The BEST side for chicken/fish/whatever

I have decided to revamp my long forsaken blog! Over the past year and a half a lot has changed.. For one, I've gone from the ripe age of 22, to the old, cat lady age of 24 (I kid!) and I've started back at the REAL USC (insert inappropriate Cock joke) as a Journalism major. More importantly I've had a chance to hone my writing skills, and eat a ton of great food. I'm still playing novice chef in the kitchen and plan on posting plenty of reviews along with my favorite recipes.

This first post back is dedicated to the side dish. If you're like me (& I know you are) you probably find yourself mulling around the kitchen or grocery store trying to figure out what will go along with your favorite protein. Sometimes deciding on a side is the hardest part, and I tend to make a lot of pasta or stir fry dishes in an effort to avoid such a dilemma. The recipe I am presenting you with today goes great with fish & chicken (& probably tofu- but I would not know as I am a pretty hardcore carnivore). I really enjoy this one because it's super easy, inexpensive and unique (plus it's tasty, duh). I found it in a great cookbook (pictured above) from one of my best friends (shout out to Laura), and it's become a staple in my recipe collection!

Without further ado I give you: Israeli Coucous with Zucchini, Red Bell Pepper & Parsley (pictured left w/grilled chicken)

What you shall need:

*2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (please don't substitute extra slutty olive oil)

*1 small/med yellow onion, diced

*2 cloves of garlic minced (or if you're lazy like me you can use your garlic press)

*1.25 cups israeli couscous

*2 cups chicken stock (I like to use beef stock in place of chicken sometimes too)

*Fresh ground pepper

*1-2 zucchini (depending on size & preference), ends trimmed, cut into 1/4" dice

*1 small/med red bell pepper, seeded, deribbed & cut into 1/4" dice

*2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Your directions:

*Alright, grab a saute pan with a tight-fitting lid and heat the olive-oil over medium heat (make sure the pan is coated). Add the onion and garlic and saute, stirring constantly until just beginning to soften (about 2 minutes).

*Add the couscous and stir constantly until lightly browned (2-3 minutes).

*Add the stock along with some fresh pepper and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to low, cover, and simmer until almost all of the liquid is absorbed (about 8 minutes)

*Stir in zucchini and bell pepper, cover and cook until the zucchini is bright green and tender (3-4 minutes)

*Stir in parsley and serve immediately!

******You can always add different or more veggies if you prefer!******

Impress yourself & your friends with this SUPER EASY side (you can thank me later), and make sure to check back for more updates and reviews in 2012!

XOXO,

@BLONDEBITES

SHRIMP SCAMPI RECIPE

Last Wednesday I promised to cook my boyfriend dinner, despite getting out from hosting trivia at 10:30. I bought some shrimp from the Farmer's Market on King's st. hoping to find a quick and easy recipe. Lucky for me I found a shrimp scampi recipe on epicurious.com that was fast and incredibly tasty with a light, yet rich flavor.

What you'll need:

- 1/4 cup olive oil

- 1lb peeled and deveined large shrimp (raw)

- 4 large garlic cloves

- 1 teaspoon dried hot pepper flakes

- 1/2 cup dry white wine

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 1 teaspoon black pepper

- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

- capellini pasta

- 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

What I added:

2 more cloves of garlic (because I love garlic)

2 large tomatoes chopped

I also tossed the shrimp with some extra hot pepper flakes before cooking them

a little lemon juice at the end

How to Make:

boil 6-8 quarts of water with a pinch of salt (or olive oil)

While the water is boiling, heat the olive oil in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat until it's hot, but not smoking. Saute the shrimp, turning over once until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a bowl with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add garlic to remaining oil with pepper flakes (you can adjust the amount to make it spicier or less spicy), wine, salt, and black pepper (I also added my chopped tomatoes here). Cook over med/high heat for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Add butter, stirring until melted, and stir the shrimp back in. You can remove from heat if your shrimp are cooked through, I let mine simmer for a minute or two first.

Cook pasta until tender, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining. Toss pasta with shrimp mixture and parsley in a large bowl, adding reserved cooking water if necessary to keep moist.

I chose not to toss the pasta, but made it a "serve yourself" kind of thing with grated parmesan, parsley and lemon juice. It took about 30 minutes (after the shrimp were peeled and deveined), and was so good that my boyfriend and I ate everything! My only regret was not having a baguette or bread of some sort to dip in the awesome sauce that was left over in the skillet.. I can't wait to make this again!

Original recipe can be found here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Shrimp-Scampi-Pasta-234258

Aria Tuscan Grill CHARLOTTE 94

8pm on a Thursday, I found myself Uptown; the light rain coming down was no match for my growling stomach as my boyfriend David and I tried to decide where would dine that evening. Our first thought was Sonoma so we headed over to Tryon St where we were happy to take advantage of the valet. Unfortunately Sonoma was having a private party, so we found ourselves back to square one. That’s when it dawned on us that Aria is owned by the same restaurant group and literally around the corner from Sonoma.

