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The 95 Taco Trucks
Tucked away on the side of the highway, right were Routes 95 and 91 split in Connecticut, there is a land of taco trucks.
Mark loves the taco trucks and agrees to come to Rhode Island more often because of them.
Each taco costs $1.50. You can, as Mark does, ask for a chicken taco at different trucks and get very different chicken tacos.
.
I haven’t built up the courage to ask for a “chicken taco, hold the chicken” yet, but maybe next time I will.
Where’s your favorite place to acquire road-side cuisine?
State Street Grill – Bloomfield, N.J.
Mark and I just got back from a great lunch at the State Street Grill.
It’s a gorgeously perfect summer day outside, so we took the opportunity to eat on the roof.
The view of downstairs.
State Street is like a diner with a menu that is as long as a novel. They have pretty much everything you would expect, plus more … think Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches and Spring Rolls.
They don’t have a ton of healthy vegetarian options, but I’ve had the Veggie Burger before and that’s pretty good. Today, however, I wasn’t in the mood for a burger so I got the Spinach Salad without the bacon and with Balsamaic Vinagerette on the side.
Tons of spinach and fresh veggies. I hate when I get a salad out at a diner type restaurant and they serve you brown, wilted iceberg! Very delicious once I removed those pesky mushrooms. Yuck!
Mark got a Chicken Gyro with Zucchini Sticks.
He shared the sticks with me and I shared my mushrooms with him – I think I won out in this deal, no? The Zucchini sticks were battered and fried, but oh my , worth it.
I need to go back again with an emptier belly to try some of that gelato. Perhaps in the fall I can get some Pumpkin!
We are off to attempt our first official hike! WIsh us luck & have a great Saturday!
State Street Grill
973.748.3003
Bloomfield, N.J. 07003
| 9 State Street |
He Says: Who the hell am I?
I was tempted to let the pictures in this post speak for themselves and completely omit words but eventually decided against it since you may want to know what’s in each dish. This stuff was created by Latino Mundo on Glenwood Avenue in Bloomfield NJ and destroyed by my mouth and stomach.
Latino Mundo offers authentic, cafeteria style Costa Rican food, meaning you eat what they make for the day – and I like that about it. It’s a nice change of pace compared to the sometimes overwhelming array of what other restaurants offer. It’s pretty typical for me to walk into a place and become paralyzed by the number of choices. It’s also humbling to eat what others are eating and not have the option to say, “No, that’s not for me.”
Cus, really, who the hell am I?
Food on!
Roasted chicken, white rice, red beans.
Breaded chicken cutlet, yellow rice, red beans.
Chicken, yellow rice, black beans and a plantain gigante.
Ground beef, yellow rice, red beans and another big, sweet plantain.
Beef steak, white rice, black beans, plantain and yuca.
Roasted chicken, white rice, red beans (again).
So good roasted chicken, white rice, black beans, sweet plantain and Snapple Orangeade.
A huge helping of liver, white rice, pinto beans. First time I’ve ever had liver.
Pulled pork, yellow rice, red beans.
Monday’s lunch: ground beef, white rice, pinto beans.
He Says: Brooklyn in the House
Tap That is a beer drinkers’ show that I think you’ll enjoy, especially if you enjoy beer. See if you can spot Hangry Heather running around in the background during the interview. In this episode we visit The Diamond in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Have a happy and safe holiday.
She Says: Zeppa Who?
I love having a Friday rest day because it means I can, and often do, move it around and use it earlier in the week. Such was the case yesterday, which means my speedwork will come tomorrow. Anyway, wasn’t yesterday great? It was nice weather, I got to come home for lunch with Mark and then after Lost we went for a walk for an hour and a half. I love walks.
This morning I had a gigantic bowl of plain yogurt with Hangry Heather’s Mix and ground flax.
I included my coffee in the picture today so that I could represent my Wildcats. Playing tonight at 7:20.
Local Flavor Shout Out: Zeppole
Picture from here.
Today is the lesser known March celebration known as St. Joseph’s Day. This is the day that we celebrated in my Italian family and it was marked with a delicious Zeppola. In Rhode Island, a Zeppola is either baked or fried dough that is like the outside of an éclair. The inside is filled with thick custard cream and is always topped with more cream, confectioner’s sugar and a maraschino cherry. They are huge! Now, I know these are not found everywhere. In New Jersey, for example, a Zeppole is simply an Italian donut, whereas a St. Joseph’s Day Cake is the name for the same thing filled with cream. Check out this short video for more on the preparation of Zeppole in Rhode Island.
Have you ever heard of St. Joseph’s Day, Zeppole or St. Joseph’s Day Cakes?
She Says: Pure Food and Wine
Last night I was treated to a wonderful and unique Valentine’s Day Dinner at Pure Food and Wine, which is located just outside Union Square in Manhattan. From the outside, it likes like any ordinary restaurant, but on the inside it’s a sleek and chic raw foods outpost. But unlike other hip restaurants, the atmosphere was friendly, not uncomfortably snobby or judgmental. They also played great music, including one of Mark’s favorites, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” by Tom Petty.
When we get there at 8:30 it was pretty crowded, but we had a reservation and only had to wait a few minutes for our seat. While we waited I perused the cocktail menu.
I chose the Jasmine Kiss, which was an excellent choice on my part because it was refreshing, light and subtly sweet.
The menu was slightly different from the one I’ve been reading online on a daily basis.
The appetizer I previously picked out was off the menu, so Mark and I decided to split the Salsify Fettuccine with Provencal Winter Truffle – pine nut and celery root alfredo, fresh parsley leaf and pinoli parmesan.
