Confessions of a Shopoholic

Today is pay day, which means that for the next 48-72 hours (depending on how long it takes for my roommate to cash my rent check) - I'm rich, bitch. Well, by my low standards anyway. Like many of you I'm sure, I utilize the iphone mint.com (www.mint.com) app to track my spending. This, more often than not, results in me getting a huge slap in the face when I realize where my money actually disappears to. Take last month for example - I spent over $450 on clothes. The best part of this? I DON'T KNOW WHAT I BOUGHT. Well, thats not entirely true - it was the Lilly Pulitzer warehouse sale so there went a bulk of it. The point of my story is that last night I decided this would be the perfect forum to try my latest little plan - taking each month and setting a goal for myself to cut out one bad habit that I know I have. This month it will be shopping. I'm anticipating a lot of "oh but I REALLY need this" or "well this is on sale" or (the best) "rue la la is bringing back x sale for a limited time!" I really want to try this though and am going to use the blog as my support group. Everything I want to buy I'm going to post here. Maybe then someone else might purchase and let me borrow?

Love,

T

Diary of a Mad Metro Rider

Well, DC, here it is. The first of my surely many to come rants about our fair public transit system. Typically I don't actually have a huge problem with the metro - it gets me where I need to go in an almost-timely fashion. I complain a fair amount, but no more than any other commuter. However this afternoon really took the cake. I left work a little early today to catch a partial ride home with E and was pretty pumped about it (we have epic car rides, and even more so now with the addition of the latest CD from Ms. Britney Spears). The line I needed even arrived as I was walking down the stairs - it was like fate. I had a magazine, my iPod - I was SET. So naturally, disaster struck.


As I entered the car that stopped in front of me I noticed the AC was out - not a huge problem as I am typically a little chilly during the day and almost welcomed the warmer air. After we left my origin the train began to stop and start at random times. If you have experienced this sensation, you know exactly what I am referring to. I've experienced motion-sickness on the metro before - never to the point of becoming a sick passenger but its gotten bad. Traveling 35-45 minutes in from my office in Maryland doesn't help. I wasn't going far this time so I closed my mag, put my head down and shut my eyes. As we continued on our way the car began to fill with humans as it typically does during rush hour. A gentleman sat down next to me and here is where it all really ended for me. He was clearly a smoker and REEKED of cigarette smoke. Now I'm not going to condemn him for smoking - clearly a personal choice etc etc etc - and I've been known to enjoy a cig or two on occasion. This, however, did not help my already nauseous feeling and impending need to projectile vom all over said individual. We were still 3 stops away from E's stop - however with the stopping and starting and stopping and starting I was really not feeling it. I actually almost got off a few early and walked but I didn't want her to have to wait for me.


Long story short, I made it to E's stop in one piece and didn't cause anyone else any unnecessary commuting delays. The moral of my rant is really that when you enter the metro you should maybe try to think of those around you, especially people like me who are more prone to motion sickness. My metro-sick is really a new development, one that I directly attribute to public transportation. And reading in cars, but that's a whole other discussion.


This really was nothing compared to the night that the metro escalator ate my shoe. BF can attest - unfortunately I deleted the picture from my phone.


Moral of the story? I need to start driving to work.


Peace, Love, and #WMATA,


T

Big Cheese Truck

My cheese addiction started many years ago at my parent's first home in the Carolinas (before our move up north).  It was mid-summer and in the middle of a massive thunder storm.  As a 3 year old nothing scared me more than thunder so my dad decided the best way to make me feel better was to make little pizzas out of English Muffins (these later became a staple in my college years - thanks dad!).  My dad sliced the muffins and I did my usual job of getting the fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce from the fridge, my dad sliced the mozz and then something magical happened - he left the room.  I was stunned and elated, I had the mozzarella all to myself.  I dominated that mozzarella.  Nothing could stop me, and from them on, I have been a cheese fanatic. 

After moving to DC, I was lucky enough to meet boyfriend, a man who shares this love of cheese with me.  After many trips to Dean & Deluca we found the best cheese....ever.  Midnight Moon, a hard goat cheese of the gods.  This brings me to today - the day i went to the Big Cheese Truck (@bigcheesetruck http://bigcheesetruck.com/) 

It's really hot out today so it took some convincing from coworkers to get me to walk a few blocks over to the truck.  

Once I got there I took a look at the board and silently freaked out when I saw a Midnight Moon sandwich.  Hell. Yes.

Someday I want to try everything on this menu

The folks working at the truck were great, and they let me go and get cash after my order since their credit card machine was down for the day (they usually do take cards).  I waited about 7 or 8 minutes and then walked very, very quickly back to my office, which made the rest of my body pretty unhappy due to the heat and the sort of uncomfortable leather straps on my espadrilles, but I was thinking only with my taste buds at that point.  In an effort to be slightly health conscious, and also to be nice, I made the biggest mistake of my day...I offered half of the sandwich to my coworker in exchange for some homemade turkey chili.  Big mistake.  

