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Running, Eating, and Drinking in Cincinnati

Good morning! How are you guys feeling this morning? Did you race? It seems like lots of people are celebrating PRs this morning which is so fun! I can’t wait to read lots of race recaps from Euguene, Big Sur, Nike Women’s Half, and more!

Things around here have been a little slower than normal this morning since we were out quite late last night! Our evening started with a dance party and didn’t end until 3am!Amy ashley dancing

Yesterday kicked off with the Active Water 5k in Fern Bank Park. Amy and I were hoping to secure a new PR but unfortunately, this 5k was definitely not official. There were less than 30 runners and it not only started 15 minutes late but we also realized that the course was not mapped well nor was there a time clock. We almost left after showing up but decided instead we’d support the local high school group’s fundraising efforts and push ourselves to run the fastest 5k we could.

IMG_8197 IMG_8198IMG_8204 IMG_8207 The course ended up only being 2.95 miles long but we enjoyed running along the river and taking in the scenery while pushing our legs! We were both sad that this wasn’t officially timed and therefore won’t go down in the record books for our 5k PR but I’m definitely on the search for a 5k in NYC this month! Anyone want to join in the fun?

We spent the rest of the day eating, drinking, shopping, and exploring Cincinnati’s different neighborhoods.

Teller’s of Hyde Park: A delicious brunch spot in an old bank complete with a dining room in the old vault! Each of us loved our meals which included the warm hazelnut encrusted goat cheese salad, grilled chicken sandwich on pretzel bun, and the lobster po boy!

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Cock & Bull English Pub in Hyde Park: Great outdoor seating right in the middle of Hyde Park! Their food is supposedly delicious and they have more than 60 beers on tap! We loved taking advantage of their make your own beer flight! IMG_8222 IMG_8224 IMG_8226Kaze in Over the Rhine: Miraculously we were able to score a table for 4 at this Japanese gastropub and sushi bar! Most other restaurants had a long wait but we hit this restaurant at the perfect time and were able to enjoy some delicious cocktails, their special sushi rolls, a few appetizers, and their halibut special that melted in our mouths! Amy Ashley at KazeIMG_8269 IMG_8270

Senate Restaurant & Bar in Over the Rhine: While we couldn’t make it in for dinner due to a two hour wait, their cocktails and desserts were amazing! We enjoyed an order of beignets with our cocktails and were floored by how delicious they were! I think the secret is the pretzel sugar dusting!IMG_8276Needless to say we had an amazing time in Cincinnati yesterday and are enjoying a morning mimosa with our homemade blueberry pancakes! Have a great Sunday!

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Two Delicious NYC Restaurants

This was one of those weekends that I’m just not ready to finish. From start to finish, it was the perfect New York City weekend.

Now that both Bo and his sister Meg live in New York City, his parents try to come up at least a few times a year to enjoy New York and catch up with us. This weekend included some delicious food and a Broadway show. It was a perfect way to spend a rainy weekend in the city.

Friday night Bo’s parents invited us to bring friends to dinner so Theodora and Laura, Meg’s roommate, joined us for dinner at one of our favorite hidden secrets, BLT Fish. I call it a hidden secret as even though it’s over 10 years old the food and service are both always amazing and normally you can get in upstairs as long as you book a few days in advance.

As normal the food did not disappoint and both Theodora and I were thankful for ordering the scallop special. My favorite part of the meal was the raw bar tower and the amazing candied Brussels sprouts! Oh, and just like any BLT restaurant, their signature bread course was delicious. The cheddar biscuits were were divine! IMG_2849

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Yesterday we made the best of the rainy day by heading to Broadway for a matinee showing of Cat on A Hot Tin Roof with Scarlett Johansson and Benjamin Walker. Bo and his father headed to the TKTS booth in Times Square around 10am which allowed them to buy tickets at 50% off! This is one of the best TKTS deals we’ve taken advantage of in ages! As the only Tennessee Williams I read in high school English was A Streetcar Named Desire I didn’t know what to expect from the show other than that it came highly recommended, Scarlett was supposedly amazing, and it was long. The show was so powerful that it left us talking about it for 2 hours afterwards. While I love musicals and other light hearted Broadway shows, there is something to be said for a show that leaves you thinking and talking about the plot.

