Dinner Report - 5/1/07

* TOM'S *

hot & sour soup

Last night's soup is good as a leftover - yay!

Lunch Report - 5/1/07

* CAFE EUROPAN *
(Penn Station concourse)

roast turkey
mixed vegetables

Wow - this was really good! It tasted good, it was really healthy... it might become a very regular thing!

Happy Happy Aniversary!

This is a very very very special post for me because yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of when I went to the ASPCA with my friend Erin and adopted my sweet Foxy. My life has changed in so many good ways since then and she makes me happy every day (even when it rains).

Here's a copy of the email and picture I sent right after bringing her home - I was so excited!
>From: "David Slivken"
>Subject: I'm a doggie daddy!
>Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:34:58 -0400
>
>Breaking news - I adopted a dog from the ASPCA today. Her name is Foxy! At
>least it is for now - it's her name from the shelter (although I added the
>exclamation point ), so it might change. She is a 13 month old Finnish
>Spitz / Chow Chow mix and she is great.
>
>Anyway, just wanted to share. We're off to discover the Park Slope dog run
>- hope everyone is having a great weekend.
>
>David


So, for anyone who has thought about getting a dog but isn't sure if they should... I say DO IT! Or, if you can't adopt, think about making a donation to the ASPCA & help them fight to find homes for loving animals everywhere.

Breakfast Report - 5/1/07

* TOM'S *

pistachios
coffee

This is what happens when you play video games all morning.

Dinner Report - 4/30/07

* TOM'S *

hot & sour soup
broiled asparagus
leftover bbq chicken
fannie mae trinidad
bourbon

I saw this recipe on tv and was pretty happy with how it turned out. Also, the trinidad was from a box Tom brought back for me from Chicago (awww) - they're one of his favorite candies

Lunch Report - 4/30/07

* SEATTLE CAFE *
(Penn Station concourse)

chicken chili soup

Once again, this trio triumphed my tasting temperament... terrific!

Breakfast Report - 4/30/07

* TOM'S *

leftover barbecued chicken
coffee

YUM! I don't think it can be wrong to love chicken as much as I do, can it?

Dinner Report - 4/29/07

* TOM'S *

chips, salsa, guacamole
baked beans
corn on the cob
barbecued chicken

Sunday night usually means good food & good TV... no exception here!

Lunch Report - 4/29/07

* ENDRI'S / TOM'S *
(Caton btwn Ocean Pkwy & E. 7th / 150 Ocean Pkwy)

slice of pizza (Endri's)
chicken wings (Tom's)

I was walking around looking for something to eat & I just couldn't make up my mind, so I got a slice just to make sure I didn't starve (ha!) When I got to Tom's, I was, of course, still hungry, so I nuked up some Costco chicken wings before falling victim to the trappings of the Wii & Twilight Princess for the next several hours.

Breakfast Report - 4/29/07

* TOM'S *

cheese & chive omelette
coffee

Tom used chives from the deck - yummy!

Dinner Report - 4/28/07

* JACK & JON'S *
(East Orange, NJ)

yummy hors d'ouvres (cheese, crackers, herbed bread, spinach dip, guacamole, olive tapinade)
crab & goat cheese empanadas
cheesy rice
salmon w/mango salsa
champagne
bourbon

Hooray! The boys FINALLY (ha ha) invited me out to see their new place and it was great! Plus, the meal was fantastic.

Lunch Report - 4/28/07

* HUNAN DELIGHT *
(Union & 6th Ave)

hot & sour soup
chicken w/hot sauce & peanuts

This is definitely my favorite Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn. The food is always good, they have a great seating area, and at the busy corner it's great people watching while you eat.

Breakfast Report - 4/28/07

* TOM'S *

leftover lamb
eggs & toast
coffee

I had a little bit of lamb, but then Tom made me some eggs & toast - so it was like a double breakfast morning!

Dinner Report - 4/27/07

* TOM'S *

cous-cous
mixed vegetables
brolied chicken thighs w/romano cheese
bourbon

Tom whipped those thighs together 1-2-3. They were yummy.

Lunch Report - 4/27/07

* SOUP KING *
(Penn Station concourse)

chili

I got a large, which was LARGE! It was goooood!

Breakfast Report - 4/27/07

* TOM'S *

leftover turkey & stuffing
coffee

OK, that was the end of the turkey - mission accomplished!

