This Pretty Much Summarizes My Night!

Effing shellfish allergies~

As if aThanksgiving feast

Wasn't enough, we proceeded to eat and drink our way through Washington DC.

So Much To Do

So Little Time in NY...
I spend 2 days in one of my favorite cities and packed in more work and fun than humanly possible!
Stayed at the Awesomely cool Bowery Hotel...

Partied at the Bowery Terrace where I won 2 tickets to see Beyoncé!

After hours Party at the chic Gold Bar...

Woke up to a gorgeous view of Manhattan...

 Breakfast Meeting at Think Coffee...

Lunch meeting at Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's Lambs Club...
For the record this is NOT all that I ate!

Somewhere in the middle of it all, finally checked out Eataly...WoW!

 and squeezed in a lunch meeting over Greek delicacies...

Needless to say, I'm in full detox mode!

The Portugal spreadsheet is

growing and unfortunately, so is my suitcase!!!
This time next week we will be arriving into Lisbon or, as the Portuguese call it, Lisboa and I can't wait to take in this magical city...

A bit about our first stop as we embark on a 2 week odyssey of Portugal...
Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal with the urban area extending beyond the city limits and a a population of over 3 million making it the 11th most populous urban area in the European Union. 

Not only is Lisbon the westernmost largest city in Europe, it is also its westernmost capital and the only one along the Atlantic coast...it lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus (Tejo).

Recognized as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education, and tourism, Lisbon is one of the major economic centers on the continent, with a growing financial sector and the second largest container port on Europe's Atlantic coast.

The city is the 7th most-visited in Southern Europe, after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens and Milan and I'm happy to say that I've been to 4 and, after this trip, 5 of them!
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest city in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by hundreds of years.  Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo.  Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the fifth century, it was captured by the Moors in the eighth century.  In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city and since then it has been a major political, economic, and cultural center of Portugal. Once the center of the richest empire in Europe, Lisbon now faces one of the worst financial crises in the EU. But even as it struggles with rising debt and unemployment, it is the home to two sites listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: Belém Tower...
and Jerónimos Monastery...
that I'm hoping we get to visit on this trip.  Furthermore, in 1994, Lisbon was the European Capital of Culture and in 1998 organised an Expo '98 (1998 Lisbon World Exposition).

Aside from it's beauty, Lisbon enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm winters and hot summers and although it won't be beach weather while we're there, temps will be in the 70's making it ideal for sightseeing...

shopping...

Eating...
more eating...

and of course drinking...

Ahhh, I feel faint just thinking about all the fun times we're going to have...must rest!

Adeus para agora

Who preps more for a play date?

The kid or the parent?
You got it...the parent!
Going to attempt these Fried Mac and Cheese balls for the boy and his l'amour du jour...

1 lb elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk, warmed, plus
2 tablespoons milk, for egg wash
1 lb grated cheddar cheese
1 lb grated smoked gouda cheese salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
3 cups seasoned bread crumbs 
vegetable oil, for frying 
marinara sauce or Alfredo sauce, to serve

Directions:
1. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
2. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir it with a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes. Whisk the warmed milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until melted and smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni. Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
3. Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Freeze the balls overnight.
4. Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash and pour it into a shallow bowl. Put the bread crumbs into another shallow bowl. Remove the mac and cheese balls from the freezer. Dip the frozen balls into the egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry.
5. Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and center is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite marinara or Alfredo sauce or combination or both for dipping.

How Carnivores and Vegans

Coexist
Steak, medium rare with sauteed Brussels sprouts and mushrooms...
For the meat lovers

and a salad chunk full of tomatoes, mushrooms and white beans mixed with Trader Joes Goddess dressing...
For the Vegan

Portugal

Have you been?
What should we see...

What should we do...

and most importantly...
What should we eat?

Obridaga!