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bbbarneswrites · 7 years ago

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Be With You

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Steve and Natasha had been setting Bucky in date after date. Little did they know that the man had his eye on you for a while now. Genre: Romance/fluff Rating: T Warnings: Swearings, make-out sessions 4,741 words

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Notes: @brandybucky, you requested this fic in freaking 2016 if I’m not wrong and there hasn’t been a day where I didn’t think about it, LMAO. I don’t even have an excuse for how long I took (I bet you don’t even remember about this) but I seriously wrote more than 10 drafts for this and it was never enough for me. I just love the idea so much that I couldn’t let it go. Imagine my surprise when I finally got something that was at least decent. ANYWAY, I hope you like it (and forgive my sorry ass). TO Y’ALL, one more black!reader fic to the list and hopefully more to come! For this fic you can listen to Better Man by Leon Brigdes (it’s his concert that they go to) and She’s Mine Pt. 1 by J. Cole. Happy reading! <3

You’ve got the brightest eyes, smooth brown skin, hair that his fingers itch to touch and a smile that can easily brighten up his day and yet, back in his time, you'd be forbidden for him. Bucky sure misses a lot of things from the 40s but not being able to show off his girls is not one of them. He remembers it as clear as day – all the times he had to hide his relationships, deny them for his partner's own safety. No dates, no dances, no casual day-outs otherwise they'd be frowned and bullied upon. And he sure remembers them.

Jo, the girl he met down at the docks, absolutely hated staying cooped up in his place instead of going out and she hated that her fight wasn't enough to stop all the harassment they got.

Michelle from his usual diner was quiet and so shy that he wasn't sure what to do when it came to their relationship and he was often scared of hurting her because of that. It didn’t take much time until she decided to call it quits.

Leslie patched Steve up sometimes and had her own way to deal with the situation – she liked him but it seemed like she knew nothing would come out of the relationship with the situation they lived in.

He loved all of his girls but they all had brief, short lived passages through his life due to other people’s judgements and discrimination. It was hard to live being constantly harassed, having a burden on your back that wasn't even meant to be there in the first place.

He’s pleased to know that the 21st century isn’t like that anymore – or sort of isn’t.

Women own their own bodies and fight everyday for their rights now, LGBT couples are allowed to marry their loved ones and black people are finally free from the segregation that took place back in his day, becoming more engaging than ever.

But even so, there's still judgement, occasional dirty looks and mean words. There's still closed-minded people, narcissism and prejudice and privilege and his girl deserves nothing like that. He knows that you can crush the world beneath your feet if you want to so he tries to not care about them unless they're up for a confrontation. Nothing can hold him back now. His girl has the brightest eyes, the smoothest brown skin, hair that makes his fingers itch to touch and a smile that brighten up all of his days. And so he makes damn sure to show you off in all chances he's got – especially by doing all the things he couldn't back then.

It happens for the first time when you have your first date in a little burrito shop in Hell’s Kitchen that you insisted in going, even if with his failed attempt of convincing you to go somewhere classier.

That’s the first of the many differences from his previous dates.

Bucky always had to look at his best for the dates Steve and Natasha set for him. Impeccable clothes, neat hair and a sharp mindset because the places were always classy and expensive and in the nicest are of the city.

You deserve all that and more but he can’t deny it’s a nice surprise to have this, to not be uncomfortable in his own skin for once, not having to live up to any expectations his appearence might give out.

It’s a nice surprise to just be with you in a random park spot, your drinks perched in a cut tree log as you sit on the grass and talk about everything between bites of your burritos. It’s a nice surprise to have you so comfortable around him, your thighs brushing against his own as you stay side by side.

It’s nice to know that you know him, not whatever image he has to put up with the dates he’s used to.

And Bucky can only guess his light demeanor is noticeable given you jump right into the dating topic about an hour into your talk.

“Okay, I gotta ask though...” You smile cheekily after swallowing the last bite of your burrito, biting your lower lip when he nods for you to continue. “What made you call me on a date?”

Bucky frowns confusedly, trying to look as collected as he could before asking, “What do you mean?”

He watches as you sigh curtly, giving him a pointed look that he almost smirks at. He knows exactly what you’re talking about but he doesn’t feel like sharing the miserable details of his dating life just yet.

“It’s just– I’ve seen your dates before, Bucky.” You roll your eyes playfully, making a funny face and letting out a short laugh when Bucky raises his eyebrows. “They’re definitely not like me. They just kinda look like...I don’t know. I didn’t think I’d be your type.”

His dates. Ever since he got back in America and sorted out whatever mess he and Tony had, Bucky started living in the Avengers tower. Ever since he got back, Steve and Natasha had been insisting for him to test waters, get back into the dating game as a way to ease in into the modern world.

Ever since he got back, he’s been set up with girls he didn’t want to or have interest in – all because his eyes had been on you since his very first day in the tower.

Bucky doesn’t really want to admit the story behind his dates but hearing you say that you aren’t his type is more than enough to push him to tell the truth.

“That’s Steve and Natasha’s fault.” Bucky feels his cheeks warm up at the admission, shrugging as nonchalantly as he can as you frown in confusion. “They made me this account on this...dating app thing. It’s not bad but the dates weren’t that good.”

“A dating app? Like Tinder?” You ask in mild shock, your mouth hanging open for a moment until you chuckle in amusement. “Ok, wow. Finding out that Black Widow and Captain America are on Tinder was not part of today’s plans.”

Bucky lets out a short laugh as he runs his fingers through his hair nervously, building up the nerve to speak up his next words and secretly wishing he still was as good with words as his younger self.

