“Get me a pizza,” she cries, tears streaming down her face, “Deep dish – WITH TOPPINGS!”

I must attribute my food-centric activities to the simple fact that I’ve been out of this city for a year. If I am Columbus, the epicurean epicenter of Chi-town is my new world, baby. And now, while unemployed and broke, I’ve been eating, drinking (and running!) with what little money I’ve salvaged, slowly sinking into a food coma of epic proportions. Soft-serve on a Tuesday with Grandma? Definitely.

“Oh, you’ve never been to Peaquods? ME EITHER, LETS GO RIGHT NOW”

When it’s 80 degrees and sunny, you will tell yourself it’s acceptable to sit outside and get drunk alone.

But then you do and next thing you know, this is happening.

And after making the drive from New York to Chicago, this will be waiting for you at the kitchen table.

When you wake up the next morning, this.

For the love of God, these will be there too.

And now, wherever I go, the food speaks to me.

It’s true. And I love it.

Thankfully, my knees haven’t given out quite yet and I’m able to counteract all the food with a healthy dose of endorphins along the lake. But that doesn’t mean when I walk in the door, I don’t crave a BLT. I’m only human.

In reality though, it is great to be home. I don’t pay rent, my parents have a new ‘nespresso machine, I can walk to the beach and most days, I get to hang in my room, apply for jobs and refresh my gmail hoping (wait, PRAYING) that I get the j-o-b over those twerps who just graduated college. Damn youth! Killin’ us 20-somethings!

And I left New York, why exactly?

The strange thing is, I’ve been asking myself that question more than I thought I would. On the one hand, I feel more at home in Chicago. (“Duh, this place is your home,” I think to myself). On the other hand, I really miss my life in New York. The non-stop energy, the people who let me into their lives, the food (mmmm, Momofuku) and yeah – my jobs. Was I doing what I loved in New York? Yes & no, but I was slowly but surely makin’ it work.

Will I eventually make it work in Chicago? Of course. Will I re-discover the wacky energy and re-connect with the people whose lives I’ve been in for years – yes, and yes. Will the pang of missing my New York life ever get easier? Yes. And, dear universe, will I ever find an apartment again in Wicker Park that cost me $420 in rent?

No, bytes, you probably won’t.

But alas, I am officially back. I can think of about a million things I want do and about 3 things I can actually afford right now. Chicago, it’s good to be here. Thank god I can blog from the porch.

Keep eating! xxx, Bytes

For us single folk, it ain’t easy … 

GET THOSE CHOCOLATES AWAY FROM ME!

Some of us are bitter …


Part of me is thinking …

But then I’m like …

In reality, I should go out tonight and “do me”

But we all know how that ends up …

I get it, though

But could you explain it one more time?

Mmmm, I’m probably better off staying in tonight anyways ….

Because I got my girls …

And I will always have this …

Happy Valentines Day, babies!

This year, February 14th holds a special place in my heart considering where I was a year ago. I spent last Valentines in New York, actually, but I wasn’t living here. I had flown to the Big Apple for 2 days to interview for an job that ultimately led me to move here a month later. I remember the night before the interview, February 13th, 2012, laying in my friends bed, a million thoughts running through my head. On the one hand, I was relieved to be slightly removing myself from the holiday with this prospect of a big move. I knew I needed a change and so why not New York, I thought? I barely slept that night, I was so insanely nervous. I’ll never forget the cab ride either, up to Harlem, a neighborhood I knew absolutely nothing about, except for the Apollo theatre. Anxiously biting my nails in the backseat, the cabbie dropped me off at 125th between 5th Ave & 6th and I remember slightly freaking out, because I was 20 minutes early for the interview. “Do I go in?”, “Do I walk around?” “Is this considered fashionably early?” 

My freak-out-meter went through the roof, especially during the interview. 

“You do realize this is an un-paid position?”

I nodded and gulped. I knew what I was in for, I assured my future boss. 

With raised eyebrows, she said, “So you’re willing to move here for a job that pays nothing?”

A few hours later, I told the story to a good friend over lunch at Eataly and our conversation pretty much solidified my decision. “It’s not easy, but if you don’t do it, you’ll probably regret it,” she told me. 

Three weeks later and I was here and now, exactly a year later, I’m still here. It’s funny, because I almost forgot all this happened on Valentines last year. I woke up today thinking about the upcoming holiday, feeling all sentimental and romantic and wanting to listen to Sinatra on repeat and just dance. Then, it hit me. Holy Batman, that was 365 days ago! Time does fly, I suppose. 