Dinner Report - 4/26/07

* ENERGY KITCHEN *
(17th St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

chicken stir-fry wrap
water

It's become a Thursday night habit - but I don't mind!

Lunch Report - 4/26/07

* BRUCE'S BURGERS *
(Kmart plaza)

chili

I had planned to go out for lunch with a friend, but my window between meetings today became very small at lunchtime.

Breakfast Report - 4/26/07

* TOM'S *

leftover pizza
coffee

I figured I better clear this out of the fridge to make room for something new!

Dinner Report - 4/25/07

* TOM'S *

leftover lamb
mixed vegetables

Still working my way through the grilled lamb - and it's still DELICIOUS!

Lunch Report - 4/25/07

* BRGR *
(7th Ave btwn 26th & 26th Sts)

turkey burger w/guyere, lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, mayonnaise

Since I didn't have a turkey burger the night before, I thought I would give this new place a try... it was pretty good & definitely worth a repeat visit to try one of the other burgers!

Breakfast Report - 4/25/07

* TOM'S *

leftover turkey & stuffing
coffee

just a little bit of yum to start my day!

Dinner Report - 4/24/07

* THERAPY *
(52nd St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

chicken nachos
tequila

Even though I promised myself that I was going to get a turkey burger - I couldn't resist. Ah, nachos... you're delicious!

Lunch Report - 4/24/07

* WHOLE FOODS *
(7th Ave & 24th St)

black bean soup
salad bar (mixed greens, sprouts, seafood salad, roasted mushrooms, chicken, quinoa, lentils, falafel)

The walk down to 24th St was BEAUTIFUL - and with no line at the registers, this lunch was outstanding. Hooray!

Hi-yo Uncle David!

My nephew Jack showed me how well he could swim while we were in Memphis - check him out (and don't miss my niece Annie's cameo splash at the end)!

Breakfast Report - 4/24/07

* TOM'S *

leftover grilled lamb
coffee

I almost forgot how good this lamb was... until I had some for breakfast this morning!

Dinner Report - 4/23/07

* TOM'S *

roast turkey
mushroom stuffing
broiled asparagus
wine

The recipe for the turkey and stuffing was another test recipe from America's Test Kitchen and it was amazing! The turkey was super moist - everyone had seconds!

Multiple Meals - 4/20, 4/21, 4/22, 4/23

* GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY *
(snack 4/20; Germantown Rd, Germantown, TN)

bbq nachos

Holy ****! Who knew that tortilla chips topped with pulled pork, bbq sauce & melted cheese would taste so outrageously delicious?


* NAPA CAFE *
(dinner 4/20; Sanderlin Rd, Memphis)

cheese-stuffed mushroom appetizer
goat cheese & pine nut salad
molasses brined chicken
buttermilk pie
wine

Although I was very full from all my bbq eatin' this afternoon - I managed to clean my plate. Part of the reason may have been because it took about 3 hours for the food to come, but it was good & I was at a very fun table, so I had a good time. One thing to note: the buttermilk pie was basically cheese cake - not as exciting as it sounded like it would be. Tom says that he has a better recipe, so I am anxious to try!


* CAL'S CHAMPIONSHIP STEAKHOUSE *
(breakfast 4/21; Sanderlin Rd, Memphis)

breakfast buffet (coffee, bacon, eggs, potatoes, biscuits & gravy)

This was the hotel restaurant. Decent, but not fantastic breakfast buffet.


* A&R BAR-B-QUE *
(lunch 4/21; Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis)

bbq turkey sandwich
seasoned fries
diet pepsi

The bbq tasting continues! Another great meal (which we could have predicted based on what seemed like a very local customer crowd.)

* GRAND BALLROOM DOUBLETREE EAST MEMPHIS *
(dinner 4/21; Sanderlin Rd, Memphis)

salad
soup
chicken
rice
salmon
wedding cake
wine

My cousin's wedding reception was really fun. The food was good I had a great time dancing (although watching my 3-year-old niece and nephew dance was the most fun!)


* CAL'S CHAMPIONSHIP STEAKHOUSE *
(breakfast 4/22; Sanderlin Rd, Memphis)

breakfast buffet (coffee, bacon, eggs, potatoes, biscuits & gravy)

Another breakfast buffet morning - this time almost the whole family joined us.


* BACKYARD BURGER *
(lunch 4/22; The Memphis Zoo)

cheeseburger
chili-cheese fries
diet-pepsi

I was not overly thrilled with the burger, but everyone else liked them. The fries were good, but definitely not good for me! We sat next to a window that looked out at some monkeys - it was very funny.