“I actually wanted to ask you out for a while now.” He admits, feeling unusually shy as he watches your lips curve into a smug grin, your tongue right between your teeth. “That might be one of the reasons the other dates didn’t work out.”

You shift around your seat, turning your body to his side so that he can feel the fabric of your fluffy top brushing against his flesh arm. As you hook one of your legs under his, Bucky places his arm right around your waist, his fingers brushing against your jeans clad hip and making him feel like a high school boy with a crush all over again.

“Why didn’t you? I’d have said yes, that’s for sure.” You tilt your head to the side, still grinning smugly as Bucky lets out a small laugh and squeezes your hip fondly. “I might have had my eyes on you for some time now?”

Bucky couldn’t help but feel his chest warm up at your words.

Knowing that you worked at tower for Tony was one of the reasons why he took so long to finally ask you out, afraid that he could potentially jeopardize your job by doing so. His own insecurities were next on the list because honestly, he wasn’t the easiest man to deal with from time to time.

But now hearing that you also were out there for him makes everything worth it.

“Didn’t know if it was safe, doll.” Bucky replies hesitantly, seriousness now lacing his voice and features as you make a sour face once he continues. “Things weren’t easy for your folks back then. I just didn’t want to risk everything again.”

“Ugh, I get that. Things aren’t perfect but they’re a bit better even if we have a Cheeto for a president.” You grimace playfully before tilting your chin up at him, feeling his breath mixing with yours as he looks down at you. “But we can definitely date now. And so, I’m in charge of what we’re going to do next.”

The gloomy mood from the conversation immediately fades once you smile cheekily at him, your lower lip caught between your teeth as you lean closer to the point where your noses are almost touching and your lips are just inches away.

Bucky feels like his heart might burst out of his chest because yeah, you can definitely date now.

“Are you now?” He teases, his lips curving into a smirk and fingers brushing the exposed skin between your top and jeans as you raise your eyebrows challengingly. “Should I be scared?”

And also because of the light touch of your lips on his before you pull back with a little grin and finally reply–

“Only if you can’t keep up.”

Your dates come and go and Bucky couldn't be feeling better about everything. For the fifth one, you buy tickets for a special music concert of one of your favorite artists and Bucky can't say he isn't surprised at how lightly he takes the idea. He's been back for a while now, his triggers words have been removed and his mind is slowly getting pieced back together but he still has a lot of issues to deal with. In any other time, going to an overcrowded place would set his nerves on fire at the mere thought of it.

But as you bring it up one day as he meets you in one of the corridors of the tower, he just feels eager for the night to come. Truth to your word, the night and the concert are both amazing. The rhythm of the songs are familiar and though it leaves him a bit nostalgic sometimes, Bucky feels as comfortable and in place like back in the day. Your presence is soothing and he can't help but marvel at how pretty you look, hair brought in two cute buns and make-up looking as beautiful as ever. It's a night where Bucky allows himself to just forget the shitload that is his past and try to be that guy again – except that now he's got his girl with him and nothing could be better than that. Song after song, he revels on the way that you freely sing the lyrics, the way you smile at him when he makes a comment about the crazy bassist on the band, the way you openly kiss his cheek and tighten his arms around your waist by pulling him closer, the way you playfully run your fingers through his hair.

He revels that you both can do all that now, that you're safe despite the shit he grew up with. Once the concert is over, you drag him all the way to a little hidden pizzeria in Brooklyn while vehemently claiming it's the best pizza you've gotten in your life. The place isn't too big and isn't too crowded but you both opt for a quiet little corner booth in the back of the room, taking a seat on each side of the table before entertaining yourselves with the ridiculous amount of pizza flavors on the menu. It doesn't take much until you choose yours (triple cheese with lots of oregano) and Bucky chooses his (meat and also lots of cheese) and you're falling into a playful conversation to wait on your orders. "So, how was it?" You cross your arms over the table and playfully squint your eyes at him, a closed smile curving your lips briefly. "Your first music concert in the 21st century?" "It was good. Familiar." Bucky grins boyishly, his blue gaze firmly locked with yours as he shrugs non-commitedly. "Company wasn't so bad either." "Flattery will get you nowhere and everywhere, Sergeant." You wink at him and hold back a giddy smile when he laughs in return. "Did you enjoy the music?" Bucky nods and immediately places both arms on the table, mirroring your pose as he leans forward to you with mischief written all over his face. "I did. It's an improvement from all that crap you got on radio nowadays." "Your old age is showing, grandpa." You joke with a flick of your tongue before leaning over the table like him, mocked worry now replacing the teasing in your voice. "Well, I'm glad. I wasn't sure if this was your type of thing, so..." "What's that supposed to mean?" Bucky asks with a frown, though the amusement is clear on his face by the way he holds back a smirk when you shrug. "What's my type of thing then?" "Corny country, maybe?" You feign innocence as you reply, soon breaking into laughter at the weird face he makes at your choice of style. "Hey, come on. A few songs are kinda decent if you squint." You reach out a hand to playfully swat at his forearm with your teasing but his prosthetic hand catches it midway as he gently wraps his fingers around your wrist, fingertips brushing against your skin before you interlace your fingers together. "You're lucky I like you, doll." Unbeknownst to Bucky, his words nearly makes your heart skip a beat and you can barely contain your love striked face as the waiter arrives with your orders, thankfully (or not) giving you both something to occupy yourselves after the sudden heartfelt moment. Bucky tries to not overthink his actions for once and keeps the conversation rolling as best as he can while you gush about how good your pizza is time and time again. He doesn't mind it much– Even because it earns him a very generous piece delivered directly to his mouth from you so he can't complain. Once you're finished and the night is almost coming to an end, Bucky feels like a changed man. Or in the very least, a prospect of a changed man. Not only because of the pizza (it was that good as you promised) but also because of the comfortableness he's feeling.

