♥ Hello, 2014 - West Coast Livin'

 Manifest Destiny.

I hear this all the time. And believe in it.

My Facebook and Instagram pages are lined with contributors who share beautiful quotes of living life fully, self forgiveness, personal expansion and fulfillment. I follow and fill my feeds with inspirational people.

This year was my year to put this theory into action. It was on my 25th birthday that I had my first and most epic realization of manifesting my own destiny. It was like an epiphany- I realized I was sitting on my heels, and that the life I wanted, the dreams I created and goals I had set, were only going to be achieved by my own ambition and action. And that action had to start ASAP.

2013 has taught me an incredible amount.

I traveled to Spain to visit my sister and spent an adventurous, two weeks exploring the south of Spain. I made a HUGE decision to leave my hometown of Austin and move to San Francisco.  A big career change from the Market Research industry into Advertising Sales, of which I have surprised myself by my success and happiness at my new job. I found a beautiful love and also got my heart broken. I met new friends who have become rocks in my life to ground me. And I was honored to be my long time best friend's Maid of Honor in her wedding and planned her epic Bachelorette vacation in South Beach, Miami for 10 girls.

Every single person and experience has come into my life for a purpose and has impacted me in a way that I will never forget. These moments will shape me into the stronger and more well rounded human I want and strive to become.

After all of this generous soul searching, life changing decisions, gains and losses, personal growth, goal accomplishments, and career changes, I have returned to Tastytown with fire in my fingertips. I am entering a new chapter of my life, and therefore closing an old chapter. The purpose of the blog is to open a window into my life's passionate explorations and hopefully to enlighten whoever reads my blog with something new to explore.

Here's a quick recap of photos from these big events from 2013:

Looking forward to filling y'all in on how my 2013 went and what's in store for 2014!

Happy New Year!!!!

♥ Ciao,

Mel

♥ La Bicyclette: Carmel, California

I'm dreaming of travel today. I have booked my flight to Spain and I will be setting sail mid-March. The anticipation has me thinking of a memorable trip I took last summer to Northern California-- particularly, the magical town of Carmel. While the memory is bittersweet for me for certain reasons, the experience is one I still wanted to share.

This little town is unlike any other place you can possibly imagine and I highly encourage everyone to visit. Lined with cozy cottages, pristine foliage and gardens filled with blooming flowers and succulents, you can't help but feel content with life as you look around and breathe in the majestic Pacific Ocean air.

I'm going back to a particular brunch we shared one morning at La Bicyclette, in celebration of the weekend festivities. This quaint corner restaurant was adorable and cozy, decorated as if we were in a tiny rustic, French cafe. The sun was shinning through the large windows and the room was filled with the aroma of coffee and bacon. Everyone enjoyed something different from the brunch menu, and subsequently tried them all. The fresh micro greens and heirloom tomatoes were flavorful and spicy underneath perfectly poached eggs. The French toast was thick and custard-like; sweet and savory when covered in real maple syrup and fresh berries.

Just as it was recommended to me, I am recommending it you! If you are ever in Carmel, you MUST enjoy a meal at La Bicyclette. You won’t be disappointed!

♥ Enjoy Friends!

Mel

♥ Foreign and Domestic Review

Foreign & Domestic

306 East 53rd Street  Austin, TX 78751

(512) 459-1010 

People...people! Only 20 days till Christmas!! {Eee!}

Annnndd... it was 80 degrees in Austin...again. 

Sorry Austin friends, not much winter weather wonderland going on here. But if you are looking for a cozy, fall meal full of warm spices and seasonal veggies to get you in the festive spirit, look no further than

 Foreign and Domestic.

Let me just start off by telling you about the Fall Squash Curry because it was absolutely AMAZING! It began with a carved out, sweet acorn squash filled with an array of seasonal squash and veggies that are simmered in sweet spices to soft, aromatic perfection. Then, if you can imagine a gastronomy miracle, the dish is covered in coconut milk based, curry foam. Yes, foam. This dish was beautiful and delectable. The foam slowly began to melt and coated the veggies in a rich sauce. Each bite was absolutely heavenly. You have to hurry over to Foreign and Domestic because this is a seasonal dish and it won't be around for long.

Phew! Had to get that one off my tongue, first and foremost. Speaking of tongue, I'm working backwards to tell you about the fantastic appetizers. The pan-fried beef tongue served with horseradish yogurt and fresh watercress was luscious and flavorful, with a slightly crispy outside and tender center. It was my first time to ever try beef tongue and it was beyond expectation; each bite was savory.

