions. 

I scored these Prada heels yesterday!

But before you turn your noses up at the thought of buying someone else’s sloppy seconds, think about the following:

• Reuse, Recycle, blah blah blah...thrift stores are no different. After all, one man's trash is another man's treasure! While not everything at a thrift store is in tip top shape, you would be surprised how many items are donated that have been worn only a few times or still have the tags attached.
• Thrift stores are no longer the red-headed stepchild. Goodwill has really revamped their whole image. Not only do they have a Facebook page, but the local DC Goodwill has a blog! Check it out here Goodwill DC Also, every purchase you make at Goodwill goes back to the organization that helps others with job training.
• Name brands galore! I'm serious! It amazes me how many designer items are at thrift stores and being sold for next to nothing. Yes, sometimes the items are beyond wearable or out of style. But are you really going to walk away from designer jeans that fit you perfectly and have you at hello and only cost $7?!?!?! If anything you buy them and flip them on Ebay. 
• Homegoods, Target, Marshalls, those are the first places we go when getting house wares. Thrift stores have great items as well. When I first purchased my condo, I needed pictures and little things to make my home complete. However, all those little items can add up! I have found original watercolor prints, bowls, plates and even a brand new Pampered Chef cooking stone. So definitely think about scoping out the thrift stores before making those purchases.

Stay tuned for my weekly thrift store hits and misses. :)

Have you found anything great at the thrift stores?

Banh Mi 101

Last week my good friend Yoonhee, invited me over for dinner. Her group of friends have a weekly dinner and rotate houses. It's so much fun and I love that I have been included in the weekly dinner!

This week we had Banh Mi. It's a Vietnamese sandwich that has anything you can imagine on it. Yoonhee and her friends walked me through the sandwich making process. Some of the ingredients were interesting, but we will get to that later!

First you take a sandwich roll and spread French butter. What is French butter you ask? It's the creamiest, most amazing butter you will ever try.

Next you add Pate. I have never had Pate and was a little scared to try it. Not sure if I actually tasted it, but I was glad that I added it!

After the Pate, I doused the sandwich with a soy sauce like sauce. I cant' remember the name.

Next layer of the sandwich are the meats. This is where it gets interesting. You can put any type of meat on the sandwich. We had pork, ham and Head cheese. What is head cheese? Well it's not cheese AT ALL! It's like a lunch meat. But its has jelly made with flesh from the head of a calf or pig. It's crunchy and not appetizing at all. However, I was a big girl and tried it. And then removed it after a few bites.

The Head cheese is the middle meat.

Next I added cucumbers, cilantro, Vietnamese sausage, (just like pepperoni but spicier), and pickled carrots and onions.

Finally the piece de resistance....the egg! Voila! We are done assembling the sandwich.

It was so good! Minus the head cheese! Yoonhee has opened my palate to many Asian dishes that I would otherwise probably never try. I can't wait for the next meal!

Yoonhee and I. :)

It's my first time!

After being pressured by a "friend", here is my first entry!

Everyone morning I check out the staple celebrity rags; TMZ, Perez Hilton and Radar Online. And everyday they talk about the same people who have more money then God yet can't get their lives together. Yes, I'm talking about you Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Mel Gibson, etc, etc.

Let's discuss Lindsay Lohan. She is a walking disaster. I don't see how her and word actress go together. Doesn't an actress work and isn't an actress respected by their peers? Pretty sure she is none of the above. How can one person have 3 DUI's and get out of it. Rehab should be her middle name. If she was a normal person, she would be in jail quicker than she can steal a one-of-a-kind necklace from a boutique in LA. Her mother Dina, aka Orange Oprah is such an enabler, its sick, her father is a media whore, and the rest of her siblings just run for cover. At least Britany Spears family was smart enough to run her life rather than keep ruining it. That conservatorship has done wonders for her career. Take the hint Lindsay.

PS - Check out this song Lindsay did a few years ago...ironic?!?!?

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