Tag Archives: cake

Dates with Legends Part 2

By Posted in Breakfast, DailyMusings, Food, Personal, Resturants Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , 19 Comments

 It seems like forever ago, but really this week is really flying by due to packing and finishing up loose ends.  Hopefully whoever has them is done with finals…or doing well.  Last weekend I went to hang out with Laura in Rochester.  I honestly had one of the greatest weekends I’ve had in a long time and I’m really glad that I did.

After our nice shakeout run in the AM (and barely avoiding the rain) we headed to one of our favorite restaurants.  I know I would be a regular here if I lived this close.  Jine’s restaurant is always pretty busy when we go (but we always go during brunch time after a run on weekends) but they do serve some of the best brunch. You know how I like my omelets since I can’t cook them.  The two times I’ve been to Jimes, I’ve gotten a Lox Omelet with pita bread.

omelettepita

Both times, it’s been exceptionally good.  I don’t have too much to say other than the food was excellent (and I highly recommend it) as well as the waitress who we had was so kind and really took an interest to us.  We were literally chatting for about 10 minutes.  Even when it was busy, she made time to chat and really take care of us.

We went to the Rochester Lilac Festival, a big festival that is…well centered around Lilacs.  They had crafters, venders, food, music and even a road race…but that is next weekend.  I was really eye balling the funnel cake and fried dough but knew it probably wouldn’t be the greatest idea before a race the next day.   I love me some fried fair food but I’ll have to wait until there are some events in VA I suppose.

highlandfallslauraandi

And also went to Highland Falls, a gorgeous view in Rochester.  Am I really still in the city here?

highlandfalls

After hanging out, gossiping, shopping at target and doing stuff for a while we decided to get ready for our date at TRATA.  The Restaurant at the Armory is a tapas style restaurant that you can get a bunch of small dishes (or just one large entrée for yourself) and share with each other.

The restaurant itself is three floors tall and had some of the coolest decors I’ve seen in any restaurant.

trata

We opted to first try the duck quesadilla which was extremely delicious.  I can’t even begin to tell you how good the quesadilla was and when we had it I was more than excited to try the steak salad next.  I could have filled up on a few of those alone really.

duckquisadillatrata

The steak salad was also really good but there isn’t really a bad way to make a steak salad I suppose and with goat cheese I was in love.  My only little issue was I probably could have eaten 3 times the amount that was given.

steaksalad

But that was okay because it gave me room for the world’s BEST Guinness cake.  The cake was so rich and delicious, and I ate the entire thing (then I was full LOL).

Caught in the act. I'm not even sure Laura knew I got her.

Caught in the act. I’m not even sure Laura knew I got her.

Would I recommend TRATA?  Absolutely, the atmosphere, the service and the food was amazing.  I would say you are probably going to spend a good amount of money (our meal together was around 70) but it’s certainly worth it and a nice treat.  Heck, I would personally just go there for dessert and a beer the cake was that good.  So Guinness cake and Guinness?

All in all, I had an amazing weekend and I can honestly say that I will absolutely miss Laura to death.  (Yes, I’m sappy admitting that on my blog).  The LOLZ is a sappster.

Questions for you:

Favorite beer?

Mine is Guinness…followed by heinakin.  I’m certainly a dark brewed person. 

Have you ever been to a fair or festival?

WIAW with the Parents

By Posted in Resturants Tagged , , , , , , , , , , 42 Comments

I never really intend for my blog to be have very many whiney posts but it is realistic updates  of what is going on in my life, whether it’s pancakes, running or life in general.  There haven’t been a lot of life in general posts because quite frankly I haven’t had a lot to report.  I’m boring…sue me.  I don’t have a lot of friends…sue me.   I don’t go out binge drinking with undergradates that I’m trying to teach them alternatives to that culture…sue me.  What am I going to recap each weekend…hanging out and eating popcorn while gossiping on a Friday night with my housemate?  I know it probably thrills you.  I can’t say it’s completely being busys fault but I can say that I haven’t really made the biggest effort to stay busy

I just quite frankly don’t care and I don’t plan to stay in the arctic tundra for my entire life.  I really love my job (and educating students…that’s a post in itself) but outside of that…I don’t know.   Long story short, I’m in a bit of a funk.