Perfection: pre-sharing disaster

To quote Guy Fieri, this sandwich was "off the chain."  The bread was great quality and the midnight moon is creamy, smooth, and tangy - and don't forget the sweet and delicious flavor of the caramelized onions.  The balance of flavor was nothing short of perfect, if I wanted to change it up maybe I would add some jam, but I don't think the extra flavor would do the Midnight Moon justice.  When I finished my half I was so excited to have more...except I had given it away.  While I am all for sharing, I think a sandwich from the Big Cheese Truck should be enjoyed solo...it's just too good not to keep to yourself.

AFTERMATH

That is how I made the best and worst decision of the day in less than an hour.  Don't be like me.

Love, E

[edit] : CYPRESS GROVE makes Midnight Moon, I did the wrong research:see the tweet below from @AfinaCheese - I am really sorry for the mix up - either way VERY excited to test out Cowgirl Creamery here in DC this weekend and very appreciative.  Thank you.


@AfinaCheese Cowgirl does not make midnight moon. It is made in The Netherlands for Cypress Grove, a Cali company.

New cheese store I am dying to check out - COWGIRL CREAMERY 
You can find them in Penn Quarter at the address below, online at http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com or on Twitter (@cowgirlcheesedc).  

Cowgirl Creamery

919 F Street NW, Penn Quarter, Washington DC
202.393.6880

Open Monday thru Saturday 

DC-365 DC Foodie Survey

Hi guys!  Please help our friends at DC-365 out by taking this super quick survey - making DC a better foodie town one person at a time....


http://district365.com/survey/


Much love,
T&E 

Creamy Grilled Polenta with Basil "Pesto"

So last week E and I got a little creative in the kitchen after I saw this recipe for grilled polenta online that we modified slightly (http://epi.us/jJ2PUV). Prior to this I'd never had polenta before and was pretty curious as to what it tasted like / how it would turn out sans grill. It wasn't as crispy as it could have been, but it was creamy and delicious in its own right. We started out by making our own pesto-type sauce (3/4 olive oil, fresh basil, garlic, sea salt and pepper - see photo below) and brushed this onto the pre-made polenta I purchased at Trader Joe's (I love TJ's. For reals). We then heated up a skillet and went to town. The recipe suggested cooking each side for ~10 minutes - we got a little impatient with the second side but nevermind that. After taking the polenta circles out of the pan we topped them with  our "pesto" and some goat cheese crumbles. We ate our new creation with baked tilapia (also from TJ's) and each of us had a veggie of our choice (me, oven-roasted balsamic asparagus. E had baby carrots) and dug in. The whole meal worked really well together and I'm so happy we went out on the culinary limb - it was well worth the risk! We ended up making the other half on the George Forman grill and it worked out pretty much the same - I don't know if I'd recommend stove top over the GF (the latter certainly was less to clean up). Let me know if any of you try this recipe - I definitely recommend!


Love,
Chef T

Pretty simple with the pre-made polenta

Pesto Sauce - super easy

E's dinner - polenta was the best part!

Party in the USA

Party in the USA by tandeindc featuring a loose dress

Let me preface this post with the fact that I LOVE AMERICA. I mean, lets be real, who doesn't? I had a great diatribe a few minutes ago all about it, however switching from PC all day at work to my Mac at home has caused me to ctrl instead of command and delete it all (not that I'm mad or anything...)

Anyway! Some of my favorite nights were spent during the summer at school with my sisters, drinking on my front porch and listening to country. I'm turning into a wannabe-Southern Belle (Unlike E, who can claim that title honestly) and this is making me even more excited to spend my first Fourth of July in our nation's capital. Needless to say, while I don't have solid plans just yet, I'm clearly on the search for the perfect outfit.

While going through Polyvore tonight, I found the three dresses below that I could see myself wearing on the anniversary of our nation's birth. The blue J.Crew dress is more appropriate for a BBQ or a poolside hangout - the material is lightweight which is key when you live on top of a swamp. The red dress (Madewell) could easily go from day to night with the right accessories. I love the blue and white scarf from J.Crew, but some seriously cool gold jewelry and a brown skinny belt would go far with this look. Finally there is this stunna white ensemble from TopShop - which I also love. All of the dresses would look amazing with the shoes, which also come in another lighter color, as well as the bags (this is me dreaming here, obv). Anyway, regardless of what I end up doing, I am determined to look fabulous doing it!

