City House, Country House

I met up with Rebekah at City House, where she is the pastry chef extraordinaire. City House is an amazing restaurant in historic Germantown (which always makes me want to call it City Haus). The interior is a beautifully renovated house and former art studio of Alan LeQuire. The exposed brick walls, wooden beams and two rustic wood fired-ovens warm the modern clean lines and stainless-steel kitchen.































If you haven't had a meal there yet, you must do so immediately. Here's what's on the menu tomorrow (warning: it's a whole-lotta pig, they just got a whole one):

Sunday

January 24, 2010

Pork Snacks

Pork Rib Salad, Pickles, Onions, Celery, Buttermilk Dressing
Head Cheese, Cabbage, Horseradish
Crispy Pig Ears Milanese, Caper Lemon Butter
Bologna & Pimento Cheese Sandwich
Country Fried Pork Biscuits, White Gravy

Other Snacks:

Boiled Peanuts
Brussels Sprout Salad, Miracle Whip, Red Onion, Peanuts & Raisins
Aaron’s Wings
Smoked Sunburst Trout, Corn Cakes, Sour Cream
Rock Shrimp Cocktail, Saltines

Pizza

Kitchen Pie
Margherita Pizza, House Made Mozzarella
Sausage & Potato Mozzarella
Cannellini Bean, Ricotta, Grana, Garlic, Oregano
Chick Pea, Pecorino, Chilies, Back Fat
San Marzano Tomato, Anchovy, Radicchio, Parsley, Celery, Garum
Prosciutto Cotto, Ricotta, Lemon

Secondo

Pork Meatballs, Tomato Ragu, Grana Padano, Garlic Toast
Porchetta, Fennel, Red Onion, Parsley, Lemon
Delta Catfish, Cornmeal Crust, Cauliflower, Pesto, Green Olives

Hungry yet?

Oh, yeah, and dessert. That's a secret. You'll just have to go and see. Let's just say that there will be homemade gelato and there will be chocolate.

And then Rebekah and I had a crafty day at her country house in Springfield. We made things with ribbon and vintage fabrics. I got to look at many of her fiancee, Harry's paintings (I was a fan long before I knew him). Harry even braved the estrogen levels of a crafty meeting to hang with us and be our DJ. It was a lovely day.

crafty chicks gone wild

A few girls came over Saturday to make fascinators. Nobody was convinced that it would be easy, yet everyone left with a finished product. It was so fun, my only complaint is that we didn't have enough time. We also got scoop on Rebekah's wedding plans and Maggie's pregnancy (well, we know how that happened).

at the rock show, part 1

After a sweet and lovely Christmas/Anniversary party with family and friends, I ventured to stay out past 10:30pm. Scott and I went to the Cannery to see the big rock show. I was excited to see the Ettes and Scott was looking forward to Silversun Pickups. It was a great night for cool rock chicks from the Chrysse Hynde School of Rockstar Cool: Coco and Poni of the Ettes, Nikki from SSPU and Emma from Band of Skulls. I respect a girl who can scream and play guitar (or drums) and has great style.

We got there too late for Band of Skulls and I am sorry about that. Arriving shortly into the Ettes set, their energy made it through the worst sound mix ever. Silversun Pickups followed with, clearly, an entirely different sound situation. Their big sweeping, full sound with sweet little melodies and bending/driving guitars is impossible not to compare to Smashing Pumpkins. I could do without the 2 minute distortion-fests at the end of the songs. But, that's just me. It clearly appeals to a certain demographic.

I can tell I am getting old, because it's hard to stand at a show. My feet were killing me by the end of the show, even my most-comfortable but-still-cute boots didn't do the trick. The Silversun Super Fans inspired me to hang in there. They were, quite literally, jumping, fist pumping, screaming and yelling throughout the whole show.














Yay Super Fans.

Scott and I decided that we are OK with being the old folks at the show.
And I made it until 12:45am!

BTW, SSPU will be on Conan tonight.

Take it With You--The Ettes
Lazy Eye --Silversun Pickups
I Know What I Am --Band of Skulls

I'm Back Bitches

So many times in the last few weeks I have thought about resuming my blog. Save a few posts, I have contributed nothing to it this year. I would like to see myself be here more in 2010. I also have some goals to achieve in the next year and I think making a connection to blogging again might help me work toward them.
So, since October I have...

won a Halloween costume contest

turned 40 (and had a fun party)

made fascinators

and worked a lot.

I am looking forward to Christmas. My tree is trimmed and the presents are wrapped.

And, I love this girl.


She doesn't know how wonderful she is (yet).

Amazing Vacation

I fell in love with this island, its rainforest, its beaches, its people, its history and I can't wait to go back. Next time, I will wear a mask on the plane ride home and avoid the nasty cold I brought back. And there will be a next time.

A Little Bit Country

I have had a few breaks in the saga of too much work. My sweet friend Keme came from San Francisco to Tennessee for her Daddy's birthday. We had a little city-fun with friends in Nashville before heading out to Charlotte on Saturday. Keme's daddy, Charlie Bonnett (who I wrote about here), has a little junk store in Van Leer, TN and he likes to say "well...I'm just country". He's one of my favorite people. It was nice to stop thinking about knowledge management, campaigns and best practices and have dinner at the Tri-County Farmer, where there was live bluegrass and all the fried okra you can eat. The only decisions were sweet or un-sweet? white gravy or brown gravy? Keme's momma got us up to date on all the gossip and I made room for cobbler.

When Life Gives You Lemons

Life has been tough lately. I was laid off from my state job in November. I ended my relationship in early December only to find out later that month he'd had another girlfriend for five months. These outside events have triggered some inside events that are shall I say... less than fun.
The job and the boy needed to go. I am clear on that. Knowing that hasn't made the transition smooth or less scary, but it has brought some clarity.
I believe some good things are in store for me. I also know that the growth (and it's associated pain) is not over. I have great support in many forms to get me through. As always, during these times, I have tremendous appreciation for my friends. My best friends, casual friends, online friends, my family: they carry me, listen to me, pray for me, and encourage me. I couldn't be more lucky to have them all.

kindness

hezzawezza

Things have been a bit rough lately. I had a break up that left me rather down and I got fired a little over a week ago. Whenever I go through a difficult time, I am always reminded of how wonderful my friends are, and how kind people who don't even know me very well can be. I have had tremendous support, encouragement, and numerous acts of kindness (like this bouquet from my neighbor). I am certain that some things are being removed to make room for some things that are even better. It is never the change that is difficult, it is the resistance to change.