taste with me

Travels: The Wizarding World of HarryPotter in Orlando, FL. If...

greyelephantdesigns — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:34:59 -0500

Travels:

The Wizarding World of HarryPotter in Orlando, FL. If you’re a fan of the novels, then the movies have brought them to life. If you’re a fan of the movies, then Universal Studios have brought them to real life. The streets, buildings, and rides were sensory overload. If you’re weren’t a fan before, you’ll be one after this experience.

Wait! Since when does Caribou have a punch card system?! In Minnesota?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:34:13 -0500

Yes, they have a punch card. I’m near Chicago, but would think they have it across the board. Thanks.

Foodies: Hanger steak sandwich with brie and arugula on...

greyelephantdesigns — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:50:00 -0500

Foodies:

Hanger steak sandwich with brie and arugula on ciabatta bread.Himalayan sea salt and crushed black pepper on steak.

Seared the thinly steak on a hot cast iron pan for 2 mins on each side. Remove and let rest, so juice will redistribute.

Assembly of sandwich:

Ciabatta bread
Spicy brown mustard
Arugula
Brie
Hanger Steak
Ciabatta bread

Technology: Elkay EZH20 Cooler and Bottle Filling Station with...

greyelephantdesigns — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:43:00 -0500

Technology:

Elkay EZH20 Cooler and Bottle Filling Station with Silver Ion Anti-Microbial Protection…digital counter to Help Eliminate Waste [][][][][8][6][8][8] Disposable Water Bottle. Every little bit helps, so stay hydrated by carrying your own Polar Bottle or reusable water bottle.

Foodies: Caribou Coffee or Starbucks? It must confusing to...

greyelephantdesigns — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:00 -0500

Foodies:

Caribou Coffee or Starbucks? It must confusing to mention both of the suburban coffee shop in the same sentence. However, I’m a bit bias on this subject since I’m a fan of both. I believe it’s up to the coffeehouse to gain your loyalty, so that’s the secret Barista’s.

In comparison Caribou has a loyalty punch card system for every 10 you get a free drink, it has three choice of drips. Whereas Starbucks is for every 15 purchases you get a free drink (all track by an Starbucks app), usually two choices for drips. Unless you’re at their clover brew shop, where you get to choose the blend of coffee you desire to have brewed especially for you. Which the “Barista” has just made you a cup of coffee and so tipping is etiquette.

The tumbler (grande) on the right is part of the Starbucks 12 days of Christmas/Holiday deal, essential buy it and you get unlimited refills from January 1-31, 2012. It ultimately pays for itself by your 11th visit or 11 refills, which ever comes first. I’m going to make it count and check-in as often as possible. I’m half of the way there…can’t wait for the free coffee.

Foodies: Day 6, Starbucks brewing Kenya bold coffee, citrus...

greyelephantdesigns — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:15:00 -0500

Foodies:

Day 6, Starbucks brewing Kenya bold coffee, citrus flavors, hints of grapefruit and sometimes lemon or tart orange. The lineup for the 7am rush at Arlington Heights.

Foodies: Dessert Figgy Pudding or traditionally call Christmas...

greyelephantdesigns — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:15:00 -0500

Foodies:

Dessert Figgy Pudding or traditionally call Christmas pudding served during that day.

Foodies and Technology: Homemade thin crust pizza with a...

greyelephantdesigns — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:32:00 -0500

Foodies and Technology:

Homemade thin crust pizza with a Peroni… Ingredients: Trader Joe’s ready made pizza dough Pancetta Prosciutto Fresh Mozzarella Organic Arugula Parmesan Cheese Extra virgin olive oil Crushed black pepper Tech: Emily Henry Pizza Stone Pizzacraft Oven Mitt Pizza dough let sit out for 15 minutes Preheat Oven 450 degrees F Place pizza stone in oven Roll out dough to desire thickness and use flour to keep from sticking to work surface Place dough on top of stone with peel or lay it over the stone “Careful it is very HOT” Bake for 14-18 mins or until cheese is melted and meats are crispy Toppings: Prosciutto 6 thin slices Pancetta 1/2 cup Fresh Mozzarella (slice or shredded) 1 cup Olive oil drizzled 1/4 cup 1 cup Arugula put on after Pizza is removed from oven 1/4 cup Parmesan Drizzle a few tablespoon of olive oil Crush red pepper/black pepper to taste

Foodies: Day 5 Early morning at Starbucks. Temperature is about...

greyelephantdesigns — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:07:00 -0500

Foodies:

Day 5 Early morning at Starbucks. Temperature is about 34 degrees F and still no snow fall in January.

Foodies: Starbucks, Arlington Heights, IL. High traffic coffee...

greyelephantdesigns — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:26:00 -0500

Foodies:

Starbucks, Arlington Heights, IL. High traffic coffee shop, the atmosphere is mild. In the morning it brews only Pike Place Roast and Italian Roast, limited selection unless ordering from the bar. The unlimited coffee tumblers for the month of January will suffice.

Foodies: New Year’s Eve dinner party! Surf and turf dish;...

greyelephantdesigns — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:35:00 -0500

Foodies:

New Year’s Eve dinner party! Surf and turf dish; rib eye steak and lobster tail with mashed potatoes.

Foodies and Technology: Starbucks’ tumbler for unlimited...

greyelephantdesigns — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:50:00 -0500

Foodies and Technology:

Starbucks’ tumbler for unlimited coffee (RING CODE 775) from Jan 1-31, 2012, one of the best gifts. Starting on Day 1. I have been pretty please with the tumblers, holds 16oz Grande, and it seals tightly to keep the coffee from seeping. However it doesn’t hold the temperature as well as the stainless steel counterpart.

I really like the idea of unlimited refill for a month with a prepaid tumbler, maybe it should move towards this model and up the brewing selection and keep loyal coffee drinkers.

Foodies: I was in Columbus OH for two weeks and wondered where...

greyelephantdesigns — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:30:00 -0500

NorthStar Cafe Columbus OH

Ordering

#25

Veggie Burger

Alfresco

Foodies:

I was in Columbus OH for two weeks and wondered where to eat in the area. Kat B. a friend suggest getting a “Veggie Burger” at the Northstar Cafe.

The cafe- welcoming with warm wooden walls, minimalistic decor, see-thru kitchen, neutral tones, and lounge area with magazine walls.

Got in line and place my order, VB* - onions, the manager must notice me taking pictures. I got my table number #25 and the manager served me herself. I continue to photograph my plate. I had to hurry, since I didn’t want my burger to get cold. The VB was still hot and had a charred marks on the patty. $12.5 for a VB seems pricey, but worth it and I really enjoy the experience. I went for lunch there two more times.

- gratuity is included.

*Northstar Burger
Just made with organic brown rice, black beans and
beets, topped with white cheddar, lettuce, tomato,
pickle and onion + simple salad

ENTERTAINMENT: Happy 7th Birthday to my nephew Aesop!!! My ideal...

greyelephantdesigns — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:11:00 -0400

ENTERTAINMENT:

Happy 7th Birthday to my nephew Aesop!!!

My ideal gift for a kid that has all kinds of toys that he tires from in minutes. I needed something that will allow me to spend time together and activities that he likes and also keeps me entertain.

So my idea was to create a book of gift coupons with Lego guys theme.

Foodies: It’s National Sandwich Day! In honor of NSD, I...

greyelephantdesigns — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:45:00 -0400

Muffaletta Sandwich

Assembly of Sandwich

Turkey & Dressing from Breen's

Italian Sandwich from Bari's

Traditional Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwich

Vietnamese Beef Banh Mi Sandwich

Italian beef sandwich

Italian sandwich on sesame roll

Foodies:

It’s National Sandwich Day!

In honor of NSD, I went for the muffaletta and it’s a signature sandwich of New Orleans. Sun-dried tomato Focaccia bread with marinated olive salad, then layers of capicola, salami, pepperoni, ham, and provolone.

Here are some of my other favorite sandwiches that I have enjoyed.

Technology: Chicago Photography Academy, Compact Digital Photo...

greyelephantdesigns — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:15:00 -0400

Chicago Photography Academy Digital 101

six way intersection

Lone biker

Before/After Portraits "Marlyn"

What a Boot it!