On being with you, on being himself, on trying to bring back flickers of his old self that he swore it was gone. He finally feels like he's balanced between the two lives he lead, balanced enough to start considering making this his third attempt with you by his side. As the waiter gathers your plates and leave with the promise of coming back with your check, you both realize that maybe this is the end of another of your dates but hopefully it's the start of something else. "Can we call this one date a success?" You ask coyly, resting your chin on your hand as you smile mischievously at him. "Because I think we can. You stand-spooned me the whole concert and you liked the songs." "I think we can, yeah." Bucky shoots you a half grin before frowning in mocked disappointment, though his tone of voice is still as teasingly as ever. "We're missing this one thing, though." You immediately raise your eyebrows, getting into his game by feigning confusion at his little smirk. "Oh? I wonder what that is?" Before his mind can make him second guess, Bucky leans over the small table and crashes his lips against yours, his flesh hand gently cupping your jaw as his thumb brushes softly against your warm cheekbones. He can feel you smile against his mouth before you pull back for a moment, diving into it again after a moment and raising your hand to rest at the base of his neck, fingertips scratching at his short beard. Neither of you mind the rather uncomfortable position, losing yourselves with each other until the waiter comes back with the check and interrupts the moment with an embarrassed clear of throat. Bucky can't help but smile as he senses your hesitancy on pulling back, downright loving the short pecks you keep giving him before you decide to back away for good. Even so, your hand still stays at the base of his neck and he can't help but press a kiss to your palm when you lovingly cup his cheek. Your next words makes him laugh but also makes him feel like the luckiest bastard in the world. "You, Bucky Barnes, are the best white boy on Earth and I'm keeping you." He doesn't say anything in that moment but Bucky is beyond glad to be yours if you want it.

It’s been two months since you both started seeing each other when you playfully remark your next date is going to be your fifteenth date.

Though you’re past the formalities and pretences of a usual date, Bucky actually enjoys all the opportunities he’s got to just let himself unwind and be with you whenever and wherever you want.

It’s fun and never too usual and Bucky is always surprised to rediscover a piece of himself with you.

There hasn’t been an official proposal but calling you his girlfriend and hearing you call him boyfriend might be one of the best things in life to him.

Your plans for the anniversary date had been pretty tame with a reservation in a Nigerian restaurant you loved and a private night out club for a dance and drinks later. And Bucky was truly looking forward the said night, especially with a tough week of trainings and simulations.

He most definitely isn’t expecting an impromptu mission to ruin it all.

You react as lightly as ever at the news of your now cancelled night, rather pressing a firm kiss to his lips and demanding payback as soon as he got back.

A week and half later and Bucky is standing in front of your door with a bag of takeout straight of your Nigerian place while his heart turns with a mix of feelings as soon as he sees you. Bedhair, little sweatshorts and a top that does little to hide the expense of your skin and keep him sane.

And he swears he wants to have a nice night with you – it’s what you deserve after he blew your plans, it’s what he’s craving after another rough week.

But Bucky knows you can feel that he needs more than just comfort food and idle talk.

You don’t say anything as you place the bag of food on your kitchen’s counter and lead him to the bathroom, feeling his gaze on your frame as you fill up the tub with warm water and throw in one of your cute bathbombs inside.

He doesn’t say anything as you start to undress him, your fingers smartly undoing the zippers and buckles from his tactical uniform before peeling off your own clothes. But before you can step into the tub, Bucky moves behind you and gets inside first, reaching out his hand to you once he’s settled in.

Your comfort is always something he welcomes without any doubt but today he just needs to hold you for a few hours before moving on to something else.

With your back against his chest, head on his shoulder, legs right between his and arms interlaced over your belly, Bucky finally feels home.

It makes his heart skip a beat the way you know exactly how he feels, your next words taking a weight off his shoulders he didn’t even realize it was there.

“I have a feeling you don’t really want to talk about your week so we’re both ignoring that for now, okay?” You break the silence with your soft whisper, your fingertips drawing random patterns on his hands as he nods quietly. “Okay. Tell me how you got Azi to make you a takeout meal when he doesn’t do that for anyone.”

Bucky smiles fondly at the mention of the Nigerian chef who had become very welcoming and solicitous in the very second Bucky brought your name up, asking for help to make up for your lost date at the restaurant.

“All I did was mention your name.” Bucky chuckled lightly in amusement, his lips pressing a small kiss at the back of your neck as you hum contently. “I think he has a soft spot for you.”

You turn your head around to face him, a teasing smile playing on your lips that only makes him want to take you there and then.

“Everybody’s got a soft spot for me.” You shrug playfully with your lingering grin, settling back against his chest again with a little sigh. “Didn’t he...ask anything? Like who you were or something?”

“Told him I was your boyfriend trying to surprise you.” Bucky replies with a smirk, the familiar teasing tone lacing his voice again. “He actually seemed surprised.”

You only snicker in reply before reaching out to one of your loofahs, drowning it with your favorite honey shower gel and turning your body around his hold to start washing his skin as slowly and carefully as you can.

The warm water feels good and so does the fluffy feeling of the loofah running through his chest.

But Bucky can safely say the cure of all his homesickness and heartbreak is you looking like a vision before him with your soaked and bare skin all on display just for him.

He doesn’t even try to hide delight as you drop the loofah and lean over him, legs tucked between his own as your chests are pressed together. With your arms around his neck and his hands resting low on your hips, you press a slow kiss to his lips with a question on the tip of your tongue.

