232: The Fluffernutter Episode
A GREAT time was had by all at our inaugural PodCastaway Retreat with these amazing humans! Saying goodbye was bittersweet, but the retreat weekend was only the beginning of Team 10K helping these new podcasters amplify their voices in the world of podcasting! And our Discord group has kept us right there by their sides for feedback and assistance ever since they left!
Influenced by others working on puzzles in the green room, Lulu is currently obsessed with doing them on her own time.
Although it may end up on her wishlist, Alison is currently obsessed with looking up images of ear cuffs.
This has been on Lulu’s wishlist for a long time and that is to have laundry available right in her apartment. This one looks perfect for her as she could make that a Ramen closet right next to the unit!
Alison wishes there were a perfect ice cube that wouldn’t melt and stay cold longer. I used to have some of these gel ones that worked ok, but still not perfect.
Seeing as the Ancient Egyptians were the first (as early as 2000 BC) to enjoy the gooey treat now known as marshmallow, Lulu chose Alexandria, Egypt this week. The treat was considered very special and it was reserved for gods and royalty. Fun fact: marshmallow was made from the mallow plant (Athaea officinalis) that grows wild in marshes.
She lapped in the luxury of the Four Seasons in a 2-bedroom beach villa with a view of the Mediterranean Sea and beachfront. Breakfast was at Blinky where she enjoyed half of a classic grilled cheese with melted cheddar mix served with french fries, pickles and dipping sauce and a Milky Coffee. Thinking ahead, Lulu had the hotel make up 2 lunches for her to enjoy later with her guest, KC Boyd, 2022 School Librarian of the Year. Who else would you want to explore this ancient library with than a stellar librarian! “A tireless advocate for her students and fellow librarians, Boyd became one of the biggest voices fighting to keep a librarian in every District of Columbia Public Schools building and, through savvy use of social media, has become an influential voice in school librarianship across the country.”
Lulu and KC went to the Library of Alexandria which was one of the largest and most prestigious libraries of the ancient world. Rumor had it that it was destroyed when Julius Caesar burned Rome, but in actuality, it declined over centuries of wear and tear. If you want some extra info about the scholars, philosophers and libraries of that time, read about Aristophanes of Byzantium. Both of us being grammar queens, Lulu & I have him to thank for inventing one of the first forms of punctuation. After a lovely tour of the museum, they enjoyed their packed lunches along with some Purple Sugar Apple from Miami Fruit, Premium Sekai ichi Ringo Apples (literal translation is “the best apple in the world”). She also treated her guest to some Star Apples, which you can see the star pattern that gave it its name when you cut the skin. It tastes like sweet caramel custard and you just chill and eat with a spoon. You only eat the interior fruit flesh, not the peel or seeds. And if they hadn’t had enough apples (Lulu may or may not have become obsessed with searching apples here), she got them some Belgian Chocolate Covered celebration caramel apples.
Wanting to leave the library richer with literature, she donated five copies of 10K bae, Natalie Symons’ book, Lies in Bone and Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell.
After lunch, KC and Lulu went to a bunch of the best Instagram spots with a new DJI Ronin SC 3 axis Stabilizer to assist in taking selfies! Some of the spots include a cafe, a mosque, royal palace and gardens and more. And just for fun, she purchased a 90s mystery style t-shirts mystery bundle and a mystery 10-pack of Grandma sweat shirts from Thrift Vintage Fashion. Rock it, Grandma!
Dinner was at Kadoura. “Pronounced ‘Adora’, this is one of Alexandria’s most authentic fish restaurants, with food served at simple tables in a narrow street.” You know Lulu loves her seafood!
When Lulu began describing the road of logic from the magic word to the city she chose, Alison feared they had chosen the same city. But, thankfully there was enough marshmallow inspiration around the world to make her pick Egremont, Massachusetts for her city this week. She found out that the Fluffernutter sandwich has been proposed as the official state sandwich of Massachusetts. And this research may turn out to be things Lulu could do and see while she’s still in the Boston area. I know she’ll keep us updated!
Alison stayed at a luxurious chalet-style Airbnb, rented a Blacklane Car for the day and headed to South Boston to lunch at Local 149. It’s a popular neighborhood joint that takes the Fluffernutter sandwich to the next level as it’s deep fried, covered with powdered sugar, and paired with Nutella. Following that sugar rush, she bought out the Catamount Zip Tour to zipline her way over the beautiful ski trails. Watch out below!! #sugarhurl
Similar to Lulu’s day, Alison found a hidden fashion gem called Bodega. It looks like any old dusty bodega on the outside, but if you go in and open the Snapple machine (that isn’t really a machine) you’ll land yourself in a perfectly clean high-end clothing store. I can guarantee Alison is going to look into flights to see if she can go there with Lulu while she’s in Boston.
Dinner was at the Old Mill where they had Alison’s attention at the item called Soup of Yesterday. I’d love to know the story behind that! She enjoyed some yummy grilled rib lamb chops, salad and a lemon meringue sundae for dessert along with an expensive bottle of wine. Once she was finished there, she went to a real bodega to pick up some supplies to try making her own Fluffernutter sandwich. But, she wanted to include someone local that actually knew their way around the kitchen. She hired Agnes Viana - Art in Baking who has been working as a pastry chef for 12 years to help create her sandwich with: Fluff, peanut butter, Nutella, strawberry jam, honey, different types of bread and pizza dough.
Lulu’s show, 1776 is bound to bring some incredible people to the audience, but this week her happy was a monumental life moment! Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominee to become the 116th Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court came to the show & wanted to meet the cast afterwards. Talk about a jaw-dropper moment! They took a picture with her and the cast was able to talk with her as well. Such a great happy, indeed!
Currently away from home, Alison enjoyed some morning alone time while doing work outside on her hotel balcony. Sounds like a little slice of heaven and contentment to me!
CHECK OUT THE CHARITIES WE FOUND IN THE CITIES WE VISITED:
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