A Day in Charleston, South Carolina (DAY 2 pt2)

WE LOVE CHARLESTON.

Here is a video montage of our morning biking through this wonderful city. A lot of people visiting Charleston South Carolina, choose to rent bikes and go by the water, and I completely understand why, now. This is the third part of our earlier road trip posts along the East Coast (see also, Virginia Beach and Wilmington, and Myrtle Beach).

Stayed at the Spectator Hotel, easily one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in or will ever. There was a butler! His name was Chuck and he had the best stories about the city and his life. Even helped us figure out where to go to dinner. Note: there are so many free snacks (My favorite were the benne wafers by Charleston Specialty Foods), and free cocktails in the room (as well as water, coke, and local sweet tea) that you might not get that hungry.







But the weather was wonderful and we could hear a local troubadour singing from City Market nearby, so we wandered down a block or two and saw the night stalls that were open. Through there and another block or two, we made it to Anson Restaurant. Really nice ambience, and a perfect romantic dinner of chicken for him, and grouper for me, by candlelight. On the way back from the restaurant, back through City Market, the singer was now singing 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran, and I couldn't help but hum a little bit and stop with Mark against a wall to listen to him finish til the end.



Can we just talk about the view one wakes up to?







Brunch was at Butcher & Bee, a super hipster cafe where I got a Lamb Pita and Turmeric Tang juice, and Mark got the Roast Beef Sandwich. Took this photo outside:







'A good time occurs precisely when we lose track of what time it is' -Robert Farrar Capon



Drove to the nearby Shepherd Fairey mural that was still on the wall of their old location, then it was on to Savannah, Georgia.

Enjoying the ☀️

Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina off of Key Highway in Baltimore is just a short walk from Riverside Park to the water. Like I wrote in my Presidents Day Brunch Post- there's the coolest huge mural on the wall here with a handwritten headline  'Land of Eternal Spring'. We were definitely in the mood to enjoy the Spring weather, and hopefully it'll stick! It was an ideal date. Not too hot or cold, and all we needed was a light jacket.

I didn't know until coming back here, that they've been serving Cuban-inspired cuisine on the South Baltimore waterfront for almost 20 years, and it was once a former Feed Supply warehouse!

An Ode to IHOP

There's a place in my heart for the International House of Pancakes. Doesn't matter what location (for the most part). My favorite one is where I'm constantly trying to convince Mark to take us as a reward for a good morning workout after the gym.



The best brunch- when I close my eyes and imagine my go-to order at IHOP: steak tips and eggs (poached, cut them in half over your hash browns and drizzle a little hot sauce over that mmmhmm), the neverending coffee, and pancakes with sprinkles on the side, with whipped cream on top.



I put my favorite dream breakfast aside this week, when I heard that a new type of french toast debuted, using Kings Hawaiian Rolls. If you've ever put that fluffy goodness in your mouth- I understand you. So I tried the bacon, sausage combo with that new french toast with strawberries and bananas. This is an unapologetically focused description of just how much I value these ideas and breakfast executions- keep doing you IHOP.

California Weekend | Cinequest 2018 & Seeds

Mark and I went to California this weekend! The purpose was to see my sister, and attend the ‘Seeds’ film
premiere at Cinequest Film Festival. Made it into San Francisco Thursday night and had dinner at ‘wonderful’
a really delicious Hunan Chinese restaurant in Millbrae. Her boyfriend knew the
menu well- we had a great time. I’m very proud of the life she’s made for
herself there and was happy to celebrate an early birthday with her. 

Friday we walked around the pier and Ferry Building Marketplace. Ate breakfast burritos and hung out before catching the Caltrain to San Jose. It was a smooth, quiet ride. Got off in Sunnyvale and were able to meet Mark's friend who works at Apple, and see the campus! It's so crazy and beautiful- got lunch together and took a little tour. From there, we Uber'd (my referral code is andreac2181ue and if you use Ibotta- QSABWBM for $1 off all Uber rides) to the Fairmont Hotel, and started festiva-ting.

