Barcelona & Paris, Anyone??? Why YES!! Two Please! :)

So...It's OFFICIAL!! 

Chad and I have officially BOOKED our European getaway for this Fall and I couldn't be more FREAKIN' EXCITED!!  I know you're jealous, I can tell.  ;)  It's been ten years, (holy geez'us, I'm OLD) since my last rendevous with the European folks over there (Texas A&M Study Abroad 2000-'01, WHOOP!) ... so I thought it was about (DAMN) time I make my way over there again... This time with Chad in tow.  You know, just to check out how the country has been gettin' along without me.  ;) 

Itinerary so far: 
DFW to Barcelona - leaving Saturday, Sept. 24th, arriving Sunday the 25th. 
Meeting up with PART of the original Barcelona crew (Lola, wish you could be joining us friend...but no worries, we'll have a sangria or two in your honor ;)  to reminisce about olden times and see how much we can remember of our past home.  It's been so long but it still feels like MY city... I'll be curious to see how much of it I REALLY and truely remember.  (Eeeeeeekkkk... kinda nervous... NO PRESSURE!)  After a few days of debauchery... (As much debauchery as eight, 30 yr olds can get into while in a foreign country, feeling the early onset of old age.  ;) we plan on trekking our way to Paris.  The HOW and exactly WHEN we leave and get there is still kinda fuzzy (for now) but we still have a good six months to figure it all out.  Let the RESEARCHING begin!!

Unedited Photos taken out of the spires of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, 2001

Communications Tower - Barcelona, 2001

View out the apartment I shared with Lola Cat :)

97-99 Carrer de Marti, Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona to Paris (pronounced PEAR-EEEE ;)  - Sept. 28th, arriving Friday the 30th.   

Again, how we get there is still up in the air.. we are thinking about "training it" (it's a technical term of course) just to see the country side and such ...but we still aren't sure where we'll stop on the way.  All we know is that we NEED to get to Paris by the 30th...no ifs, ands or buts about it!  We HAD a fleeting thought of actually renting a car and just making an adventure out of it... but that idea was quickly SQUASHED when we did a little research on multi-country rental car prices.  HOLY CRAP!!  Over a thousand.. yes, you read that right...ONE THOUSAND dollars for like, A DAY?!  Seriously?!  Seems like those Europeans don't really like us US folks running around their countries all willy nilly and such... so I guess I can understand...just wish they could give these adventure seekers a bit of a break!  Lol.  Oh well.. we'll figure it out soon enough.  :)

I can't claim this picture.. but we DO have a similar HUGE canvas Eiffel Tower up at our house now...

Inspiration for this trip perhaps??  hmmmm... ;)

Again... until we see the REAL thing.. internet photos will have to do. 

Paris to DFW - Oct. 3rd :( :( :( :(  (Adventure over... wa wa waaaaaaaaaa.....) 

Stay tuned for the running list of places we absolutely NEED to visit while on our little Spanish/Parisian getaway.  We'll be taking suggestions from now til then if anyone would like to chime in.  Here's your sign.  :)

Savor Dallas 2011

There's a huge part of me that feels guilty for not having taken very many pictures of Savor Dallas this year (a grand total of ONE picture with my iPhone).  Being named the (amateur) photographer in the family..with Chad taking his own pictures when given the chance, I'm usually set and determined to capture the events in our life.  This evening was complete and utter chaos though and I was lucky to get a chance to even catch my breath!  In the years since I'd helped Chad at this event, I..slash that... WE had never seen soooooooo many people attend. 

60-plus of North Texas’ leading chefs, along with tastings of more than 400 of the world’s best wines, beers and spirits were present for the nearly 3,500 attendees this year at the 7th annual Savor Dallas.  Held at the Sheraton Hotel downtown, Savor Dallas included chef dinners and seminars, ending the two day wine and food fest with what they called an International Grand Tasting. 

Chad, The Moth Sous Chef - Suki, her friend Sylvana and I arrived at the Sheraton at a little past 5pm to begin our table set up.  Sandwiched between Great Brewers, we beautified our table and assessed the other restaurants setting up before bracing for impact.  In one full swoop, the crowd came....and never, ever, EVER stopped!  Little did we know or realize that nearly two a half hours later, we'd be out of food! 

Over 2,000 pieces of Pork Rillette on Johnny Cakes, garnished with pickled carrots and cilantro were passed... and by the time everything was said and done, my feet were a HOT MESS! 

