The Red Truck Bakery

Several months back, the husband and I had the opportunity to explore the quaint town of historical Warrenton, VA, thanks to our friends, Harold and Yen. As a wedding gift, we got to enjoy a one night stay at the Airlie, a conference/wedding venue tucked away in the lush shadow of the Shenandoah.  There were so many pictures from this tiny trip, it only made sense to break it down into segments. There's magic everywhere, it's just a matter of appreciating it. 

The first thing that we do when visiting a new area is scope out the local bakeries. I'm forever curious to see life in someone else's kitchen. After a quick internet search, the top hitting spot in this area stood out loud and clear:

The Red Truck Bakery

What's the fuss about this bakery? Oh I don't know... to start, there is the mountain of praise it has received from sources like The Washington Post, New York Times, Andrew Zimmerman, and the Oprah Magazine. Plus, there is the matter of the prestigious "Best Pumpkin Pie" award from the Washingtonian. Sounds like it's all the rage and should be teeming with hipsters, right?

Much to my delight, it's a down to earth, ol' fashioned bakery. It's nestled near the center of the historic section of town in a renovated 1921 Esso filling station. The iconic, Red Truck is parked right outside. When we arrived on a Saturday afternoon, there were no other customers and it was still as a church. This quiet, laid back store is the cause of so much fuss? Turns out this was the eye of the storm since it's usually bumpin on the weekend.

The variety of baked goods was dazzling, especially for the simplicity of the set-up. There are no frills- this a real kitchen. There was a myriad of breads distributed across the counter plus loaves, pies, and cookies. I wanted to try everything in the display window when the coffee cake caught my eye. There's a nostalgia associated with coffee cake as my mother often served the Entemann's version to her Portuguese rosary group. Goodness gracious... 

Just look at this beauty! 

A slab of Red Truck's coffee cake is bigger than Mike's fist, and I don't call him Monster Mitts cuz it sounds cute. It was moist, lightly sweetened, and heavenly. There must be some sour cream in this bad boy because it was really nice texture. Honestly, this is one item that I would not mind purchasing through their online delivery service. They ship nation-wide and their spring flavor, a meyer lemon cake, is teasing for a tasting. 

We took the famous pumpkin pie to share with the family as a thanks for watching Autumn during our excursion. It is indeed a solid, all-American pumpkin pie! The filling is smooth and mild with a clean crust. What's the cause of this magic? Instead of dumping in white sugar, the owner, Brian Noyes, uses a caramel of sugar, water, and cream then adds orange zest to brighten things up. Pretty slick, no? 

There are so many other confections to try- we just scratched the surface! Check out their online store or make it a day to visit Old Town Warrenton. 

The Red Truck Bakery
22 Waterloo St, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 347-2224

Travel Treats: Charleston, WV Edition

Over the past few months, Mike and I have traveled a bit for what I guess what you would call mini-vacations. We are masters of making the most of a weekend and these short indulgences have led us to some local treasures. This post highlights the venues that stood out on a recent trip to Charleston, WV. Make sure you check them out if you're ever in the area! I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

West Virginia- Wild and Wonderful!

Moxxee Coffee

301 Morris St
Charleston, WV 25301
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The bittersweet thing about trying food and drinks in "far off lands" is if you should fall in love with one. It is with a heavy heart that I found my favorite latte is about 5 hours away at cool cafe called Moxxee Coffee. Their honey latte (first picture in this post) will knock your socks off and the biscottis are as big as a child's arm. The barista's are all on top of their game (via professional training and state of the art espresso machines) and every cup has been perfecto. The atmosphere is very hip and the crowd as diverse as it comes in Charleston. 

photo courtesy of Pies and Pints

Pies and Pints
222 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301

piesandpints.net

The first time I visited West Virginia, my sister took us out to a native pizza joint called Pies and Pints. I didn't really think too much of it considering it was pizza. Now it's a mandatory meal every time we're in town. Mike was stunned by the amazing flavors and variety on the menu. The Cuban Pork Pie is incredible! I pray they consider expanding their business to Northern VA!