We walked into Aria and were told there would be about a 30minute wait. Despite being busy, we were able to snag a couple seats at the bar. The bar itself is not to be missed, featuring a huge glass encased wine rack which shows off over 100 bottles from Aria’s impressive wine list. The restaurant had a modern décor, but managed to be cozy and comfortable at the same time. We had to start with their limoncello, which is house made, and definitely my new favorite drink for the summer: a lemon liqueur, sweet and refreshing.

We were excited when we were seated earlier then expected, within 10 minutes of being at the bar. It was time to get down to business. Aria’s menu is described as old world comfort food featuring simple, classic, Italian, and served in a contemporary atmosphere. All of their appetizers sounded amazing, and it was hard to choose just one to start with. I decided on the steamed mussels (bottom left), and when they came out I was glad I had only ordered one. There was a large portion of mussels served in a huge bowl with a plum tomato sauce, sambuca, fennel and herbs. The mussels themselves were really nicely done, not chewy in the slightest, and the sauce they were served in had a hint of sweetness to it. The tomato sauce was great for dipping bread in as well. Even with Dave’s help we didn’t finish all of the mussels for fear of being to full for our entrees.

It didn’t take long for our main courses to come out. I had gone with the Veal Scallopini, while Dave went with their Wild Boar Pappardelle (top left) special. My scallopini was awesome, two thin and tender pieces of veal served in a lemon butter sauce with capers, parsley, and broccoli rabe. The lemon butter sauce covered the bottom of the plate, which I was thankful for because it was delicious even on the broccoli. The real showstopper, however, was the special Dave ordered. Pappardelle is an egg noodle comparable to a broader fettuccini. It was served in an amazing tomato sauce with shredded wild boar meat throughout. It was an adventurous dish, executed perfectly, and my favorite thing that we had.

At the end of the meal I was beyond stuffed, but I felt great. My only regret? Not having enough room to try one of their desserts. I gave Aria a 94; the service, food, and atmosphere made for a wonderful experience, and I can’t wait to go back in and try more.

Coco Osteria CHARLOTTE 92

Hunger struck around 9:30pm last Friday night as I battled through the usual Uptown traffic. By the time I settled for a spot in Hearst Tower’s parking garage one thing was for certain; I was now starving. Lucky for me, Charlotte is full of great restaurants that stay open later on the weekends. I was immediately drawn to a small Italian place in front of Hearst Tower called Coco Osteria. Let me reiterate that this place is small, perfect for escaping with a couple of people before facing the bar crowd. As my eyes darted over the menu, I realized it was going to be a hard decision; Coco features authentic Italian cuisine including homemade pastas. After careful deliberation I decided that I would have to start with the bruschetta and have the pan seared salmon as my main. The bruschetta came out quickly and did not disappoint. The bread, a Tuscan style baguette, was grilled to perfection topped with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and a balsamic reduction, which was simple and delicious. Just as the bruschetta was nearing its end my salmon came out to keep me going. At first glance I could tell my salmon had a lot going on: olives, capers, tomatoes and garlic in white wine over jasmine rice, but as I began eating I realized that all of the ingredients were essential to the dish. I ended up overeating, and being stuffed yet satisfied. The smaller environment also made for a cozy, well looked after restaurant. The staff gave off a genuine vibe and never left me wanting for anything. If the food isn’t enough to get you down to Coco then you should also know that they have awesome drink specials all week, including half priced martinis on Fridays and half priced select bottles of wine on Saturdays. I’ll definitely be back for more!

Dolce Vita Wine Bar CHARLOTTE 94

My girlfriend had been hounding me about trying Dolce Vita (in Noda) after trying it for the first time last weekend... Now it's me that will be hounding YOU to go and check this place out! I decided to go in with said girlfriend for a late lunch yesterday afternoon a little after 2pm. We had the whole place to ourselves which was awesome, but at the same time unfortunate that everyone else in CLT was missing out! The restaurant itself is small, comfortable and inviting... perfect for a casual hangout with friends or a romantic date. I absolutely fell in love with the warm colors and cozy tables. I browsed the lunch menu despite the fact that I knew what I wanted: a personal pepperoni pizza with fresh mozzarella (top left). The lunch menu also offers tasty sounding sandwiches and a personal pizza sans meat. After I ordered I realized that I also had to have the baked brie appetizer(top right). If you like brie you MUST try this appetizer.. even if you don't like brie I still think you should try it. It was simply phenomenal!! The brie was perfect and warm inside a bread shell (croissant like, flakey and delicious) drizzled with a little honey and balsamic and served with pita chips and crackers. I will probably order this appetizer every time I go back. Even still, the main star was the pizza which is the best I've had since I moved to Charlotte in August. It wasn't soaked through with grease like most pizza, and everything about it screamed fresh. The mozzarella really makes the pizza, and the thin but tasty crust makes it very easy to polish off the whole thing. It was so good that I had to force myself to save a piece to bring home to the bf (which he scarfed down as soon as I returned). I didn't look through wine racks, but I could tell they had a great selection including my favorite champagne. Dolce Vita also offers a nice selection of wine by the glass. I really appreciated how each glass of wine had a small description under it because I'm always looking to expand my basic wine knowledge. The owner took care of us, and she was nothing short of sweet, friendly, and genuine which completed a wonderful meal. I gave Dolce Vita a 94 because I simply can not wait to go back for more!!

