Category Archives: Food

The One in Which I Drink Beer, Not Wine

A few years ago when I started running, I got really really into drinking good craft beer. Because, you know, carbs.

Ginger Man Beer Flight

(Ginger Man is one of my fave NYC beer bars.)

Laura also really likes beer so we’d craft beer together, too. I really don’t drink beer often any more because it upsets my stomach and makes me feel bloated, but when one of your best friends hosts a beer tasting at the Junior League, you go and you sit in the front row and try not to giggle too much.

NYJL Beer

Until I met Meg, I’d never heard the word “cicerone.” For those of you who aren’t familiar with it either, it’s basically a beer sommelier. So, she knows her beer stuff. The event paired four local New York beers with two different (delicious) chilis. We went from light to dark — Coney Island Brewing: 1609 Amber Ale; Brooklyn Brewery: Greenmarket Wheat; Ithaca Beer Company Flower Power IPA; and Keegan Ales: Joe Mama’s Milk.

I REALLY like me an IPA, so I was excited to try the IPA. To make a long story short, IPAs came about on a trip to India by the British Indian Army. (Full story here.) It was a happy accident that they figured out, basically, that the hops of the IPA had antibiotic properties. So, IPA is medicine.

IMG 6887

We were encouraged to add these condiments to the chili to make it spicier or more flavorful and see what impact that had on the taste. IPAs, we learned, *amplify* the spicy flavors (which I very quickly learned when I added too much hot sauce) while the stout’s milkiness put out the spice fire in my mouth. It was very drinkable both on its own and with the chili and would make a delicious dessert beer as well, I think. ALSO, IT IS MADE WITH COLD BREW. As a basic bitch, I truly cannot drink enough cold brew these days and, as such, felt the same about this beer.

Beer Tasting

Meg made these handy lil tasting note cards, including that lil beer web at the bottom.

And it was super fun.

What about you? Beer person? What kind of beer? What’s your fave beer?

Also, in a total impulse buy, I just got these shoes after reading Grace’s blog…

My Secret Snack Obsession ( + Giveaway!)

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Jack’s Links.

I have lots of weird habits, guys. Just ask my coworkers who are lucky enough to spend 50+ hours a week with me. Or the friends who are lucky enough to travel with me.

One of the things I’ve learned about myself over the years is that if I don’t eat the right way for me, I get HANGRY.

As someone who works out a lot, that means PROTEIN. No sweet, carb-based breakfasts for me — get some eggs in my belly! I also make sure my lunch choices have plenty of protein to help my muscles recover from the torture I put them through from all my various fitness pursuits AND to keep me full.

Jack Links Jerky

I have a generally awesome life, and I’m lucky that I’m not sitting at work waiting for the day to be over…but I’d really be lying if I didn’t say the highlights of my work day were lunch time and snack time. I usually eat pretty late, so an afternoon snack that will keep me full is really important and often is the difference between overeating/grazing at night and eating a normal-sized meal.

My favorite treat snack is jerky. It’s not cheap, and I do usually eat an entire bag in one sitting, so I save it as a treat. But even if I do have a whole bag of three servings, it’s only about 240 calories which is in the ballpark of any other snack I’d have, and is completely satisfying, with 11g of protein per serving. And far less awkward than eating a random chicken breast at my desk.

This new Jack Link’s chicken jerky is GOOD. Like, rationing it out for myself so it lasts longer good.

Jack's Link

But you want to experience the chicken-y goodness for yourself, right?

Our kind chicken-loving friends at Jack Link’s want to hook you up! They’ve put together a prize pack for one reader that includes:

  • Jack Link’s Chicken Jerky
  • Jack Link’s Turkey Jerky
  • Jack Link’s Sweet Teriyaki Turkey Jerky
  • Water bottle
  • Headband
  • Sweat towel
  • EOS lip balm

To enter, leave a comment below about your secret snack obsession for a chance to win. This giveaway will be open until Thursday, July 27 at noon EDT.

For more info:

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Jack Link’s.