warbirds café

Last weekend while visiting Josh's mom in Rexburg, Idaho, Josh, Josh's mom, and I went on a day trip through Driggs, Idaho and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In Driggs, we stopped at the Teton Aviation Center to eat lunch at Warbirds Café. We sat at a shaded table outside, which was right next to the runway. We didn't see any private planes take off, but we did see a helicopter land. Funnn. After we ordered, we went inside to check out the collection of Warbirds, wherein Josh decided that someday we'd definitely have a hangar and private airplane. Haha.

People, this café was gooood. I actually ate the most delicious sandwich ever. Well, breakfast sandwich.

give me all of the ice creams

G's Dairy Delights in Rexburg, Idaho—you must go there if you're ever, you know, in the area. I've never had such amazing pralines and cream ice cream. G's even sells raw milk, so you could go get some and make mozzarella with it, like I sort of did. Or while there, you could purchase some Reed's Dairy Chocolate Milk that Sarah loves.

mexican food times five

We got back to Salt Lake tonight, and now Josh is editing away to get his video, which was filmed in San Francisco (actually, San Mateo) last weekend, ready to post on Hypebeast tomorrow. I think it's going to be a late night (for him). I, on the other hand, watched SYTYCD, went through some photos from our trip, blogged, and realized that I didn't send out a Relief Society email on Monday like I was supposed to.

Josh and I stopped in Cedar City for a 3:30 p.m. lunch at La Casa Don Miguel, which was delicious. When driving away with our stomachs full of delicious Mexican food, we started counting how many times we'd eaten Mexican food during the trip.

In order of occurrence from Thursday to Wednesday: (1) Dinner in a little town in Nevada. I know not the name of the town or the restaurant except that it was before we passed Battle Mountain (tamales = subpar, burrito = excellent); (2) Tacolicious in San Francisco with Ashlee and Amy, who I will link even though her blog is in hibernation; (3) breakfast at La Azteca in Redwood City. I out-ordered Josh for once with my delicious breakfast burrito; (4) lunch on the way to LA at Snapper Jack's Taco Shack in Ventura, after I forced Josh to drive to the house my family inhabited until I was eight, my childhood best friend's house, and my elementary school. My house is now brown instead of blue, it no longer has geraniums or a covered porch, but my school was exactly as I remembered it; and (5) La Casa Don Miguel on the way home in Cedar City, UT. This place had the best refried beans I've tasted in a looong time.

I am obsessed, I guess.

You thought I meant obsessed with Mexican food? Yeah, that too.

mexican food

I often tell Josh that I'd eat Mexican food every day if he was down with that

(and Indian food, and Thai food, and Middle Eastern food, and...).

On our road trip to Texas last weekend we ate it twice in two days. Mmm.

Lunch at Leal's in Mulshoe, TX.

The camera is focusing more on the chips and salsa, obviously.
Or maybe it's just not in focus at all. Yeah, that could be it.

Dinner at Jerry's Cafe in Gallup, NM.

scenic seattle weekend: best falafel sandwich in the world

such good sinks

the women's restroom of the Rio Grande Cafe

located in the historic Rio Grande Train Station

things that are good

• early mornings
• more exercise motivation
• picking tomatoes
• planning parties planning presents
• making cards making mixes
• the book of revelation class
• mountains, skies, stars, nights
• family so close and so often
• first salad i've loved: baby spinach, juliet tomatoes, strawberries
• writing more
• my personal night tour of the u
• work volleyball tournament
• plane tickets to brazil
• happy news from friends
• pita & hummus
• free extra pita from the o' falafel man
• of anticipation

the district: full of middle eastern food

I'm fascinated by Middle Easterners and their languages, customs, and food. For some reason we were in the mood for the food a lot: a Lebanese restaurant (I've only recently discovered how much I love falafel), pita and garlic hummus from Trader Joe's (twice), and, as documented here, the Afghan Restaurant.

