Grey Skies

Vegetarians beware, because I'm about to rave about meat. I know, it's a little gross and carnivorous, but this was pretty amazing. For my grandmother's birthday dinner, she requested this awesome pork recipe. I had never had it, but my mom and I decided to tackle it.

This is the pork loin after the rub was applied and it sat wrapped in the fridge for a day.

Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil on top, bake at 400* for 1 to 1.5 hours.

It came out like this... Oh man, oh man. We put in the potatoes at about the 1 hour mark. The sweet potatoes were so good!

I love the way the table settings turned out. So simple, but pretty.

At lunch today, I felt like Eloise because if I could live in any building in the world, it would be on the 22nd floor of the Regions building at the University Club. I love seeing all of Jackson (even if the weather is weary).

I love the long distance views. From this view below, you see the Federal Building, Standard Life, One Jackson Place, and JSU campus just beyond (to the left of the top of Standard Life).

After the great weather I was spoiled with this weekend, I don't like all this rain!

Just wanted to share one of the prettiest sunsets I've seen while working downtown. Since the time and season change, I get out of work just about at sunset and I was so surprised and excited to see this last night.

Happy Tuesday!

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The Best Thing I Ever Ate

It's hard for me to even type these words. Both because I just had one of the best culinary experiences of my life and also because that experience rendered me FULL.

I've been dying to try Parlor Market, one of the newest restaurants to open up lately downtown. It's a block from my office, so there was no reason to not try it. With a lunch meeting today in need of a venue, Parlor Market was suggested and I was more than happy to check it out.

Walking in the door and upon being seated, one of the most interesting menus I've ever read was brought out.

If you can't read the font, click to expand because you'll definitely want to take a look. Salads, tacos, sandwiches and some of the neatest Southern fusion appetizers.

Note to self: Must got back and try the veggie sandwich and the chicken sandwich.

I love the open-ness of the kitchen in the back. The neatest thing about the place is that everything is handmade... even the ketchup.

Our waiter told us all about the decor and how everything pays homage to the Parlor Market that was in the same building over 100 years ago. The floors are from an old plantation in Louisiana; at one time there was a leather shop at this location, so they've incorporated leather with seating, etc.; and they have hidden meat hooks (homage to the Parlor Market that was a butcher shop) in the padding of some of the seating. Love all the details.

We started off with deviled eggs, which were fantastic. I know my family would love these because the yolks are mixed with comeback sauce.

I decided on the Shorty Tacos, which didn't disappoint. The slaw made it.

As if that wasn't enough, the dessert menus were brought out.

I got the Mason Jar Cake (if you know anything about me, you know I love the combo of Thanksgiving dinner and I'll eat it just about anywhere, any way it comes) and it was awesome. I wish it had actually been the cranberry sorbet as said on the menu, but the cinnamon/caramel ice cream that came with it was awesome. The best test of all, the coffee was wonderful. So smooth and good. I'd go in there just for a cup of that alone.

I cannot wait to go back with more people. The place is amazing! I love it because it's one of those places were you think, "I must be in a big city. This is too cool to even be here." Guess what? It's a block from of the office and I like it that way.

Phew! I just went to one of the craziest events yet for my job - the ribbon cutting of the Standard Life flats. For those that don't know, the Standard Life is one of Jackson's "skyscrapers" that has recently been renovated into apartments. I love all of the Art Deco.

It was pretty nuts!

There was a nice reception going on during/after the program. No photos, but I tried duck with fig plus a portabella and goat cheese slice. So good!

They also had sweets, but I was more interested in getting water at that point!

Street view: SL on the left, King Edward to the right. The King Edward is another development on the same block, which also opened up in the past year or so. Unlike SL, King Edward is mix-use with a flagship hotel, coffee shop, and two floors of apartments.

Love. my. job.

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Hey guys! Long time, no see, eh? Between starting my job, dogsitting, and fun stuff here and there, no blog time!



(view of the Standard Life building from my parking garage)

I'm loving my job! Everyday is fun and different. People are great and I'm so lucky to have found the job (or did the job find me?).

The job is even more fun if you throw in cupcakes! Our office is obsessed with this place. We even had someone go on their lunch break and bring back some!

Wedding cake flavor! So good!
More later!

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