FOOD: Gordon Ramsey Pub and Grill, Atlantic City

It's been a while since I last visited Atlantic City, NJ and in my recent visit, we found something new. Just like other hotels in the area that bank on restaurants from popular chefs, Borgata's Wolfgang Puck and Boby Flay Steak for example, Ceasars joined in that band wagon and they now have Gordon Ramsey Pub & Grill. Having had a wonderful dining experience at the other two mentioned restos, John and I decided to give this authentic-british-pub-looking place.

I have been trying my best to be active at Yelp lately so I gave this one a 2-star review. No I'm no chef nor a food expert, but I am a true food lover and appreciate both classics and new takes on things. Having said that. you can visit my review for this place at Yelp (follow me! www.janellehb.yelp.com). To my surprise, Ceasars took notice and reached out to me directly apologizing because they "failed me in multiple levels." They even offered a dining certificate, which of course I plan to use because I'd like to give this place a second chance. 

In addition to my yelp review, I do commend the management of Gordon's for paying attention to their customer's reviews. Something I think all restaurants should do because after all, they are afloat and will remain that way if not for us diners. Kuddos Gordon's and I'm looking forward to my next experience in hopes for a better one!   

FOOD: RESTAURANT ROULETTE

It's been a while since I last blogged. Quite many has changed, mini-promotion (better known as more work) at work, and quite recently, one of the most important people in my life has passed, my grandfather, my Papa Nick. Pa, this one's for you!

Last night I got to surfing when one of my girlfriends asked if we can have dinner tonight. Being that Philadelphia offers so many places to try, it seems impossible to comb through it, I cheated and searched Top 50 restaurants in Philadelphia and pulled up foobooz's list (check it out, http://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/50-best-restaurants/). I realized that out of the many I've tried here, I've only tried 5 of the best ones?! What a disappointment!

Therefore, the newest challenge is to be able to try the 45 I haven't tried yet in this list! Who knows how long this will take for me. So I will be playing resto roulette as John and I have decided to call it. Which ever number comes out from our made up roulette will be the restaurant to try! Wish me luck! I hope to be able to share to everyone here each of the places I get to try.

MARRIAGE: BRINGING BACK THE ROMANCE.

I'm no relationship expert and I won't claim to be one ever. However, having 2 elder sisters, being friends with their friends and having go through a couple of serious relationships myself, there are a few things that I've learned that I was able to apply to my current romance, my young marriage of 3 years. I've blogged before about how to keep peace between husband and wife, reaching that compromise, but this time, let's talk about playfulness and keeping that fire burning.

Do you ever watch that romantic movie and say, "well I wish someone would sweep me off my feet too!" Well I say, "yes, someone should sweep you off your feet!" If you're married, you're probably thinking that it's not going to happen, but truly, it can.

1. Communicate.

When you're married, all lines communication should be open, whether be it for financial, sexual and even in the romance department. Voice out to your husband that you would want some sweet gestures from him once in a while. Make it subtle, tell him about that movie you like so much, because maybe then he'll ask you out to watch it. Give hints that you want some flowers, tell him you miss it. You can even be playful and ask him to pretend that he's trying to win you back again. Now that you're married, he can't judge you for being a hopeless romantic.

2. Positive Reinforcement.

I am a huge believer that you get what you give. Don't expect your husband to do all the romantic gestures if you're not willing to do it for him. Marriage is give and take, it is equal, it has to be fair. If you feel that romance is diminished in your marriage, then you can take the first step to keep it alive. I've tried this and it actually works! I do something romantic and sweet for him, nothing grand, and I see him putting the same effort for me.

3. Date.

I know for most who already have kids, this is the toughest part. It's not all the time that someone can watch the kids for you so that you and hubby can have that alone time. However, when you do find ways, you really must. It can be a late date, midnight snack type of date when the kids are already asleep--take out your favorite ice cream, eat it in bed, have a conversation, that counts as a date! For John and I, it's cook something, light a few candles and open a bottle of wine. No TV, just him and I having a conversation.

4. Reminders.

You won't lose anything if you remind your husband or wife or partner why you love them, remind them why you admire them. Not only will this make your better half feel that he/she is appreciated, it will make you realize why your with this person in the first place.

5. Play.

Yes, in all sense of the word! Play with each other, tickle fights count! For husbands that like video games, wives, try to play a game or two with him. In the bedroom this is also applicable. Have little bets around the house once in a while, "whoever gets to potty train Junior will win a prize;" "whoever finishes folding the clothes will get a prize." It;s the cheapest and easiest way to have fun.

6. Effort.

If you look numbers 1-5 it will go down to this, all of them takes effort. Minimal effort, but it takes effort. I recently shared my husband's sweet gesture. A small trail for me when I got home after a bad and long day at work

TRENDS: BOYFRIEND JEANS AND A BASIC

My first fashion blog! I got excited since it's been a while since I exerted much effort into dressing up. Lately, I'm not sure if it's because I'm getting a little orlder or because I've gained weight (I'm sure we all women say that, but it's quite true for me) I've been lost and kind of looking for style that suits this new me. I'm never really the type that worries about weight, I've always believed it's just a number but I do think that you have to dress your body accordingly. On today's blog, I am going back to the basics. Jeans and a plain shirt. If you're like me, trying to find your style at your age or at your weight, I think we all can never go wrong with the basics. 