* ENDRI'S *
(dinner 4/22; Brooklyn)

sausage, mushroom, olive pizza
side salad
bourbon

Back at home, Tom & I ordered in so we could catch up on all our stories we missed over the weekend.


* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/23)

leftover pizza

I don't have to explain how good leftover pizza is again, do I?


* SEATTLE CAFE *
(lunch 4/23; 33rd St btwn 7th & 8th Aves)

grilled chicken/spinach salad

No surprise here. After another weekend of crazy eating, I need to take it down a notch or 2 (or several.)

Lunch Report - 4/20/07

* NEELY'S BAR-B-QUE *
(Mt. Moriah and Clarke Rd., Memphis)

pulled pork platter
cole slaw
baked beans
ice tea

Thanks goodness for helpful hotel desk clerks! Tom & I had seen a bbq place called Corky's close to the hotel, but when we asked at the front desk if it were any good, the pause and frown we got as a response said it all. She recommended we try Neely's, and it was not a dissapointment!

Breakfast Report - 4/20/07

* BURGER KING *
(Delta terminal, LaGuardia International Airport)

egg, sausage, cheese croissanwich
hash browns
coffee

On my way to Memphis, TN - I wonder what I'll eat there....

Dinner Report - 4/19/07

* ENERGY KITCHEN *
(17th St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

thai stir fry chicken wrap

Pre-volleyball dinner... it was good & healthy.

Lunch Report - 4/19/07

* ROSE PIZZA & PASTA *
(Penn Station concourse)

pizza (1 slice mushroom, 1 slice ground beef)

It was good yesterday, so I decided to try it again!

Multiple Meals 4/17, 4/18, 4/19

* SALT *
(dinner 4/17; Macdougal & King Sts)

honey glazed dates wrapped in bacon
goat cheese brulee
cream of cauliflower soup, truffle essence
long island duck breast w/braised leeks and brussels sprouts
prosecco
wine

Delicious, delicious, delicious! It was a great meal.

* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/18)

turkey
coffee

I wasn't really hungry, so just had a couple slices of turkey (cuz it was quick & easy!)


* SOUP KING / ROSE PIZZA & PASTA *
(lunch 4/18; Penn Station concourse)

chili (Soup King)
slice of pizza w/mushrooms (Rose...)

HOORAY! I think I finally found the best chili in Penn Station!!! It's definitely better than Bruce's Burgers or Hot & Crusty. As good as it was, I was still hungry after I finished, so I grabbed a slice of pizza for dessert.


* TOM'S *
(dinner 4/18)

roasted potatoes
sauteed spinach
grilled lamb
bourbon

If anyone ever says that they don't like lamb - I will know that they have never had it prepared by Mr. Tom Carpenter. It was F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!


* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/19)

ham
coffee

Having some deli meat on hand really comes in handy when you would rather play video games than prepare food!

Lunch Report - 4/17/07

* SEATTLE ROASTERS / OFFICE CAFETERIA *
(Penn Station concourse / One Penn Plaza - 5th Floor)

lentil soup (Seattle Roasters)
bag of cheetos (Office Cafeteria)

I didn't want to have a big lunch because I'm going out tonight. I thought the soup would do it, but I needed a little something more. Of course, a bag of cheetos from the vending machine is probably not the best choice, but that's how things went today.

Breakfast Report - 4/17/07

* TOM'S *

mixed nuts
coffee

I got caught up playing the Wii this morning and ran out of time to make something.

Multiple Meals 4/13, 4/14, 4/15, 4/16

* BETTER BURGER / TOM'S *
(dinner 4/13; 8th Ave & 19th St)

green salad topped w/turkey burger (Better Burger)
maple/soy/ginger/garlic roasted steelhead trout (Tom's)

MMM - this was a good and healthy night of eating. I didn't mean to eat 2 dinners, but when I got to Tom's, the fish he made looked so good, I couldn't resist!


* 5TH AVE DELI *
(breakfast 4/14; 5th Ave & Berkeley)

turkey, egg whites & swiss on whole grain bread
coffee

I picked this up on the way to my volleyball tournament.


* QUEENS COLLEGE *
(lunch 4/14; Flushing, Queens)

turkey sandwich

During the tournament I needed to eat something, but I didn't want to eat too much since I still had to play.


