babbo

When we moved to NYC years ago, we dreamed of eating at Mario Batali's first and most famous restaurant Babbo.

Tucked away in a cozy townhouse on Waverly Place, Babbo serves fresh, modern Italian with unexpected ingredients (goose liver, beef cheeks...you get the idea).

Time and time again we tried to get reservations. Time and time again we failed.

This restaurant has been open since 1998 so it never ceased to surprise us that calling a month ahead of time as suggested often yielded the same result. "That time is unavailable." Once when S met Mario Batali at a fund raising event (still jealous about that, by the by), we even joked that he should have asked about getting a reservation!

Well, thanks to my sweet pal R's persistance, our luck changed on Wednesday eve. As our dear pals AK and LD were packing for their move to Chicago, we dropped the bomb that we were heading to a surprise Babbo farewell dinner! So, what if the reservation was at 10:15 pm on a school night, right?

It's easy to see why this place is packed 100% of the time. From the second we sat down, the service was impeccable. The food might have been some of the best I've ever tasted.

As we polished off our bottle of wine, we started the meal off right with the Proscuitto San Daniele "Riserva" and the Grilled Octopus (my favorite).

We kept going by splitting three pasta dishes between us. Each dish came out alone predivided onto the appropriate number of plates (loved this).

First, came the Mint Love Letters (pea and mint stuffed pasta topped with spicy lamb sausage).


Next, came the Chianti Stained Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu. This was easily my favorite of the pastas.


Last, but certainly not least, came the Gnocchi with Braised Oxtail. Whoa, momma.

Since I'm not a huge sweets person, I skipped dessert in favor of a splash of limoncello which made me feel like I was back on our honeymoon...

Considering the hour, we were more than content. An important note? The check was impressively fair!

Still, much more important than any of the above, was the wonderful night had by all as we toasted and celebrated our sweet friends' exciting new journey.

We will miss them more than they know.

(images courtesy serious eats, new york daily photo, new york mag, tasty good times, flickr, the wandering eater)

feather pendant

(images courtesy need supply)

This fun, feather pendant by Mirit Weinstock has got it going on.

It's the perfect piece to add a touch of golden whimsy to any emsemble.

Available for purchase here.

knife pleat skirt

While hanging out with my ever trendy sis-in-law in Nashville last weekend, she mentioned wanting a knife pleat skirt.

What a gorgeous idea! Don't they look light, breezy and kind in soaring temps?

Out of context, this skirt fact could seem a tad random. But this information came to light while we were standing in the middle of Billy Reid drooling over the skirt below. Notice the subtle purple pinstripe?

Pricey? You betcha, but here's the kicker. It was on sale! Half off to be exact.

No pressure, E, but between us girls, I still think you should get it.

P.S. Did I mention my love for Billy Reid? S scored two perfectly tailored shirts while we sipped cucumber infused water out of mason jars.

(images courtesy the sartorialist, billy reid, get kempt, the wonderlust journals and elevated southern)

moroccan poufs

Moroccan poufs (seen above at John Derian) seem like an amazing way to add a pop color, additional seating or even a foot rest to almost any room. Hello, small spaces!

See the gorgeous (and insanely organized) living room below for proof.


This pair of metallic poufs placed at the end of the bed really ties the room's gold accents together.

So dears, what's the verdict? Worthy investment or passing craze?
(images courtesy john derian, apartment therapy and all about)

nashville bound

Creeping out of NYC as we speak for a nice, long weekend in Nashville. S and I are SO very excited to spend time with the darling PeanutJB and to explore such an awesome city we haven't been to visit in quite some time.

Although I know temps in Tennessee are sure to be brutal, NYC is expected to pass the 100 degree mark while we are away. How cruel is that?

Speaking of cruel summers, this charming ditty from Nashville resident Karen Elson (the soon-to-be ex Mrs. Jack White) seems like a nice way to kick off our steamy, Southern adventure.

