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pictured: Whole Foods chicken soup (too tired to attempt from...

xtothequ — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:34:36 -0400

pictured: Whole Foods chicken soup (too tired to attempt from scratch, but added the kale!), echinacea tablets (for an immunity boost) and stress relief tea.

not sure what’s wrong with me yet, but my usual stellar health is hurting. doesn’t help that i’ve been too wrapped up with work to take care of myself, stress is not your immune system’s friend, especially when coupled with long hours at work and trying to squeeze in a social life/training for a half marathon.

without any parental supervision, a reality check from a bestie who knows what an idiot i can be and watches out for me (ames xo) forced me to give up hope of running my half marathon tomorrow and just take care of myself. i have run it once before and just can’t afford to delay getting healthy any longer; especially considering I have 3 consecutive roundtrip flights looming in the very near future.

because the doctor isn’t sure what’s wrong with me yet, she couldn’t prescribe any meds (i was begging for a z-pack like a drug fiend lol), so i went a little hippie here in trying to help myself while we wait for lab test results to hopefully clarify. until then, it’s rest, soups and hot showers for me, fingers crossed!

note to self: stop obsessing/stressing over work and running yourself ragged, it’s just advertising, yo.

spring produce is here! last week i was so excited about...

xtothequ — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:44:00 -0400

spring produce is here! last week i was so excited about produce, i made an asparagus, green bean and pea salad w/ lemon zest dressing. today i made some mini quiches with my leftover ingredients + spinach + mushrooms. so much delicious greenery.

on the flipside, spring = allergies = terrible. i think allergies are a parental ploy to get me to move back to the midwest.

unrelated to spring, but related to deliciousness, try the pecan pie smoothie from this fun site, lookbook cookbook.

every few months or so i find myself craving Chipotle. since I...

xtothequ — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:49:17 -0400

every few months or so i find myself craving Chipotle. since I already had a handful of key ingredients from other meals last week, I figured I could throw together a burrito bowl without Chipotle’s assistance (and their silly extra charge for guac).

super easy, really hit the spot, and i had enough left over to bring for lunch!

not like anyone really needs a recipe, but here’s what i used in mine:
-brown rice
-Cuban black beans (canned, from Trader Joe’s)
-spinach/baby kale mix
-pico de gallo
-guacamole
-pepper/onion strips (also TJs, note their awesome grill marks)
-chicken breast strips (you could omit these for a veggie/vegan spin, it’d be just as satisfying)

*cute glass storage bowl from Fishs Eddy

amazing birthday eats in San Francisco. wish i had more time to...

xtothequ — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:40:00 -0400

amazing birthday eats in San Francisco. wish i had more time to spend there. also wish i took more food pictures. #firstworldfattyproblems

zazie: eggs en fonte, gingerbread pancake, miracle pancake (lemon ricotta)
cowgirl creamery: humboldt fog, reading raclette, mt. tam
state bird provisions: dungeness crab & mandarin gelatina w/ avocado, quail (state bird), garlic bread w/ burrata, smoked potato & wild mushroom w/ nettles, kale blossoms, earl grey/almond/cocoa ice cream sandwich, and some sort of fancy souffle cheesecake.
poggio: veggie panini, homemade cashew granola w/ yogurt & berries
avatars: samosas, mixed veggie curry (pictured), pumpkin enchiladas, avatar’s dream (coconut ice cream slice topped w/ pistachios in a mango sauce)
la boulangerie: hazelnut croissant, prosciutto/swiss/arugula on olive bread

corn and barley salad w/ a lemon-chive vinaigrette from...

xtothequ — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:06:00 -0400

corn and barley salad w/ a lemon-chive vinaigrette

from “in the small kitchen”

such a quick & easy vinaigrette; i got the recipe from their cookbook and it included dijon, white wine vinegar and honey.

once in awhile a recipe comes up on Punchfork’s facebook...

xtothequ — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:29:00 -0400

once in awhile a recipe comes up on Punchfork’s facebook feed where I’m like “i need that in my mouth immediately.” this sandwich was one of those instances.

one note on this delicious melt, i had an extra egg from glazing scones the other day, so I improvised and made it into a breakfast sandwich-type thing, but it’s super good sans egg as well, i just hate wasting stuff.

speaking of sandwiches, i went to a sandwich lecture from MSG recently and it was fantastic (as was the ice cream one i attended previously). if you see me in person, ask me about the Earl of Sandwich and the perfect grilled cheese.

yesterday, Kat had a non-breakfast party, but since breakfast is...

xtothequ — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:21:18 -0400

yesterday, Kat had a non-breakfast party, but since breakfast is always on my mind, i ended up bringing breakfast-themed treats anyway. brenner: breakfast for dinner.

i once bought a cheddar scallion scone on a whim at Whole Foods (which i thoroughly enjoyed) and got it in my brain that i could re-create it, even though i’ve never made scones in my life. i was set on savory scones, so i put my faith in smitten kitchen’s recipe for cheddar jalapeno scones (she has never led me wrong!)

these weren’t too difficult to make, and i threw in some chives for added greenery. they smelled amazing right out of the oven; thinking i should bring the dough to a future breakfast club, so we can bake them right there and eat them while the cheese is melty…hmm…

anyway, yay baby’s first scones!

photo by Brock Davis, a fantastic artist in mn. a smorgasbord of...

xtothequ — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:47:00 -0500

photo by Brock Davis, a fantastic artist in mn.

a smorgasbord of other food-related updates…

in my kitchen:
-i made these coconut bars recently. if you like coconut, you should make these. coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut flakes. holy coconut trinity.
-my friend Sara introduced me to a red lentil soup that i fell in love with and have made 9829032x since she shared the recipe. i’ve also done a heartier version where i nix the mint (do you know how hard it is to find mint?) and add kale + mushrooms. best use of my immersion blender. also, i put in a lot more cayenne than the recipe calls for, and sub’d quinoa for rice.
-one of my fav tapas places in NY is Alta - i’ve made their crispy brussels sprouts multiple times since finding this copycat recipe.

happy moments in other kitchens/restaurants:
-i was in Mpls for Thanksgiving 2012. spent the holiday with favsie Amy and her fam - after fun gingerbread house-making and a delicious dinner, we had to lay on the floor b/c we were so full. love.
-also in Nov, my bff C and I drunkenly decided we were going to improvise enchiladas one night (we are asian and white, respectively), we actually did a really good job b/c we’re good at food things. #unhumblebrag. marinated chicken thighs on the grill, oooh yes.
-went to Morimoto again; the tuna tartare was both gorgeous and tasty and we ordered almost the entire dessert menu. Iron Chef magic.
-last week, Kendal and I checked out Danji, so happy with the japchae, yellowtail sashimi and sablefish.

elsewhere on the web and in my mouth:
-shopperk: this is a new food-related site i’m excited to see develop. check out the tumblr too!
-Trader Joe’s update: loving the jalapeno cilantro hummus and coconut chips (thanks for the tip on the coconut, Mike!)
-speaking of Mike, every time i see a new instagram or other internet evidence of his wife’s cooking/baking, i wish i were an adopted member of their family. check out Kelley’s Suburban Sous blog!)
-Whole Foods update: i always stop by their baked goods section to treat myself, recent things i tried/liked were the cheddar/scallion scone and the pumpkin cream cheese cranberry muffin. thumbs up! b d
-oh yeah, in Nov i went to the middle-of-nowhere in Kansas for work, a lot of bbq was consumed. and we had to go to Applebee’s at one point. *shudder* it got to the point where i was so veggie-deprived, i was gravitating toward anything brightly-colored. middle America really needs to work on their healthy dining options :(
-b/c i’m not a food snob, i’m totally bringing Totino’s pizza rolls to my friend’s Superbowl party tomorrow (and coconut bars!), ahh pizza rolls. those and bagel bites were my primary afterschool snacks back in the day, mmm adolescence.

that’s all for now, whew, i need to keep up with wordplate more regularly. so much food in my life.

everyone knows i love breakfast foods, especially when enjoyed...

xtothequ — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:26:00 -0500

everyone knows i love breakfast foods, especially when enjoyed in the company of friends.

my friend Kat hosted a breakfast gathering recently, and made me one of the best breakfast tacos of my life, this is what was happening in my mouth:
-tortilla
-beans
-eggs
-salsa
-guacamole
-jalapenos
-cilantro
-hot sauce
-and the piece de resistance: TATER TOTS. perfect (so on-trend).

thanks Kat!!

i normally hate eating in the suburbs, but whenever i go home to...

xtothequ — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:18:00 -0500

i normally hate eating in the suburbs, but whenever i go home to the burbs of Chicago, i look forward to mom’s homecooking, as well as me and Z’s tradition of extravagant homemade meals. this past Christmas, we combined forces to make yet another memorable culinary feast.

the only problem with this is by the time we get our act together and start planning the menu, it’s usually 6 or 7pm, then we have to go to the grocery store after we decide what to make, thus we usually don’t eat until like 9. one of these days, we’re gonna fix this. maybe.

x+z’s holiday feast:
-brie and berry jam crostini
-herb salad
-lemon/garlic/rosemary-stuffed roast chicken and potatoes
-broccoletti w/ garlic
-acorn squash with a balsamic sauce, golden raisins & slivered almonds
-apple cranberry crisp a la mode
-some sort of boozy Orangina concoction
-crazy homemade cran vodka aka moonshine (don’t ask.)

i was lucky enough to be in San Francisco/Mill Valley and...

xtothequ — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:56:00 -0500

i was lucky enough to be in San Francisco/Mill Valley and Seattle for work in August and had some amazing eats. unfortunately i lack photographic evidence, but some of the highlights below (also so i can remember and reference in the future):

NorCal:
-sol food: i got to sneak in a visit with Claire, she whisked me off to this amazing Puerto Rican restaurant right after i landed for some deliciousness, GOOD FRIEND :)
-tipsy pig: brunch spot near Claire’s place
-humphry slocombe: i’m a sucker for fun ice cream flavours
-little baobob: met up w/ Kat and Mike too, had fantastic tilapia and a sampler of juices: ginger, tamarind and hibiscus. i want to go back and try more food.
-salito’s: cute crabhouse over the bridge
-el paseo: Tyler Florence came over and introduced himself to our table! Food Network nerdout moment. apparently he co-owns this place with Sammy Hagar.

Seattle:
-pikes place market: i knew i’d like this place before i even stepped foot in it. this is where i bought a sourdough cinnamon bun, which was heaven.
-lowell’s: my EP and i came here for breakfast every morning. it was always tasty, came with buttered sourdough toast and had an amazing view of the Puget Sound.
-steelhead diner: where we discovered Alderwood Smoked Salt. of course we wanted to purchase our own, which led us to…
-world spice merchants: also picked up some Smokin’ Hot Garlic Pepper
-lecosho: tasty and cute place
-maximilien: went to this french restaurant full of couples w/ mike and ted lol

summer cooking is the best b/c the farmers market is full of...

xtothequ — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:18:00 -0500

summer cooking is the best b/c the farmers market is full of goodies. i made these veggie-centric recipes and realized my mom was right, i would one day love vegetables. darn.

zucchini quinoa patties and a corn asparagus salad (‘cept i used fresh corn).

i have been negligent keeping this lil guy updated, so brace...

xtothequ — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:07:00 -0500

i have been negligent keeping this lil guy updated, so brace yourself for a flurry of belated updates.

made a pitstop in Chicago last May en route to my cousin’s wedding in Madison (where each layer of her cake was a different flavour; so proud to call her family) and naturally, big Z and I decided to do another multi-course meal to celebrate our reunion/America (it was Memorial Day). you might remember we started this tradition awhile back.

z+x love America and summer menu:
goat cheese and crackers (uhh we ate it before we took pictures)
bruschetta
feta chicken skewers wrapped in lettuce (thanks Martha)
farfalle veggie pasta salad
sangria (aka fruit salad b/c there was more fruit than wine involved)
berry trifle (yay ‘merica!!)

happy times :)

and then there are the times you realize you’ve been...

xtothequ — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:11:00 -0400

and then there are the times you realize you’ve been surviving off cupcakes, alcohol and other naughty vices and have to run a half marathon in 2 weeks.

so you buy a plethora of veggie goodness from Whole Foods and declare a pre-race mini-detox. i still ate a cupcake yesterday though.

every time i go back to visit MN, my eating/drinking habits are...

xtothequ — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:55:00 -0400

every time i go back to visit MN, my eating/drinking habits are out of control, but definitely worth the unhealthy for a happy time at home w/ my favorites. new restaurants, old favorites & grandma’s home cooking = perfect trifecta

a summary of the trip’s eats/drinks:
Brit’s Pub: Strongbow, natch. advertising nerding + producer hangoutsies.
Tao: sweet potato burrito! great post-run/tennis lunch uptown with D :)
Sebastian Joe’s: flavor decisions were so hard, but narrowed it down to raspberry choc chip and choc chip Teddy Graham this time; thanks for the sweet treat S!
112 Eatery: duck & raddichio salad, cauliflower fritters, tagliatelle w/ foie gras meatballs, choc cinnamon torte & a glass of cava. a tasty pre-concert din w/ K
The Happy Gnome: (pictured) asparagus salad w/ poached egg, pancetta & gravlax and wild rice soup (duh, it’s MN). lovely St. Paul lunch w/ CC
Butcher and The Boar: double cut berkshire pork chop w/ maple, blueberry & pecan relish, beer-battered fries, sweet potato, smothered greens. libation: Sazerac! C and I were overjoyed with the pork chop.
Bar La Grassa: late night catch-up sesh w/ J, enjoyed my fav drink at BLG, the Aviation: Bombay, maraschino, creme de violette & lemon juice.

Should probs detox this week. Thanks for the happy tastebuds, Minneapolis!

i hunted Brooklyn grocery stores for these limited edition...

xtothequ — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:22:00 -0400

i hunted Brooklyn grocery stores for these limited edition Birthday Cake Oreos for ages; the Nabisco product locator lied, Target in Brooklyn didn’t carry them.

so i paid $5.89 for them at Gristedes. SIX DOLLARS FOR OREOS, SERIOUSLY NEW YORK?

whatever, they’re delicious and i love them. buttercream-esque frosting instead of the usual sugary icing taste. cute too!

ps did you know Oreos were invented in Chelsea? :)

this is my go-to meal when i have time to cook, but don’t...

xtothequ — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:28:00 -0400

this is my go-to meal when i have time to cook, but don’t feel like thinking about what to make/haven’t researched new recipes in advance. we’ve got panko-crusted salmon, mashed sweet potatoes and mixed greens with dijon-balsamic dressing. easy peasy, fairly healthy & super satisfying.

major accomplishments this morning:1) flipped egg in the frying...

xtothequ — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:13:00 -0400

major accomplishments this morning:
1) flipped egg in the frying pan with a flick of the wrist (i don’t know why i’ve never attempted this before, just got used to using a spatula i guess.)
2) somehow got my egg the exact size of the english muffin!

gettin’ crazy in the kitchen over here.

not pictured: other english muffin slathered with nutella and peanut butter, topped with sliced banana. ate that immediately.

i love breakfast.

one of the most wonderful things about my job is that while it...

xtothequ — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:05:00 -0500

one of the most wonderful things about my job is that while it isn’t directly related to the food industry, i get to enjoy some amazing food. on set there’s caterers and craft services (hello constant access to snacks), and when we’re not working, dinners galore at fancypants restaurants i’d rarely visit on my own dime. add the company of hilarious, awesome coworkers & adult beverages to the food frenzy and you’ve got the jist of why i love what i do. (and why i have to detox every time i come home.)

pictured: craft services table on set and room service pancakes at Casa del Mar. oh man, the breakfast lady on set, she made us delicious chilaquiles and huevos, with homemade salsas, we all loved her. and the craft services lady made quesadillas and taquitos, yum.

the restaurants (sadly i couldn’t photograph all the extravagance):

Catch (at Casa): long day = dinner at the hotel, but still delish. got pumpkin tortelloni and brussels sprouts w/ bacon as i wasn’t terribly hungry, considering it was like 1 am EST by the time we ate.
Coast (at Shutters): a quick lunch of fish tacos and guac/chips, enjoyed al fresco, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
James Beach: another reason to get fish tacos (yes, the I Love You, Man place). at one point my art director and i were pondering if we could order fish tacos at every meal. i would’ve done this if i weren’t such a foodie who needed to try all sorts of foods.
Giorgio Baldi: a fave of my old agency for delicious pasta and celeb-spotting. we split a trio of ravioli options and i got the lamb chops, mmm. we also got tiramisu, chocolate lava cake & some sort of caramel pudding situation.
Rose Cafe: perk to LA is seeing some old friends! R&R were like “where do you want to eat?” and i was like “please can we go somewhere healthy, all i’ve been eating is meat, sweets and carbs” so we enjoyed a refreshing, light lunch here: farro salad, edamame & tofu and kale salad, yumyumyum.
Shima: sushi is such a must. they also had fantastic tuna grilled w/ miso sauce in a lettuce wrap, so it was kind of like we continued fish taco-ing…only a little classier.
The Hungry Cat: went with our production company, so split a bunch of things: various oysters, spiced tuna, citrus snapper & crab cakes. at this point i’d been eating so much that i couldn’t handle ordering an entree. oh and then there was a chocolate bread pudding that happened.
Fraiche: ooh this menu was so good, i just had the waiter surprise me b/c i couldn’t decide. we split the calamari salad, margherita pizza, some special steak tartare option and the scallops. then they brought me the monkfish (perfection) and i tried some of my AD’s branzino papillote (also delish).
Capo: most ridiculous menu i’ve seen. not just b/c of the stupid script font, but the prices (examples: caviar for $240 per ounce, $100 prime porterhouse). we were all stuffed from the extreme eating we’d been doing, but boy, was it worth manning up and eating here. We got a pasta sampler (rigatoni w/ truffle meat sauce, white corn ravioli w/ black truffles and the quattro formaggi), bbq caesar (smoky grilled romaine, oh yes.), and heirloom tomato vegetable w/ burrata (omg good). and then i had the most expensive filet mignon i’ve ordered in my life and had a giant food baby. and then we had dessert (choc souffles & apple tarte) and i had to be physically rolled out of the restaurant. and then i got on the plane and the plane couldn’t take off b/c i was so huge.

just recapping all the eating i did in the past week and a half makes me want to die. i didn’t even cover all the desserts/alcohol that accompanied the meals and the in-between drinking/eating that happened. production recovery detox starts now. i am very lucky though. and very full of deliciousness. and need to get myself to the gym.

terrible eating habits as of late. this scavenged meal at work...

xtothequ — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:24:00 -0500

terrible eating habits as of late. this scavenged meal at work the other day amused me though. chicken and cake, why not? my coworker: “it’s kind of like chicken and waffles.”

i will try and get my act together soon.