A Very Sad Lunch Affair . . . .

Oh my gosh you guys!  I just had the most pitiful lunch ever.  I'm almost embarrassed to write about it.  I was going to to get something on my own.  Waited too long and then by that point anything and everything sounded good.  You know when you aren't quite ready to eat nothing sounds good?  Then you wait too long and EVERYTHING sounds good? That was me.  First I wanted fried oysters, but there was nowhere close enough I was willing to walk too.  Then I wanted a Schlotzky's original, but I looked at the calories and decided it wasn't worth it.  So here is where it gets pathetic.

I ENDED UP EATING A BRISKET SANDWICH AND A BOX OF MINI CUPCAKES.

I am not lying.  I wish I were.


Too lazy to go out I just started down the tunnels and more or less gave up under the Chase Tower (i.e. like one block) and went into Otto's.  I had a desperate hope they might have a fried oyster basket, but they only have shrimp.  Don't ask what the deal was with the oysters. I don't know.  The brisket caught my eye.  Done.  Chopped brisket sandwich to go.  On the way back I conveniently got sucked into Gigi's cupcakes (damn you!) and walked out with a pack of 4 mini cupcakes.  Gave one to Ducky Momo and ate the other 3 myself.  Not a typo.  I ate THREE cupcakes.  Mini cupcakes, but still.  And I also ate the whole damn sandwich too.   I have to tell you.  It was pretty good.  I'm kinda surprised too.  Bun was fresh, brisket was not bad. I have certainly had worse.  Sauce was on the super tangy end of the spectrum but it wasn't fighting with any strong flavors on the meat.  A litle smoke in the meat and very lean.  Considering this is from an underground eating place that obviously has no pit I'd have it again for sure.  Don't tell Chungry.

Otto's 3.5

Friday Lunch . . .

So after Wednesday night's high, Friday lunch comes along to offer a wimpering start to the weekend.  Today's bad lunch brought to you by Hearsay downtown Houston.

Large crowd today including Chungry and Ducky Momo and 3 ladies in our department.  Should have gotten the burger.  I ordered the sweet corn crab chowder.  It should have just been sweet corn and crab bisque.  Not a chowder. No chunks.  There was real crab in it though so that's something.  A little too sweet, but not awful.  If I'd known how bad my sandwich would be I would have gotten a bowl of it.

Thought I would try the tuna melt b/c the menu said it was some cranberry tuna salad that sounded different and good.  What showed up though was just a giant-ass lump of tuna with mayo.  Bun was toasted with white cheese and then there was more mayo spread on the bun.  Mayo overkill.  Zero flavor to the sandwich.  Does that look like it has anything at all in it let alone cranberries?  No.  Exactly.  I only had a few bites and stopped.  The little side of fruit was really good and fresh though.  Go figure.  Thanks for nothing Hearsay.

Seriously?

I brought the leftovers back and put them in the fridge for the 24/7 people on the other side of the floor.  Someone is bound to eat it.

Update 4/29: As confirmation of what a lame and sad sandwich this was I went across to the other kitchen to check on the sandwich.  NO ONE ATE IT over the weekend.  And let me tell you, the people that work the weekend and over-night shifts here WILL EAT ANYTHING.  I have the stories to prove it.  Once someone took my half drunk tea with straw that I'd had at lunch. God love them but they are animals when it comes to respect for food in the fridge.  If none of them ate this sandwich then it is possibly the WORST thing in the world.

Ducky Momo had his funny hat on so at least the meal was entertaining!

Chungry did give me a slice of his burger to try and it was pretty good.  Very nice fresh bun which is half the battle if you ask me. Nothing ruins a sandwich like bad bread.

Hearsay gets a 2 and I'm not planning to go back unless it's unavoidable.

Something to Talk About . . .

Finally! A real lunch!  The Boss Lady and I decided to catch up and took a trip to Golden Seafood House.  It sounds Chinese but it's not.  It's Mexican seafood and it is pretty fantastic.  Good crowd of working dudes and Mexican families there all happily eating.  Most of the big burly dudes were having soup which made us wonder what they knew we did not on the soup front.  Next time I will have to have the soup I guess.

Started with a large ceviche.  Nice tang and spice.  All the fish was fresh and done well.  Could have used more avocado but since Boss Lady doesn't eat avocado I got to have it all so ultimately it worked out.

