Travel & Life updates!: October 2011

Monday, October 24, 2011

Pumpkin and pear picking! (NJ)

My mom drove me and Brendan around all day visiting pumpkin, apple and pear farms. If this was High School it would be the worst date ever but now 10 years later...BEST TIME EVER!!!!

The pumpkin farm was no Goebberts (S. Barrington, IL) but it was relaxing and we weren't the only ones without kids there for once!

The pear farm we went to was called Evergreen Farm - they are the largest Apple Pear farm in NJ. These pears (often known as Asian, or Apple, or Korean pears) are the most delicious, juicy, cripsy pieces of fruits ever! They have a very different taste than the buttery European pear varieties and resemble apples. Due to their high price ($3/lb at the farm) and large size of the fruit, these pears (especially in Asian cultures) tend to be served or given to guests as gifts!

A little nutritional info

Asian Pear

Serving size 1 med. pear, raw (122g)

Amounts Per Serving	% Daily Value
Calories 50
Calories from Fat 5
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 13g	4%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Sugars 9g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A	0%
Vitamin C	8%
Calcium	0%
Iron	2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

soy beans

On the tractor ride at Evergeen Farm

Di Fara's - "Best thing I ever ate"

So here is how our night went...7PM, sitting around Friday night drinking a pumpkin beer watching TV relaxing. All of a sudden on the Food network (default channel) the show "Best Thing I Ever Ate" comes up and first topic of discussion is pizza. The lady is going on and on about the best pizza she EVER had in the most descriptive details, so convincing that I almost smelled the mushrooms & garlic on that pizza. Needless to say, both Brendan and my ears perk up and start drooling right away. Few seconds later we find out the pizza the host was eating is from Di Fara, a place in Brooklyn NY! We literally look at each other, without words grab our coat and out we go!

I was literally THE last person they accepted into the restaurant to order. The place look EXACTLY like it was on TV and it was the same old pizzaman, Dom DeMarco, making pizza (for 45 years!!!). All 5 of his children work there with him (see pics below) and he hand makes every single pie. He even cut the basil into the pizza just like they showed on TV. We also learned that Dom met his wife in the pizzeria he worked at before opening Di Fara. She used to come in and eat lunch there everyday. He liked her because she sat alone - he thought, "She must be a nice girl." There is a documentary made about this place..love the history.

After an HOUR of waiting, his daughters who worked there felt bad for us and gave us an order that someone place but didn't pick up (pics below). It literally WAS the best pizza we've ever had.

I also love these stories. The old photos on the wall made me wonder what it must have been like to eat here 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago, before the internet and blogs and shows and the hype and expectations. What it was like walking in, ordering a slice and chattin it up with Dom. Now it's a crazy popular spot with tourists and people piling in for pictures (like myself, haha, guilty).

Take away from the night: " You have to love what you do, if you no love, no do it. " -Dom

Other photos are of the Brooklyn bridge light up at night on our drive home...sensational!

Lion King - FREE tickets in NYC...what?!!?

So a few weeks ago a coworker had told me about a promotion Lincoln was having (the car manufacturer) and supposedly if I emailed someone at Lincoln, I would get a free dinner for two at Sardi's (in theater district) AND two FREE broadway tickets to either the Lion King, Phantom of the Operat, or Memphis. I couldn't believe my ears! With hesitation, I emailed this shady account and within 5 minutes I was confirmed for dinner and show tickets for 10/20/11 at 8PM. On the day of, Brendan was still in Delaware by 6PM so of course I couldn't miss a free meal. Hopped over to Sardi's where I was led into an elevator (right away red flags went up since I didn't think this restaurant was FOUR floors up). The elevator music was quiet and slow, which made this moment extra creepy. I wasn't sure if I'd leave this "restaurant" with a kidney missing but here goes nothing! So the door opens and there was a whole floor rented out for Lincoln and there was music, food, open bar and dancing all around. It was a fantastic time ! Well, as much fun as one can have on their own anyway. So I grabbed a plate, ate in the corner by myself and grabbed the tickets and headed out.

Look down at the tickets...they were CENTER ORCHESTRA TICKETS that were selling for at least $150/each on the street! The face value was $97..insane! I was still skeptical and called Brendan, who would NOT believe they had given anything for "free" in NYC. In any case, he finally arrived 5 minutes after the show started, we went in, got into our (free) seats and saw a FANTASTIC show. The most amazing stage set and costume I had ever seen. I had wondered how they would capture the complicated stampede scene but they blew me away with their creativity and beautiful colors! And whats'e even better- they were FREE!!!!

Here are a few pictures outside!