Before/After Portraits "Blake"

Blake

Portrait Session "Ann"

Portrait Session

Portrait Session

Technology:

Chicago Photography Academy, Compact Digital Photo 101.

Learning the basic techniques of composition, lighting, shutter speed, aperture, and shoot without “Auto”.

Here are some of the photos as the day progress. The friendly interaction between the classmates made the six hours fly by…fun people makes for fun times.

Equipment: Panasonic DMC-LX3s and Lightroom.

Foodies: Crispy Thin Crust Pizza. Ingredients: Pizza dough...

greyelephantdesigns — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:40:00 -0400

Foodies:

Crispy Thin Crust Pizza.

Ingredients:

Pizza dough (Trader Joes)
Fresh mozzarella (1/2 cup)
Prosciutto/Pepperonis
Arugula
Parmesan cheese
Extra virgin olive oil (2 tbsp)
Salt & Pepper (optional)
Crush red peppers (optional)

Supplies:

Cookie sheet (13 in x 17 in rectangular)
Pizza Stone (1/4 cup of corn meal)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Let dough sit out to room temperature (15-20mins). Lightly dust flour on rolling pin and work surface. Rolling out the dough will be organic, start from center, rectangular shape is easier.

Cookie sheet:Oil (1Tbsp) so it coats bottom. Pizza stone dust with corn meal, no oil needed,

Place dough on sheet and bake first side for 6-8 mins or until slightly golden brown on under side. Flip the half baked dough over, then add mozzarella, prosciutto/pepperonis (combo).

Continue baking for another 8-10 mins or until cheese melts to desire. Remove pizza from oven then add arugula, parmesan cheese and drizzle (1Tbsp) with olive oil.

Add Salt/Pepper or crushed red pepper to taste.

Designs: Custom handmade metal bed frame…completely...

greyelephantdesigns — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:31:00 -0400

Designs:

Custom handmade metal bed frame…completely fabricated with steel tubing and copper piping. Unfinished steel coating.

Travels & Foodies: Welcome Aboard! Monarch of the Seas...

greyelephantdesigns — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Atlantis Final Destination

Monarch of the Seas

Coconut Willies Hammock City

CocoCay Beach

the Circuit Nightclub

Port of Nassau

DJ booth at poolside

Bahama Breeze

Doc Sands Fish & Conch

fresh conch fritters

Travels & Foodies:

Welcome Aboard! Monarch of the Seas cruising from Port Canaveral to CocoCay - Nassau, Bahamas.

This is a four day cruise mixed with excursions to CocoCay (Royal Caribbean’s private island) where you can wander the beaches, shop in the straw village, and sway with the breeze the hammocks under the coconut trees with a drink in hand. Our second point of interest is Nassau, Paradise Island the location of Atlantis. We booked a room at the Comfort Inn (savings $100) and got a bracelet which gave us full access to all facilities at Atlantis.

*Atlantis was the location for Casino Royale (Daniel Graig 2006)

The local delicacies is Conch. Of course we had to try it, so we asked the taxi driver to take us to a spot that the locals would go. We arrived at Doc Sands, Fish & Conch, the cook started chopping up conch to make her specialty conch fritters. They tasted so fresh even after deep-fried in batter.

I would recommend this cruise first time cruiser, since it’s only a four days journey. It is just the right amount of time that leaving wanting more…

Foodies: I was in need of a BBQ fix, so I searched on Yelp.com...

greyelephantdesigns — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:04:00 -0400

Line up for RayRay's BBQ

Straight from the Grill

Foodies:

I was in need of a BBQ fix, so I searched on Yelp.com and the place had a solid rating. RayRay’s H@G PIT on Pacemont & High St., Columbus OH.

I was fortunate enough to be there on a Sunday their special was grass-fed beef brisket. I went a little overboard, ordering 1/2lb of pulled pork, 1/2lb grass fed beef brisket, full slab of pork ribs, side of collard greens, mac-n-cheese, and baked beans. The sliced brisket was tender and easily cut with a plastic fork and the pulled pork just fell apart in your mouth with a tangy BBQ sauce - the ribs were smokey and fell right off the bone…the sides I could have done without. I would strongly recommend this place if you want to get a taste of really good BBQ in the Columbus area.