BURGER THROWDOWN!!!!

So tonight started out as just a regular Thursday. We got home, went for a walk and started discussing what to have for dinner. After realizing we didn't have many options, we decided on burgers (always a good choice!). As "Man" (and yes, he actually requested that this is what I call him in my blog posts) started cooking, a debate was brewing between us regarding the best way to form a burger. After a little back and forth, a full on BURGER THROWDOWN ensued. Within seconds we were in the throws of heated duel for the better burger. After 10 INTENSE minutes, we each emerged from our kitchen areas sweaty, out of breath and pumped up to win the championship. Now we just need some judges.

So, here it is! Tonight you are voting in a contest for the better burger. Please vote based on appearance, creativity and perceived taste. Whoever wins will make their burger for everyone who voted!

BURGER A: Bacon, egg and cheese burger. This luscious mound of beef takes everything you love about your morning breakfast sandwich and burgerfies it. 4 strips of crispy bacon, 1 fried egg, melted cheddar cheese and BURGER. MMMM...

BURGER B: Babyback burger ball. Do you like ribs? How 'bout burgers? How about RIBS ON A BURGER? This beef-o-nator starts with a burger and is topped with slowcooked babyback ribs and melted cheddar cheese.

CAST YOUR VOTES NOW!!!

 Which is the better burger?

• 
  Bacon, egg and cheese burger
• 
  Babyback burger ball

view results
Free vote poll

SF Sweets - Fiona's Sweet Shoppe

No surprise, one of my favorite things to do is travel and experience new places. So many of my friends and acquaintances also share this passion and I love hearing about the experiences of others while planning my next adventure. Nowadays, many of us consider ourselves culinary travelers that is, traveling in search of exciting food experiences. I consider myself a member of this group I am always on the search for an amazing new sweet experience! When it comes to sweets, I don't discriminate...candy, chocolate, pastry, cakes, hot, cold, stick-to-your teeth or hard as a rock, if it satisfies my sweet tooth, I'm tickled!

On a recent journey to San Francisco I was, once again, in search of a new candy experience and was lucky enough to stumble across one just around the corner from my hotel. It was a quintessential British sweet shoppe and there I sampled some of the most delicious hard candies I've tried yet. I'm a sucker for toffee and trust me, I sucked on some good ones at Fiona's Sweet Shoppe! ;)

Check out their site, order some toffees and suck away! And if you're ever in San Fran, stop by this teeny little sweet spot for a nibble on your way Chinatown for some dim sum! Mmmmmmm.

DC Sweets - Locolat

I live in the Washington, DC area and have for a few years now. I have to say, I'm so happy with how the culinary situation here continues to evolve. I'm even happier that some wonderful sweet shops seem to be popping up in force lately and while I'd like to keep them all to myself, I shall submit. But, only in hopes that I might move DC into full-fledged sweet frenzy!

Today I stopped in at Locolat in Adam's Morgan. I've been reading about it for a while and was glad to finally sample some of their sweets. I took it slow, having just polished off a chicken and waffle linner (you know, lunch-dinner) at Art and Soul. I only tasted the following: 1 pistachio macaron (the french kind), 1 milk chocolate caramel, 1 dark chocolate caramel, and 1 fleur de sel caramel. Each was delicious but the fleur de sel caramel was special. Her chocolate shell broke with just the right dentile force letting the smooth caramel ooze out, without dripping of course. And just when I started wondering if I'd taste the salt....BANG! There it was. That perfect balance of sweet and savory that reminded me so much the amazing chocolates in the sweetest of cities. Paris, bien sûr! After today, I'll be dreaming of them until my next trip there this October. Luckily I have Locolat to hold me over!

Click here for Locolat!

Sweet and sugary office space

Just thought I'd share with everyone the place I go to feel inspired. This is the office I've set up in my house and what I love most about it is that it has all the sweet colors and patterns I love so much. This space is home to some of my favorite antique treasures and mementos, each chosen with extreme care, from the wire basket holding my wrapping paper collection to each antique Ball jar sitting on the shelf above my desk. Ok, ok, so it's not a place my husband feels inspired but that's ok! Everyone needs a small space in their home that reflects exactly who they are and this is that space for me. 

 

In my dreams, I own a small sweet shop that's covered wall-to-wall in colorful, candy-filled apothecary jars, serves homemade treats and ice cream and looks like a chicly designed gingerbread house.  Not withstanding sanitary issues, there would most certainly be lickable wallpaper!  

My office space is where I meet myself in the middle.  It's the precursor to my dream shop and when I peek inside I imagine all the flowers being sugared and edible, all the ribbons and twine as licorice and swizzle sticks and the tins (currently home to pens and pencils) overflowing with toffee, gummies, big round lollipops and chocolate covered...well chocolate covered anything!

If it looks like an ordinary room to you, that's ok!  But to me, it's my imaginarium.  It's the place I go to plan new adventures, come up with ideas and dream about my gingerbread house.

  

I wish I could swim in these...

I'd like to share with you a photo taken from a very special wedding. This was the first candy buffet I created...officially that is! It was from my own wedding and I was sure I wanted an all white candy buffet. The monochromatic look works with candy, it just does. It's so visually intriguing. The childlike reaction of our guests when they realized the candy was actually there for them was the highlight of my night! Well, after the actual getting married part! Believe it or not, this was a relatively easy display to put together. You'd be surprised at how many delicious (and beautiful!) white candies are out there! Go on...take a dip.

Photo Cred: North Island Photography

Who the heck is Petunia Darling?!

I know you're asking this question, so let me introduce myself! Petunia Darling was a little girl who was so crazy about candy, that she amassed a broad collection of all sorts of sweets. She organized her sweets in a toolbox and quietly hid them under her bed until a special friend, or special affair, was deemed worthy enough for sharing! Lots of folks thought Petunia's confectionery collection foolish, but she treasured every new bit and bite she received as though each were a precious jewel. Every so often Petunia would present a piece or two to the people she loved the most. She realized the only thing she loved more than collecting candy was seeing the joy on the faces of each recipient as they tasted their first bite! 

As Petunia grew older and took on more "serious" endeavors, the collection under her bed dwindled, but her passion remained. Today, Petunia collects, creates and shares tasty tokens and delightful displays, while the "Kate" in her plays the adult.    

By now, you highly intellectual and analytical readers have surely gathered that this little girl Petunia, and this big girl Kate, are one in the same. I've come to bestow upon you and your loved ones the sweetness that you wish to share at your special affairs, and can do so in a variety of wonderful ways! From candy buffets ranging in color scheme and theme, to fabulous favors and even home-baked treats (for the more discriminating among us). If you have a crazy idea, share it! If you think it can't be done...ask!  

Even if you don't need a darn thing from me at the moment, stop on by from time to time and take a peek into my toolbox. I'll do my best to share some sweet ideas, resources and maybe even a little inspiration!