Leftovers . . .

Brought my leftover meatloaf and potatoes from Barnaby's.  Still awesome.  Meatloaf has great texture and the potatoes heated up well and were still nice and moist.  yum!  Nothing new there then.  I still recommend it.

A quick digression if I may.  Last night I put a plastic lidded fast food cup with a straw that I had been drinking out of for 2 days in the fridge on my way out.  In the cup were two lemon wedges and water mixed with a little bit of iced tea.  Also in the fridge was my ziploc baggie of lemon wedges I brought from home.  The lemons are homegrown off my own lemon trees.  They are really good!  Anyway, I come in today and go to collect my water and lemons and they are GONE.  Some bendejo TOOK both the cup of water and the lemons!  Nothing else in the fridge was gone so it was obviously not the cleaning crew.  Besides, they never clear out the fridge until it is stuffed to bursting with stinky old food.  I am told by reliable sources that it was most definitely someone from the department on the other side of the floor who work 24/7.  Whoever you are, NOT FREAKING COOL, MAN!  I will find you someday and there will be repercussions.  Serious repercussions.  You have been warned.

peace out!

At the Coppa-cabana . . .

So Thursday was free lunch day.  Department lunch celebrating co-worker's promotion at Coppa in Houston on Washington.  It's Italian.  It was ok.  I didn't think I ate that much but sitting here at my desk  it is apparent I thought wrong.

Really liked the environs and food for the most part was prepared pretty light which was a nice change.  However they used some spices I am not a real big fan of.  Primarily fennel.. Gag me.

For starters there were meatballs, fried zucchini, and frito misto (fried seafood).  The friend stuff all had alight lemony essence which was ok.  Seafood and zucchini fried almost tempura style.  Very light though and nice.  The meatballs were ok.  The sauce was kind of spicy and I don't really dig spicy Italian.  Not sure why, I just don't.  Next had a Caesar salad with lettuce that looked wilted and old, but turns out was actually grilled. I started out eating it thinking it was fine but then Chungry was convinced it was freezer burn.  I got so freaked out about it (I HATE old lettuce, totally grosses me out) that I couldn't eat about half my salad.  Ultimately that is fine b/c I didn't need it anyway.  I started a  boot camp on Tuesday. More on that in a bit.  Nice spicy dressing with anchovies and homemade croutons.  Nice presentation.

frito misto

 

fried zucchini and meatballs

For my entree I had the baked pork chop.  It was listed as coming with seasonal vegetables so I assumed that meant a serving of veggies on the side.  It turned out to be more like a garnish.  It was onions and spinach and some other stuff I couldn't recognize all chopped up around the pork chop.  Presentation on the plate was nice though.  I was disappointed that I really didn't have any vegetables to eat.  I also didn't like the seasoning on the vegetables.  they were cooked with orange peel which left a bitter citrus taste--combined again with the fennel so no thank you  to that.  Pork chop was lighter on the fennel so not bad.  Meat was kind of dried out with not much flavor.  I ate about a third and left the rest.

 

pork chop al forno w seasonal vegetables

Dessert was better.  The whole table had these Italian donut holes that were ok.  Then there were some extra orders of a chocolate malt cake with pistachio ice cream.  Really nice choc malt sauce on the plate and garnished with crushed Whoppers.  Cannot go wrong with that.  Best of all, excellent strong coffee to top it off.  I never get though why Italian places don't give you warm milk for your coffee.  I don't like putting cold cream in my hot coffee and then drinking luke warm coffee.  Anyway, it was good so hats off Coppa on the coffee.

