2024 Books

01 Wednesday Jan 2025

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  1. The Women Kristin Hannah (Best book I read this year)
  2. West End Girls Jenny Colgan
  3. Not Another Christmas Rom Com A.J. Pine
  4. The Best Worst Christmas Kate Forster
  5. The Christmas Book Hunt Jenny Colgan
  6. Iris is More Than Ok Natalie Cooper
  7. Studies at the School by the Sea Jenny Colgan
  8. I invited Her In Adele Parks
  9. The Lioness of Boston Emily Franklin (Second favorite book of the year)
  10. Slow Dance Rainbow Rowell
  11. Yellowface R.F. Kuang (Least favorite book of the year)
  12. Crave Tracy Wolff
  13. The Nauty, The Nice & The Nanny Willa Nash (Trash)
  14. Delicious Ruth Reichl (always a favorite)
  15. The Paris Novel Ruth Reichl
  16. The Bookshop on the Corner Jenny Colgan
  17. The Heiress Rachel Hawkins
  18. Close Knit Jenny Colgan
  19. Lady Jayne Disappears Joanna Davidson Politano
  20. Silver Girl Elin Hilderbrand
  21. The Bee Sting Paul Murray (DNF it was so bad)
  22. The Night I Died Anne Frasier
  23. Happy Place Emily Henry
  24. This Summer Will Be Different Carley Fortune
  25. Beach Read Emily Henry
  26. The Wanderer Robyn Carr (horrible)
  27. Ruthless Vows Rebecca Ross
  28. Mrs. Nash’s Ashes Sarah Adler
  29. Resistance Women Jennifer Chiaverini
  30. The Answer is No Fredrik Backman
  31. When the Moon Hatched Sarah A Parker
  32. What You Are Looking For is in the Library Michiko Aoyama (This was so good)
  33. Listen for the Lie Amy Tintera
  34. Court Tracy Wolff
  35. The Last Bookshop in London Madeline Martin
  36. North and South Elizabeth Gaskell
  37. A Girl of the Limberlost Porter Gene Stratton (I loved this: we watched the movie as kids but I had never read the book before)
  38. Faking Christmas Cindy Steel
  39. The God of the Woods Liz Moore
  40. Preparing for Easter C.S. Lewis
  41. Heartless Hunter Kristen Ciccarelli
  42. House of Flame & Shadow Sarah J Maas
  43. The Exception to the Rule Christina Lauren
  44. A Grief Observed C.S. Lewis
  45. The Italian Girls Debbie Rix
  46. Covet Tracy Wolff
  47. Funny Story Emily Henry
  48. Crush Tracy Wolff
  49. Hunting Magic Eels Richard Beck
  50. Tower of Dawn Sarah Maas
  51. One Dark Window Rachel Gillig
  52. The Things we Leave Unfinished Rebecca Yarros
  53. Yours Truly Abby Jimenez
  54. The Briar Club Kate Quinn (she’s always amazing)
  55. Iron Flame Rebecca Yarros
  56. Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros
  57. All the Colors of the Dark Chris Whitaker
  58. Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt (Loved)
  59. Just for the Summer Abby Jimenez
  60. The Frozen River Ariel Lawhon
  61. Two Twisted Crowns Rachel Gillig
  62. Celebrate Every Day Shauna Niequist
  63. House of Sky & Breath Sarah Maas
  64. House of Earth & Blood Sarah Maas
  65. Tired of Being Tired Jess Connolly
  66. Empire of Storms Sarah Maas
  67. Kingdom of Ash Sarah Maas
  68. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
  69. Harry Potter 1-7
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 7

75. Narnia 1-7

82. Sense & Sensibility Jane Austen
83. Pride & Prejudice Jane Austen
84. Mansfield Park Jane Austen
85. Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis
86. Small Things Like These Claire Keegan
87. A Casterglass Christmas Kate Hewill
88. The Girls in the Stilt House Kelly Mustian
89. Anne of Green Gables L.M. Montgomery
90. The Fellowship of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkein
91. The Creative Act Rick Rubin
92.The People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry
93. Heading Home to Lavender Cottage Allison Sherlock

93 total for 2024. Not as many as last year, but… I’m ok with it! I think I’m missing a few, but I do a poor job keeping track! Tell me some of your favorite reads of the year so I can add them to my list!!