My first bite of a raw food was … interesting. As soon as I got over the urge to to warm up my cold fettuccine, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The alfredo sauce was delicious and strikingly similar to something you would get at an Italian restaurant, but did not leave me feeling gross and heavy. I was, however, surprised by how much oil was in the bottom of the tiny bowl.
For dinner, Mark chose something I’d been eyeing myself – White Com Tamales With Raw Cacao Mole marinated mushrooms, tomatillo cilantro salsa
I had several bites! The mole sauce was amazing, especially with a forkful of the risotto-like filling of the corn husks. It was really a unique taste.
I chose the Pinoli Tomato Tostada with Honey Cumin crusted Crimini.
Part of the fun of eating at Pure was not knowing what I was eating the majority of the time, but I’ll do my best. In between the crisp tomato tostado was a layer of salsa, heart of palm and avocado and then a lawyer of mushrooms and zanahoria pickle. I loved the taste of the “guacamole” layer and dipping my tostada in there. The pimenton crema added a nice smoky flavor to everything. I didn’t love the bottom layer because I don’t really like mushrooms or pickled things, but I tried!
And then came dessert. Trio of Dark Chocolate Covered Indian Spiced Ice Cream Treats. From left to right: Chai Creamsicle, Pistaccio Ice Cream Sandwich, Chocolate Covered Coconut Ice Cream Cone.
Raw ice cream is closer to the consistency of soy ice cream than cow milk ice cream, which I think means it’s more icy than than creamy. Don’t get me wrong, it was smooth, thick and flavorful and there was not one bite left on that plate when we were done. It had Mark and I debating how all of these treats were made and we even went to Whole Foods after to read the back of a raw ice cream container!
Overall, the cone was my favorite. I loved the flavor of the ice cream and the consistency and taste of the cone … whatever it was made of!
Of all the ice cream flavors, I liked this chai flavor in the creamsicle the best because it had all the flavors of a wonderful spiced chai tea. I ate most of it, but left the chocolate coating for Mark.
Mark’s favorite, but my least favorite, was the ice cream sandwich. While the soft chocolate sandwich was good, the ice cream tasted more like almond extract to me. Also, around the sandwich was another thick chocolate lawyer that was just too much chocolate for me!
As far as fullness, I had about 1/3 of the appetizer, 2/3 of my meal, several bites of Mark’s and 1/2 of the dessert and I was full, but not overstuffed in any way. We walked around after, and maybe it was just the Valentine’s spirit, but I told Mark I felt energized. I thought Mark was going to need more to eat, but he said he was full and didn’t eat anything for the rest of the night. He said he would have still been hungry without eating some of my dinner and the dessert.
It was a wonderfully fun experience and made for a very memorable Valentine’s celebration. I want to return and try everything on the menu, but budget wise, it’s definitely a special occasion kind of place!
xoxo HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY xoxo
She Says: Dinner Out, Brunch In.
Hi Everyone and a special hello to any MizFit readers visiting for the first time.
I am here to report that I have my running feet back. After a few weeks of lollygagging on the elliptical, I hit the treadmill and did 6.3 miles yesterday. It felt lovely! I was wondering if I’d become to lazy to run, but alas, I have not. I want to rest and give my legs a little break today, so I am going to go a Yoga Download or two to stretch it out like a Caramello.
Happy Birthday Mark’s Grandpa!
Today is Mark’s Grandpa’s Birthday and last night we had dinner for him at Reservoir Tavern in Boonton, N.J. It was a local Italian pub (a restaurant genre I just made up) and at 7:00 on a Saturday night it was crowded to capacity. The waitress quickly brought us bread and there was garlic, red pepper and rosemary infused olive oil for dipping.
The table also ordered two pizzas to share.
Cheese Pizza
Pineapple Pepper Pizza
I wasn’t in a pizza mood, but everyone liked it with the fresh pineapple being a crowd favorite.
For my my meal I got an Arugula Salad (half eaten in picture) and Giambottta (Vegetable Stew).
Mark ordered Pasta con Sabia (olive oil, garlic, olives and bread crumbs), which he shared a little bit of with me. I particularly liked the bits with crusty bread crumbs. I wanted to save room for cake and I was already a little full, so I took most of the soup home.
Ah yes, Mark’s mom brought a quite tasty chocolate cake. Here, Mark has caught me in the act of stealing some of his cake. Actually, it was a shared item, but I ate 75%. I liked the chocolatey moussey part on the outside best.
So that was Saturday night. When we got home, Mark and I kicked it w/ Super Mario 3.
Barney Butter Pancakes
This morning I was quite hungry and decided to use a bit more of the Barney Butter to make pancakes.
You need:
- 1/4 c oats
- 3/4 c wheat flour
- 1 t baking powder
- 1/2 plain yogurt
- 1/2 c water (or more for desired thickness)
- 1 egg
- sprinkle of cinnamon
- 2 T wheat germ
- 1/2 T (or so) of honey
- 2 T Barney Butter
All you have to do is mix everything in a bowl. Pancakes are easy. You might want to add more liquid if you prefer thinner pancakes. I wanted thick today.
Don’t forget that you can get FREE SHIPPING on Barney Butter until Tuesday.
I have some cleaning and clothes washing to do today. I am officially on the list to sub. in my new town, so I could potentially have work any day this week!!!!!!! yay. Enjoy your Sunday. Be back later with a grocery recap.
One more thing …
If you get a chance, please watch the video Mark posted here. If you feel uncomfortable leaving a negative or positive comment, please feel free to do it anonymously. It will really help him try to understand what a female viewing audience would want from a fitness show for his company.