 

coffee and Caesar salad.  Chocolate malt cake below

I should not have had dessert since I am trying to get off the sweets.  I have managed to go 2 and a half days without sweets.  Don't laugh.  If you have a raging sweet tooth, two days is an eternity.  Now I have to start over.  I need to get one of those safety signs that say how many days its been since the place had an incident but mine would be for eating candy and cake and whatever.  And why am I not eating sweets?  Because I started a boot camp on Tuesday.  It's an aquatic boot camp that is supposed to be based on the Army Deep Dive training.  They also have a nutrition component so I'm trying to follow that eating plan loosely for how many helpings of proteins, starch and fruits and vegetables for each meal, staying within 

1200-1400 calories.  I may have just blown that wide open at lunch just now.  Boot camp was cool though.  Pretty sore today on upper body.  At some point swim fins will be involved which makes me a little nervous.  And if I may take liberties to talk about the pool location for the boot camp.  Holy crap is it nice.  It's like an Olympic training facility.  Boot camp is held at the school district's natatorium--and yes they really call it that.  Olympic size pool with 8 lanes, 3 diving platforms, hot tub, locker rooms and I don't even know what else.  There were so many people there Tuesday night for various swim practice and lessons and water polo it was nuts.  Oh and it's a salt water pool to boot.  Water temp was a little cold for my taste but I got over it after the initial shock of jumping in.  I'll have to take a picture tonight when I go.

Ok- have to get back to looking up Santa Barbara real estate.  I'm planning my retirement today.

Two Things . . .

1) a good dive bar is good to have

2) Barnaby's meatloaf is crazy good.

On point 1: Tuesday had lunch date with Twist. Agreed to go to Warren's, a nearby ( and more than likely very old) establishment downtown. Warren's is a total dive. It's dark and worn and out of date. Everyone in there is old and knows each other. It has cheap burgundy velvet flocked wall paper and a random bust of some dude in the corner. But, it also has cheap lunch specials that are generally good. More importantly, it is the only place I have found that can make a real grilled cheese here.

Guess what the special was yesterday? Grilled cheese and chicken rice soup! I'm not lying. We both quickly ordered up a cup of soup and a grilled cheese. Soup was nice. Not too much broth and a good peppery kick. Grilled cheese could have used more butter on the sandwich bread but otherwise it was a standard homey grilled cheese. Not overflowing with cheese either. Just right. Came on a plastic dinner plate with a generous helping of chips and a gloriously garlicky dill pickle. In contrast to the plastic plate, the soup came out in well worn standard diner heavy ceramic cup and saucer. I can't begrudge Warren's from being economical. If I can eat there for $5 then I am more than happy to use a disposable plastic plate and one napkin. Respect.


Is it the best food ever? No. But it's homey and no hassle and cheap. I'm giving Warren's a 4 and a recommended.

 

On to number Two: Barnaby's. no photo today. Was out with a colleague and didn't want to go into the whole "I'm taking pictures of food for my blog" thing. Kind of sorry I didn't though. My first experience was meh. Today was much better. Went with meatloaf. Came with two giant steamed broccoli bunches and mashed potatoes. Also got three thick slices of meatloaf in marinara. Crazy good. For real. Not sure how they made their mashed potatoes but they were some of the best I have ever had. Great flavor. Not too starchy and very light. A distinct absence of cream and butter. Possibly mashed Yukon Golds. Whatever it was, yum. Meatloaf was moist with good consistency and flavor. Definite Italian meatball kind of thing going on.


I only take issue with the broccoli that was steamed just this side of raw with no seasoning of any kind. I can appreciate the plain thing but, work with me, it's broccoli.

This meal I think is a 4.5 and a recommended. I ate about a third and have the rest to take home for dinner.

Turkey Day Recap . . .

Oh my gosh you guys, I am so behind today!  Woke up at 4:30 to deal with cranky Babyman and thought I might stay home with him but then he rallied so here I am.  SO tired right now.  On the plus side, leftover sausage cheese kolaches in the kitchen at work, and I fit into the next size smaller pants. Hooray!  For the rest of the world outside Tejas, the kolache is a sausage roll.  Kolache Factory (and Buccees for that matter) have really really good ones. 