Soprana | Asheville

06 Tuesday Aug 2024

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Over the past few weeks, my dining adventures have led me to some exciting new spots, each vying for attention in Asheville’s vibrant culinary scene. The list of new restaurants to explore seems endless, and we’ve been diligently working through it, almost needing to dine out daily to keep pace with the influx of enticing eateries in Asheville and its surrounding areas. Recently, I even took a brief culinary detour to Rochester, New York, discovering some exceptional new spots there as well.

Landing at the top of the list last week was Soprana, the new rooftop restaurant at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Downtown Asheville. Soprana promises culinary homage to our region, emphasizing brick oven pizzas, and locally sourced Alpine/Appalachian seasonal menu items, all with the amazing backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Celebrating our friend Anna’s birthday, we began with their house made limoncello which was delightful. Chilled to perfection, and offering a refreshing burst of tart sweetness and a remarkably smooth finish. Traditionally, Limoncello is categorized as a digestif liqueur, meaning it’s meant to be sipped after a meal to aid in digestion, but we couldn’t resist diving into it right away.

We ordered dish after dish, wanting to try everything and share bites all around the table. Burrata cheese with heirloom tomatoes, basil pesto, and a syrupy aged balsamic, The Asheville Pizza, with fresh meats from The Chop Shop, smoking hot honey and fresh mozzarella, a Fig & Prosciutto pizza with balsamic jam and chèvre, and The Tartufo pizza. This was our favorite all around with herb roasted mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, roasted garlic and pecorino Romano. The blend of flavors melded perfectly together and the whole thing was oozing with cheese, it was delicious.

We tried one of each of the desserts. I have to say that I was most looking forward to the tiramisu ice cream sandwich and it was the most disappointing item of the evening. The Olive Oil cake was probably my favorite of the four options. However, none of them were anything special. I’d skip dessert if I went again and opt for more limoncello.

The service was very slow, but our waiter was so friendly and accommodating (separating a check 8 ways), that we didn’t mind much, The atmosphere of the restaurant left something to be desired. It was quiet and stale. No music was playing, and you could tell they were trying for an Italian Bistro vibe, but missing the mark by still having that “im a hotel restaurant” feel. There are a few simple tweaks that could be made to take Sporana to the next level.

Regardless, I think we will be back because of the gorgeous mountain views, the limoncello, and that delicious mushroom pizza. Have you tried Soprana yet? Let me know what you thought!!

Cultura | Asheville

30 Tuesday Jul 2024

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We have been wanting to go to a Cease & Desist special dinner at Culture for a long time now. When the Oaxaca-themed dinner, a fun nod to Taco Bell, made its return, we jumped at the chance to snag a reservation. This exclusive menu, curated by guest chef Luis Martinez, promised bold flavors from Oaxaca with a playful twist that “rings a bell” in the most delicious way.

Four courses included

  1. Late Night Cravings Box
  2. 2. Oaxacan Pizza
  3. Barbacoa chicken
  4. Cinna Twist Corn Mochi and Huitalacoche Ice Cream

Describing this meal as underwhelming would be an understatement. The first course consisted of a variety of items: quesadillas, tacos, crunch wraps, and potatoes. While the potatoes were decent, they were notably lacking in flavor, particularly salt. Fortunately, the delicious salsas provided helped remedy this shortcoming. However, my chicken quesadilla contained a sizable chicken bone—something that might be forgiven if the food were exceptional, but unfortunately, it was not. The crunch wrap and taco also fell short in the flavor department, again only salvaged by generous amounts of salsa.

The second course was a tortilla pizza. I’m surprised to read chorizo in the description because I definitely did not get any of that flavor in this bite. Bland beans was pretty much the only flavor that came through in this dish. And that hint of… ‘these are probably old’ beans was thrown in there, just for fun.