So yes, this WIAW with my parents has kind of turned into a bit of a life update which I’m fine with.  As long as I attach a photo of ice cream, I’ll get everyone to just comment on how good ice cream is right?  Moving on, I think part of the reason that I’ve had a hard time here is that the town itself is not runner friendly.

My dad: I don't want that specialty crap. I just want plain vanilla ice cream...I'll be bold and go with a cone.

My dad: I don’t want that specialty crap. I just want plain vanilla ice cream…I’ll be bold and go with a cone.

Not runner friendly meaning the terrain and packed snow make it impossible to run outside.  There aren’t many people that run…in Syracuse sure but that is 45 minutes away and if I plan to never eat again I guess I could make that drive everyday.  Plus it’s obviously just a touch to cold to be outdoors anyways…Running isn’t my whole life though and that’s fine.  I can mindlessly watch TV.

We also split Red Velvet Cake

We also split Red Velvet Cake

While I’ve made great friends, most of my friends aren’t here.  Though I’m not really sure where they are.  Who exactly am I considering my friends that aren’t here, my family and Tim?  I mean I guess both technically are.

Greek food is the key to my heart

Greek food is the key to my heart

For me personally, I find February to be an overall funky month.  Last year at this time I was just recovering from a broken arm.  We did have a warmer winter last year (compared to the winter 2 years ago when it was -30 quite a few times (good thing my hair froze multiple times to and from swim practice) This year it’s much more snowy and winter like but at least not that cold.   Some people might enjoy the winter I’m not one of them…I just find February a month to get through.  Though it’s the shortest month, it sure feels like the longest.

hotel coffee

hotel coffee

hotel waffle

hotel waffle

Here is some food because I did title it a WIAW post with my parents:

Cat fish.

Cat fish.

Finally, I’m taking requests for more main girl videos so feel free to comment here, email or tweet me ideas.

Question for you:

What month is the hardest for you to get through?

Do you have a handful of closer friends or a bunch of good friends? 

WIAW: On a Constant Travel

By Posted in Uncategorized Tagged , , , , , 38 Comments

I feel like half my posts the last month and a half have been about traveling.  I don’t always travel, but this last month I’ve been doing the big ole commute to and from work and home.  By commute, I mean 700 miles.  Sistas gotta eat somewhere along the way right?

Sushi and seaweed.

Sushi and seaweed.

An unfilling salad

An unfilling salad

Salmon at Perkins. I apparently discovered I like mustard considering that was what it was topped with

Salmon at Perkins. I apparently discovered I like mustard considering that was what it was topped with

Fondue

Fondue

Apple crumble. Actually I split this and mostly ate the whip cream.

Apple crumble. Actually I split this and mostly ate the whip cream.

Here are a few things I’ve been eating recently.  I don’t deny I’ve been eating out far too much (catching up with friends, my parents love eating out…blah blah blah.).  Oh and don’t forget about (PMB) Physical, mental and brags of the week tomorrow!  I should probably get on promoting that more.  As the typical Hollie mentality. 

pbm

Question for you:

  1. 1.       Favorite restaurant ever?
  2. 2.       Do you eat out more around the Holidays? 

79 Pages of Glory

By Posted in DailyMusings Tagged , , , , 11 Comments

Wow this week has legit flew by (thank goodness) I’ve been more busy then ever.  I cannot wait till summer to catch up on all of your blogs.  Though now that I think about it, my blog reader isn’t overflowing.  What can I say-reading about ya’ll’s lives destresses me.  Anyways-where have I been this week anyways?

I’ve been at my work station of course. ie…the kitchen table.

 

I had lots of things due:

Wednesday: 50 page paper and presenting the damn thing.  This paper (on anorexia) has honestly given me nothing but troubles because of the constructs and formatting.  Not because of the topic choice by any means, but because my teacher is an extremely hard grader.  When I say about half my class is retaking the class-I mean that. 

Sometimes I wear real girl clothes…just this once for presentations.

+10 page paper on nutrition for another class.