They recently opened a shop in the heart of Charleston and while prepping the space, discovered a white elephant mural! Instead of painting over it, they cleaned it up and it's proudly on display. I think this is a really neat piece of the building's history and am glad it's being preserved. Good job Pies and Pints!

photo courtesy of Sarah's Bakery

Sarah's Bakery

1011 Bridge Rd
Charleston, WV 25314

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(304) 343-2253

The pie at Sarah's Bakery is dangerous. People order in advanced because they know that they sell as quickly as they are put on display. Highly recommend the apple crumb pie! This is the go-to spot if you're looking for that old school bakery dessert. They have everything under the sun, from cookies to cupcakes. They're genuine and know their stuff. 

But let me tell you... get the pie! 

Nougat: Maison du Chocolate

1026 Bridge Road

Charleston, WV 

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On a gray and rainy day, my sister took me to a new hot spot: Nougat! It is a Maison du Chocolate! This stunning shop is run by the sweetest lady who originates from Lebanon. Her passion for good chocolate shines through as she hands out samples and insights. It's truly a gem! 

Plus, they make the best chocolate arrangements for all occasions. I had a custom order as gifts for the Bridal Shower! Even over the phone, they went beyond helpful and sent pictures to make sure it was exactly what we wanted. Thank you so much Nougat! 

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Tudor's Biscuit World

Locations all over WV

1506 East Washington Street
Charleston, WV 25305

tudorsbiscuits.com

The ultimate guilty pleasure... Tudor's Biscuit World is a chain that can be found all over West Virginia. Their focus is biscuit based sandwichs. Health junkies, don't even think about it! This chain is the reason nutritional information is not posted on restaurant menus- they were afraid it would deter customers. The biscuits are the highlight of this meal

Cali: The Sullivan Family Reunion

A few weeks ago, I had the esteemed privilege of attending the Sullivan family reunion in Cali. At first, Mike and I weren't planning on going. It was a bit short notice and pricey to fly. Reluctantly, he concluded it was best not to go. He left to visit his folks, saying he would tell them we couldn't go; he came back with unexpected news: they bought us tickets. California here we come!

There's no thank you card big enough for their kindness and hospitality! I could understand buying a ticket for Mike, but not for lil ol me. We weren't even engaged yet! Our flight left at 6 in the morning from VA and we landed in Cali (layover in Texas) around 11am. The Sullivans had arrived the day prior and were waiting to pick us up for the ride out to Lancaster. The drive out was amazing! It was nothing I'd ever seen before! Dry, mountain terrain and beautiful rock formations. We pulled over to stare at the Mormon rocks. The desert holds an alien mystique.

Our first stop was In-N-Out Burger, a Cali classic. This was my first time and I honestly don't see the big fuss. The prices are cheap and the menu is simple. It was a solid meal, I just was expecting something crazy from how many friends have exclaimed, "you've never had an In-N-Out burger?!" If you want a good ol fashioned burger, this is the place to go. Apparently there's a secret menu- you just need to know what to ask for.

We got to the hotel and relaxed for a spell; then it was off to grandma's to meet family and grab groceries.  His younger cousin, Mary, immediately took a shining to me (thank God). She's super sweet and loveable. Grandma was laid back and full of the sort of wisdom (and spunk) only time can provide. Dinner was at Hacienda Don Cuco. Based on the exterior, I had my reservations. Inside, however, was ornate and authentically decorated. Though the main dishes were mediocre (the veggies were very sketchy in my fajita)- their guacamole and chips appetizer caused an uproar at the table. It was sinfully yummy and you could feel the oil still warming the chips. That night, I didn't sleep in the hotel. I blacked out!

As luck would have it, we were only one hour away from LA- the current home of one of my best friends in whole wide world, Yen-Nei. We rented a car and rolled out! The mission: find black sesame bubble tea. The first stop that came up on the GPS took us to the dead end of a construction site. The second took us to an abandoned warehouse. Oh joy. 