It was a great evening though...can't wait for next year!

Fox - Good Day; Five Spiced Pork Belly

For those in the Dallas area and who happened to have been on Spring Break last week, you might've had the chance to see the hubs making another Fox-Good Day appearance.  Already a seasoned pro at these things (this is his fourth TV cooking demo I believe), Chad rocked it.  :)  Calm voice, fluid conversation, informative, you name it, he knew it.  Fortunately for me, (being at work at 8:45 when he came on Tuesday morning), I was able to see the live version online...and guess what??!!  YOU CAN TOO! Well not so "Live" anymore..but you get the idea. Enjoy!


 

Five-Spiced Braised Pork: MyFoxDFW.com

Best of Big D - Best Chef in Dallas Nomination :)

For the next two weeks (now til March 13th really) the voting public will have the chance to vote for the Best of Big D.. Best desserts, Best Patio, Best Margarita, Best Ice Cream Shop, etc....This year, for the very first time, Chef Chad Kelley, my super talented, amazingly creative, and ever FABULOUS husband is in the running for the BEST CHEF in DALLAS!  What an incredible honor  :) He's up against some pretty stiff competition (Nick Badovinus of Neighborhood Services, Scott Romano of Charlie Palmer, yada, yada yada) so I'm proud of my husband for being up against some of the best of the best.. cause even if he doesn't win, they thought he was worthy enough to be a part of the competition. :)

Here's your chance to help Chad secure a win.  Even if you're not from Dallas, please vote.  It's easy and it only takes a few minutes to complete the survey (you can just scroll through the items you don't know if you're not actually FROM Dallas but be on the look out for:

Best Patio - Meddlesome Moth (page 1, Line #4)
Best Chef in Dallas - Chef Chad Kelley, Meddlesome Moth (page 3, Line #14)
Best Dessert- Homemade Chess Pie, Meddlesome Moth (Line #31) 


Vote HERE,  Best of Big D, 2011 up to once an HOUR until March 13th!


Thanks again for your continued love and support...and GO CHAD!!
____________________________________________

Here's what the survey will look like when you follow the link!

Sierra Nevada Beer Dinner - The Meddlesome Moth

For the last month or so, I've heard bits and pieces about this particular beer dinner.  Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, would be making a very special and RARE appearance as guest speaker at the Moth this evening, and it apparently had all the "Beer Knurds" giddy with anticipation.

Located in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the most popular craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Its Pale Ale is world renowned, and the brewery produces almost 700,000 barrels of beer per year. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the United States, behind the Boston Beer Company's Samuel Adams Boston Lager. (info taken from my good friend Wiki ;)

As the day approached, you could almost feel the level of anxiety and nervous energy rise in our house, as Chad focused on the task at hand.  Eager to please, he planned, tested and fine tuned an awesome and, as always, very tasty menu that was a hit amongst the crowd.  It was a great night...the room buzzed and bellies filled with tasty beer pairings that left the guests wanting more... And I of course, did my best to capture it all. 

As guests started to filter from the bar to their seats, the kitchen began to make final preparations to the first course. 

Preparing the nearly 120 first course salads. 

A shiny sea of sparkling glasses..

Keith Schlabs, and resident Beer Knurd guru, giving his introductions

Mr. Ken Grossman, addressing the crowd

First Course:  Charlie, Fred, and Ken’s Bock, paired with Arugula salad with mango, crispy shallots, and red chile vinaigarette

 

Round Two

I love the way Chad seems to glow in this picture... :)

Second course: Grand Cru, Alaskan Black Cod, brown-butter cauliflower with basil, almond, and orange

Third course: Fritz & Ken’s Ale, Broken Arrow Ranch Antelope, Brazos Valley Pecan cheddar mac ‘n cheese.

Fourth course: Jack & Ken’s Ale, Bacon & Eggs with maple glazed Neuske’s slab bacon, sunny-side up egg, and silver dollar pancakes

A quick word from Chef Chad Kelley (joined by Sous Chef Suki) to round out the evening before the fifth and final course was passed

I have to admit that this course was really difficult to photograph...

The spot light at the bar that I was using to photograph the food cast a tone on tone...on tone coloring that made everything look the same color. 

Fifth course: Life & Limb, Petit Basque, almond, dried fruit

 

Matt Quenette, bar manager with Ken and Keith

Chef Chad Kelley, Ken Grossman and Keith Schlabs

One last shot with the bartenders