Bookish Liaisons – Page 9

Bésame

July 30, 2018 RaeAnna

I hadn’t been to Steamboat Springs, Colorado in nine years. Almost exactly. The first full day in town, I wanted to walk around and scout out all the new stuff. I walked passed Bésame, smelled what was wafting out the door, stopped to look at the menu, and I knew I would be back before long.

Fast forward a couple days.

The decor is fabulous. At the bar, there are blue velvet chairs. Equal parts comfy and luxurious. There are floor to ceiling windows looking onto downtown, which open up during service to let in the fresh mountain air. There is a small patio with four tables. Succulents adorn each table. The dining area is beautiful decorated with dark wood. An upstairs has extra seating for parties or the busy season. Spanish music plays in the background. (I danced on my way in and out.)

These photos are taken from two different trips to Bésame. I was too full for dessert the first time; I had to go back in order to try their kickass desserts. The first time we sat on the patio, and the second time we sat at the bar. There’s just the right amount of shade to make it fabulous.

The service was impeccable. Hayzen was our server and the bartender both times. Being a non-drinker who still likes unique, fancy drinks is not always easy for bartenders. He is my new favorite, so if I come into a pile of money and have an event, I will hire him immediately. I had a virgin peach mojito (fantastic) and then a virgin spicy, sweet passion fruit margarita. Seriously, amazing. Not only is he a talented tender of bars, he is incredibly personable, knowledgeable, and truly passionate about the restaurant.

The food was fantastic. There is a smatter of South American and Spanish dishes. I saw Patatas Bravas on the menu and, duh, had to order it. Then I ordered the Tostada de Vieja Ropa. I dated a Cuban for a bit in college, and he introduced me to Vieja Ropa, which is now one of my favorite foods. I have high standards and Bésame met them. What I loved about the dish: it was served on a sweet plantain disk. Believe me, it’s awesome! The kitchen accidentally made an extra order of their special of the day, which was a chorizo tostada with a small green salad. Hayzen – being the fabulous man he is – sent it our way. He jokingly said “Just leave a good review!” Little did he know, I was already geared up to write this phenomenal review. I should probably go post on yelp too…. Anyways! The chorizo was awesome. I don’t love refried beans because they usually have an au de tin can after taste. Not these! Yum. The table next to mine wanted me to let you all know the ceviche was the best they’d ever had. I am inclined to believe them because they were older with what seems like a good handful of money by their dress and jewelry. Anyways, the ceviche is always changing depending on the fresh fish market, and that day it was made with salmon.

For dessert on the very last day in Steamboat Springs, I enjoyed the Kaffir Lime Churros and the Banana Bowl. Hayzen said the Kaffir Lime Churros have a slight fruit loop taste because of the unique flavor combination. He is not wrong. It’s not in an intense fruit loop flavor, and it definitely does not have the refined sugar throat coating quality. It’s served with frozen wine grapes and a Mexican hot chocolate dipping sauce. The Banana Bowl came highly recommended, and I will recommend it to you. So good! I can’t even describe it to you in any other words than heavenly.

So the reason the food is so delectable is because everything on the plate is made in house. It’s hard to beat fresh ingredients. It’s even harder to beat food made in house. You can taste the difference in the tortillas and plantains and especially in the refried beans. Pickled onions are amazing when they are freshly pickled. I love that sweet crunch they added to the Vieja Ropa!

I went to Bésame for lunch because we were trying to keep vacation costs low by cooking dinner at home, and lunch tends to be cheaper for equally great food. (Pro tip: go out for lunch on the weekends, you’ll save a bunch!) Anyways, it is definitely more expensive than McDonald’s, but it is affordable and a really wonderful experience. I would like to go back and enjoy dinner; the menu is bigger and looks delightful.

If you’re ever in Steamboat, this is the place you need to go to!

Bésame
818 Lincoln Avenue
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
970.761.2561
Instagram – @besamesteamboat
Facebook – Besame Steamboat

Books

My Life on the Road

July 29, 2018 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 276
Quick Review Steinem is a feminist icon having dedicated her life to activism, which kept her on the road. She finally put pen to paper to document her journey.

This book was an adventure in and of itself because my dog took a bite out of the middle. After the ingestion of ten pages, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Gloria Steinem’s My Life on the Road.

