If you live in or even near Everett and you haven't been to Nick's Jr., I'm going to guess that you've also probably never watched Princess Bride, colored with crayons, or played with puppies. In short, I'm going to guess that you have made some sort of vow of self-denial, and avoid all things pleasurable and good in this world. For those of you who have experienced the sheer joy of the GCBC (Grilled Cheese Bacon Cheeseburger), I write this merely to share my mutual appreciation, as I know that convincing you to return is not required. Nick's Jr. is readily visible on Evergreen Way, painted a deep red with a black and white devil on the side. I imagine this is an homage to the owner's last name, Demonakos, but I like to think it's because the food is sinfully good and a haven for the gluttonous masses. Every time I've been there, Nick (the owner) is always there behind the counter, greeting customers with a big smile and kind words. Today we went with my mother and brother, who are in from out-of-town. I convinced my 6'4 little brother to get the GCBC, and when Nick heard, he was so excited he told us of a guy that ordered it with 5 patties! I've eaten that burger on numerous occasions, and although I always finish it, I can't imagine ordering it with 5 patties. As it was, my brother was pretty full by the end. My son absolutely loves the Mac 'N Cheese bites, but personally I love the unique specials that Nick comes up with, like the Oktoberfest Burger pictured above. It's a regular burger with sauerkraut and grilled sausage, because why not!?! Today's special was a Buffalo Chicken Wrap. Which, although simple, was a true treat, because it was folded into their awesome soft pita bread. Yum! If you want a classic you can always order the Gyro, and if you're wanting a little more excitment, you can order it with the spicy tzatziki sauce like my husband did. If you can't decide between a gyro or burger, you can get the Gyro Burger. It's delicious, and despite it's appearance, shouldn't give you the meat sweats. Yes, there is a hamburger patty under the gyro meat, and yes, you should order the Greek Fries in the background, because feta makes everything betta. For the sad souls that are still resisting the temptation that is Nick's Jr., I will leave you with the GCBC. I realize the lighting is off, but the burger was my brother's, and I thought it would be a bit rude to grab his meal and run to the window. I have my dignity. At any rate, it's still mighty tasty looking. You know you want it!
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My birthday was on September 20th, and similar to my 8th grade birthday sleepover, no one showed up. I purchased tickets to the Brew Fest at Carleton Farms. It's my favorite farm in the Fall. When we moved here over eight years ago, I tried all the closest farms, and always came back to Carleton. When we bought our home five years ago I was so happy that my route home from work led me past my favorite every day. Family farms are slowly disappearing, and if you love an Autumn farm experience, then you need to support your local family farm with your wallet. I have to critique this event. The Lake Stevens Lions Club sold tickets for people like me, for DDs (my husband), and children that would experience a root beer tasting. Local coding would not let us into the same building. Had I shown without my husband I would not have been able to do anything. As it was I could drink, but my new drinking buddy became Pablo the donkey. I had to drink alone. Happy Birthday to me...
Have you ever thought up a brilliant idea only to find out you weren't the first? I think we all have experienced this moment. You think you invented the turduckhen, only to find out that it's already been mass produced and for sale in your local grocery freezer. This sad moment happens to me in all aspects of my life, to the point that I have to search the web any time I think I have a great idea, but nothing is sadder when I think I've invented a new food product. You know what? I have yet to have a great idea, but I constantly think that I do, like the time I thought I invented #strawalrus. Here are a few glad, then sad, moments I've had. There was the time I thought I invented wine with a braille label. Yeah, right!?! As though I thought that the blind weren't savvy enough to create their own easily accessible vino. I'm still ashamed that I thought for a split second that this was my creation. Shame of shames on the day I thought I invented the Nutella S'more. I should have more faith in the food gods to ever suspect that I could be the origination of this genius treat. Close in line is the peanut butter-samoa sandwich. Again, I was not the first to spread delicious peanut butter between two Girl Scout samoa cookies, but I will say that I can't find a quality image online, and have sadly deleted mine while grieving my loss. This is my most recent reason to cry over my subtly cool "put-an-egg-on-it" ramen dish. Pictured above are the Tikka Masala chips from Lay's. Not only was this an idea I had, but I submitted it to Lay's in one of their recent online competitions. In fact, I also submitted an idea for Szechuan Chicken chips at the same time. Two of these flavors are part of the new Lay's flavor roll-out. It's almost too wild for coincidence, but I also acknowledge that my palate isn't that unique. It's quite possible that thousands of people requested the same flavors. I am disturbed that I suggested the Tikka Masala chips be kettle cooked, and they are, but I'll get over it. It's probably just another instance of me tapping into the Collective Unconscious. Sometimes, I wish I could unplug.
