LETTUCE

OK.
new favorite place.
LETTUCE in Walnut creek is awesome.
It's on Locust and is really easy to find.
The first two things I noticed and loved were the table of organic produce from local farmers when you walk in AND the menu that points out which soups use veggie broth and which use chicken...helpful!

Jeremy and I discovered it when we were super hungry and it totally hit the spot.
He had a veggie sandwich and I had butternut apple soup which was YUMMERS.
I went again with my mom and got the veg sandwich and she had a caprese sandwich and we both loved em.

They also have big pitchers or water with fruit and cucumbers.
Super delicious.

Everything seems really family oriented and you get the small business vibe which i totally love.
The first time we went, an older man who we assumed was the owner brought over some apple pie for us to try.
It was so good and it was really cool of him..(for my attitude toward free food consult previous entries).

YELP has given this place some diverse reviews (http://www.yelp.com/biz/lettuce-walnut-creek) but I will continue to go back.
It's a decently priced lunch place and with yummy food and good service.
do it and tell them Erin sent you!
... they don't know me but I'd be interested to see what their response to that would be.

25 random things involving me and my intense love for food.

I've been thinking about 25 random things about myself.
But i thought I would do one that is more relevant to my blog.
so here are 25 random things about myself...and my love for food.

1. I love trying new food and will pretty much eat/try anything.

2. My parents used to get angry at my cousins and I because when they would have parties,
we would all hang around the appetizers all night.
I still do that but no one yells at me now.
I consider it one of the greatest parts about being an adult.

3. I've been a vegetarian since sophomore year of college.
I'm really proud of my decision and I only get more certain of my convictions as I grow older.

4. When people ask me if I miss meat I always say no.
But that's a lie.
I miss my moms chicken salad sometimes.
And sushi.
But not enough to eat either.

5. Last year I was obsessed with sweet tea.
I got burnt out real quick.
It's seriously sweet.

6. I love baking and I wish I was better than I am.
I make a huge mess and spend way too much money on it.
But I really love it.

7. I love La Note in Berkeley.
The coffee.
The pancakes.
The atmosphere.
The everything.
I feel at home when I'm there and would happily go everyday if it wasn't in FREAKIN BERKELEY.

8. I love recommending restaurants to people.
I get really nervous when I do.
But I love trying new places and then telling people about it.
It makes me feel smart for some reason which is weird.

9. I love spanish cheese.
But I'm dating a crazy sexy vegan and would gladly never eat any cheese again if it means getting to kiss that sweet veggie FACE of his!

10. I hate when people say that bread is bad for you.
I love bread.
no.
I LOVE bread.
shut up you guys.
It's delicious.

11. I really think I would have enjoyed Africa more had the food of been better.
Sorry if that's rude.
Go eat nshima and then come talk to me.

12. Whenever I order something at a restaurant I always worry that it won't be big enough.
It stresses me out thinking I'll still be hungry after I eat.

13. I've decided I hate alcohol but I still like wine.
especially la crema.
with my mom.
but it makes me super sleepy.

14. I'm really cheap and suffer constantly from buyer's remorse.
But I never regret spending money on food.
I never even think about it.
I don't care if food is expensive.
I'll buy it.
I'll eat it.
I'll love it.

15. You couldn't pay me to eat a doughnut.
They make me feel disgusting.
I hate them.

16. Everything tastes better with frosting.

17. I love milkshakes and cupcakes.
But eating them makes me seriously tired.
I don't know why.
I need a nap after a cupcake or a milkshake.
This makes them the perfect road trip snack.
Assuming I'm not driving...otherwise it's a recipe for disaster.

18. I love cinnamon bears.
I love candy.
I don't eat it very often except when I'm in my car.
I hide candy in my car and then forget about it.
Until I'm stuck in traffic, then I find it and SNACK.
It's awesome.
I always take a few minutes to bask in my cleverness when I discover the candy.

19. I really love taco bell.
I think about it all the time.
I know it's disgusting and creepy.
But I still crave it.
A lot.

20. I hate ordering the worst thing on the menu.
It's not about pride.
It's more that I hate wasting a meal on something crappy.
I feel ripped off.

21. I love communion grape juice.
more than regular grape juice.
The blood of Christ is surprisingly delicious.

22. I would put tomatoes on everything if I could.
And avocados.
Avocados are amazing.
I don't know how.
They just are.

23. I love big salads.
Athen's burgers in Dublin makes a big salad.
I love it.
The bigger the salad the better.

24. That part in Willy Wonka (the orig...) where the kids
run in the factory and eat everything?
I can't even imagine.
I wish that was life.
I would eat balloons and daffodils and magic markers.
I want to go to there.

25. I hate diet stuff.
Fat free cookies?
Coffee with splenda?
skinny cow ice cream???
stupid.
I would rather exercise for days and eat what I want then
eat diet crap.
gross.

disney: i still freakin love you

yes friends.
it's true.
i ate in dland again...
it was bombdotcom.
but this time I ate with a certain baby vegan and so the food selections have changed a bit.
Since it was my birthday we went to the blue bayou which was AWESOME.
It's way overpriced like everything in disneyland BUT it's cool to go for a special occasion.
We called just a few days ahead and got reservations and even told them we were vegan/vegetarian and they made something accordingly.
Here is the number...a couple people have asked me for it:
(714) 781-DINE, or (714) 781-3463
They made us this portobello/couscous/spinach creation that was good but not like AMAZING.

(notice the awesome birthday button i'm sporting)
Emily ate gumbo.
And a monte cristo.
OK.
I have always seen monte cristos made like a grilled cheese sandwhich...
BUT you should know that Disney's interpretation is like a doughnut sandwhich.
So if you're into that then be stoked.
Emily didn't seem happy about it.
She did a lot of disecting.

They also have vegan gumbo.
Not at the blue bayou but at the place on the corner that says "try our gumbo".
DUH.
it's good.
there is ocra in it.
don't be scared.
It's awesome.

I also ate a pickle.
It was really good.
It was a lot of pickle.
Jerms said he remembered them being bigger.
If it had been bigger I might have barfed in disneyland.
And they would have had to throw that powder over it.
And I would have been embarrassed.

oh.
OH!
ok you get free tortillas from CALIFORNIA adventure on your birthday.
12 to be exact.
But here is the trick...you can only get into one park with the free birthday ticket.
and duh.
you choose disneyland.
..unless you have some sort of mental disability.
And if you do I'm sorry and I hope you have fun in California adventure for the 4 hours you can spend there.
....
......
But give someone your birthday button who has a hopper pass and they will get you tortillas.
And they are delicious.
and they taste even better cause they're free (see previous blog for my opinions on free food).
I didn't get a mickey cookie this time.
but they are still amazing.

Everything in Disneyland is amazing.