Comedy Night

Hello, hello!

Things I thought of to tell you yesterday:

1. All the places, professionals, and oddball terms I mention have links attached so that you can explore further or go get what I talk about.
2. I will never speak negatively about any thing, place, or person. This is a forum to highlight an amazing and delicious world and community; artists, chefs, bars, restaurants, brands, etc.
3. I welcome (beg for) questions, feedback, and open and honest discussion.

I thought of lots of other things, but as Becky says, "Don't show all your cards at once" ;) I will bring things up as they arise in daily life and I promise to post a cooking video as soon as I get back from DC, where I am going to take my Level I Sommelier!!!

So, after all that shopping on Tuesday, I went out for lunch and dinner yesterday because cravings and comedy fun take full precedence. Let's do lunch first. After my amazing breakfast (vegetarian) and my planned dinner with my amazing friend Beth - check out her photographs - which just so happened to be at a vegetarian restaurant - I wanted some meat for lunch! I really wanted a fish sandwich after talking to my dad in SC, but I am trying to avoid fried foods at the moment, so I went to my go to Small Oven Bakery in Easthampton.

Amanda and Julie are the bees knees and are the friendliest faces you'll ever see upon walking into a busy café/bakery. Amanda brought the pastry talent and Julie brought the bread talent/sourdough cult following that you may have seen at Jake's. Amanda has a cult following in this household, she was the pastry chef at Bistro Les Gras and my dad is coo coo over her lemon cake, but her chocolate cake is to die for too! I digress because I could literally boast about these two amazing ladies all day. They are really doing it!

I'm trying to eat everything on their menu for lunch and I have eaten almost everything in the bakery case :) Even the coffee is amazing. Yesterday I tried the ham, seasonal bleu-dang, I forget what kind it was- & dijon mustard. Delicious! They can do no wrong in my book. Try the energy bar - gluten free!

I met Beth at Bela in Northampton before we went to see a friend's comedy show - open mic comedy at Bishop's Lounge - and I haven't been there probably since sometime in the mid-90's. It was great! Very healthy and plenty of fresh local vegetables as well as options for any dietary restrictions. I had a lovely small salad with raw beets, pea shoots, carrots, and chickpeas with a gorgonzola vinaigrette and rice noodles with kale, goat cheese, portobello mushrooms, and lots of garlic :) Delicious! I was hoping the Altoids I downed after prevented any garlic burps coaxed out by any beer I would consume at the show. Totally worth it though.

The only comedy shows that I had been to before were in Charleston, SC to see my friends Derek Humphrey and Dusty Slay. Derek is in NYC now and Dusty is in Nashville, TN. Check them out! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I have to say I was not disappointed by the comedy. There were some silent times, but also some nose snorting because of laughing uncontrollably. I was impressed and will definitely return! Thanks Casey!

Small Oven's Ham sandwich on 9 grain sourdough!

Have a great day everyone and thanks for reading!
Jody

p.s. do I have to post this to all my social media so people can see it everyday or is there someway people can follow me to know it's here?