Happy Birthday, Jessie!

Today marks the 26th birthday of my bubbly and ball-of-fire friend Jessie.

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I had the good fortune of landing on Jessie's floor freshman year of college.  The second I saw this super athlete (rolling out her uber strong muscles on one of those rolly pins while spilling out fabulousness and enthusiasm for all things college, soccer, and life at 100 miles a minute), I knew I had to finagle my way into her circle of friends. 

Luckily, she fell for my tricks and we became the best of buds living together for the rest of our years at Williams.  When it came time to say goodbye to our beloved Williamstown, the two of us headed off to Boston where we bunked up together in a cozy little spot on Beacon Hill.  I loved our creaky, old, 3-story walk-up - slanted floors, mice, windy stairs and all.  Especially on nights when I came home to a delicious, mouth-watering, candlelit meal.  Which was almost every night of the week. 

While Jessie's now across the country living with her wonderful fiance in Brooklyn, I still feel like she's right by my side.  Ned: you're a lucky man.  

And she's still a super athlete:

Her and Char at the finish line of the NYC marathon this fall

xoxo

KK

Dinner with Miss. Bossy Balloons

So I know you're eager to hear about the weekend (and if you're not, you should be!), but you're going to have to wait just one day more.  But I promise - what I've got for you instead will make you totally forget (and glad for) the delay.

Back to my Boston trip last week:
So post amazing dinner at the Bristol Lounge Wednesday night, we – in true Krieg style – zonked out.  My family has an uncanny-like ability to sleep within seconds of our heads hitting a pillow. 

My brother Sammers

The most seasoned among us don't even require a pillow.  The art can be done while upright.

That night, we started a movie of some kind, but I was out before we got through the previews so I couldn't tell you what it was.  The next morning my mom and I were up early to hit the Four Seasons gym and then off to do some power shopping before I needed to head to my meetings.  (My dad had done his work-out hours before and was already simultaneously listening into six quarterly earnings conference calls while drafting a new client portfolio strategy and picking up the top market headlines from Bloomberg which was flickering on the TV in the background.  Someone has to earn the money that the rest of us spend.) 

On our way to Neimans, we started chatting about my gorgeous sis’ career path.  (Where is she you ask?  Unlike me, she has a super intense job where she actually has to work more than 40 hours a week.  When you get home from work after a 15-hour day, the thought of cranking out a posting to all of you isn’t all that enticing.  Sorry guys.  If you’re lucky, she’ll be back soon.  Maybe later today.  You never know.) 

Anyway, I casually mentioned that my dream job would be going into business with my sis.  We’d be doing something creative, Gretch would be the brains and the beauty behind our operation, but I would be the boss.  “That's too funny.  I have to be the boss of everything too,” my mom said.  “Sometimes I don't get it.  Gretch and I are so similar in so many different ways, but somehow she doesn’t have that same itch to be in charge.”

Me: “Well duh – it’s because she’s had to live with me her whole life.  She wasn't ever allowed to be the boss - she was always answering to me.”

The boss topic of conversation came back that evening while at dinner with my mom’s absolute best friend since childhood – Claire – from whom I got my middle name.  (Note to friends: if you’re extra nice to me, you’ll get a kid or two named after YOU.  I like fresh peonies, Domaine Carneros sparkling wine, and Kate Spade anything.) 

 

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The four of us went to 75 Chestnut – an adorable, cozy, little bar and restaurant tucked away off Charles Street in Beacon Hill.  The tiny hideaway was a favorite watering hole for one of my best and most bubbly college friends and I when we lived on the hill together right out of college.  More on her (she’s fabulous) and our days there later.

My dad and I wasted little time getting Claire and Mom to spill stories from their childhood. 

First on Mom as a boss (like me!):

Claire: “Lizzy (your mom) was always creating clubs JUST so she could be the President.  A sailing club, a cooking club, a talking club.  Since I was her best friend, I always got to be Vice President which was a pretty good deal.  In order to be in our club, however, you’d have to do anything Lizzy deemed was appropriate that day.  One day she instructed Carol Schultz that she needed to jump off the roof of the boat house to earn her membership.”

Mom: “But she wouldn’t do it.  So I gave her a nice little nudge.”

Claire: “And then she broke her leg.”

Mom: “But she got in the club.  That’s all that matters.”

Next on Mom's adolescence (as a 10 year old):

Claire:  “You know your mom was the most popular girl in school?  She was the only one wearing a bra in the fourth grade."

Mom: "Hey, it's not all it's cracked up to be."

Claire: "I was as flat as a pancake, but not good old Lizzy here: they called her Balloons Gallun.”

As we chuckled over their side-splitting stories we enjoyed one of 75 Chestnut's finest perks: free cheese and crackers.

 

By the time we got to dessert, we were pretty full, but we decided to test my skills anyway.  There were a plethora of choices on the menu - one of which was their highly recommended Sinful Chocolate Trilogy.  While I tend to stay away from chocolately choices (as noted previously they usually disappoint), my mom was adamant about the Sinful selection - apparently our fine waiter's favorite. 

It was boss against boss.  Me vouching for the seasonal apple crumble and her - the Trilogy.  So we ended up with:

You guessed it: The Sinful Chocolate 

While I tried to snap a photo of the Chocolate madness before anyone secured a bite, my hands were not quick enough to the trigger.

About 24 seconds later the plate looked something like this:

What can I say?  Mom is always right!

Tune back in tomorrow for a cheesy weekend report.

xoxo
KK

Burgers and Burgundy

Oh what a weekend I had!
But before you get to hear about that delightful deliciousness, I have to fill you in on my trip to Boston last week. 

So I’ve got some pretty awesome parents. 

