Tea Stains on Parchment

I walked into Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Cream on a mission one spring afternoon. Actually, I was there on business—I needed to taste Jay Gatsby. You see, in celebration of 100 years of Fitzgerald’s novel, Clementine’s has crafted 4 Great Gatsby inspired scoops: a rose sorbet; a chamomile and apricot ice cream in pale green; a golden turmeric and cacao nib concoction inspired by the opening epigraph; and one inspired by 1920’s cologne notes, swirled with floral ripples, butterscotch shards, and a woodsy base. This last one, called “Old Sport,” was the green light I was after. In fact, I was promised by Clementine’s Goldbelly listing that one bite “captures the essence of embracing Jay Gatsby or Nick Carraway.” Through a scoop of ice cream and a spoon, I somehow would soon know what it was like to hug Gatsby and Nick, as well as taste what such an embrace would be like. This truly was a Great Gatsby experience unlike any I’d encountered before. I’ve read The Great Gatsby many time,...

If you are friends with me, maybe even just a casual pal, you have probably been asked to get ice cream with me. In fact, you probably weren't just asked to get ice cream and make plans like a normal person, but asked if you wanted to get ice cream, like, today, maybe right now, or anytime in the next 6 hours. If this describes something that has happened to you, congratulations, you are part of an elite group of people that I have invited to partake in ice cream adventures. It also means that 1) you are my friend; I like you or 2) I like you; let's become better friends. Whether I want more friends or just really like ice cream is up for debate, but needless to say, if there is an interesting ice cream flavor, I will be the one to make impromptu plans to go try it. After that needlessly long intro, let me tell you that I will try just about anything. Goat cheese ice cream? Sure. Black ice cream? Sounds divine. If there is something weird or unique, I will make it my mission ...

You might think this post is a day late since National Doughnut Day was yesterday, but I just didn't want this post to get mixed in with all the subpar doughnut content I saw yesterday. The truth is, all the places offering free doughnuts yesterday just aren't good. I used to think that they were good, I really did, but now I see every fault with them because I made the mistake of trying Federal Donuts. Here are some reasons why you should never eat Federal Donuts. Lemon Crumble Cheesecake First of all, do you really want to have the best doughnut of your life? What will you even be living for afterwards? There will be no continued quest for the best doughnut because you will have already had it. How else are you going to spend your weekends? I guess you can go get one of their many delicious doughnuts if you want to rob your doughnut-eating life of meaning... Every doughnut you eat afterwards will pale in comparison. I used to like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin, I really d...

Twice a year Philadelphia has restaurant week, a magical time of year when (mostly) high-end restaurants offer a progressive meal at a discounted rate. Now, some restaurants will try to scam you, have you pay $35 for a cheese quesadilla and a piece of chicken. No, don't fall for the cheap places that claim to give you lots of meals. It's ok. I'm here to help you see how to get your money's worth, find places that are worth it (?). And a good, spontaneous meal with good friends makes a day so much better...now my friends are all going to send me sappy texts. So, relax and live through me reliving my meal. When evaluating a deal, you must first study the menu. Again, don't fall for a cheap appetizer or an overly simple dish you can get at home. I chose toast. But, this toast was amazingly complex for a breakfast staple. The base: a charred, slightly dark wheat bread. On top: light and delicate ricotta juxtaposing the darkness below and the earthiness it was toppe...

Ever since Instagram, there has been a flood of colorful, photogenic, and unique foods. But, these chic food trends have taken a turn for the outlandish. I mean, drinks served in lightbulbs, burgers covered in marshmallows, and don't get me started on "unicorn" or "rainbow" foods (most things should never be rainbow!). Thriving in this technicolor, toddler—designed food world is the very antithesis of color: black foods. Somewhat unnatural, these black foods are tempting. Dark and mysterious, filled with activated charcoal, could they possibly be any good? Well I never turn down trying something new...especially ice cream. It seems that if I ever go out, it is always for ice cream. So it is no surprise that it was ice cream that brought me to the black food trend. I had heard of the ice cream from one of my favorite shops Franklin Fountain. It was a unique flavor, black, and limited time. How could I say no? Before I outline my adventure on the dark side, let ...