Regardless of where I am this Valentines or what I’ve got goin’ on (ice cream and sappy movies, anyone?), this Thursday will be extremely memorable. Amidst all the reminiscing, I do have things to look forward to this year, one of which is something I’ve been pretty nervous about announcing, but with the one year mark coming up, I should probably just bite the bullet and tell everybody. 

On March 31st, I’m packing the bags again and heading back to the Windy City. 365 + days in NYC have undoubtedly changed me for the better, but for right now in my life, it’s the best decision. The move here was never permanent but thankfully, it turned into a one-year deal and I couldn’t be more thankful because it’s been one of the best years of my life. “Then why leave?,” many people have asked. Well, I’ve always considered your 20s to be the time for exploration; if you don’t go now, you never will, etc. However, it’s a tough life in New York, ask any struggling 20-something and we’ll all tell you the same thing. So, while I think I will move back here one day, I need some time to re-group (and save some $$$) and that’s what Chicago is for. 

I’m sad, yes, and I’ll become much more sad in the next month, but New York will always be here. And the close friendships I’ve made here won’t waiver. I value my friends and family more than anything and no move or different city will change that. 

So, Chicago, I’ll see you in a little over a month. And New York, we’ve got some fun things planned for the next few weeks. 

And hey – be sure to check back here on actual Valentines, I’ve got some fun things lined up. Lets just say, memes, gifs, sappy music and some montages. If there’s one thing NYC has taught me, it’s how to be 100% more technologically savvy. 

Keep eating xx

Bytes

Yep. I went to the Bahamas. Pretty crazy, right? It was totally wild. At first, I was like, “Hmm, maybe a trip to the Bahamas seems a little outrageous” but then, life’s been pretty outrageous these days.

Okay, I’m totally kidding. I didn’t bask in the Bahamian sun – but thanks to the photobooth app on my computer, IT TOTALLY LOOKS LIKE I DID. Isn’t technology awesome?

Oooh, I can’t believe it’s 2013 and it’s already the end of January. Talk about time flyin’! It’s truly insane how much has happened in a year. Of all the years, this has got to be the craziest. 2012, you took the cake. Or, the cookies.

You see, I work next to a bakery … THAT’S FAMOUS FOR THEIR COOKIES. While this doesn’t particularly help my situation or any of my “resolutions,” sometimes, you just have to indulge. (Big emphasis on the”sometimes”). Honestly though, the people at City Bakery know how to make some sweets. The cookie tastes like butter, okay?! It’s delicious and I’m totally getting one next week. The hot chocolate is life-changing too but along with the cookie, well, it might kill you. Ugh, decisions. They’re the worst, aren’t they?

2012 was truly the year of great eats. New York is foodie heaven and every day I’m amazed by the food culture and while I’m still learning, it’s been a total adventure discovering all there is to byte around here. Funny story, actually. Last week, a friend told me about a great steak he had at Minetta Taven. Mid-convo, I freaked because I realized I knew the bartender there. I obviously got over-excited and exclaimed to another foodie friend that we had to go eat at Minetta, because I knew the bartender and I could totally get us the hook-up (AKA, free dessert). Turns out, my bartender friend does NOT work at Minetta, but rather at a restaurant called Minerva.

“You’ve GOT to be kidding me,” I thought, after sending the dumb text “Hiiii, do we need a reso for 2 people at noon tomorrow? You work at Minetta, right?” Oops.

I’m sorry, but both restaurants are IN the same neighborhood. Cut a girl some slack! That big ‘oops’ on my part just goes to show how large in scale restaurants are here in NYC. One day, I will make it to Minetta. Minerva, too.

Now, lets talk about my meal today at Mercer Kitchen. Since my friend had himself a little “in,” (thank god for friends that bartend), we were treated to quite the feast. Hands down though, the highlight was the salmon appetizer. Sliced paper thin, the fish sat atop a light layer of chipotle mayo that was smeared across a small square of fried. sushi. RICE. Bursting with flavor, those little nuggets melted right on my tongue and my god, life changed. I’ll be going back just for that dish. And if you, any of you New Yorkers, have been to MK and haven’t tried the salmon bites – go back for them, please.

Tucked inside of the Parker Meriden in Midtown West, Burger Joint is supposed to have one of the best patties in the city. The restaurant itself, is teeny-tiny. Actually, I wouldn’t even call it a restaurant. More like a small room, total rock & roll vibe, kitchen, counter, bar stools and small booths. Fun movie posters on the wall, as well. Another foodie friend texted me a few weeks back, exclaiming we had to go. I browsed the menu and realized no entree exceeded $8. I was in.

While I wouldn’t say it was the best burger I’ve had (sorry, but nothing holds a candle to the #1 at DMK), it was an experience and sometimes, thats better than a great burger. “Makin’ memories,” my grandpa always used to say, “You’re makin’ memories.” And that, we did.