* ESCUELITA *
(dinner 4/14; 39th St btwn 8th & 9th Ave)

salad
lasagna
sauteed chicken
broccoli
green beans
tequila

This was a buffet dinner at the tournament seeding party. It was the typical buffet that we have for every Gotham Volleyball season party.


* 5TH AVENUE BAGELTIQUE *
(breakfast 4/15; 5th Ave btwn President & Garfield)

pumpernickel bagel w/low-fat scallion cream cheese and a slice of tomato
coffee

YUM - this might be my favorite bagel!


* QUEENS COLLEGE *
(lunch 4/15; Flushing, Queens)

hot dog

Just like yesterday, during the tournament I needed to eat something, but I didn't want to eat too much since I still had to play.


* TOM'S *
(dinner 4/15

filet mignon
baked potato
mixed vegetables

Tom made a delicious meal; it was a perfect way to finally relax after a full & exhausting weekend.

* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/16

left-over trout

Man, that's good fish

* SEATTLE CAFE *
(lunch 4/16; 33rd St)

gilled chicken/spinach salad

A gross, yucky day meant that I wasn't going far for lunch

* TOM'S *
(dinner 4/16

cous cous
broiled asparagus
stir fried beef with pickled red peppers

I had a test recipe to make. It was to use kimch'i, but the store I went to didn't have it, so I used pickled red peppers instead. It was ok, but not my favorite.

Lunch Report - 4/13/07

* HOT & CRUSTY*
(Penn Station concourse)

chili

Yes, the name of the place makes me giggle, but more importantly... their chili is good.

In Memory Of...

When I was in college, one of the things I did freshman year instead of going to class was discover Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. I'm pretty sure that I was introduced to him by the coolest guy (at least to me) in my dorm, but regardless of how the first book ended up in my hand, I was soon making regular trips to the Illini Union book store looking for more. I devoured "Slaughter House Five," "Breakfast of Champions," "Cat's Cradle," and several others. They changed the way I thought about books. More than just giving me a story, these novels gave me new ways to think and to see things. With constant themes that questioned "Why am I here?" and "Who's in charge?" I was inspired by (as well as envious of) the imagination, emotional rawness and self-awareness his words evoked.

Fast forward many years, many books, and many MANY self-aware moments. Although I haven't read anything he's published in at least a decade, I feel his death this week warrants a reflection of how he impacted my life and an acknowledgment that even still he sits comfortably on my Top 10 list of authors along with William Faulkner, Isaac Asimov, JD Salinger, Harper Lee, Agatha Christie, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Salman Rushdie, Betty MacDonald and Franz Kafka.

NY Times Obituary

Breakfast Report - 4/13/07

* TOM'S *

egg & ham (w/dijon mustard)
coffee

I kind of made a ham sandwich with a scramble-fried egg acting as bread (but don't worry, I used a fork to eat it!)

Dinner Report - 4/12/07

* THERAPY *
(52nd St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

chicken nachos
bourbon

Ok - so I'm a creature of habit... but they're sooooooooooooooo good!

Lunch Report - 4/12/07

* BRUCE'S BURGERS *
(Kmart plaza, off 7th Ave btwn 34th & 33rd Sts)

chili

Has it really been 3 weeks since my last trip to Bruce's - how'd that happen?

Breakfast Report - 4/12/07

* TOM'S *

red curry beef stir-fry

This was left over from last night (I didn't have any then, but it was so good this morning it must have been ridiculously delicious when Tom made it.)

Dinner Report - 4/11/07

* ENERGY KITCHEN *
(17th St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

tex-mex chicken wrap

It was mucho good, but it didn't give me the energy I wanted for last night's "friendship" volleyball tournament.

Lunch Report - 4/11/07

* SEATTLE CAFE *

grilled chicken/spinach salad
split pea soup

Surprised? Shocked? Bored?

Breakfast Report - 4/11/07

* TOM'S *

scrambled egg
coffee

simple but satisfying!

Dinner Report - 4/10/07

* LIS & GREG'S *

pretzel bread w/cheese
caesar salad
lamb stew
chocolate-coke cake
wine

YUM! The meal and the company were great. And here's a good joke I heard:

Q: What kind of bees make milk?
A: <click to find out>

Lunch Report - 4/10/07

* SEATTLE CAFE *

spinach salad w/grilled chicken

Something healthy to make up for the weekend!

Multiple Meals 4/6, 4/7, 4/8, 4/9, 4/10

Well - it was a weekend full of eating (and I mean it!) Here's a recap of the food happenings...