But I digress . . .  I need to get caught up on what went on last week food-wise.  Monday and Tuesday I have no idea.  Oh Tuesday I didn't eat lunch b/c I went to the movies and intended to have popcorn but did not.  The line was too long.  I was riding solo so couldn't go get a seat and have someone bring me popcorn.  Thought I would run out for some during previews but then I like the previews and didn't want to get up.  So- never really had anything.

Wednesday took the day off for some pre-festivity cooking prep.  Hubs got let go early so I met him at PF Chang for lunch and then a movie.  For the most part I don't care for PF Chang's.  It has one dish I really like generally (Singapore Street Noodles) and a couple of apps but then that is it.  The rest of their food I don't think is great, not real Chinses/Asian with few exceptions and they charge too much for sake.  Oh and it takes forEVER to get in and out of there to eat.  Hubs really digs it though so to humor him since it was my people coming for the holiday, we went.  I had crab wontons and fried shrimp dumplings as my entree.

I admit I do LOVE the Chang shrimp dumplings.  I have the recipe and have made them at home.  Also really good but a total pain in the butt to make.  Just takes a long time and involves folding up the wonton wrappers which I am not great at.

These 2 apps each get a 4 and a recommended.

Wed. night I decided to make dinner and did coq au vin.  Classic French dish of chicken in wine.  Dad said it smelled good when I was making it but never followed up with a tastes good too so not sure if he liked it or not.  The Rents can be tight lipped about compliments.  Anyway, not too hard to make actually.  I might not marinade the chicken overnight again but just do it 6 hours ahead or something.  Being in the wine overnight and then simmered made the chicken purple.  I liked it though. Thought it came out well.  Could have used more salt, and I didn't get enough french bread to go with it.

Coq au Vin

Next came Turkey Day.  My favorite holiday of the year.  I tend to find cooking turkey stressful so I opted for a made by someone else and bought by me dinner.  I did make several sides though.  I added cranberries in port wine, rutabaga-pear mash, rutabaga with carmalized onions and apples, butternut squash and some non-dairy potatoes.   Our purchased food was fantastic.  The only thing I had issue with was the stuffing.  I had to dump a bunch of chicken stock on it to moisten it up b/c it was quite dry.  The stock did the trick though and it turned out really good.  Cornbread stuffing of course.  The turkey had been brined so it was juicy and tasty.  I'd give the meal a 4.5 and will get it again next year.

For dessert we had a pumpkin pie as well as a bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cake.  The bundt cakes there are phenomenal.  I am so over cupcakes.  The bundt kicks the cupcakes ass.  My Mom even liked it and she never likes anything not chocolate.

As far as leftovers go, turkey is gone so working my way through some of the others.  Mostly stuffing and cranberry and rutabaga.  I loves me some rutabaga.  My Granddad used to call it Rudy and we had it at just about every holiday meal I can remember.  The rudy-pear mash was good but i think next year I'll go back to the standard rudy only mash with stock and salt and pepper.  However, the rudy with onions and apples was pretty darn good if I do say so myself.  Will def make that again at some point.  The butternut squash was boiled with ginger then mashed with salt pepper garlic brown sugar and onion.  Also tasty and I will make again.

And that brings us back to Monday.  Went with a three cheese rigatoni Lean Cuisine.  Just some pasta with veggies.  Nothing major.  Veggies tasted fresh. My only complaint was too many red peppers.  The minute I took the cellophane off to eat I was hit in the face with red pepper smell.  I don't like red bell pepper.  And in general you cant go wrong with pasta stuffed with cheese.  I'll give it a 4 and a recommended.

Today Twist and I are going to Warren's.  Warren's is a total dive bar in downtown Houston that happens to serve some pretty good cheap lunch specials.  AND, best of all Warren's can make a real grilled cheese sandwich.  Something most of Houston cannot.  Woot!

Yes. . .

I am indeed having a BBQ brisket sandwich from Bucees for dinner. Deal.

