Today's Challenge:What's In Your RefrigeratorThis challenge question is probably my favorite and I've been looking forward to it.I follow a lot of foodies on Instagram and I love seeing when people post what's in their refrigerators. It's usually so cute, so organized, and so goals worthy.So when it was my time I just so happened to be doing groceries that afternoon because it's January and of course I'm eating healthier (like millions of other people at the beginning of the year).And here's a list of what's in my refrigerator!Blue Diamond's Almond Cashew Milk Simply Orange - Pulp Free Orange Juice Beetology - Beet + Berry JuiceHealth-Ade Kombucha - Pink Lady AppleSodaStream Seltzer (a must have in my home ALWAYS)Goya - Mayonnaise*The rest are just veggies, mostly for the rice bowls I'll be creating this week for dinner.Comment below. Tell me what's in your refrigerator and if we have similar items in our fridges.
Day 26 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Fast Food Restaurant
Today's Challenge:Favorite Fast Food RestaurantBeing that I live in an area of Queens (NYC) that's surrounded by so many different types of sit-down restaurants, I generally do not go to fast food joints.But.....when I get the craving for fast food my go-to place is Popeyes.I'm not a huge burger person so I stay away from McDonald's and Burger King but somehow the chicken at Popeyes calls my name when I'm too tired to cook.One of my biggest regrets from my trip to New Orleans was not stopping at the Popeyes location while I was there. My friends and I had so many other places to try on our list but I feel like the chicken from the actual Louisiana Popeyes would be extra delicious. I do plan on going back to New Orleans and when I do, I'll be sure to grab some wings.What's your favorite fast food restaurant? Comment below.
Day 25 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Food Truck
Today's Challenge:Favorite Food TruckI mentioned before that I really do like food trucks. They remind me of summer time. And usually summer time here in New York City is pretty much lit!Food trucks allow you to eat on the go and are usually a specific type of food.I've gone to many food truck festivals and music festivals that have food trucks and I always find myself at the lobsters truck.I don't know what it is but I love a good lobster roll from a food truck.I hopet that doesn't gross too many people out but it's a pretty regular thing to see a food truck that sells lobster on it.Now, to answer the challenge question, my favorite food truck is the:Urban Lobster Shack They serve THE BEST lobster rolls in town (on a food truck) and the price is pretty reasonable. Whenever I order I go for the traditional (seen in the photo above).WHat's your favorite food truck? Or favorite food to eat from a food truck? Comment below.
Day 22 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Super Bowl Snack
Today's Challenge:Favorite Super Bowl Snack This is an easy one.Hot wings.I know pizza is life but whenever I think of going to a Super Bowl Party I think of how many hot wings I'll be eating.Lot's of people I know are very picky when it comes to which part of the wing they eat, some only eat the "drumette" part while some only eat the "wingette / flat" part.I happily eat both parts, I do prefer the flat parts because they are just easier to eat in my opinion but if they are tasty I'll eat it all.The hot wings in the photo above are homemade, I'll dig up the recipe and post it on the site soon.What's your favorite Super Bowl Snack? Comment below.
Day 19 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Lunch: Make It or Buy It
Today's Challenge:Lunch: Make It or Buy It This is a funny one because I would prefer to make my lunches daily but it doesn't always work out that way.It's so much healthier to make your own lunches but with my busy schedule food prepping takes a back burner to it all.The good thing about working in Chelsea (in Manhattan) is that I can make healthy lunch choices.The latest place I've been getting lunch is a take out place called Fields Good Chicken. And I usually get bowl from here, bowls that contain a protein and veggies. Which is basically what I would make at home for lunch so I feel it's a good balance.Which do you prefer? Comment below.
Day 17 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Best Hangover Food
Today's Challenge:Best Hangover Food Today's challenge made me giggle.I'm trying to remember the last time I was hungover and what I ate. I giggled to myself because my go-to food usually is bacon but as I've gotten older I've noticed that my now go-to hangover (cure) food is the one and only near and dear to my heart PIZZA.When I lived in Kew Gardens I was in walking distance from one of the best pizzeria's in Queens named Dani's House of Pizza.Dani's pizza is a Queens (NYC) staple. It's been open since 1959 and from what I hear the recipe has not changed. If you go to Dani's you have try the main slices:- Plain slice (it may sound wack but the sauce is phenomenal, it's sweet, tangy and pure perfection)- Pesto slice (It's a green pizza slice. And this may turn some people off. I honestly did not want to try it when I first saw it being prepared. Being born in New York (Brooklyn at that), you eat real pizza growing up so to see a green slice just seemed like a joke. But I got over it, talked to a few locals and holy moly I'm glad I tried it. It's a plus if you are a pesto fan because this slice is out of this world.So for me, my go to hangover food that cures it all is a slice of pizza and a few giant glasses of seltzer water.*Warning: 9 times out of 10 there will be a line to order pizza at Dani's. There is usually a line outside reaching the next store during the summer, these slice are in high demand so it may take some time to get a slice but the wait is usually worth it. Trust me.What's a hangover cure you reach for? Comment below.
