Food & Wine Archives - Sincerely, Ashlea

Food & Wine, Restaurant Review, The Greater St. Louis Area, The Midwest

/

January 13, 2023

La Patisserie Chouquette: A Must-Visit Boutique Bakery in St. Louis

La Patisserie Chouquette St. Louis Tea Room

Hey girl! While I have always been a big fan of drinking tea both at home and in cafes, I recently experienced the very posh concept of Afternoon Tea, and boy will it be hard for me to ever go back from there. Ladies, if you've ever put on a pretend tea party as a little girl, think of that but ten times better. This year for New Years Eve, some of the women in my family decided to attend Afternoon Tea at La Patisserie Chouquette — and for those of you who didn't take French class like my mother and her terrible pronunciation, it's pronounced "pah-teece-serh[...]

Beauty & Wellness, Food & Wine

/

January 3, 2023

Weight Loss & Keto — What They Don’t Tell You About This Low-Carb Diet

Hey girl! I've been hearing a lot recently about friends and family trying Keto for weight loss, so I wanted to do some further exploration into what this is and how it works. The Keto Diet has gained popularity for many health benefits — like reduced appetite and inflammation, increased endurance, and better focus — but weight loss happens to be the most common reason people seek out this timeless eating regime. While this primary goal is widely due to positive results seen time and time again, losing weight on the Keto Diet does not come without a[...]

Chicago, Food & Wine, Travel

/

November 16, 2022

RH Chicago and 3 Arts Club Cafe is Luxury Furniture Meets Modern Art

Hey girl! Ready to dive into furniture heaven with a glass of pinot noir in hand? Well, I managed to stumble upon the ultimate art gallery and cafe in the chic Chicago neighborhood of Gold Coast. Restoration Hardware, also known as RH Chicago, is a total bougie vibe. It's a six-level furniture gallery with a rooftop park and conservatory, and also home to a grand courtyard dining experience known as 3 Arts Club Café. I discovered this gem shortly after my recent move to Chicago's bustling River North neighborhood, meeting a potential business partner here[...]

Food & Wine, The Alaska Coast + Vancouver, Travel

/

November 5, 2022

Radiance of the Seas, An Alaskan Cruise For Foodies and Families

Hey girl! In September 2022, I went on my first cruise to Alaska aboard Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas. I will start off by saying that yes, it was overall pretty awesome and filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I won't get too much into the excursions though here. This particularly post will just go into the pros and cons of the ship itself to better help you plan your perfect getaway sailing the high seas! Table of Contents Ticket CostsThe VibePlan Your Fun-Filled ItineraryWifi & Drink PackagesAbove Deck AmenitiesBelow Deck Ameni[...]

Chicago, Food & Wine, Restaurant Review

/

October 17, 2022

Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, A Restaurant Review

Hey girl! Only one day after moving into my new apartment in Chicago, my family, boyfriend, and I decided to dine at Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar. And boy, did it not disappoint. I definitely feel quite lucky having this spot right in the heart of my new neighborhood, River North, although trying this Italian cuisine has me so excited to venture over to Chicago's Little Italy. Quartino is not your average restaurant, but rather, it feels like an authentic Italian dining experience. And sure, you might argue that someone who hasn't been to Italy may n[...]

Food & Wine, Restaurant Review, The PNW, Travel

/

September 5, 2022

Oyster & Thistle, A Restaurant Review

Hey foodie friend! As far as charming French seafood restaurants go, The Oyster and Thistle Restaurant & Pub ranks at the top. Tucked away in Skagit Valley's quaint town of La Conner, my boyfriend and I stumbled upon this gem after perusing a gorgeous tulip farm in the area. It's just 70 miles north of Seattle, and 30 miles southeast of the beautiful San Juan Islands. Read about the San Juan Islands in my blog, "Vacationing in the San Juan Islands, Paradise of the PNW." For those who don't know, Skagit Valley is a gorgeous area in Washington kno[...]

Food & Wine, Food & Wine Pairing

/

July 6, 2022

White Wine Food Pairing: GFF Chardonnay & Shrimp Tempura Bowl

Hey girl! I recently came across one of my absolute favorite dishes for summer from HelloFresh — Sweet Heat Shrimp Tempura Bowls. This dish boasts simple ingredients: shrimp, broccoli, rice, cucumbers, and scallions. But despite its simplicity, it comes with a kick of flavor, boasting white wine vinegar and sriracha. And IDK about you, but this girl loves a nice sprinkling of sesame seeds to top off a dish. I also had to drizzle my fave sesame chili oil that balances well with an already sesame-filled flavor palate. Recipe Recommendation[...]

Food & Wine, Food & Wine Pairing

/

May 25, 2022

Food and Wine Pairing: Chateau Grand Bourry & Pesto Rigatoni

Hey girl! My boyfriend and I recently put on our chef hats for this HelloFresh masterpiece — the Spring Chicken Pesto Rigatoni. This artfully crafted dish boasts so many different flavors from its various, colorful ingredients. Garnished with sliced almonds, crispy pan-fried bacon pieces, and charred green onions, and topped with seasoned ricotta (which we spiced up with chili oil — a go-to red-hot flavor for me — instead of olive oil), this is a meal you whip out to seriously impress your friends. The step where we reserve the hot bacon grease to co[...]

Food & Wine, Restaurant Review, The Greater St. Louis Area, The Midwest, Travel

/

May 21, 2022

Josephine’s Tea Room & Gift Shops, A Restaurant Review

Hey, friend! Want to know a secret? On a rather desolate and unimpressive street in Godfrey, Illinois, there is a hidden gem called Josephine’s Tea Room and Gift Shops. It’s my favorite place in all of the Midwest. Drinking tea at Nana's, where my tea obsession started. To unaware vehicles passing by on the road, the frame of the small ranch-style house-turned-restaurant is drowned out by an overgrowth of strategically placed green vegetation, thus making its presence somewhat exclusive. But newcomers flock to Godfrey from all over. Many ha[...]

Food & Wine, Food & Wine Pairing

/

May 8, 2022

Food and Wine Pairing: Grand Fleur & Steelhead Trout

Hey girl! One of my most recent favorite recipes from HelloFresh has undoubtedly been the Steelhead Trout & Sweet Potato Risotto, making it perfect for this week's food and wine pairing. Despite the fact that I'm lactose intolerance and had to skip out on the unbelievably creamy grape sauce — I'm dying just thinking about it — the entire meal was extremely mouthwatering. This recipe is bursting with flavor, from thyme to white wine vinegar, garlic powder and dijon mustard. But be warned, it takes 45 minutes to make this recipe. The risotto can be a[...]