Sorry, We're Open

There's some advice that you hear all the time. But no one really seems to listen to it. Like in every beauty article I read, I mean those ones written by 70 year old women who look like they're 45, giving their best beauty advice, they always say that wearing sunscreen everyday is their number one secret. I've read it atleast six times. It seems totally valid, and fairly simple and yet not everyone is wearing sunscreen every day. Recently I bought a super natural, good-for-your-skin-sunscreen...I think it's time I start using this kind of advice to my advantage. And let's be honest, I'm the farthest thing from tan...might as well embrace the pale and work towards a gorgeous middle aged face.

The other one people without a doubt always say they regret is not traveling when they were young. They find a great job, get tied down, one thing leads to another, get married, and boom...there's suddenly no time for whimsical month long adventures and no chance to drop everything and just move somewhere crazy.  This one is always in the back of my head.

After five years of any number of roommates, dorms, and rented rooms...I simply cannot wait to have a place of my own. I think about decorating an apartment and having dinner parties at least once a day. I'm so ready.  And yet there it is, the fact that I'm only 23 and while the daunting 25 makes me feel as if I'm quickly getting older by the second, I'm really a child in the scheme of things.  A child who has some skills that could really be put to use in just about any part of the world. You can cook, photograph, or farm anywhere. So, what's the rush? I have to remind myself quite often that this is my time. It's all about me. It's my time to explore, to make spur of the moment decisions (mostly because when you're 23 and tied to very little, why not?), to move to a big city, to work my butt off for a really minimal salary or apprentice for people simply so I can learn and soak up all their skills and knowledge.  Twenty three is the perfect time for this, and forty three usually isn't. This is what I need to remember. Because in twenty years I want to say I took the risks and landed on my feet (because let's be honest, it's not always glamorous...but we usually do land on our feet), I learned from the best and made a name for myself.  Maybe I wasn't rolling in the big bucks, but that comes with time and hard work, from learning from as many people as possible and turning it into my own skill, and feeling damn lucky that I am able to take these chances at this point in the game.

** All pictures from a pre-graduation trip to the city; Unbeatable baked goods (get the Kabocha Canotto!!) at Sullivan Street Bakery, Mexican Street Corn at Cafe Habana, and Greek yoghurt treats at Chobani Soho- the perfect spot for a healthy snack**

Joseph Leonard

I think I've made it obnoxiously clear how much I love brunch (re: Prune, Locanda Verde & Jeffrey's Grocery)

What's not to be obsessed with? Bloody Mary's & Sleeping in? I'm sold.

Staying true to both the above criteria, I've got a new go-to brunch spot for ya...

Ladies and Gentlemen: Joseph Leonard.

I knew I was going to like this place when 1.) I saw the inside of the restaurant & 2.) I saw that they served their omelet with french fries and brioche. 

Look familiar? It's owned by the same guy that own's Jeffrey's Grocery right across the street.

We ended up waiting for quite some time, which was fine because we weren't ravenous just yet AND while waiting we spotted Jesse Tyler Ferguson (from Modern Family). 

I always seem to have celebrity sightings when I'm with my cousin Lily, we also always seem to go to brunch, at least lately. 

When we finally got a table they hooked us up with fresh fruit, fries & their amazing brussels sprouts for being so patient (can't say that's regularly one of my strong suits but I hear it's a virtue...)

Customer service win for everyone!

Shredded roasted brussels sprouts with sriracha. It's like they asked me what a few of my favorite things were, put them all in one dish and gave them to me free. So. Damn. Happy.

And as we demolished our treats we dove in to some bloody marys.

I got the "Bloody Caeser" vodka, clamato, sriracha, chipotle, oyster

Spicy and delicious. And hello! There was an oyster. AMAZING.

Mom got the "Bloody Mary No. 20" vodka, tomato, olive, beer chaser (sidenote: hello hand model!)

Perfectly classic and the beer chaser was a stellar touch. You know how I feel about those perfect square ice cubes too, don't you? Sign of a good meal to come.

Somehow we saved room for the main course, though we definitely couldn't finish everything off. 

My mom, my cousin/prop stylist/sous chef, and I shared everything. 

It's how we do. It's literally in our genetic makeup. We cannot help it.

My choice? Avocado toast with eggs over medium. 

The eggs were cooked exactly how I like them, this is usually not the case. I don't roll with runny whites, it's just not right. Runny yolk & crispy white...perfection.

