Noble Sandwich Co. (Austin)

In an effort to eat more healthily during a mid-day lunch outing, I tend to steer clear of heavy sandwiches and, instead, choose a salad. A gorgeous salad ignites the feeling of, "Yes Cara! You ate your veggies and do not need to feel guilty....until dinner!" But obviously, there are few exceptions to this choice of mine. I have a fairly high standard of sandwich options that beat the leafy lunch while avoiding pangs of guilt.

Meet the Noble Sandwich Company.

High-quality ingredients, fresh breads and rich flavor combinations inspire this restaurant's attempt at mastering the art of sandwich making. I believe these guys have it pretty down pat. The 15-person line out the door of the Burnet location proves this true...wouldn't you say?

Jennifer and I ordered with much deliberation (as always), and we found ourselves waiting in an adorable picnic table area on the back patio. We sipped Topo Chicos in the sunshine, anticipating our sandwiches and hoping they were worth it. It = calories.

My Knuckle Sandwich arrived on a lightly toasted hoagie, piled with roast beef, horseradish, caramelized onions, and cheddar. I accidentally ignored the au jus on the side, which would have basically identified this sandwich as a glorified Philly Cheesesteak. Much better than most cheesesteaks, obviously.

Jennifer's Thai Chicken sandwich was ideal for the non-red-meat persona. The flavor was bold. The bread was toasty and fluffy. The jalapeño cabbage slaw (which I ordered separately as a side) provided crunch and color. Both of us would have substituted the potato chip side, had we known they came with our sandwiches. I've heard their housemade fresh pickles are a winner!

Friends, here me out: Save the salad for another day and bite into a Noble Sandwich. It's well worth it; in fact, you'll feel more guilty for missing out on the indulgent opportunity.

Twenty Two Birthday Wishes

I turned twenty-two one week ago (woohoo!), and I find myself constantly contemplating on what I want to achieve this upcoming year. Since I am a writer, I've found it easiest to lay out my thoughts in a list. With a new post-college chapter ahead of me (although I'm still in denial), this post comprises of wishes and resolutions, if you will, that I want and need for personal fulfillment. They are in no particular order, and I would love to hear any advice you might have for my (or your) year ahead...

1. Make my bed, every single morning. My commencement speech at UT-Austin graduation taught me to do so. Take twenty minutes and watch it yourself. 2. Wear more color. 3. Read the newspaper. 4. Open the cookbooks on my shelf and actually cook recipes from them -- I need a break from Pinterest. 5. Visit Chicago. And Houston. And Dallas. And New Orleans. And wherever my college friends will guide me. 6. Call my grandparents more often. They're too important. 7. Host a dinner party in my new apartment that involves a lot of wine and a lot of cheese. 8. Splurge on (or dream about) a new bag. 9. Diversify my wine palette beyond a favorite glass of Chardonnay.

10. Start running again -- that time I ran a half marathon seems way too distant ago... 11. Purchase new lingerie -- enough of the oversized sorority t-shirts in my drawer. 12. Learn Photoshop proficiently. 13. Get a facial every three months. And wear sunscreen more often. 14. Use my KitchenAid rather than just as a display piece. 15. Collaborate more with bloggers, professionals, industry influencers, etc. 16. Buy a bar cart and style it with swanky cocktail accessories. Then serve to friends for a happy hour. 17. Surprise my boyfriend when he leasts expects it -- because he's been way too good at surprises lately! 18. Try a pilates class. Even if my aunt is an instructor, I've never done it.

19. Take a spontaneous road trip to the beach. 20. Eat an apple a day -- pink ladies are my new best friends. 21. Plant an herb garden. 22. Make a picnic at least once a season.

images via man-boss | love my dress | the trotter girl | featured image via pink patisserie

Tennessee Brewery Untapped (Memphis)

If you haven't heard the hype, I don't exactly know where you've been hiding. The current scene at the historic Tennessee Brewery in Downtown Memphis has quickly become the most sought after spot for socializing, drinking Tennessee's finest grains, and joining a movement for the city's future. You can feel the spirit as soon as you enter the arch, filled with an untouched, untapped sense of soul that permeates throughout the buzzing courtyard.

Growing up in Memphis, I am used to running into at least one person I know at any restaurant, coffee shop or event. But besides the motley crew who joined me for the memorable afternoon -- Alex, Ben, Ellory, Jordan, Stephanie, Caroline, Hannah -- I didn't know a soul. And yet, the sense of warmth and community was at an all-time high. The twenty-minute rainstorm didn't kill the atmosphere, but rather created an indoor party with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra quartet strumming in the center. The space relayed a neat juxtaposition of old and new -- classical live melodies, old soul, and aged brick walls (whose tiny gaps revealed mini waterfalls from the rain) against revitalized attitudes and innovative thinkers such as restauranteur-entrepreneur Taylor Berger (below).

In a short paragraph, here's what Tennessee Brewery Untapped is all about. The historic brewery, built in the 1850s, closed one hundred years later and literally sat until this April. A threat to tear down the building prompted a group of masterminds to hold an experiment -- "previtalization," if you will -- which involves six weekends of live music, beer from breweries across Tennessee, food trucks, and a hope for financial and social interest to bring the Brewery back permanently. We now only have one weekend left, and Untapped seems to be working! Heck, there's even a viral letter to Memphian Justin Timberlake begging him to invest and #bringbreweryback.