* EMPIRE KITCHEN *
(lunch 4/6: 5th Ave btwn Union & President)

egg drop soup
roast pork w/garlic sauce (brown rice)

We got out at 1pm today for Good Friday, so I ran home and stopped in here for a quick, YUMMY, bite.


* VIRGIL'S REAL BARBECUE *
(dinner 4/6: 44th St btwn 6th Ave & Broadway)

train wreck fries (cheese, bacon, jalepenos, scallions, and ranch dressing - BELIEVE IT!)
hush puppies (w/maple syrup butter)
bbq chicken wings
grilled catfish po' boy
bourbon

A pre-theatre dinner that ROCKED! It was messy and delicious and a must-try in NYC.


* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/7)

smoked salmon, bleu cheese omelette

I don't know how Tom came up with this, but it was SOOO good. I could eat it for any meal and be absolutely happy.


* FAIRWAY *
(lunch 4/7: Van Brunt St, Red Hook)

lobster roll (see photo!)

snapple (diet lemon)

Not only was this one of the best lobster rolls I've had, it was definitely one of the cheapest. Also, the spectacular view along the water's edge we had while eating made this shopping/lunch trip extra special.


* ERIN & PETE'S *
(dinner 4/7)

bruschetta w/avocado spread
stuffed mushrooms
wagon wheel pasta w/lamb & peas
carrot cake
wine

A great meal, everything was excellent - especially the homemade cake. It was nice to have some lamb this Easter weekend too.


* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/8)

chocolate covered malted-milk eggs

What can I say? HAPPY EASTER!


* JIM W'S *
(Easter Brunch 4/8)

potato chips
easter candy
bagels w/cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, tomatoes, cucumber
cheesy ham and banana casserole
spinach/manchego strata
cream-filled chocolate cupcakes
champagne

Jim wanted to make Paula Deen's white-trashy casserole (besides the ham & bananas, it also had potato chips!), so we of course obliged him by coming over to try! It was delicious. Tom brought the strata & I made the cupcakes. Did you know that whipping together a stick of butter with a jar of marshmallow fluff tastes just like Hostess cream filling? Try it!


* RICH'S *
(dinner 4/8)

cheese & crackers
spiced peanuts
pistachios
salad
lasagna
meatballs & sausages
wine

Rich put together an awesome Italian feast for the premier of The Soprano's final season. I'm lucky that I was too full from the entire weekend to have more than a small second helping of lasagna because I could have eaten the entire pan - YUM!


* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/9)

mixed nuts
coffee

OOF! I ate a lot of food this weekend... time to regroup.


* TOM'S *
(lunch 4/9)

tuna salad
seltzer

A light lunch. I also had a cough-y throat so I worked from home to take medicine all day and feel better.


* TOM'S *
(dinner 4/9)

orange-flavored stir-fried beef (w/snow peas)
wine

A test recipe for Tom from America's Test Kitchen. I thought it was delicious, but Tom has some suggestions for how to improve it - I can't wait to try it again!

* TOM'S *
(breakfast 4/10)

mixed nuts
coffee

Ok, feeling better, but still didn't want a real breakfast. We'll see how it goes tomorrow (stay tuned!)

PHEW!
(I'm caught up - yay!!)

HA-HA SCARY!!

This is one of the funniest scary things I've seen in a long time!

Little Monster Man

Breakfast Report - 4/6/07

* SEATTLE ROASTERS CAFE *
(Penn Station concourse)

ham, egg & cheese croissant

Yay! It's Friday!

Volleyball Recap

Well - I was all set to really have some fun this week. It was the first match of the night (at 7:15), so it was a perfect one for Tom to come watch. Unfortunately, only 3 of my teammates managed to make it, so we had to play with 4. AND, we didn't have a setter - which is sort of like playing football without a quarterback. So, I ended up splitting the setting duties with another player, and honestly, I think we did pretty well under the circumstances. And at least one good thing about last night was that I really got a lot of exercise from all the running I had to do.

So... now we are 0-10 (3-27; with a -168 point differential). With only 2 more matches to go, we've passed the point where there's even a chance for us to finish anything but dead last. I have never had a less successful season - BUT - I have had less fun ones. Regardless of the results, it has been great almost the whole time (& there's still the season tournament!)

Dinner Report - 4/5/07

* TOM'S *

pizza (pepperoni, onion & spinach)

I don't know where this came from (because I wasn't in the apartment when it was ordered,) but it was delicious!

Lunch Report - 4/5/07

* STAGE DOOR DELICATESSEN *
(8th Ave & 33rd St)

tuna melt on rye

This change of pace was extra good!

Breakfast Report - 4/5/07

* TOM'S *

turkey sandwich

Just a couple slices of turkey meat folded between a slice of multi-grain bread (with a little mustard) - yum.

Dinner Report - 4/4/07

* THERAPY *
(52nd St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

chicken nachos
tequila

By this point, I don't think I need to tell you all how much I like these...

Lunch Report - 4/4/07

* SEATTLE ROASTERS CAFE *
(Penn Station concourse)

seafood gumbo


No time to eat... new video game to play...

Breakfast Report - 4/4/07

* 49TH STREET *
(outside Nintendo World)

coffee

It was worth skipping breakfast to get a Wii!!

Phone photo

In line for a nintendo wii!

Dinner Report - 4/3/07

* ROSA MEXICANO *
(1st Ave & 58th St)

chips & guacamole
jalepeno matzah ball soup
chipotle chopped liver
roasted chicken w/vegetables & potato kugel
tequila

It was a tex-mex-nyc style passover. Yum-eee!

Lunch Report - 4/3/07

* CHEF YU *
(8th Ave & 36th St)

kung pao chicken
hot & sour soup

It had been awhile since last I saw my old friend, the chef. I thought it would be a nice reunion... and it was!

Breakfast Report - 4/3/07

* TOM'S *

mixed nuts
cheese
coffee

After last night's feast, this morning had to be light!

Dinner Report - 4/2/07

* ROBBIE & HARVEY'S *
(Holmdel, NJ)

PASSOVER
crudite and dip
- - - - - - -
greens in salt water
matzah
charoset
maror
- - - - - - -
chopped liver
veggie chopped liver
matah ball soup
chopped salad
asparagus
potato kugel
broccoli kugel
brisket
chocolate cake
fruit salad
chocoalte covered matzah

Oh, oh, oh - so goooooood. I love this holiday, but even better than the food were the laughs and fun I had being with family & friends!

Lunch Report - 4/2/07

* SEATTLE ROASTERS CAFE *
(Penn Station concourse)

chicken chili soup


I didn't want to eat a lot for lunch because it's Passover & I'm excited about tonight's dinner! I think I chose pretty well today, because this soup has three of my favorite things going for it: (1)Chicken, (2)Chili, and (3)Soup - and it was YUMMY!

Breakfast Report - 4/2/07

* TOM'S *

scrambled eggs w/cheese
coffee

Just a quick scramble, nothing fancy.

Dinner Report - 4/1/07

* TOM'S *

cheese & crackers
grilled turkey breast
roasted potatoes
broiled asparagus
spinach salad
tiramisu (a test recipe)
fruit tart
wine

Tom grilled the turkey breast over cedar chips & it was fantastic. I made the tiramisu as a test recipe for America's Test Kitchen, but I screwed up practically every step. It turned out to be edible, but I didn't think it was very good. Regardless, it was a fun meal & a great TV night.

Lunch Report - 4/01/07

* ENERGY KITCHEN *
(17th St btwn 7th & 8th Aves)

turkey club wrap (on whole wheat)
coffee
water

I picked this up on my way to volleyball since I hadn't had anything to eat all day. It was good, but I didn't eat all of it because I didn't want to be too full before playing. I probably should have just eaten it because I played like crap anyway - oh well.

Breakfast Report - 4/1/07

* TOM'S *

coffee

I was very slow in getting up & moving... the coffee was all I could deal with.

Dinner Report - 3/31/07

* SEAN & MARK'S *

chips & salsa
cheese & crackers
pate
spiced nuts
salad
carrots
horseradish potatoes
pepper crusted filet mignon
chocolate cupcake w/cream cheese frosting

Wow - a great meal!

Lunch Report - 3/31/07

* THE SHAKE SHACK *
(Madison Square Park)

the shack burger
cheese fries
caramel milk shake

Wow - a great lunch. The line wasn't too bad (only about 40 minutes) and it was especially exciting because I got to introduce it's glory to 3 people who had never experienced it before. If YOU don't know what the shack is all about, learn my child, learn.

Breakfast Report - 3/31/07

* TOM'S *

left-over pizza
coffee

I said it yesterday & I'll say it again - pizza for breakfast is GREAT!

