Tag: review

food

Food Review: Shake Shack’s ‘Shroom Burger

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Happy Tuesday, friends! I’m writing a BUNCH of posts this week, mainly because my weekend was a whirlwind and I want to make sure that I capture all of it. Yesterday (Monday) I was struggling with figuring out what I wanted to eat for lunch. I work just a few blocks away from Shake Shack in Washington, DC (located at the corner of 9th and F Streets, NW), and since I hadn’t eaten there before, I decided to give it a try.

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I RARELY eat beef, so I scanned the menu to see if there was something I could eat besides french fries. I was delighted to see that they offered a mushroom burger. Named the ‘Shroom Burger, the sandwich is described in the following way:

“Crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses, topped with lettuce, tomato, ShackSauce™”

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I’ll admit: I’m curious if the sandwiches justify these kinds of crowds (from Shake Shack’s website)

I love mushrooms, but I also know that it takes a good recipe to make a portobello flavorful. Of all the mushrooms that I’ve tried, portobello is the “meatiest” but also the most resistant to absorbing flavor. In my experience, I’ve found that portobellos need extra marinade/saute time to really take on the flavors of the seasonings and vegetables being cooked with it. That being said, I was curious to see how Shake Shack’s ‘Shroom Burger rose to the challenge.

Shake Shack knocked it out of the park!

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The portobellos were sliced thin, so that they weren’t too chewy or too “wet”. For those that have cooked mushrooms, you know that heating them releases a lot of water, so unless a mushroom is dehydrated/dried, you’ll have mushroom water as soon as the heat starts to brown them. Between the thin portobello slices were the cheeses: hot, melty and flavorful. Holding it all together was a perfectly seasoned crispy batter.

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Closer photo of the ‘Shroom Burger

I loved it! I plan on returning to have this delicious ‘Shroom Burger again! Next time, I plan on trying one of their concrete shakes (if you haven’t tried concrete, you’re overdue!) If you want to find a Shake Shack near you, click here to visit their main website. If you can recommend anything else off of the Shake Shack menu, I’d love to hear about it: feel free to comment below!

beauty

More Product Reviews Coming . . .

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When all of your products arrive (courtesy of Clipart Library)

As I mentioned previously, I bought a lot of products from The Ordinary, and I’ve been trying them all. Unfortunately, the cold weather has made my skin more sensitive, so two of the products – the azelaic acid and the alpha lipoic acid – seem to be a bit too strong for my skin right now. I’ll keep playing around with it until I know, for sure, whether my skin can tolerate brightening solutions right now.

Other than that, I recently received a KoyVoca order that I am SO excited to try out! Also, I’m deciding what other small beauty brands I want to support: I need to take inventory and see what kind of items are lacking in my beauty routine, and then find a small company (or two, or three . . .) that offers them.

If you all know any brands that you think I should try, let me know in the comments below!

music

Currently Listening To . . .

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A few days ago, I was on YouTube listening to 90s and early 2000s RnB. I find myself missing the smooth ballads sung by talented vocalists. I was listening to Eric Benet’s “Femininity” when I came across this classic. I remember when it was released and how much I loved it, so I could’t resist listening to it again:

I remember hearing that there were actually two previous versions of the song “Georgy Porgy”, so I looked for those. As always, YouTube didn’t disappoint. The original version was sung by Toto, and then remade a few years later by Side Effect. Eric Benet’s version was released nearly two decades later.

After comparing all three, I’m pretty sure I love the Side Effect arrangement best, though I think Eric was the strongest lead vocalist out of all of the versions. However, there’s a softer, more romantic feel to the the male vocalist in Toto’s version; he sounds more authentically lovesick than the other lead vocalists. As far as the female backing vocal, Mikki Howard (in Side Effect’s version) was by far my favorite.

Do you have a favorite version? Let me know in the comments below!

food

Review: For the Love of Chocolate

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During my last Carytown excursion, I went to Xtras Cafe and tried the delicious crabcake entree. However, the trip wasn’t just for the sake of trying a new meal. I wanted to also get some candy from my favorite chocolate shop, For the Love of Chocolate.

