Bacon Is Good For Me

So I started French 211 today. I'm writing this hoping it will motivate me to study.

I just have to keep thinking about ordering a sophisticated French dinner in a French restaurant in French. ds;lkvnaeowfjkd. That's what my mind is thinking.

Anywayyyyyy, just wanna say that I think this blog has morphed into something new.

When I started writing this, I wanted to talk about food. I wanted to talk about restaurant, places, menus, and where you should eat and why you should eat there.

Months and meals later, I realize there is so much more to food. I realize why I am so passionate about eating dinner with my family and friends. Yes, I love the taste of a ripe tomato with fresh basil. I love the smell of coffee, and, I admit, I fantasize about bacon on a daily basis.

But there is so much more to food than the taste of it!

What's incredible about food is what it does for people and what people do for it.

There are so many untold stories behind every dish that is consumed!

I realize that what I am supposed to do is not to inform you of bacon's awesomeness, restaurants' menus, or bacon's awesomeness.

I am here to tell you the stories people just seem to forget.

Whether they are mine, a friend's, or a stranger's.

So while I will still campaign for bacon and the sorrier foods of the world (where you should eat and why you should eat there), I would like to focus on the purpose and importance of food to our society and culture.

-Bacon'sawesome

I'M ALIVE!

HOW HAVE YOU PEOPLE BEEN LIVING WITHOUT ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Like, seriously, all 6252923822309898972 million of my readers, how have you not died without reading the ramblings of my genius intellect?

It's ok. I'm back. I'm alive.

Soooooooooo let me fill you guys in.

1) I am now a college junior.

2) I still love food.

3) I went abroad twice sense my last post (Jan 2011).

4) I still have a crappy camera.

5) I can still eat more than you.

Now that we are all caught up, let's move on to discussing my trip to the U.K. My first trip, mind you.

Went to London for a week, travelled to Northumberland, stayed in Alnwick castle, played Quidditch, had tea, spent approximately,...

QUIDDITCH!!!!! DID YOU HEAR ME I SAID QUIDDITCH!!!!! WHY YES, MY SPECIAL FRIENDS, WHY YES!!!! I PLAYED QUIDDITCH AT HOGWARTS!!!!!!!!!

like, seriously, I did.

Alnwick castle is the location used in the first Harry Potter films. Like, when I watch Harry Potter now, I'm like, "I soooooooo recognize where Harry is right now, like, I was there, at Hogwarts, bitch."

Pictures to make you jealous...

Yea. I wasn't kidding.

Aaaaaaaaanyway, there was some food involved in this trip. Let's just all keep in mind that this is English food we are talking about. Also, I'm watching Law and Order SVU while writing this, so if for some reason I shout out with a random "No way!" or, "Elliot is so freaking AWESOME!!!!" I apologize in advance.

Here we have your typical English breakfast. It's good, but I'm not to wake up in the morning with a desire to eat beans. They call it "chili" but don't be fooled. We're talking legit BEANS here.

The stuff on the side? They call it "brown sauce." We asked the watier what it was, and he answered, "brown sauce."

"But dude, what is it?"

"Brown sauce."

"No like, seriously, what is it?"

"...brown sauce."

I guess I could google it, but let's be real. That would be 4 seconds of my time used to figure out what a "brown sauce" is that so I could tell you about it. I don't care about you. Go away.

I also had tea, which I have decided needs to be an everyday-American-part-of-my-life-thing.

And then, my friends, there was La Tasca. You could say, that I had a love affair with this restaurant. Trust me, I would if I could.

Confession time. This was my first experience with tapas. And I love them. Affair. Fo. Real. I also think that this picture is magazine worthy.

Well. I'm bored now. Maybe later this week I'll talk about how awesome my spring break trip to Edinburgh was. I ate Haggis. Shit just got real.

Lemon out.

(30 Rock reference)

Alright. So it's been a while. There's this called school.

Anyway, I promised to feature Munich and Salzburg. So here we go!

Munich

There is dish in this region that the people call "pancake soup" i ate a lot of it. Sooooooo good.

And isn't this an amaaaaaaaazing picture that I took? Yea. I thought so too.

Salzburg

Again, university trip means university itinerary. I hate the word itinerary. So while I wanted to go exploring the mountains surrounding our hotel in Salzburg, everybody else wanted to go on the "Sound of Music" Tour. Don't get me wrong, I mean, I'd flat out marry Julie Andrews given the chance and dance and in a gazebo with a 17 year old attractive German soldier, but I would much rather be chatting it up with a local in a pub somewhere. Yea. I'm pathetic. I know.

However, I had my best soup at a restaurant in Salzburg. Can't tell you the name, but I do have pictures...

I realize it's not the most appetizing picture of soup you've ever seen. Remember, I'm only a food photographer in my most awesome dreams.