The third course was beautifully presented, featuring roast barbacoa chicken, white beans, pickled veggies, and homemade tortillas. The tortillas were excellent, but unfortunately, the rest of the dish fell flat in terms of flavor, leaving us craving more—though not more food, just more taste. A comment was even made that our local grocery store offers a better rotisserie chicken, which I find hard to dispute, especially given its much more reasonable price. Interestingly, a recent review of this restaurant mentioned the chicken was excessively spicy. In contrast, the chicken we had was completely devoid of flavor. Perhaps the restaurant adjusted the seasoning to avoid previous complaints, but at the very least, a bit of salt could have made a difference.

The real fail for me was the dessert, The texture of the ice cream was like stringy rubber that was sticky and gummy. The flavor, I can’t even tell you. It was absolutely off putting. A blend of silly putty and mushroom and cane sugar. I can’t remember the last time I actually spit food out of my mouth… maybe it was a cake I made with baking soda instead of baking powder… dunno. I was so excited about the corn mochi “churros” because I LOVE mochi. After tasting so many different types in Japan, I was hopefully that these at least would redeem the disappointing dinner. However, they were grey in color and sadly grey in taste.

Needless to say, we left more food than we actually ate. A lot of it was excessively oily. All of it lacking in flavor. The dessert was just so wrong. And please hear me, I will try ANYTHING and my food repitoir is VERY broad. These thoughts were not put down by people who have shallow palates and limited food allowances. I would like to try Cultura when the regular chef, Eric Morris, is cooking, but I’m not sure even that will tempt me to return anytime soon.

Sorry Cultura. Huge miss for me.

Luminosa | Asheville

16 Thursday May 2024

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Luminosa, the long anticipated new Asheville restaurant, seamlessly blends traditional Italian flavor with local Appalachian ingredients and has finally opened its doors! Since the disappointing opening of Gimelli, I have been longing for an Italian restaurant that can live up to our rather high expectations. Brought to Asheville by chef Graham House, formerly of Sovereign Remedies (Asheville), “Graham aims to incorporate an unmistakable Asheville flare into Luminosa’s Italian driven cuisine.” (per Luminosa’s website)

On opening night for a restaurant can range from being an extraordinary event never to be replicated, or an unforeseen disaster. Having experienced both, I approached the newly opened Flat Iron Hotel with a mix of excitement and apprehension. This historic building, a beautiful example of Beaux-Arts architecture standing tall between Wall Street and Battery Park, has been revitalized with a boutique hotel, rooftop bar, and of course, Luminosa. Home also to Chai Pain (James Beard Award winner) and a few other shops and cafes.

Luminosa’s menu features wood fired pizza, freshly made pasta, delicious entrees, and unique cocktails. As is our custom, we asked the server for his favorites, and ordered accordingly. We started with a crisp red wine, and a refreshing gin cocktail with ginger and raspberries. Our appetizer arrived, crispy bone marrow tater tots, followed by a gorgeous Nduja pizza, drizzled with balsamic glaze that enhanced its flavors. We finished with a cappelletti pasta adorned with ramps, ricotta, green garlic and a sprinkling of pecorino. For dessert we shared a delightful olive oil soft serve with hints of lemon and almond – absolutely perfect and delicious

While our server was very kind, the pizza crispy and bursting with flavors, and the soft serve ice cream perfection itself, the rest of the meal fell a bit short. The tater tots wished for more salt while the pasta boasted entirely too much of it. The ambiance of the restaurant was odd, with no music playing, which might be chalked up to opening night kinks that needed ironing out.

I am curious to try the coffee shop that they have in the mornings and we always love a good rooftop. I would certainly return for that ice cream. But as of now, I’m hesitant about revisiting Luminosa in the near future. Sadly, the search for an extraordinary Italian restaurant in Asheville continues.

Tall Johns

08 Friday Mar 2024

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Nestled amidst the vibrant culinary landscape of Asheville, in the heart of Montford, lies Tall John’s, a hidden gem that never fails to impress. This establishment prides itself on offering meticulously crafted classic dishes, tailored to satisfy diverse palates. From the moment you step through the door, you’re greeted with an ambiance that exudes warmth and sophistication, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

I am consistently delighted by Tall Johns. Their menu is a testament to culinary excellence, boasting a carefully curated selection of dishes that are as inventive as they are delicious. Each bite is a symphony of flavors, expertly crafted to tantalize the taste buds and leave you craving more. And believe me, I am always craving more!

One standout dish that never fails to captivate my palate is the steak tartare, served with crispy saltines that add the perfect crunch. Paired with a freezer-cold martini that maintains its icy chill from start to finish, it’s a combination that never fails to impress.

But the culinary delights don’t stop there. The burrata with winter citrus, and pomegranate, and the glazed beets with goat cheese are both masterpieces of balance and texture. At the heart of every creation lies the secret ingredient – the infusion of fresh herbs. A crunch of mint with the tartare, or soft dill sprinkled on the beets. These harmonious blends transcend mere culinary artistry, transforming each bite into an unforgettable experience, elevating each dish to new heights.

One of the highlights of dining at Tall John’s is the opportunity to sit at the bar overlooking the bustling kitchen, where you can witness the artistry and precision of the culinary team as they prepare each dish with care and precision.

What truly sets Tall John’s apart, however, is the attention to detail evident in every aspect of the dining experience. In our city known for its culinary prowess, Tall John’s stands out, offering an unforgettable dining experience that will leave you coming back for more.

**Elevate your dining establishment to new heights by inviting Gina to indulge in your culinary creations. Embrace the opportunity to showcase your menu and impress one of the influential voices in the food community. Contact us at gmdimartino@gmail.com to arrange for Gina’s visit and get your restaurant the recognition it deserves.

Books I Read in 2023

03 Wednesday Jan 2024

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I really wanted to push the limits this year. I heard a pastor in a podcast talking about how he usually reads about 150 books a year, so I wanted to see if I just went all out and read as much as possible, how many books could I read. I ended 2023 with a whopping 105. Didn’t quite make it to 150, but maybe 2024 will be the year. If you have any recommendations, I would love to hear your favorite books of 2023. I have put ** by my favorites this year. Happy Reading!

  1. **The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
  2. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
  3. A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
  4. **Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
  5. The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy
  6. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
  7. The Princess Game by Melanie Cellier
  8. A Midwinter’s Wedding by Melanie Cellier
  9. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
  10. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
  11. Ditch the Baggage, Change Your Life by Nancy Alcorn
  12. The Princess Pact by Melanie Cellier
  13. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
  14. Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
  15. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
  16. A Princess of Wind and Wave by Melanie Cellier
  17. A Captive of Wing and Feather by Melanie Cellier
  18. A Dream of Ebony and White by Melanie Cellier
  19. A Dance of Silver and Shadow by Melanie Cellier
  20. A Tale of Beauty and Beast by Melanie Cellier
  21. A Crown of Snow and Ice by Melanie Cellier
  22. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
  23. **Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
  24. **Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (read 2x)
  25. Happily Ever Afters by Melanie Cellier
  26. An Island Wedding by Jenny Colgan
  27. Then She was gone by Lisa Jewell
  28. Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan
  29. The Princess Fugitive by Melanie Cellier
  30. Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan
  31. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
  32. God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis
  33. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
  34. The Endless Beach by Jenny Colgan
  35. The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene
  36. **The Covenant of Water by Abraham verghese
  37. Thank you for Listening by Julia Whelan
  38. Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful by Mary Marantz
  39. The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff
  40. **Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
  41. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
  42. The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
  43. **Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Stanton
  44. The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan
  45. Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
  46. The Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter
  47. The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen
  48. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
  49. **Night Road by Kristin Hannah
  50. True Colors by Kristin Hanna
  51. Dawn of the Golden Promise by B.J. Hoff
  52. Sons of an Ancient Glory by B.J. Hoff
  53. Heart of the Lonely Exile B.J. Hoff
  54. Song of the Silent Harp by B.J. Hoff
  55. **Managing Expectations: A Memoir by Minnie Driver
  56. The Loveliest Chocolate Shop by Jenny Colgan
  57. The House by the Sea by Louise Douglas
  58. The Princess Companion by Melanie Cellier
  59. **Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff
  60. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
  61. Sabbath by Dan B. Allender
  62. Miss Newbury’s List by Megan Walker
  63. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
  64. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
  65. The American Wife by Lucyk-Berger
  66. **The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
  67. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
  68. Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
  69. Homecoming by Kate Morton
  70. A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas
  71. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
  72. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas
  73. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
  74. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
  75. **Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry
  76. Lessons at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
  77. The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
  78. Land of a Thousand Dreams by B.J. Hoff
  79. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
  80. Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
  81. Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
  82. Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  83. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan
  84. All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
  85. The Small Rain by Madeleine L’Engle
  86. The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
  87. Be Brave For Me by Elaine Johns
  88. Letters to the Church by Francis Chan
  89. Scotland’s Melody by Katie Stewart Stone
  90. **Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
  91. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
  92. Harry Potter 1
  93. Harry Potter 2
  94. Harry Potter 3
  95. Harry Potter 4
  96. Harry Potter 5
  97. Harry Potter 6
  98. Harry Potter 7
  99. Narnia 1
  100. Narnia 2
  101. Narnia 3
  102. Narnia 4
  103. Narnia 5
  104. Narnia 6
  105. Narnia 7

The Barn

06 Friday Jan 2023

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I don’t know how long I have been following Kristin and The Barn in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Certainly a few years. This dreamy barn, up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where they have cooking classes, and fancy dinners, and culinary experiences. It has been on my “restaurants to try” list for a long time.

Our supper club has slowly been checking these restaurants off the list and when I mentioned The Barn, Laura, my friend (and now boss at The Runner Box), casually said “Oh, that’s my cousin.”

Her grandparents owned the barn, she spent many of her summers there, and even lived there for a while. Now her cousin has renovated it into a gorgeous cooking school where you can bring a group and enjoy amazing food, a beautiful atmosphere, and learn some cooking skills.

The hour and twenty minute drive takes you through the most winding roads, up and down mountains, and back and forth on steep switchbacks. The slow travel allows you to soak in the beautiful scenery and enjoy the tranquil journey through the mountains. Kristin is as charming as she seems online, and upon our arrival presented us with a winter sour (a play on a whiskey sour) and ushered us into the large kitchen to begin preparations for our meal!

Trying to encapsulate the southern cooking of Appalachia, we made homemade graham crackers and fluffy marshmallow cream for chocolate covered moon pies, jammy pickled eggs with trout caviar & creme fraiche, pickled shrimp topping a bright citrus salad, the flakiest buttermilk biscuits, and chicken & ricotta dumplings w winter veggies and shaved Parmesan cheese. Snacks were passed around while we cooked; salty boiled peanuts, creamy pimento cheese, crunchy pickled okra. Everything is as locally sourced as possible. Eggs from a farm up the mountain, trout caviar from a trout farm down the road, local things from the farmers markets in the area.

Not only was it a delicious and gorgeous farm to table meal, we learned a lot, tried new things, and got to be involved in the preparation. I loved the experience of helping to prepare the food I think its always so cool to cook with people. Preparing nourishing food for yourself and for others is an experience that brings you closer together and fills your

I soaked up the entire experience, and loved every minute of it. The beautiful atmosphere, breathtaking views, and quiet mountain vista, and the amazing company. I always fill out these things in my day planner and it asks “what makes you come alive” and I never know how to answer that question, but I am slowly learning about myself, things around food, and people you love, and the table. Those are things that make me come alive. It was truly a ‘fill me up’ experience, one I won’t soon forget.

Shauna Niequest from her book, Bread & Wine:

“What’s becoming clearer and clearer to me is that the most sacred moments, the ones in which I feel God’s presence most profoundly, when I feel the goodness of the world most arrestingly, take place at the table. The particular alchemy of celebration and food, of connecting people and serving what I’ve made with my own hands, comes together as more than the sum of their parts… My best moments have been spent in the kitchen, and many of the most deeply spiritual moments …have taken place at the table.”