Not bad. A little fatty. A little too saucy. Good value, it's gigantic!

3.5 recommended if you're at the Bucees off I45 near Huntsville.

Let's See . . .

This week was kind of crazy. Sick babyman meant Hubs and I shared baby duty so lunch was off.

Wednesday was Trader Joe palak paneer with TJ naan. SO GOOD. I think this is one of my top 5 favorite meals. Naan warmed up nicely in the communal toaster oven.
4.5



Thursday I was home and made a grilled cheese sandwich. Neglected to take a photo. It was good. Also top 5 fav meal. TJ California style multi grain bread. Whatever the hell that means. Plus Kraft Deluxe American cheese. Bread buttered w Irish butter. Mmmmmmmmm
5.0

Friday I had to get something fast to eat before I had a conference call at 1. Just gave up and went to lobby deli for a salami on rye. I added some provolone. Rye bread was not as dry as usual but for rye bread it really sucked. Whole sandwich was serviceable at best. There was not enough yellow mustard for that bitch. I don't know where it was absorbed but I really piled it on and could barely taste it. On the up side, a delightful garlicky dill pickle. AND it was a whole pickle too. Not just a spear. Booyah!

3.0. Recommended only if you're desperate.

Bon weekend mes amis!

Dirty Lime

For real Starbucks. This is getting old. WHY CAN'T YOU KEEP FRESH LIMES??

Catch Up

Not in office since Wed so not much to report. Tuesday however was a great lunch. I'm being serious. Channa Masala with naan from Trader Joe's. really really really good lunch I have to say. Some of the best channa masala I have ever had. Nice blend of tomato curry and other tasty things. Naan was frozen. I heated it in the communal toaster oven. Pretty good. Hit the spot on my Indian craving.
4.5 and recommended!

Wed had an outpatient procedure so no lunch. Thursday just wanted toast so just had toast. Today it was chik fil a chicken noodle soup. Eh it's ok. A little too much thickener in the broth for me but ok in a pinch. Better part of the meal was the peppermint shake. Yum! Best part about Christmas starting the day after Halloween=peppermint shakes.

Soup gets a 3 but shake gets a 5!

Thinking about trader joe chicken enchiladas for dinner. And maybe a Bundt cake.

Desperate for Indian . . .

Should have gotten curry chicken since curry is really what I want. Went with an Ethnic Gourmet chicken biryani instead. It was just "meh". Spicy but otherwise kind of on the bland side. Good portion though and 400 calories.

Filling. That's about the best I can say.

2.5 neutral on the recommendation.

Case of the Mondays . . .

Leftover Arby's Rueben sandwich. It's what's for breakfast.

I told you I don't discriminate against foods. I'll eat anything at anytime. So there. If you like Ruebens I recommend these. They really aren't bad. Better than lots of delis I've been to.

Mexican Feasta . . .

Wednesday I took the day off to stay home and do Halloween stuff with the nippers. I also was able to have lunch with a friend I have been trying to get together with for about a year.

We met at Caffe Fiore, a locally owned Mexican joint my friend eats at a lot. I think I was the only one not speaking Spanish there which I took to be a good sign as far as authenticity. I was also pretty psyched to be with someone who could tell me what to order. I love Mexican food but my range is pretty limited. Generally stick to the basics.

We started with Sopes. Fried corn tortilla rounds topped with beans sour cream cheese and lettuce and chicken. Good kick to it. Very tasty. Loved the corn tortilla thing at the bottom. It was thicker than a regular tortilla but for lack of a better descriptive that's what I'm going with.

Entrees were green enchiladas with rice and beans. Awesome flavor. The green chile sauce was not too hot w great flavor. Mix in the rice and beans and it was a fabulous combo.

Service was super slow but then I think there was only one server for the entire restaurant. Left fat and happy.

I'll go with a 4 and recommended. Hopefully I can get back and try more stuff.