Cheers to the weekend!

I’m finally back in DC after an exhausting, but productive and fun week in Denver and New York. Don’t get me wrong, I love traveling, but when it’s go-go-go all the time, running around to meetings, eating out every meal, straying from your workout routine, acclimating to different time zones, living out of a suitcase, work stuff piling up in the background… eh, you get to the point where you just want to be at home and CHILL. Alas, it is what it is and I had a great time! Some highlights and things of note:

New York

• Had, hands down, the BEST steak of my entire life at Club A Steakhouse. Now remember, I’m from Texas, where we know good meat. This was unreal.
• I loved Wicked. It’s probably my new favorite Broadway show.
• Knock-off shopping on Canal Street is super sketchy and I will never do it again.
• The NBC Studio Tour was interesting. I was shocked at how small some of the show’s studios are. They look so much bigger on tv.
• Next time I need a hotel in the city, I’m for sure staying at The Kimberly again. Because it was converted from apartments, every room has a full kitchen, big closets, large living room, dining area, etc. Also, the staff is extremely friendly and the location was perfect for us.
• Row boating in Central Park is a blast, especially when someone else is doing all the rowing. Thanks Daddy!
• Taking my 12-year old sister to NYC for the first time was really special. I know she’ll remember it forever and I’m so glad I could be there to experience it with her.

Denver

• The weather, while nice, is very strange. One minute it’s freezing cold and rainy, the next its 95° and I’m schvitzing. Also, my skin kept getting so dry, I had to apply body lotion like ten times a day.
• Yogurtland is the greatest yogurt place. Everything, including the dozens of yogurt flavors and toppings, is self-serve and it’s dirt cheap. I filled a cup to the brim and it only cost me $2.44, which would have been at least $6.50 in DC. Thanks for taking me, Trev.
• I met Ali for dinner and drinks in Cherry Creek, which is such a cute little area that I had never been to before. I had a couple Blackberry Fizz cocktails from North, which totally hit the spot. It was great catching up with you, Ali!
• Willie Nelson was staying at my hotel. Well, apparently, he sleeps on his famous biodiesel tour bus, The Honeysuckle Rose, while everyone else gets a room at whichever hotel they’re at. Thought that was interesting.
• The Coors Brewery Tour in Golden, CO was fun, though I kinda feel like once you’ve done one brewery tour, they’re all the same after that. But it was still neat!
• Devoured two of the best Greek gyros I’ve ever had (two days in a row) at Burger Plus West in Lakewood. Still dreaming about their tzatziki sauce.
• I did some pretty good damage at the Colorado Mills Outlet Mall - Banana, Off 5th, Neiman’s Last Call, J. Crew, Ann Taylor - oops.

Glad to be back and am looking forward to catching up with what’s been happening on Tumblr! I’m actually heading down to Charlottesville tomorrow for Amanda’s bridal shower and bachelorette festivities - should be a lot of fun!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Of all the airports I’ve actually flown through, I think Denver is my favorite.

Not only is it the cleanest and easiest to navigate, but I also love the fact that it looks like you’re flying into a giant white circus tent in the middle of the Colorado Plains. It’s awesome!

I’m here this week for work and am hoping I’ll have time to venture out, meet up with a few college friends and explore some parts of Denver I’ve never seen! Fingers crossed…

Vesta Dipping Grill: A dipper’s heaven in Denver

A trip to Mile High City would not be complete without a fancy, fun meal with my college pal and fellow foodie Trevor. Last night, we went to Vesta Dipping Grill right in the heart of downtown, and it was unlike any other restaurant I’ve ever been to. Accompanied by every dish are unique, very flavorful dipping sauces that literally make your mouth water. Yummmm. Here’s what we ordered and LOVED:

• smoked venison sausage (black beans, roasted garlic crema, hudson barrel tomatoes)
• sauce sampler (warm pita served with a selection of sauces)
• three pepper grilled flat iron steak (manila clams, pommes frites, linguica sausage, chimichurri butter and charred tomatoes; accompanied by: tamarind chipotle, carolina bbq and smoked habanero salsa)
• grilled scottish salmon (english pea risotto, heirloom tomato relish; accompanied by: cilantro pesto, sweet chili ginger, red pepper rica rouille)
• toffee pudding and ice cream (accompanied by: hot dark chocolate fuge, creme anglaise, and napoleon strawberry)

Guys, it was phenomenal and I highly recommend trying it if you live in or visit Denver!