About a year ago, I visited Big Gay Ice Cream in Philadelphia. Maybe you remember that I wrote a review about it in a post called "Overrated?" I believe that I said something about this soft serve famous ice creamery was slightly better than McDonald's or some other standard soft serve chain. Well, I do still like soft serve. And the store front is one of the most adorable that I have ever seen. So, I went back, and I think I need to give my updated opinions and thoughts. So, review 2, here we go. First off, I got the "Burnt." A somewhat questionable name just because you sound kinda stupid going up the cashier asking for "a burnt." Obviously I put my awkwardness aside and ordered a burnt in the middle of a technicolored, unicorn emblazoned store. I was intrigued by an ice cream sandwich with chocolate ice cream sandwiched between two cakey cookies, brushed with Sriracha and rolled in orange and red sprinkles. It was both sweet and savory. Confusing ...

A year and a half ago, I discovered one of the best restaurants. This restaurant wasn't in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, but quaint, unassuming Bentonville, AR. But the cuisine here rivaled what had been the best meal I'd ever eaten at Tom Colicchio's Craft Bar in NYC. Modern Ozark Dining (MOD) brought an urban and eclectic perspective in food to my hometown, and I couldn't have been happier. To create food this delicious, this creative, requires a chef with passion. Someone who is unafraid to experiment with new flavor combinations and dining experiences. I am the kind of person that will go to a restaurant and choose not what I "feel" like eating, but the most outlandish, and honestly, weird dish I can find--I will try anything once (tip to non-adventurous eaters: a restaurant isn't going to put something on a menu that isn't delicious. That would be stupid...). The menu at MOD has always been a foodie playground for me, making my decision on w...

Happy World Chocolate Day! I hope all of you celebrated with some form of chocolate, but I doubt many of you celebrated a day as chocolate filled as the one I had at Markham & Fitz. Markham & Fitz is a local chocolate maker that sources cacao from all of the world, curating unique flavor combinations in the form of bars, truffles, desserts, and beverages. I had been familiar with the expensive chocolate bars of this company formerly known as Hello, Cocoa, but I was excited to see a new storefront and cafe. What had once been just chocolate and a very tasty cocoa tea had expanded to include three sipping chocolates and a few pastries when I visited for the first time a few months ago. Coming back to Markham & Fitz for world chocolate day, I found a chic cafe filled with a much wider variety of treats. The world chocolate celebration began with a tasting of chocolates made with cocoa beans from different countries, highlighting the differences in taste based only on whe...

I'm sure we've all seen a certain Italian, family baker on TLC. You know, the one who has three annoying sisters? The one with the stereotypical Jersey-Italian accent? Yes, I'm talking about Buddy Valastro from Cake Boss. After watching every episode of every season, dreaming of cannoli, tiramisu, lobster tails, and (of course) cake, I wanted to try it for myself, obviously! But is it really that amazing? The sweet, little Italian bakery we see on the show? I stumbled across Carlos' Bakery, wedged between skyscraper and expensive boutiques, the product of nearby Rittenhouse. It seemed like fate. My friends and I were just saying that we needed something to eat; apparently soft serve ice cream and a third of a cheesesteak isn't a meal! Naturally, seeing a bakery made us think that was the answer to balancing our meal. I practically insisted that we go in. My friends were international students, after all, and this was part of the American experience--celebrity TV c...

After a 6:15 a.m. flight, an hour long layover in Florida, and less than pleasant neighbors on my flight home, I was ready for lunch. And not just a sandwich from any run of the mill airport kiosk. I wanted delicious, sumptuous, blog-worthy food. My plane took me to Kansas City, but my stomach took me to Westside Local. The restaurant itself lives up to any foodie, hipster gastropub--exposed brick, modern art by local artists, rustic wooden benches. It was perfect. I wanted something different, a get away from dining halls (though I really shouldn't complain; they served scallops the other day...). My only complaint about as I sat down, looking at the menu, was that I did not have a clear choice of what I should order. Everything was unique, flavor combinations that perfectly melded the classic with the exciting. I started, if I'm being honest, a little jealous of my server, who had winged eyeliner so sharp it could filet a fish and a blinding highlight...But you're pro...

