Over the weekend, Jay and I dined at Mad Mex, an Americanized Mexican joint that caters specifically to the college crowd. I could tell from the moment we walked in just how much influence UPenn had on this singular restaurant; a table of jocks, so to speak, sat outside wearing obnoxious purple jerseys; inside, a member of the Wharton business club blasted awful rap music from a boombox on her shoulder, as she alternated between giving passerby sour looks and taking massive gulps from her beer. Classy, classy.
And I know I'm considered to be part of their generation. I'm in my early twenties, and I'm in college...but I think the similarities end there. I was truly, truly embarrassed for the crowds of obnoxious students we passed. And embarrassed by them. I know it's a college-friendly restaurant, but really? Really? I'm just saying, it would be nice to enjoy some food without a frat party sitting two tables away.
Onto the service. I don't know if she was high. I don't know if she was drunk. All I know is that she was the slowest, and the WORST waitress I've ever had the misfortune of knowing. Jay and I seriously considered leaving without paying; it took her that long to address us. And to her further discredit, she only addressed us because her manager just so happened to notice that we were done and finished with our meals. He unfortunately also noticed that the balance book was filled with cash. My cash. And he promptly took it from the table.
I ordered their Namesake Burrito with chicken. It contained rice, beans, and chicken. In a soggy flour tortilla. And that's it. The burrito was really bland, boring, and I wouldn't order it ever again. I don't think it was me, really. I'm not much of a burrito person to begin with, but I was excited when the menus said that Lady Gaga traded in her meat dress for a string bikini made out of this burrito. If Lady Gaga wore it, it must taste good, right? Right?
Jay got the Pork Carnitas Burrito, which was served with blue cornbread. Except, the cornbread wasn't really blue. It was gray. Jay said his burrito was pretty good, so I'm glad that at least he got a good meal out of it. Maybe next time I should just get enchiladas, or something with vegetables. I don't know. My dad always says that Mexican food is the same basic ingredients just tossed together differently, and it's kind of true. I don't know if Mad Mex steps it up with their other entrees, but I'm not sure if I'm willing to find out when I can make a decent burrito bowl myself.
My bubbaloo had the best intentions. And I had the best time with him. Maybe I should give Mad Mex another shot? Maybe I shouldn't diss my boo's favorite restaurant? And maybe, but also probably, I should accept the experience for what it was, I should move on, and remember that sometimes, most of the times, going out with the ones you love should be about being with them. Going out to eat should be about having a good time with your company, not with your food. Food should be there only to heighten the experience, not to fulfill it, not to be the focus of it. Because with great company, great taste comes second; with the one you love most, great food isn't even necessary. It's just an added plus.
For dinner tonight, I wanted to use the leftover quinoa that's been sitting in my fridge since Tuesday. It's hard to get rid of when you make over four servings and live in a family of non-quinoa eaters. I'd made a mental note of Ashley's post quinoa + eggs earlier in the week, and it seemed to be the perfect opportunity to try her Quinoa Egg Veggie Bake.
I essentially halved her recipe, and used:
1/2 c. pre-cooked quinoa
1 egg
1/2 c. diced tomatoes
1/2 c. frozen broccoli, thawed and chopped
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1/2 oz. fresh goat cheese
salt & pepper, to taste
I am only just realizing that I doubled the amount of veggies originally called for!
I followed her directions precisely:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and thoroughly grease an small baking dish. I used olive oil.
2. In a small bowl, crack + whisk the egg.
3. Mix in quinoa.
4. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and broccoli until just combined.
Are you loving the Buzz Lighyear bowl as much as I am?
Yeah...I used too many veggies.
5. Pour into baking dish and smooth down with fork/spoon/spatula.
6. Bake, uncovered for 22-26min, until lightly golden + set. [test with your finger for being set]
7. Remove from oven, turn your broiler on + sprinkle cheese on top.
8. Broil 1-3min, watching closely, until the cheese is bubbly.
I guess goat cheese doesn't get bubbly? I broiled it for over 4 minutes, and it was still white as can be. After letting the bake cool for a few minutes, I tried to scoop it out and plate it...not the best idea. The quinoa mixture had stuck to the sides quite a bit and it was impossible to lift the bake out of the baking dish! Despite my best efforts to grease the dish with olive oil, a lot of the bake simply stuck to the sides. I actually had to fill the dish with soap and boiling water twice to fully clean it.
