Out to Lunch: Maharaja Lunch Buffet

This is surely one of the best hidden lunch spots in the city. Even better than Jake's. The lunch buffet at Maharaja is only $9.95 and includes as many gulab jamun (those syrup-soaked donut-holes) as I want. I also love it because buffets makes trying foreign or strange foods ten times easier. I always worry when I order something new with an unpronounceable name that I will end up with something very spicy or very weird. Because of that, I've shied away from Indian restaurants for years. But here, I try a little of everything and take iPhone notes of what I like.

Here are some of my new favorites:
Matar Paneer: peas and homemade cottage cheese stewed in a ginger curry sauce
Avial: Mixed vegetables (yams, gourds, bananas, beans) in a coconut curry with chiles.
Vattalappam: steamed rice and coconut cake with dried fruit/raisins
Lamb Shahi Korma: Lamb in saffron, almond, and cardamon sauce

Stay warm, Milwaukee

lookbook.nu and caroline b.

garance dore

the sartorialist

lookbook.nu and alma l.

I want: an indoor lemon tree

Has anyone ever grown one of these before? I have found a lot of articles online saying that it's "not that hard". I would love to have one in my dining room to help brighten the midwinter dreariness. Then I could have fresh lemon slices in my ice water, give lemons as hostess gifts, and then in the summer, put it out in our back patio. I hope they're not hard to grow, because I have already made a lot of plans revolving around this little tree.

Here are the Meyer lemon tree growing tips I found:
Got Lemons? It’s Easy to Grow Your Own Tree by TallCloverFarm
Grow a Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree in a Container from ApartmentTherapy

Wedding update: Paper goods

These little flags are from lilmissi on Etsy. I'm not exactly sure what I'll use them for, but I know I'll figure out something......they're too cute NOT to use. As for the guestbook, I'm so glad I didn't have to settle for some tacky white thing with a plume feathered pen. I found this Ingrid Cusson one at Anthropologie after a long and hard fought search elsewhere.
(Helpful Hint: Ingrid Cusson Online has different colors and prints to pick from along with address books, journals, photo albums, etc. I don't see the Anthro print online, but if you order another print at IngridCusson you do save a little money.)

Weekend: Organizing the Office

This weekend, I'll be putting this together:
HELMER drawer unit from IKEA



Then, reading some of those books on my shelves:
"Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly" by Anthony Bourdain



And in the end, my office will hopefully look like this:
Photo: Betsy Burnham's office in Lonny Magazine

I hope your weekend is more exciting than mine! But, if do get bored, go and visit the Cream City Vintage shop on Etsy.

I want to go to there: 10 Blissful French Islands

Photo of Belle-Île

Photo of Île d'Yeu

Photo of Plage de Dotchot

Maybe it's cabin fever, mid-winter blues, or boredom, but I really want to get out of here and go somewhere warm! This month's CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER has a feature on "10 Blissful French Islands" with every one looking sunnier than the last. Excuse me while I daydream........

Cheap Thrills: Anthro sweater and floral rugs

Q. What are my cheap thrills?
A. Finding good deals or good imposters.

This cardigan wrap was all over the wedding blogs a month ago but is now ON SALE at Anthropologie for $49.95! Hurry, I guarantee it will sell out.

Photo: Braedon Photography, Anthropologie


I am a fan of the chintz florals that are making a comeback this spring. The Anthropologie hooked wool rug on the right is $498 but the similar Urban Outfitters throw rug (on the left) of the same size is only $68.

Photo: Meljoy, Urban Outfitters

Can't stop listening to: Bramble

Bramble @ Sundance 2010 "Trains X" from Jonathan Houser on Vimeo.