Exasperated, we settled on getting lunch while we waited for Nei to get off of work. There are a TON of tempting restaurants along Sawtelle boulevard. We decided to check out Asahi, a japanese noodle joint. It was small and bustling, with a very active hostess running the shop. It's cash only so come prepared. The prices are reasonable too! As an appetizer, we got fried gyoza ($3.75) which is a kind of dumpling. They were very tasty and comforting. My meal was Shio Ramen ($6.95), a slightly salted broth that's not soy-sauce based, with pork and egg. This dish made me very happy! Good portions and well flavored. 

Mike got yakisoba with chicken ($8.75), which is essentially saucy fried noodles. He was not impressed and thought it was under seasoned. If it wasn't for the side of kimchi, he would have been bummed out completely. In combination it made for an excellent lunch. I think this place should keeps it's focus on the main part of its menu which is ramen.

As soon we finished lunch, Nei pounced on us! We jumped into the car and continued the epic quest of black sesame bubble tea. Yen-Ling, Nei's sister, directed us to a guarantee win called Tapioca Express. With LA traffic, a 10 minute drive turned into 40. Good grief.

Even though it wasn't on the menu, Nei marched up to the cashier and recited our list of demands. I got my black sesame bubble tea! It wasn't as good as the original placed I had it, but it was still pretty damn good. It's sweet and vaguely reminds me of peanut butter. Mike had watermelon milk tea and it was just okay. 

I got my sinful indulgence in, now it was mike's turn: shoes! He found this spot called Sportie online and we took off for another long drive in LA traffic. It gave us all time to catch up and have a few good laughs. There's something magical about Nei, she always puts a smile on my face. Seriously, just look at her awesome smile! It's contagious!

The graffiti'ed out parking lot was impressive however the overall area was strange. On one side of the street you saw luxury cars, on the others side homeless people sitting on a bench. There was no hard divide to the city and all walks of life strolled by.

Mike's thoughts on Sportie: too expensive and has some of the highest prices he's ever seen at a shoe store. It's a great selection but the store itself is not very well kept. It took a long time for him to even try on a pair of kicks. While in the store, he looked up the same Pro Keds online and found them cheaper on the Pro Keds website. Super lame.

While there was still light out, we decided to make a run for the coast! She took us to the Santa Monica pier to take in the beginning of the sunset. Nei, Asako, and I have been here before but now it was Mike's turn. I love the view going down the shore line and the festive atmosphere. 

It was crazy windy! Nature went from warm and pleasant, we're talking 70's and clear, to sweater weather. We didn't last too long out there- just enough time to eat some funnel cake, get harassed by a sea gull, and snap a few shots at the end of the pier.

Dinner was a venue that Nei frequents called Chego, a Korean fusion restaurant. It was BUMPING with the line peaking out the door. They had a very different set up with community seating and a "pack up your own food" section. There's minimal service. Basically, you order your food at the counter and you're on your own. Again, this spot was tiny but the decor was cool and dark. Mike and Nei got Chubby Pork Belly: kochujang-lacquered kurobuta, w/fried egg, pickled radishes, water spinach, Chinese broccoli, cotija, and peanut ($9). I was still feeling lunch and simply got some side items. Highly recommend this spot, though it's not vegetarian friendly and has a teensy parking lot.

We retired to Nei's apartment and chowed down. She wouldn't let us leave though until we had dessert at a local ice cream shop called Blockheads. I figured it would be another yogurt spot but no! It's gimmick is "shaved ice cream." It's hard to explain the texture... it really is snow-like and melts smoothly. It's very light and fun to eat. You think the portions are HUGE, but after a few spoonfuls you realize how quick it goes. Even around 9pm, the place was mad busy. We got green tea ice cream with red bean and boba. They have a specialty of home-made mochi but they were sold out when we went. 

It was time to retire! Tomorrow was the big family reunion!

The reunion was a blessed event. I got to see all sides of the Sullivan crew, experience grandma's amazing bbq, and relax in the backyard for hours. Everyone was sweet and easy to talk to. We basked in the sunshine and swapped stories the entire afternoon. I made monkey bread in the hotel room (don't even ask) and sampled everything on the table. It was so peacefulo.

Mad love and thanks to Mike's parents for letting me share such an amazing adventure!