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The shop is small but packed with delicious options. I’m always impressed with the variety of chocolates and high quality service. The only downside of the shop is that they don’t have online shopping capabilities.

This trip, I focused on truffles. And boy were they delicious!

When I get a little more time, I’ll do a more in-depth review of specific truffles and other chocolates available there. In the meantime, check out the mint chocolate truffle that I enjoyed.

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Have any of you been to this chocolate shop? If not, it’s worth a trip! It’s located at 3136 West Cary Street, in Richmond, VA. I’ll see you there!

food

Review: Xtra’s Cafe

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While cruising around Carytown (a quaint neighborhood in Richmond, VA), I stumbled upon Xtra’s Cafe, a sleek, vintage-inspired restaurant quietly tucked away on Cary Street.

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The hostess was warm and charming, and getting a seat was a quick process. While I sat near the stairwell (that takes you from the ground level to the actual dining area), the seats facing the bar was full.

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Painting closest to the patio

I loved the vintage paintings on walls and the abundant light streaming from the patio. The paintings really enhanced the classic, speakeasy feel of the restaurant.

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But the real star of this restaurant is the food. Honey, the FOOD! I tried the crabcakes with asparagus and jalapeno macaroni and cheese. When I tell you that the food was delicious … My mouth waters at the thought of it! I can’t wait to go back and try some of pita pizzas as well as the other entrees.

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Y. U. M.

If you’re ever in the Richmond area, Carytown is a must-see, and you should definitely stop into Xtra’s Cafe (3322 West Cary Street). You won’t be disappointed!

beauty

More Reviews Coming!

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theordinary

Did I mention to you all that I have been using The Ordinary’s products for the past several months?

I didn’t?

Well, I have, and what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t review them? I’ve used 10 (TEN!) of their products so far, and I’ve got opinions on everything I’ve tried.

I’m most impressed with their skincare products, though I’ve tried their cosmetics as well. I am a fan of how the company makes high quality products at such affordable prices.

I’m thinking that a review (or two) every week should take me through the month of November, since I’m going to be out of the loop for most of that month (more details on that later).

Don’t worry: being out of the loop doesn’t mean that there won’t be posts. In fact, I plan on pre-writing quite a few posts, so I maintain my current post-a-day schedule.

Talk to you all tomorrow!

style

Additional Boohoo Purchases

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I added a few additional items from Boohoo to my wardrobe. Previously, I purchased several dresses from the company and I’ve enjoyed them. But, I needed a few more items with longer sleeves and that are better suited to the cool weather. I ended up selecting four new dresses: Flo Ribbed High Neck Long Sleeved Midi Dress in lilas, Lucy Rose Print Sleeveless Midi Dress, Eva Tie Waist Fitted Dress in fuchsia,  Eloise Gathered Waist Midi Dress in navy.

The grand total for my purchase? $51.

Here’s a look at the dresses I got (as of today, the Flo dress in lilas is no longer available, however, it does come in several other colors).

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Flo dress

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Lucy dress

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Eva dress

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Eloise dress

I’ve worn two of the dresses so far, and, similarly to the other Boohoo dresses, I’m pleased with the fit and construction. I can’t wait to see how these hold up over the next few months!

food

Review: Tempo di Pasta Food Truck

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Before the autumn weather gripped the Mid-Atlantic region, I regularly got out and went to the food trucks throughout the city. The trucks still come out, but I’m not eager to take in the chilly weather just to get something to eat. This time of year, I’m much more inclined to either bring my meals with me, or to have food delivered to the office.

However, while the weather was still warm and I felt like taking in the sunshine, I tried a truck I’d never seen before. Tempo di Pasta is an Italian food truck that stops at different points in DC every week (though I’m not sure if they are maintaining this schedule during the fall). The truck offers an array of meat and vegetarian entrees, all featuring fresh and flavorful ingredients.