Bramble is an indie folk-jam group from Salt Lake City that formed after a hobo-style bicycle trip down the west coast. The group recently payed the wintery-weathered streets at Sundance Film Festival, see the video above. They play everything from ukuleles, buckets, banjos, to accordions and shoe-laced bells but have managed to mix the sound into something quite palatable by film-goers and the media. I got the first album this weekend and have been playing it ever since. Time for a total disclaimer: this is my cousin's band, though however hard I try not to be biased, my praise is probably a teensy bit biased. The other part of my praise is very genuine. They are extremely good for playing in the freezing cold on "instruments" I could find in my garage, and after only having formed this past summer. For more info on Bramble see their website: http://bramblemusic.com

Time for Tea: collecting cheese boxes

I love looking through all my different teas and trying picking one out (Cold days like today call for Darjeeling). I keep my single tea bag packets in old wooden cheese boxes that I find at Antique stores or Flea Markets. They are the PERFECT width. My favorite boxes are the old Pabst boxes, although they're harder to find. The breweries in Milwaukee used farms west of the city to grow the hops, barley, wheat, etc. When prohibition hit, Pabst switched gears and used their land for dairy-farming harvesting malt for malt-syrup instead. Back then, cheese was sold in 5lb boxes--who eats that much cheese? But now, I use them for tea bag packets and organizing desk supplies.

Photography by Patrick Cline: Horses

These photos simply take my breath away--the contrast between rustic and abstract gets me every time. I would love to have one of these white-matted and simply framed hanging above the sofa or in the office. Patrick Cline is probably better known for his work in Domino magazine and now Lonny magazine than his personal photography. He sells the 16x20 giclee prints out of the Lonny etsy shop for a hefty $250 each.

Matt Vs. Kitchen: Crab legs

Monday nights at our house has turned into Matt Vs. Kitchen night. It started out with canned food and fish sticks but has quickly progressed to gourmet masterpieces. I walked into the kitchen and was amazed! Crab legs for dinner?! Only one small fire involving a plastic knife?! I didn't have to help with a thing?! Believe it. Here's the photo recap and recipe from that night.





Matt's Steamed Crab Leg Recipe:

-1 lb fresh whole crab legs in
-2 tsp. minced garlic
- 1 stick butter
- fresh parsley sprigs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place crab legs in 9x13 baking pan. Fill pan with 1 inch of water. Leave in oven, uncovered, for 35 minutes.

Melt butter and garlic together. Makes 2 servings. Add fresh parsley to plate.

Shopping List: Hable Construction

I love these Hable laundry and storage hampers. Unfortunately, they're like a thousand dollars.

Daily Fix: vintage handbags

Remember Carrie's vintage Dior handbag from Sex and the City--Season 6?

Ever since then, I have tried to find classic vintage pieces that will be stylish for a lifetime. It takes a lot of sifting and searching through bad vintage clothes to find the good stuff. However, I have found some. Here are some handbags from Etsy (I am in love with the top white beaded one).



Vintage Whiting and Davis White Chainmail Clutch from Lollycrispvintage



Vintage 1940s Queen Elizabeth clutch from Modhuman



Vintage Etienne Aigner Taupe Shoulder Purse or Clutch from thepuddingstorevint

Milwaukee Faves: Koppa's Fulbeli Deli

Somedays, I wish I could hang out in a grocery store playing video games all day long......

Koppa's Fulbelli Deli and Farwell Foods
1940 N Farwell Ave - Milwaukee, WI
Open Everyday 7am-9pm.
Here's the Deli's sandwich menu. Try the Hodag. Do it.

Photo: technabob

The flowers of Saipua

Saipua is a floral shop in Brooklyn that created the most gorgeous floral arrangements. Where's everyone getting their Valentine's day flowers this year?


The Winner of the Stool Giveaway is Laura from Backstage Pass to Health and Happiess. Congratulations!

Belgian Beer and Gourmet Cheese Pairings

In Wisconsin, we love our beer, but we also love our cheese.
Yesterday, me and fellow blogger, Katie, from Haute Apple Pie went to the "Belgian Beer Session" at Sugar Maple. Here are the beer and cheese pairings that they gave us during the lecture and tasting. I loved how well the flavors of the beers matched and complimented each cheese. This would great for a small get together, appetizers, or maybe for when the dudes are over for football. It's hard to convince them not to order pizza or wings, but this might pass.



(Top to Bottom)
1. Domaine Du Page French Style Country Ale from Two Brothers Brewing Co. + Edam cheese
2. Hennepin Farmhouse Saison from Ommegang Brewery + Asiago cheese
3. Stone Cali-Belgique from Stone Brewing Co. + Gorgonzola cheese
4. Matilda Strong Belgian Pale Ale from Goose Island Brewery + Pesto Havarti cheese
5. Chimay Rouge from Bieres de Chimay + Cherry Cheddar cheese