Farewell & early birthday

Happy long weekend! We're having my farewell and birthday celebrations here.

PART I

I don't want to talk about it too much so here's a quick snippet.

5:30PM Vinsite with Eliza for a wine tasting. We each bought a bottle of Vevi from Spain.

(image from Vine Merchants)

~6PM Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro

I had the Dark Oasis (rum, passion fruit puree, cayenne, etc) and Summer Solstice (gin, strawberries, etcetera).

Eliza and I chatted for a long time. I got a little tipsy.

~7:30-8:30 Walked around because my friends are late. Always.

~8:30PM Thirsty Monk with CeCe, her boyfriend Joel, and sister Kendra


I got a flight of dark beers.

My former co-worker Nathan and his wife Anna came by.


Then my girl Sarah and her husband, Jason, who used to work at the preschool years ago!


Finally, Yancey arrived.

~10PM French Broad Chocolate Lounge where I had an Ultimate Ice Cream maple and bacon ice cream float with coconutty beer

PART II

Today was spent hungover, baking/cooking, and eating burgers over at Robbie & Svitlana's. Jeff, Kyle, and my roommate were the guests.




I made a banana and coconut pancake cake. I used anything I could find at home in between the layers: banana, strawberries, blackberries, apple butter, caramel cream, chocolate pastilles...






Gluten-free and vegan Mojito cupcakes worked! I decided to try cake pops thanks to a tip from Ian from Sugarbomb Bakery: tap off excess chocolate.


Jeff loved Hungry Girl's sassy Southwest egg rolls, a recipe reminiscent of Chili's item by the same name. Easy and good. I used fiber-packed tortillas. I forgot to take a picture before they were all consumed.

(image from Hungry Girl)

I skewered some fruit (bananas and apples) then put some coconut shreds and chocolate on top.

They bought so much meat that Yancey had 2 more burgers for dinner. I had one patty with spinach.

Sorry Yance, this is not a good picture...

Glory of Asheville Saturdays

Today was my last day for Saturday tailgates... and no Take the Cake! I did get my favorite from Night & Day Bakery: pistachio olive oil cake slice and a peach pie baby from Pies in Disguise.



Then I hit the gym. I lifted great today except biceps. Everyone brought their boyfriend/girlfriend or fiance. I didn't get that memo nor would I have someone to bring. I guess it's because it's the holiday weekend.

I decided against Centergy, came home, and got mom for lunch at Morning Glory Cafe. She ordered the Mountain Man breakfast and I got both the pimento cheese sandwich and basil pesto chicken sandwich. I ate 1/4 of a each and half of mom's biscuit with Imladris Farms jam. Yum yum. So full.



I stopped by to see a friend about making burgers for tomorrow's lunch. I'm expecting only like 10 people.

I have to buy burger buns, fruit (she's doing the veggies for me), and baked goods. I'm thinking gluten-free Mojito cupcakes and peach cobbler.

The gluten-free cupcakes I made last night were quickly thrown out. It was too thick. I don't know... either way, I need to quit baking soon. Is there anything else I need to bake before I get this hobby taken away for a long while?

First, let's take a nap.

A soft spot in my heart: Canada

I've always had a soft spot for Canada. I went last year. I have family in Calgary, where they have their annual Stampede, a combination rodeo and fair. I used to go when I was young.


They also have Banff. Beautiful.


We also went on a 12-hour road trip across the Rockies to Vancouver once. I'd love to go back.

I plan on going to Toronto and definitely the artsier Montreal within the next year or two.

Happy Canada Day!


I want to make some Nanaimo bars. There are a ton of varieties as shown by Cakespy.

(image from Serious Eats)

Other related Canadian foods:

• Saskatoon berries, which I had in chocolate
• Maple syrup, duh
• Caribou, also Minnesota right?
• Poutine, which I've heard of and thought was quite interesting:

(image from Momofukufor2)