“Did you ever had another black girlfriend?” You ask with a small smile, resting your chin against his collarbones as you look up at him. “Besides me, obviously. Back in your day.”

The memories from his younger days come back to him in a rush and Bucky can’t help but feel relieved that he’s there now – in a time where he can just be with you despite the occasional bumps on the road.

“Three of them.” Bucky lets out a heavy breath before shaking his head wistfully, hands tightening around your hips as he continues. “We couldn’t go out or be seen together. It always drained both of us until we just had to end things. And that’s not even the worse of it.”

With a hum of understanding, you slide your hands to the back of his neck where your fingertips keeps drawing soothing circles to his skin and hair scalp.

“That’s why you took so long to ask me out.” You guess, instantly frowning in dejection when Bucky nods in a silent reply. “It still isn’t easy. Some days I feel like things are getting better...but then there’s the harsh days.”

Bucky feels his chest flare up with a new purpose at your heartbroken little smile, his arms bringing your frame closer to him as he tightened his old around your waist.

Your noses are just mere inches away when he firmly cups your jaw with his left hand, his blue eyes set with your own as you bite your lip in anticipation.

Not that it prepares you for his next words, neither how determined he looks.

“I’ve got your back in this.” Bucky murmurs decidedly against your mouth, his lips brushing with yours as you bump your nose against his with a smile. “For the rest of my life, for whenever you need. I mean it.”

He nearly doesn’t see it coming when you push him against the back of the tub, your lips eagerly meeting with his until you pull away in a breathless bliss and–

“I love you.”

Words that Bucky reciprocates over and over when he’s got you on the bed later that night with your legs over his shoulders and your sweet moans filling the room.

Bucky stretches his torso lazily on the bed, a low groan escaping his mouth as he feels the soothing heat from the morning sunlight filling up the hotel room you’re spending the weekend at. Glimpses from the previous night fill up his mind immediately and he can't help but grin dumbly to himself before glancing over to his side, where you’re comfortably tucked beside him and looking as gorgeous as ever even deeply asleep. He's one hundred percent sure you're a damn vision that he'll never get tired of admiring. You've got his left arm under your body, curled around your frame as his hand rests on the curve of your hip.

Bucky secretly loves to trace his fingers from your hips and down to your thighs, trailing through your skin marks and spots even though you don't particularly like them. Your brown skin is a contrast to the usual plain white sheets and he relishes on the way your legs tangle around the fabric.

The messy bedhead is his favorite thing ever and even though your hair tickle his neck when you move, the sweet smell that lingers after is good enough for him. You feel warm and soft and it makes his chest flutter with feelings he didn't even know he could feel five years ago. He can’t get over how much you feel like home to him.

Especially when you wake up just as lazily, body stretching up and scooting next to his own as your lips make its way to his neck and jaw, soothing the fresh lovebites you'd left on his skin just a few hours ago.

Bucky can feel your grin against his neck and it makes him hum contently, arms shifting to wrap up your frame completely and lift you up to his top completely. As soon as you've got your thighs on each side of his hips and hands shimming down his naked chest, Bucky's just gone. And he might think he's in heaven when your lips touch his, your bare skin rubbing so softly against his own that he almost feels drunk.

No panties, no bras, no boxers, nothing but your morning wake-up call make out session. Bucky almost whimpers when you break the kiss and sit up straight on his lap, gathering the sheets around your chest fully knowing he'd try and sneak in a touch or two if you let your body completely exposed. "I think I might be in Heaven." Bucky breaks the silence, his hands sneaking under the sheets and sliding through your thighs as you raise your eyebrows defiantly. "You just gotta be an angel baby doll, look at you." You let out a laugh before leaning forward to him again, setting your elbows on his chest as his hands find home on the small of your exposed back, his fingers trailing up and down your skin. "You're such a sweet talker, Bucky Barnes. I don't even know how I fell in love with you." You say with a click of your tongue, watching as his lips grows into a grin before he miserably leans up to kiss you again. "I'm not kissing you. Not until you ring in some breakfast." Bucky smiles teasingly and quickly sits up on the bed, snaking an arm around your waist and the other under your bottom before lifiting both of you to stand in the middle of the room, a surprised squeak leaving your lips as you wrap your own arms tightly around his neck. "I’ve got a surprise for you first."

You don’t say anything as he walks out of the bedroom and heads to the living room, much less when you spot the coffee table set with all kinds of fancy breakfast goodies just ready for you to dive in.

Bucky just smiles knowingly as he sits you on the couch and takes the seat next to yours almost giddily as if he’s up to something.

And even though you’re starving, your gaze can only focus on the small red box resting near a vase with a single sunflower inside. You don’t waste any second before throwing yourself against Bucky again, his sweet laugh filling the room as you kiss him over and over again, only stopping to scream–

“YES!”

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wineanddinosaur · 3 years ago

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Amy Racine’s Bringing ‘Vegetable-Forward’ Cocktails to Health-Conscious Hollywood

Whether it’s creating savory cocktails with avocados and mushrooms, or eyeing diners’ main courses so she can swing by and pour the best accompanying wine, Amy Racine’s passion for food and beverage all stems back to her Cleveland upbringing.

Dinner was served at 5 p.m. sharp and always included generous servings of veggies, many of which she experiments with in her cocktails today. Sundays were spent grilling, whipping up Caesar dressing and cooking Calabrian tomato sauce for family feasts that kicked off in the late afternoon and stretched into the evening.

“Wine was always around that table and the kids were allowed a taste,” recalls Racine, 33. “My parents were really tuned into the world of wine. They were teaching me what Montepulciano was when I was a preteen.”