Beer time. Last weekend, my co-workers & I took a field trip to the Brooklyn Brewery. Not only did we get a specialized tour with the funniest hipster I’ve ever encountered, we experienced the brewery on a Saturday afternoon and that in itself, is magic. We arrived at noon and immediately got started on the tour and by 1, the place was a madhouse. Huge picnic tables were scattered in the front room and despite the fact that parties of two “held tables” with bags of chips and refused to move, the scene and overall vibe totally ruled. Plus, is there really anything better than an ice cold Sorachi Ace? I think not. (Mmm, except maybe an ice cold Matilda).

Up next? I’ve gotta venture on the East River Ferry. Friends upon friends upon friends have told me how fabulous the ride is and yes, while I’m aware it’s snowy & sleety & super gross out, I’m hoping it magically turns warm soon so I can enjoy the magic of the ferry.

Till then, I’ll just be foolin’ around on photobooth.

Keep eating & tweeting, babies!

xx

bytes

For you & your pleasure, I aptly timed the song to the slideshow (hooray!)

Things around here have been busier than an oyster bar on Saturdays and I apologize. I hope the slideshow speaks for itself. Food, drinks, friends, family and ugly tears from Claire Danes (!!!!).

I also turned 25 recently. And if you know me, you know I love birthdays. Always have, always will. This year was no different – lots of champagne, lots of love & lots of internet birthday wishes. Nothing like the purchase of new black lace shorts & a plate of cupcakes to make a gal feel really special.

Honestly, I was a bit nervy about this birthday because it felt like such a milestone. 25, I thought, aren’t you supposed to have it all figured out by 25? Maybe it was that I just imagined myself differently at this age.When I woke up on October 23rd, I certainly didn’t feel any older. I was still having the same nightmares I had as a 24 year old, still unable to fall asleep at 2 a.m. because I couldn’t get that damn chorus of “Everybody Talks” out of my head. Catchy pop song, sure. But for one straight week, night after night, I laid in bed with this “…It started with a whisper“. Over and over and over and over. “25, I thought, must be a test.”

If 25 was indeed testing me, Hurricane Sandy was one shitty final exam. The superstorm was unexpected, forceful and over two weeks became quite the roadblock in my ability to juggle my looming financials. I quickly found myself broke after paying rent which was then exasperated by being out of work for 12 straight days. I felt defeated, frustrated and sunk into an icky hole of selfish sadness.

What later followed was a major spill down a flight of stairs, a black & blue bum and five to ten minutes of ugly, public crying. Just bursting into tears on 75th & 2nd for no obvious reason. I read somewhere “you really know you’ve made it in New York when you cry in public.” For the sake of everything, I sure hope that’s true.

The one gleaming beacon of hope from this hurri-cation has been my ability to conjure up some cheap, tasty eats in my dollhouse kitchen. Now that it’s November, millions of peoples palettes suddenly change & like clockwork, they crave all things autumn. I’d be one rich lady if I had a penny for every tweet, facebook & instagram photo I’ve seen (or myself posted) in the last month that was “fall” related. I’m talking pumpkins, cider, squash, pumpkin spice lattes – you name it. Pretty much any sort of food (or flavored beverage) you consume & or cook while wearing comfy cozy sweaters, colored cords and oxfords. The air is crisp, the leaves change colors and you can happily leave the house wearing layers. Time to cuddle up near a fireplace with your fall fling, my friends, even if all you do is kiss like eskimos & drink Hot Toddies.

When you venture out for a meal, don’t be too shocked at the menu changes. So long heirloom tomatoes, you’re so last summer. Time to make way for pumpkin ravioli, brussel sprouts and warm whiskey cocktails. Stereotypical, of course. Delicious nonetheless.

In keeping up with my fall-loving foodies, I typed “yummy comfort food” into google a few weeks ago. I had the night off from work and was in the mood to whip up something crazy delicious. This was what appeared. My stomach grumbled (always a good sign) and I knew that had to happen A.S.A.P. A few hours later, it most certainly did.