As a woman who spends a great deal of time traveling, I enjoyed Steinem’s stories immensely because I identify with her narrative on so many levels. A lone woman on the road, wariness is a familiar companion. Steinem repeatedly found herself in uneasy scenarios only to be pleasantly surprised by the kindness and complexity of humanity. This has become one of my favorite parts of traveling.

Steinem’s nomadic life began with her father’s wandering ways. As a child without four walls to call her own, she lusted after a normal life only to realize the road was her normal. After college, she decided to go to India for two years where her love of traveling and being apart of the people began shaping her future. She talks about her stories with people, shared experiences, feeling of isolation, and how people would recross her path in the most unusual ways.

Steinem is known for her fierce activism for women’s rights, and one of the most powerful moments in the book is when she stated simply: “When humans are ranked instead of linked, everyone loses.” Her entire life on the road was for the purpose of leveling the playing field for all people regardless of gender, orientation, or ethnicity. As a traveler, she often dealt with feelings of isolation, which parallels the isolation many feminists deal with, “those of us, women and men, who identify with feminism are still made to feel isolated, wrong, out of step.” One of the most enlightening parts of My Life on the Road is when she discusses the Houston Women’s Convention in 1977. I never knew it existed, and she was there a leader and part of the movement.

A constant traveler herself, Steinem often found comrades in those who traveled for a living. She learned about the community cross-country truckers have, and the dangers and obstacles female drivers face. She learned of the struggle and marginalization of “stewardesses” in airlines as they fought for rights and equality to be known as flight attendants. Steinem could connect with people because she was always with people.

Steinem isn’t only serious, she’s incredibly funny with gems like: “It was like riding in a placenta with Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, or Chaka Khan.” She is funny, smart, and in touch. I can’t recommend it enough.

Memorable Quotes
“Perhaps our need to escape into media is a misplaced desire for the journey.”
“Also I’d, never thought about the racist reasons for controlling women’s bodies.”
“We might have known sooner that the most reliable predictor of whether a country is violent within itself – or will use military violence against another country – is not poverty, natural resources, religion, or even degree of democracy; it’s violence against females. It normalizes all other violence.”
“Altogether, I can’t imagine technology replacing bookstores completely…”
“If you travel long enough, every story becomes a novel.”
“… the presence of any woman devalued the masculine domain.”
“the power to make people laugh is also a power, so women have been kept out of comedy.”

Title: My Life on the Road
Author: Gloria Steinem
Publisher: Random House (Penguin Random House)
Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 9780679456209

Style

Luca Love Bracelets

July 24, 2018June 23, 2019 RaeAnna

Lucia Gold || Ally Seed Bead || Elida || Ally Gold

I love style, fashion, accessories, etc. I have since I was a little girl when I would go shopping with my mom and grandma in New Orleans. As I have gotten older, my style has evolved through the years. I have received so many compliments and questions about what I wear through the year and a half I have been blogging. Bookish Liaisons was started with an all encompassing lifestyle thing in mind, so now I’m dipping a toe into something else I love!

I met Paulina Tobon of Luca Love last spring, and I fell in love with her business and bracelets. I love that this blog and my social media has allowed me a platform to advocate for causes I am passionate about. When I decided to this step, I immediately thought of Paulina. I wanted to make my first style post special. Luca Love, a small, local, female ran business, is exactly where I want to start. I decided to take the plunge because Paulina is from Colombia, and her business does a lot of good in Colombia. I just read the Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras, who is a Colombian author.

I have a really simple, understated, and easy sense of style. I may be fancy, but I like fancy to be quick and affordable. Bracelets have always been the bane of my existence. I love them. I want them. I hated wearing them because they’re impossible to put on by myself. Not anymore! Luca Love bracelets are super easy to put on because they cinch. They’re also incredibly cute. I have four in blacks and whites because they go with everything.

Not gonna lie, I wore them every day when I was on vacation in Colorado. I received so many compliments. They’re just enough sparkle without being distracting.

I could tell you about Luca Love myself, but I decided to do a little Q&A with the founder Paulina!

Short Bio
My name is Paulina Tobon, and I am the creator of Luca Love Bracelets. I graduated from the University of Houston Bauer Business College. Currently I spend most of the year in Houston, but I travel to Colombia often. I love to be outdoors and have a dog obsession. I also enjoy music, reading, and practicing a healthy and fit lifestyle.