By the third grade of elementary school, Racine dreamed of becoming a chef — her ambitions bolstered by Food Network programs such as “The Rachael Ray Show” — and as a driven high schooler, she worked at restaurants to help her college applications.

She got into and attended Hyde Park, N.Y.’s Culinary Institute of America, and was captivated by a winemaking course. “The running joke was that everybody dreaded it and failed because it was the most difficult class, but I enjoyed it,” Racine says.

Her love for wine and food merged once she headed to California and became immersed in fresh produce while spending time in Napa Valley, then becoming wine director for San Francisco restaurant Sons & Daughters. “It’s part of the culture in California to be vegetable-forward and I loved that,” says Racine, who began gravitating toward vegetables and fish as she grew older. “I felt like nobody else in the U.S. was growing produce like California.”

Racine eventually hit New York City to gain experience in the culinary mecca. She met John Fraser and instantly clicked with the vegetable-centric, Michelin-starred chef’s values. She’s now beverage director for John Fraser Restaurants, overseeing spots including Ardor at The Edition in West Hollywood, and New York’s The Loyal and North Fork Table and Inn.

Racine chatted to VinePair about breaking winemaker stereotypes, how the pandemic is evolving the beverage industry, and why veggies are great in cocktails.

1. At 25, you were one of the youngest females to pass the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Exam in the first pass. What were some of the challenges as a younger person entering the industry?

There was and still is a running joke that a sommelier’s an older, white male wearing a tastavin around his neck, who’s snooty and rude. There’s been many instances where I’ve approached a table and people say, “We’d like to speak to the sommelier. Is he available?” It’s sad, but we’ve come a long way. I’ve gained experience and competence in approaching a table and people have more awareness about gender equality, so it’s not happening as frequently.

2. What do you bring to the industry as a younger female?

A fresher mindset. That person who sticks their nose up to guests is no better than I am. Knowing I’m not what somebody’s expecting is something I’m grateful for because it gives me a different perspective and appreciation.

I also have a fresher mindset coming from a super-traditional and structured home life, and then moving to bigger cities in California. It opened my eyes to how things don’t have to be a certain way, and how people are doing great things in the industry regardless of background, gender, or race.

3. What prompted transitioning more into restaurants and cocktails [from wine]?

I remember doing my externship at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. I was this sweaty, scared student watching the beverage director speaking with the chef and the way they interacted during this big event made me go, “I want that guy’s job.” It was a defining moment of seeing somebody interact with both front-of-house and back — being involved in the food, cocktails, and service seemed really cool.

When I started with John [Fraser, of JF Restaurants], I said, “I’d love to be wine director of multiple units,” and after that happened, I said, “I’d love to be beverage director of multiple units.” It was five years working towards it, but I knew the ins and outs of his company and of beverage, so it made sense.

4. John [Fraser] is known for his vegetable-forward food and you’ve created a menu to reflect this at Ardor. People don’t commonly associate vegetables with cocktails. Why is it a good combination?

Vegetables are fun! If you say “vegetable cocktail,” most people imagine green juice with a shot of tequila; but in my mind, people are in a restaurant for food, so beverage should complement that rather than [serving] a green juice with booze, which is a meal in itself.

It’s like making a Martini with an olive garnish — you can do little twists and go, “What if it was a pickled mushroom instead?” We want to make different moves, but show restraint and not make a meal of it.

5. What’s the process of creating cocktails to complement John’s dishes?

John will share his vision for the property he’s opening and we’ll go through tastings for the culinary menu, then I’ll tell the head bartender, “We want a cocktail that fits this, which is vodka-based, has mushroom in it, and echoes a Martini. What do you suggest?” Then we’ll fine-tune and tweak. There’s many people and talents involved!

6. That explains the Martini-style “Clear” cocktail with its pickled pioppino mushroom. Ardor also has the “Green” vodka cocktail with avocado. How does avocado fare in cocktails?

The avocado’s shaken with ice, so it’s adding texture. It’s not a big sludgy, green drink. It adds texture and some fat — like how fat-washing was big in cocktails not too long ago.

7. Have there been any vegetables you’ve experimented with that didn’t work in cocktails? And which vegetable has surprised you most with how good it is in drinks?

I have a hard time with beets! We’ve done some beet cocktails, but they always feel very earthy and aren’t my favorite. Artichoke’s a good one. They’re not for everybody, but we used Cynar, which is artichoke-based, in the “Black” cocktail at Ardor.

8. Why do you think vegetable-forward cocktails will take off in Hollywood?

I think people in Hollywood, and California, are very conscious of what they’re putting into their bodies, and knowledgeable about sustainability and how products have gotten to a place. I think they’ll do well because we’re using ingredients that are sourced and grown thoughtfully.

And, nearly all the cocktails are based off of classic cocktails, so when you see tequila and grapefruit, you think of a Paloma; or when you see espresso, you think of an Espresso Martini. They’re cocktails people can link to something they’ve had before, but we’re using ingredients in ways they haven’t experienced.

9. Society’s so much more conscious about eating meat these days. Do you think that makes using vegetables in new ways even more appealing?

Yes, but I also think after being at home over the past year, everyone’s making their own cocktails. Someone who might’ve gone out and had a Manhattan all the time learned how to make one. People were already becoming more knowledgeable about cocktails, wine and culinary through social media — you can get recipes from Thomas Keller or read about somebody’s new wine label so easily — but they were forced to do it at home last year.

Had that not happened, the world of cocktails and culinary would be in a different spot right now. It has pushed the food and beverage industry to be an extra step ahead, because if everyone’s learning the basics, it’s like, “How do we make a Martini different again?”