300 East CHARLOTTE (brunch review)

I often look forward to Sundays solely because of brunch. Late afternoon breakfast accompanied with socially acceptable mimosas and bloody marys? Yes please! This past Sunday I was in the mood to try out a new place, and found myself at 300 East. It wasn't until I was seated at a table on their cute outside area that I realized I had indeed eaten brunch there before! I immediately became excited as I remembered how great their shrimp and grits were. I browsed over the menu anyways and found myself in conflict over a variety of other brunch items such as crab cake benedict, a personal favorite, and french toast. One thing was for certain; I needed a bloody mary. Drink in hand I made up my mind and went with my original order: cajun shrimp over cheesy beer grits with fried eggs (pictured above). As I waited for my food I noticed that my bloody mary was not particularly good. It was a bit watery, pretty bland, and lacking any sort of spice. Bloody mary aside, 300 East is a great place to sit outside when the weather is nice, and I enjoyed relaxing in the shade while listening to Bob Dylan over their speakers. The service was good, but a little on the slow side which was understandable considering how busy they were. When the food arrived I was a little disappointed. While it was good, it wasn't as great as I remembered. The shrimp had a nice cajun flavor, but were definitely overdone. The eggs were verging on perfection and the grits were amazing, more cheesy then beer-y, and anything but plain which made the dish overall okay. My girlfriend had ordered the crab cake benedict and reported that the eggs were nicely cooked, but the dish needed more sauce. My overall brunch experience was great, however the food and beverages were lacking in areas. I gave 300 East's brunch an 81... I won't be racing back next week, but I'll definitely go again.

Soul Gastro Lounge CHARLOTTE 86

I was very excited to check out Soul the other night because it's walking distance from my apartment, and I've heard great things. If you're planning on going over the weekend for dinner; plan on waiting. Soul is always packed with people dining and drinking alike on Friday and Saturday night. While we were told there was an hour wait (for two) the bf and I were seated on their small upper deck within 20 minutes; which is great if you don't mind cigarette smoke, and has a pretty sweet view of the city. Soul is the perfect place for different tastes because their menu includes sandwiches, salads, tapas, and sushi. The bf and I decided to try the sashimi tacos, curried lamb skewers and a couple sushi rolls. The sashimi tacos were a-ma-zing!! Three homemade wontons made into little taco shells stuffed with tuna and drizzled with a spicy sauce (pretty sure it was wasabi aioli). The sushi was also dynamite, we both loved the soul roll (pictured above), which was perfected by jalapenos. The sushi is cut pretty big, and can be hard to eat, but it's so good it doesn't really matter (unless you're on a first date maybe). The only disappointment was the curried lamb skewers. The bf had tried out Soul the week before and had been raving over how great the lamb was. Unfortunately the night we ordered it the lamb was way overdone, making it EXTREMELY chewy and hard to eat.. it was also pretty bland. I was told that the past order had been perfect with a stronger curry flavor so I'm definitely interested in giving the lamb a second chance, and with everything else I tried that night I'm sure it was a minor glitch. The sake selection was small yet foolproof. We tried the "g" sake which we both loved! Aside from that, they have a good selection of beer and liquor. The service was okay but not really noteworthy, maybe even slightly chaotic. It's definitely a fun and cool atmosphere, but it can also be loud (there's a DJ inside) and dark. Go for a good time and great sushi (although the tapas are definitely worth checking out as well). I will definitely be going back to try more. Overall I gave Soul an 86.

Gourmet Shop COLUMBIA 93

The Gourmet Shop is located in 5 points and offers more then a kick ass wine and cheese selection along with endless, fun kitchen necessities. They also serve lunch as well as coffee and a few pastries. This might be one of my favorite lunch spots in Columbia; their fresh ingredients always guarantee satisfaction. They offer soups, wraps, and different salads, but I almost always end up ordering a panini. It's hard for me to order anything other then the "Turkey Panini" (pictured above), made with turkey, avocado, tomato, and goat cheese. The sides are difficult to choose between as well, but the different pastas are the best. I usually get the pesto pasta (pictured above), which goes great with any of the sandwiches. They offer tables outside in the shade, which is great if you want to bring your dog, and a few tables inside as well. The service is always good and it's an ideal spot for a quick lunch or a long coffee. Overall I gave Gourmet Shop a 93. The food is definitely crave worthy and the service is great.