Phone photo

The Shake Shack!

Dinner Report - 3/30/07

* THERAPY *
(52nd St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

chicken nachos (a shared plate - see the photo!)
bourbon

Once again - these nachos come through!

Phone photo

Dogs at the park!

Food & Racism

Today's New York Times article "Uncle Ben, Board Chairman" caught my eye :
The racially charged symbol for Uncle Ben's rice products is taking center stage in a new campaign that makes him chairman of the company.

Well, isn't that interesting. Honestly, the whole thing is kind of bizarre to me. On one hand, Uncle Ben was certainly not created to represent a business man and it seems a little revisionist history-ish to make him one now. On the other hand, he's not a real person - he's a mascot, or a slogan - of course he needs to be updated if he's at all offensive. And, it obviously isn't the first time that a racially or ethnically insulting character has been taken out of rotation. Gone are Little Black Sambo, Chief Illiniwek, and the "Ancient Chinese secret, huh?" to name a few of my favorites.

But... (and here's where I may be offensive)

Where's the fun in buying rice from a CEO? How stupid is that? I'd rather they just get rid of it altogether and not try to fool us with a new coat of paint. For example, I saw this referenced in the article and couldn't help but do a little web-digging...


Original (fun)------------------------------>Revised (stupid)

Original (fun)------------------------------>Revised (stupid)



In any case, I don't buy Uncle Ben's, or Mr. Ben's, or (just) Ben's rice regardless - so I really don't care. It's just fun to rant a little (and to find racist pictures of fruit with buck teeth!)

Lunch Report - 3/30/07

* MANGIA *
(57th St btwn 5th & 6th Aves)


grilled tuna salad (on watercress w/cherry tomatoes, olives, croutons)
pellegrino

It was really good AND it was not at my desk (which made it even better!)

Phone photo

Central Park... Spring is coming!

Breakfast Report - 3/30/07

* TOM'S *

left over pizza
coffee

I don't care what anybody says, pizza for breakfast is AWESOME!

Volleyball Recap

Well... it's been a few weeks since the last update, but I know you're all anxious to hear about our first win... so.... you'll just have to wait at least another week because we still don't have one.

2 weeks ago I was in Austin so I didn't play. Last week we we're REALLY close to winning, we only lost each of the first 2 games by 2 points (and won the 3rd). This week we played really well again (I think it was my best match of the season,) but we just couldn't do it. Oh well, we're 0-9 (3-24). Maybe next week.

Dinner Report - 3/29/07

* ENERGY KITCHEN *
(17th St btwn 8th & 9th Aves)

chicken stir-fry wrap

Here's my other regular Thursday night (pre-volleyball) dinner choice. It was really good, but I burned the roof of my mouth which did not make me happy.

Lunch Report - 3/29/07

* BRUCE'S BURGERS *
(Kmart plaza)

chili

What? Chili for lunch? So original... NOT! Oh well, it's Thursday & it's colder than it was yesterday, and I lost track of time (so I didn't have a lot of it for eatin').

Special American Idol Report

Sanjaya's Hairstyles to date:


I'm not sure what he's going to come up with next... but I can think of a few styles that I would LOVE to see him try. My photoshopping skills are especially bad here (especially because I don't have photoshop,) but these mock-ups will hopefully give you an idea of what I'm talking about.


Hi-top Fade

If anybody can bring this back - it might be Sanjaya!

Cornrows

Wouldn't he be pretty?


Skullet

Let's hear it for the white-trash metal-lovers out there!

And they're out...

Ok, ok, ok - that's 2 extra ok's because I'm 2 weeks behind reporting the latest American Idol expulsions. Time to catch up!

SPOILER ALERT


Buh-Bye Brandon (2 weeks ago)

Sorry, buddy. Maybe "You Can't Hurry Love," but ya should have tried to hurry learning the words a little more. Forgetting lyrics is never a good strategy.

So Long Stephanie (last week)

This was sad because I thought she did really well. I guess the audience believed her when she sang "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" a little too much.

Ciao Fat Christian (last night)

I stopped being impressed with him a while ago and his version of "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" made it painfully clear that he was out of tricks for this competition.

Breakfast Report - 3/29/07

* TOM'S *


an egg (over easy)
coffee

Nothing special today, but at least I made a tiny effort to cook.

