Boneheads brings it...

Dinner out with the hubby, parents, and one adorable baby:

 Have you tried Boneheads on Youree Drive yet?

The atmosphere is clean and nautical.

My favorite thing we ordered was the Boneheads Shrimp appetizer. The batter has the perfect crunch.

We also enjoyed all the sauce options. Welcome to Shreveport, Boneheads!

you say it's your birthday...

...it's my birthday too, yeah! Yep, that's right- another birthday has come and gone. Don't worry, this one did not go by without the proper celebratory activities. When Tison asked me what I wanted  to do for my birthday, I told him I wanted to browse local shops and then possibly look for a grill for our backyard. With Miss E around, it is hard to go in and out of places and so I have just been avoiding it all together to spend time with her. BUT... since he asked ;) he was in charge of baby girl while I got to look around while also enjoying their company. I wrote out a lengthy list of places and we hit the road.

{Here are a few snapshots from the days adventures.}

{At about 6pm I told Tison I really wanted to get the grill we saw at Lowe's and cook on it. He was like, "tonight??" So, we bought the grill, put it together, put baby girl down, and had a romantic meal on the back porch. It was perfect. And I love that our table setting includes a baby monitor.}

On Sunday, my in-laws invited us to Sevendipity Cafe for brunch. This was our second time there and we just love it!

{The huevos rancheros could be my breakfast everyday. And I am sure you have heard of the cronut? Well, the chef, Dominique Ansel, asked that Sevendipity stop using the name creauxnut. After a facebook poll, the new name for the amazing croissant/donut pastry is the juggernut. I'm not crazy about the name, but it's not going to keep me from ordering this dessert.}

On Tuesday, my birthday day, my mom made a home cooked dinner at their house. We arrived excited to see family, but I had no idea what was in store. The doorbell rang and Mom asked me to get it (she was busy in the kitchen.) I just thought it was Lauren and the boys arriving for dinner. I opened the front door and when I first looked out no one was there- and then- bam- Leslie jumps in front of me. I just stood there, literally for a full minute, trying to figure out why she is standing at the front door of Mom's house in the United States of America in July when I wasn't expecting her to fly in from Africa again until December!?!? She got me. She kept it a surprise from me and Lauren that she was coming in and we were both stunned, shocked, and thrilled. Everyone in the house knew but us! What a great secret :) She is in town for the next 3 weeks- whoohoo!!

{Tison was snapping photos of us when Lauren points out that she is sitting in a rocking chair with a blanket covering her legs while we all gather around her for a photo- she felt like a great grandma- we died laughing. Sure do love having everyone together.}

burgers, brews, and blues...Twisted Root Opening!

 Ann and Grant invited us (along with most of Shreveport) to the private opening of their new restaurant, Twisted Root, this weekend.

As the doors opened, I was struck by the industrial, yet homey feel--exposed ceilings, corrugated aluminum siding and unfinished plywood--these unexpected materials were visually interesting and I instantly felt at ease. The line was long with many recognizable faces from around the area ready to partake in their first hamburger or buffalo Twisted Root Burger. Each month they will feature a different type of meat to choose from such as: Venison, Elk, Lamb, Ostrich, Kangaroo, Emu, Boar, or Alligator. How exciting!

We first made our way to the bar that was decorated with old records and guitars. There were many choices of beers on tap, but considering my current condition, I chose the pecan root beer and made my way to the covered brick patio. Both the root beer and the patio were AMAZING! This patio might be my new favorite place to "tailgate" during football season.

 Lauren and David got in line and ordered for us. I chose The Western that was served with fried onion rings, bacon, pepperjack, and jalapanos! Tison had The Ranch Hand and said it was "the best burger I've ever had that I didn't make myself." This is definitely high praise. I couldn't have been happier with my choice either! You could seriously mix and match to get a different burger every time you go. Their choice of side sauces that are conveniently already at your table were also very tasty. I added the BBQ sauce to my western buffalo burger and it was right on the money. Lauren went with the fries instead of the sweet potato chips that it comes with. Order the fries every time people. They are delicious! I am so excited to see such a fun, new restaurant open in a different location that Youree Drive.

 It opens to the public today and if you don't have dinner plans yet, I highly suggest you go TONIGHT! I wish you the best of luck Ann and Grant- but I don't think you're gonna need it ;) xoxo

picnic in the park...ing garage!

Katie noticed on facebook this morning that a few food trucks were gathering for lunch today on the corner of Market and Milam. We just had to go - our first food truck experience in Shreveport! Today Lilah's, Some Like It Hot, and Po'Boys & Rich Girls were our choices. We decided to go with po'boys from one and fries from the other! Katie and I agreed that they definitely needed picnic tables with cute umbrellas set up for outdoor seating that would also to help attract people driving down Market Street, but that's just us being "life consultants."

Because it was about 150 degrees outside and I was sweating while ordering, we sought shelter from the heat in the Regions Bank parking garage across the street! Hey, sometimes you just have to go with it. My fried shrimp po'boy was excellent. It was overflowing with crispy fried shrimp and I liked the homemade remoulade sauce. The hand cut fries from Some Like It Hot were good too. We encouraged them to try to set up shop outside our work place (LSU Health) next time. This may be for selfish lunch time reasons, but I also think they would make a killing. Follow their business' on facebook (linked above) to find out where they will be next!