Day 16 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Dine In or Take Way
Today's Challenge:Dine In or Take AwayThis is a bit of a tough question because it all depends on so many factors:1 - The time of day2 - The weather 3 - If you are sick or just feeling like bingwatching shows on Netflix 4 - The size of the restaurant 5 - The number of people with youHere in New York we have tons of food options but this does not always result in dining in at a location.Some of my favorite places to grab food from only have 2 or 3 chairs for people to sit.There are lots of Chinese restaurants in New York that have no seats for dining in.I do not often dine at large food chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, etc) but when I do its always dine-in.But locally, I often take-away food. Sometimes it’s easier to grab food, head home and enjoy some yummy food in your warm apartment in front of your tv.As for lunch, I work in Manhattan so 9 times of out of 10, lunch is brought back to the office.There are exceptions for work lunch meetings, or lunch with my lady friends which we try to get out of the office for sit down lunches once a month.To answer the question, I prefer to dine in (if that option is available) during the summer, but if it’s really cold out and the weather is pretty bad here in NYC, I’d rather take out.Comment below. Which do you prefer?
Day 13 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Restaurant You’re Desperate...
Today’s challenge is:Restaurant You're Desperate To Try A few years ago my mentor introduced me to a restaurant at the top of a Las Vegas hotel called Katsuya.We met a client and dined on some of the most delicious sushi I've ever tasted.He insisted my co-worker and I try an appetizer called "crispy rice".*If you've been following this food blog challenge then you know my favorite type of food is "rice" (read about it here).I'm open to trying new things and I trust my mentor when it comes to great food and wine.I would be fooling you if I say I didn't think about this appetizer often and it's a shame because I live on the East Coast and my beloved crispy rice is on the West Coast.To satisfy my crispy rice craving I researched where I could find it here in NYC and based on reviews there's a restaurant near my work in Chelsea named Momoya that serves it but it's just not same.For those of you who do not know what crispy rice is, it's rice over cooked so that the texture is a bit burnt, shaped sort of in a rectangular way and topped with spicy tuna.The description does not sound appetizing but if you grew up in a household where rice was served often you know exactly what I mean when I say "it's like the bottom of the rice pot, the crispy part."See main photo for the crispy goodness.After eating almost all of the pieces on the table, I let my mentor know that I was in love with crispy rice and there is nothing anyone could do about it.He laughed because he knew I would love it. He began telling me about the first time he tried crispy rice at the original Katsuya in Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles California and how the original restaurant is in sort of a strip mall.I was shocked!Shocked because we were sitting in such a fancy place and just to think this menu originated in a small place blew my mind.So the restaurant I desperately want to go to is the Original Katsuya.I've already added it to my to-eat list for my next trip to LA.What restaurant do you desperately want to try? Comment below.
Day 12 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Desert
Today’s challenge is:Favorite Desert A few months ago, I created a post for National Desert Day where I revealed what my favorite desert of all time was. You can check it out here: MY ALL TIME FAVORITE DESSERT- #NATIONALDESSERTDAYSince I've already discussed what my favorite desert is, I thought I'd take a little time and discuss what dessert knocked my socks off.Back in June of 2016, I joined a group of close friends to celebrate a bachelorette party in New Orleans, Louisiana.I had a blast and I'm definitely returning because the food there, is one of a kind. Til this day, I still talk about what I ate while I was there and I'll probably still talk about it until I return.Before heading to New Orleans lots of friends recommended places to eat, I took note of all of the places but one place that stood out amongst all of the suggestions was Café Du Monde.Café Du Monde is well known (it seems everyone around the world knows about this place) for it's coffee with chicory and it's beignets.Beignets are little fluffy powdered sugar pieces of heaven.Actually, beignets are breakfast based deep-fried pastries covered with powdered sugar. It sounds so plain but I feel blessed to have tried this in New Orleans.It's really good. Especially warm freshly fried and washed down with an iced coffee.I've tried beignets here in New York City and they do not compare.So I will say, my second favorite dessert (even though people in New Orleans eat these for breakfast) are beignets.Dear Reader, what's your favorite desert of all time? Comment below.
