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.

my new favorite food...

i have a new favorite food.
I bet it's yours too...
free food.
Last night i went with some friends to SIDEBOARD in Danville.
SIDEBOARD is this really cute place and our friend Stacey works there, who is lovely.
I went for breakfast once and their yogurt tastes kinda like sour cream.
...in a good way.
But last night we went there before they closed and i said to Dani and Peter..
" i wonder if this is like Denica's where when they close up they give you the cookies they're gunna toss..."

Denica's is this cafe in dublin.
their cookies are good but i don't actually like the place that much.
sorry Denica.

anyways...
it WAS like Denica's!
Stacey gave us hecka free cookies and i was like YES!
They were so good and i really think it's because they were free.
Free stuff tastes so much better than stuff you paid for.
But not like samples at costco...which i guess you kinda pay for because you pay a due or something.
...i dunno i just mooch off my parent's costco card.
...
.....
But when you accidentally get free stuff...like you're at the right place at the right time???
THE BEST!

One time at Disneyland, i was sitting waiting for someone in the little ice cream place on main street.
I wasn't actually eating ice cream I was just waiting in there sitting at this little table.
This girl came out from behind the counter and was like "um we made an extra sundae...do you want it???"
OF COURSE!
ALWAYS!
The only thing better than free food is free food at Disneyland.

I just read my friend Chris' blog and he is such a beautiful writer.
It makes me want to write something beautiful...
but it seemed prudent that I first write you about free food.
sorry.

charlie hon kong= charlie yum yum

i haven't blogged in a while.
i went through some pictures and found this one.
i'm eating a spicy dan peanut bowl at charlie hong kong's in santa cruz.
it's the best.
i've been pretty busy lately but on my down time i honestly consider driving to santa cruz just so i can eat at charlie hong kong's.
ok that's a lie...i would do a food tour in santa cruz.
but charlie's is the fricken bombdotcom.
it's hella fast and hellza delicious.
ya.
hellza.
it's that good.
i could eat there everyday.
they put cilantro on everything and it's awesome.
i also enjoy the mariachi music they play while you're eating vietnamese bowls.
it adds an element of confusion and mystery to your dining experience.
go to charlie's.
i took my fam there and they loved it.
i watched my grandpa eat a noodle bowl and it was awesome.

BLUSH yogurt owns me.

i resisted.
but i cannot go on doing so.
BLUSH yogurt is frigging delicious and has changed my life.
It's not soft serve...it's SO much more!!
it's really yogurt....how do they do it??
i need answers.

i think that's why i love it so mcuh...
because the whole time i'm eating it i'm wondering...
"how is this possible?"

i also love that they're open late.
and i love that i don't feel like a cow after i finish it.
i feel the opposite of a cow.
i feel awesome.

if i ran marathons, i would eat a small blush yogurt before each race.
i would more than likely win those races...
not because i'm fast but because BLUSH yogurt is so awesome it would have changed my chemical makeup into that of a natural athlete.

ya.
it's so good.

an ode to sweet tea

my dearest sweet tea,
your are so delicious.
now all i have to do is take a dollar to McDonalds to enjoy your sweet goodness.
served in a giant cup the size of my forearm, you refresh me for hours upon hours.
Sometimes you give me a tummy ache...but i still love you.
I remember how much fun we had in New Orleans.
I was tired and thirsty and you were, as always, delicious and incredible.
It was then that my eyes were opened and you shown in all your glory.
I'm so glad you came to California, Sweet Tea.
You never let me down.
Now my summer will be filled with refreshing sips and tummy aches induced by your incredibly sweet wonderfulness.
I will always look back on this summer fondly as the summer you rocked California and my heart.
Thank you, sweet tea.
Thank you.