tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134439575744047042024-03-13T04:23:00.053-04:00Life in the Food Laneby the Urbane EpicureanThe Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-16042233336786080542011-07-20T16:26:00.001-04:002011-07-20T16:30:12.272-04:00THE LOST POSTS: The Pursuit of HappynessDo you remember that first bite of your mother's PBJ? The creamy (or in my case, crunchy) nuttiness of the peanut butter seemed to blend seamlessly with the fruity, sugary jelly. Toss in a glass of milk and everything seemed just...perfect. And each time you had it, again and again, there was just something undeniably perfect about the coupling. Every part of the sandwich just got each other The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-73577804062005550572011-07-18T10:26:00.001-04:002011-07-18T10:32:46.710-04:00THE LOST POSTS: Like Mama Used to MakeDo you remember that first bite of your mother's PBJ? The creamy (or in my case, crunchy) nuttiness of the peanut butter seemed to blend seamlessly with the fruity, sugary jelly. Toss in a glass of milk and everything seemed just...perfect. And each time you had it, again and again, there was just something undeniably perfect about the coupling. Every part of the sandwich just got each other The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-47335791182751513182011-07-13T12:58:00.001-04:002011-07-13T13:00:23.128-04:00THE LOST POSTS: UntitledFor those of you who know me, you might have suspicions I am somewhat of a chauvinist. That I believe a woman's place is in the kitchen, and at home performing the duties of Chief Domestic Officer. However, while I am a traditionalist at heart, I am open to a more modern approach to home life. I never ask someone to perform a task I myself would not do. I cook like a champ, I keep a spotless The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-34480803223997297492011-07-11T16:49:00.004-04:002011-07-11T17:03:50.097-04:00Farewell Food Tour & Picnic: MapFriends, Fans and Foodophiles,Here is the plan for the farewell food tour. As a reminder, the food tour is SATURDAY, JULY 23RD starting at 2pm. We will MEET AT COFFEE SHOP AT UNION SQUARE (throwback to 2005!) for a drink, then head to Brooklyn to start the food tour. Please bring a PICNIC BLANKET or some suitable substitute, as we will be ending in the park, hopefully with several bottles of The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-9029415030634149462011-07-11T13:47:00.007-04:002011-07-11T14:01:15.152-04:00THE LOST POSTS: Food and Culture SurveyIn the Spring of 2009, I asked several of my friends to answer surveys about their relationship with food. I don't remember the purpose - was probably going to write some deep post about how food and food traditions supersede cultural walls and end up very similar, but now I will just settle for the intellectual and comedic satisfaction.Enjoy the below survey responses, all unedited!- THE The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-77355943532683697592011-07-11T13:22:00.005-04:002011-07-11T13:42:00.938-04:00Escaped from Under My Rock. Back Again for the LAST Time...I know it's been a long time since I've written anything on here. It's a plum shame. Between triathlons, recovering from triathlons, and traveling here there and everywhere in between, I lost my focus on this blog. And now, as fate may have it, I am facing my final days in the city that inspired me to even begin this journey.But fear not my friends! As we approach the last days of my NYC The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-63540762426488102592011-06-20T11:50:00.002-04:002011-06-20T11:51:28.983-04:00Farewell Food Tour - SAVE THE DATE 7/23/11Friends, Fans and Foodophiles,As some of you may know, my time in the Big Apple is winding down, and I will be soon moving out of the city. Given so many of you have been instrumental to my time in NYC, I was hoping to host one last food tour to say a proper goodbye to the city that has raised me for 5 years. Please mark your calendars for JULY 23, 2011 - details will come soon, but the usual The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-39867201054907394772010-06-08T19:48:00.002-04:002010-06-08T19:52:33.798-04:00Do Chef's Get Writer's Block?If they do, does the restaurant close? What causes a chef to get this writer's block? What would you even call it?Writer's block is fundamentally a lack of creativity in the moment. This is usually due to an inexplicable lack of inspiration or motivation. You aren't aware of it consciously yet, but there is something that just isn’t there anymore. The spark plug that would ignite the