This summer is proving to be fruitful. We've collected blue and pink berries from our garden, and when we go on neighborhood walks the produce is abundant! Most recently, my son and I were catching some local Eevee and we happened upon our local apple tree. It took me two years to figure out that kids weren't throwing apples at our yard, and they were actually falling and rolling downhill from this tree. This year I decided to make pie. I hate wasting food, and pie is a perfect solution for unwanted apples. They weren't sweet, but they were crisp, and I was happy with the results. If you're my neighbor, reading this, please forgive me. You let your apples rot in your yard, and my children need sooo much food. Thank you! Dear readers, you can see above that I made an amazing caramel apple pie crumble. I would share the recipe, but I honestly combined information from Pinterest with information I already held in my heart. The best part of making this apple pie was using the new tool my wonderful husband bought me. I can now core and peel apples in a hot second. I may not have a microwave or coffee maker, but gosh darn it, I can make recipes with apples in a jiffy. I sent the kids up the road to get the neglected apples, and also to gather our local weed. Blackberries! My kids have already gathered what probably amounts to $10 of blackberries, or more. We froze some for smoothies, and they have been eating them none stop. These berries and apples would have hopefully been eaten by animals, but in reality I know they would have rotted on the vine. What a waste !?! We are fortunate enough to live in a place that grows natural foods we love. If no one is gathering them, shouldn't we? Shouldn't you? Don't let your local edible foods go bad. Grab them, eat them, make sure they don't go to waste.
I'm always talking about food I love, which encompasses pretty much everything. I have an iron gut, and an unpretentious palate, if that's a thing. I appreciate many foods that are common dislikes. I love olives, sour pickled things, and liverwurst. I mean seriously, liverwurst has "wurst" in it's name. That said, There are a few foods that I just don't like, and it's a little embarrassing to talk about because some of them are trendy foodie favorites. I think they all stem from bad childhood experiences, but I've managed to block out the exact moments. I believe this to be the cause for many people's no-go food lists. My daughter for instance loved peas until the age of three when she choked on a mouthful. Now she can't stand them unless they are mixed into something.The following are my top three least favorite foods, in order. Shiitake Mushrooms My mother frequently cooked various Asian dishes when I was growing up. Many of them were a real treat, and I still enjoy kimchi, candied ginger, and fermented black beans. I haven't eaten shiitake mushrooms in years. In fact, the last time I had them was on accident. I ordered veggie pho, and I could immediately taste the shiitake in the broth. It permeated every bite with a terribly strong dirt flavor. I don't often use this word, but it's safe to say that I hate shiitakes. I recently ordered a dish with them on top, and proceeded to pick them all off and give them to my friend's 10-month-old son who happily gobbled them up. I was terribly embarrassed. I quietly judge people that pick at their food, but there I was, picking away. I know plenty of people enjoy shiitakes, and it breaks my heart that I can't stand them. I miss out on many tasty dishes, but the flavor is so strong to me that it overwhelms everything else. Goat Cheese My dislike of goat cheese is a source of much sadness for me. I constantly want to order items that look super cool and innovative, only to see the words "goat cheese" and change my mind. Sometimes I don't catch the mention in time, but in the first bite I know my mistake. This isn't as severe as my dislike for shiitake mushrooms, so I usually look at my dining company, crinkle my nose, and say "Meh, goat cheese." I do remember my first taste of goat cheese. It was fresh from the farm, a little runny, and mixed with chile peppers. The texture and acidity reminded me of throwing up in my mouth. I've never recovered. I recently tried a mild goat cheese from our local co-op and found that to be edible, but still not desirable. Oh well... Pearl Onions The image above actually appeals to me, and I admit that I've never tried caramelized pearl onions, so maybe that's worth a try. As a child we had the exact same meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then we ate those same dishes for what felt like weeks. So there wasn't much recovery time between the two holidays. One of the dishes on the menu was peas and pearl onions. I love peas, but the onions added a slimy and pungent aroma/taste. I've heard that one of my older brothers hated pearl onions so much, that he had to sit in front of peas and pearl onions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for two days before caving.