Butternut Squash Risotto

The recipe from Simply Recipes is pretty spot on, but I did change a few things :

1. I used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock – either will work. When I make this again, I’ll probably use chicken stock, just to tell the major differences between the two

2. After the threat / warning from Mom the Masterchef (“You will cut your finger off trying to peel a butternut squash by yourself,”) I bought freshly peeled, pre-cut butternut squash from the store and it worked perfectly (and I can only imagine, saved a lot of time & a lot of limbs)

3. Instead of parmesan cheese, I went for pecorino – a bit more of a salty bite than parm., but again, either will do

4. While I’m sure chives would work swimmingly in this dish, I have only read about (and can now attest to) the magical union that is sage & butternut squash. In my version, I lightly fried the sage in 1 tsp of olive oil before adding it to the risotto. Crunchy, fried herbs? Just say yes

While the risotto was a huge hit, last night I found myself in quite the pickle for dinner. It was around 6, I was starving and thanks to Sandy, I had to make due with my almost empty pantry for dinner. First thing I saw was a can of butternut squash soup. “No, that’s overkill,” I thought. And then, I saw the rice. That’s right, I went ahead and made risotto again – but this time, no recipe & no overkill! After digging through my pantry and fridge I found these things (arborio rice, a bottle of white wine, 1/2 an onion, 5 cloves of garlic, 2 (+ or -) cups of vegetable stock, a handful of cherry tomatoes & a hunk of goat cheese).

Mmmm, dinner

Tomato & Goat Cheese Risotto

- 1/4 (ish) cups Goat cheese (in terms of how much I used – I was ravenous & didn’t measure :tisk tisk: but it looked about to be 1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese – I’m sure if you like your risotto extra tangy, go ahead and use more – or you can add a little at a time, stir the cheese in the risotto and taste / reapply)

- 1 box cherry  tomatoes (I used 10 exactly & cut them in half)

- 1 bottle dry white wine (Sauv. Blanc worked well – now, I did not use a whole bottle in the risotto – I used about 1/2, however, depending on how much stock you actually have, you can substitute with wine. EX : I only used 2 cups stock but after stirring the risotto over and over over, I realized it was getting a bit dry – hence, I added more wine. Plus, it’s always fun to have a glass while you cook)

-Butter, 1/2 cup chopped onions, 5 cloves garlic

- Vegetable stock (Like I mentioned, I used about 2 cups – but, depending on how al-dente you like your rice, feel free to add more / less. Also, I ran out of stock right after the 2nd cup and because I needed a little more, I substituted with wine)

My apologies if this recipe is a wee bit scattered – like I said, I used no recipe for this sucker. Pretty much eye-balled just about everything – AND IT WORKED! Bliss!

1. Place a medium-sized saucepan over low-medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add your chopped onions and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes, or until onions are translucent and garlic is slightly browned and fragrant

2. De-glaze your pan with 1 cup of white wine, stir everything together and add your rice (I used 1/2 a cup of rice just for myself but I was starving … turns out it was about 1 & 1/2 servings – maybe 2 servings if you’re someone who likes tiny portions)

3. Stir frequently – stir frequently – STIR FREQUENTLY. The most important thing with risotto is you, my little Chef, need to be over the stove, stirring your butt off until its finished. After adding the rice, stir until all the liquid is absorbed – it will absorb, I promise – and then add another cup of stock / wine. Continue cooking the risotto until there is almost no liquid left and test your risotto – if it’s still al-dente / hard, add some more liquid. Test your rice again and do the same thing until it is cooked to your liking – 1/2 cup – 1 cup of stock at a time. I found that I probably tested my rice twice, added s’more wine and on the third time (about 20 minutes of stirring) that it was finished and perfectly al-dente

4. When the rice is cooked to your liking, stir in the cheese until well-incorporated and give it one final whisk. Serve A.S.A.P. with a few crumbles of more goat cheese on top, if you like

Two risottos in one post? Who would’ve thought? I blame Sandy.

Keep eating (xx)

Bytes

I’m sure I’ve already made this very clear, but I really love going home. That itch or ache or whatever I’m feeling most days is always scratched the minute my plane lands or the second I tap my former roommate on the shoulder and whisper “PSST! I’m BAAAACK!” And while I am usually the most excited out of anyone to see … well, anyone, it’s a simple joy that makes lonely NYC nights that much better.

This most recent trip, a friend summed it up best when (after I was complaining about when I could come visit next) said, “Lan, you’re home like every month & a half.”

Ain’t that the truth!?

Ooooh, guys, I just can’t help it. Maybe I just wasn’t ready to leave in the first place? Whatever it is, my ache was certainly repaired this time with three-days of non-stop music and non-stop fun. But seriously, to Lolla, to those who made it worth it & to the apocalypse of a storm that forced 300,000+ people into the streets of Chicago looking for beer & music, I thank you. Best. Weekend. Ever!

And with that & with my newfound knowledge of linking spotify songs onto allanabytes, I’ve put together a playlist if you will of some of the best songs from this past weekend. Some are songs I didn’t get to hear thanks to the storm (or awful scheduling, thank YOU), others are songs I barely remember thanks to the vodka lemonades & dancing and others are songs that were absolutely slayed live. Lolla 2013, get here quick!

