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Mrs. Gridiron’s Favorite Things

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This Saturday is my birthday! I believe life gets better every year, even with all of its ups, downs, twists and turns. We are so blessed this year with Baby #2 on the way – family is the most precious gift. I’m grateful for another year to learn, to grow and live life to the fullest. So in honor of my birthday, we decided to celebrate Oprah style with a list of my favorite things from over the years.  I have so many moments and memories but these are a few that stand out.

1. Getaway trip to Kuai – Coach and I spent our 1st anniversary in Kuai, HI and we completely fell in love with the island. It is not as commercialized as some of the other islands and the locals are so friendly. If you visit I highly recommend The Merriman’s Fish House for dinner. It is where we spent our anniversary and we had the most magical evening including spectacular views and amazing food!

2. A cookbook to treasure – I have my mom’s copy of Necessities and Temptations (The Junior League of Austin) with her notes and changes. As such it is one of my most prized items I inherited from her. What I love about this cookbook is its terrific blend of savory and sweet all with a homemade Southern flair.

3. A restaurant we love  – I adore risotto and Taverna has the best in town. They always have a risotto special so I get to try different flavor combinations every time I go!

4. Football season – I love football naturally being a football coach’s wife, but specifically I love college football and my LSU Tigers. 

5. Entertaining – Here’s a great entertaining tip. Keep an entertaining journal. It helps you to remember what you served to whom, what your guest’s favorite food and drinks are, what worked well and what you need to change for the next time. 

Love,

Gridirion Top 5: Foodie Travel Trends

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Spring break is just around the corner, and travel planning has begun! Every trip we take starts with planning our food adventures first!  So the focus for our Mrs. Gridiron travel trends is providing tools for planning your culinary experience in these top locations for 2017.

  1. New Orleans, Louisiana: We’re partial to Cajun flavors and adore the bold and spicy cuisine of this diverse city; there is a little bit of everything in NOLA.  The Crescent City goes well beyond the savory, with excellent pastries and decadent desserts to satiate the most intense sweet tooth. A fun, little-known fact: New Orleans is also the home to a thriving Vietnamese community & food scene
  2. Portland, Oregon: Portland has a booming 145 square mile local food + drink scene.  There is something for all travelers, so make sure to plan a culinary tour to experience this cities unique foodie culture.
  3. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Santa Fe is the original home of Southwestern cuisine. It’s top chefs and restauranteurs are constantly reinventing and continue to surprise their patrons, traveling to Santa Fe for culture, art & FOOD!
  4. New York, New York: The big Apple is always a top trend; this culinary heaven is a melting pot of world cuisine. Unique restaurants of various sizes and takes on regional fare can be found in each neighborhood and borrow.  Our personal NYC favorite is Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster in Harlem. We fell in love with Mr. Samuelsson and his genuine nature on TV. He was every bit as gracious in person when he stopped by our table to grant us a picture while we were enjoying the amazing fried chicken at his signature restaurant.

    To get a local taste of the Big Apple, stop by the newly opened Halal Guys in Dallas.

  5. Staycation: Dallas, Texas (Oak Cliff): Quality dining can be found in every corner of Dallas, but here we bring you just south of downtown for a special selection of fine dining restaurants. The foodie experience here appears to be endless. Our #1 in this hotspot is Boulevardier! A must try for French cuisine.  No need to travel far, just jump in your car and enjoy what Big D has to offer.