Domenica (New Orleans)

If you have not yet noticed on the Caramelized critiques tab under "New Orleans," I'm a John Besh fan. His Southern roots and charismatic approach to cooking express an unusual variety in both his cookbooks and restaurants. Domenica in the historical Roosevelt Hotel proves Besh's authenticity and ability to go beyond the New Orleans norm.

When you think of New Orleans, you're quick to assume that creole is the only way to go. And sure, our first night at Mr. B's Bistro was nothing short of memorable and classic; Brenna and I were wearing bibs as we peeled the famous barbecue shrimp with Ashley's help, and the girls sipped dirty martinis while Alex and Spencer washed down their gumbos with whiskey on the rocks. Yet John Besh takes you out of the box, introducing modern Italian dishes that stray from typical New Orleans fare and simultaneously impress your taste buds.

Our New Years Eve dinner at Domenica was magical from start to finish. After photos in the gorgeous Christmas-lit lobby, we toasted to 2014 and ordered a wild mushroom pizza to start with tomato, bacon, sweet onions, and yard egg. The restaurant is known for its wood-fired pizzas, and I now see why. The thin crust saved us room for entrées, thankfully.

The highlight of our meal was a visit from Executive Chef Alon Shaya, who introduced himself and kindly made the connection with my and Brenna's visit to Austin's Luke pop-up last Spring on the roof of Whole Foods. He was a great, great guy; I always appreciate the gesture from a clearly busy staff, especially on New Years Eve!

All four of us were pleased with the main course. I tried a bite of everyone's: Alex's classic rigatoni, Spencer's garganelli with pork ragu, and Brenna's wood fired eggplant antipasti with tahini (presented beautifully). I appreciated Domenica's option to order either a full or half order of pastas, a rare but brilliant concept for eaters like me who want to try more than one dish. My squid ink tagliolini half order, pictured above, was fabulous. Blue crab and a light herb butter sauce melted in my mouth. I could've had the second half, but my sequin New Years skirt was glad I did not...next time!

I wasn't crazy about the Affogato dessert of vanilla gelato, sugared doughnuts, and an espresso shot poured tableside. I think it was missing a taste of chocolate or caramel, but the presentation was delightful. 

Thank you, Domenica, for a wonderful final meal of 2013; what a fantastic icing to the cake. I look forward to trying more of Besh's work in 2014.

Sugarfina + Lemonade (LA)

Happy New Year, everyone! I could not be more excited for 2014...a year of celebrations and big moves post-college. I hope you will follow my future adventures and endeavors through the blog. But, even more so, I hope you have a fabulous year yourself! I'm gathering my resolutions to share with you soon; my trip to Cambodia on Sunday (ahh!) will absolutely open my eyes to a more worldly perspective on my present environment and future expectations.

My family trip to Los Angeles was wonderful. No celebrity sightings somehow (typical...), but many restaurants to share with you! Below are two top picks for afternoon snack pick-me-ups. Both colorful and sweet, Lemonade and Sugarfina will satisfy your sweet tooth and put you in a trendy, feel-good state of mind almost instantly.

LEMONADE LA

Lemonade's setting on Larchmont (although there are many locations throughout the city) quickly became my favorite strip in Los Angeles. Quaint, colorful and quiet, the street highlights boutiques and bakeries that elevate your mind to pure euphoria, even during a quick stroll. We enjoyed all four lemonade flavors (original, Arnold Palmer, blueberry mint, and cucumber mint), although the cucumber was surprisingly way too strong for my liking. The coconut cake rocked. We also nibbled on a rice krispie treat with peanut butter and chocolate layers, which I successfully mocked during my high school reunion gathering in Memphis last night (recipe to be shared soon!). If you're craving more savory, Lemonade also showcases cafeteria-style salads and sides that a foodie would drool over.

SUGARFINA BEVERLY HILLS

When I read the words "Candy Concierge" in the back left corner of the Beverly Hills Sugarfina, I knew I had stepped in heaven. Not only does Sugarfina create top quality candies with ingredients from around the world, but the creative shapes and packaging make these sweets a take-home treasure. We died over the white chocolate almonds shaped as martini olives, and the martini shaker bonus packaging was unlike anything I had ever seen in the confectionary world. I was impressed. Stop by Sugarfina for a candy or two while walking through Rodeo Drive!

Beauty Shop (Memphis)

I have been a fan of the Beauty Shop restaurant for years, celebrating occasions in the Cooper Young gem from teenage Valentine's Day dinners (the food obviously outplayed the company) to graduation gatherings and classy Sunday brunches. Chef extraordinaire Karen Carrier, whose warm soul and passion shines through both cooking and conversation, converted Priscilla Presley's 1950s beauty parlor into a top-notch, intimate space of creative dishes, a vibrant bar scene, and elegant disposition.

Maybe it was the holiday spirit, but our Christmas Eve dinner literally could not have been better. We greeted the kitchen staff before being seated and were immediately immersed in laughter when discovering that our family knew every single cook in the kitchen: Karen, Dana, and one of my classmates-turned-culinary genius, Josh. Each dish that the team prepared surpassed the next in flawless presentation and execution. Never would I undermine one of my favorite Memphis restaurants, but I was frankly dumbfounded by my delight for each plate, each ingredient.

