Friends for life {3 things I learned in Vegas}

3 Things I learned while in Vegas with a friend of 25 years. 

1. Kids run you ragged, but it may not be a bad thing:

            Gym time may be hard to get in but she stays fit by chasing the kids around and has never looked better.  It also preps you for the long days and Vegas nights running on only 6 hours of sleep.  I still require 8+ hours for normal functionality.

2.  I drink too much and she enjoys “grown up" dinners:

            A glass of champagne was pretty much glued to my hand 24/7.  While she was thinking about where and when the next meal was coming, I was more concerned where I was going to get my next glass of champagne.  We were able to get into Giada’s, a new Vegas restaurant and was able to indulge in wine, champs and great food with out her hearing “Mommy, mommy, mommy”.

3.  Britney Spears and French fries will always be part of our life:

            Although we stayed up late, we were not studding our stuff and twerking in the club, but giggling our way into any restaurant at 1am that was still serving up French fries (and champagne).  To my surprise we still know every word to Britney Spears circa 1998-2002 and still remember the dance moves we had made up to “hit me baby one more time” in 1998.

Friends grow up, move away, and move on to have husbands & kids

(Well hopefully) but friends of 20+ years never seem to change.  We can go a month or 2 without actually talking on the phone, but still know exactly what the other is doing on a daily basis. Time spent together is fun whether it’s riding a Ferris wheel or chatting over a good glass of wine, topped of with many belly laughs.  Oh and lastly, I learned we are still irresponsible enough to let our phones die on a daily basis with out any major concern.

great views from the High roller 

Thank you Vegas! until next time. 

-Suz

Seattle {in 3 days}

It has definitely been the summer of travel for us here at Modernlyfe.  I love traveling to celebrate weddings, especially when they are hosted in fun cites.  The husband and I attended a rustic barn wedding outside of Seattle in July, we were able to play in the city for 3 days and really made the most of the fabulous weather they were having.  Are you heading to Seattle this year? Check out the must do's, see's and eat's below.  

Stay:

W Seattle- Great location, hip but also suitable for small families. We were able to walk to all sights and very close to Pike market. Enjoy a night cap at Trace lounge before heading to bed. To book a room visit here.

Transportation:

Seattle is very walkable (when it is not raining.)  We used Uber to and from the airport as well as into Ballard for dinner. 

Explore:

Chihuly gardens and glass- Located right next to the space needle.  Stroll around the museum and take in the vibrate colors of the twisted glass.  His work is famously displayed at the Belligo in Las Vegas as well as the Seattle airport.

In the gardens

Space Needle- A must for first time visitors but once you have taken in the view explore the city by foot. check out tickets here.

Nordstrom- Lets just say this is the location that started it all.

Pike Market- Check out the aisles of fresh fruit and colorful blooms.  If you time it right you might be able to catch a throwing of the fish demo.

Green Lake- Grab your sneakers and hail a cab.  Enjoy a walk or run around this lake with the locals, just 10 minutes away from downtown.

Don't miss:
Capitol hill and Fremont districts. Emerge yourself in the eclectic and historic areas of Seattle.  Grab dinner at one of the new hip restaurants- see eats-

Eats: 

Pink door- Classic old school Italian food, friendly service with a great patio.  Sit inside and enjoy the band of the night while admiring rustic antiques.  Explore the menu here.

Moorse coffee- Need an afternoon pick me up? stop into Moorse, best all around coffee with unique décor.  Don't be surprised if you get a cute design on top of your latte, that is what they are known for.

cutest latte ever

 Staple and Fancy- Ready to leave the tourist area and visit a “local” spot? Take part in the Chefs tasting menu, which consists of 8-10 small plates of off menu items.  Be prepared to relax, eat and leave overly satisfied. TIP* Go early and visit the attached bar next store.  Reserve a table here.

Café champagne-Don't be afraid to sleep in. Cafe Champagne is great for a late breakfast or lunch, enjoy fresh pastries and quiche that would make the French drool.

Biscuit bitch- Great for breakfast or lunch, we were there for breakfast.  Order at the counter and grab a seat, fast friendly service with gluten free options! So tasty I’m still craving it.

best looking gluten free biscuit 

Marjorie- Enjoy dinner on the cute patio, a local favorite with friendly service. *TIP try the non alcoholic  drinks.

Pike place chowder-Noted for the best clam chowder in town.  They offer many tasty chowder options.  Grab a table outside and rub shoulders with visitors and locals alike. It was 80 degrees when we were there and the patio was full that says something.  Don’t forget to get some sourdough bread on the side.

