Better late than never...Happy New Years!

We had a nice quiet party for New Years Eve before it got too rowdy... here are some pics of our feast. All Prepared by me!

 Raw oysters with mignonette sauce.

Partially done party tray...manchengo cheese, cucumber stuffed with feta, sprat pate on crackers & artichoke hearts.

 Le menu

Putting the finishing touches on the seviche...

 Chop, chop, chop

 Marinated and ready...

 Shrimp & scallop seviche with red onion, cilantro & habanero...

Dave diggin' in and Molly dancing...

 Yummy!

 Molly making a point while Tim looks on

 Blue corn tortillas!

 Mussels steamed in white wine & herbs

 Clams steamed in beer, butter & herbs

A wonderful way to start the new year. All the best!

It's a blizzard out there!

Reasons I can't go back home to NYC for Christmas with family:

 No flights back, LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty all closed. My plans were ruined Sunday by an cancellation email from United.

 Of course I was headed right to the East Village, which looks like this.

And then on to South Jersey to meet up with family and friends. What a bummer :(

Chicago Xmas Eve & 7 Fishes Dinner

Walked around Chicago to see the Christmas decorations and tree at Daley Plaza and then on to my honey's family tradition of the Italian 7 fishes dinner. Lovely family tradition that I am so happy to be able to enjoy!

 Millennium Park decorated for the holidays.

 Christmas tree at Daley Plaza.

 Baked clams.

 Mussels with marinara.

 Just a glimpse at dinner, doesn't do it justice. Wish I took more pics, but was busy eating! We had raw clams on the halfshell, baked clams, mussels, shrimp-cold & fried, fried smelts, talapia, cold crabmeat & shrimp salad. Wonderful! So nice to be hooked up with an I-talian family for the holidays!

 Fantastic gifts of tea from Todd & Holland Tea Merchants. My favorite store! Here's their site, check it out: http://www.todd-holland.com/

My honey opening some presents. Tomorrow we to to my favorite Uncle-in-Law Greg's & family, then Sunday NYC, pick up the buddy & head for my family in Jersey. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Dreaming of Summer...

It's cold this time of year, no matter where you are (ok, Florida, we love you now!), so I figured I would post some pics taken over the summer to heat up your hearts, get you all ready for sunshine and baseball season.

These are some of my favorite things...

The Highline, NYC

NYC is chock-full of all kinds of wonderful things, and this past fall I finally stumbled upon The Highline while just wandering around (as many wonderful things in NYC are discovered that way). The Highline was part of an elevated railway, long, long in disuse that was converted into a above ground park. It runs from Gansevoort St to West 20th. You can read all about it here:  http://www.thehighline.org/

Chinatown NYC part 2!

Had so much fun, took so many pics...here's the rest!

Very crowded market!

We all tried to guess what this was...you be the judge

The labels were great! Here's a "fresh silky" duck perhaps?

My favorite- "patrick"!

More "patrick"

Who doesn't love "chicken dump stick"

Gator hands-these really had quite a strong, swampy smell

Jack photo-bombing my shot

Custard with pork crust...looks yummy

mushroomcloudchickenwine....they fit all that on the label!