Local Love

by Emily

Highlights from this week – my in-laws are in town and we had fun showing them Charlottseville one last time // we had some great dinners out, including a new spot that’s a new favorite // Wissotzky Tea Company – an international, family-owned tea company based in Israel with offices in London and the United States – sent me some of their inventive flavors to try…

Coffee for the week: Trader Joe’s espresso blend with sweetened condensed milk.

Tea samples; their four newest, spiciest flavors: Ginger and Turmeric Spiced Chai, Pumpkin Spiced Chai, Salted Caramel Chai, Spiced Nana Mint Chai. I cold-brewed my cups per the company’s instructions – a ratio of 4 cups cold water to 5 tea bags, covered in the fridge for 15-36 hours.

Salted Caramel Chai with a splash half and half (added post picture).

Spiced Nana Mint Chai with sugar and fresh lime. <– fair warning, this flavor was too peppery for Adam’s tastes

Tropical flavors from the Mexican ice cream place down the street: passionfruit, guava, and mamey!

Plus I picked up these super interesting gummy candies. They have milk in them and the texture is extra soft and very unique.

Roasted green beans and TJ’s turkey corn dogs. Apparently I love corn dogs, I couldn’t stop raving about how tasty these were!

Sheet pan hash: potatoes, onion, bell pepper, shredded brussel sprouts, and maple chicken breakfast sausage.

Smoked Kitchen and Tap: a bbq spot we love in Crozet. I had smoked turkey, cole slaw, and creamed corn with smoked jalopeno.

The Local: an amazing spot in Bellmont. I had the best, most Southern plate – buttermilk-brined fried chicken with pimento cheese mac and cheese, collard greens, and house made hot sauce and a buttermilk-chive drizzle.

Modern Nosh: a newish, super cute deli (which means I finally have a deli in Charlottesville!).

I had a half turkey reuben and soup with the best matzoh ball of my life.

Plus we split latkes that were wonderfully full of garlic. Yum!

5Jul2019

5 + 5

by Emily

Five random life updates –

{1} We took some stuff to Goodwill last weekend and now we are living in an empty apartment (minus a blow-up bed and all of my clothing). Literally the only things in our living room are boxes of seltzer!

{2} Last weekend was the first time in 5 weeks that Adam and I were both home and not traveling. Phew!

{3} This weekend we’re on the move again – we are heading to Solomon Island Maryland to spend some time with my family, including my youngest cousin who I haven’t seen since Thanksgiving!

{4} We finally saw “Late Night” and loved it. If it’s still in theaters in your area I recommend going if you haven’t already.

{5} Then we watched “Always Be My Maybe” on Netflix and loooooooved it! It’s officially our new favorite movie. Super funny and touching. Ali Wong is one my favorite comedians and she was fantastic as a leading lady.

Five things I ate and loved the last week –

{1} Yogurt bowl. Wegman’s chocolate Greek yogurt with pluots and Nature’s Path coconut chia granola.

{2} Dehydrated rainbow carrot snacks from Trader Joe’s.

{3} Cheese tea (aka bubble tea that you sip through foamy layer of milk and cream cheese sprinkled with salt) with strawberry heart jelly.

{4} Marshmallow! We shared a cup of carnival cake and marshmallow at Kirt’s Ice Cream. And I was living my best life with this snack combo – Kilwin’s caramel chocolate marshmallow with iced coffee.

{5} BBQ. No Limits Smokehouse is a new-ish spot in Belmont and it’s wonderful. I had a fried chicken sandwich (<– super juicy!) and collard greens, plus we got smoked mushrooms that were my new favorite savory thing I’ve ever eaten!

28Jun2019

Super Salad

by Emily

We are 85% moved to NYC and the move went swimmingly! Plus we had a fantastic time at our friends’ wedding.

Here were the highlights from this week…

These new Trader Joe’s chocolate covered espresso beans are my new favorite thing. They have the perfect ratio of bean to candy and the chocolate coating isn’t waxy at all.

Ridiculously good cake from Marie Bette; chocolate with salted caramel frosting.

This cranberry sour ale was a total winner.

I got a smoked chicken quesadilla from Asado that was shockingly good. Plus fries with queso!

I had an amazing salad bowl from Mezeh. Mixed greens // veggie kefta // tabouleh // olives // red cabbage slaw // cucumber // caramelized eggplant // roasted corn // baba ganoush // harissa and tzatziki dressings.

Plus we made wonderful salads at home. TJ’s cruciferous crunch mix // spicy peanut vinaigrette // sesame honey cashews // hot smoked salmon // hard-boiled eggs. I made the eggs in the oven because we don’t have any pots and they came out great!

Finally, we met my cousin and her fiance for dinner at Maya. I had catfish with sweet potato fries and garlic broccoli. Plus we shared a cheese plate (with pickled apples!) and peanut butter pie.