What gave you the idea to start Luca Love?
The idea for Luca Love started after a study abroad in Southeast Asia with the University of Houston. I was working on a microfinance project that helped families in need through business. I always had a passion for travel, philanthropy, artisan work, and entrepreneurship. After the study abroad, I learned that I could mix all the things I love while creating a career at the same time.

Why bracelets?
I have always had a bracelet/accessory obsession. Every time I traveled, I bought bracelets and artisan work. I love the concept of wearing something that tells a story, has a message, or a meaning.

When did you start this journey?
To be honest, in a weird way, I think I started this journey a long time ago. I’ve always been a dreamer. As a little girl I would always come up with business ideas and different ways of creating things I could sell. After I graduated from UH, I knew where my heart belonged, and I haven’t stopped since. Luca Love started in the summer 2015.

How did you come to the name Luca Love?
Luca Love was named after my uncle Luis Carlos. I took the first two letters of his initials to create the name. He dedicated his life to helping others. My uncle made a huge impact in my life and many others. The name was the perfect fit.

I know part of your business is giving back to your community. How do you do that? What inspired you to do so?
We give back to the community through opportunities of employment to low-income Colombian women and through education. Luca Love sponsors a free English program to a rural community in Marinilla, Colombia. I believe the way I was raised has a lot to do with it. My family always taught me the importance of giving back and helping those in need. I remember my parents would sponsor kids in need with their education. My uncle who was another father figure to me also lived his life in service for others, and it’s something I always wanted to continue.

As a woman and a Colombian woman in the United States, was starting your own business?
I was born in the US, then moved to Colombia, then back to the US, and I think the cycle is never ending. I like to say I live in both places. I was never intimidated to start a business because of my gender or race. I believe they are my strong points. I was more intimidated by the fears of uncertainty. Was my business idea strong enough to make a living off of? Was I dreaming too much? Was I crazy for believing I could make an impact? Was the market going to value my product and mission?

I sure hope you say no, but I have to wonder. With the current political climate, have you experienced any change in your business or how people treat you?
Sometimes we do receive comments like, “You’re in America you need to make jobs here,” but we explain that Luca Love goes beyond borders and believes in creating bridges of opportunities. Plus, aren’t I an American along with my US sales team?

What impact are you hoping to have in the U.S. and in Colombia?
I just want all of us to understand how much of an impact we each can make when we join forces. We are global citizens. We all have so much to offer in our own unique ways. I want people to celebrate and embrace their differences and at the same time realize we have so much in common. I specifically want to fight against stereotypes and ideas that are destructive to our growth as a nation and as individuals.

Your family is in Colombia and a huge part of the business. Has it helped your family grow closer?
Extremely. Conversations are now beyond feelings of distance and saying “I miss you.” Having a business has also taught us the importance of clear communication, personal growth, and development. It has made us so much stronger.

Do you go back to Colombia often? For work, fun, or both?
I go to Colombia at least once a year and definitely a lot of both!

What is something people don’t know but you want them to know about Colombia?
Colombia is more than Pablo Escobar and cocaine. Colombia is a country filled with beautiful passionate people. Despite our rough history we believe in a better and brighter future.

What has been the best part of owning your own business?
The people we’ve met along this journey, and the impact we’ve all made on each other. The stories we’ve heard, the opportunities we’ve received, and overall the connections made with amazing people from all kinds of backgrounds. Hands down.

What advice would you give to young women wanting to start their own business.
To love the process. Sometimes we are so focused on that end result that we don’t enjoy the journey. The journey is not easy. It is a lot of hard work, and you come face to face with a lot of fears. You have to overcome those fears and doubts in order to keep growing. Also, celebrate the milestones! Acknowledge how awesome you are and boost up that confidence. You are capable of great things 🙂

Anyways! I will be hosting a giveaway with Luca Love tomorrow through my Instagram, so keep an eye out for that. I absolutely enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about her and her business journey. I hope you love it as much as I do!!!

Luca Love
Facebook: Luca Love Bracelets
Website: www.luca_love.com
Instagram: @lucalovebracelets
Instagram: @paulina.tobon

Books

Fruit of the Drunken Tree

July 17, 2018 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 304
Quick Review In the midst of Colombia’s struggle, three girls, two from privilege and one from poverty, share experiences.

Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Roja Contreras has already stirred up quite a lot of good buzz this summer before its release. GoodReads has already called it a must read of the summer. I do not disagree. It is one of my favorite books I have read this year. I know it will stay with me for quite awhile.

