Chef’s Tasting

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“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
-Virgina Woolf

I’m not sure how I’ve managed to never post about my favorite restaurant in town. Today, that atrocity shall be rectified! Luma on Park is a culinary gem situated within walking distance of our home, and for us, this place absolutely sets the bar for dining out.

They offer a “Chef’s Table,” where you can get an elaborate taste of exactly what the restaurant is all about: locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients, unique (and sometimes unusual and/or complex) flavor profiles, and elegant presentation. Lucky for us, Luma is more than accommodating to vegetarians and pescetarians – though you might not know it from a quick glance at their menu. After getting to know the Chef de Cuisine, Derek Perez, he created a ten-course (not including snacks!) vegetarian tasting for me and Matt. Gosh, we’re spoiled. Prepare yourself for some insane food porn, people!


From top left, clockwise: We brought our own adult beverages to celebrate the occasion (Herb Lamb Vineyards wines always compliment Luma meals so well); Creamy tomato soup topped with crème fraîche & chives; Local radish tasting.


From top left, clockwise: Cauliflower-onion tart; Derek, working his magic on a whole counter of salads; toasted house brioche w/ strawberry jam; Local roasted beets, goat cheese, toasted hazelnuts & strawberries on local greens.


From top left, clockwise: Apple, fennel & walnut salad; Grano risotto, broccoli, and turnips in a smoked date glaze topped w/ shaved parmesan; truffle popcorn; Can’t remember exactly what this was called but it was butternut squash nestled inside of some yummy pasta topped w/ vegetable reduction; Homemade green garlic pasta in a simple carbonara sauce topped w/ micro greens.


From top left, clockwise: Apple fritters w/ cinnamon ice cream & oat streusel; Chefs-hard at work; Intensely tangy fresh passion fruit topped w/ a dollop of crème fraîche to neutralize & a side of berry sorbet w/ graham crumbles.

Uh, my mouth is watering as I type. But one last thing about Luma. Our second favorite thing to do (after eating at the Chef’s Table or Pastry Counter) is to sit outside on a breezy evening and enjoy one of their incredibly perfect cheese plates with a chilled glass of white wine.

I’ll leave you with that – and I’m totally strategically posting this right before lunch time. I hope if you’re a Central Floridian, this has inspired you to visit Luma…and soon!

Sweet Tooth

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I have an undeniable sweet tooth. I have come to terms with this fact, and found a way to keep my addiction under control (ha!). My general rule is to have a square of dark chocolate after dinner. That usually does the trick, but every once in a while I need more. Like this weekend, for instance. So, in the interest of portion control, I began to search for recipes that are literally just enough for me, myself and I…in one sitting. Otherwise it sits around the house and I snack on it every time I walk past and…well…you see where this is going!

One of my favorite indulgences has always been cookie dough. I’ve come a long way from my high school days when a friend and I used to kill an entire roll of that chemical-and-preservative-heavy Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough stuff. Gross! The following is a recipe that I believe I’ve perfected after some trial and error. I love this recipe so much because not only is it egg-free (raw egg is always a concern when chowing down on cookie dough), but I was able to cut the fat and sugar down by almost half from the original recipe and it tastes even better. Weird how that works out! Don’t be afraid to experiment in order to cater to your own tastes! Liiiiike, maybe you want to use real chocolate chips in the mini variety…or maybe you want you use crushed mint chocolate bar…or maybe you want to use coconut extract instead of vanilla. The possibilities are endless, and luckily this recipe is so simple and yummy that you can easily whip it up whenever you get the craving!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
Adapted from Desserts for Two

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon milk (I used organic 1%, but soy or almond would also work well)
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/3 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
Sprinkle of cinnamon
(optional) 1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

For chocolate coating:
1/4 cup semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips
1 teaspoon melted coconut oil

1.) In a small saucepan, melt the butter and sugars over low heat. When it’s combined, remove from heat, and whisk in the milk, cinnamon, and the vanilla. Next, whisk in the flour. Cover and refrigerate the mixture until completely chilled (about 1 hour). If you skip this step, your chocolate chips will melt!

2.) Once the dough has chilled, stir in the chocolate chips, then roll the mixture into about tablespoon-sized balls using your hands. This will make about six balls. Place them in the freezer for one hour.

3.) For the chocolate coating, melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a tiny sauce pan over very low heat, stirring constantly (or you could use a double-boiler if you’re fancy and happen to have one). Turn the heat off as soon as it’s incorporated. Using a spoon, pour the chocolate mixture over the top of the cookie dough balls until just covered, then chill to set.

If you are a flake sea salt fiend like I am, you can choose to leave the salt out of the mixture and instead sprinkle a few flake on top of each ball before the chocolate sets.

You can keep these in a tupperware container in the fridge for a few days. But they won’t last for more than a day, I promise you that. Which is totally okay!

Harry Taylor: The Studio

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Harry Taylor specializes in Civil War era tintype and ambrotype photography. He shot our engagement photos a few weeks ago and let me assure you….he is a complete badass! Matt is working on some video footage of Harry at work, which I’ll share in the coming months. Until then, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our shoot and his studio located in historic downtown Wilmington, NC.

For the last few shots of the day, we ventured outside to the cypress tree-lined shore of a nearby park. It was lovely!

And a sneak peek at our tintypes on a drying rack, shortly after developing…

Shooting with Harry was an unforgettable experience because it was more than just posing for a shot; it was like being actively involved in a science experiment. In an age of fast-paced technology, witnessing the process of chemicals and light combining to reveal an image on a piece of tin was like magic. Having a physical artifact that you can hold in your hands made the process even more meaningful. These days everyone has thousands of photographs floating from memory card to computer screen, rarely being printed. In our case, we have only one example of each photograph, a precious yet sturdy object that can be handed down for generations. Like in the olden days! For art connoisseurs/photo nerds like ourselves, this is all kind of a dream come true. Stay tuned for the final photographs!