10. What do your parents think about you inheriting their love for food and beverage and turning it into a career?

The alcohol part made them nervous at first! Now, they love it because we’ll go to wineries together. They were like, “I didn’t realize how much you were paying attention at the dinner table.” I didn’t realize myself how impactful those moments of wine being on the table were until recently. I never went through a crazy teenage phase of abusing alcohol, because I learned to respect it and view it as part of a meal rather than a drug, from an early age. As for the culinary side, my parents are very happy about that!

The article Amy Racine’s Bringing ‘Vegetable-Forward’ Cocktails to Health-Conscious Hollywood appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/amy-racine-vegetable-cocktails-hollywood/

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sentrava · 6 years ago

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Spring Vacation in the Florida Panhandle: A Long Weekend Guide to PCB

For as long as I have memories, my family has gone down to Panama City Beach for vacation. We’d always pack up the station wagon—then later, the Cadillac—and make the seven-hour drive from Tennessee to the Florida Panhandle. While there, we’d run into dozens of people we know because, well, everyone from our area vacations in Bay County. But until the last few years, I’d never done a whole lot of long weekends in PCB—it was always a full week and change due to the drive time—yet now, we have a lovely little direct flight on Southwest that is just 45 minutes wheels up to wheels down, so it’s easier than ever to jet on down when I see a good deal.

Where to Stay in Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach stretches a lengthy 27 miles across the Gulf Coast, and there’s no shortage of beachfront properties from which to choose for a vacation. I’ve stayed all over the Panhandle, and many of the condo high-rises offer the same amenities and layouts, so it really depends on what end of the beach you want to use as your base.

ResortQuest by Wyndham dominates Northwest Florida’s rental market and offers every kind of rental house configuration imaginable; I stayed in a very large one-bedroom property of theirs with an additional bunk-bed nook down along Gulf Lagoon Beach while on this trip, and I’ve already booked one of their condo complexes at the complete opposite end of PCB for my long weekend there with SVV next month.

Personally, if you’re traveling with a girls’ group or significant other sans kids, I love Carillon Beach for its upscale homes and relative seclusion. If you’re traveling with children and/or a large group, you might prefer one of the Wyndham complexes near Laguna Beach, conveniently close to Pier Park and other family attractions like Gulf World Marine Park.

Thursday

If you’re like me, you take the first available flight out, meaning you’ll touch down in plenty of time for a full day on the beach. It also means you’ll require a major caffeine boost mid-morning—a 4am wake-up call is no joke, at least not for this sleepyhead—and that your first stop after leaving the airport is Finns Island Style Grub for a smoothie bowl, kombucha and the famed black salt pepper mocha made with cold brew. (Dairy-free or vegan? Ask for the “venocha,” and they’ll hook you up with house-made cashew milk instead.)

If you arrive closer to lunchtime, Finns is still a great bet as this food truck with a brick-and-mortar location (and a full build-out to come very soon) got its start cooking up the meanest fish tacos around. Note: Finns typically closes at 3pm on weekdays and 8pm on weekends, so check the hours before you make the pilgrimage.

If you’re traveling with a group, also take note that Finns has a catering arm and will come to your rental house to set up a full-on taco bar, which is often more convenient—and more economical—than going out to eat.

Once you’re nice and full, head to check into your accommodation. Even if you can’t get into your condo just yet, you can go ahead and park and stake your plot of sand on the beach. My condo happened to be right next to Schooners, so I nabbed a parking spot, slurped down a craft beer, chased it with a margarita, then headed for the beach.

Even traveling to PCB during mid-spring, the beaches weren’t crowded, probably because I was staying all the way at the eastern end of PCB toward St. Andrews, a little bit outside of the fray. And need I remind you there’s 27 miles of beachfront property?! It was a perfect 75 degrees every day we were there with very little humidity. Spring is absolutely my favorite time to visit the Panhandle for these balmy days and temperate nights with a bit of a nip in the air.

That night, I met the Travel Mindset crew at my favorite local spot for dinner: Craft Bar. Craft Bar has upward of 30 craft brews available in flights or full pints, and I never miss an opportunity to taste my way through some of Florida’s best beers. In typical fashion, Jade ordered a bunch of different plates—from hot chicken to fried green tomatoes—for all of us to snack on. Then, we hit the hay hard to rest up for a long weekend ahead in the sun.

Note: PCB now has both Lyft and Uber service, so you can leave your car at your rental and have fun out with your friends.

Friday

I love to hit the big hotspots on weekdays when crowds are slimmer, and there’s no more iconic spot than Shell Island, a 700-acre barrier island less than 30 minutes by boat from PCB. On this particular trip, our group chartered a boat with Lagoon Pontoons for a half-day, so we grabbed breakfast to go; packed coolers full of drinks, snacks and lunch; and set off for a morning on Shell Island’s white-sand beach.

If you don’t have a full day to set aside for this uninhabited paradise, alternatively, you can take the Shell Island Shuttle—which departs daily every half hour between 10am and 4pm—for a shorter stay.

We walked the perimeter of the island, we went swimming, we combed the shallow waters for starfish, and we pulled up our lounge chairs to where the ocean meets the sea and got properly sunburned (wear stronger SPF than we did!).

When we got back to land just after 2pm, we had a few hours to go back to our condos, grab food, change then meet back for a full night on the beach. New to the area since my last stay in Panama City Beach is Endless Beach Rentals, a company that sets up charming beach rigs so that you don’t have to worry about hauling your own gear through the sand. There are plenty of options from which to choose, but we opted for the ultimate night under the stars in PCB: a beach bonfire.