Don Cuco
661-945-1048
1106 W Avenue
Lancaster, CA 

Asahi
310-479-2231
2027 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Sportie
323-852-8262
7454 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Chego
310-287-0337
3300 Overland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034

Blockheads
11311 Mississippi Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Hello Philly, PA!

On the spur of the moment, Mike and I decided to take a one night trip to Philadelphia. Neither of us have ever been there and it was only a 3 hour drive, like going to VA Beach. There's nothing like a new world to explore! We found it to be a crazy mash up of Richmond (for hipsters and art), Baltimore (for the dirty parts), and DC (for the diverse architecture).

The drive went smooth and we arrived at the hotel, in the heart of the city, pumped and ready to go. That's when the receptionist told us Kayak had messed up our reservation: we were booked for the NEXT weekend and there were no more rooms. (&#%)*#)$*#_$ Every other hotel in the city was crazy pricey. We set our sights over the bridge to NJ.

Oh boy.

Driving through Philly is a b*tch. There are a million random ramps and sporadic merges. If you don't know where you are going, take a Xanax before attempting this. Somehow we weaved our way through the city only to arrive at our $70 a night hotel in the middle of nothing NJ. It was really old. and barren. I'm pretty certain there were some prostitution deals going down.

As for fine dining, there was one major institution keeping the area alive: Cherry Hill Mall. I have never seen a mall so massive. The entire highway is dictated by this damn monolith to shopping as there is no break in the guard rail median. If you're going the wrong way, you'll be stuck for several miles. FUN! We settled on something "local".. California Pizza Kitchen.

At this point, all we could do was laugh and return to our luxury suite.

The morning started with a spring in our step and left over pizza for breakfast. We hit the ground running with absolutely no battle plan. Commence the nomad tip!

We parked next to China town, which had plenty of fresh produce and local vendors. It was pretty impressive and unexpected. It was a healthy size and had that "smell" you associate with ethnic markets- that's when you know it's REAL. This is NOT like China town in DC, these people mean business. I wanted to buy every green plant in site.

We had to find the famous LOVE sculpture located in "Love Park" to which we had a good chuckle. I'm sorry... but we were both under the impression that this sculpture was grandiose in size. It's not big. But it does generate one heck of a crowd. Mike tried to wiggle away, but it just wouldn't be right if we didn't take a picture in front of it.

There was the mandatory visit to the museum where Rocky was shot running up the steps. It's just as it sounds like, steps. There is a statue of Rocky and a Rocky impersonator to take pictures with. This statue is in front of the museum, which I couldn't find an explanation. It was an interesting mash up of native American images. There's so much history to the town, I should have read a book on way up or at least wikipedia.

After that, we commenced a hunt for a Philly coffee shop. We lost. All the ones that came up on the internet were not open. Dunkin Donuts- you win. Anybody know any good coffee shops in Philly?? 

We stumbled upon a local art show brought to you by the Philadelphia Art Alliance. It was all modern pieces, with expansive wall displays of ink plots and and books containing symbolic charms. There was a lot of tactical pieces. Inspiration is everywhere. Great job Philadelphia Art Alliance! Keep holding down the art scene.

Of course we wanted to keep it local, so you can imagine the delight when I saw Philly Cupcakes. Doesn't get better than that! The shop was cute and full of pink pink pink! The cupcakes are displayed in large old fashioned cabinets and they have a diverse selection. The cupcake was all right and I did pick up crazy cute cupcake liners that they design.

There was an amazing art store, Utrecht, where we were able to purchase some Montana graffiti cans and tips. Mike thought the only spot you could get these bad boys was New York! Hoooooorayyy!!! Summer is going to be colorful. 

On the main shopping strip, there were a ton boojie shops. The boy had his eye on a shoe spot: UBIQ. His thoughts: "Gorgeous interior. I liked it cuz it took itself, in terms of design very seriously. Up scale much like Gucci and LV stores. But it had that street feel cuz it was still sneakers and anyone who had a slight interest could walk in. Even though it looked pretentious it wasn't, cuz  the culture seems more accessible than a Gucci store. The selection was kinda wack tho. Major had a better selection shoes wise."