I love the boyfriend jean trend that's on now, not only is it comfortable, it's basic yet trendy. You can also dress it down or up. There are several bloggers that I follow that wear it with sneakers (also in trend right now), some wear it with heels. For tops, you can do plain or printed, shiny or matte, there are endless of pairing options. For today's casual Friday (the only day I wear such jeans at work), I paired my newest pair of bf jeans from H&M (for a great price too!) with a basic black top (also from H&M). Adding a few accents also does not hurt--heels are from F21 and hat from Nordstrom. 

 

Bed and Breakfast: If it's your first time

February 27, 2015, it's our 3rd year anniversary! Yup, about 2 weeks ago, John and I celebrated our 3rd year. Every year John and I try to travel. This year, since we're trying to save for a bigger trip towards the holidays, John and I decided to stay local. About an hour away from New Jersey and 40 minutes from Philadelphia is Glen Mills, PA. It's hard to imagine that something so close can totally feel remote and new. We made a booking for a bed and breakfast, which offered tasting at their newly renovated barn. I have to say, it was one of the most romantic times we've spent together and it we had a great time not only making new memories but going back through the old ones we had for the past 3 years of marriage. 

So, this is a first time experience for us at a bed and breakfast and if you're b&b virgins like us, I'd like to tell you about what you can expect, what you can do and what to look for when you're looking for a place to stay at. 

1. Everything is personal. 
Since most owners live in the actual homes you will be staying at, you should expect that you are going to be welcomed and toured in the home. They will be showing you all the common areas, introducing you to probably the 3 or 4 staff members that are in the home. Having said that, you should treat the home also with respect and try your best to abide by the rules. 

             Home-made muffins!                          Sweet Water Farm                    Sunday Breakfast Special: Eggs Benedict

2. Early lights out. 

Not that they will limit you or watch you go in and out of the home, but most b&b's does have an early "lights out" custom, for Sweet Water Farm, the place is dark and quiet around 10pm. If you're going with a group of friends, I would suggest looking for a b&b that offers cottages (like Sweet Water Farm) where you and your friends can have a little bit more freedom to make noise or play some music. 

                                                      

3. Breakfast. 

This is a bed and breakfast so make sure to read on what people are saying about the breakfast part. Ours was nothing extravagant but I do appreciate that they were very properly prepared. (I always tripadvisor an place I go to!)

4. Visit the local areas. 

There's nothing like staying somewhere homey and feeling like a local so ask around for what's great to try, whether it's restaurants or wine tastings or even antique shops. Immerse yourself in what the area has to offer. 

5. Take it all in. 

If you're like John and I who work in the city, work crazy hours, enjoy the quietness, serenity the calmness and the laid back feel that b&b's offer. It's not all the time that you get to stay in a grand home so look and touch and feel the beauty that's in it. Walk the grounds; talk to the other folks staying in. Even if you're never going to get to see them again, it's nice to hear stories other than yours and it's nice to share you own experience in the area with them, there's no harm in sharing notes!

     Brogan, sweet water's welcome wagon   

I hope that your next b&b or your first b&b experience will be as great as ours! 

FAMILIAR FLAVORS IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLATE.

I'm not a food critic but I do love me some good food. In fact, when John and I first started going out, it's like we discovered a whole new way to appreciate food. Probably because food just gets better when you're sharing it with someone you love (Ooops! Cheesy! But oh so true!). Being so near our beloved city of Philadelphia, we have great access to a number of neighborhood restaurants from hip and new, to more subdued and unassuming places. With this, let me tell you about our most recent dining experience and I must say, one that truly blew me away-- PELAGO POP UP KITCHEN (This one was done at NOORD)!

I'm gonna seem biased because the chef that whipped up these amazing dishes is family, Chef Lou Boquila (together with his partners, Jillian Encarnacion, Resa Mueller and Neal Santos), but I know good food and all that I've tasted that night were good food. They offered what Philly was missing, Filipino Cuisine, and not your mom's cooking (which I'm sure is great too!) but something totally bold and new. The price was not bad either, $45 for four courses that also included a special cocktail mixed up by one of the partners, Resa Mueller.

            Cocktial                                1st Course                               2nd Course                          3rd Course                             The best course!

I still know a lot of skeptics about the innovation of Filipino food, but really, every culture, every cuisine has something to offer and there's nothing wrong with offering that in a different package. All courses stayed true to the flavors that is present in every Filipino kitchen. It was a complete out-of-the-box experience for someone who was born and who grew up in the Philippines, but I was utterly surprised by how well and how far this cuisine I love could go.

     

And oh, don't forget, what I said earlier, good food becomes great when shared with amazing people! I hope you all get to try these dishes someday!

BOY MEETS GIRL.

When John and I moved in to our new home we just couldn't decide what style we're exactly going for. I wanted to go totally feminine with a hint of vintage and he wanted to go rustic. We went with our instincts with filling up the house and we somehow ended with defined spaces. The living/receiving area of our home was feminine with a hint of vintage, while our tv area ended up with the industrial rustic look. Two totally different looks!

