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November 7th is my actual birthday and there is no other place I would want to go celebrate than The Outback Steakhouse. OBSH is probably my all-time favorite restaurant. My parents taught me to enjoy the finer things in life. I know what you’re thinking: I was a spoiled kid growing up.

Since the end of July, I have been busy eating all of the meat I could find. I have been putting pepperoni on my pizza, chicken in my pasta, and bacon on my everything. It’s been really wonderful.

For those that do not know, I recently relocated to Astoria, New York last week, and there are SO many restaurants I am dying to try. I asked my friends who live in the area for some great restaurant recommendations and each and every one of them mentioned Sweet Afton..

As mentioned in my previous post, brunch is one of the best things to do in the city. Especially now, with the weather (finally) warming up, going to sit outside on a Saturday, enjoying a delicious meal and an alcoholic beverage is the perfect way to waste an afternoon. 

One of the best things about New York City is the food. And one of the best meals in New York City is, yes you guessed it, eating at a food truck at 3am in the Lower East Side, giving you all of the nutrition you need to make it back to your house (or to the next bar for last call).

Trying to save money, I went to the grocery store the other night to buy food and try this whole “cooking at home” thing. I usually spend 60% of my paycheck on food, while the other 40% is spent on alcohol and a match.com subscription.

 

When people think of New York, they usually think of two things: the skyscrapers and Jay-Z. And tourism. And crime. And homeless people. And streets that smell like urine. And…

 

One night on the way to happy hour, my friend and I were walking the streets of the East Village trying very carefully to step over the puddles of slush and, more importantly, to find a place to eat dinner.

Aside from the food, one of the best things about going out to dinner is the company and conversation. It is so nice to just sit back and relax, enjoy a bottle of wine, and relish in time spent with good friends. 

In the midst of 7 inches of snow, last night I ventured out to Astoria, Queens to say goodbye to a dear friend leaving the cold for warm and sunny California. She was having her bon voyage party at a place called The Strand Smokehouse

…is FOOD.

 

For the holiday break, I was lucky enough to escape the cold and snow and spend a week in warm, sunny, 80 degree Florida

I know maybe eating fried food with cheese and pig fat for every meal is not the best thing for my cholesterol, but it just tastes soooo good! But, as the year was coming to a close, I sat down at a Dunkin Donuts and pondered about how my eating habits should change

For anyone that didn’t know, last week was my 27th birthday, and it was the best birthday yet! Well, except for my fourth birthday where my parents rented out a McDonalds Play Place for a few hours.

First off, I want to apologize for the title of this entry. As it turns out, there aren’t many words that rhyme with “tapas” and I am too tired to think of a creative pun. (Mondays, am I right?)

For anyone who knows me, you know how much I love a good deal. Whether it is the 5$ movie bin at Walmart or a bogo special on a pair of kicks from PayLess, I am a happy camper. Maybe this is why I love when bars have .25 cent wing nights (or, I just really like chicken wings, whichever).

There is a place in Astoria that I pass on my bi-monthly runs that I have been meaning to check out. It is called “Winegasm” (ugh, I know) and is located on 37th street and always has a chalkboard out front bragging about nightly drink specials.

For those of you that didn’t know, I turned 28 this past weekend. And just like every good celebration, my weekend was filled with friends, fun and most importantly, food. Usually on my birthday, I plan a big dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, The Outback Steakhouse.

Three weeks ago, my good friend Danielle and I were invited to a Food Blogger’s Happy Hour in Midtown. Well, saying we were invited is quite a stretch. We Googled “how to become a famous blogger” and this event was the first thing listed. It took place at a bar called Latitudes.

This past weekend, my fantastic friend Jeanine invited me to be her date to her company’s Christmas party in Orlando, Florida. “There will be food, drinks, and dancing” she teased. “I’ll be there,” I told her. “You had me at ‘there will be food’.” 

With Christmas just around the corner, I decided to throw a small dinner party for my closest friends before everyone heads home for the holidays. Knowing my apartment was too small and that I can’t cook for one, let alone ten, I made a reservation at La Bella Vita in scenic Little Italy.

Ok, by now you all know I quit my “No Dairy for a Month” Challenge. Go ahead. Be upset. Be disappointed. I completely understand. It’s just that…cheese is a huge part of my life. And it’s my shtick. I can’t have a food blog, rate my meals with CHEEZITS and not eat any dairy. It’s just not right. 

This past weekend, my friends and I woke up at a decent hour on Sunday morning, popped two advils to cure the morning hangover, dressed to impress (ahem, Rebecca) and headed out to brunch.

Food, this year, was my Valentine (unlike last year when Netflix won over my heart). Food is always there for me. It never breaks my heart. Food is patient and food is kind. And we had a wonderful time together. 

I am a creature of habit and I am not very fond on trying new places. Sometimes, sure, I am in the mood to just browse Yelp! for an hour, reviewing menus and trying to select a place for dinner. But honestly, most of the time I am contempt with a Hot Pocket or the Outback Steakhouse. 

This past week, I went to Chicago for work. Sure, I was looking forward to being in a new city for a few days, but what I was really excited about was the opportunity to try a new restaurant with some of Chicago’s best and most famous food.

There is nothing that makes me happier than alliteration – especially if that alliteration encompasses two of my favorite things: meatballs and martinis. 

One of my favorite places I have discovered is The Smith, and if you have lived in New York long enough, you should be well aware of this amazing establishment. With three locations in the city, at least one of them should be convenient for you to get to for a lovely meal. 

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