From there, the cashier recommended a Burmese restaurant called Rangoon back in the Chinatown district. Neither of us have ever tried Burmese so the idea piqued interest. The restaurant was laid out like your typical Chinese restaurant as was the menu. Our entries were simple and plain, I had fried rice with some shrimp paste in it and chicken. Maybe we just didn't order authentic? The Burmese wontons, however, stuffed with pork, drizzled with sweet coconut and sesame seeds are legit. DELICIOUS! Crisp and sweet.

To end a nutty, nomadic wandering trip, we met up with some acquaintances that break for a little session at Temple university. Much love to our gracious hosts Ookie and Alex. Plus, Sunny gave me a hat to replace the one that fell off my bag while scoping out the city. Let me tell you, these kids are awesome dancers and sweethearts! We were terrified of their slippery dance floor, but it was an honor to dance with 'em. Thanks Philly dance scene!

We will be back this summer for the food market!

Our Anniversary @ Eastern Shore

A year has gone by already? In the words of Frank Barone, holy crap! That's right, the boy and I have been officially together for over a year now. It may not sound like a long time, but  you don't find something so magical without a strong foundation of respect and friendship. It's a sweet story, in retrospect, and maybe one day I'll share. Maybe : ) Good things happen when you least suspect them.

To celebrate, we decided to take a mini-vacation. We're hoarding PTO for summer adventures! Our destination of choice: Eastern Shore, Maryland. Neither of us knew much about this area, and we still don't, but a co-worker retired there and fell in love with it. Plus, it is only a 2 hour drive from home. After work on Friday, we made our escape!

 

The drive was fairly smooth other than one tiny detail: the Bay Bridge. I had never heard of this bridge and we hit it when it was pitch black. The damn thing wouldn't end. I hate planes, they're a necessary evil for travel, and this was a similar uneasy feeling. You can't be brave unless you're scared of something. Out of my way bridge! (yah Mike totally drove on the way back haha!)

The hotel he selected was... ah-may-zinggggg!!! Technically speaking, it was a Hyatt resort. As we turned onto the long driveway, our jaws dropped. It was monstrous and gorgeous, with wide vistas of the water. There's a movie theater and Walmart off the main road, just outside the resort. He made sure the room had a beautiful view and we had a blast exploring the compound and shooting pool. It was the most peaceful sleep I've had in years.

The only con was the lack of restaurants outside the resort. 

Problem solved: I packed a little indoor dinner picnic. Nothing super fancy. I grabbed some sandwiches from Society Fair in Old Town Alexandria, a box of Oreos (his fav), and a side of veggies. I customized a label and slapped it on a standard Turkey Hill bottle of ice tea. For dessert, he suggested we make one of my favorite cakes in the whole wild world: German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan frosting. I made the cake; he made the frosting. Sweet Jesus help us all... I am a FIEND for this combination. The recipe was on the side of the chocolate box. Oh so good and adorable in a heart shaped pan. *drool*

The following day, we scoped out the local town of Easton for lunch. We were hell bent on waffles and waffles... we did NOT find. Again, the restaurant selection was very limited, and we settled on a  french-american spot named Brasserie Brightwall. He ordered the Brasserie burger with fries,($12.50) I ordered a croque monsieur ($9.75). They were both okay- the fries were his favorite part of the meal and I was sad because there was no jam served with my sandwich. The decor was a little eclectic and lacked flow but overall, the natural lighting paired with wooden tables and clean glass bottles made it charming.

We ended our visit with a cup of cafe at the Red Hen. They were playing a mix of indie music; the side room was obviously used for live music performances, always a plus. Seating was  rustic and comfy. We sat down and commenced the anniversary collaboration project. Each year, we're going to do a small piece to celebrate. His raw talent has left me in awe since the day we met back in 2007. I remember the first time seeing one of his drawings and thinking, "this... THIS came out of THAT man's head?!" Never ceases to amaze and inspire. 

Eastern Shore, we will be back! Thank you for existing and blessing me with a fantastic year Navi Bun Bun, plenty more to follow!