Cassandra is older than her younger sister, Chula. Petrona comes into their family’s home as a maid. Their father is away most of the time working, so the house is run by their mother. The rules change when their drunkard father is home, but the girls adore him anyways. Chula is the main protagonist throughout the majority of the novel. She is young and curious with little understanding of the political upheaval going on around her. Her older sister, Cassandra, is a little more aware, but feigns wisdom around her younger sister. They both have a fascination for their new maid Petrona, who is quiet and mysterious.

Contreras pulls the reader in from the very beginning. The novel starts giving clues to what happened before telling the story from the beginning when Chula was a child. Every other chapter tells Petrona’s story, which gives a fuller picture of Colombia’s landscape and culture at the time. There are a lot of Spanish words and phrases incorporated throughout. I speak Spanish, so I understood. I don’t think this would hinder anyone’s understanding, however. There is a lot of talk about politics, elections, guerilla warfare, death, sexual assault, and more.

The Drunken Tree, from which the novel takes its title, is a real tree. Known scientifically as brumansia arborea alba. It is a tree whose flower is used to create date rape drugs. If the flowers are eaten, people can go into a hysteria. When the drug wears off, they remember nothing from the experience.

I found it to be an absolutely fabulous novel. Colombia has a reputation for drugs, specifically cocaine. About the only other thing the country is known for may be Shakira. The country has so much more culture and history than these two facts. I love the novel focuses on neither. I am hoping it helps bring more attention to this oft forgotten country.

*If you’re interested in reading another Colombian author, take a look at Veins of the Ocean by Patricia Engel.

Title: Fruit of the Drunken Tree
Author: Ingrid Roja Contreras
Publisher: DoubleDay (Penguin Random House)
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9780385542722

Books

The Singles Game by Lauren Weisberger

July 11, 2018 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 343
Quick Review Charlie is an American sweetheart when an injury jeopardizes her tennis career. In order to make it back in the game, she changes everything inviting a fierce coach into her life.

The Singles Game is my first Lauren Weisberger novel, who is the bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and many other books. I grabbed it because it looked like a great book for summer. It is! Weisberger takes you along on drama, high fashion, trips, and a young woman’s journey in elite tennis to find her game and herself.

Charlie Silver is one of the most likeable characters I have ever read. I wouldn’t necessarily call her complex and dynamic, but she is a genuinely good person. She makes mistakes and makes up for them, but she is never not a good person. She is young, barely in her mid-twenties, and from Southern California. Charlie was a talented tennis player from the beginning, but she has an injury at Wimbledon causing her to take a look at her life. She hires a new and very tough coach to help her recovery and become the tennis player she knows she can be.

The Singles Game is pretty much the perfect summer/vacation read because it takes the reader to incredibly luxurious locations with glamorous parties and men with amazing bodies.

I would call the plot line mysterious; in fact, I was able to guess it pretty quickly. The “hints” are pretty blatant. The characters are fairly flat, but it doesn’t make them unlikable. Todd, the tennis coach, is heralded as the devil himself, but even he’s not that awful. One of the aspects I really enjoyed about the book was Charlie’s conversations with her best friend. They’re honest. Their conversations about sex is so realistic for twenty-something women.

Weisberger has a great sense of humor and ability to tell a well thought out story. It’s the perfect easy and compelling read for the summer. I highly recommend it for any vacation coming your way.

Memorable Quotes
“…chunk-heeled snakeskin booties that could, oddly, work for both prostitutes and grandmothers.”

Title: The Singles Game
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 9781476778396

Travel, Travel Eats

Davanti Enoteca

July 11, 2018 RaeAnna

I was really loving my mocktail! Who needs alcohol?

I am not blowing smoke up your ass. Davanti Enoteca is my favorite restaurant I have been to on this earth. It has consistently excellent service, food, atmosphere, and quality. I would keep going back for one of their desserts alone, but it is wonderful. They solidified there place as my favorite restaurant this trip. Keep reading to find out why.

I found Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy on Taylor Street in Chicago almost four years ago. I have brought many friends into the wonder of this little place in the years since. It is owned by Francesca’s, and has a few locations in Chicago and San Diego. I haven’t been to the other locations, but the one in Little Italy is perfect.

The atmosphere is rustic chic. The tables have their numbers painted on their beautiful surface. The lighting is dim and cozy. One wall in the back is lined with wine. Back when I was a drinker, I would always buy a bottle because you’ll want to sit, stay, and revel in the experience. Two walls are lined with floor to ceiling windows. There are high top and regular tables.