1) I don’t remember why we were so late seeing M83 but I do know we missed one of my favorite songs. The best part was, we get to the stage and after hearing one song, we asked the guy in front of us, “Did we miss midnight city?” His frown said it all

2) I’ve never seen Passion Pit live & even though other favorite bands were playing, I was lucky enough to have a lolla friend who suggested we see PP. And thank you & thank god because they were kickass live. Especially with this pump-up, total dance anthem from their newest album. After hearing PP had cancelled shows last week, I was so relieved they made it to Chi-town

3) Nothing I love more than blue-sy, hypnotic voices and Haley Reinhart is no exception. I didn’t make it to Lolla early enough on Friday to see her perform, so I’ll just have to continually listen to this song on repeat. She may have been on American Idol but homegirl has got a voice on her and I’m totally in love with her hair

4) From my last post, I’m sure you can tell I looove Of Monsters & Men. Unfortunately for me, they were playing right in between my biggest girl-crush ever, Florence. Luckily, I was able to catch a few minutes of these guys before heading to Flo. While I missed one of my favorite songs (“Little Talks”) they did play this one and it’s a close-second. If anyone has the chance to see them in person, go for it — because they’re even better live

5) Choosing which song to post from this one was beyond tough. Two weeks ago, I saw The Head & The Heart live in Brooklyn (for free, by the way). I knew a bunch of their songs but I never, ever anticipated how ridiculous they would be live. I’m talking, AMAZING. I picked this song because of how magical it was when during the chorus, it would almost go silent & the whole crowd would just start clapping & chanting along. So, obviously, when it came to Lolla, there was no question. One of the best quotes from the weekend came from TH&H when three tweens dressed in neon bra’s & short shorts shoved their way through the sweaty crowd and were whipping their hair back & forth onto our extremely sweaty bodies. Talk about woof. Anyways, this was how the conversation went

Girl # 1: Guys, I’m just letting you know … I’m totally content right now. They played the two songs I wanted to hear …. so, I mean, I’m like totally content

Girl # 2: Well, I really want to hear that song about them being lost in their mind

(Band plays one song, not “Lost in My Mind”)

Girl # 2: ….okay let’s go.

6) Fun. was the one band (besides Flo) I was really, reaaaaally counting on to see & love live. My world came crashing down when on Saturday, an hour or so they’re about to perform, the city evacuates Lolla (billions of people in the street) and we didn’t know if and when the gates would open back up & if we would get to see Fun. perform. Someone must’ve been watching over us because not only did we get to see them but they were probably the best of the weekend. The sound was phenomenal and while parts of their performance are hazy, I just remember screaming and singing along, throwing my arms in the air yelling, “WHYYYYYYY AM I THE ONE” etc. It absolutely ruled

7) If I recall, Metric was one of the first bands we saw on Friday and it was the perfect kick-off. This song was kicked out of the water live, thousands of people singing along, hands in the air, screaming, hips swaying, etc. Second band I suggest seeing live if you have the chance

8) The Lolla gods were not shining down on headliners because I literally could not choose who I wanted to see. While I don’t regret any decisions for headliners (Jack White, Red Hot Chili Peppers & Black Keys), I am bummed I missed this song live. I’ll just dance alone like a P.Y.T. in my room to make up for it

9) This, I’m pissed about. Because of the Apoca-lollapyse, I missed out on Alabama Shakes. Fuckin’ rain, monsoon or whatever. Dammit

10) One of the craziest stages at Lolla is Perry’s, where all the techno / dub-step / mosh-pit-glow-stick-lets-get-absolutely-wild-music-that-sometimes-hurts-my-ears takes place. We even joked all weekend about how people seriously spent hours, show after show,  just at Perry’s. Pretty sure that’s where my brother hangs out (love you, Matty) and I applaud you for it. However, I do really love to dance and that I did when Calvin Harris played at Perry’s this year. This song absolutely rules

11) While on a Perry’s rant, I’ll just say it – I am totally bummed I didn’t get to hear this song live. Thanks to scheduling, I had to pick a different headliner and I will just live in slight agony I didn’t get to go completely buck, glow sticks and all, to this song

12) I can’t remember where I was walking or where I was even going but I know I was walking to another band when I heard this song being slaaaaaaaaaaaayed live at another stage. If you hear this and don’t start swinging those hips, bobbing those heads, whatever, you’ve got issues. This song is awesome and I’ll just have to hold out seeing Little Dragon live some other time. AY!

