Dining Delights | Peaches Prattlings

{April 27, 2017} A movie… wahoo…Seriously AMC?

Another fun evening with DLP.

A movie at our favorite AMC, with the good recliners and decent menu, they have a quinoa burger for me, and it’s not too bad.

We saw Boss Baby, which was good a second time for me and DLP enjoyed it for the first time. It’s always interesting to see a ‘kids’ movie with another adult, you get a different perspective. And seeing a movie for the second time is fun when the other person hasn’t seen it yet, you get to see their reaction, to the things you thought were funny.

First, the food took forever to get to us, so AMC did right by us and gave us two free passes to make up for it. Good customer service.

Next, when the check arrived, they had applied my AMC rewards to the check, something I did not ask them to do. The v frustrating thing is that this is the fourth time this has happened.

I have the rewards card to build up rewards like free movies and food. During the week, if I’m on a project, I can expense my food at the movies, I don’t need or want to use my rewards, that’s for when I’m home and can get free stuff.

In the past, I would be asked if I want to apply my rewards. Apparently, it can happen automatically, what? I was told that it can happen, no thank you.

They did give me the rewards back told me to tell the server not to engage the rewards, we’ll see if that works next time.

Overall, a fun evening, as always. What’s our next adventure?

{April 25, 2017} A great date!

No, I am not cheating on PSM!

I’ve told you, I have so many fabulous girlfriends that if I ‘played for the other team’ we would be dating! Dinners, movies, theatre, travel!

WIS is great, she keeps looking up vegan places to try and yesterday it was Native Foods, yes! You know how much I love their reuben!

We met at a different location than I go to all the time and…she loved it!! She had the peanut butter parfait and had the same reaction as I did! First, she could not believe it was vegan, then, like me, couldn’t get enough! