Lawdamercy, Y'all . . .

Lawdamercy, y'all. 

Really, that pretty much sums it up right now.

See, a huge tree fell on my apartment building two days ago and it's basically a condemned space with no power - indefinitely - from which the four units in my little section were evacuated with extreme haste. Fortunately, no one was hurt (APD and AFD said it was lucky no one was killed!) and it's the first time I've been truly grateful I live on the ground floor (what's a little noise from upstairs neighbors who walk in heels on wood floors when your apartment is NOT the one that gets a tree in the living room, right??).

We can go back in to collect things, but don't know when we'll be back for real. This is incredibly inconvenient (especially when, like me, you have a pet and need to find suitable temporary accommodations) - and wasteful when you've just filled the fridge. The awesome Boy and I are going to clean out the fridge and freezer this morning - before, you know, the cranes come to complete the tree removal - and get me some stuff for at least three to seven days . . . Sigh.

And my fridge was looking so nice just before the fall . . .

First world problems, I know . . .

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Food. Is. Love.

Food. Is. Love.

Indeed.

In many ways - some good, some not so much - it is.

I've been a bit distracted in various ways recently but when I realized it had been almost a month since I posted here, I realized that one of the things that anchors me - even when I'm not feeling well, or I'm busy or stressed or - whatever - is food. It's likely been this way my whole life, growing up Southern as I did, or having dealt with eating issues or eventually expanding my palate extremely and developing a love for food and related adventures that truly inspires me . . .

Which leads me to the original premise: Food. Is. Love.

I was reminded of this yesterday, when I had a rough morning and the sweet Boy met me for lunch after. I can get easily annoyed when orders are some version of wrong (that's material for another post) but he is exceptionally patient with me when I get "that way." His hand on my knee when our (not-very-good) waitress brought out something a little off - it calmed me, and all was right. I more needed to commune with him conversationally - though he did enjoy the repast.

A little fried zucchini and I was ok - I do still have that leftover pasta . . .

Ultimately, the food (this time, at least) was a backdrop to our connection. No waitresses or staff were harmed in the visit, and CN was talked down from the ledge. For that, I owe him thanks -he fed me, in just the way I needed then.

Food for thought.

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

The Next Chapter . . .

Y'all, you probably know there's rarely a dull moment in CN Land, and the next adventure begins Monday!

I decided to go back to the restaurant world and was looking for the perfect place: one where I'd eat myself, where regulars are the backbone of the customer base, where the staff tries to be the best team possible . . . and I think I've found it. Seven years ago, a former GM from one of my favorite restaurants took over this little Sandy Springs gem - 

Brooklyn Cafe, my soon to be new home away from home!

Some of the menu items are reinventions of classics from his old stomping grounds, and others are unique to the small but carefully selected lunch and dinner menus. I think it's going to be a great fit for me and I'm so excited for my first shift!

Food + good people + a great environment = love. Let the new chapter begin!

Hope to see you at the new digs soon!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

From the Sweet Man, With Love . . .

Well, guess who's looking for a job - again. Me!

And since my printer's out of ink (eep!), the Boy was kind enough to prepare a bunch of resumes for me. And in the envelope with my ten collated resumes (yes, he's good at attention to detail), I found the most recent issue of "Food & Wine" . . . 

. . . for me to peruse between interviews, with a sweet note of encouragement.

See, this is yet another way food and love and life intersect. When things are hard - a good meal can help. When you need encouragement - a good friend or sweet boyfriend can help lift your spirits. When . . . you get the idea.

Not sure what the next food or life adventures hold in CN Land - but I know they'll be tasty. Stay tuned . . .

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Night at the Office, Morning at the Waffle House!!

So yesterday, the Boy and I had a late-ish dinner at one of our usual spots. We needed steak for fortitude, we thought! Turns out, we were right. 