Thursday: A speech on skin cancer

Let me tell you what happened during my speech.  As I finished speaking, a classmate of mine, raised her hand and said “I don’t understand why you gave a speech on skin cancer as you clearly look like you have rolled out of tanning bed”

Excuse me?  I would first like to clarify I have never ONCE in my life been to a tanning bed.  Not. One. Single. Time.

My response (in the middle of class…yes it was silent…) “What I choose to do my assignments on is not any of your concern but your statement  was 100% false and for you to assume that I go to a tanning  bed.  Step back.”

You have to realize, I don’t ever talk in class and I certainly don’t snark around.  My teacher aftewords was shocked…

I don’t regret it and celebrated with going out to eat and eating this chocolate cake.  It was like a dense chunk of heaven.

Moving on:

Friday: A 12 page research paper as well as the last section of my proposal.

All together (and it didn’t seem like this…I just calculated it)  I had 79 pages of solid writing due since Wednesday.  Oh my stars.

Question for you:  Is your week before the semester ends normally more busy or less?

As a math major this was def our “dead week” and we had pretty much nothing to do.  Community health- SO MUCH! 

Visiting the Cake Boss and Religous Protesters

By Posted in Food, Resturants Tagged , , , , , , , , 24 Comments

For all of you guys that pinned how close Matt and I are you are right.  We are seriously besties (minus you-aDuBs).  I cried all the way through that process of him leaving.  I’m a big emotional sappy sap and I’m okay with it.  In most situations that is.

Oh and because I never actually explained what he was doing up there..The Merchant Marine Academy is not the US Service Academy where they go into the marines.  You can go into one of the branches of the military (most go Navy or Air Force) or you can go into the Merchant Marines which work a lot on ships and such.

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So after we were kicked off the campus (The campus closed at 1pm to all families) we headed down to New Jersey to see the TLC Cake Boss, Buddy at his bake shop.  Well not really because he obviously wouldn’t be there-but we wanted to check out the famous Carlos Bake Shop!

We waited about two hours in line (which apparently isn’t that bad).

While we were in line, a religious group came and started preaching at us and the other 500 people.  Apparently, it is quite common because we cannot leave (we are in line).  I’m all for freedom of speech, but they were yelling at us for a solid hour.  I don’t want to get into a religious debate on my blog, but I’m all for choice and believing in what you want but they were at the point where they were trying to shove their beliefs down people who were uninterested and not amused throats.

I’m so glad my younger brother Steven was able to come on the trip.  He wasn’t sure if he would be able too but it made the ride back more fun.  During this religious preaching, no one had gone up to get these mans fliers.  They had about 1 million and everyone had ignored them.   Since my family is full of smart asses, Steven (with my convincing)  went and got a flier and tried to have a convo with them!  They even stopped talking for about 2 minutes and everyone started cheering.

say facebooook (don't pretend people say "say cheese" anymore)...

But then about five minutes later, everyone started cheering again for another reason.   

Why are police attracted to my life?

Anywho-that gave us amusement because it isn’t something to get your panties in a bunch about and that made the line go by really quickly.  Some people were going a little psycho but I found it hysterical.  Then after our two hour wait we got to go into Buddy’s Bakery.  He wasn’t there of course, but it was still so crowded ha.

Just so you know-I didn’t take a photo of anything I didn’t sample.  All of these were the bomb.com and fueled me for some pretty decent runs.  That may or may not have been my dinner last night and tonight too.  I think we spent close to 100 dollars there.  BAHAHA  #lamesaucefatties

I loved all the tart cakes

These were the moms fav.

You can never go wrong with red velvet. EVER.

But these cupcakes are adorbs and were also my dinner last night.

If we had come earlier and were around the area. My 21st birthday cake would have come from here.

My favorite were the glazed fruit tart cakes with cake batter icing underneath the fruit.

So in short. I’m not too sure why I have complained about my last few runs because this is all I have been eating. I was going to post a food blog about my NYC eats…but uh here ya go. ;)
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Questions for you:

  1. 1.       Have you ever seen TLC’s Cake Boss?
  2. 2.       Have you ever had an experience with protests  and the police getting involved?  (That is a pretty bizarre question I guess).