Trust me, you wont be the only one to be pleasantly surprised with your first taste of beef tongue because Foreign and Domestic won Best Beef Tongue Dish by the Austin Chronicle this year.

{along with many other amazing awards}. We also ordered the Fall Salad with crispy chicken skin. The tangy vinaigrette allowed for a break between our heavier dishes.

The other entree we ordered was the Seafood Stew which was akin to a bouillabaisse, including scallops, mussels and clams. I'll be honest and say I'm being a seafood snob, since I almost always order scallops wherever I go. The broth was too light and it seemed to be lacking the same type of body and flavor that the other dishes mastered. In my opinion, it was the bits of lardons that were the saving grace for this dish, yet it also seemed to steal the leading role that the seafood so deserved.

That being said...

we had the absolute best service and server, who immediately turned our frown upside down by bringing us an extra dessert! {like we needed it!}
But not just any desserts--Brown Butter Blondie Sundae layered in a big bowl of butterscotch sauce and Toffee Chip Ice Cream, topped with dried cherries.
{ Holy Ice-Cream-Sea-Sweet-Tooth-Heaven-Candyland-Dreams- it does not stop there. }
We also got to sink our teeth into a Lemon Tart made with orange marmalade, smothered in caramel cream and topped with grapefruit flavored shaved ice. I'm talking PURE dessert genius, extraordinaire. I think I'll be stopping by again just for dessert.

Foreign and Domestic is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin and if you have any brains in your noggin' you will make your way to this restaurant and give it {all} a taste.

♥ Happy Tasting!

Mel

♥ drink.well :: hip, local, Hyde Park pub

drink.well

207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX

(512) 614-6683

Located off of I-35, on 53rd and Airport, drink.well is the prototype of North Austin hip bars. With it's modern interior, and accent wall designed with funky graffiti, you are made to feel as if you just discovered a slick local bar in the East Village of Manhattan, yet it seamlessly blends with the rest of the new development in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

The drink menu is extensive and elegant. A tad pricey but the few extra dollars per drink are worth the time the bartenders take to make sure your drink is garnished properly.

When we pit stopped at drink.well, we decided to try several cocktails, particularly the 'Royale with Ease' made with Tenneyson Absinthe, house-made hibiscus cordial and fresh grapefruit juice. The fresh mint and grapefruit garnishes are aromatic and prepare the palate for a quenching sip of the cocktail. A number of our friends are the creators/backers of Tennyson Absinthe and we are always excited to see it on local menus and to support our fellow entrepreneurs.

We also found it suiting to order several things off the menu, in true Tastytown fashion.

100% Kobe beef burgers - Check!

We were able to add pulled pork and extra cheddar cheese to our burger which gave it an amazingly flavorful flare. Each and every bite was juicy and decadent!

We also ordered the Chicken Sausage and Waffles with honey chili syrup, which is a specialty dish and isn't always on the menu. But why? I ask. It is just SO good! The combination of sweet and spicy syrup and the perfectly sized sausage patties allow you to make the best mouth-watering bite.

I'd say drink.well's only major downfall is that there is very, very limited seating. We found ourselves feeling slightly anxious when a group set eyes on our table we had been waiting so long for. But the wait was well worth it and once you sit down, you will bask in its exclusivity. I highly recommend swinging by this new jaunt. Or maybe even walking there if you live in the area. It's open till 11pm on weeknights and 12pm on weekends.

♥ Enjoy!

Mel

♥ A Typical Spanish Breakfast

Good Afternoon Tasters!

 

I hope you enjoy another guest blog post by my sister, Kim, who is living in Madrid, Spain. She has been gushing about the dining differences between the US and Spain. Breakfast, being something that stood out most! Today she is sharing her sweet and savory Spanish Breakfast experiences in Madrid:

 

Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day. I honestly don't think I can survive the day without it.

 

Back home, I could easily eat everything on the menu-- in one sitting-- and still be hungry for more. Yes, I know it seems like a lot, but I believe that everything you eat for breakfast burns off by the end of the day. Right?! Or maybe that’s just my little excuse I like to gorge myself J.

 

Since moving to Spain, I have had to make some simpler (and sometimes sweeter) adjustments to my normal breakfast feast.

 

A typical Spanish breakfast usually consists of sweet treats, coffee and some fruit. It is not unusual for someone to have churros and chocolate for breakfast or even a Sabao, which is a type of cake-- similar to a pound cake soaked in butter (Yikes!), which I have tried to keep my distance from. The kids love those things. Sometimes chocolate milk and biscuits (aka cookies) is an option too. As a fan of the more savory fair, I usually don’t care for super sweet things in the morning; I picture myself with lots of energy and then a sudden crash in the afternoon.

