Hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July weekend!!!

A great catch!

This meal is definitely in my top 10 favorite of all time...

Hands down the best fish burger/sandwich/ocean goodness I have ever had came from the Paia Fish Market. Every time I travel to Maui I have to make a trip to this place. I do not even have to glance at the menu, the Ono Burger is my meal of choice...and it is only $8.50!  


First they grill the sesame seed bun so it is a little charred on the outside and soft on the inside. The giant piece of Ono is charbroiled to perfection! It is fresh, flaky and succulent. They top it off with finely shredded cheddar cheese, tomato tarter sauce and an amazing cabbage and dill slaw, to which I am still trying to figure out the recipe. Finely, when you are ready to devour, pour a little Tiger Sauce over everything. You won't even think about your manners. It's juicy, messy and absolutely delicious. 

You will find the Paia Fish Market at 100 Hana Highway in the heart of Paia. The restaurant has a very casual, laid back atmosphere and normally a line out the door. When you make it to the front of the line you order at the counter. (Believe me...the wait is well worth it!) Go with a group, share a large basket of fries and enjoy. 

P.S. If you do happen to go...can you please ship 1 Ono Burger with fries to Minnesota for me?? Thanks! 

xx, 

K

Grilling Season is Here!!!

Now that is it FINALLY nice in Minnesota...I am ready to bust out the beer, sit in the sunshine and grill up some great food. Make sure to get creative with your selections. It does not always have to be hamburgers and hot dogs. Pick up something fun and different. Try grilling salmon, shrimp, portabella mushroom caps and vegetables. Coat with a little olive oil, add your favorite spices and you are all set. Simple and delicious. 

Here is my meal from the other night, paper plate and all. YUM! 

Enjoy! 

xx, 

K

Simple Pleasures

65 degrees in Minnesota calls for a girl's night on the deck with a great glass of wine! 

Check out Flip Flop Wines for delicious and affordable ($7 per bottle) fresh summer wine. I had the Pinot Noir and it was great!  

What is your favorite summer wine??

What's better when you are 
in the sunshine than a Blue Moon??

El Torito Grill

A MUST Try:

I had never been to Anaheim, CA before. This October I went for the 2010 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference. El Torito Grill was one of the first restaurants we tried and I think we went back three times! It was delicious. 

Not only is their food fresh, they bring most of it to your table and make it right in front of you. The guacamole was awesome, especially after a long day of working. We also ordered the Patron Perfect Margarita which was also made table side. Perfect is a great name for this drink because it is the BEST marg I have ever had! 

Asian Inspired

If you ask me where I would like to eat I almost always will say Thai food!! While we were in San Francisco we had the opportunity to try the Asian inspired E&O Trading Company. A good friend recommended this place and it did not disappoint. I had the mushroom stir fry and it was dynamite!  The veggies we crunchy and fresh. The sauce was rich, but not too salty. Everything has a little twist on it making the dishes new and interesting. 

The portions were ample and the service fantastic. Decor is very open with a Southeast Asian feel. Tables aren't crowded, so it isn't too loud. If you are looking for good food, nice ambiance and friendly atmosphere try E&O Trading Company in San Francisco.

"Best Thing I Ever Ate"

These delicious corn fritters were featured on Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" You can get them at E&O Trading Company in San Francisco, CA and I must say they are pretty tasty! 


 http://www.eotrading.com/

Amazed

 

Beautiful. 

Buon appetito!

I had a tasty meal at a place called Bella Vita Brick Oven Pizza and Italian Restaurant in NYC. It is a small place with enormous charm. 

I had the II Classico which had grilled chicken breast, sun-dried tomato, arugula, fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers for only $7.10. Add a glass of wine and you have yourself a pretty good meal.

"Bella Vita, which means "beutiful life" in Italian, gives New Yorkers a chance to taste a truly rustic, Naples-style pizza without leaving Manhattan. A descendent of several generations of Neapolitan pizziolli (pizza makers), Charles Toufos sought to carry on the tradition of his mother's Old World Italian Valvano family recipes by bringing them to the New World." -bellavitanyc.com

Skip the big chain restaurants and try some the food that is true to New York City, you will not regret it. Great wine and unbelievable Italian cuisine.  Check it out if you are in the area. 

Take me to NYC, I want to go back for more! Alla Salute!

What are you listening to?

If you are looking for a new and upcoming local artist...you've found one. 