Gastropubs. They are everywhere. It's as if restauranteurs suddenly realized that people want the food to actually taste good when they go out? What a surprise! But, in all honestly, this shift probably occurred in response to the "foodie scene." People began to go out to share a meal together, enjoy each other's company, have an actual conversation with friends as if your having a family meal, instead of going out for a wild Friday night, getting so drunk that some greasy chips are enough to satisfy. I've been to my fair share of these little gems, and as time has passed, some were merely made to keep up with a trend, and others are worth the night out. A few months ago I went to Philadelphia, just another part of my college application process, but one that was a lot more fun. After a long flight, no reservation, a casual wardrobe, and little understanding of the city, we decided to go to a British themed gastropub. According to Google, it had good reviews, an...

There are certain restaurants that you hear about over and over again, whether it be on TV or instagram or tourist brochures. You have to wonder, are they worth it? *cue buzzfeed intro* After a while, I begin to wonder if these places are actually good or if they are the kind of place you go to just to take some pictures, buy a t-shirt, and brag to your friends about, like some sort of foodie accomplishment badge. Well, my curiosity and love of these well-marketed TV shows were enough to win me over. Today let's see if one infamous dessert spot is actually worth the long lines, high prices, and all the praise. First up, Shake Shack. I have heard so much about this East coast based burger chain, stories about waiting in line for hours just to taste some blended ice cream. I love milkshakes as much as the next person, but I doubt I would wait much longer than an hour for any milkshake. Luckily, there's not much of a wait at one of these restaurants outside of New York City. ...

If you have ever watched Top Chef, you may be familiar with Mike Isabella. If that still doesn't ring a bell, Top Chef winner Richard Blaze gave Mike part of his prize money in order to open a restaurant. That restaurant is Graffiato. The Jersey Shore Graffiato is Italian for scratched, and everything here is definitely artisanal and made from scratch. This restaurant specializes in pizza, but you're not going to come here and get your standard pepperoni or cheese pizza. Boring! You are going to get something special with an explosion of unique flavors that pair perfectly. There are other entrees on the menu, but why go to a pizza place with your friends and then get pasta? That's selfish, you just don't want to share. During my visit with my family, I ordered an appetizer of dressed broccolini garnished with feta cheese. It was served cold which made it light and refreshing, perfect for a starter. Next came the pizzas. The White House was a...well...white piz...

No, this isn't some trick your older sibling plays on you. This is a donut chain that serves up creative, one-of-a-kind pastries that I cannot get enough of! Walking into Hurts is like walking into a child's sugar wonderland. The walls are brightly colored and the little shop is decorated with an odd assortment of decor. But your eyes automatically gravitate to the glass case filled with dozens and dozens of donuts. You have your choice of s'mores, nutella, Andes mint, Oreo, German chocolate, animal cracker... I could sit here naming donuts for days. There are also those that have fun quirky names, like the monkey brain (don't ask me what flavor that is, I just know it is tasty), the Jesús (cinnamon drizzled with dulce de leche), and the Homer (plain donut with pink frosting and sprinkles). These sugary confections may cost a pretty penny in comparison to your "big chain" shops, but there is a wide variety of phenomenal flavors. You have to get a dozen,...

Obviously any trip begins with a trip to Barnes & Noble to buy the latest edition of Fodor's so that you can make an informed decision on the important stuff: food. D.C. is no exception. Searching through the semi-glossed pages, I found a cheap lunch spot that was owned by none other than Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn. Partly fueled by my desire to meet a celebrity chef and partly from an episode of Unique Sweets featuring Spike's restaurant, I made my way to Good Stuff Eatery. Now, my obsession with The Cooking Channel finally paid off because I knew exactly what I had to order- milkshakes. Such a simple thing milkshakes are, ice cream, milk, and a good blending is all you need. The options at Good Stuff are wide and definitely unique, ranging from cotton candy to chocolate coconut. I opted for the toasted marshmallow shake (and took more than a few sips of my travel buddy's Vietnamese coffee shake). This shake...perfection. I have had my fare amount of shakes, ...