*For more information about The Barn https://www.thebarnnc.com

Books I Read in 2022

02 Monday Jan 2023

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My goal for 2022 was 41 books. (The same as my age) But I surprised myself and read 50 books this year! So I’m keeping that same goal for 2023. I’d love to hear about your favorites that you’ve read recently so I can add them to my list!!

  1. Next Year in Havana Chanel Cleeton
  2. Three Wishes Liane Moriarty
  3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shafer
  4. The Bookshop on the Corner Jenny Colgan
  5. The Invisible Corset Lauren Geertsen
  6. The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid
  7. The Eye of the World Robert Jordan
  8. Undistracted Bob Goff
  9. The Diamond Eye Kate Quinn
  10. Atlas of the Heart Brene Brown
  11. I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet Shauna Niequist
  12. A Discovery of Witches Deborah Harkness
  13. Dessert Can Save the World Christina Tosi
  14. The Christmas Bookshop Jenny Colgan
  15. 500 Miles from You Jenny Colgan
  16. Welcome to the School by the Sea Jenny Colgan
  17. Shadow of Night Deborah Harkness
  18. Anne of Windy Poplars Lucy Maud Montgomery
  19. This Time Tomorrow Emma Straub
  20. Persuasion Jane Austen
  21. The Midnight Library Matt Haig
  22. The Food Explorer Daniel Stone
  23. Waymaker Ann Voskamp
  24. Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
  25. The Paris Apartment Lucy Foley
  26. Anne’s House of Dreams Lucy Maude Montgomery
  27. Delancy Molly Wizenberg
  28. The Minimalist Home Joshua Becker
  29. The Lake House Kate Morton
  30. Rules at the School by the Sea Jenny Colgan
  31. Anne of Green Gables Lucy Maud Montgomery
  32. The Things we do for Love Kristin Hannah
  33. Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe Jenny Colgan
  34. The Little House by the Sea Tracy Rees
  35. Ordering Your Private World Gordan MacDonald
  36. Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl
  37. The Next Right Thing Emily P. Freeman
  38. The Invisible Kingdom Meghan O’Rourke
  39. The Winners Frederick Backman
  40. The Cafe by the Sea Jenny Colgan
  41. Little Beach St Bakery Jenny Colgan
  42. Garden City John Mark Comer
  43. The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien
  44. Summer at the Little Beach St Bakery Jenny Colgan
  45. The Greatest Gift Ann Voskamp
  46. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek Michele Richardson
  47. Live No Lies John Mark Comer
  48. Christmas at the Little Beach St Bakery Jenny Colgan
  49. Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace Kate Forster
  50. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin

167 Raw | Charleston

19 Wednesday Oct 2022

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It is very rare that a restaurant checks all of our boxes. Even more rare for us to frequent the same place two times in one trip. 167 Raw is definitely an exception. We had been wanting to try their new Bar 167 and had never had time to wait for 167 Raw (they do not take reservations) So we put in our name at Raw and walked over to Bar 167 to grab drinks while we waited for our table to be ready. Bar 167 is stunning. So well designed with a Mediterranean flair. We sat up on the rooftop, enjoyed our beautiful drinks and relaxed until receiving the text to come back to Raw.

We were sat at a high top table at the window. Perfect people watching spot and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant while having enough privacy to enjoy our conversation. Our server was a delight. He had great recommendations and we ordered every. single. one.

Starting the night with a dozen oysters is always the right choice. Being a little bit of purists, we prefer our oysters with just a drop of lemon juice and usually forgo the accompanying sauces. However, the dipping sauce that came with the oysters, some magical mix of vinegar and dill and lemon, was so delicious that we dipped our spoons in and ate it just plain and vowed to try it on our oysters the next time we came. Following the oysters was the Crudo of the day. This raw fish topped with a chili crunch and pistachios is the most amazing thing I have ever tasted. Liz and I each took a bite and then just stared at each other. What. The. Actual. Heck. Amazing. Next came the Tuna Tataki. A large piece of fresh tuna, breaded and flash fried to quickly cook and crisp up the outside but leave the inside raw. It was delicious. So tender. Perfect amount of crunch. Perfect balance of flavor. We finished the night with the Lobster Tostada. The lobster itself was perfection, but it really was competing with the other flavors of the toppings and while all delicious, we probably won’t be ordering it again in the future.

