the Blog
You’re going to find my in-depth reviews about places I’ve traveled to, kitchen adventures (and maybe mishaps) , restaurants I’ve visited far and wide (looking at you, Dublin) and tons more behind the scenes of what happens at The Monique Story!
December 2, 2023
Let me tell you about some truly incredible traditional French cooking in Austin, Texas 🇫🇷 I’vee had my eye on 1417 for awhile and i finally dined – and it didn’t disappoint. The space is absolutely stunning, cozy, sophisticated and welcoming. I can’t believe what they did with this former-Sway spot! The food was soooo […]
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February 28, 2019
As most of you know, I’ve made a huge health switch and have been leading a paleo lifestyle since January 2. I plan to keep it going which brings me to share this very exciting and comprehensive list of paleo restaurants in Austin! Bento Picnic*– 2600 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 They are […]
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December 5, 2018
I’ve been anticipating House of the Rising Tanuki-san (or Tanuki for short) arrival in Austin for MONTHS and I was soooo delighted to finally try them out last week! The name comes from Japanese folklore as a shapeshifting shinto god of mischief. It fits the restaurant perfectly because they’re a fusion of East Asian and […]
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I had the amazing opportunity and honor to take over the kitchen at Forthright Cafe on March 29th for the evening to feature my own chef creations. It was an event that took months to plan, and was one of the most flawless and most fun nights EVER! The night started out with amazing foccacia […]
April 6, 2017
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March 20, 2017
This steak and sauce recipe has not only been a client favourite, but is super easy to make and is so dang delicious! If you haven’t heard of or tried chimichurri before, now is the time. The Argentinian spices bring a serious party to your mouth and can dress up any meal! For the steak: […]
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February 27, 2017
I am so excited to bring to you a guide for the Best Pizza in Austin! There are quite a few (ok, about a million) pizza spots in Austin. I’ve narrowed it down by popular vote and organized it by the area of town. Did I leave anything out? Please let me know and I’ll make sure […]
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February 9, 2017
I love a solid mac n cheese, but I hate knowing all the heavy cream and junk that goes into it. I’ve transformed this classic southern dish, added a meaty chili component, and lightened up the sauce with puréed vegetables!! Ingredients: gluten-free rice elbow noodles 4 oz colby jack cheese, shredded 4 oz asiago/provolone/mozzarella cheese, shredded […]
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I have a huge crush on DeSano Pizzeria. The owner, Jimmy, gave Joel and I a tour of the restaurant, from the dough room, to the cooler, to the wood burning ovens and pizza making stations. I was wowed in so many ways. Did you know he imports his mozzarella and ricotta straight from Italy […]
January 25, 2017
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January 20, 2017
For my next Whole30 compliant recipe, I bring you a homemade classic: meatloaf! My boyfriend loves this as a main dish and I gotta say, I did a pretty good job making it. Ingredients: 1 Vital Farms egg (it makes such a difference using pasture raised eggs!) 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 1/2 onion, chopped […]
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January 19, 2017
One thing I get asked a lot is how I manage to cook so much in so little time. I recently started working as a personal chef and a big part of what I do is making the most of my time. The next several recipes I post will not only be Whole 30 compliant, […]
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January 11, 2017
I am so excited to share this amazing Beef Slider recipe with you — my sweet Joel is the one who created it! I’m not just saying this because I’m madly in love with him, but it is one of the BEST burgers I’ve ever had! These juicy, flavorful patties have a secret ingredient that you won’t want […]