Love&Liberty,

T

Summer Weddings and Color Blocking - A Perfect Match

GRAB THAT NET AND CATCH THAT BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY, IT'S WEDDING SEASON! We are loving the bright, fun, color blocking trend for summer. While it generally is applied more to casual clothes, we thought it would be fun to do a wedding look in brights. Of course there is the traditional more formal dress for an evening or black tie style wedding just to cover our bases, but the fun brights are making us wish we had even more weddings to go to this summer! My favorite look is the gorgeous yellow LK Bennett dress with blue shoes and earrings. The best part, the sheath cut is perfect for the office or any summertime cocktail party. While we added fun heels to each look, I know that mid-reception my feet are crying out for some relief - especially if I have been hitting the dance floor (and therefore, the bar) pretty hard - so we added some fun options for flats too. Hopefully this will be a good jumping off point for some of your summer-wedding fashion ideas. As girls on a budget all of these outfits have great "wear again" potential, which is something else to be happy about (and without that little twinge of jealousy) as your watch your friends walk down the aisle.
Happy Wedding Season!
Love, E

The Best Food Can be Hidden...in a Warehouse? - El Pollo Rico

Chicken is one of the most universal foods, every culture has a different way of cooking it and making chicken their own.  I have cooked and bought chicken prepared thousands of ways throughout my lifetime, some memorable, others not so much. Now I can say I have had my all time favorite: El Pollo Rico.  Located in a building resembling a warehouse in Arlington's Virginia Square neighborhood, El Pollo Rico is home to the best chicken I have ever had.  Cooked to perfection over an open flame on a rotisserie and covered with arguably the most delicious, albeit secret, spice blend, the chicken at El Pollo Rico is juicy and bursting with flavor.  El Pollo Rico offers just a handful of choices on its menu, but with chicken so good there really isn't any menu expansion needed.  I chose a quarter chicken with steak fries and cole slaw, T was a bit more health conscious than me and opted for the rice in place of the steak fries.  Although this wasn't my first time enjoying El Pollo Rico, it was the first time for T, who seemed pretty impressed with the succulent chicken and perfectly cooked sides.  Speaking of sides, I can't tell you how truly phenomenal they are.  Although I usually find rice pretty bland unless it is covered in some sort of sauce, the rice T got was actually a fantastic stand-alone dish.  My steak fries were perfect - slightly crispy but still soft in the middle.  The cole slaw, a dish many people steer clear of, is fresh with a perfect crunch, and I think it could turn anyone into a cole slaw fan.  Thought it couldn't get better?  Well wait until you have one of two delicious dipping sauces that come with your chicken - a spicy salsa verde and a more mayo based sauce that brings out the spice flavors even more.  It is the most perfect meal I have ever had; I don't know how to express my love for this restaurant any other way - it is just the best, bottom line.  Oh, I forgot the best part; the whole meal rings up at $5.65.  If you are looking for the best chicken in the world (don't just take if from us, Anthony Bourdain - @NoReservations - also sings El Pollo Rico's praises) look no further than El Pollo Rico.  I can say confidently that it will make you and your wallet very, very happy.

A quick note from T: Chicken can be very meh sometimes - I eat a LOT of it and tend to get bored. Never again - for real. EPR was amazing - I highly recommend!

Love, E

El Pollo Rico

932 N. Kenmore Street

Arlington, VA

 

and

El Pollo Rico

13470 Minnieville Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192

Who would think the most amazing chicken would be in here?

Cooked to perfection

T's choice - rice, slaw, best chicken ever, salsa verde, and mayo-based mystery sauce (yum!)

My dinner - I can't say no to a crispy steak fry...

Newest Food Truck Obsession

Well folks, it happened. I fell in love - With food. It was going to happen eventually and I'm actually so pleased it did last night. After work last night on my way to get my car, I made the spotting of a lifetime. The picture can pretty much speak for itself. I got one of each - chicken, beef, and tofu. Overall I think beef might have been my favorite, although the tofu was actually really good. I got them with "the works" - spicy kimchi slaw, lime cima, fresh cilantro, and a nice serving of hot sriracha sauce (one of my favorites). They had the heat, the cool, the spice - all on a delicious corn tortilla. The price also couldn't be beat - 1/$3 or 3/$8! Needless to say, the food coma set in not too shortly after. Thank you TaKorean (@TaKorean on Twitter) for saving my evening - I will definitely be back!


Love, T

Tofu, Beef and Chicken 

Obsessed...

As i scroll through my daily list of clothing websites (and believe me, they are numerous), I came across this little gem that I HAVE to have and clearly cannot afford...

butterfly necklace and earrings set by tandeindc featuring stud earrings

Kate Spade butterfly necklace
$498 - katespade.com

Kate Spade stud earrings
$68 - couture.zappos.com

stop. look. and listen. 