And then our bedroom...a common space. How do we come up with a bedroom that suits both our tastes?......................

Here's what we came up with:

Bed: www.wayfair.com 

Bedside tables: Home Goods

Lamps, Frames and vases, accent pillows: Ross

Bed Linens: Bed, bath and beyond

Walls: Painted with Behr Bright White

The solution was let's pick a side and make that our own! Non-matching side tables was a little scary in the beginning but we just had to go with it, besides, it's already a theme in the house.

Here a few tips to bring together non-matching side tables:

1. Make sure that they are at least the same height. This way, whatever accessories you decide to add can be symmetrical and less busy in your eyes.

2. Compliment your accessories. We both have a picture frame, his silver and industrial, mine's gold and vintage but both are the same size. On his side, I decided to add a hint of freshness with a plant in a copper vase while I have flowers. Defining your space does not mean clashing of two looks.

3. The biggest accessory in anyone's bedside, other than the table of course, is your lamps. I chose to match our lamps to tie up both sides. I also made sure that the texture of it goes with the bed we chose.

SEMI-HOME COOKING

I wish I can say that cooking is one of my major talents, but my skills in it is exactly like my how my skills are in painting...barely there!

 I swear this is not a flamingo! This is a cherry blossom tree! 

What I am good at is semi-home cooking. I have shortcuts for a lot of things, probably because I eat a lot, I know what most things tastes like so I usually can put stuff together that I know will just be good even if it's not quite true to the recipe. Also, I'm just really bad in following instructions, cookbooks are just not very useful to my overactive mind.

If you're like me, fear not! There are a lot of ways you can totally just wing dinners.

Step 1: Set up your table! This is the best way to make your semi-home made food look like you worked hard for it.

Step 2: Use plates that will compliment your food and present your food well. After all, eating begins with your eyes then nose then mouth. Food activates more than 1 of your senses.

This By the way is my very own tempuradon recipe by the way, I will be sharing that recipe to you soon!

Step 3: Share it with great people--family and friends. Food is always good with great company.

Having said this, here's one appetizer that you can make that needs no cooking time at all! My very own version of Tuna Poke'

Ingredients:
- 1 Fillet of raw Tuna (Ahi would be best)
- 4 tablespoons Sesami Oil
- 2 Lemons
- 2 Limes
- 1/4 cup of Soy Sauce
- 1/2 cup Green Onions
- Pepper 
- Crushed red chili flakes

Serves: 8-10 people

Prep:
1. Cut your tuna into cubes.
2. On a separate bowl, add your soy sauce, sesame oil, juices of two limes and two lemons, pepper and crushed red chili flakes.
Note: You can easily just add this to your tuna but I do it separately so that I can taste it before adding it to the tuna and adjust it accordingly.
3. Once you get the balance of all these ingredients, add it yo your tuna and top it with chopped green onions! 

My biggest tip in any food you prepare is to taste it! Making sure that you're food suites your own palette will ensure that your guests will enjoy it too!

Sit Up.

You know that saying "another man's trash is another's treasure?" So true! One of our neighbor's parents' truck (that was a mouthful to say!) always parks their truck near our house. Us, John and I being nosy people would take a peak in there whenever we get a chance, and one enchanted night, we saw what I thought was a beautiful chair that could easily be made even more beautiful with a little sanding and painting. And so the mission to acquire that chair begins! 

Every early morning we'd wait for the couple who owns the truck in the chance to purchase the chair at a bargain price. And after a couple of days stalking, they finally appeared and John took the opportunity to ask to purchase the chair. He was told "whatever amount you want to give is fine," he then checked his wallet and...............EPIC FAIL! We both don't have cash!!! We offered to pay by check and the sweetest and nicest couple decided to just give us this lovely chair: 

I just loved the details in this chair, the wicker backing, the floral carving at the top. I knew I wanted to change this chair up but still keep the old, vintage vibe it already has. Let the process begin!

Step 1: Remove the seat by unscrewing it from the bottom. 

Step 2: Sand, sand, sand! Now John and I are quite lazy and don't really sand all the way down but we at least try to remove the coating of the chair and roughen it up so that paint can be absorbed. For the first sanding process, use a 220 grain sand paper.  

Step 3: Paint! Since I am into vintage, rustic looks I decided to go for an ivory color paint instead of just white, very little difference but you'll for sure notice the difference once you've fully covered the chair. I bought two cans and two layers to fully cover this chair. 

Step 4: The seat. I chose a fabric that was on sale and was a little moderns and since I'm really into grays, went with that color too! I added the studs which was fairly easy to do. Explore your local Michaels for these type of things and just try it. I think it worked out great for this particular project and took this chair up one more notch. 

Step 5: Because I said I wanted to keep the the rustic and vintage look of this chair, I didn't want to look perfect. I wanted it have some of that aged look. By taking a 100grain sand paper, I sanded some of the edges of the chair. Keep in mind that you should sand the sharper edges of the chair and of course some of the details in the chair to make it look like it was meant to be there. 

Here's our Finished Product!