My Crack, I mean, My Smoothie Addiction

I am seriously addicted. As a matter of fact, I need my fix right now. Not sure what McDonald's has put in these things, but I'm pretty sure they are sprinkled with some addictive substance!

End of Summer Blues!

It's the last day of summer =( I hope everyone enjoyed this great season, through heat waves, tornadoes and all!

How have you enjoyed your summer? I spent most of mine enjoying some new restaurants, NYC restaurant week, trips to the Dominican Republic and Washington DC. Watching my godson grow, Yankee Games, parties, weddings, BBQs, beach, sitting poolside, and lounging! It really was a great summer!

This last weekend of summer was great! Friday spent time with my aunt for our monthly wine and cheese night. Saturday hit up Harlem and Brooklyn with my love Don Pepe. I pretty much think Brooklyn is my new love! We had dinner with friends at Apartment 138 and then walked down the street for some drinks at Camp. They were both amazing!! I will do a double feature Spotlight Friday on these 2 Brooklyn spots. But for just a glimpse into my review, imagine breakfast for dinner and possibly the best mac and cheese you ever tasted, finishing it off with do it yourself S'mores and a game of Buck Hunter. It really doesn't get any better. On Sunday, it was a day full of relaxing! Spent some time with family and Don Pepe, then caught up with an old friend Nikki, over some rum & cokes and pool.

But now it's on to enjoying the many adventures and events that Fall and Winter brings. Time to put away the bikinis and bring out the Northface jackets and boots!

BBQ, Beer & Wine

This Saturday head out to the North Fork of Long Island where they will be celebrating their 4th Annual

Craft Beer, BBQ and Wine Festival

Photo Courtesy of LIPulse

Over 50 Breweries from around Long Island will serving up over 100 different beers for your tasting pleasure! In addition, the Martha Clara Vineyards will be giving wine tastings throughout the event.

That's alot of drinking!

So, along with your beers and wine you will also be given a BBQ sandwich and side so you won't drink on an empty stomach and get sick and can continue you're drinking festivities!

They're so smart =)

Tickets are selling quick!

$50 gets you a souvenir tasting glass, beer tasting, BBQ sandwich with side and attendance to any of their special programs held, including a session on how to pair your Wine and Beer with Food. Awesome!
Ticket prices will go up to $70 the day of the event.

They are even safety conscious!

Designated Drivers get a reduced admission price of $12 which gets you a BBQ sandwich with side, a bottle of water and attendance to their special programs. If you're caught even taking a sip of someones beer or wine, you get thrown out!

They are serious about their safety!

For more information on this event check their website HERE

**Spotlight Friday's**

The Eatery at Tullulah's

12 4th Ave

Bay Shore, NY 11706

Photo Courtesy of Foodie Girl

I first discovered this restaurant earlier this year, when my bf Don Pepe and I were on this whole "we-need-to-eat-at-BYOB-restaurants-all-the-time phase. We had just discovered a great one in the village and were DYING (literally) to find one on Long Island. Immediately I turned to my handy dandy Google (I'm not sure what i would ever do without Google) and began searching desperately for "BYOB restaurants on Long Island."

BAM!

The Eatery at Tullulah's website pops up. It was literally almost like the heavens opened up, and the birds started singing. We didn't waste anytime. The very next night we bought a HUGE bottle of wine and headed straight to their door. What a pleasant surprise.

Ambiance: The Eatery at Tullulah's kind of reminds me of a small chic restaurant you would find in Soho. Dark paint and art on the walls, and a chandelier greet you as you make your first step through the window paned door. Some Bob Marley played softly in the background, immediately giving me a chill relaxed vibe.

Food: AMAZING!! I mean theres really no other word that can describe the taste orgasm i received while i was here. We tasted the Chorizo, the hanger steak, the Sesame Soy Chili Wings (so spicy but too delicious to put down) and the smoked Gouda mack n cheese (so cheesy, mouthwatering). They come in Tapas style, so they can easily be shared. Oh and did I mention this place was BYOB? Let me repeat! BYOB!!! Yes, you can bring YOUR OWN bottle of wine and they will provide the glasses and corkscrew and bucket of ice for chilling if needed.

I mean how much better can it get?

Awesome food? CHECK. BYOB? CHECK. Great ambiance? CHECK.

I would definitely recommend this place for a great date with that special someone or to celebrate a special occasion. BYOB and Dinner are on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm - Midnight.