But seriously, how gorgeous is this? Typically I'm not into the matchy-matchy of the earrings to the necklace, but i feel like in this case both pieces are so beautiful that they belong together. I'm a huge fan of chunky necklaces, and am always on the lookout for new ones, however I think that this might have to go in the wish list for a little while. 

Don't be shy to tweet us if you're interested in giving me a loan....

Love,

T

Why You Should Eat Seafood from a Truck

I like bread.  Carbs are absolutely my friend - even if it means some extra time at the gym.  If I had to choose my favorite type of bread I would have to go with rolls, my mom used to let me have one roll a week when I was little and accompanied her to the Acme in Pennsylvania - clearly that was the best day of the week. To this day, I would pick good bread over chocolate, always.   

Now I do not live under a rock; I have had a lobster roll before.  Hell, I have had rolls stuffed with loads of items - peperoni, cheese, jalapenos, I mean the list could go on forever - but this lobster roll was something special, and felt right even though I wasn't enjoying it on the beautiful shores of New England.  

I couldn't stop to take a picture I had to dig in as soon as I got back to my desk.

You'll be surprised when I tell you I bought this lobster roll from a truck, especially if you aren't a DC local or avid food truck diner like I am, but I have to say I was blown away by the Redhook Lobster Truck today (@LobsterTruckDC on Twitter).  After convincing a coworker to walk over with me we decided to split a Connecticut Style roll (poached in butter...holy shit) and a Maine Style roll (Mayo based sauce...yes I worked out this morning in preparation).  Both rolls blew. my. mind.  The lobster on the roll was no joke.  It was very serious in fact, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the whole lobster claws just sitting on top of my buttered New England roll.  The lobster was perfectly cooked, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.  At $15 bucks a roll this isn’t the cheapest weekday lunch pick, but it was worth every penny.  After a pretty brutal morning this was the pick me up I needed, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get their lobster on and make an ordinary work day a special one.

*Also, the truck offers plenty of other treats including shrimp rolls and whoopie pies to name a few, I can't wait to try them*

GIANT LOBSTER CLAW:  just one of the many in my lunch today...

And that's my lobster tale.

Love, E

My First Macaron

On my way home from an event last night I found myself in Eastern Market, talking my coworker into going on an adventure to find the newest Macaroon bakery - The Sweet Lobby (www.thesweetlobby.com; @thesweetlobby on Twitter). I'm going to confess here - I had yet to try a macaroon despite all my travels overseas. I know - unforgivable. However, I'm almost glad I waited. After trying to remember the shop name (The Sweet Shop?), we stumbled upon the hole in the wall bakery on 8th Street. Open only a week, the small shop had several different products including macarons (slightly different spelling than the ones we are used to), cupcakes, freshly brewed tea and several different types of shortbread cookies. I had to go with the macarons though - and boy, am I glad I did. I settled for 6 this time (with tax - $10.18) - they also come in batches of 10 and all the way up to 40. As it was the end of the day, the flavors were running a little low, but I chose orange blossom, cappuccino, two salted caramel, passion fruit, milk chocolate, and lavender. BF and I tried the cappuccino one and let me tell you - it might have been worth the wait. The outside shell was crunchy but sweet and the inside was incredibly smooth and flavorful - the coffee flavor wasn't overpowering and the textures were spot on. I'm saving the rest to share with E so I can make her a fan of The Sweet Lobby too. They're a little pricey - over $1 for just one, but if you're looking for a small pick-me-up I'd recommend it. 

Such Cute Packaging!

Fun packaging makes it more fun to eat...

Gorgeous coloring - check out the bright blue lavender one on the end!

Cappuccino - delish!

Just a Little About T&E

After a long talk last night, T and I decided it was time to start blogging.  After a few months in Washington, we realized that the sights, sounds, and our personal experiences in such a unique city might actually be worth sharing.  So this is it, our story, but before you start reading about us maybe you should get to know us, so here’s a bit about ourselves…

All about T & E

We became friends freshman year of high school when we were placed in the same art class.  Although many high school friendships come and go, we remained close friends throughout our  high school years and finally made it out alive (barely). We went on to separate colleges, and always talked about what our future would hold after graduation – we both decided on the same thing; we wanted politics.  In 2011 our “dream” came true, and we both were settled and employed in DC.  T’s mom almost exploded with excitement when she moved in – we made good on our pact.  We are both still getting our sea legs down here and trying to get a grip on our lives while the harsh reality of young-adulthood (read: near poverty…) sets in. Expect funny anecdotes, recipes, our near-constant fashion obsessions, and reviews of our adventures in the NOVA/DC area. We hope you like reading this as much as we enjoyed dreaming it up and writing it!