Seeing everyone from the film who was able to come, was so great. I think the premiere went well - it was Saturday at the California Theatre. Really grateful to Owen and Younny Long as well as the whole cast and crew, for making the experience possible. Here is a review by Fanboy Planet, http://fanboyplanet.com/cinequest-2018-seeds/ and an article by Screen Anarchy http://screenanarchy.com/2018/03/seeds-exclusive-clip-thriller.html

Thank you to Wearaway, Salon Three Sixty One and Kevin Johnn for helping me feel confident and beautiful. (I meant to try out Stylebee but the timing didn't work out- if you want to- my code is achen25 for $20 off!)

And most of all to Mark for being the string to my kite, the tree to my vine, my rock, everything- all the things. I love exploring together. 

‘But First, Coffee’ ☕️

Maybe I should've buttoned up my cardigan to be more professional today.

Buut... people need to know.

"If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think every thing you're supposed to think?



Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic."



—Tyler Durden ('Fight Club')

Presidents Day Brunch and 'Seeds' Film Teaser

Spent Presidents Day with literally some of the nicest women I've met since moving to Baltimore. It's one of the most therapeutic things to just talk for a long time, with a good meal and cup of coffee. Here's to more Monday's off.  

The outside of Order & Chaos has 'a creative cup of coffee' written out on the wall, and I definitely feel revitalized and inspired after a day like this. Little Havana is an eclectic, cool space. Pool table and generous booths, and twinkle-lit outdoor area with a view of the water. There was a mural with different locations in Cuba mapped out, and the title, 'Land of Eternal Spring' along the top.

'Seeds' Film teaser came out today as well:

Do you have Behance? let's be friends: https://www.behance.net/andreachen

The Best Thing to Order at 'Five Guys'

Needed comfort food this weekend- so we checked out our local 'Five Guys'.

I've always been really confused about what to get because of all the add-ons and unlimited toppings. It's the same when I get salads or frozen yogurt- I make weird decisions and odd combinations that don't always make sense.

So this time, I looked on my phone in line getting to the register, and found this article by Huffington Post: 'The Five Guys: Secret Menu'. And I got inspired!

To be able to recreate a burger at In-N-Out, here in Baltimore floored me- so I ordered the first idea on the list-



Cheeseburger w/ extra cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions.

It was so amazing. That and the fries, with a milkshake (peanut butter, chocolate and vanilla) made my day. 

duck donuts

Donuts are one of my big weaknesses. And Duck Donuts makes a mean blueberry donut!

Coffee at Golden West Cafe

Golden West Cafe in Hampden has the biggest mugs in the whole world. (It's right across from Old Bank Barbers)

Hope everyone’s staying out of the snow today! ❄️

Brunch at Spoons Cafe

This place is popping on a Saturday morning. It's right across from Cross Street Market, and definitely a good bet. 

I got Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with bacon- so so good, as well as a Turmeric Latte (Golden Milk) with espresso and almond milk.

 

Chicken Tikka Masala from Scratch

As Food52 (where we got the recipe: https://food52.com/recipes/13819-ultimate-chicken-tikka-masala) writes, there is a smug satisfaction that comes with making a favorite takeout dish at home. This tasted incredible- so I made a movie montage!

Really enjoyed this 'Music for Cooking' playlist on Spotify, running in the background at times. A few good classics, and covers in there. 

https://open.spotify.com/user/sonymusicentertainment/playlist/6ZE2J5f6t16UWXQb1boB89

Lazy Sundays; Cookies

Got this chocolate chip cookie mix as part of a Secret Santa gift and finally made it today.

I can't get over how amazing the house smells now, while watching episodes of 'Godless'.

Love and BBQ

Country love songs and barbecue at the first place we ate when we moved to Baltimore (on the way from BWI to the house).

Bonfire BBQ, we love you.