As for the bake itself, it tasted okay. I was pretty disappointed that it didn't stay together, and ended up being a mess on my plate. I think that the amount of veggies I used (much more than called for) greatly contributed to the fact that it fell apart. I ended up dousing the bake in some tomato and hot sauce, with was also a bad idea. I mean, I ate it, but it could've been a lot better. Next time, I would obviously reduce the amount of vegetables used, and I'd probably also sprinkle some cheese into the mix, and then broil the rest at the end. Also, I wouldn't do goat cheese again. It didn't shred well. While I would give this recipe another try, I would be sure to line my pyrex dish with tin foil! I hope anyone else who has tried this recipe has reaped better results!
Today was the first day out of the past three that I didn't wake up tired! I even jumped out of bed because my Dad was running out the door and Kara needed me. In other words, she was crying, devastated, because Madison got to with Daddy to a doctor's appointment and she had to stay home with Kait-Kait, i.e., me. I finally got her to stand up and stop crying, and together we made her bed, very neatly, in fact. She did a good job.
By the time I made her toast, she was almost completely better. I settled on some lemon water and found a lovely spot to take pictures. The early morning sunlight was shining through the back door, through the back of the chair, and then, through my lemon water.
I decided on a blueberry Chobani for breakfast, with 1 tbs. ground flax and some dried cherries. The sugar content of this breakfast was a little too much for me. Those cherries were so sweet! I think next time I'd add them to plain yogurt, and cut the amount of cherries I used in half.
For the rest of the morning, Ryan lounged around until I finally yelled at him to read. Kara helped me make cookies, which none of my family will help me eat. Cherries and oatmeal...in a cookie! That's not a cookie... So, while they loved Mama Pea's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, they did not appreciate her Anytime Cookies, though they are quite yummy, just not in a sugar-high way. I'm already predicting that they'll become a staple on rushed mornings once school starts.
For lunch, I used some leftover quinoa and placed it atop a salad of iceberg lettuce, chopped onion, carrot, celery, and diced tomatoes. On the napkin is an Anytime Cookie.
For the dressing, I combined 1 oz. fresh goat cheese, with 1 tbs. olive oil, 1 tbs. white wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. dijon mustard, and sea salt. I was quite pleased, as I usually just throw together oil and vinegar and call it fully dressed, which is not always the case.
Kara and I traipsed to the pool around 1p.m., and I even got in the big pool with her. We swam for a bit until I got skeeved out, which didn't take long. When she asked to use the bathroom, the horribly unkept, disgusting, gross gross bathroom, I almost told her to pee on the grass. She would've made me go with her, anyway. She's a very persuasive five-year-old.
We lasted an hour and a half, by which point she was bored and cold. Also, some bees were floating around and the memory of getting stung only last week is still very clear in her mind. So we went home, and I whipped up a snack of celery sticks and almond butter. Not pictured were two more Anytime Cookies.
I was actually quite full after my snack, so I was grateful to Jay for making a later dinner. Following Uncie's recipe, he made some delicious Mac N' Cheese with a side of carrots and peas. He also bought me roses. I have the most wonderful boyfriend in the world.
Around 10:30, I was in the mood for pistachio gelato, but since all the ice cream places in Media were closed, Jay and I went to the supermarket and searched high and low for pistachio gelato. Breyers didn't have it, Turkey Hill didn't have it, even the fancy gelato pints didn't come in the flavor pistachio. Sea salted caramel but no pistachio? What is this world coming to?
So when I did spot a strange brand of "Simply Enjoy Pistachio Gelato," I threw my hands up and did a little shout. I grabbed it with no regards to the price or ingredients, ecstatic. Only later in the car did I realize it was made of corn syrup solids and hydrogenated oils. I gave it a shot anyway, but with dismal results. The gelato base was shockingly sweet and the pistachios were whole, and soggy. I was happy that there were no artificial colorings, but this brand did not deliver at all in terms of texture and taste. I think I'll have to order a pint from our local Italian gelateria next time.
Overall, a wonderful What I Ate Wednesday. In the future, I'll just have to prepare in advance for random gelato cravings after business hours!
Last Friday, my lovely boyfriend and I went to Iron Hill Brewery. Iron Hill is regarded for it's beer, which is brewed on-sight, with the brewery visible to customers. The History section of their website states that Iron Hill formed "when two award-winning homebrewers, Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson teamed up with Kevin Davies, an experienced professional in restaurant operations." The result is definitely a success. There are now several Iron Hill Breweries throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania, and I'm lucky to live close to the one in Media, PA.
As I am still underage, I've yet to experience their beers. However, I have experienced their food enough to report in what is hopefully an appropriate manner. Bar food typically gets a bad rep, and for good reason. Grease is not very nutritious, and you usually can't order much beyond a burger and fries. Iron Hill, on the other hand, serves above par bar food. They update their menu on a regular basis, and everything I've ordered there, save for a vegetarian entree that has since been removed from the menu, has been excellent. I've dined at Iron Hill many times, and return because I've almost always had decent service, and an above-average meal.