Day 11 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Main Course
Today’s challenge is:Favorite Main Course The main course during any dining situation is always my favorite course.It's the big show! The main event.My favorite time during dining.It obviously depends on the type of restaurant I am at but 9 out of 10 times my go-to main course is a steak.My favorite cuts are: skirt and hanger.At home, I do not cook much red-meat so going out and ordering a steak is usually a treat for me.I recently moved to the Elmhurst / Jackson Heights area in Queens New York.If you are not familiar when this part of New York, just know that it's a big foodie destination. This area has been featured in AM NY, CNN, The Travel Channel, and even Serious Eats.I recently had dinner near my home at a Colombian restaurant named La Pequeña Colombia. It's a cute place. Very authentic (the staff and the food).I went with my go-to and ordered a steak/shrimp entree.Though I was not asked how I wanted my steak prepared I went with the flow and still enjoyed the meal. It was honestly delicious.The portions here are HUGE. I was given a whole separate plate of rice and beans and I couldn't leave without having an avocado salad. Have a look at all the Colombian goodness in the photo above.Oh and the margaritas are good here too :p If you are in Elmhurst be sure to check out the steak entrees at La Pequeña Colombia, you'll enjoy it!What's your go to entree? Is it steak, is it fish? Comment below, let me know!
Day 10 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Appetizer
Today’s challenge is:Favorite Appetizer This was an easy one.French Fries is my favorite appetizer.They are pretty universal.You fry up some skinny potatoes and everyone loves them.I'm also a fan of poutine which is a form of fries and native to Canada. If I go back to Montreal it will be for the yearly Poutine festival.I can eat fries plain, with bacon, with cheese, salchipapas, any way you make it.The photo above is one of my faves: kimchi fries 🤤How do you like your French fries?
Day 9 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Most Exotic Food You've Tried
Today’s challenge is:Most Exotic Food You've TriedI'm not picky when it comes to trying new food.Well if it involves okra then I'm not trying it > you can read about that in my previous post.But I'm pretty open and will give almost everything a try once.Throughout my foodie years, I've tried a lot of different things.I vividly remember trying escargot at a Yelp event a few years ago and for awhile that experience was a bit weird for me. It's mostly because of the texture. It did not sit right with me. However, I have to say it was not as weird as eating a salad full of grasshoppers (that's whats in the photo above).Back in August of 2016, I dined at a restaurant called Serenata. It's located in Chelsea here in New York City. Serenata is a Mexican restaurant and before the shade is thrown at me, I will say that Mexican food is NOT considered exotic to me. I eat Mexican cuisine often.But this particular evening, I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to order the "ENSALADA DEL DESIERTO" which I believe translates to "Salad of the Desert".The ENSALADA DEL DESIERTO contains the following:Grilled cactus, grasshoppers, roasted corn, roasted cipollini onions, wild mushrooms, grape tomatoes, avocado, dates, cilantro-sabila vinaigrette, toasted sunflower seeds, red & black lava saffron salt.I'm not sure why I ordered this but I did and it was delicious.If you know anything about me then you know that I am terrified of bugs. I hate them. I'm not a fan. No matter how big or how small, I'll freak out. So for me to eat something with grasshoppers in it was a stretch and I made it!The grasshoppers were roasted so they had a crunch to it, they were a bit salty by themselves but worked well mixed with all of the other ingredients in the salad.I would try it again if given the opportunity.I do not see myself eating any other kinds of bugs in the future but hey you never know!Readers out there, what do you consider an exotic food item? Or have you ever eaten a bug? Comment below.
Day 8 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Food That You Dislike...
Today’s challenge is:Food That You Dislike That Most People Do Like I hate okra.I do not like the taste. I do not like the texture. I do not like it's look. I do not like okra.I've made this known amongst my friends and family. It's seems that every time I mention that I hate okra the next thing I hear is: "you just haven't had it _____ this way" or "you just haven't tried it the way I make it. "People have suggested I try it fried, stewed, baked, or grilled.NOPE.I'm not going to try it any other way.I've tried it twice in my life time and I think that's enough.Once my late grandmother Maureen prepared okra as a side dish with tomatoes and peppers (known as Caribbean style) and I was not having it.The second time I tried it at a restaurant and it was fried. Nope. I did not like it that way either.I just do not like it.Also, it's way too slimy for my liking.Okra and I will never be friends.