In keeping with my love of celebrity chef airport restaurants, I just had some breakfast at Wolfgang Puck in Terminal B at DIA. I wasn’t too impressed. Hate to tell ya Wolfy, but Gordon’s Plane Food at Heathrow definitely takes the cake.

Side Thought - why are 80% of my posts about food? It’s kinda gross, actually. Note to self: no food posts for 2 weeks.

A one-chair barber shop in the back of a cigar store and lounge…

If I were a dude and lived in Denver, I’d come here all the time. They say its the best cut and shave in town!

Cigars on Sixth and Clips on Sixth

I went to one of the best meals of my entire life last night. Hands down.

My good friend Trevor and his buddy Mike accompanied me to Fruition on 6th Ave and Downing in Denver, CO. It’s a phenomenal quaint little restaurant rated #3 in town with a super awesome menu. In addition to cocktails and crudités, we ate:

• Potato-Wrapped Oysters Rockefeller -  Parmesan-Leek Emulsion, Bacon Lardons, Baby Spinach
• Prosciutto Wrapped Scallops - Truffled Fingerling Potatoes, English Pea Emulsion, Pea Tendril & Parisienne Carrot Salad
• Prime Certified Stockyard Beef Culotte - Yukon Gold Potato Croquette, Creamed Wild Ramps, Shaved Asparagus & Crimini Mushroom Salad
• Pan Roasted Colorado Lamb Strip Loin - Saffron Potato Risotto, Pulled Osso Bucco, Pine-Nut Gremolata, Kalamata Olive Vinaigrette
• Caramelized Banana Pudding - Fresh Bananas, Chantilly Cream, Warm Double Fudge Cookies
• Lemon Meringue Pie - Graham Cracker Crust, Fresh Blueberry Compote

I REALLY recommend trying this place next time you’re in the Denver area. Mmm, just thinking about it…

Good morning to you, Denver!

Just boarded a Frontier Air flight to Denver (going on a work trip for the rest of the week) and I’m literally STARVING! Can’t remember the last time I was this hungry.

Airplane food ‘for purchase’ is terrible. Cheddar Cheese Curds? Oi vey… guess beggars can’t be choosers.

Happy Wednesday y’all!

Last night my college buddy Trevor and I had an incredible dinner at Lala’s Wine Bar + Pizzeria in the Capitol Hill area of Denver. Because everything on the menu sounded so good, we just went with whatever the waitress recommended. She knew her stuff. We had:

• Renato Ratti Torriglione: A delicious, warm, full-bodied bottle of red
• Housemade Burrata: Fresh mozzarella wrapped around home churned ricotta and mascarpone with arugula and grape tomato balsamic jam
• Il David : Naked pizze with three cheeses, herb grilled chicken, artichokes, oven dried tomatoes, roasted garlic and peppadew peppers
• Scallops: Served over sweet pea lemon risotto and arugula
• Chocolate Giovanni Housemade chocolate ganache with a Frangelico hazelnut anglaise and raspberry puree

Everything was delicious and our bill, by DC standards, was DIRT CHEAP. Highly recommend Lala’s if you’re ever in Denver. Great spot.

View of Downtown Denver

This city is beautiful. I haven’t really had any down time since I got here because of work, but I’m looking forward to catching up with a few friends tonight.

Happy Tuesday! 3 more days until the weekend! Is it sad that I’m already counting down? Whatev.

I’m heading out to Denver next week for work and the way my meetings are being scheduled, looks like I’m definitely going to have some time to catch up with a few friends while I’m there. Sahweet!

I’ve only ever been to the Denver airport en route to Beaver Creek and Keystone, so I’m stoked to actually see the city. Anyone have any recommendations?