engine blockThe Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-52187161316501493342010-05-21T15:28:00.002-04:002010-05-21T15:34:16.325-04:00Dare the BearTomorrow, I compete in my first real triathlon, Black Bear in Lehighton, PA, along side one of my best friends and in front of our closests supporters.650m Swim11 mile Bike3.1 mile RunMy meals this week have consisted of lots of fruit, whole grain breads, healthy fats like avocados, and lean meats or fish. Nothing fried or processed. After the race, Im eating an entire pound of brisket!!!!I The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-55961637057463216322010-05-05T11:05:00.005-04:002010-05-05T11:14:18.299-04:00Cinco De Mayo (and the Triathlete's Burden)Happy Cinco de Mayo guys! Here's to those French being good for memorable wine easy defeats in battle.I only wish I could enjoy this day more. My first triathlon is on May 22nd (http://www.cgiracing.com/2009Events/BlackBearTri.aspx), so for the month of may I am totally off the sauce, to ensure peak performance. ARRRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!There's always next year. Fare the well my latin friends... The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-88024759785725337292010-04-09T09:30:00.003-04:002010-04-09T09:39:28.037-04:00Simply SmarterDo you remember in the late 90’s / early 2000’s when Chevron really started pushing Techron? Their entire pitch was based on the premise that their fuel was the best to put in your car. It has technology to help your car run longer. Techron could help clean your engine parts. It even kept the new car smell longer (ok, maybe not that). The point is that Chevron started a movement focused on how The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-6837062385862885782010-03-25T18:05:00.001-04:002010-03-26T07:41:09.865-04:00GUEST POST: I Was Just Thinking….I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the enormous amount of press and attention that has been given to the “predicament” that African American women face. The predicament, as you might have already guessed, is the high percentage of unmarried African American women due to the apparent dearth of suitable African American males women have to choose from as mates. This topic has really taken on a lifeThe Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-11777819116699550952010-03-25T18:01:00.002-04:002010-03-25T18:04:41.341-04:00The Triathlete's DilemmaIt’s clearly been a while since we last spoke, and that is entirely my fault. For the last 2 months I have been focusing all my energy on a new goal - becoming an endurance athlete, specifically a triathlete. The combination of distance swimming, biking and running have proven to be one of the most awe inspiring and respect demanding events of my life. I've never been more challenged or fulfilledThe Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-42707877660915203372010-02-10T12:10:00.005-05:002010-02-12T14:11:07.975-05:00Nature's Alternatives to ViagraGot to love the NY Times...<?xml:namespace prefix = o />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/dining/10erotic.html?8dpcAnd let's not forget posts of long ago...http://discovertaste.blogspot.com/2008/05/mclovin.htmlHope you have a good Valentine's Day. Love hard every day!- The UE<!--EndFragment-->The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-82714823219196007002010-02-09T17:05:00.005-05:002010-02-12T14:15:25.995-05:00The Morning After...The below is an email from a close female friend of mine. This might have been the greatest email I have ever received.~*~*~*So I was out in BK for Superbowl. Got completely obliterated and while the good news is, the only meat that ended up in my mouth was of the bovine type -- I ended up having a culinary threesome with a couple of cheeseburgers. I think I ate them in the space of 10 minutes.I The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-8388303774276717052010-02-03T10:22:00.004-05:002010-02-06T16:27:19.252-05:00Australia - Better Late than NeverAustralia was a whirlwind of experiences, sounds, sights and tastes. From the all-too-familiar urban landscapes of Sydney to the sprawling red landscape of Melboune, I spent 12 days travelling in and around the urban areas of southeast Australia trying to understand just what is Australia? Why do I have preconceived notions about its history as a convict repository? Why do I think that The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-28843578574992566192009-12-25T11:48:00.004-05:002009-12-25T11:58:08.931-05:00Merry Christmas and Bon Voyage!Friends, Fans & Foodophiles,Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all! During