{Yay! They take plastic- because seriously, who carries that green stuff anymore?!

 If you do- they are accepting tips :)}

Have you tried these food trucks yet??

Blue Southern Comfort Foods...

Thanks to Chris Jay and his 20x49.com blog, Katie and I found out about the new restaurant Blue Southern Comfort Foods on Louisiana Avenue. I couldn't put it better than Chris, "Blue is small, off-the-beaten-path, and lacking in signage, but food lovers should make the effort to seek it out." And so we did -seek it out - that is. After passing the building the first time, we parked and made our way through the blue door into the tiny but quaint dining area.

Katie ordered the pulled pork over cheese grits with a side of broccoli casserole. Although the main dish was good, we both agreed it needed a sauce or gravy to make it great. 

 However, the Blue Burger is where it's at! A perfectly cooked patty topped with shredded gruyère and homemade bacon marmalade on a sour dough bun...i mean, come on! This combination was a perfect mesh between sweet and salty. I'm a fan. Gullo's may be Katie and my next food adventure!

What's your favorite burger place?

a little date at bistro to go...

Sometimes you just need a little lunch date to remind each other that dating is fun and even though you have been in a relationship for a long time, gosh darn it, it is important, too! I have picked up Bistro To Go's famous strawberry salad to go, but I had yet to eat inside until this holiday season. I can't tell you how many times I thought about going before we actually sat down and ate in their dining room, but it wasn't soon enough.

We all know the feeling of going somewhere- ordering something- and thinking "well, I could have made this at home." How disappointing is that?!  Bistro To Go is not, I repeat - NOT - this kind of restaurant; it is the opposite side of the coin. Their flavors from the seemingly simple strawberry salad topped with addictive dressing, the tomato basil soup, to the creamy stuffed chicken with capers are so complex and mouth wateringly delicious that even after I finished the last bite on my plate I wondered what everything else on the menu tasted like! This will be a repeat restaurant for me for sure.

Have you tried Bistro To Go? What do you recommend?

The Big Easy...

During a recent work related trip to New Orleans with Katie, I stayed in one of the nicer hotels I have ever been in, Windsor Court. We were surprised to learn upon arrival that we had been upgraded to the club level suites. (a perk of planning an upcoming meeting at their establishment)

I took pictures of every inch of the room. I plan to some day decorate my home in this color scheme.

The meeting space is exquisite. I told Katie that had I not already put down deposits for my wedding in Shreveport, we would be relocating to Windsor Court as our reception venue.

 Notice the painting that Katie is displaying for you. Care to guess what it's value is? I'll just go ahead and tell you. It is a 1.5 million dollar Van Dyck. The hotel itself is basically an art museum!

Their 4-star chef recently left the hotel restaurant, so what did they do? Hire a 5-star chef! This will be the chef de cuisine for our conference in January and I can-not-wait.

In the lobby they serve high tea every day. Unfortunately we missed it, but after our tour ended we hit the road toward Luke on St. Charles Avenue for a late lunch.

A flamenkuche is basically a pizza on uber thin crust with thick cut sweet bacon topped with cheese and onion. Filling and delicious. Katie and I both agree that the pork pâté is interesting on toasted bread with side options to top it with watermelon, pickles, mustard & gelée. I have definitely never seen it on a menu before. Props, John.

We walked around stopping in a few local shops, meandering through the colorful streets of NOLA until we found ourselves at the Green Goddess. Katie appropriately ordered "The Katie" and I got the "Glory for your salvation" - cucumbers muddled in ginger syrup, Pimm's No. 1, Koval Jasmine liqueur, Creme de Cassis, Flor de Cana 7-year aged Nicaraguan rum, Hibiscus liqueur, Orchard Apricot liqueur, fresh lime juice, and topped with ginger beer. Yep, that is all in that white cup I am holding there. Lizette did her thing, and I did mine ;) After taking a breather at the hotel for a bit, we hit up the complimentary club level lounge. I was most definitely feeling like a princess at this point.

Then we meet up with Griff and Alex and taxied to Magazine Street for our night out on the town.

Before leaving NOLA for the LSU game in Baton Rouge, we had to stop at the Rum House for their famous Caribbean inspired tacos. Check out this menu for their combo options. (We both ordered the Two Dat which allowed us to pick 2 types of tacos and 2 different sides) If you haven't been in the Rum House, RUN to the Rum House!!!

{next up- our day spent at Tiger Stadium}

time well spent at Marilynn's Place...

{Sunday morning: birthday weekend}

This makes the fourth time I have been to Marilynn's Place, two of which have been for Sunday brunch. I have to admit I much prefer the brunch menu. I ordered the mexican breakfast and it was very favorful. It is a tower of jalapeno cornbread served with eggs and bacon, topped with a spicy cream sauce and green onion. Tison and Lauren selected the shrimp and grits, which I ate directly off of their plates. The roasted tomatoes matched with the cheesy grits were melt in your mouth good. The beignets were a perfect side dish for the three of us- one a piece. They tasted like Grands flaky biscuits with powdered sugar on top, but I'm not complaining. The strawberry preserves were a perfect compliment to this sweet treat. The newly enclosed patio is very loud and when it started to rain, it leaked through the ceiling. This old gas station is a work in progress, although it is quickly becoming my favorite brunch spot.