I'd never had Afghan food before, but was excited to try it. I'm glad to have Jenna for a friend, because she likes to explore restaurants with me.

I bombarded our waitress with questions about Afghan languages and ethnic groups and wrote things down on my hand that I'd need to Wiki later.

It was delicious. The naan was better than at The Bombay House. (Forgive me, Bombay House, for ever saying such a thing.)

seung jung kim, tibetan food, hatch's family hot chocolate

Christina!

I missed this girl.

Good thing I'll see her again when I go to stay with her in NYC in March.

The steamed momos at Cafe Shambala were the best dumplings I've ever had.

I reheated my leftovers for lunch today, and they were still the best dumplings I've ever had.

When it's easier to travel to Tibet I will go there and eat lots of momos.

lone star taquería

I found my new favorite place to eat Mexican food.

Or maybe just my new favorite place to eat.

If I could, I'd live in a land of Mexican food for the rest of my days. (umm, Mexico?)

2265 E. Fort Union Boulevard, Holladay, UT 84121

The Tin Angel Café

I ate at The Tin Angel Café for the first time last night. I'd passed the place time after time in my car without noticing it until I was actually looking for it. I loved it from the second I opened the door to walk in. It was creative and warm with a lot of personality—almost like a coffee shop. It's a place that makes one want to sit and discuss dreams and ambitions in low conversation.
They serve salads, soups, sandwiches, and pastas—dishes with Mediterranean flavor at an affordable price (under $20). Much of the food is organic and locally-grown.

I ordered the penne pomodoro and Adrienne had the chicken marsala. Both dishes were flavorful in a unique and delicious way. I didn't order any dessert, but the bread pudding is supposed to be heavenly.

Reservations are recommended—for the cold months anyway. There are several tables outside on the patio and about seven tables inside, but it didn't feel at all cramped, because they had the perfect amount of tables to fit the space. The smallness of it reminded me a lot of Manhattan. Adrienne and I didn't have reservations, but the vibrant, hipster-ish employees were very friendly and accommodating.

The place has daily specials and frequently hosts live music. See the schedule here.

I hope you go if you can! I want to go back.

Tin Angel Café
365 West 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT
801-328-4155

Monday-Saturday
Lunch 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Dinner 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Brunch Saturday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Open until 10:00 PM on Saturday

How I spent Friday during the hours I would have been working.

• A little extra sleep please? Check.

• Working the treadmill while trying to read Paste? Check.

• Trusty Barnes & Noble? Check. (Had to get the last of McCarthy's Border Trilogy!)

• Serious Moleskine and beverage time in Le Pain Quotidien? Check please.

• Wong Kar Wai's debut English film, My Blueberry Nights, at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas? Jude Law, Norah Jones, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman: check check check check.

• Biennial at the Whitney Museum? Five floors of contemporary American art checked off.

• A perfect, reflective walk uptown through Central Park? Check.

• Claiming The Weepies as my soundtrack for the day. Check.

Becca Day was a big success.

the ultimate korean frozen yogurt challenge

PINKBERRY

VS.

RED MANGO

(I ate most of it before I remembered to take a photo)

And the winner is:

PINKBERRY even though the dessert does not contain the minimum amount of culture to call itself frozen yogurt according to the state of California.

Jeredith Mones Visits Café Angelique

Meredith and her husband, James, were in the big NYC last week, and we met for lunch at Café Angelique, the cutest place I've ever seen. It's on the corner of Bleecker and Grove, and I'd often stare inside as I passed by on my way to the subway after work. I'd see people looking cozy as they sat at their little white tables with their foamy coffee or sandwiches discussing intimate matters with friends, reading novels, or writing papers. The coziness contrasted with the cold, blue nights made Café Angelique seem the most inviting place in the world. The perfect, little urban haven (though not as good as 'sNice!).

