hollywood corners

great deli in the country with historical roots -- this is what comes to mind when i think of our experience at hollywood corners last weekend. it's rumored to have been a resting stop for bonnie and clyde back in the day, and hosted the likes of country singer bob wills. plus, it is co-owned by my favorite local deli so, i knew it had to be good.   

[all the sweets]

[so good, every time]

our lunch? delicious of course. the scene? reminiscent of an old country store with an update, which made it all the more darling and inviting. and the back porch? makes me so excited for spring to get here. i can't wait to enjoy the warm weather out there while hearing some great tunes.

[big ol' bench]

thanks for helping us enjoy the beautiful weather hc!

sunday funday

sundays are best spent one of two ways: full-on rest day (movie marathons, pjs, and delicious breakfast treats made at home) or the sunday funday (decadent brunch, exploring new gems, and great cocktails). either way, the main agenda is to indulge and enjoy. one of my favorite sunday fundays this month was spent at the drake. 

after our first experience here, we were curious to sample more oysters. typically when sampling oysters (in and outside of our state), you don't get the choice of picking what area they're from. the option is to either have whatever oysters the restaurant has purchased or not to. so, this was a great way to see what we liked and learn the differences in flavor. 

[first round picks]

after sampling all the oysters we could, we found our favorite flavor profiles were: briny, savory with a sweet finish, and firm. our number one pick was the diamond point followed by the moonstone and the kumamoto...all made even more delectable by the drake's rose, and cucumber mignonettes. 

[one last round of our favorite]

such a great way to close out the week, forget about the cold weather, and treat ourselves. until next time drake.

rockford okc

classic cocktails, a large-scale print of burt reynolds (in all his glory), and 70's decor were the backdrop of rockford okc, a new cocktail den in midtown. over the break, one of T's old high school buds came into town so, it seemed the perfect spot to have a mini reunion with the old gang all back together. plus, i'd been dying to check this place out after hearing such great reviews on it. 

the vibe? cozy, and relaxed -- almost as if you were in someone's home that was filled with cool retro couches and light fixtures. had it not been for the crowd there, i wouldn't have believed i was at a bar. plus, the old fashioned made with sweet potato bourbon was pretty killer. 

[our d.c. gem back in town]

and what better way to sip cocktails than to snack on fresh popcorn. full disclosure, i was way too excited when i saw the popcorn machine. it's probably my favorite bar snack after trying it here. 

[the boys]

thanks to the rockford for providing a dynamite locale for T to get together with old friends, catch up, and kick off the holiday break on the right foot!

the drake

as you may know, T and i celebrated our one year anniversary over the weekend. there were of course sweet gifts, love notes, a couple of romantic dates, and one epic indiana jones marathon (i love the classics). one of my favorite dates from that weekend was to check out the newly opened seafood + oysterette restaurant, the drake. 

the setting? classic '60s interior and decor. a place that could very easily be the set for an episode of mad men. the service? personal, attentive, and nothing short of stellar. the food? fresh, inventive, and delicious.

[some of the best oysters i've ever had]

[thirst-quenching spanish wine]

[black mac]

[the infamous lemon cloud pie]

a big thanks to the drake for the cherry on top of an already beautiful anniversary weekend. we can't wait to come back! 

puebla

it's no secret my love affair with tacos. i mean, i nearly lost my marbles when i found it was the main course at a wedding we went to (see below)! so, when i heard a new taco spot, puebla, opened in town i had to check it out. 

then, the perfect opportunity to try it came up when my parents came down to visit last weekend, and we were set to have our family dinner with my brother. all i had to say was, taco and tequila bar, and they were in. 

[blood orange margarita]

[queso blanco supreme & fresh guac]

so, we thought with such a vast variety of tequilas we would have an impromptu tasting. thanks to the bartender, who was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, we learned even more about the different types of tequilas and found new ones to love. 

the big favorite, casamigos anejo. after first place, we were all divided on our second-fifth place contenders. but, at least we agreed on one, right?

[cute photobomb]

then, it was on to the taco tasting! we all were divided on our favorites but, mine were the veggie portobello and the puebla cochinita pibil...those pickled red onions took it to a whole other level. 

[yum]

thanks puebla for a dynamite night, and for solidifying our return for more!

best date

pretty regularly, my best and i will get together for dinner and drinks. we've been friends since college but, as we've gotten older and aren't able to veg out for hours on end (missing that veg out for days part most from college), we set out dates in advance to get together. we catch up on regular adult life, and all the bits in between. on our most recent date, we noted a special occasion, our 10 yrs of friendship together. 

we met during rush prior to pledging our sorority house together, and have been bests ever since. and thankfully, i am not rocking the same hair colors i did when i was 18...why did i think that was cute?

the locale: chic, trendy, and unique. the edibles: indulgent, filling, and carb-filled (the best kind). the conversation: ranging from silly to serious to sweet to hilarious...as always.  

[peach and blueberry coffee cake]

[rooftop views of our city]

then, it was off to explore on foot per usual to stumble onto something new and this one was no exception. a quiet rooftop view of our city all to ourselves. with clear, star-filled skies, and a supermoon hanging above, it made for an awe-inducing memory together.  

happy hump day!