Black Eyed Peas and New Years Day
It's 18 degrees here in New York City.When it's that cold in New York no one goes outside unless they have to. This morning I got up and ran my butt outside to the grocery store to buy a bag of black eyed peas. That may sound crazy but in the back of my mind I knew it was something that had to be done.I bared the cold for tradition.Growing up I can remember eating black eyed peas and collard greens around the holidays but most specifically on New Years Day (not eve). No one ever explained why we did this and I didn't question it because who doesn't love black eyed peas with ham and collard greens?! I thought it was just holiday food.It wasn't until I was older and started cooking for myself did I start to question this tradition.After doing a bit of research I've learned that eating black eyed peas is a Southern tradition. This makes sense in my case being that my mothers side of the family is primarily from the south. My aunt (one of my mother's older sisters) is a powerhouse at cooking traditional southern food. My mouth is watering just thinking about her collards.In the south, it is said that black eyed peas was a symbol of emancipation for African Americans who had been previously enslaved and were freed on New Years Day.If it takes cooking and eating something that I love the taste of to celebrate emancipation I'm all for it. I'll walk in the cold a thousand times if I have to.Black eyed peas is also considered a good luck dish. This tradition (well the superstitious part of it) also stems back from the south. The concept is, if you eat black eyed peas on New Years Day you will be prosperous throughout the year.I'm here for this too. I believe in certain superstitions to some extent so I'm going to rock with this one and eat up these peas!I've already cooked and eaten my black eyed peas (seen above) for the day. I did not go with tradition and cook them with pork , I just added a tiny bit of onions and garlic seasoning. I did however throw a little hot sauce on them once they were cooked which is considered traditional.Now that my belly is full and I had a side of good ole' black eyed peas I can rest easy and manifest all of the good things coming my way.Cheers to much success in the new year!Foodies out there, are there any New Year traditions you follow or keep going? If so, share below. Leave a comment.
My Relationship With Coffee
5 Benefits Of Adding Lemons To Your Morning Routine
I'm always on the run. Every week I have an event or a restaurant to try and I sometimes make un-healthy food choices. If you follow me on Instagram you see that I love fried foods, cocktails, and bread.
These delicious things leave me tired, sluggish and turns my brain into mush. Realizing this was a pattern and noticing that about a month ago I caught two colds back to back. I started to make a change.I simply started taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar when I wake up. EVERYDAY! At first I refused to do it because of the smell but just like any habit, you'll get used to it and you'll welcome it. I then walk my dog for about 30-40 minutes, come back and quickly drink a glass of warm water with half of a squeezed lemon.There are so many other health conscious things I need to do (*cough cough* like actually use my New York Sports Club membership) but right now this is where I'm starting and it's helped me in the (5) following ways:
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I immediately get an energy boost.
I usually wake up an hour earlier than I need to so I can walk my dog Benji. He's a high energy wirehaired terrier and I need to keep up with him on our walks. I am not a morning person. I'm more of a mid-morning/afternoon type of woman. Some people would suggest I have a cup of coffee first thing but drinking lemon water works better for me as coffee on an empty stomach gives me the jitters.
2. It keeps me regular.
If you are reading this I consider us friends so we can be real with each other. With all of the different foods I eat throughout the day at work, during lunch, at food events, family/friend gatherings it's really important to stay regular and poop when you should. The acid from the lemons work with your body to get your gastric juices flowing. 
3. It hugs my liver and gets rid of toxins.
Let's be real (again). Some of us enjoy a good cocktail or 2 or 3 afterwork. And living in NYC I have the pick of the litter and I have friends who like good cocktails as well, so we meet at-least once a month and get our drink-on and wind down from our busy schedules. I enjoy these meetups with all my heart but they can take a toll on ones liver so naturally lemons become my bestie and drinking a glass a day with warm water flushes those toxins right out of my liver like "boy-bye".
4. It helps relieve heartburn.
I do not often suffer from heart burn (thank goodness) but I have when I'm on a full on foodie binge. Last week I had fried chicken twice in 1 week. Lord it was so good but I felt it afterwards. Luckily I always remember that lemons help with hurt burn. When I start feeling them flames hitting my chest I reach for the fridge. Seriously, when this happens I immediately drink a little lemon water (more lemon than water for this) because the lemon neutralizes the acidity in my body giving me immediate relief. As I mentioned earlier this does not happen often because I now know when to quit and pick up a batch of kale and stop with the fried crap. But for you readers if this continues get on ZocDoc and go see your doctor. 
5. It helps with my glow-up.
I wish I knew this little beauty secret years ago (why didn't any of y'all tell me) *insert side-eye to everyone I know*. LEMONS ?HELP ?WITH ?ACNE!!! I suffered from acne as a teen and used a ton of products to try and clear my skin. Who knew I should have just raided my mommas refrigerator?!I started this lemon beauty regime 2 weeks ago and the glow up is real. I first wash my face lightly (with a mild soap and water). I then squeeze half of a lemon is a mug or bowl. I grab a cotton ball. Dip it in the lemon juice and apply to my face. I leave this on my face for a few minutes (about 5-8 minutes). I then wash my face with cool water and pat it dry. I can already see my skin clearing in just 3 weeks. I'm going to continue this method especially now that it's getting warm out and lemons are proving to give me LIFE!!!
Per usual consult your doctor before following my lemon tips because different people react differently to certain levels of acidity. So hit up your doctor (and dentist) to see if this works for you and your diet/lifestyle.What are your daily routines?! Share your recommendations, suggestions, etc below!