I tried the crab and lobster ravioli ($12). The food was generously portioned: there were 8 large stuffed ravioli and I was satisfied eating half for lunch and the other half for dinner. Here’s the dinner portion, plated and made pretty for your viewing pleasure:

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I found that the ravioli was delicious and perfectly seasoned. The sauce is flavorful and rich, but not overwhelming. This was, by far, one of the tastiest Italian meals I’ve ever had, from a truck or otherwise. I loved it! I can’t wait to try more of their dishes. Here’s hoping they come out on a few of the remaining warm days, so I won’t have to wait until next summer to try Tempo di Pasta again!

beauty · international

Review: Korean Bath Mitts

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Let me tell you all: I *will* be enjoying baby soft skin this winter. Of course, that’s my decree every year. But this year, I have a new tool in my arsenal:

I ordered these Korean bath mitts from Amazon and was kind of confused over how to use them. Fortunately, the customer reviews were invaluable: kudos to the reviewers that gave tips on using these.

Here’s the short version of how to best use these:

  • Don’t use these on your face! They’re far too abrasive for the delicate skin on your face. I’ll admit: I tried these on my face initially, because the photo on the package depicts a woman using it on hers. My skin behaved just fine and yes, my skin even looked better after using this twice a week. But, I noted that my skin felt more sensitive – not uncomfortably so, but it was noticeable – so I stopped. The reviewers on Amazon advise against using this on the face, and I’ll second that recommendation.
  • These shrink up – a lot. The smaller size makes for a snug fit on the hand, so just expect the shrinkage and you’ll be fine.
  • The best way to use these is to soak in a tub for ten minutes, then rub the skin with the mitt while wet. That removed the dead skin gently and effectively.

I’m enjoying these mitts, even though I was surprised by the shrinkage and used them on my face when I shouldn’t have! I tried using them the recommended way and I loved how soft my skin felt, as well as how my skin responded to moisturizers afterward. I’ll be purchasing more and keeping these in rotation during the months to come!

 

beauty

Review: Ginger + Liz Nail Polish

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During my massive beauty haul nearly two months ago, I purchased a bunch of cosmetics and also a few nail polishes. However, I hadn’t had a chance to try out the new polishes until recently. As a result, this review is a bit late, but better late than never, right?

I decided to try Ginger + Liz nail polishes. This indie brand isn’t quite so small anymore: it gained quite a bit of notoriety when Beyonce wore Ginger + Liz’s “Boss Lady” nail polish in her 2013 H&M Summer campaign. The line is known for creating nontoxic, vegan friendly nail polishes in both classic and trendy shades. The polish collection has a little something for everyone.

As pretty as “Boss Lady” is, I know that red shades with orange undertones aren’t flattering on my skin tone. So I opted out of purchasing that shade. But I was still curious enough about the brand to try some of the other shades. I ended up selecting Catch the Bouquet (CTB) and Happy Wife Happy Life (HWHL) (LOL, I see a theme with the names of the shades I chose!)

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(from the left: Catch the Bouquet and Happy Wife Happy Life)

“Catch the Bouquet” is described as, “a pastel pink with pearl undertones. The perfect nail colour for your demure looks, walking down the aisle, or catching the bouquet.” “Happy Wife Happy Life” is, “a textured rose pink foil metallic with contrasting pink tones of holographic glitter and tiny black specs for extra dimension.” I found the descriptions to be accurate for both shades.

The polishes dried in an average amount of time, and the smell was the same as your standard nail polish scent. I did two layers of “Catch the Bouquet” without any base coat or top coat, and I was pleased with the wear (it lasted several days without chipping). Just for the sake of seeing the color and intensity of the polish, I swatched the polishes on white paper and plain (unpainted) press on nails.

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Swatches on white paper: (left to right) “Happy Wife Happy Life” and “Catch the Bouquet”

(l to r: plain nails, one layer of “Catch the Bouquet” and “Happy Wife Happy Life”, two layers of the polishes)

Out of curiousity, I decided to layer “HWHL” over “CTB” and when I tell you I fell in LOVE with the layered look …

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The layered look (HWHL over CTB)

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(l to r) The layered nail look vs. two layers of HWHL

I love the colors and the lasting power. The line continues adding new shades, so I’ll be sure to try more of Ginger + Liz’s products in the future!

 

 

 

 

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