fourth and olive.

After writing about eating a lot of pizza as of late I thought it might be best to highlight my favorite easy vegan meal. (re: I am a SOMETIMES vegan)

I absolutely love food in general and vegan food is no different. I find there to be a real art to a good vegan dish and it all starts with a perfect sauce.

For this little stir fry I start by cooking up some noodles (my faves include udon and soba) and preparing my sauce. I mix bragg's liquid aminos (go to whole foods), toasted sesame seed oil and the tangy, salty umeboshi plum vinegar. A whole tsp. of bragg's and a half tsp. of the other two for one serving.  Then a splash of hot water and a Tbsp. of miso paste which really seals the deal flavor-wise. Mix well.

My usual mélange consists of collards or kale (any type but lately I've been favoring the dino variety), sliced crimini mushrooms and garbanzo or adzuki beans. I stir fry these in a wok with a little oil and then add the noodles and sauce.

Voila! You have a deliciously hearty bowl of health that will afford you the ability to splurge on dessert!

my studio apartment. kitchen open noon-2am. reservations required.

cheers!

xo

five pies in two weeks.

So, if this WAS in fact my fifth time having pizza in the past two weeks then I would definitely be an expert on the subject by now. But that would be kind of naughty and decadent and OK, OK, my inner fat kid has been calling the shots lately.

I'm always driving through Little Italy thinking about how many of the Italian restaurants are actually amazing and how many are just OK. Eventually I will actually go eat at a few but for now I sit back in ignorance. However, considering my recent counter-service kick (see here and here) it seems only right that I would try this walk up and order pizza place on my lovey day off. Forgetting about the farmer's market I fruitlessly tried to snag a table to show off Influx to my dad and sister. Denied. The laptops were planted firmly on the tables and the place was full of people posted up for the whole afternoon. So we took a short walk and found this charming new place a block down.

Pizza by the slice, make-your-own salad and a cheap glass of wine ($5 for 6 oz.). Heaven.

We chose the truffle-porcini, pesto-pollo and the "daily special" (ricotta, sausage and spinach). Dad and I decided to make our own salad from their extensive list of add-ons while my sister got the house which featured a crazy yummy italian dressing and feta cheese among carrots, greens and tomatoes.

Outdoor, dog-friendly seating sealed the deal as we had the pup in tow. All in all a great find!!

napizza, corner of india and elm. local and organic. open 11am-10pm all week, 'til 11pm thurs-sun!

cheers!

xo

true story: influx, little italy

Sometimes you just buy an iPad and you start hanging out at a little cafe doing homework before work and everything starts to make sense in your life.

This kind of thing really happens. One day you're in the computer lab at the community college you attend and you smell something foul. Moments later someone's phone rings and they take the call. Is quiet study time not observed at community college? Can we not contain our bodily functions when in close proximity to others?

So, you start thinking about where you should be; a real existential questioning. I should be in a cute cafe sipping ice tea and studying with the aid of my pristine white iPad. Wait a minute, I don't have an iPad! I need an iPad!

24 hours later you are picking up your brand new iPad from the apple store and well, I should have seen that coming.

So the real story is about the fabulous Influx. White lacquered tables accented with small succulents and the coolest wooden order table markers(do you know what im talking about?) I don't think they actually allow PC's inside, Apple should pay them for advertising because all you see are beautiful people with MacBooks. Bloggers, work-at-cafe-ers and students being beautifully productive fill this fairly small establishment. No frills counter service, baristas that know how to make a superb cappuccino and a delightfully short, sweet and inexpensive for Little Italy menu. (anywhere I can get a sandwich and drink for $10 is perfect for this girl.)

Day one I opted for the ham and Swiss on a wheat roll with dijon, red onions and the usually fixin's. Day two (pictured above) I tried out the turkey with pesto and jack cheese. Both satisfying and delicious. I will definitely be returning for a bagel breakfast sandwich soon! (oh, and for a ham and cheese on croissant! And to try a dessert!)

open 7 days a week from 6am-9pm. corner of India and Fir in little italy.

cheers!

blah.

forever in search of the best places for tasty beer on tap and craft pizza in the oven. add it to the list: blind lady ale house.











you just know you're going to love this place when you walk in. the brick. oh, the brick. i'm dying.

ridiculously extensive collection of antique beer cans? check

chalkboard beer menu? check

rotating pizza menu featuring local veggies? you got it!

the first time i came it was for the beer. post-dinner beer. the kind of visit that makes you wonder why you didn't start there in the first place and get the bacon and egg pizza for dinner. (i'll admit that three visits later i stilllll haven't ordered it. not naming names, but someone doesn't eat eggs.)

grab a beer, order a caesar salad (oh so delicious with a white anchovy topped crostini, big strips of parmesan cheese and half a medium boiled farm egg), find yourself a seat at a stool or a bench and pick out which pizza you'll be indulging in.

it's counter service and you have to get your own napkins and water and condiments but the servers definitely make their tips by letting you taste whatever beer you want! (kid in a candy store, anyone?)

there's a delectable beer with a sour cherry kick that makes a perfect dessert.

closed on mondays. kitchen closes at 10pm. adams ave in normal heights.

xo

welcome.

she's a twenty-something in a tiny studio apartment by the park. she loves to cook for her boy and owns way too many scarves. inspired by a small space and an endless restaurant bucket list...

welcome to uptown girl.

xo