(image courtesy design*sponge)

currently cooking: hot corn salsa

One of my most favorite summer food is fresh, sweet corn. One of my other favorite foods? Salsa! See where this is going yet?

S and I have become addicted to this "hot corn salsa" which gets its name from the warm temperature at which it is served.

The recipe (originally spotted here) has undergone a few tweaks and substitutions since we first began making it.

For example, the original recipe calls for cooking the different veggies one by one and then combining them at the end. We've found that our NYC kitchen (if you can call it that) is happier with fewer bowls of ingredients sitting around. Answer? Double skillet duty.


This lets us heat up the corn (we really prefer to use fresh) and tomatoes simultaneously. Next, we add the onions

before combining all the veggies and other remaining ingredients.

Squeeze in your lime


and add in your hot sauce.

While the recipe calls for Tobasco, we sometimes use Cholula instead if we feel like a more subtle heat.

This salsa is delicious on the chicken fajita tacos featured in the link above, but this salsa's chilled leftovers are equally amazing on a salad or as there own side dish.

In short, this takes like summer in your mouth.

Bonus points for the fact that it's insanely diet friendly.

happy summer shoes

Can't stop daydreaming about these delicious Rebecca Minkoff ostrich sandals spotted in Matchbook Magazine's latest issue.

From the bold yellow color to the dainty ankle strap, these shoes scream summer.

Available for purchase here.

(image courtesy matchbook magazine)

lunch break

"It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter."
-Marlene Dietrich

(image courtesy inside the loop)

For those of you who don't know, I'm very lucky to work quite closely with a dear friend I've known since I was 17 years old.

Short story long? Gossipy, girly lunch breaks are one of the best perks of the job.

amadeus

Have you ever seen Amadeus? If not, I highly recommend you clear your schedule and check it out as soon as possible! If for no other reason, it's absolutely necessary that you subject yourself to Tom Hulce's (Mozart in the film) absurd, little giggle.

The movie, based on the play of the same name, tells the story of Mozart's rise and ultimate decline.

You can count on grand, sweeping musical sequences. You may also feast your eyes on the over-the-top period costuming with an 80's edge (the movie was made in 1984, after all). But, beyond all of these things, you will lose yourself in the amazingly written and awesomely acted story.

Check out the trailer below, and forgive the quality. This movie is from a time before some of us were even born.

(images courtesy design *sponge)

see by chloe fall '11

(image courtesy wit & delight)

Each year there is one label's fall collection that makes you pine for cooler weather. Thoughts drift to hot chocolate (or...toddies), crisp cool breezes, football games and pumpkins.

Leave it to Chloe to make me dream of boots and tights in this sweltering summer weather. I love every.single.look.

Sigh.

such a perfect day...

Spent the entire day in the sun with people I love.

Such a nearly perfect day deserves a nearly perfect song.

Tell us about it, Lou.

python cardigan

One of my favorite office staples is the cardigan. It can instantly transform summery dresses into appropriate office attire.

My favorites are J. Crew's "Jackie" cardigans. I own an embarassing number of these in various shades and patterns.

One pattern I'm missing? Python.

How beautiful is this python cardigan spotted on From Me to You? I'm afraid I "need" both the cardi and the pale pink lip stick.

(images courtesy decor pad and from me to you)

happy birthday, america.

(image courtesy that kind of woman)

Time for fireworks, dudes.

holiday weekend!

This evening is guaranteed to be gorgeous. Toasty temps and warm breezes have me looking forward to hitting the town.

We're heading to the Roebling Tea Room in Williamsburg for some cocktails with friends

before sneaking out of the NYC for the 4th.

Wherever you are and whatever you do, here's to a lovely weekend, dears!

P.S. For you cocktail fans, I highly recommend sipping on a "Wild Whiskey" Roebling Tea Room's whiskey sour topped with a splash of red wine.


(images courtesy inside the loop, the new yorker, new york mag and flickr)