For all the times I passed Café Angelique, I never went in. It never felt like the right time. The timing had to be perfect. But I am glad I finally went. There's nothing worse than not being able to cross off something that's been on your list. I liked it but didn't love it. It's a lot easier to love something when you don't have expectations of doing so. I still need to try it in the evening though; I think it would be a totally different vibe.

Meredith, James and I caught up on lives and gossip as we ate our delicious sandwiches. Mine was cut in the shape of a heart.

a new york best

One of my best New York Nights was on Monday when I left work at five on the dot, hit up the gym (half-heartedly) on the corner of Varick and Clarkson and then crossed the street to a sparsely-populated Chipotle where I savored an hour sitting on a barstool, reading Black Swan Green, and enjoying a chicken salad with a side of chips and salsa.

Hudson Street is my favorite New York City street.

Sometimes during lunch I like to walk along Hudson and explore. There are always new shops to enter. Always new things to spot. Did you know it's called Hudson Street because it was where the Hudson river used to meet Manhattan? Seth taught me that.

Yesterday afternoon I took a lunch break and went for a walk up Hudson Street. I grabbed some pizza and went cheerily along my way. Cheerily, because I had just spotted some leaf buds on a tree in front of Hudson Dry Cleaners. Things are cheerier when it's almost Spring, don't you think.

Other things I spotted on yesterday's cheery Hudson Street walk:

•A man standing on the sidewalk with an easel and canvas, painting. I looked over his shoulder for a minute.
•A little girl having lunch in front of Greenwich Village Middle School with her friends, acting like I used to when I was her age—attitudinal with the boys.
•A new pizza place I'd like to try.
•The interior of The Church of St. Luke in the Field. I can't believe I'd never been inside before.
•The best cupcakes in Manhattan(!) at Bourbon Street Southern Gourmet Pantry (and I've had my share of New York City cupcakes—Magnolia, Out of the Kitchen, Amy's Bread, Make my Cake). After some deliberation and some input from an employee and a customer I selected a big vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles (even cream filling!). Deeelectable. But I hear their cakes and red velvet cupcakes (although I am not typically a huge fan) are to die for as well. The lady working the counter was super friendly and kind of quirky. Great vibe in that little place. I need to go sit and eat a meal there sometime, because everyone's cholesterol could use a litle boost, couldn't it.

The question is—why didn't I walk in there all those other times I passed it?

This is a question I ask myself often. I pass by so many cool places—places I wouldn't even know existed much less know they were cool unless I walked inside. And then I miss out on all of these cool places that exist without my knowledge. Don't ever walk by somewhere interesting without walking in. My new policy.

Have I said how much I love that I work in the West Village?

now & then

I went to Cafe Rio with the girls I've loved since I was nine: Jessie, Aly, Staci and Jen (accompanied by Baby Kaysia). And besides the fact that I would do anything to move Cafe Rio to Manhattan (no, Chipotle is not just as good), I also loved seeing those girls. It's fascinating and great when you don't see people for so long, but then it's exactly the same when you're together. And you could very well be cooking Ramen and watching Goosebumps together after school or playing murderer in the dark in the garage like you all did way back when.

Cream of Potato Soup

We all need a little hospital café; especially during the wee hours of the night. Their cream of potato soup in a bread bowl is delish. You can even take your Carl's Jr. drive thru food and eat it there. They don't care. Sometimes the little old lady calls me "Hon." They're personal like that. I like all the nurses walking around in their ugly croc shoes too. It's a shame I didn't know this place existed my freshman year. We would have all taken full advantage of it.

I went there on Thursday at midnight with Ashley, Molly, Logan, Casey and Doug. It was Ashley's birthday, and she hadn't really done much celebrating with us yet. So I sang happy birthday to her really loudly and I think Doug was the only person to chime in eventually. You don't get a free treat at the hospital café if it's your birthday. Don't try. They may call you "Hon," but they're stingy on the free stuff.