Steak Shack

So I am a little bit in love.

So no, I cannot eat burgers every day, though damn, Steak Shack burgers are the best ones I've had. In a long while. Better than fast food or Spike's or Fuddruckers or Five Guys. The Shack Burger's special sauce, the perfect amount of fry and salt on the french fries, the delectable meat perfectly cooked medium.  Yummmmmy.

And yes, I will fill uncomfortably full and bloated later. And I may regret the red meat. It is calorically bad, and I may regret that, too. But that is why you work out: so you can indulge in the Steak Shacky goodness of that beef patty with cheese and special sauce. Oh god it was sooo good...the absolute perfect burger. And fries. Sigh.

Hungry Girl III

So I have been insatiably hungry the last few days. Yes, I realize yesterday's two a day did not help. But I splurged and had a Five Guys cheeseburger. And this is sort of a confession, because yes I do realize just how very, very, very bad that is for you. But my stomach was going to eat itself if I didn't eat a huge dosage of protein. And now I'm sipping a chai tea latte for more protein and more stomach filling goodness.

I don't care. I don't feel guilty, and I will eat more if that does not fill me up. You have to take care of your body, and brothy soup or salad was not going to do it today. So there.

Empty

I am SO hungry today. I've been eating nonstop and that included a burger for lunch. I was seriously craving red meat. I need to get out and run it all off after work.

With running comes hunger, but sheesh. I need to better pace myself. I guess I ate light on Sunday, and drank heavy, and that catches up with me.

I will need to do pasta for dinner or something, to fill up...

Farm Fresh Food

So I was very proud of my lunch today...fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and heirloom tomatoes from Eastern Market. I jogged there after the gym and picked up some of those ingredients. SO very good. I plan on making some pesto at some point tomorrow, if I have time!

We also finally checked our the Biergarten Haus last night. Pricey, pricey. It was sweltering, humidifying hot, and it was crowded. But it was certainly "the place to be." Glad we finally checked it out, with a real German :-) The outdoor area really is immense, and it was the closest thing I've felt to being in Oxford. I'm sure we will be back.

Hungry Girl II

I have been starving all week. I think the fact that I actually have snack food after a quality grocery store visit does not help this matter. Nor does the fact that I keep exercising even though I feel just a tad burnt out. Sigh. I guess my body needs the extra calories but I need to stop snacking on nuts, peanut butter puffins, larabars, and granola bars. And have a big serving of veggies tomorrow.

I also need to cook. Being gone Saturday does not help, but at least I'll be able to salvage the rest of the weekend. And then it will be March!

Top Chef: Napa!

Of course, I was thrilled to see that Napa and Brix was featured in the most recent episode of Top Chef, having just eaten there last April. Jennifer was booted, which was not a huge surprise, since the Voltaggio brothers and Kevin have just been stronger overall, though she definitely deserved her slot in the Final Four. Nice to see a female, 33 year old chef do so well! I will have to remember 10 Arts by Eric Ripert for a future dinner in Philly!

As to the winner...my favorite is Kevin, because he seems like such a nice guy. But I would love to see Bryan win b/c of Volt (must trek to Frederick!!).

Bocuse d'Or

This may have been the best Top Chef episode yet. I had never heard of this bocuse d'Or competition, but it was an amazing test of culinary skill and all of the dishes looked absolutely mouth-watering. And yes, the favorites from this season--Michael & Bryan Voltaggio, Kevin, and Jennifer--made it to the final four.

Everything from Thomas Keller's presence, to the revelation that the finale will be in Napa Valley, to the camaraderie between the chefs--it all came together for a fascinating episode. While Tom's review made it clear there were flaws in each dish, I doubt some of the earlier eliminated contestants this season could have pulled it off.

So who will win? Kevin's my favorite, and he has been so thoughtful and consistent, as Tom's review also makes clear. But gosh, it is a close competition. I can hardly wait for the finale!

Food Bloggers

I've spent the better part of my web surfing over the last couple of years checking out my favorite food bloggers. My favorite one is Self's Eat Like Me, which is profiled in the Washington Post today.

The other day, the New York Times discussed abandoned blogs, which is another phenomenon I've been interested in. I started this little project purely for myself, because I missed journaling, and I wanted an outlet to write again. I've always meant to develop it more than I've had, but life gets in the way or I can't think of a good topic or I procrastinate or I don't really want to take the next step to expand the project.

I could never be one of those meticulous, sometimes anal food bloggers who tracks every bite in their mouth. Let's see, yesterday I ate toast, some cereal, and blueberries in the morning; some pretzels for a snack; a salad, roll, and small cookie at Corner Bakery for lunch; and bertolli and bread/evoo for dinner. Ugh, boring. I have thought about workouts (ran to the gym, twenty minutes on the elliptical reading the Sandra Bullock issue of Glamour, ran home), but I have never been able to track that consistently, either.

I could write more on politics, or Detroit, or pop culture, but really: I've always been a generalist. I've never focused on one particular thing, though I gravitate toward what I've written about: sports, Detroit, politics, food, travel, random funny articles I've seen. And I guess that is what this will remain, though I do want to recommit myself to at least posting something daily (or several times a week). Perhaps stating this goal here will propel me toward fulfilling that. It will make me a better writer, hopefully a more critical writer, and it will give me something to do during boring days at work when I'm feeling unfilled and bored out of my mind. Did I say bored twice??!!??

Random comments

Grey's Anatomy is totally turning into the Practice.

So awesome to see Bill Buchanan and 24 again.

Really liking the M. Ward CD streaming online. New fave song: Stars of Leo. Am enjoying the new Neko Case I downloaded online. Oscar Wilde by Company of Thieves is pretty cool, too.

Personal training went well. I need to work the core!

I need to develop the menu for the party on Saturday. I like the goat cheese quesadilla idea. I think I just want an excuse to buy and eat more goat cheese. It sure was tasty on my grilled chicken salad today. Yum.

I can't believe Ariane was eliminated last night on Top Chef. I think Stefan will be a finalist, definitely. Maybe Jamie too? That Italian guy too.

That plane crash today and the survival was remarkable, and a total miracle. The pictures are absolutely unbelievable.

I am so ready for my four day weekend. I want to read and watch movies and work out and do nothing. NOTHING. Cook. Drink wine.

Good foods...

Stole this from another blog...foods/favorites that I will always like to order, whole or ingredients or just yummy additions to a meal:

• Avocados
• Berries
• kiwi
  
• Goat Cheese
• Asparagus
• Pumpkin (cheesecake, soup...)
  
• Feta
• bacon
• cinnamon
• pine nuts/spinach combo
• lemon/garlic hummus
• peanut sauce

I need to cook more!