A Month Too Much

So, it has been a month since my last post, and what can I say .... I have been a busy girl, with ice hockey nationals, school, roller hockey games and tournaments, etc. But I am hoping to get back on a more regular posting schedule again. Since it's been a while, today I am going to write about two seperate eating occasions.

I am a huge fan of mexican food. I love tacos, burritos, carne asada, guacamole, salsa, I could go on for days ... but I have to say one of my favorite things is Flautas. You can get 'em at most restaurants, but I have to say the little hole in the wall Los Amigos in San Diego does it best. 

Their flautas are the perfect mix of crispy shell with tender, flavorful shredded beef. Not to mention the smooth creaminess of the sour cream and their guacamole is the best in the game. Finish it off with a little beans and rice, and you've got it made. Every time I go to San Diego, I make a trip .... they're so good, I'd make the two hour drive just to have them for lunch.

So a couple weeks ago, my mom, my friend, and I were looking for a place to eat after my hockey game. We came across this Italian restaurant, and truth be told, I can't remember the name. Anyway, I was lookin' around at the menu ... and all of a sudden this popped out at me: linguine with chicken, asparagus, artichoke hearts in a lemon garlic broth. It seemed like the perfect combination and it was, honestly, one of the best pastas I've ever had in my life. 

The sauce, or broth would be more accurate, was delicious and though it was lemony, it wasn't overly done. The artichoke hearts were tender, the chicken well seasoned, and the asparagus still had a nice crunch to it. It really was the perfect combination, and the portion was big enough for my friend and I had to split and still feel comfortably fed. 

So all in all, two very good dishes, for the month I've been absent. I hope to be posting much more in the coming weeks, so stay tuned...

'Til then foodies, live, learn, and eat good food!

Love,

KD

Vapiano and Backsplash

Hey everyone! I just got home last night from Washington DC. I was there on a hockey tournament (we got third place), but now I'm back and ready to talk about the food and the remodel.

The kitchen remodel is finally winding down. This past week they put up the tile backsplash, but as far as major changes go, that's just about the last one! 

On to pictures:

Tile backsplash

Tile backsplash with the socket protectors put back on

Backsplash contrast nicely with the cabinets. The white spot is where the microwave is going to go.

The kitchen remodel is just about finished, and should be completely down in about a week. They just have to finish electrical, plumbing, putting in all the appliances, and then final touches.

I can't wait!

So like I said before, I just got back from a five day tournament in Washington DC. One of my favorite things about traveling is finding good restaurants, little hidden gems. Vapiano's in Arlington, Virginia was no different!

This was not your typical italian place. It was not red brick with huge wooden tables and italian music in the background. Instead, it was a nice modern take on "Italian" with decor and the way you got your food.

You walk in, and they hand you a card. There are three stations you can walk to: Pasta, Salad, and Pizza. I chose Pasta. The card is used to pay for whatever you get from any of the stations. For example, if you wanted a salad and pasta, you would use your card at both stations.

You pick up a little menu for ideas, but basically, you could get anything you want added or taken out of your pasta. 

Then, you pick what kind of pasta you want. They had eleven pastas, including two whole wheat choices. I personally chose Conchiglie. It was not a pasta I was very familiar with, but the chef recommended it, and I thought it looked interesting. 

Picture of the different kinds of pastas you can choose from. 

My pasta being cooked.

I chose a dish off the menu called "Granchi De Fiume". It's pasta, crayfish, lobster sauce, and fresh vegetables. Once you choose what you want, they begin to cook it right in front of you. The cool thing about this is you can watch exactly what they are putting into it, and how much. Then, if necessary, you can tell them to change things, like for example, how much chili peppers, or vegetables, or meat, etc you want.

A picture of my dish being cooked. Carrots, zucchini, crayfish, oh my.

The lobster sauce being added.

A picture of my dish all done and ready to enjoy! After the pasta is cooked, they hand it to you, and you go pick a table to sit at.

They also give you bread, and at each table there is olive oil and balsamic vinegar, as well as a little pot of fresh basil to pick and put on your food as you desire.

I really loved this place. My dish was good, though admittedly it was a bit too creamy for my taste. The real thing I loved about this place was the concept of it. The fact that you get to walk up, watch the chef cook your meal, tell them exactly what you want, and then get it. I hope that more of these types of dining experiences start to pop up, and I sure hope Vapiano makes a restaurant in southern California soon!

Peace, Love, and Creative Eating,

- Kayla

Bachi Grill

Haven't posted in a while because I was in Connecticut for an ice hockey tournament, but here is a meal I ate while I was gone at Bachi Grill in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Started off the meal with bread, and olive oil with spices and a garlic clove. It was really good, the bread had like some cheese baked into it. Super tasty. 

Then I had some caesar salad, which was good, it had a different dressing, but it was still really good. 

I got broccoli rabe and chicken sausage with tomatoes and penne pasta. It was alright. It looked fresh, but the problem with it was that it lacked any real seasoning. It didn't even have enough salt or pepper. 

Someone I was dining with had the puttanesca, and it was a lot better than mine. It actually had flavor, and good flavor at that.

This place was alright, but certainly not one of my favorites. When the highlight of the meal is the bread, and the salad instead of the entree, you know something isn't right. 

Two - two and a half stars.