With a bit of a chill in the air after the sun sank, the bonfire felt like a dream. We lounged in hammocks and the cozy beach chairs Endless Beach Rentals provided us as we toasted s’mores and got our hands gooey, while several members of our group played cornhole and others grooved to 80’s tunes the DJ was spinning. (The DJ was me, guys. Give me a Bluetooth speaker, and I will blast some monster ballads from my favorite hair bands all night long.)

You can also bring your own cooler of beers now that the month of March has passed. (PCB bans alcohol consumption on the beach for the month of March during prime Spring Break season to keep things tame, but the rest of the year you’re welcome to BYOB and drink responsibly.)

After your bonfire has been quenched, head west to Saltwater Grill, one of the best fine-dining experiences in PCB, for a feast of scallops, lobster, crab and juicy cuts of steak.

Saturday

Breakfast in PCB, for me, is almost always Andy’s Flour Power, which recently located to an even bigger location just a half-mile from its original spot on Thomas Drive, and now can accommodate even more diners who flock there for the Belgian waffles, biscuits and gravy, omelets and French toast. I didn’t want to waste any beach time on lunch, so my breakfast at Andy’s doubled as two meals (that totally justifies my extra order of bacon, right?).

My favorite beach in PCB is nearby at St. Andrews State Park. Because there’s a small fee ($8 per car) to get in, it’s never overwhelmingly packed. But it’s got space galore including two great stretches of beach—one lining the Gulf, the other flanking the lagoon—from which to choose.

It’s also rife in wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for herons, gators and other species that call the Florida Panhandle home. Those traveling with kayaks or SUPs should definitely consider St. Andrews; the protected lagoon makes it an easier spot to paddle than most.

Since I was already in the St. Andrews area, I lingered until mid-afternoon, stopping by the Grand Marlin for oysters and happy hour with friends before we boarded our dolphin cruise with Island Time Sailing.

This two-hour tour sunset dolphin cruise takes passengers out through the lagoon, around Shell Island and back near the shore of St. Andrews, where you can see the sun set over PCB as the dolphins frolic on the horizon.

As always, we saw SO many, it was hard to keep track of which direction they were coming from!

If you get seasick, take a little something before the trip out, as it can be a bit rocky on the sailboat. Once you’re back on land, you have a few dinner options nearby: Patches Pub for a more traditional PCB beach bar experience or Shore Shack Pizza, a two-year-old restaurant that serves up a nice mix of specialty pies on a pleasant outdoor patio.

Sunday

Be one of the first in line for Thomas’ Donuts after it opens. You won’t regret setting your alarm early for a stack of that sugary-sweet perfection. It opens at 6am, but if you’re there by 8 (or even 9) on a Sunday morning, you shouldn’t run into too long of lines.

Spend your final day beachfront, or if you’re all beached out, head to Panama City Beach’s Pier Park, a colorful wonderland, particularly well-suited for kids with its Ferris wheel, ice cream parlor, IMAX theater, laser tag and more. It also boasts 124 stores, so if you need a new bathing suit or are looking for a souvenir before you fly back home, this is your place.

Sticking around through sunset? Grab an early dinner beachside at Hook’d Pier Bar & Grille, then drive out to Camp Helen State Park to watch the colors in the sky light up on fire as only the Gulf knows how to do.

Looking for more PCB travel tips? Start here:

Secret Florida: Where the Dolphins Play

The Best Places for Your Killer PCB Instagram Shots

Chowing Down: Where to Eat in Panama City Beach

A Helicopter Ride Over PCB

Fitness in Panama City Beach: Learning Aerial Yoga

Carillon Beach: The Gulf Coast’s Best-Kept Secret

Wreck Diving in Panama City Beach

This post was in partnership with Travel Mindset and Visit Panama City Beach. All opinions are my own.

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Spring Vacation in the Florida Panhandle: A Long Weekend Guide to PCB published first on https://medium.com/@OCEANDREAMCHARTERS

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andersonstreetproject · 8 years ago

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Anderson Street Chats with Zo!

We're really big Foreign Exchange fans here at Anderson Street. To us, there isn't a more exciting and entertaining R&B collective out. This past weekend, we got to chat with an integral piece of the group, Zo!, who will be coming to Philly's Pubb Webb with FE vocalist Carmen Rodgers. He will be performing in support of his newest album SkyBreak, which was released last summer and was highly acclaimed by one of our favorite Neighbors. We talked to Zo! about touring and performing with FE, how the loss of his father inspired the album, Philly being a terrible place if you are on a diet. Check it out below.

A lot of people know you through Foreign Exchange (affectionately known by fans as FE). How long have you been with the band?

I’ve been musical director of The Foreign Exchange since 2008 so it’s almost been ten years. I’ve been a part of all but the first FE album. I think it was, lemme see, Leave it All Behind, Authenticity, Love in Flying Colors, I was either playing on or co-produced a song or two or both. Whereas this last one, Tales From The Land of Milk & Honey, I actually co-produced with FE the entire album. My role was a little bit larger on this last one.

How does your music differ from the band?

Well my albums are usually more compilation style whereas it’s producer based. You know it’s my music behind. It could be nine or ten different vocalists on the project at one time. Whereas FE is mainly Nicolay being the producer and Phonte being the songwriter and singer.

One thing I do like about your work and also FE, is the amount of life that you guys have. It’s a fun record. I always feel like when people think of R&B and Soul music they think about the sadder songs as opposed to the life that the music is rooted in. Can you talk about the feeling in your music and how you would describe it?

Well I blame the late 90s for what you just talked about. It was definitely moving toward the things that was actually gaining a lot of popularity. Like the songs about being cheated on, songs about you gotta get the hell on, this person ain’t worth a shit. You know it was all of those songs and we don't want to hear that all the time. Breakup songs are interesting and all that stuff and I even have one on SkyBreak, which was a change for me but a lot of times when we are just making music.