We began with a crispy panko gulf oyster dusted in tabasco powdered sugar and black grape salsa. Yes, it was a party in my mouth: sweet confectioner's sugar with a kick melted against the warm crunch of a gulf oyster. The combination was brilliant.

Next was a maitake mushroom prepared Asian-style with sesame seeds and a light, salty soy sauce. We unconsciously ate it so quickly that we found ourselves ordering a second for the table. Our vegetable salad, served warm, took local veggies to the next level. Roasted corn, butternut squash, asparagus, peppers and onions were mildly tossed in a ginger vinaigrette and topped with creamy crumbles of French feta. The cheese melted ever so slightly over the vegetables. I could live on that salad, I've decided.

My mother had always raved about the pan roasted barramundi, so we all ordered the dish with its decadent sweet corn edamame succotash, marcona almonds for a crunch, and light coconut milk broth base. The portion was perfect; no overwhelmingly stuffed feelings afterward, rest assured.

Whether for a cocktail, scoop of gelato or full-on holiday feast, the Beauty Shop surpasses most in the Memphis food scene.

**Get excited for LA and New Orleans Caramelized critiques...coming soon!

Salty Sow (Austin)

I apologize for my lack of critiques these past few weeks. It seems as if I’m too busy eating to write…but alas, I promise to write about Austin’s local flavor; and what better way to begin with the acclaimed Salty Sow. The dark wood interiors and lively hostesses create a vibrant evening spot, perfect for a Friday night date with Alex during his last visit to Austin. It is equally well-known for its 7-days-a-week happy hour menu, which I’m looking forward to trying soon with Hannah Marlowe!

The wood farm tables serve as aesthetic pedestals for local ingredients, bold reds, and damn good pork. Coming from a rabbi’s daughter, this claim goes in the books.

You will not find a cheese & charcuterie plate like Salty Sow’s anywhere else. Salamis and prosciuttos are expected, but smoked salmon rillete and chicken liver mousse (reminded me of a trendier version of my mom’s chopped liver) additions were fascinating. The cheese selection was top-notch.

We ordered the tangy brussels sprout Caesar as a side dish, but it’s enough for a full entrée salad portion. I did not expect dried cranberries and pecorino or a tangy vinaigrette approach to the Caesar dressing, but I enjoyed the contrasts. Alex wished it had a more traditional approach, but I don’t think tradition is in Salty Sow’s vocabulary.

For the entrees, the braised pork shoulder rocked. I didn’t even need a knife. The white bean, escarole and pecorino base was lovely. Alex’s candied pork belly with soy balsamic syrup and collard greens was a massive steak cut. The dish was perfectly sweet and savory at the same time.

Here, you will not only get the most bang for your buck, but you will leave feeling full, content and super Austin-y. Nowhere speaks more local truths than this joint.

Easy Tiger (Austin)

Never before had I encountered an Austin dining spot with a menu and atmosphere for every kind of eater at any time (except between the hours of 2 and 7 a.m., during which I hope you'd be sleeping).

It's a bakery; it's a coffee shop; it's a beer garden; it's a bar; it's a happy hour hot spot... Easy Tiger is whatever you want it to be.

When you walk into the brick bake shop on East Sixth, you'll be greeted by rows of beautiful baguettes and the rich aroma of loaves--perfectly hand-shaped loaves--in ovens behind the glass window. Walk down the stairs, and you'll find a pub-like bar with both indoor and patio seating for parties of all sizes.

The menu is simply fantastic. I've heard from friends that the turkey avocado sandwich is divine, especially when finished off with a chocolate chunk cookie from upstairs. Last Saturday night, however, we began our meal with a few draft beers and handmade salted pretzels with beer cheese. Yes, the pretzel was larger than my head; and yes, I could have eaten two of them if Alex hadn't graciously cut me off.

The Italian beef sandwich on toasted ciabatta was filled with warm carved roast beef, in-house picked vegetables and a touch of crumbled bleu cheese. The portion was huge, but I enjoyed every bite I could.

Our evening at Easy Tiger was a satisfying early dinner before a concert at Stubb's, but I am seriously looking forward to beginning my day with an espresso and croissant before work or class. It's happening soon, I assure you.

Cenote (Austin)

Many say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day to boost your metabolism and overall mindset...but I beg to differ. During demanding days of meetings, classes or constant emails bombarding your inbox, lunch is my key to relieving stress and jumpstarting a productive afternoon.

Where do I recommend grabbing a fresh salad and cup of joe in the East Austin sunshine? None other than Cenote. The aqua house on Cesar Chavez will turn your quick lunch break into a colorful paradise either outside on the sunny patio, or inside in a coffeehouse, serene environment.

Every salad and sandwich on the menu looked wonderful; Brenna and I had trouble deciding, of course. We picked the cobb and the kale salads, both overflowing with vegetables and light vinaigrettes.  To drink, iced almond milk chai lattes were the best I've ever had of their kind.

To put it simply, we didn't want to leave. Cenote's patio is a destination for all of you, even if you only have time to pick up a drink or salad to-go. This little restaurant transforms the meanings of lunchtime and that midday break we all truly need...