Blackstone is bringing the warmth

As everyone knows, this has been a brutally cold winter. I think it is safe to say that everyone is sick of the snow, bitter winds, and negative temperatures…even those who are crazy enough to claim to love winter. With Major League Baseball season just 33 days away, everyone is ready for snapbacks, sunlight, and most importantly hot dogs. Now let me be real with y'all, I do not like hot dogs. The only way I eat those things is if it is deep fried and made into a corn dog or wrapped up like a pig in a blanket…until now. 

My home away from home Blackstone is getting in the Spring spirit and doing a hot dog special tomorrow, Feburary 27th! When I first heard about a hot dog special I was a little taken aback by the idea, until I heard and saw what they were going to be. I introduce to you...

Gourmet Hot Dogs

"Hopped Up Dog"
This frank is bacon wrapped (lets be real…that should get your attention already), then topped with house-pickled jalapeños, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and zesty hopped-up mustard all housed inside a toasted poppy seed bun. 

"Champions Dog"
This dog is accompanied by maple glazed ham, caramelized onions , arugula, tomatoes, garlic béchamel*, and crushed pineapple and most importantly topped with an oven poached egg and snuggled in a toasted poppy seed bun.
* béchamel: a rich white sauce made with a roux of butter and flour that is seasoned and cooked in milk

I am ready to get down and dirty to try both of these guys and most importantly you should too! 

Now I know your next question is, what in the world am I going to wash these bad boys down with? Well, Blackstone has you covered there too. At 3pm, they are going to tap some delicious brewskies to quench your thirst. 

The showstopper here is the Toppling Goliath's KingSue. It is a double version of their very popular PseudoSue and very limited. Blackstone is only getting one keg…I repeat ONE keg. The other beers being tapped are Confluence Milk Man Stout, Millstream Johns White Ale, as well as a very limited release from Madhouse Brewery- V.I.P. Vanilla Imperial Porter that is aged in Cedar Ridge whiskey barrels. I'll take one of each please!

Hot dogs will start being served at lunch time (open at 11am) and the new beers will be tapped at 3pm! Escape the cold and head over to Blackstone tomorrow, and bring a friend so you can each get one. Or follow after me and get both, I mean why not at only $7 each! 

I'm not gonna tell you again, get your booty to Blackstone and get yourself a dog. But thats not all, I want y'all to let me what you think. So after you grab your hot dog and a brew or two, head back here and let me know which one was your fav. Yeah yeah yeah I know I am asking a lot of you, but I think you and your tastebuds will be thanking me after you do it. 

Which was your favorite?

Hopped Up Dog

Champions Dog

Poll Maker

Home away from home

I am lucky enough to be able to work in an atmosphere that is like home and employees that are like family. I work at a restaurant called Blackstone in Iowa City, and it has seriously been one of the best choices I have ever made. I have made some life long friends, ever lasting memories, and even more importantly have eaten some amazing food. 

Speaking of food, Blackstone made some different specials for the love bird's holiday. Since I worked on Valentines day, Mitch and I decided to head back the next day to get our grub on while our girl Linds had to finish up managing. I apologize in advance for the bad picture taking, we were really hungry and couldn't wait to get the right snap.

We started off with one of the specials…calamari. 

Mitch was beyond excited for this one…he got to sneak in a few little squids before I took a picture, and I don't blame him because it was amazing. It was a chili zesty calamari that was fried to perfection. Then it was main course time. We got to try the specials on Valentines day to be able to describe them for our table, and once I tried this pasta I was in love. 

Everything about this pasta was my favorite. Farfalle check. Crab check. Asparagus check. Creamy yummy goodness check. It had a "oscar sauce" (which is a hollandaise based sauce with crab, asparagus, and tomatoes) as well as three perfectly cooked scallops. 

Mitch decided to get one of our regular menu items, which was the stuffed chicken and grilled asparagus on the side…not steamed. The chicken is stuffed with tomatoes, artichokes, onions and then has mozzarella cheese and a creamy tomato sauce on top. 

We then continued to drink away with wine, sazerac, and a mojito…but I was a little to thirsty and didn't snap a picture before. 

So if you haven't been to Blackstone, or you haven't been in a while then get your booty to Iowa City and to 503 Westbury Drive to get your drink and grub on. 

Mom Comes to Town

Volleyball season ended and all that there was left was the banquet. Dad had a big work event so Mom decided to brave the cold and come to Iowa City for the banquet festivities.

Ma and I wanted to try new things that Dad wouldn't necessarily go for. We started off at this little vegan cafe called Trumpet Blossom Cafe. The place was very quaint and earthy, and needless to say Mom was in love.

The fabric napkins and Mason Jar water mugs.

Falafel Pita.

Vegan grilled cheese…there was no actual cheese in this and it was unreal. 

We followed up the day by going shopping and seeing Labor Day. 

…where we snuck in some wine juice boxes. 

The next day was banquet day so we started off by going to Brix and drinking a glass of wine or two and a cheese platter before heading off to the banquet. We didn't really eat much at the banquet, but I could have had about twenty of the tiramisu cups. 

We then headed off to Josephs to have another drink and bite to eat. 

My yummy and strong Pomatini. 

The salmon grilled cheese…I was too hungry so I had to sneak in a bite.

Fries. 

We ended the night by chilling in the hotel with some Backpocket Brewey. I had a bomb weekend with so much yummy food and drinks. Ma left on the morning of Superbowl Sunday so I had to rush home and start making food. 

The great Super Bowl spread we had…for three people.