I am definitely a BIG fan of The Eatery at Tullulah's and give it my official Cupcakes & Caviar Stamp of Approval =)

Tullulah's

"Mommys Time Out"

Every month my fabulous aunts and I get together for a wine and cheese night. You know, a little drinking, eating, distressing, venting, gossiping session. Extremely good for your mental health! At least I think so.

We had about 4 bottles, but this one stood out to me amongst the others! "Mommy's Time Out", Pinot Grigio. Before last night I wasn't a huge fan of Pinot Grigio. It tended to be a little dry for me, and I like my whites sweet! However this was PERFECT! Not too dry not too sweet, the PERFECT balance. Plus, the name and the picture on the bottle really made me laugh. Or maybe i was already tipsy from the 5 glasses i had just drank and that made me laugh. Either way, I officially put my stamp of approval on this wine.

So, if you're ever wandering around the liquor store wondering what to bring to a dinner party, looking for a good wine to unwind with or if you're like my aunt and have 3 kids and need a "time out" yourself, pick up a bottle of Mommy's Time Out. It will not disappoint!

4th of July Festivities

One of my favorite holidays is fast approaching! I'm beyond excited for all the food I will have at my reach and all the beers I will surely drink. This day is always usually very simple for me. Beach in the morning and a backyard BBQ with hella good food and lots of beers to go around, capping the night with an amateur Firework display! That's pretty much a perfect 4th of July in my eyes.

However, maybe some of you don't have that option, or maybe your looking for something more extravagant and exciting. Or maybe your living on Long Island and your annual tradition was watching the Jones Beach Fireworks Show, and since its cancellation you have no idea what will replace it, well do I have some ideas for you!

NYC

Hudson Terrace:
         This is for the glamorous. The ones who want to party like its 1999. For the ladies who want an excuse to buy a new dress (me) and the fellas who want to break out the Pradas. Hudson Terrace will be hosting an exclusive Macy's Fireworks Display party on July 4th from 6pm to 4am. Ticket includes 4 hr open bar and All-You-Can-Eat BBQ food. Let me repeat this...ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BBQ FOOD!!! A DJ will be playing tunes all night for your dancing pleasure. You can visit their website for more info at www.hudsonterracenyc.com

Marco Polo Cruises
        Enjoy Cruises? Dinner and Dancing under the stars? Better yet, under a Firework display? Then hop onto the Lucille Cruise boat for a night on the Hudson River, Full Buffet, 3 hr open bar and DJ spinning all night, from 6pm to 11pm. Tickets are selling fast. This is pretty much the best seat in the house for the Macy's Firework Display. Click Here for more event details and to purchase tickets.


QUEENS

Water Taxi Beach
          Celebrate our Independence on a man made beach in Long Island City. (Long Islanders this is the closest your going to get to your beloved Jones Beach show). Perfect views of the fireworks display, food and drinks for purchase and music to keep your body moving all night long. Very casual, very relaxed, perfect destination if you're not into the extravagant party scene and want a little something more than your average back yard BBQ.


LONG ISLAND

Jones Beach
        Although there will be no fireworks here this year ( =( ) Jones Beach will still be hosting there famous "Latin Night" on July 4th, featuring special guest, recording artist Kat Deluna and many others. Dance the night away and who knows, maybe you will still catch a glimpse of the millions of amateur fireworks going off throughout the night.


Whatever you choose, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July! Party like its 1776!!!!

~ Eat Up, Drink Up, or Shut Up ~

MARGARITAS

I'm sure there is some bartender (or as they are calling themselves now, Mixologist) out there that has created these tasty, delightful, make-you-wanna-dance-on-the-table summer drinks, but since I don't know them, I'm taking all the credit! =)

Plain margaritas bore me and so I wanted to try something to vamp them up!!! Here is what I made:

Banana Margaritas

2  bananas chopped

2 1/2 shots Tequila

1 1/2 shots Creme de Banana (delicious, I can drink this straight)

1 cup store bought margarita mix (if you don't want to use this, just put 2 shots Triple Sec and the juice of 1/4 of a lime)

Ice

Throw all the ingredients into a blender, Blend, Pour and enjoy!

I know this sounds strong, and you're right, it is, just how I like it!!!

Watermelon Margaritas

Watermelon (I just used the watermelon that already comes cut, but if you like to cut watermelon, buy the whole one)

2 1/2 shots tequila

1 cup store bought margarita mix ( again use the substitute above if you want)

Sugar

Ice

Place chopped watermelon in blender and blend until it becomes a thick liquid, then add the remaining ingredients and blend, pour, and Enjoy! ***Use sugar to make it as sweet as you want

Until next time...Salud!