Aaaaaaaaaand I'm anxious to get to my new pictures/destinations/awesome food. So Salzburg and Munich is a wrap. I know it's not very thorough. I also don't care what you think.

But I do have news! I'm traveling to Edinburgh in March to visit my roommate who's studying there this next semester! So I might just have to upload embarrassing pup pictures.

And did I ever say that I studied in England for a whole month this summer? I need to blog about that as well! So much to do!!!

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Big news, everyone. I have been asked to allow my photography to appear in a print ad for a travel magazine!!! Now, I know that this isn't like the cover of National Geographic or anything, but I have to start somewhere!

I'm excited. Seriously.

Abroad!

So in May of 2010, "this moi" traveled abroad for the first time in her life (that was a 30 Rock reference for all you fellow fans out there). I traveled with my University's choir so I was sort of forced to visit touristy sites, do touristy things, and worst of all, eat some touristy dishes.

However!!!!!, My friends and I were able to sneak away every once in a while in order to wander down some random alley, lag behind in order to snap a picture of a weathered, blue door, or fake a "I forgot we were all supposed to eat at the American restaurant together!!! What?" Yea.

We began our trip in Paris. Saw the Eiffel Tower. Saw some churches. Went to the Louvre. Blah, blah, blah. The important thing here, is that I ate approximately 23 baguettes all slathered in Nutella, 47 blocks of assorted cheeses, and 52 croissants. I'm also not a sarcastic person. We also visited Munich and Salzburg. Aaaaand I ate another 285491046 calories. Each day.

But seriously, I had some amazing food abroad. Even tho we were in the city for only 3 days, I think I had a great experience and ate some amazing food as well. Can't wait to share it with you.

Paris

There is this thing called a "budget," and all of my college friends and myself were restricted by this thing called a "budget" during our travels. So to all you aged, old, wise, learned foodies out there who have visited every 5 star restaurant in all of Paris, sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations. Budget, people. It's called a budget.

So this is what is typical in Paris. A small place on the corner, filled with baguettes, cheese, croissants, and other goodness.

I think I bought something at every one we passed... so like every 5 minutes.

And here is me putting things in perspective.

I guess you could say that I've got my priorities in order.

Munich and Salzburg still to come!

Yes, yes. I'm an idiot. I forgot to upload picture of my fabulous, wonderful, delicioso dessert at Boston's Finale. So here you go...

Note the sugar stick.

Boston

In January I traveled to Boston for a school project. Naturally, I was more excited about eating food than anything else. I'm gonna feature a few restaurants here. Stay with me.

If you happen to be traveling in Boston and you love Italian food as much as I do, make sure you visit the North End of Boston. It's like a little Italy. Absolutely amazing. Great pastry shop, legit espresso, Italian guys, and soccer jerseys.

"Bella Vista"

Imagine - a trip with 5 college freshmen. Yea, we were on a reeeeeal strict budget. Bella Vista was a dream come true. They have a relatively simple yet delicious lunch menu. Everything - $4.99! This is the truth!

View from our table:

This place had some of the BEST food ever. I ordered a pasta dish: Chicken Broccoli Ziti. It was phenomenal. Our entire ticket was about $25 dollars, and that more than filled 5 college freshmen. We were very impressed!

"Ye Olde Union Oyster House"

The oldest established restaurant in the U.S. You NEED to make this place a priority if you are even passing through Boston. Yes, it is a little pricey, (if you order the lobster) but I must say, it is completely worth it.

And here, ladies and gents, we have Oysters Rockefeller. Now, it is more than understandable for all of you oh-i-would-never-be-able-to-eat-a-oyster-in-my-life-because-they-are-so-slimy-people to be a bit apprehensive to try such a dish. Confession time. This was my first oyster! And let me tell you it was seriously one of the most gratifying things I have ever eaten. Yes, I did just use the word gratifying. Deal with it. So don't worry. Trying an oyster isn't as bad as you may think. If it's the texture your scared of, don't try raw or fried oysters. Rockefeller/baked is the way to go.

"Finale"

After our dinner of lobster and oysters, the five of us hopped on a subway and headed to another side of Boston for dessert. If you don't wanna spend seventy dollars on dessert for 5 people than go somewhere else. I ordered the "Manjari Mousse." I'm posting a link to their menu. It will blow your mind. http://www.finaledesserts.com/pdfs/2010/MENU/FInale_Dinner_Menu_2010-PP.pdf

So there you have it. My favorite places to eat in Boston. I was not fortunate enough to stay as long as I would have liked, but I feel as if I attained some experience from the 5 day trip. Of course there were other restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops, but these were my faves. Hope you enjoyed this. I would love to hear some feedback so I could maybe apply to my next post. I'm traveling to France, Germany, and Austria over the summer so I will definitely have some new stuff to post relatively soon.

Happy flogging, everyone. Now if that doesn't sound politically correct I don't know what does.