 

Just when I thought I was doomed to a sugar rush and crash for the next ten months, a savory (and healthier) option was served on the breakfast table one particular morning. I thanked the breakfast gods!

 

This particular morning I was introduced to something quite different, but delicious nonetheless. A tomato purée made with tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper, and sometimes garlic atop crispy toast; so simple, unique and so delicious. On a couple slices of toast, add a few squirts (yes squirts, putting olive oil in a pump bottle gives you the perfect amount of olive oil with each pump) of high quality olive oil first, then spread chilled tomato purée and you have yourself a delicious and healthy Spanish breakfast. This has become my favorite breakfast; and I cant seem to get tired of it!

 

 

 

Putting my healthy and reasonable side away for a minute, lets address the fact that I cannot ignore my sweet tooth as the rest of the day goes on. With as much walking as I do in the city on a typical day, I don’t feel as guilty stopping into a nearby bakery for a decadent snack. Mallorca, a well-known bakery here, is full of sweet culinary delights. I am especially familiar with their croissants because the children’s grandpa brings over these warm, freshly baked croissants every Saturday morning for breakfast. So, when I stopped by for a snack I decided to try the chocolate ones. Not only were the buttery, edges dipped in chocolate but it was also filled with chocolate ganache on the inside. 

 

 

 

There’s nothing like a good balance of sweet and savory throughout the day.

Ciao <3

 

♥ Tastytown tries 'una barbacoa en Madrid'

As some of you may know, my sister, Kimberly, recently moved to Madrid, Spain to not only work as an Au Pair but also to immerse herself in the Spanish language to better prepare herself for teaching. She works for her room and board and earns supplemental income by taking care of two children. Although I miss my best friend being so close and being able to see her regularly, we keep in touch via our many online medias and iPhone apps (if you have a friend or family member abroad, you should really download WhatsApp-- it allows you to text for free!). We are constantly texting/emailing/skyping about the amazing cultural differences in Spain, especially within the culinary world and my mouth is almost always watering. So we decided to join forces and take Tastytown to Madrid! Ole! Starting with her first guest blog post today!

Look out for many many more updates on her travels and foodie experiences in Spain.

Enjoy!

 

***

It’s been almost two weeks since I moved to Madrid, Spain and I am happy to say that I’m beginning to feel like part of the family. Although I do not work on the weekends, my host mother always makes the effort to invite me to any activity or event that they will be attending. So when she mentioned a “family barbecue”, I could not turn down the offer (being the true Texan that I am). 

As most of you know, Texas BBQ’s usually consist of finger-licking ribs, juicy brisket, potato salad and local Texas beer, as well as wet wipes-- a sheer sign of good times and great food. As I prepared myself for a night where I could really feel at home again, I put on a cool and comfortable cotton dress with a little breathing room. I was a bit bummed because I didn't even have my cowboy boots to show my true Texas nature, but that wasn't going to stop me, l could already smell the reminiscent smokiness in the air!   

When I walked into my host mother’s parents house, I immediately noticed a colorfully decorated table with bright, crisp linens. Alongside the fine china and glassware were at least 10 different bottles of wine opened and breathing to prepare for the night ahead.

 This was not the kind of BBQ I was used to but I was in full support of its amazing potential for the evening. I closed my eyes and tried to picture in my head what a classy BBQ would look like and then opened my eyes; this was it!
 

 Before I knew it, the first course was beginning and plates of sliced artisan cheeses, Spanish ham (even better than prosciutto, if you can imagine), shrimp, prawns and crabs came pouring out of the kitchen. 

I was in heaven...

Until out of the blue, lightening and thunder struck and it started to rain! I couldn’t believe it; was I in Texas? This was so typical of Texas weather. The day you want to have a BBQ it rains! Everyone ran to bring all the plates under the patio and of course the 3 liter bottle of wine that was casually popped open. Without hesitation, everyone filled up their wine glasses and gathered around the patio to begin the feast, rain or shine.
 

Soon after, the meat was ready. Huge pieces of beef were brought off the BBQ, I wondered how it would ever compare to what I was used to back home, but I was extremely satisfied. Juicy steaks and sausages were passed around and quickly disappeared.

 

My stomach was at full capacity, but one more glass of wine did not hurt! It may not have been a ‘Texan BBQ’ but it was 'una barbacoa en Madrid’ and it was wonderful! 

 

Tastytown... welcome to Madrid! More to come!

♥ Ciao!

Kim