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We took a break from dining out last night and instead wined and dined at home, sipping some of our favorite wines (Domaine Serene Pinot Noir and Cakebread Chardonnay) while chatting, relaxing, and enjoying a delicious meal cooked by Bo. Meg and I helped with prep but Bo truly owned the delicious meal which included a cheese plate, Caprese salad, hazelnut gnocchi, sautéed mushrooms, and veal chops.

Then, last but not least, we ended the weekend with a late brunch at ABC Kitchen. After a morning filled with working out and errands, Bo’s parents wanted to find a lunch spot near our home that would allow us to relax and enjoy one last, delicious meal before their flight back to Savannah. It’s always hard to think of lunch or brunch places as Bo and I rarely dine out for brunch or lunch, especially in this area. After being at a loss for a moment I suggested a few local restaurants, unsure whether they served brunch. Luckily, ABC Kitchen, one of my all time favorites, only had a 30 minute wait; just enough time for a mimosa before brunch!

This was the perfect brunch spot for our group as we were able to enjoy the beautiful interior décor in a relaxed environment and dine on the top notch food without feeling rushed. We took over two hours fro brunch, enjoying the dishes as they served them as we shared 3 small plates as appetizers before our main courses. I would highly recommend 3 of our items: roasted kobucha squash toast, raw diver scallops, and the chicken salad.

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Overall, our only complaint would be the hit and miss service. Our waiter went from being overly attendant to invisible. We were seated right at the 30 minute point but then once we were seated it took 10 minutes to see our waiter again.

What a wonderful weekend it was. While I’m not quite ready for the weekend to end, at least I can go curl up with a glass of wine and the Oscars!

Have a great week everyone!

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New Years 2013: St. Croix Style

After a day of internet issues and lack of wi-fi on both flights today, I’m finally back to pick up where I left off in sharing our St. Croix adventures!

After a day of exploring St. Croix via the roads, trails, and beaches on Monday, we were ready to toast to the new year together as a large group. IMG_1419

Sunday night we realized that we still didn’t have any firm New Year’s Eve plans and since we cooked in the 2 nights previous, we thought it would be fun to go out to dinner somewhere. We didn’t really know if going into Christiansted was a safe idea with the New Year’s Eve craziness and figured that a large group would be hard to keep together during the night. Therefore, instead of bar hopping, we decided to take it back old school style and pre-game at the house during our evening dance party before being seated for a 10pm dinner at a nice restaurant on the island near our house.

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A local shop owner highly recommended the New Year’s Eve party at The Galleon Restaurant as the restaurant is known for their extensive wine list, reliable food, and live music. The 10pm seating was a perfect option for our group as it allowed us to toast to the new year together at the restaurant during their champagne toast and have some time to hang out together at the house. We made the reservations sight on seen but the Yelp reviews also helped seal the deal. IMG_1426

The night overall wasn’t exactly what our group had in mind, but we still enjoyed ourselves. After all, when you’re a group of 9, you can bring the party anywhere you go. We definitely dropped the average age of the dining clientele by around 20 years when we were seated which put a bit of a damper on our party spirits and noise levels. The food at The Galleon was very good and the wine menu lived up to the reputation however the staff and service left something to be desired. I wasn’t starving, so chose to enjoy appetizers instead of a main course. Raj and I split the tuna appetizer and I enjoyed the lobster ravioli, which stood out above the other dishes, as my entrée. Our group also liked that they didn’t have a pre-fixe menu for New Year’s Eve, unlike many other restaurants. This gave each person the freedom to find something that pleased their taste buds and budget.

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After quite a few glasses of delicious chardonnay later, our group toasted in the new year together with champagne, compliments of the house. The party hats, beads, and noise makers were fun props for a few pictures and helped us truly feel like we were kicking off the new year versus just having a nice dinner out on the island.

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After making out with the local restaurant guppy, better known as Shrek, it was time to call it a night.

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One magnum of champagne, shared poolside between friends and a few conversations about resolutions later, it was time for us to turn in, ready to dream about all 2013 has in store for us!

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