this time of joy and reflection, I hope you find yourselves surrounded by loved ones and the spirit of giving.As of 8pm PST tonight, I will be embarking on a journey across the world to visit Australia, home of hit crocodile based caricatures, famous Hollywood actors, and the "barbie". Along with my two travel The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-63717367366073741412009-12-04T13:04:00.003-05:002009-12-04T13:15:57.313-05:00Social DrinkingDon't you just love when you start out the night with good friends a a couple of social drinks, and you wake up the next morning with great stories and mood to match?My night started with sake, and in the traditional style, the cups never emptied and the bottle stayed full.It's been happening for centuries. Why fight it? Thank you Japan.How Should You Serve Sake?Although sake has traditionally The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-60151689690276318302009-11-20T12:10:00.002-05:002009-11-20T12:18:07.790-05:00The Perfect PairProbably one of the most expensive meals I have ever had was my recent trip to Momofuku Ko here in Manhattan. I had been blessed with an offer to swipe someone’s dinner reservation (which is not easy to obtain in the slightest). The excitement built steadily as the day approached. I had heard wondrous, legendary tales of how good the food was at this restaurant, and was eager to see if the bar The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-22570046929113518642009-11-13T20:46:00.004-05:002009-11-24T15:28:51.273-05:00Onions and Demonson⋅ion [uhn-yuh n]1. a plant, Allium cepa, of the amaryllis family, having an edible, succulent, pungent bulb2. The bulb of the onion plant3. Former kryptonite to The UEI used to hate onions. Hate them. HATE THEM. Onions were the scourge of my world. I can’t even begin to tell you how deeply I despised those wretched bulbs for the disgusting, awful, sour vegetables that they are.But as stated in The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-73342491654017949402009-11-06T13:26:00.001-05:002009-11-06T13:34:51.524-05:00The Lingering Taste…I know I’m not the only one who gets cravings for indulgent meals from the past. You hear about it every day – people at work suddenly get the itch for a juicy, soft cheeseburger, those gooey chocolate chip cookies they just couldn’t put down, or the ever amorous chocolate covered strawberries. Why is it that it’s always the cookies or all the other things so bad for you linger in your minds? The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-82336995133810858412009-10-20T09:25:00.003-04:002009-10-20T09:30:01.317-04:00Drop the Fork and Step Away from the Table!!!My demon for the week has been my inability to put my fork down. I know when I've eaten more than my fill. All the studies and science I have read over the years has given me the right perspective on portion control, the calories in any food, and even tips on tricks on how to help yourself stop eating when you know you should be full but your body hasn't recognized it. But can you ever just eat 2The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-17995475603305495002009-10-15T21:05:00.004-04:002009-10-15T21:10:51.282-04:00Musings on a Cold, Late NightThings From Home I am Currently Missing: - Good nachos- Brisket without having to pay an arm and a leg- The smell of fresh cut grass- Short pants- Smiling faces to share all this good food with- The familyEvents I'd Like to Attend but Can't Find Time: - Spirits classes at Astor Center- The free broadway shows going on in NY right now- A cardio class at my gymWhat Get's Me Through the Day: - An The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-43961304451986418412009-09-30T08:50:00.000-04:002011-07-19T08:51:03.009-04:00Photos from E Village Food Tourhttp://photobucket.com/lifeinthefoodlane The account info is user: theUE pswd: foodie1Enjoy!The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3613443957574404704.post-47696618773264429322009-09-18T07:47:00.013-04:002009-09-24T18:51:59.945-04:00Urbane Adventures - East Village (The UE's BDay Celebration)Friends, Fans and Foodophiles,It is true, I have grown another year older. In light of my newfound maturity, I will be foregoing the typical club party in deference to something more in line with my tastes...Life in the Food Lane presents the next installment of its beloved Urbane Adventure series that will tour some of my favorite eats in what is quickly becoming my favorite neighborhood in the The Urbane Epicureanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17081936372020528707noreply@blogger.com2