I actually just tweeted this today: Creativity keeps me sane. And it’s true. The relationship I have with music is an emotional one. It’s a spiritual one. And that’s how I create. I create so that it’s raw and unfiltered. If I were to release this just as an instrumental album, it would still be able to touch people, without the lyrics. I try to set my bar kind of high on that end so that when Phonte comes and he wants to write on it, it only makes it better.

We usually write just from a feel good standpoint because of the live show. The live show and how we present it to our listeners and present it to new listeners. We just wanna make it so that we have a show so that it’s undeniable - the energy’s undeniable. I really want to translate my love for what I do and my love for music and my love for making people feel good through music in my performance and in my output.

I’ve met Phonte and I’ve interviewed Eric Roberson a couple of times and I mentioned to both of them that the two of them need to teach other R&B artists how to put on a show. Mainly because a FE show and an Eric Roberson show are unlike anything that I’ve been to on an R&B concert tip. You’re laughing, you’re joking, you’re creating a feel that I think has been lost.

You know I've been to a lot of shows where it’s kind of “oh and ok and this song is” and then they play the song “and this song is.” And to me that’s not really a show, that’s almost like a listening party. You really want to make it a show make it entertaining. And of course afterwards that’s where we interact with our fans -- what if this is the last time we come back to the city? We want to make sure we give the fans the full experience. I always say that I’m a fan first and if I go to a show and I see the performer come out, that’s sometimes worth the price of admission where the show is almost secondary. We make sure our fan base isn’t a Beyonce fan base where it’s just half the world. It is very much a community. When we go to shows and see people we go “oh that’s so & so.” We know them by name. Usually they’re regulars and we’ll see them on social media. We interact that way. It’s very much a community that we’re trying to build slowly and honestly.

I’ve been to 3 FE concerts and And the most shocking thing I’ve noticed is the amount of men at an R&B show. I’ve never seen anything to like it. I just wanted to ask why you think that is.

It’s a show where they can feel comfortable. And what I mean by that is, if you go to the typical R&B crooner show, you don’t know what’s going to happen. A lot of those shows are for women. If you go to a FE show, you know that Phonte isn’t coming out there with his shirt off. I’m not going to be coming out there pouring water on my chest. Nicolay is not going to be coming out there passing out roses. You know what I’m saying. It’s very much a community. We involve both sides and I think that’s dope.

Every year we asked a few of our followers to share their favorite albums of the year. One of our favorite Neighbors Skye chose your album. Tell us about SkyBreak.

SkyBreak was done through a very painful part of my life. During the recording process my father passed. I wanna say we really got started seriously not too long after that. But after that is when it really went down, which was tough. After that happened, I really didn’t get in the studio for another month. I just didn’t feel like it. It’s one of those situations where folks would be like he’s looking over you and you gotta take that momentum and go in the studio. And I was like I don’t feel like going in the studio. So once we got back in and started working, we were done with the majority of the album being finished in a two month period.

That’s what inspired the title. I remember going to Phonte and saying I got a title. I’m trying to remember what the title was that I had but it was the same concept about my father entering heaven and that’s basically what a sky break is. A sky break is an opening so that you can enter which is the same thing depicted by the cover art. Kind of walking to the light / out of the darkness sort of thing. It was just a tough time. I mean last year was just a tough year with that. I mean all of the firsts that he missed all that kind of stuff. Eventually I did put it in the music. Eventually once the shows came, I put it in shows and dedicated a song to him, the “For Pops” joint which is second to last on the album. I think that even with it being what it is recorded, it’s my favorite material to date to perform. I think that it translates very well live. I’ve heard more than a few people tell me that they like the live version even better. I feel like I’ve done my job when that happens.

The album doesn’t sound mournful. How did you push yourself to create a sonically positive body of work?

The attitude I try to keep around his passing, especially around my immediate family is to look at it as more of a celebration than a mourning. He was was always super supportive of me and my music. Both of my parents have always been. I just really looked at it as a way to make something to celebrate his life; his support of what I’m doing.

What do you like about Philly in comparison to other cities?

One thing I like about Philly outside of performing, y’all are a foodie ass city man.

Ooohh yes we are!

Y’all love y’all food man. And I gotta make sure I’m pacing myself every time I’m here. Cause y’all gotta lot of goodness man. A lot of food goodness that can throw me completely off track from goals I’m trying to accomplish.

What’s the place you gotta go to when you come to Philly?

I don’t have one yet. I really don’t have one yet. I’m trying to think of spots that I’ve been to. I remember eating pretty good at Johnny Brenda’s last time we were there. I’ve been taken to Jim’s a couple times on South Street.

You gotta go to Max’s. Have you been to Max’s yet?

Nah unh uh. Y’all remind me of Memphis. Everyone in Memphis got their got their BBQ spot. You go to Philly, everyone got their steak spot. What’s the other spot? On the tip of my tongue. t’s one of the only spots where I eat their macaroni and cheese. I’m a mac & cheese snob. It’s almost like a diner type of spot.

Silk City?

Silk City! That’s it.

So what do you have planned for Philly this time?

We will have our touring crew from Detroit a crew called Collective Peace, who has been doing all of our shows with us. Collective Peace shares the same mindset as I do because we’re all from Detroit. We go in. We go hard. If you’re kind of expecting the Neo Soul or lighting incense on the stage type of feel, we ain’t doing that shit man. We’re pretty much going up and we’re putting our foot on the gas with the first song and having fun.

Zo! will be performing at Pubb Webb this Friday, March 3rd. Tickets are still on sale.

Also, stream Zo!’s latest album SkyBreak on Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal.

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