The second my mom found out I had a business trip to Boston last week, she immediately booked a ticket to come join me.  While I’d love to think it was solely because she can’t bear the moments without me, I think my lovely room at the Four Seasons might have had something to do with it.  Oh how us Gallun gals love our luxury hotels.  (Note: I am using my mother’s maiden name here; my dad’s side of the family (the Kriegs) has chosen to prioritize other things in life – quality family time together, saving, giving back to those in need.  To each his own.)

   

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Then at the last minute, my dad decided he would join us as well.  He had a very important family meeting in the city on Wednesday morning and my brother’s Williams College football game at Wesleyan on Saturday morning.  By hitching a spot in our room, he could bridge the time and save the pennies from an expensive flight back to Milwaukee.  I should note that my parents attend every single one of my brother’s Williams College football games, flying from Milwaukee to Boston (2.5+ hours) and then driving the 3+ hour journey from Boston to Williamstown (or to an away game location) every single weekend.  Like I said: pretty awesome parents.  (I hope you appreciate that Sam.  I only got attendance at every other field hockey game when I was in college.) 

Yes, this is my brother's current haircut.  Sam - I think your style last year (see top photo from 2010 Homecoming) had a leg up on this one.

Anyway, I was supposed to get in around 5pm Wednesday evening but due to some delays on the West Coast, my arrival time got pushed back to 7:30.  My parents wasted no time making themselves comfortable – checking into our gorgeous and luxurious room (did I mention how much I love five star hotels?) and then enjoying some drinks at the hotel bar – the Bristol Lounge.  When I arrived they were already a few beers in, on a first-name basis with the maitre-d, bartender, and sommelier (even though they don’t drink wine), and having a ball of a time.  Like I said: pretty awesome parents.  I quickly joined in on the fun ordering a glass of Malbec and filling them in on the latest.

The night was already bound to be a blast, but then we noticed it was a special evening at the Bristol Lounge: Burgers and Burgundy Wednesday.  Now I was born and raised an American so I LOVE a good, juicy, cheesy burger, but I also date a European so I have some serious respect and adoration for fine Burgundy reds.  In fact, my boyfriend and I have gone wine tasting in the Burgundy TWICE – more on that later.  To add to this already fantastic offering, the Bristol Burger is supposedly world-renowned, winning awards all over the place.  My dinner decision had been made.

My dad - while a burger lover – is also a beer lover, so he decided to stick with his pilsners and try one of the burgers a la carte.  The two of us each went for a different version – me the Montrachet with a side of mixed greens and him the Croque Madame with the house-made, white truffle fries.  I decided I’d try to be at least a little healthy by opting for the greens instead of those tortuously delicious truffled treats.  My mom went the totally heart-friendly route opting for a salad with chicken. 

When the dinners arrived, however, my mom and I wasted no time snitching a few of my dad’s heavenly fries (as noted previously – truffle can never not be good).  “Have as many as you want,” he told us generously, which we then of course took literally, chomping through his entire portion until they were completely gone.  Sorry Dad, but they were SO good!

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Now onto the burgers: I’ll admit it, like with most things in life, I had extremely high expectations.  I was expecting to be blown away.  The Four Seasons had been set up for failure.  But not only were my expectations met, they were exceeded, and by a long shot. 

The buttery, flaky bun had been toasted to perfection – a soft yet crunchy top and bottom blanket for the absolute treasure chest inside: a beyond divine hunk of prime ground beef oozing with succulent, juicy goodness topped with rich, creamy, silky goat cheese and flavor-filled, mouth-inspiring over dried tomatoes and roasted garlic.  Unreal.

 

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I was in absolute heaven dining on this bellylicious beauty of a burger, but I held myself to only one half of its beastliness.  I also happen to have a serious sweet-tooth and wanted to save room for a final course. 

If you know me, you probably know that I pride myself in being the BEST dessert order-er there ever was.  Yep, that’s right.  I have NEVER made a poor dessert choice.  After having done my rounds on dessert menus around the globe (and even some above the globe – thank you Space Camp! – more on that another time), I have come up with a few quick heuristics to help you also dine in dessert ecstasy.

KK’s Dessert Ordering Rules of Thumb:

1. Never order the chocolate cake.  It’s always bound to disappoint.
2. Anything in the bread pudding, banana, or sticky toffee pudding family is guaranteed to be good.
3. Deep fried is hard to do bad.
4. In the event of emergency, the chocolate brownie sundae is a boring, but solid, back-up option.
   

While these are good things to keep in mind (and will likely steer you in the right direction most of the time), dessert ordering is really an art form that can only be mastered after years of hard-work, experience, dedication, and experimentation.   

Among Bristol’s choices were a Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, a Chocolate Devil's Food Tower Layered with Truffle Ganache, a Pineapple Coconut Financier with a Passion Fruit Reduction, a Dark Chocolate Praline Candy Bar with Cassis Chambord Coulis, and then finally their seasonal special: petite, spiced, maple-glazed, pumpkin donuts with maple pecan ice cream and a sword of chocolate almond brittle.  As soon as he said it, I knew Rule #3 was reigning supreme on this one. 

As would be expected given that I had made the decision, the donuts were decadently godly.  Words cannot even begin to do justice to their perfectly moist texture and lovely yet balanced pumpkin-y maple flavor.  My parents tried to thank me, but I told them there was no need: it was just another day at the office.  (For a coveted spot at my one-week seminar on the Art and Joy of Dessert Ordering, please inquire within.)

Now this was just the start of this fabulous two-day family affair, but since I’ve been told I will soon encounter a bad bout of writer’s block (thanks for the heads up Dickie Boy!), I’m trying to string these tales out as long as I can manage.  So tune back in tomorrow to hear about Thursday night’s hilarious and equally delicious dinner with my mom’s best friend and my middle-namesake: Claire. 

And then we'll get onto this past weekend.

xoxo

KK