Ina Garten's Easy Parmesan Risotto

Tonight's dinner was homemade risotto from Ina Garten's cookbook How Easy Is That?

 It really was easy and pretty darn good too.

Pastrami Queen - UES

Pastrami Queen on the Upper East Side is a kosher restaurant that features classic Jewish deli dishes.  We went there this weekend, and I have to say, I like it a lot.  It's not as hyped as Katz's and seemed very clean.  Somewhere in my memory, I have a faint recollection that Katz's had a mouse problem - it is also extremely touristy.  Pastrami Queen is a tiny and chill place to get your pastrami fix.

We ordered a bunch of sides: Fries, Pickles, Cole Slaw, & Homemade Potato Chips - I couldn't stop eating the homemade chips; they were addictive!

My husband got the Reuben, which because it was a kosher did not include cheese.  I think I might like it better this way.

My mom and I split a Reuben.  The sandwich was pastrami, sauerkraut, & Russian dressing on toasted rye bread.

My dad got the pastrami platter with a side of toast, which proved gigantic and awesome.

For any Upper East Siders, I highly recommend Pastrami Queen!

Villeroy & Boch Boston Highball Glasses

Bloomingdale's had a huge housewares sale yesterday, and my parents (who were in town visiting) treated me to a set of gorgeous Villeroy & Boch Boston highball glasses and a cute bowl.  Cerulean was always my favorite crayon color, and these glasses are a beautiful cerulean or cornflower blue color.  

Villeroy & Boch Boston Highball Glass

Gin & Tonic with Princesses Long Island

A bowl of nuts to go with my cocktail

Café Boulud Restaurant Week

This week, we had a delightful lunch at Café Boulud.  We ordered off of the Restaurant Week Menu and everything was wonderful.  $25 for a three-course meal is not bad!

For a starter, I had the wild arugula salad with peaches, almonds, and parmesan cheese.

Everyone else ordered Gazpacho

My parents ordered New Jersey corn ravioli for their main course.

My husband ordered the grilled leg of lamb for his.

I ordered the blackened hake.

My dad and I got poached blueberries and shortbread

My mom and husband got salted caramel bavorois that they said was amazing!

Hollywood Game Night vs. Watch What Happens Live

I saw Hollywood Game Night for the first time tonight and was not charmed by Jane Lynch's humorless, stilted banter.  Hollywood Game Night is a subpar knockoff of Watch What Happens Live.

Hollywood Game Night has a bar, but contestants don't seem to be relaxed and uncensored the way they are on WWHL.

Watch What Happens Live frequently has guests get tipsy and a little inappropriate in a good way (e.g.: Ethan Hawke talking about making out with Angelina Jolie).  There is always a guest bartender who is sometimes more interesting than the guest.

Note beverage here on Hollywood Game Night.

WWHL has in-depth interviews with (for the most part - excluding Ray J and Vinny Guadangnino—yuck) interesting celebrities like Tina Fey (note beverages).

Andy Cohen plays creative and quirky games with guests as part of Game Time! that are both entertaining and scandalous, whereas CGN's games are stilted and boring.

I truly believe some of the best off-the-cuff interviews with celebrities are on Watch What Happens Live, and Hollywood Game Night is a really poorly executed imitation.

Fire Island Pt. 2

The sunset Saturday was spectacular, and the weather Sunday was beautiful again.  We really lucked out and had such a relaxing weekend.

Sunset on the bay

Firey Fire Island Sunset

Ice Castle on Ocean Beach for Ice Cream

Cookies and Cream

Slightly demolished cookies and cream

I bought fudge Sunday night and chowed down on it tonight in front of Bravo

Fire Island Pt. 1

We left NYC early on Saturday to go to Fire Island.  I made a pit stop at the 7Eleven in Bay Shore to grab some coffee and breakfast.  It was a very relaxing Saturday on the beach with beautiful weather.

Coffee, sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit with my Vera Bradley "yellow bird" bag in the background

Unwrapped sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit - surprisingly okay

Ferry to Ocean Beach getting ready to get out

Beach on Fire Island

Ocean

Beachy Biatch

Reading "Original Sin" by P.D. James

You can't avoid advertising, even at the beach.

Target Racerback Shirt Dress

Summer dresses are hard to find, and this Target Racerback Shirt Dress is a winner.

Target website - the dress was $24.99

I chose the orange color.

It seems very Jackie O, Cape Cod to me.

Great for the beach, but not for the office - especially not with this risqué racerback

Sunday Walk

After the Bastille Day celebrations on 60th Street, we headed for the shade of Central Park.

Shady trees on the Mall

Sheep's Meadow

I felt a little hungry and decided that I would try Epicerie Boulud.

This Natalie's Lemonade was good.

The quiche I got, however, was nasty.

Most of the quiche and all of the gross looking dressing were leftover.

Along our walk we saw all sort of cool architectural details and this cute Bonsai stand.  I love the Upper West Side.

Adorable acorn light fixture on this historic building

Another cool light fixture

Old beat up gate on a church

Rusty lock

Bonsai stand auguring good luck and happiness