Everything was deeelicious but the avocado toast was my favorite. Simple and well executed. 

Mum went with the polenta and crispy pork belly.

"Pork belly is the reason we eat meat."

And lily chose the mushroom and eggs complete with sunny side up eggs, brie & onion marmalade.

Dig it.

I loved this meal, and I loved this menu. The decor is rustic and hip and well, I loved that too. 

Oh and the service? Hilarious. 

What more could I possibly say?

Jeffrey's Grocery

I think I'm slowly becoming a brunch addict.

Basically I like to sleep in and enjoy a late breakfast. Life is good, eh?

After recovering from a day out in the snow I had a good long sleep and ended up at Jeffrey's Grocery the next morning. No complaints here.
(Shout out to Ronna, sorry I didn't stop by. I will be in touch next time I'm in the city! xo)

The décor in this place was spot on. They had me at the napkins. My absolute favorite kind of napkin.

And the lovely table? Swoon. Mismatched silverware...Are we design soul mates?

But you want to see the goods don't you? I'm talking about the food...

 Around the table: Blueberry French Toast with Granola Streusel, an Omelette & the Quiche of the Day

The French Toast was a sweet treat for sure. The granola streusel on top ought to accompany all kinds of French toast, I mean uhhh Freedom Toast! right right

I went with the Mushroom & Cheddar Toast with Poached Eggs.

Re: grilled cheese, tons of mushroom, and the most perfect poached eggs on planet earth. I'm not dramatic...

I'm choosing to fall head over heels in love with poached eggs. I want one right now.

Demolished.

Be a smartie and enter my GIVEAWAY to win some free food (Journey Bars)! Please!

Things I Saw & Things I ate

I'm going to keep this post mostly picture focused. I'm sick of writing/typing. 

I've been knocking out the homework today, have I mentioned I can't wait for this semester to be over?

No more six class schedule and no more weird gaps between classes.

You know those weekends where you do absolutely nothing and then spend the next day cramming in all your homework? 

That's today. Hey, what can I say? There's nothing like an encroaching deadline to get you motivated. 

Procrastination works for some of us.

Anyway, here's some stuff from when I was in the city last.

No words needed. Eat those images up.

Also, whisked. has a facebook page now.

So, how abouts you "like" it?

Go on, doooo it.

Brunch

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Brunch is the classy man's breakfast.

Breakfast with the addition of  bloody mary's? I just don't know how it could get any better.

Keep your mimosas and bellinis because if it's brunch, it's bloody mary time and that's exactly how this brunch went down.

It was a long wait at Locanda Verde, so we went to hang out in the adorable lobby of the hotel next door. First we picked up some snacks, we were ravenous and had an hour and a half of waiting ahead of us. We soldiered on though, baked goods in hand.

We settled on the parmesan pretzel, apple cider donut, and one other thing that tasted lemony and was a relative of a muffin. I was told next time I've got to order the olive oil cake. Sounds like a plan to me!

Did I mention I was in good company?

My parents were in the city for my dad's birthday, and trust me...these folks know how to dine.

After a nice chill in the hotel lobby, we sat done and ordered some drinks.

Bloody marys for mom and I and a "bicicletta" for my dad; it was made with aperol, lillet and aranciata. I'll stick with the bloody mary.

Of course we had to order the ricotta. It's some of the best ricotta on earth.

Bold statement, but I'm going to go ahead and say Cotogna (in SF)---we had an appetizer there of ricotta, roasted squash, brown butter, and honey and it was sort of perfect--- and this place have the best ricotta dishes on a menu, at least the best I've ever tasted.

This ricotta was topped with truffle honey, and thyme. Last time I was here it was just olive oil, both were also sort of perfect. I have to give a lot of credit to that grilled bread though. 

It's the simple things sometimes, the simple things that just work so damn well. 

The crostino of the day was topped with a foie gras & chicken liver paté, don't be intimated...that translates to "delicious" The pickled raisins and red onions didn't hurt either.

What could be next but some crispy potaters?

Mom and I thought the side of garlic potatoes would be disappointing and well...it wasn't at all. You could smell the garlic as the waiter approached the table with these babies.  They succeeded in putting most other breakfast potatoes to shame.

We finished the selction off with the highly recommended (shrimp) scampi and grits.

The coddled eggs were spot on.

Only complaint? Bloody Marys were over priced. That's not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoy the spicy, tomatey beverage though.

Oh yeah,
Interested in dinner? Check out my Birthday Dinner at Locanda Verde