13) In following my last post, I don’t remember exactly where I was going but I do remember walking past a stage, stopping for 2 minutes, annoyed because I KNEW the song that was playing, I knew I loved it but I couldn’t remember who the band was (thank you, vodka lemonades). I started to freak out minutes later when I realized it was this song because I do love it, very, very much

14) Again with the scheduling. I know it’s difficult, Lolla Gods, but COME ON. I am so sad I didn’t get to see Santigold perform this song. DOUBLE WOOF

15) This one was pretty much my bad. It was between The Shins & Passion Pit and I like I mentioned earlier, I just lucked out with an awesome lolla friend. However, the two bands were playing opposite sides of the park, so there really was no way to see both. Jesus, it was like Sophie’s Choice. At least I had my brother & his lady to rub it in my face how awesome The Shins were. Really would’ve loved to hear this song live

16) Florence. She needs no introduction nor any explanation

If I could, I’d post many a more songs that we heard but sadly, I have to run to work. Also, I’ve spent the past 6 hours sitting in the corner of this Starbucks and all I’ve paid for was some sanity, a comfy cushion chair and a tall iced drink, so I pretty much feel like a big time bitch

Enjoy the tunezzzz

XO, Bytes

Popular opinion states that time flies by when you’re having fun. Finally (and thankfully) I feel like I can agree with that statement. How it’s already August is beyond me, how I’ve been living here for five + months boggles my mind and I am saddened and shocked summer is coming to an end. It feels like only days ago I sat in Central Park and brought up the idea of a bucket list to my friend C, my savior and favorite midwest –> NYC transplant.

We sat on a blanket with lemonades & munchies talking about how we could and would make our time here valuable, no regrets, sans all the stress. Ergo, bucket list! I’ve still got a way to go (Empire State Building, Jersey Shore, Katz’s Deli, Rent a bike & ride all around the city, find Ryan Gosling, etc) but I have crossed some biggies off my list and now I’m sharing with you in photos!

Spent the whole day in the Hamptons / Montauk playing in the rocks, enjoying my first whole lobster (noms) and finally visiting the famous Wolfer Winery

Coney Island / Luna Park. My two cents? Don’t ride the Cyclone unless you want serious, no joke whip-lash. My neck still hurts. Thank god the beer was cheap, the hot dogs delicious and ice cream cones perfectly coney

Coffee ice cream with spicy chocolate cookie dough from Je & Jo (http://jeandjo.com/). After reading about the organic goodness that is J & J, I knew I had to check it out. Hearty hunks of cookie dough with buttery ice cream? Totally worth the trek to hell’s kitchen

Spent a free Sunday finally eating at the infamous Shake Shack. Snagged a corner seat, sat down with my burger, fries and milkshake and totally indulged. I wasn’t sure if there was anything better than crinkle fries but the burger was insanely awesome. I now understand the madness that is SS. Capped my perfect day off with a viewing of Moonrise Kingdom, which knocked my socks off. If you haven’t seen that movie yet, go now. SRSLY

Taking advantage of NYC restaurant week lunch (25 bucks for 3 courses) at Danny Meyer’s famous, famous faaaaamous Italian, (Q-esque, Chicago!) eatery, Maialino (http://maialinonyc.com/). Homemade cacio e pepe (cheese, black pepper, pasta. Simple and cooked perfectly. Comfort in a bowl)

After a 8 day vacation in Chicago, why not spend your first day back in NYC completely letting loose at one of NY’s most famous brunch eateries – Popover Cafe. Crisp, warm, and crumbly outside. Eggy, soft and buttery inside. Served with strawberry butter. Perfection (http://www.popovercafe.com/)

Cooking at home will always be on my bucket list. Perhaps buying some proper cookware should be next on my list … thank god for muffin tins!

Restaurant week lunch at La Promenade des Anglais (http://www.lapromenadenyc.com/). Skirt steak with citrus salsa verde. Is it weird my first steak dinner in NYC was a solo lunch? Maybe! WORTH IT!

Finding my bearings

Suffice to say, I’ve been a busy little bytes. The craziest thing is that my internship, the one I moved here for, is now over. Honestly, I’ve got mixed emotions about that whole thing. My entire time frame about NYC was based on the four-five month job and now that it’s finished, I keep questioning everything. What if I hadn’t signed a year-lease? What if I moved back after the job was over? Would it be worth it? My biggest thing about moving here was that I would have to make it 100% worth it – worth the stress, money-loss, pay-cut, lifestyle change, leaving my family, my friends, my comforts / everything, etc. So, while I am certainly sad and some days I do wonder, I’m so glad I stayed. Every weird day, strange interaction, every day I don’t get a seat on the subway … well, I’m chalking it all up to my NY ‘sperience. One day, these stories are going to make one hell of a chapter in my book.

1. Mast Brothers Serrano flavored dark chocolate

2. Red Velvet Ice Cream Sammie from #googamooga

3. Caramelized Balsamic Onion & Gruyere Pizza made by yours truly. Recipe adapted from my favorite food blogger #justataste

4. Mom’s Baked Spinach

5. Cookie-dough empanada

6. Tomato & Sausage Risotto by yours truly, adapted from the one & only, #smittenkitchen

7. What happens in Chicago when allanabytes is home

8. What a real Bloody Mary looks like

Till next time, all.

Keep eating!

xx, allanabytes

So, while I’m still broke and still using my favorite scarves as temporary curtains, I am definitely happier than I was four months ago. Though it seems like a century since I packed my bags and hopped on a plane, the reality is, it’s only been a few short months and that is the one thing that terrifies me. When I think back to apartment hunting with a guy named Kang who sped-walked and dragged me on three different trains to show me an apartment with a mini-fridge, I shake my head and wonder where has the time gone?

If I’m being honest with myself, I know exactly where the time has gone and that would fall in the category of “working two jobs.” Waiting tables isn’t my career but it pays the bills and in an apartment whose rent is more than double what I was paying six months ago, I really have to thank my lucky stars that landed me the job in the first place. I should also probably thank myself (a big time pat on the back for this one) for walking past Robert DeNiro on the street and not recognizing him at all.

Writing is my passion, it’s why I moved to New York, it’s why I created the bytes and I hope it’s why you keep coming back to read what I have to say. More than anything, I want my time in New York to reflect the passionate pursuit of my creative, cultural side : the struggling ar-tist, if you will. Seriously though, I just want to make it. I want to be able to survive here, to savor every second of every day and really understand what it is about this city that makes millions of people up and quit their jobs, pack their bags and move to the city that never sleeps.

The biggest frustration on my end is how fast all hours of the day seem to disappear. How that one hour you swore you would devote to blogging became the hour you fell asleep on a park bench and woke up with drool on your shorts. That was a good day.

There have been so many moments that have completely taken my breath away, not in the way you would think. While I will never understand how a restaurant could charge $16.50 for a plate of pancakes, I have come to terms with the fact that I’ve probably eaten over 100 bagels since I moved here and in the coming months, I’ll probably eat 500 more.  For 2 dollars a pop, I’ll eat anything. And while I would love to dedicate this entire post to my ramblings on a finger-lickin’ schmear, I won’t.

Instead, I want to share with you my ever-growing #newyorklist. By no means is it any “guide” to living in New York because everyone & their mother should know I’m still new to this place. I suppose I’ll call myself a “New Yorker” when I finally figure out which direction is north.

1. To obtain securing any sort of standing / seating spot on the subway at any time of any day, one must be hella aggressive and channel the inner Kim Zolciak just waiting to be unleashed.

You better run QUICK down those steps otherwise you’re going to miss that train and have to resort to walking home, which will suck when you have on the wrong shoes that will eventually lead to blisters

2. There’s no need for headphones or music of any kind because when you do miss that train and have to wait 13 minutes for the next one on a Sunday when you’re already late for work, there will be musical stylings to always cheer you up.

3. If you’re 24 and an unpaid intern / struggling writer who falls for the wrong guys and lives with your BFF, you’re probably going to strongly relate and obsess over HBO’s latest smash hit, #girls. You just want to hang out with Lena Dunham, pick her brain, dance to Robyn and confess you too, eat cupcakes in the bathtub.

4. Most young folk who live in New York will live in a 4, 5 or in my case, 6 story walk-up apartment. There will be no elevator and you will have to drag your lazy butt up those stairs about 3+ times a day. After a few days, you’ll really start to feel the muscle definition in your calves and sooner or later your mom will tell you, “Wow, you’re no longer out of breath! Way to go!” The satisfaction of practically crawling to your door will then fade and you realize that you will never get used to those stairs.

5. When you’re feeling down and out, wondering how you’re going to pay rent, sometimes, you just have to dance it out. And if that song that you rock out to just happens to be by the boy band 13 year old girls obsess about, so be it. Your future hipster boyfriend will still love you, regardless of your song choice.

And now, not wanting to clog your computer screen any more with this novel length post, I bid adieu. With a new New York state of mind, I promise to keep writing and keep eating.

Xx, allanabytes

I knew the move to NYC wasn’t going to be easy but I also didn’t expect to be feeling what I’ve been feeling recently. The timing of everything didn’t exactly help my situation, seeing as my life turned upside down in two-ish weeks. It was quick and felt like I was ripping off the big band-aid of life as a confused 20-something.

However, that initial rip was a painless one. I’m not a fan of emotion or goodbyes. When I went away to college, I gleefully re-assured my sobbing friends and family that “it wasn’t goodbye – it was see ya later!” Because frankly, it wasn’t goodbye. This time it’s different and it’s a bit more permanent than living in a dorm in the middle of Amish country.

On the one hand, permanence can be a good thing. It’s a fresh start; a new chapter of my life is slowly unfolding, one subway wipeout at a time. And I am happy, bit by bit, day by day. People have been asking me, “How are you?” / “Are you happy?” etc, but I never really knew what to say until now.

When I first got here, I was a hot mess. I was staying on a friends couch, volunteering three days a week, spending the other four sitting on a bed wondering what in the hell I was actually doing here. I couldn’t (and still can’t) afford to go “catch up & grab drinks” with friends or have date nights with myself like I used to do. The adrenaline rush died pretty quickly.

People kept telling me things would eventually fall into place and after about a week, I believed them. I quickly found a job bartending at a wine bar and moved in with another friend of mine, taking over her roommates spare room. I had my own bed, a kitchen and a job. I was writing on a daily basis and things were great. Then, I lost that restaurant job and was back to square one.

I’d be lying if I say that didn’t crush me, just a little bit. Boom! There went my source of income. I had no motivation, I was sick of job hunting, sick of looking at my resume, sick of interviews, phone calls, and then I was really sick of people asking me how I was doing. My parents even waited three and a half weeks before actually asking me how I was “feeling.” They knew from the beginning.

It’s been over a month now and I wouldn’t say I’m settled, but things are getting better. I found a great apartment, I’m living with one of my favorite people and I found a much better restaurant job to pay the bills. It’s still difficult and I don’t think life will ever be easy, especially living here. Rent is higher, everything is crowded, people are constantly cranky and it’s no midwest.

(Case in point : this elderly man just spilled his cup of tea on a communal table. There are 3 other people sitting at the table, their papers getting soaked and they didn’t even look up from their phones. I jumped up and grabbed napkins to help and the man looked at me, shocked).

Life will hopefully slow down, I’ll stop being so busy and eventually have time for fun. I’m excited to decorate, explore and find my niche. I can’t wait for my bed and that first paycheck. I’ll be one happy girl when that day comes. You’ll know about it too, I’ll probably bake cupcakes with dollar signs plastered on the icing.

That ache for my family and friends will never go away, but it’ll become tolerable. There’s no doubt in my mind that I left a pretty incredible life back home. I miss driving, I miss not being the “new girl,” at work, I miss patio-hopping, sneaking wine into movies and laughing. I really miss my friends. I’m sick of texting people, “Hey, this ____ reminds me of you / Wish you were here! / Miss you / etc. I also miss our cat and I’m totally a dog person.

With that said, I am lucky to know a few great people here. I can’t imagine moving to a new city, not knowing a single soul. My hat goes off to those who have done that. In a few weeks, I’ll be making my first trip home and I’m so pumped.

It’ll be a great trip home, a nice vacation of sorts. Lucky for you, I haven’t been slacking too much in the food department here in NYC.

Since moving here, I’ve really honed my cooking skills and want to share with you a recipe that has quickly become a staple in my life. The beauty is, it’s super quick and consists of 2 (maybe 3) ingredients.

Cut Spaghetti w/ Tomato Soup

1/4 – 1/2 lb Whole grain thin spaghetti / Barilla cut spaghetti / Any sort of spaghetti you have

1 can Amy’s Organic Chunky Tomato Bisque Soup / Any tomato soup (or really, any soup)

Parmesan cheese

1. Open the can of soup. Don’t cut your finger with a can opener like I did (don’t ask)

2. In a medium sized saucepan, bring the soup to a boil. Meanwhile (and this is the really fun part) cut up the spaghetti with your fingers or scissors if you’re feeling conventional

3. I used about 1/4 noodles which is just enough, because the more noodles you use, the less sauce you have and the longer the noodles will take to boil, prolonging your eating time as a whole. If you use two cans of soup, use more noodles

4. With the soup at a medium boil (not too high, you don’t want soup splattering everywhere – which happened the first time I ever made this), throw in the cut noodles and stir gently. With the soup boiling, the noodles will slowly start to cook

5. It’s important to keep an eye on the soup at all times – this isn’t a dish to leave on the stove and go watch Real Housewives. Patience! It doesn’t take long, probably 7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the spaghetti. Test “doneness” by scooping out a noodle and tasting it. I prefer mine al-dente, so I’ll probably take them out after 5 minutes. But also, I’m super impatient when it comes to food

Garnish with like five handfuls of Parmesan & you’re set. Go! The Housewives are waiting!

Sidenote : If you would like to follow my work for Chef Marcus Samuelsson, click here.

Till next time! In the meantime, I’ll be byte-ing the big apple.