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21Jun2019

On The Move

by Emily

It was an odd week here because we are moving all of our stuff to New York today. Note – we’re not moving, all of our stuff is moving; we’re living out of suitcases in Charlottesville for the next month+. Anyway, I was afraid to dirty anything in the kitchen while we were trying to sort and pack so 90% of our food this week came in a take-out box.

Here were the highlights…

Coffee combo – Starbucks Komodo Dragon blend with sweetened condensed milk.

This month’s Snack Crate from Poland.

Poke bowl from Poke Bowl. Sushi rice with tofu, krab, cucumber, edamame, spicy mayo, seaweed salad, green onions, and onion crisps.

Dumplings from Got Dumplings. More seaweed salad plus tofu dumplings and curry chicken dumplings.

One night we did sneak away from packing to get dinner and play in trivia night at Firefly.

I had a mango margarita and totchos – tater tots with house-made cheese sauce, avocado, pico de gallo, black beans, and sour cream.

We are crossing our fingers for a smooth move today and then tomorrow we’re heading to Pennsylvania for some friends’ wedding. Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

14Jun2019

I’m Not Crabby About It

by Emily

Highlights from the week…

Coffee combo = Trader Joe’s Kona with chocolate milk.

My snacks were all 10/10 this week! TJ’s newest candy bar – white and dark chocolate with mini gummi bears. I love the chocolate + gummi combo.

CoolHaus milk and cookie crumb. CH is quickly becoming my favorite ice cream brand.

A Monster smoothie at Juice Laundry – cacao, cashew butter, banana, dates, and almond milk.

Crazy good buffalo chicken pizza from Whole Foods.

My dinners were not bad either. I made crab salad! Lump crab meat with mayo, dijon, lemon, paprika, and celery. Served on butter toasted whole wheat hot dog buns. Plus sauteed kale with lemon, celery, and onion.

I turned my leftover salad into an okonomiyaki-esque crab pancake with flour, water, ginger, and eggs. Plus roasted green beans on the side.

Another night I stuffed a hot dog bun with two turkey dogs and ketchup. Plus rainbow cauliflower (a frozen bag from TJ’s sauteed with taco seasoning, lime, and butter) and potato wedge fries from Wegman’s hot bar.

Finally, we made cauliflower quesadillas that actually turned out pretty yummy. Plus a side of fajita veggies.

6Jun2019

Weekend Warrior

by Emily

Last weekend we visited my family at their cabin in Solomon Island Maryland. We got to see my dad, Webster went swimming, we ate crab cakes and rum and cokes… it was a perfect visit.

This weekend I’ll be taking another trip. I’m working a half day today and then heading to Charlotte, North Carolina for a nutrition support conference.

Five highlights from this week…

{1} Coffees in cans. All three were good but the Madrinas vanilla cappuccino was my favorite.

{2} Pie mixed in yogurt is my favorite dessert iteration. And this combo was such a winner – Siggi’s guava and leftover key lime pie from the weekend.

{3} Snow Cone Pouch! In birthday cake! The texture and flavor were both great, I highly recommend snagging one of these if you spot them.

{4} Whole Foods hot bar dinner. Thai green bean salad // baked beans // macaroni and cheese // steamed broccoli // tofu // orange chicken // Asian cabbage salad.

{5} Chicken and rice soup.

31May2019

Berries In My Sandwich And My Beer

by Emily

Five fun things from this week…

{1} Blanchard’s holiday blend coffee with sweetened condensed milk. And the next day I made a shakerato!

{2} A duo of fruity ales. I did not care for the tea taste of the Suncrush but the Troegs bosenberry tart ale was super interesting and packed with flavor.

{3} A toasted pb&j with this winning combo. FYI: toasting your peanut butter sandwiches is the way to go.

Served with the classic pb&j sides – baby carrots and apple slices.

Plus a new favorite – chicken and waffle chicken chips.

{4} Dinner from Got Dumplings. Tofu dumplings, kimchi, and peanut noodles. Plus guava and mango tea with boba and lyche jelly.

{5} I made tom kha gai. And it was good!

24May2019

Blue Bottle, Blueberries

by Emily

Five highlights from this week…

{1} I practically swooned over this yogurt bowl; I was more than ready for berry season. Greek yogurt with honey and vanilla bean paste / blueberries / granola.

{2} Blue Bottle New Orleans style iced coffee. <– my favorite in the boxed coffee game

{3} Mint Lemonade. Wegman’s kombucha line is good, neither too sweet nor too vinegar-forward.

{4} Bowls of super simple chili (just turkey, onion, tomato, and spices) topped with plain Greek yogurt and more hot sauce. Plus roasted broccoli with cheddar on the side.

{5} I 100% made the chili so we could eat it leftover on cheese fries. Waffle fries / chili / sweet red grass-fed cheddar / green onions.

Eating Chalk

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Local Love

5 + 5

Super Salad

On The Move

I’m Not Crabby About It

Weekend Warrior

Berries In My Sandwich And My Beer

Blue Bottle, Blueberries