Overall we LOVED this spot. Our server was fabulous and every item he recommended was absolute perfection. The atmosphere of the restaurant is upbeat and energizing. I’d say it gets a 8.5 or 9 out of 10. We loved it so much and wanted to try all the things on the menu but didn’t want to overdo it so… we went back two nights later.

Two Nights Later:

We did almost the same thing. Started at Bar 167 for drinks, went back to 167 Raw when our table was ready. This time we tried some drinks at Raw. The 167 dirty martini: a tequila martini, so smooth, topped with oyster brine and an oyster on the side. The appeal of this drink was that it came with an oyster, but let me tell you it was SO smooth. And a martini with tequila, very interesting. The saltiness of the oyster brine with the sweet earthiness of the tequila… magical. The other drink we ordered was a special that evening and definitely is now one of our favorite cocktails of all time. The Army/Navy cocktail: gin, amaro, lemon juice, bitters. The way the almond flavor came through and blended perfectly with the herbal gin… perfection.

We ordered TWO dozen oysters this second night and topped half of them with the delicious dill magic sauce. Oysters were followed again with the crudo and the tuna tataki. To throw in something new we added the King Crab Mafaldine. Perfectly cooked pasta. With a creamy sauce from heaven and large lumps of king crab. I’m sure everyone thought we were crazy as we sat there in silence, savoring every single bite of that pasta dish, eyes wide with disbelief at the flavors that were catapulting us into food euphoria.

Our server the second night was equally as fabulous. The atmosphere just as electrifying. We LOVE 167 Raw. I will be back in Charleston in 3 weeks and we already have plans to visit AGAIN and try their other restaurant 167 Sushi.

167 Raw… Thank you

Bistronomy by NICO | Charleston

17 Monday Oct 2022

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I love bringing foodie people together. And that’s exactly what this dinner was about. I have two friends living in Charleston who had never met each other and both love food, so I planned a meal for us to all enjoy together and then hopefully when I am back in Asheville they can continue to meet up and enjoy the many food options Charleston has to offer.

The first thing I want to acknowledge is that our server was perfection. She was from Paris, very friendly and took care of us so well. She was so fun, we wanted her to sit down and join us for the meal. We absolutely LOVED her and would go back to the restaurant simply because of her.

We started with delicious mixed drinks. Brown Butter-Washed Old Fashioned, Tequila Salad, Get Sauced Give Thanks, Plum Perfect, and a Chocolate Mezcal Martini. Favorites were definitely the Get Sauced and the Chocolate Martini.

For starters we ordered Beef Carpaccio, Goat Cheese Spring Rolls, and a special of the day, the most delicious Cheese Board. While I will say there was an imbalance of flavors in most of our dishes, the cheese board was amazing. The bleu cheese was outstanding and the crusty baguette, pickled veggies and accompanying honey, delicious. The Beef Carpaccio was slightly overwhelmed by the berry hoisin gastrique and dijon creme. What you want to taste in a dish like this is the amazing and full flavor of the beef. Not have it masked by other strong flavors.

For mains we had Scallops with coconut rice, Coq au vin, and curry shrimp soup. The coconut rice was amazing, and the accompanying green curry beurre blanc complimented it perfectly. We enjoyed the Coq au vin and the soup. Both flavorful, and cozy dishes. Everything else was good but not mind blowing.

We finished the night with cappuccinos, chocolate mousse with brandied cherries, and creme brûlée. Again nothing stands out in my mind as supremely excellent.

It was a gorgeous evening and we sat outside in the courtyard enjoying a cool breeze, good food and even better company and conversation. I will highlight our server once again as she was by far the best part of the evening. If you do want to try out Bistronomy by Nico, you will not be disappointed by the amazing service. We would give our experience a 6.5/7 out of 10. While we wouldn’t say no to visiting Bistronomy again, we will choose to visit the many other amazing restaurants in Charleston before returning.