Check it out at music by Kara Laudon

My favorite summer appetizer....spring rolls!

I love going to my favorite Thai restaurant, sipping on fresh made ginger ale & eating spring rolls with my mom. It's a great time to relax, have a fun conversation & taste some amazing flavors.

Thai Vegetable Spring Rolls

-1 carrot, peeled 
-1 green pepper
-1 red pepper
-1 cucumber
       ** All veggies should be cut into long matchsticks
-Romaine lettuce leaves
-6 ounces Asian rice vermicelli noodles
-Round rice sheets
-Sprigs Thai basil
-Mint

1. Chop all of the veggies & set aside.
2. Boil and drain noodles per package instructions. Cool under water. Set aside.
3.  One at a time, soak rice sheets into warm water to soften. Use a shallow dish. Lay a rice sheet on a towel covered work surface. Working quickly, place some noodles, vegetables, lettuce, & a few Thai basil and mint sprigs on the near side of the rice round. Roll mixture forward (in egg roll fashion) one turn then add additional vegetables.  Tuck ends inward and finish the roll.

Repeat steps 1-3 then serve with your favorite peanut dipping sauce.

Savor these little treats. They're fresh, light & delicious!

It's the simple things

It's one of those "I can't wait until lunchtime days." 

Quick snack to hold me over. Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil Triscuits with a slice of tomato and mozzarella cheese. 

Just delicious!

Nap time...

Mama Mia!

Lately, my favorite thing to eat is PITA PIZZA!

I made this for dinner last night paired with a glass of red wine. Sitting outside in the warm sun with my shoes off & a good meal. I felt like I was in Italy!

Quick & Easy Pita Pizza

1. Take a whole wheat pita

2. Spread some hummus, avocado, pasta sauce, roasted garlic or pesto over the pita

3. Top with your favorite toppings (my favorites are cherry tomatoes from the garden, Greek olives, sliced pepperoncinis, hearts of palm or sauteed zucchini)

4. Cover with cheese (fresh mozzarella, goat or feta)

5. Pop in the microwve for 90 seconds

6. Sprinkle fresh basil over warm pita pizza and you have yourself a delicious meal!

Have fun with it & enjoy! 

XX,

K

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did...

So true. 

Red, White & Blue

Looking forward to a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Here are a few yummy treats I am making this year:

Patriotic Flag Cake- This will put everyone in the spirit. Made with fresh raspberries and blueberries, this cake is the perfect end to a beach cookout.

Mini Watermelon Slices (Made with Jell-O)- Kids love these! Take a lime, cut in half, scoop out the fruit. Make red Jell-O and fill the peels. Stick mini chocolate chips in for the seeds. They are cute and delicious on a hot day.

Sparkling Mango with Mint Cocktails- Mix together pure mango nectar, fresh like juice, and Moscsato d' Asti sparkling wine and a few fresh mint leaves. Garnish with fresh cucumber spear. Yummy! 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family, love & fireworks! 

XX,

K

Potatoes!!!

 A few facts....

• In 1995, the potato was the first vegetable grown in space.
• The potato is the world's 4th most important food crop after rice, wheat and corn.
• The potato is grown in more countries than any crop but corn.
• Potatoes are grown in all 50 states of the USA and in about 125 countries throughout the world.
• The U.S. is the fifth largest producer of potatoes in the world.
• More than one in ten potatoes produced in the U.S. is exported.
• The Russet is the most common potato found in your grocery store.
• Europeans consume twice as many potatoes as Americans per year.
• Potatoes are second only to milk as the most consumed food in America.
• At least in the U.S. "spud" is slang for potato.

* Facts from Best Potato Recipes Collection, 2010

Warm Dijon Potato Salad

5 medium red or gold potatoes
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 green onion, sliced
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper  

Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover 

Bring to a boil 

Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender

In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients

Drain potatoes and cut into cubes; add to the mayonnaise mixture (Mayo, cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, S & P) and gently toss to coat

Serve immediately 

Yummy! 

xx,
K

Guilty Pleasure

My all-time favorite spot to get a little pizza and relax is the Grotto in The Golden Nugget, Las Vegas.

I start off with a small Grotto chopped salad. It is zesty and fresh. Then I make the difficult, and sometimes impossible, decision between the Margherita & the Capriciosa pizzas. Both are delicious! If you ever get a chance stop by this place, take it. They also have a great happy hour with unbeatable prices.

Cin Cin, 
K