Crab sandwich 

Drinks:

Radiator whisky- Love trying unique bar/restaurants?  make sure to put this on your list.  They showcase unique bourbons and whisky's of course.  Go for the tasting and try 3 flavors, you will not be disappointed.  Located above Pike Market grab a window seat in enjoy the view.  Review the drink menu here.

enjoying a bourbon on the rocks

Purple wine bar- Very close to the W hotel.  Get the night started at the circular bar right in the middle with a flight of wines from around the world.

The tasting room- Great spot to taste local wines, they have games you can play while sipping.

Clearly we had a wonderful time and did not waste a minute, we finished the weekend just outside of Seattle in Cle Elm for Emily and Davids pinterest worthy wedding.

Hope you enjoy your stay.
XoXo
ML 

Weekend in San Ynez

We are fortunate to live in Southern California, which means we can take some pretty cool weekend trips.  Last weekend we took a scenic drive up to San Ynez for some wine tasting/drinking with a small group of friends... or maybe large, there were 12 of us.  Accommodations can be a bit limited, be prepared to stay in a bed and breakfast like ForFriendsInn or the largest hotel San Ynez has to offer, the Marriott San Ynez.  We had a comfortable room at the Marriott which offered everything you needed for a quick weekend get away.  Our first group dinner was held at  The Hitching post ll, this home town restaurant had a cameo in the "Sideways" movie back in 2003.  The simple western theme rooms adorned with wall paper and cloth drapery takes you back in time, little county little 70's.  The wait staff is friendly and helpfully when choosing from their many wines.  Come hungry, each entree comes with a starter, and entrees are rather hardy.  Fresh fish specials are always on hand for the non meat eaters or a lighter fare option.  The experience was great and food was even better definitely worth a reservation. 

1.) Our "tasting" day started a little later then usual. Our first stop close to 12:30pm was Zaca Mesa.  A cute farm like winery which started in the 1970's known for their  Rhone like grapes Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, and Roussanne.  

2.) The next stop was the well know Foxen estate.  The wines were great and on a nice day you could let time pass while enjoying the view of rolling hills.  Foxen uses the term "pioneer" in the most modest way, with ancestors purchasing the land back in the 1800's.  Foxen Tinaquaic is the only dry farmed vineyard in the region.  That being said, they truly only rely on mother nature to nourish the vines, which happen to be the original rootstocks.  Hows that for a little bit of history. 

With limited time, we hurried down to the tasting room mecca of Los Olivios.  We parked in front of Byron, who is well known for their pinots.  The vast vineyard is defiantly one to check out on the next visit, the wines ranked at the top of our list.  Visit their website for special events, rumor has it the big 

5-0 is around the corner Byron wines

No wine tasting is complete with out a sweet snack.  For this last stop we wandered over to Saarloos & Sons satisfying the sweet tooth with mini cupcakes.  The wines are creatively named and promises to appeal to the likes of everyone.  I found that the tasting menu was a bit all over the place not really follow the typical light, medium, bold, sweet routine the palate is use to.  That being said, I really enjoyed tasting here.  The houses decor and large picnic tables and fire pits in the front make it very welcoming.  Staying open late helps as well.  

After a hours of tasting we worked up an appetite for some fabulous food.  Luckily for us The Wine Merchant a rather new kid on the block was just a few blocks away.  They focus on Mediterranean cuisine, options they served from the deli before creating a 5 star dining experience.  Choice from steak, fish and even gluten free pizza *warning* deciding on just one entree may be difficult.  Portions are large you may want to share a few items. Check them out Here

All in all a great weekend with friends!! stay turned for other local weekend stay-cations. 

Xoxo

ML

Crush on Chateaneuf De Pape

On our recent trip to Europe, we stopped in the well-known wine appellation of Chateauneuf De Pape. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the largest appellation in the Rhône, producing only two wines, a red Châteauneuf-du-Pape (which represents 94 percent of production) and a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The area is beautiful, dotted with castles and oozes in European countryside charm. And of course, wineries and their picturesque Chateaux fill the landscape at every turn.

We only had time to visit a few, and surprisingly most were very easy to access - no appointment necessary. And FREE.

Most notable stops were La Tour St Micheal, Clos du Mont-Olivet, Fortia and Beaurenard.  In general, the wines in this region (primarily red) are dark in color, powerful red fruit flavors and red fruit and overall rich aromas. 

A gem in Chateaneuf De Pape area is the medieval town of Avignon. Avignon is famous as it is the city to which the Popes fled when leaving the corruption of Rome in the 14th century.  Encapsulated behind the old city walls, the area is bustling with locals and tourists alike enjoying local Provencal cuisine in any one of the many culinary options or wine bars. The town seems to blend old world and modern - restaurants range from local hole in the wall joints to high end gelato boutiques straight from the likes of Paris. Its provides such a good ambiance overall and the good food is hard to miss in this small town.

To stay: 
Hotel D'Europe - Central in Avignon for easy access to the town's amenities. The surrounding wineries are minutes away via rental car.

Chateau De Varenne - An authentic small castle residence, the Chateau was built in 1738 but totally renovated in recent years. We stayed here! The building and grounds are gorgeous and feels very old world French.

Hostellerie Chateau des Fines Roches - Looks like a real live Castle for princesses and Knights. Seems like it would be a good experience. The property also makes wine - head down the road to the other wineries (mentioned above) for something of better quality.

The absolute best find: A liquor store with a variety of French Wines - in glass and in plastic bottles (seriously!). While we can't say much for the wine quality found among the shelves, it surely satisfied our appetite for late night refills. 

Auvoir for now!

This is a little late, but I had to try it first before approving and passing the recipe along to you.  This fabulous looking and tasting meal was made on Valentines day night by my husband.  He enjoys cooking on special occasions, mainly because he just does not have the time during the week.  I love when he cooks because he spares no expense and we get to seek out different ingredients.  Although, this specific recipe does not including anything out of the ordinary it was a treat to indulge in fresh pasta.  Does the recipe call for lobster...? YES! and we are lucky enough to have the well known Santa monica seafood right around the corner.  They are known for serving up the freshest fish from around the world responsibly sourced, including Maine lobster {see more about Santa monica seafood HERE.}
Most nights I throw together dinners trying to alter a recipe or experience with something "new".  It is great to savor these less frequent moments while cooking together in the kitchen.
Have a great bottle of wine you have been waiting to open? stop waiting and open it now.  The sauce will need to simmer for about 30 minutes so sit back, connect and sip on the "special occasion" wine.  We enjoyed a 2006 French pinot noir gifted to us this past Christmas. I hope you enjoy.
The hubby found the recipe at Yummly.

Lobster Fra Diavolo 

INGREDIENTS

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 (1¼-lb.) lobsters, cleaned, tails cut into 6 pieces, claws cracked open, bodies reserved
½ cup flour
2 tsp. crushed red chile flakes
1 tsp. dried oregano

5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp. tomato paste
½ cup cognac or brandy
1 cup seafood or fish stock
1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes in juice, crushed
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb. bucatini pasta, cooked
1 tbsp. chopped parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat oil in an 8-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Toss lobster pieces (including reserved bodies) in flour, shake off excess, and add to pot; cook until shells turn red, about 6 minutes. Transfer lobster pieces to a plate; set aside. Add chile flakes, oregano, and garlic to pot; cook until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook until lightly caramelized, about 2 minutes. Add cognac; cook until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add stock, tomatoes, and bay leaf; boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, partially covered, until thickened, about 30 minutes. Return lobster to pot; cook until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add pasta; toss with sauce. Transfer to a large serving platter; sprinkle with parsley

Wine Wednesday: Alma Mora Malbec

Oh hey, our first wine post on the blog!  Cheers to that!

Last weekend we uncorked a bottle of this malbec.  

Honestly, you can never go wrong with Malbec.  The Argentinian red wine mostly resembles the love child of a pinot noir and cabernet - generally light but also full of body.  This complexity is largely due to the low humidity experienced across Argentina wine country, and the proximity to the Andes Mountains and glacial regions in the south provides superb conditions for organic wines as well.  

This particular bottle is the Finca Las Moras (Alma Mora) Malbec from the Pedernal Valley of Argentina. 

The hint of fresh florals on the nose gives ample curiosity for this relatively unknown wine.  True to traditional Malbecs, it balances the rich and initial spice with hints of vanilla in the finish.  I would love to pair this wine with an asian beef dish; perhaps mongolian beef or spicy stir fry to elevate the wine's jammy boldness.  

Overall it was great wine for the average price.  Vague online results suggests this bottle would go for $12-15...what a deal!

Don’t know about you but I’m so ready for happy hour!  What are you drinking this week?