My main dish was the fried shrimp and oyster combo.  I subbed out my fries or fried rice option for a salad.  I figured the fish was enough fried for the day.  Got a nice big side salad that was good and fresh.  Likewise the fried shrimp and oysters were fantastic.  Fresh and had a nice cornmeal breading that I prefer to a heavier batter.  Also not greasy tasting.  No idea how they managed that but I'm not complaining.  Delicious and a good portion. I wasn't able to eat all the shrimp and oysters.

Afterwards we ventured over to the fresh produce market down the street and wandered around there a bit.  Pretty cool open air market.  I bought some mushrooms and parsley.  Could have also bought a ton of other stuff that I had no idea what it was.  cactus leaves, any kind of dried pepper, agave leaves, things that looked like albino coconuts and other things that looked like avocados with chia pet hair.  Those, frankly, were a little unsettling and scared me.  Throw in great weather and it was a very nice end to the week.


Golden seafood House: a solid 4 and recommended

More Soup . . .

Continuing the uneventful lunch theme here, yesterday I had egg drop and crispy spring rolls from Pad Thai on the next block.  Initially Chungry and Twist were going to bring me some soup b/c I had a lunch conference call (who schedules those?), but it ended early so I trucked it over to Pad Thai to catch them.  Pleasantly surprised to see Awesome Co-Worker there (Dietz if you are on the Chungry blog.) so was glad I went with the last minute pop in.  After waiting forEVER I finally ordered my soup and spring rolls to go and then ate them all alone at my desk.  But, at least I did get a few minutes of lunch company while I was waiting for my food.

Spring rolls were hot and crisp even after sitting in the styrofoam container for several minutes.  Egg drop was pretty good.  Didn't blow my mind or anything.  Nice eggy taste but not too strong.  A little too much actual egg in it for my taste along with lots of ground up chicken. Ground chicken always makes me nervous b/c I can't help but feel that it's like all the unusable scraps and floor scrapings.  Broth not too thick which I like.  Some egg drop soup is super thick which is super gross.

Soup I'll go with a 3.  The spring rolls were better at a 4.  Pad Thai is not always the best but I would recommend it anyway.

Possibly Not Even Worth Writing About . . .

But I will anyway.









  
I did not eat this today.  It looks good though doesn't it?  It's Chicken Paprikash from foodtv.com  I may have to try it for dinner one night.  If for no other reason than to see if you really can prepare it in 20 minutes as advertised.  I love "easy" meals that you are supposed to be able to cook real quickly on a weeknight but somehow they turn into a major production between boiling water and chopping things and what not.  If you really want to eat something in 20 minutes then just give me like 2 or 3 things that are in a jar I can dump out together and heat up.  End of story. 

My lunch was the last of the beef tenderloin from Saturday night, and a big helping of Melba toast with Boursin cheese.  Neither of those things make a great photo which is why I have a pic of something else.  I slightly warmed the meat but not enough to fundamentally change the doneness from medium rare.  Found some salt in the kitchen and there you go.  Lunch.  I ate the toast and Boursin while on a conference call that someone had the nerve to schedule during lunch.  It is not cool to be on a lunch call where the majority of the people are in one location getting a catered lunch while you and 2 other saps sit at your desk not eating or eating cheese and Melba toast.  No offense to the cheese and Melba toast.  I have a crazy wicked weakness for Melba toast anyway. 

I had dessert today too.  The office had chocolate cream pie in honor of Chungry turning 50.  You would never think he is that old to look at him.  That, plus he has the appetite of a much younger man.  Oh and now it seems we have cupcakes for the occasion too!  Strictly for research and blogging purposes I will go get a cupcake. . . .

Hmm they all seem to be chocolate or look like they are all chocolate.  No one seems to know what they are.

This seems to be chocolate with some vaguely mocha tasting frosting.  It's ok.  Moist, but I still think I prefer the baby bundt cakes.  Now I need a glass of milk.  That was overkill.

so, where was I? oh yeah.  Don't need to rate my meal b/c it was more of the same leftovers.  That is about as boring as having dumplings over and over again. You know who you are.  As far as the desserts go I can't even say that it's fair to rate a chocolate cream pie.  I mean can you ever have a bad one of those?  How do you screw up whipped cream and pudding?  In the alternative, is it possible to make a really outstanding choc cream pie?  I like them but can't say that I have ever had one that was WOW.  As a general pie category I will give the chocolate cream pies of the world a 3.  The cupcakes I may refrain from rating all together.  They are so subjective.  These for me were just meh.  Best thing about them was that the frosting was not cream cheese or buttercream.  I'm guessing a ganache.  Maybe it's time we all stop with the $3 cupcakes and go back to making them with a box of cake mix and frosting in a can?  Please?