Yes, Chef: More than a memoir, it's a love story - Enter to Win!

I never expected to fall in love with Yes, Chef. I expected to learn a thing or two about world-famous, multiple time James Beard award winner Marcus Samuelsson, and I expected to learn about food and cooking, but I didn't expect to fall in love with the beautifully woven text and the way his humility and strength pour out of each page. The book is both tragic and inspirational. It's chock full of private moments Chef Samuelsson cherishes and used to push through every obstacle in his path to culinary greatness.

 “I have never seen a picture of my mother, but I know how she cooked. For me, my mother is berbere, an Ethiopian spice mixture. You use it on everything, from lamb to chicken to roasted peanuts. It’s our salt and pepper. I know she cooked with it because it’s in the DNA of every Ethiopian mother”  This is how the book begins, and it remains just as beautiful, thoughtful and quietly enchanting until its end.

Wordless... Monday? What have I been up to? Here's what.

So, here's the deal folks. I've been really busy.... I haven't had a lot to write about, but I have eaten some really awesome food. While I prepare for my upcoming giveaway that I should be announcing this coming week (think Marcus Samuelsson), I wanted to share some of the awesome pictures from the amazingy perfect penne pasta with a pungent and aromatic blue cheese cream sauce from Leaning Pear Café in Wimberley, TX, BBQ from Rudy's in New Braunfels, TX and a Salvation from Alvin Ord's Sandwiches in San Marcos, TX.

This was perfection at Leaning Pear

Strawberry salsa is the best salsa. I swear.

Sometimes it's really easy to come up with something mind-blowing to cook for my weekly Heart Group Potluck Dinner, and sometimes it just isn't, at all. That's how it was this past week. I scoured the deepest, darkest corners of the Internet, looking for something that just screamed, "MAKE ME! I'M SO TASTY AND DELICIOUS!" Sadly, that didn't happen.

That is, until I decided to go to Chef Marcus Samuelsson's website, the place where I found the inspiration to make my very own hand-made pasta. There had to be something here the would be both beautiful and exciting to make… There just HAD to be! Guess what? THERE WAS!

I found a recipe for the odd sounding, yet visually appealing, Black Bean Feta Tacos with Strawberry Salsa. I mean, it just doesn't sound normal, but the sunning photography that accompanied his recipe for this sweet and spicy take on the traditional black bean taco had me hook, line and sinker. That, and the fact that I'm in love with all things strawberry. I was excited to taste these beautiful red berries in a whole different light.

Sway has Technicolor flavors

I love date night. I truly do. I especially loved date night this past Sunday, where my boyfriend took me to South First's swanky new(isn) Thai fusion restaurant, Sway. I literally jumped up and down out of excitement when he asked me if I had any desire to go to this place.  I collected myself, and replied,  "Yeah, sure." The truth is, I couldn't wait!!! I had to keep my cool though. You know...

Side Note: While I was at the Austin Food & Wine Festival last month, I scooped up what has quickly become one of my very favorite books, ever: New York Times Best Seller, Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson. Stay with me here, I have a point…I promise.

The memoir takes its reader though different cultures, cuisines and experiences in a beautifully woven text. I can't get enough of it. Last night, I read a paragraph that completely and perfectly explains Sway in a way that captures exactly what I cannot with words.

The Great Breakfast Taco THROW DOWN

One week has passed since the epic conclusion of the Breakfast Taco Showdown; the 32 day, 21 stop, 40 taco challenge to find the best of the best when it comes to the breakfast staple, in the Wimberley and San Marcos area.

After 40 tacos, I have come to learn a few things:

1. No two tacos are alike
2. There are a lot of tacos out there
3. Where you get your breakfast taco fix is an immensely personal thing