Runs and Restaurant Reviews

You know, it doesn't really matter how long the weekend is, you blink and it's 9pm on Sunday and damn, I need to write a blog post because I'm going to be a good blogger again. Posting regularly, taking pictures of my food and my Garmin after a run. Heck yeah, that's blogging 101.

Saturday we woke up a little later than usual and made breakfast. After sitting around for a while I decided to throw my shoes on and head out for a run. full disclosure, I thought about going to 10am Body Pump but I didn't get up off the couch in enough time to get there. And honestly, it had bee a while since I ran, I had to get some of my mojo back.

First I headed to JC Penny in search of a few things to round out my capsule wardrobe for the Spring GYPO challenge. I was challenged to find white pants that don't make my thighs look like a busted can of biscuits. But more on that later this week.

I went to my favorite trail, the Lake Shelley Greenway to do 3.5 miles. I like it because 1.81 miles in, there's a water fountain and a potty. That way if your morning coffee shakes anything loose, you can take care of things... and get a drink instead of having to ration your water for the entire run. I also like running down Strickland Rd and onto Falls of Neuse because there's a Kroger on the corner that you can refill your water, and potty if needed, but the workers always give me stank eye when I come in all red faced and panting. Now I go to the trail.

Since it had been a while since I'd gone for a run, I decided to ease back into the swing of things with some intervals. I set my timer to run 5 minutes and walk 1.5.

I was pleasantly surprised with my runt times, not too shabby. I also found that mentally knowing I only had to run 5 minutes made it a lot more bearable.

Queen of the positive splits, right here.

I don't know about other people, but while I'm running, I like to think about the food I'm going to eat after I finish. All I could think about was the best sandwich in the world, Breugger's Herby Turkey.

I asked the lady to hollow out the bagel and she sighed and asked if I wanted both sides done... Don't worry about it honey, one side is fine. Then she broke the cardinal rule, she added cheese. Cheese doesn't belong on the Herby Turkey! You don't need it and it's not part of the heavenly creation. 

I gave the cheese to Cleo. She appreciated the mistake.

Quick shower, then it was off to get my hair done. My greys were OUT OF CONTROL. Sorry no pix, I don't pay for a styling after the color because I'm cheap and it's $35 to have someone blow dry and comb your hair. Nope, I'll just have to wash it the next day and bye bye $35.

It was a good thing that I got my hair done because Kev and I had reservations at Saint Jacques. Saint Jacques makes practically every list of the most amazing restaurants in North Carolina and we'd never been. Since we're going to France in a few weeks, I thought we should get used to French food.

Let me just say, everything was amazing and the service was some of the best we've ever had. It's crazy expensive and worth every penny. However, there were a few things that were lacking for me. 

I lurve me some Steak Tartare and since my last tartare was gross, I'd bee craving it for a while. We didn't want to hike to Vin Rouge in Durham and there's an amazing French restaurant 5 miles from my house. 

I made the reservations before I looked at the menu. No steak tartare. Insert sad face. But I decided to soldier on. 

After we sat down, Kev was presented with the wine list, he made his selection and I asked for a Grey Goose Cosmo, only to discover that they didn't have a full bar. Just wine, Sad face number 2. I instead had to drown my sorrows in some Riesling.

I was looking over the menu and got a little nervous that there weren't any prices on it. Then I looked at Kev's and his menu had prices. I guess my delicate self can't handle looking at the prices. I just need to choose my dinner without having to concern my pretty little head with money and other things that men handle.

I guess it's a good idea when you're trying to take your mom out for a nice dinner and all she does is fuss about how much everything is. Then she wants to slip you some money or cover the tip. When mom doesn't know the prices it's just easier.

We placed our order and soon after were presented with an amuse bouche. This was a tiny cracker with apple and cheese with a tiny dot of wine sauce. I was delicate and stretched it into 3 bites. My bouche was amused. It was really good!

The we decided to split the cheese plate. There was a cheese that put hair on my chest, one that was soft and delicious and another that was tasty. It came with honey, grape slices and those little orange squares are the BEST carrot cake I've ever eaten. I just need a bowl full of that to die happy.

It was amazing, and uber French. I see a lot of cheese in my future when we get to France. 

For my dinner I had the sole which was wrapped around a crab / lobster mousse. There were also little fingerling potatoes and super tasty cauliflower. 

I made my way through most of one of the pieces of fish and was super full. Partially because the 2 glasses of wine,  But the manager came over and asked several times if I liked my meal and why I hadn't finished. She offered to make me another dish if I wanted something else. Please don't feed me anything else. Everything was awesome.

We were even so full that Kev didn't even want an apple yummy treat. That, my friends is impressive.

Would we go back, absolutely. It's more of an occasion restaurant but definitely worth a return!

I hope everyone made it through yesterday without falling into a sugar coma and are ready for an awesome week!

Linking up!

BLovedBoston

Whatcha gonna do on vacation?

FRIDAY!!! It's the last day of the work week before vacation!!

Kev and I moved to NC 9 years ago and we absolutely love it here but every few months we need to make a trek up North and re-set our Nothern-ness. (Yes, it's a real thing). The land of sweet tea and slow drawls is great but I need to see every other person wearing a Steeler's coat or someone calling another person a jag-off. I want a real bagel and to wear a track suit without shame.

We're heading to NYC, NJ and Northern VA for a North-tastic journey and I figured why not dedicate my 5 Friday things to what I want to see and do on our trip? Here goes.

1. Eat at Katz's or Stage Deli. There was a line out the door at Katz's last time we were in NYC and we didn't have time to wait. This time we will. I want a giant, piled high meat sandwich and a pickle.

2. Stop in the Diamond District. I love all things sparkly. So, so much. My engagement ring and band and my diamond studs were all purchased in the diamond district. The prices are SOOOOO much better than anywhere else. When I managed a jewelry store and got 50% off, the NYC prices were still infinitely better. Honestly, if you or someone you know is planning on getting engaged or looking for a nice piece of jewelry, it's worth the trip. The savings will easily make up for it. If you're a haggler (Like Kev) you'll get a great deal there.

3. Eat glorious steak with friends. We have reservations at Peter Luger's on Long Island with a group of old friends. The steak is hands down, the best ever and worth every penny. I love everything right down to the cranky old waiters. You don't ask for special accommodations there. You eat the steak and the sides and don't complain. But you won't because it's amazing. Kev is counting down the hours to his steak. 

Steak for 2, Rare please.

4. Slots! It's no secret that I want to be an old lady in a track suit sitting in front of a slot machine. I'm going to get my fix. I want a slot machine and a cosmo and to sit there and play and try to spot hookers. (They usually sit on the machines on the end and slowly play a line or quarter at a time. They hang out in the bars too. I've gotten pretty good at finding them.)

5. Jersey Diner! There are no, and I do mean no diners in NC. Yes there's Poole's diner but that's fancy diner food. I'm talking about a big ass plate of eggs and hash browns with never ending coffee so hot it will burn the skin off the roof of your mouth. AND I want the giant case of butter cookies when you come in the door.

And I realized that 3 of the 5 things have to do with food. This is why I can't lose those 10 pounds...

There are so many other things I'm excited to do, visit with Kev's aunts and uncles, see a good friend get married, see more friends at said wedding, eat a NY bagel, fend off street vendors, maybe go into the back room and look at knock-off handbags, revel in the Jersey-ness of Atlantic City, hit up the outlet mall for some leather leggings (it's going to happen), watch Kev develop a NY accent for 5 days. All the things.

I have a few posts ready to go so you won't miss me too much. I'm sure I;ll be updating my Instagram the entire trip so if you want to see pictures of all the food, that's where I'll be!

See you later!

Ever been to Atlantic City?

If you eat steak, what temperature?

Linking up!

We're "Those" Relatives

I'm sure everyone has a similar story. You're a kid and your parents drag you off to a relative's house, either to visit or for family vacation. You get there and of course you're hungry. Relatives say there's plenty to eat, go look in the cupboards or pantry and eat what ever you want. You get all excited for the food free for all, because it's vacation and you can eat what you want. Your mom won't tell you to stop eating the Twizzlers. Visions of Oreos and Pringles dance in your head, excitedly you rush to the kitchen, open the doors and what do you find???? Some stale Lorna Doones and a a bag of those gel spearmint leaves.

(They still look like disappointment)

 

Maybe there's a drink, how about some Hi-C or Kool-aid? Nope, drink some water. Sullenly up stumble back into the room they're in and make a face. Your mom tells you to stop making that face and dad says we'll leave soon and get some real food.

 

 

As much as we hated that as kids, Kev and I have become those people. We don't have any kids yet and don't keep much snack food. My sister-in-law and her family are coming to visit next week and as I was looking through the pantry, I kept seeing all the things that were bound to disappoint my niece and nephew. But here's the thing, I think every kid should be disappointed by the food choices when they visit relatives so I'm not planning on changing anything. I mean we'll go shopping after they get here, but I want to see their faces when I tell them we have snack food and they see what it actually is. It's really a rite of passage as a child.

 

Here are the ways I'm planning on disapointing them:

 

Cookies:

SURE! We have cookies, go see what we have!

 

 

I've got some gluten-free, Paleo cookies. Free of GMOs and trans-fats!

 

I have these low-carb Biscotti too. They're definitely a little stale. I was going to pitch them, but I'm going to leave them in there for sadness instead. 

Beverages -  I don't like drinking my calories. (well, except for booze) I love food too much. That means we don't have any sweetened drinks. No Gatorade, Lemonade, juice, nada. I also stopped drinking artificial sweeteners a few months ago. So what do we have?

 

 

A nice refreshing sparkling water. I've never liked milk either and a few years ago I got Kev to switch to Almond milk. Even if you want milk or cereal, we have a nice cold glass of Almonds. And some un-sweet tea.

 

Chips!
I love chips as much as the next person but they're my weakness. I don't keep them. But I did find these at Whole Foods and they aren't bad. I'm going to tell the kids we have Doritos and when they get this bag, tell them it's the same thing. "They taste the same, just try one!"  Hahahahaha

 

Candy -
Not gonna lie, I have some Skittles at my desk at work. But at home, not so much. I don't do well with soy which means no chocolate. But I do have this!

 

It really is the small things that amuse me. I can't wait for them to get here!

 

Linking Up!

 

 

What are some of the foods you had to eat when visiting relatives?