The menu changes regularly with the seasons and ingredient availability with a few things staying around for good. The menu is designed as small plates to share. You don’t have to, but I love this. If I’m there with one other person, I usually order between three and five plates plus a dessert. The polenta is so good, but filling. I suggest to order it last otherwise it will fill you up before you’ve even started. They have 10” wood fired pizzas. There salads are great! Actually, everything is delightful. If the gnudi is on the menu, order it! This is a command. You won’t regret it. There are tons of options for vegetarians too.

As far as dessert, you can’t go wrong with anything. If you ask me and anyone else who works there or has tried it, the Brown Butter Blondie is the best thing you’ll ever put in your mouth. I mean it. I can’t go to Davanti Enoteca without ordering it. I refuse to share. I also have to take one home to my best friend if she’s not with me, or she me never speak to me again.

I was so excited about all the desserts!!!

I recommend having a reservation if you are dining on the weekends or during normal dinner hours. Otherwise you might wait a little while. They do have a bar with wonderful cocktails and an excellent beer and wine menu. I suggest their housemade limoncello.

The service is exceptional. I have had a reservtion every time, and my table has always been ready. I’ve never had to wait. The waitstaff is superb. They are attentive and kind and always knowledgable about the menu, specials, and drinks. They are willing to suggest things, but I’m sure you’ll want to try everything like me. I like to order a plate at a time, so I can eat and never feel rushed. It ends up being a course-like experience. With every course, a new plate arrives, so none of the previous flavors affect the new dish.

Chicago is a foodie city. You can spend hundreds of dollars on a single dinner for one person if you wanted to. I love food, but I also love keeping my money. Davanti Enoteca isn’t cheap, but it won’t kill your wallet either. The food is high quality like the service and atmosphere. The experience is a steal for the price. I wouldn’t go on a lazy Tuesday in sweat pants. It’s a date night, girls night, etc. kind of place. At least, for me and my budget. I can eat a lot, so I probably spend more there than most.

Just look how pretty these cannolis are!

I love being a blogger. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I am not in it for the free stuff. I do have a certain following, and when I feature restaurants it is because I want to not because I am being paid. For them, like the books I feature, it is a new avenue of publicity. It is genuine and honest publicity. (For a bad restaurant review see here.) I went to Davanti Enoteca without telling them because I seriously love this place. I do follow them on Instagram. At dinner, I was taking pictures throughout because I’m a blogger wanted to write this piece. They found out I’m a blogger. My waitress said they were going to send out an Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio. By this point, I was full. So I said so. She said “are you sure? It’s light.” I repeated I wasn’t sure. So she responded, “I’m going to send it out, you can always take it home.” Oh my goodness. It was light, but amazing. The tomatoes were juicy and delightful. It was perfect with tiger prawns and pea sprouts. So good. After that I ordered a cappuccino. Then the kitchen sent out three of their best desserts: the Brown Butter Blondie, Pana Cotta, and Cannolis. Holy bonanazas. It was so much food. So good. It was when the desserts came out, that the thought crossed my mind, “I think this might be free. Oh my God. I’m in heaven” As I was surrounded by too much of my favorite course to eat, I have never loved being a blogger as much as I did in that moment. They sent out a few courses “on them.” They didn’t ask for anything in return. I’m not writing this because they did so. They did however, solidify my undying love for them.

Anyways, if you’re in Chicago or ever have a chance to go, do so! You won’t regret it!!!

Trust me. You deserve this kind of happiness.

Instagram: @davanti_enoteca
@davanti_taylorstreet
1359 W Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-5550

Title: My Life on the Road Author: Gloria Steinem Publisher: Random House (Penguin Random House) Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 9780679456209

Title: Fruit of the Drunken Tree Author: Ingrid Roja Contreras Publisher: DoubleDay (Penguin Random House) Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 9780385542722

Title: The Singles Game Author: Lauren Weisberger Publisher: Simon and Schuster Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 9781476778396

Title: My Life on the Road
Author: Gloria Steinem
Publisher: Random House (Penguin Random House)
Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 9780679456209

Title: Fruit of the Drunken Tree
Author: Ingrid Roja Contreras
Publisher: DoubleDay (Penguin Random House)
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9780385542722

Title: The Singles Game
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 9781476778396