Dinner Report - 3/28/07

* LITTLE TONINOS *
(424 Greenwood Ave)

sausage, mushroom, black olive pizza

Pizza good! I do think this place is kind of funny, because doesn't "Tonino" already mean "Little Tony," which makes the name actually "Little Little Tony's"? Also you MUST check out their site, it's fun (especially the description of what they will use the homepage for)!

Say Wha?

Ok - I'm not an Avril hater... in fact I kinda likes her as a guilty (and not so guilty) pleasure. But this, the Mandarin version of her new single "Girlfriend," is just ri-donk-ulous.


FYI - it's also available in Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portugese and Japanese. WORLD POWER!

Lunch Report - 3/28/07

* SEATTLE CAFE *

spinach salad w/grilled chicken
chicken gumbo soup

It was yummy, but I am just LAZY today... as beautiful as it is outside & that was the best I could do? I don't think so! I've definitely got some making up to do tomorrow.

Breakfast Report - 3/28/07

* TOM'S *

turkey roll-ups
coffee

Hmmm - I'm not sure this was the right thing to do... maybe tomorrow.

Dinner Report - 3/27/07

* TOM'S *

pepper crusted filet mignon (w/bleu cheese butter)
mixed vegetables
chocolate & mango ices (from Uncle Louie G)

A new recipe... it tasted yummy, but it had an hour of resting time which doesn't make it a great choice for after-work dinner (takes too much planning).

Lunch Report - 3/27/07

* SEATTLE CAFE *

spinach salad w/grilled chicken

I had back to back meetings, but I was HUNGRY, so I ran out quickly to grab this standby.

Breakfast Report - 3/27/07

* TOM'S *

mixed nuts
coffee

Another day of mixed nuts. Today's excuse was one of logistics... I had things to do this morning and just needed to eat something quickly.

Dinner Report - 3/26/07

* TOM'S *

glazed pork chops
acorn squash
mixed vegetables

The recipe for the glazed pork chops turned out to be good (and not too much work)! The basic glaze was cider vinegar/apple juice based, but there was a variation for a beer flavored one that I'm looking forward to trying another night!

Lunch Report - 3/26/07

* THE GINGER HOUSE *
(7th Ave btwn 28 & 29th Sts)

spicy beef w/green peppers
hot & sour soup
tea

Yum. It was delicious.

Breakfast Report - 3/26/07

* TOM'S *

turkey roll-ups
coffee

Well, at least it's better than mixed nuts!

Dinner Report - 3/25/07

* TOM'S *

cheese & crackers
chips & 7 layer dip
pot-roast
salt-roasted/baked potatoes (a tester recipe for America's Test Kitchen)
braised leeks in white wine
sauteed mushrooms with shallots & thyme
green beans w/bleu cheese
bourbon
wine

It was a GOOD night of cooking and tv watching!

Lunch Report - 3/25/07

* TOM'S *

ham & turkey sandwich

even though it doesn't sound exciting, it was really yummy! It was on some great whole grain bread with mayonnaise & mustard AND pepper jack cheese.

Breakfast Report - 3/25/07

* TOM'S *

oatmeal
coffee

A good hearty, healthy-ish, breakfast - YAY!

Dinner Report - 3/24/07

* ALL OVER *

7-layer dip & lunch meat (Tom's)
party food: chips, guacamole, hummus, veggies, cookies, crab, spinach pie (Eric & Peter's)
Pizza (Pizzatown)
Pizza (don't know the name of the place)
bourbon
tequila


it was a snacking frenzy last night as I went from one party to another & then back home... I was back in Austin mode!

Lunch Report - 3/24/07

* COSTCO *
(3rd Ave & 38th St)

chicken bake

We made our run early to avoid the crowds, but unfortunately that meant no snacks (shoot!)

Breakfast Report - 3/24/07

* TOM'S / CONNECTICUT MUFFIN *
(Ocean Parkway / Prospect Park West & 15th Street)

mixed nuts (Tom's)
coffee (Connecticut Muffin)

It was a BEATIFUL morning... perfect for taking the dogs to the park and letting them run around for awhile. I didn't want to get hungry in the park so I just had my "lazy" breakfast before we left. Just at the corner of the park, we got some coffees at Connecticut Muffin.

The park was awesome, but of course I forgot to take pictures. Tomorrow should be even nicer, so hopefully we will go again.

Lunch Report - 3/23/07

* SEATTLE CAFE *
(33rd btwn 7th & 8th)

spinach salad w/turkey
cream of broccoli soup

hmmm... just ok today, no big deal