My boyfriend Jay's first beer, an Irish Dry Stout.
Although I just stated that Iron Hill is better than a burger and fries, they do serve them. And for the first time ever, I ordered both, together. This is a big step, not only for my recovery, but also in broadening my horizons. Having been vegetarian for two plus years, meat has often been questionable to me. Sometimes it makes me feel incredibly full, to the extent that the aftereffects negate any enjoyment experienced during the meal. Even so, since reuniting with chicken and fish, I have realized the importance of protein in my life. And since then, I have also experienced hunger pangs that scream, MEAT PROTEIN! Although this is rare, it does occur. I am not a meat fanatic by any means, but when the craving strikes, I will satisfy it. And lately, that craving has been geared towards burgers. Not any burger, mind you, but an upscale, bacon cheeseburger. And I know you're wondering, "Does this girl really have an eating disorder?" But there is no reason, when you're feeling good, to limit yourself. Recovery has taught me to enjoy food, and I do, immensely. Although I still (even very recently) find eating and everything that comes with it to be challenging, I am at the point in my recovery where I am willing to take on these challenges. I am ready to meet my needs, and yes, indulge. So I did just that.
We sat in the bar area next to the window. I loved the view. However, the sound system was right over my head, and it was happy hour, so the music was pounding. Yelling isn't my ideal form of communication, but Jay and I dealt with it. Our waitress took our orders shortly, and I ordered what is probably any anorexic's worst nightmare; their Smoke House burger with their hand-cut sweet potato fries. I've tried their sweet potato fries before, and they are wonderful. Not too greasy, with just the right amount of crisp. As an appetizer, they're served with three dipping sauces; bourbon-vanilla cream, smoked paprika aioli, and habanero-lime. The combination of the sweet potato fries with the bourbon-vanilla cream sauce is absolutely delicious, so I asked for it on the side.
While we waited, I took note of the menu, which describes the brewing process step-by-step, with complimentary images. Jay explained to me the Mug Club, which exists for beer enthusiasts. You get a special mug and a card to go with it, which rewards you with points back for every beer you buy. More info here.
It wasn't long before our orders arrived.
The Smoke House 8 oz. Angus Beef Burger. It comes with smoked gouda, barbecued onions, and bacon. Also on the plate: sweet potato fries, vanilla-bourbon dipping sauce, coleslaw, and a pickle. Upon first glance, I was completely overwhelmed. Not only did my plate look like a heart-attack, but Jay's looked much prettier.
He ordered the Brewski Burger, which comes with lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, bacon, and your choice of cheese. He opted for salad on the side, and it added such vibrancy and color to the plate. For a moment, I felt insecure for picking the less "healthy" option, fries instead of salad, but I quickly cut my burger in half and made a mental note telling ED to shove off.
My Smoke House meal was pretty good. The burger itself was too big for my liking, but I guess that's what happens when you order an 8 oz burger, which equates to two plus servings of protein. I enjoyed the gouda, and I have quite the hankering for any type of cooked onions. The bacon, however, was thin and limp. I would have preferred it to be crispy and thick. If I'm going to eat bacon, which I rarely do, I want it to be bangin'. I decided to eat half of my burger, and save the rest of my appetite for the fries. And I must admit, they were probably my favorite part of the meal. You will never know until you experience it. The wholesome flavor of the sweet potato combined with the subtle richness of the vanilla-bourbon is a real treat. My boo polished off his burger with ease, and nixed the salad. Apparently, it was too bitter.
After we finished, Jay ordered another beer. This time it was an IPA (India Pale Ale). I was quite full at this point, but Jay kept me company and I got through it. Once he finished his beer, I got the rest of my burger and fries to go, and we headed home. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I think my burger craving is satisfied for now, but I am glad I tried it. I'd never ordered a burger at restaurant before, let alone with fries. Still, I think it was something I needed to experience. After all, burgers are one of America's most beloved sandwiches. I had to find out why.
Recommendations: Mesculn salad, Salmon Spring Rolls, Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, Hand Cut Sweet Potato Fries, Moroccan Spiced Salmon, Mediterranean Wrap, and yes, any burger of your choice, if you're in the mood.
Skip: Onion and Ale au Gratin. It's not that bad, but there is so much cheese, I swear I nearly choked on it once.
Overall, a good meal. If you're ever near an Iron Hill, you should give it a try. For more information, click here.