What your least favorite food? Fast food gets a bad rap, and it's mostly justified. It typically contains high fat, high sodium, and a plethora of ingredients that I can't pronounce and were most likely created in a lab. Fast food is frequently blamed for the obesity epidemic facing America. I'm here argue that fast food has it's place in this world. I'm going to give you permission today to eat that Guacamole Bacon Six-Dollar Burger and fries in the daylight. You no longer have to pull into a seedy alley, hide the wrappers under your car seat, and then spritz yourself with cologne before going home. I'll start by stating that if you're eating fast food for it's nutritional value then that's what we need to address, nutritional education. No one should eat fried chicken nuggets for the protein, or a quesarito for the calcium. If that's your goal, then you have already failed. I propose a new way of looking at fast food. Think of it as an experience. Most fast food is genetically engineered to reach our pleasure centers for sugar, salt, and fat. That's ok. It's like reading "Fifty Shades of Grey." If you're reading that to expand your vocabulary, or test you literary aptitude, then you're doing it wrong. If you're confused about the fact that fast food is a "sometimes food" as Cookie Monster would say, then you need to do some research. If you hate Taco Bell because it's not authentic Mexican food, then you're missing the fact that they legally have to call it 4th meal, because it's not real food. It's an experience. I would also recommend avoiding fast food if you're trying to lose weight. It can be done. In fact, if you eat less calories than you burn, it doesn't really matter what you eat. You will lose weight. However, you most likely will be missing the nutrients your body needs, and it is possible to be "skinny," but "fat." That means your BMI matches what your PCP would recommend, but your fat percentage is high, and you're out-of-shape despite appearing to be in good health. I could eat 1,200 calories a day in Twinkies and HoHos and lose weight, but that would make me sick. Obviously.
Life is about balance, everything in moderation. Eat your quinoa, kale, and beet salad. Heck, that sounds great, is there a drive-through where I can get one of those. No! There isn't, but I can go and get a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger that will give me 10 minutes of happiness and a 2-hour tummy-ache. Eating fast food is a personal choice, like watching "The Bachelorette," or playing Candy Crush. It's easy to judge, but even if you're a vegan-diy-free-range-parent type of person, you still have your vices (though they may be slightly boring). Everyone makes choices every day that that aren't the best. It's ok. We're human, and being a human being is hard. My suggestion is that if you want fast food, do it, just don't make it a lifestyle. This picture above is all you're going to get from me this evening. I'm sad. I'm disappointed in our community at large. This shop, Galaxy Chocolates makes delicious treats in Sultan, WA. I like their shop. I like their dipped salted caramel Oreo lollipop. None of that matters. I'm still sad. People are still dying. You are not helpless. You can do something by doing your research and looking at websites like this one.
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to enjoy many different types of cuisine, and ingredients. I was also raised to believe that eating spicy food, and consuming large quantities of food were admirable qualities in a human being. I met this challenge by eating plate after plate at the Old Country Buffet, but also by treating spicy foods like a dare. Only the best people ate spicy food. Those that didn't were weak, lesser than. For a tiny blip in my memory, it was just my mother and I in an apartment in Albuquerque, NM. My mom loved to cook with ginger, and shiitake mushrooms (still a food I despise), and these little chiles that she grew in a small clay pot, and then hung to dry. When she'd dry the chiles, my eyes would burn for a bit upon entering our home. With these fabulous chiles she made my favorite dish, Shining Noodle Soup. I don't remember the other ingredients, but I remember the noodles. I now realize they were shiny because they were rice noodles, and I remember those wonderful chiles that I now know as Tien Tsin Chili Peppers (based on images I found on the internet). What did I love about this dish? The broth ran down my face and made my chin numb, and I felt so cool!!! This is my long-winded way of saying that I ate magical things growing up, things other kids would turn their noses at, but were truly missing out. That said, until my Sophomore year of college in New Brunswick, New Jersey, I had never experienced the joy of Indian curry. R U crying yet? Top-left clockwise - Butter Chicken, Goat Curry, and Paneer w/ Peas over Basmati Rice I think that restaurant is still there, Bombay Grill. What I know for certain is that I ordered a veggie based curry dish, and by the end of the meal I felt like I had been drinking (alcohol). I was in the throws of a spice-high. If you have never experienced a spice-high, you should seek it out. When you get the right spice mixture, your body releases endorphins and you experience true food happiness. Since moving to Washington I have been treated to some amazing Indian restaurants, now my favorite cuisine. I've been trying to find a restaurant that is equally as pleasing as that first bite, and I think I finally found it, unassuming, next to a 7-11, in the part of Everett I was warned against living in, but I did (holy run-on sentence). I have found the perfect Indian cuisine in the Everett area. Ding, ding, ding! The winner is Curries! Look at that feast! I love it all. My husband thinks that curries don't photograph well, and he may be correct when it comes to my photos, but I don't care. It tastes so good! The lunch-tray at the beginning of this blog is exactly that, my Wednesday lunch. I loved it so much I took my family back the following Saturday and took the dimly lit photos I'm subjecting you to for the rest of this entry. Do you like Samosas? Wait, scratch that. Do you like carbs? Try carbs smothered in the delicious endorphin inducing spices I mentioned earlier. That accurately describes the Samosa Chat, pictured above. From Top to Bottom - The Malai Kofta (basically shredded veggie balls, seriously yum!) and below that, the Curries' Speical Curry (the house special). Both were ordered at a level 4 spice. The Malai Kofta was less spicy. There may be more tomato present in the overall sauce. The special was especially spicy and wonderful. I think I have a new favorite dish, and a new favorite lunch spot. The only sadness I feel is that this restaurant opened after I moved away from W. Casino Rd. It would have been within walking distance...
Eat Up! This year I am working on my Instagram game, and improving my #foodporn pics (life goals, right?). I still cringe at that term, but it's probably accurate. I, and so many others, have become food voyeurs since we gained the ability to share every meal with one another through our amazing phone cameras. Granted, many of my friends hate food photography, and make their voices loud and clear via Facebook. "I don't want to see your breakfast!" This is why I have learned to love Twitter, and Instagram. Twitter wants to know what I'm doing right now, and exactly what I'm thinking, no matter how banal. Instagram wants to see what I'm eating, and especially if it involves yolk. Don't believe me, if you dare, check out Instagram and query #yolkporn or #putaneggonit ... Pictured above is my favorite food pic I've taken to date, the Spicy Grilled Cheese. It's perfect. It has ooey-gooey cheese, plenty of color, action in the back, it's at a 90% angle to the sandwich (trust me, this is important), but most importantly it has natural lighting! I did not use a filter on this photograph, and although filters can be wonderful, the best food photography does not require them. As I have learned from Bon Appetit, commandment #1 is "Thou shalt worship no other god besides natural light ." Yes, there are rules to photographing your food, and if you're wise you'll follow the link, and learn your commandments. The above pictured tacos, tofu then pork, left to right, are not pictured according to the rules. I should not have the empty/dirty plate en scene, but I kinda like it, so deal with it if you can. I'll admit that I was not initially excited to try this place, but my friend Chris really wanted our entire group to come here last Saturday, and I told him I expected something blog worthy. I'm not sure Chris planned it, but food aside, Shelter Lounge at Green Lake is amazing because right now our weather is beautiful, and almost the entire ceiling is a sunroof. NATURAL LIGHT! Please do not read my comments above to mean that the food wasn't quality. We enjoyed such pleasures as the PB &J Jalapeno Poppers, and the Parmesan Avocado Fries. There were also many drinks to choose from, like the Pollen in Love (Center stage). All said and done, I was very pleased with this spot as a Saturday date/group outing. It was fun. The food was fun. The drinks were fun. My friends are always fun, and most importantly it had natural lighting!!! Eat up, my friends!
Allow me to introduce you. Pictured above is the spicy goat taco from the Indian cuisine themed RollOkPlease truck. I did order the extra spice, and it was everything I hoped for and more. Today was the annual Taco Libre Showdown. 40 food trucks were present, and 25 were competing. I was there to eat. I brought my family, and my good friend Lori. I ate way more than I should have. Here is a visual journey through our gastronomical adventure. Both my husband and daughter ordered dogs from Tokyo Dog to start. This is not to be confused with Dog Japon, which is an all-time family favorite. The verdict was that it wasn't as good as Dog Japon, but still satisfying. Next, I tried BeanFish. I had never heard of taiyaki before, but I fully appreciate this special treat today. On the left is an impossible to open Japanese drink. I finally did get the plunger to push down the glass marble, and was rewarded with something like a Clearly Canadian. On the right, is taiyaki, a fish shaped waffle sandwich with treats inside. I ordered the "K-Pop," which not only had an awesome name, but kalbi beef, kimchi, and pepper jack cheese. My son got the Stoner Special from Maximus/Minimus. This included a perfect pulled-pork sandwich topped with mac and cheese. Needless to say, many people had food envy as we walked by trying to find a seat. I got a bite, and can say that the BBQ was the perfect level of smooth and spicy,
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AuthorI can count on one hand the foods I dislike, and I'll typically even eat those. Typically frugal, but I'll pay top dollar for an amazing/unique dining experience. Never passed up a free meal, which has led me to become the #36 ranked eater in Major League Eating. July 4th, 2020 will be my third time competing in the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest at Coney Island. I've been on ESPN. That's right people, I'm an athlete. Archives
August 2019
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