He knew he was going to have to pull an all-nighter at the office, adjacent to our dinner spot (how convenient!), and yet we didn't really want to end our "date." Solution? Get a bottle of wine and head up to his office so we can spend time together - him at his desk, working away, and me on the sofa with my laptop (and, er, a brief nap!). It was actually a really fun, cozy night. I love seeing him so focused and concentrated on accomplishing an important task. I am good at keeping myself occupied so we were a companionable and peaceful pair.

Which brings me to - what do you do for breakfast after such a night (and by breakfast, I don't mean one of our leisurely ones at Another Broken Egg, our fave spot- 

ie - this...

We love the Popeye Scramble at ABE!

I mean a brief pre-7am reprieve before he had to get back to the office.)

Waffle House, of course!!

The corner WaHo just down the street - one of my faves!

This is a WaHo with a lot of regulars and it was bustling today - so fun to observe the comings and goings. After a long and fairly quiet night, the atmosphere was perfect.

To our rescue, a mini-feast and coffee . . . a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich (on Texas toast, of course) and hashbrowns to share -

Sometimes you just need one of their breakfast sandwiches.

And, for him, a waffle (confession: I have never actually eaten a waffle at Waffle House!) - 

And sometimes you just need a waffle (too!)

A break from work for him, fortification for us both, our usual pleasant and interesting conversation - even when you're tired after a long night, this is a pretty swell way to start the next day!

WaHo - always there when you need it!

Yours,

Love Bites,

Carrie Neal

Dinner with a Friend

One of my favorite friends and I had dinner last night - our "holiday" dinner, albeit belated, but lovely as our meals always are.

We went to Your Dekalb Farmers Market in the morning to procure ingredients and we had a feast! I was mostly in charge of cooking and prep . . . .

From salad and avocado bruschetta to start - 

Who knew Boursin would be so good on a salad?? Yum!

To the main event: delicious meat lasagna and even better spaghetti sauce that his mom made . . .

Y'all! Amazing spaghetti sauce.

Such a nice meal on a rainy winter night. Lucas joined along, we watched some movie (he tries to pick things I like even though I usually fall asleep halfway through!) - oh! and his mom's butterscotch cookies which were heavenly.

I've known this friend for five or so years now and we eat out (he's great with Scoutmob, Groupon, etc) and sometimes we eat in, one of us cooking. He's been great to me in so many ways over the years - and to Big and now Luke - and I hope I've been great to him as well. Making dinner at his house was my pleasure and joy. 

Sometimes, a rough week or a rainy day is simply made better by good company and good food. Tuesday was such for me! I am grateful.

Yours,

Love Bites,

Carrie Neal

PS - When I inevitably wake up from the couch and he's gone to bed, I can clean the kitchen up then watch TV - a treat since I don't have cable! Life is good!

"I Am So In Love With You . . ."

Y'all know that Al Green song - "Let's Stay Together" - right??

Well, tonight I've been mulling over a few things during my "Ally McBeal" marathon. If you remember, she had a thing for, as she called them, "theme songs" - imaginary characters, dead famous people, all kinds of folks would show up during various episodes. And the latest ones I've been watching have featured Al. It's pretty funny, in a kitschy 90's kind of way . . . 

And it made me think of things and people I love. The Boy, who  just got back from a quick trip and another of my favorite things that will happen in the morning -  we're "having eggs" as we call it in the morning - what should I have?

How cute would this be for Valentine's?? Don't think they serve this at our regular spot so I'll keep it in mind for home!

He loves his "biscuit product" - 

Usually he just gets sausage and cheese- sometimes with egg. . .

Or maybe we'll share some kind of schmancier Benedict product, if we feel indulgent - 

What am I getting at? Food and love. I'm so in love with him, it's crazy. And some of my favorite moments with him are over food. It's one of the cornerstones of our relationship - communing over food, whether an excellent steak dinner, Chinese take out on the couch with a movie that we usually mute or have to rewind multiple times because we talk over the scenes, or . . . eggs. 

Love, and food. Any of us is blessed to have a bounty of either - but it's the ultimate when there's both.

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal