Another One Bites the Dust

And just like that, another year of college done. I can't believe that I can graduate college a year from now (although, I'd love to stretch it into three semesters - what do you say, Dad?). I am sure that it has something to do with me transferring to U of M after a brief stint at another college and three semesters of community college - but didn't I just start college yesterday?

In celebration of this momentous occasion (and my empty refrigerator), I enjoyed a few delicious meals out this weekend. On Friday night my roommates, little sister and I went to Sabor Latino for some delicious Latin fare. I had the Mexican Combo with a spicy pork tamal, chorizo taco, and enchilada with veggies. . .and lots of chips, salsa and queso dip. All in all, a pretty delicious dinner. I think I will add Taco Tuesday and Margarita Monday at Sabor to my senior year bucket list.

Yesterday - the most beautiful day this spring to date - started with my very last yogurt and some Kashi Toasted Berry Crumble GoLean Crunch. Then I was supposed to be packing but I HAD to be outside. So little sister and I went to Zingerman's for coffee and then walked around for forty five minutes or so. Once we got back and I packed my kitchen stuff, we ordered lunch from Jerusalem Garden with friends Jenna and Abby. I ordered the Stuffed Grape Leaves plate, yummmm. I'm not sure what was better- the food or eating outside. Jerusalem Garden is going on the bucket list too (because I should have gone more than once this year).

And despite being stuffed like my grape leaves, I found enough room for some Whole Foods hot bar last night with Caroline. No picture. Spinach salad and dollops of pulled pork and mac n' cheese were munched on.

P.S. BREAKING NEWS: As this post was being typed I received a text message at work from Caroline: "What do you want from Starbucks?" She must have seen my early morning Facebook post "there is no place to get an iced latte on State St. at 6:40am." So excited, my first latte since March 8th.

Redic

I ate one of the most ridiculous (ridiculous in a you-can-actually-eat-this-as-a-meal way?) things in my life for lunch yesterday. Delicious, but ridiculous. Feast your eyes upon on the Memphis Macaroni. . .

From the Zingerman's Roadhouse Menu: "Alex's Red Rage BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, Cornman Farms pulled pork, New Mexico green chiles and fresh cilantro caramelized with Martelli pasta." So yummy, but I will definitely have to split this with three friends if I get it again.

My mom and our friend Angela came to Ann Arbor for a fun visit. We gave Angela an abbreviated tour of Ann Arbor, hitting many great spots including: Kerrytown & the Farmer's Market, Main Street, UMich Campus (Law Quad, the Diag, Amer's in the Union), a drive by tour of the Sigma Kappa house (for Angela, :D) Trader Joe's and the Zingerman's Bakehouse and Roadhouse (obviously). Then I headed back with them to borrow a car from home for a few days and do some laundry for free. However upon arriving home to see my ZipCar info had arrived in the mail, I decided it was no longer necessary to take a car and took the train back to Ann Arbor at 10 PM.

Then before I knew it was time to "spring forward" to work at 6:45 AM this morning! Overnight oatmeal was somehow assembled last night (this morning), and I grabbed some Maple Almond Butter from the cupboard that I got on sale last week. I've seen this AB on other blogs before, but it is definitely a must try.

I hope your Sunday is treating you well! Watch for a Baltimore Recap Post coming very soon.

A Pleasant Surprise

It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that my weekday eating is not all that glamorous. However yesterday's dinner turned out to be much better than the planned yogurt+granola+carrot+hummus+other carb-dinner, because my Dad took me out to dinner! As I was dragging my self to my third consecutive hour-and-half lecture at 2:30 I checked my messages and there was one from my Dad saying he was in the general vicinity for a meeting and wanted to know if I needed groceries and/or dinner. UMM. . .YES! And more than that I was in desperate need of family. Safe to say my day was instantly made and my frown turned upside down. 

We went to Frita Batidos, a new Ann Arbor restaurant owned by Eve Aronoff. Eve also owns Eve in Kerrytown and was on Top Chef Season 6. I had heard from a friend it was good, but WOW - it was GOOD. My Dad and I both had the Pulled Pork sandwich and split the Shoestring Fries. In addition I had a chocolate Batido; a batido is a "tropical milkshake made with fresh fruit, crushed ice and a drop of sweetened milk with or without rum*." Mine obviously without. Everything was great, the restaurant itself is very minimalist - all white. There are five or six long white picnic tables to sit at, but I actually really like the community feel that those evoke. So now that I have talked that up so much, I would hate to show you the sub-par pictures I took (blame it on first time Frita excitement), but I'll definitely be back and maybe taking more blog worthy food pictures soon. 

Street view. Frita's coffee window and snack bar menu to the right. 

. . .and then I had to eat something tonight. 

TJ's Cheese Tortellini with tomato sauce and roasted sweet potatoes and carrots.

*From Frita Batidos Philosophy. 

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week

This post brought to you by Cappuccino (fuel) from Lab. The barista said the design would have been prettier if I didn't get skim milk; next time I'll sacrifice myself and take in the extra calories for the sake of the blog. 

And now what you have all been waiting for - Restaurant Week Recap. I celebrated in two locations this week, Shalimar and Blue Tractor, with my dearest friend CMo. 

First up, lunch a Shalimar:
Course One - Daal Soup
Course Two - Saag Paneer, Vegetable Korma, Chana Masala, Rice, Naan, Cucumber Raita, Mango Chutney and Papad
Course Three - Gulub Jaman

Overall, a great and filling sampler meal for only $12. My favorite items on the plate were the Vegetable Korma and Naan.

Next up, dinner at Blue Tractor:

Course One - Artichoke Dip (more than I could possibly eat in one sitting)

Course Two - BBQ Combo Platter: I chose pulled pork and beer can chicken. Served with coleslaw, cheddar grits and bourbon molasses baked beans.

Course Three - Fried Doughnut Bread Pudding (OMG!)

Lets just say I waddled home happy after this meal. I loved the artichoke dip, but I think pita chips would have been a better "dipper" than tortilla chips. Both meats were good, although it is not something I eat too often anymore - so it was a lot to take in at once. And the fried doughnut pudding was as good as it sounds. . .still dreaming about it.

Happy Friday!

Krazy Jim. . .

Friday night brought lots of fun and fried food. I headed to Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger with friends (or should I say, I ran to KJ's Blimpy Burger much later than intended after a schedule mishap at work) and then to my first indoor U of M hockey game versus Ferris State University.

Blimpy Burger is an Ann Arbor institution for students, located in the heart of the Packard-Madison-S. Division student housing area.  It has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (I think it is classified as a dive, see video below) and more recently, Man Vs. Food. 

Friday night was my first time ordering and dining in at Blimpy Burger. Delicious - but only every once and a while. Important note for first timers: no cell phones in line, and be sure to read the guidelines for ordering. My burger was a double on a regular bun with grilled onions and banana peppers, Swiss, pickles, ketchup and mustard. I also split some onion rings. . .and ate most of the aforementioned in an embarrassing amount of time. 

Then it was off to the hockey game we went (rolled), where Michigan beat FSU 3-2. And then it was time to come HOME!

P.S. Promised Puppy Pics. 

Nephew Adam and new dog-nephew Carlos.

Lucy and Cath's new puppy [unnamed], but we can just call her Blanca for convenience sake.