I absolutely loved enjoying the space; the Truck Stop food truck smelled delicious, even though I was full from an earlier brunch at Café Eclectic. My friends and I took turns signing the wall, which asked what would bring us back to the Brewery...besides the beer. The mass of attendees' ideas is a clear indication of Untapped's impact.

Don't worry. I only double fist for Untapped.

Go, go, go this upcoming weekend -- it's your last chance to join the Untapped movement and "invest in good times," a piece of graffiti art on the exterior entrance and driver of this one-of-a-kind opportunity!

A Bad Dog Bloody Mary

Anyone in need of a cool-down during these scorching summer afternoons and upcoming Memorial Day Weekend? I have the solution, thanks to my new friends at Bad Dog Bar Craft (who you might have seen make an appearance at my NO VA cocktail event). I am personally a huge bloody mary fan, and this company's exclusive new bitters enhance the savory cocktail with just a few dashes.

Here is my latest version of the delectable drink, which I prefer to serve for guests as a bloody mary bar on my new bar tray. The tray allows you to set-up on a coffee table or poolside with celery, Tabasco, almond-stuffed olives...you name it! My mom (wearing a gorgeous John Hardy bracelet and Yurman band) stirred in her Bad Dog Bar Craft bitters with high approval. The hints of celery and cucumber add an entirely new flavor depth to the beverage without even needing a stalk of celery on the side.

1.5 ounces vodka 4 ounces bloody mary mix (I prefer Zing Zang) 2-3 dashes Worcestershire sauce 2-3 dashes Bad Dog Bloody Mary bitters Sprinkle of pepper Dash of Tabasco (optional) Celery and olives, for garnish

1. In a short glass, measure vodka and bloody mary mix. Add dashes of Worcestershire, Bad Dog bitters, pepper, Tabasco, and lemon juice.

2. Add a few cubes of ice and gently stir. Top with celery and olives, if desired.

Elizabeth Street Cafe (Austin)

It's true: You will not find Elizabeth Street Café's eclectic menu of French and Vietnamese fusion anywhere else. And it's a good thing, cause no other attempt could beat it. The mint house welcomes an immediate sense of comfortable delight. The trendy waiters, in floral dresses, bring pinot grigio in small glasses and welcome any questions on the commonly-mispronounced pho or bun. Basically, once you try this café once, you'll keep coming back. I have been coming back for years and still cannot get enough!

After a round of drinks, we ordered a colorful array of dishes and house specialties. My new pink sunnies and Hannah's hot pink nails seemed to match the vibe and color scheme well! Unless you're sensitive to spice, you cannot go in any wrong direction with this menu.

I absolutely loved the tofu and avocado steam bun special with red chili flakes and cilantro (top photo). I'm a sucker for fluffy steam buns, and the avocado/tofu combo was light and airy for a breezy spring night. Above, Hannah and Hannah stuck with a usual Elizabeth Street delicacy -- vermicelli with a lean yet bold flank steak and all the fixins. With an extra spoonful of plum sauce, you'll be in heaven, too.

Jennifer's rice paper spring rolls are, in my opinion, the best in the city. I always go back and forth between the poached shrimp or jumbo lump crab options. Each serving comes with a sampler of three tangy sauces to mix together or enjoy separately: classic peanut, ginger-jalapeño (go easy on this one), and sweet chili vinegar.

This past dinner at Elizabeth marked the third time I have ordered the green mango and cucumber salad -- the underrated appetizer is awesome. Beyond the gorgeous colors and textures going on, there's a unique contrast of sweet fruit, savory beef jerky pieces, and herbal thai basil. I recommend ordering this salad with spring rolls or steam buns for a lighter meal -- sometimes, it's difficult to delve into the intense bowl of pho (especially when you're saving room for Gourdough's next door...).

I hope you pop on over to this unforgettable spot soon!

A Caramelized Graduation

Well, that just happened. I am officially a graduate of The University of Texas. My whirlwind of emotions seems to shift (without warning) from excitement and gratitude for this milestone to severe melancholy, as my strongest support system of friends branches off across the country, like darts on a board, from this moment forward.

But, all emotions aside, at least we ate well. Our curated graduation food tour of Austin spread across the city and cuisines, leaving our stomachs very happy. South Congress Cafe's lunch portion of the seabass deliciously kicked off the weekend's festivities, and a Thursday night dinner at Perla's (our family favorite) was none less than stellar. I ordered a lighter version of the lobster bucatini, substituting a garlic cream sauce for a lighter white wine sauce. Over one pound of sweet lobster sat atop the housemade pasta. Unbelievable.

In between graduation ceremonies on Friday, we dined at Foodheads (my go-to lunch spot) where my boyfriend Alex surprised me in the courtyard. Dinner was a sentimental reunion of the four graduating Memphis families at Eddie V's. Our private room was filled with laughter, tears and stories -- my mother even gathered photographs of the four of us as little ones.

It would not have been a complete weekend without the Primetime burger (add a fried egg) at Hopdoddy for lunch on Saturday. And once the University-wide commencement ended Saturday evening, we celebrated on the roof of Benji's Cantina with margaritas, guacamole and (one too many) tequila shots.

The finale to this chapter was a bittersweet one, and I am so grateful to have been surrounded by my family and closest friends this past weekend. Now...onto the next chapter!

WHAT I WORE :: Frye Boots | Navy Bb Dakota Elga Sweater Dress | White French Connection Grace Knit Dress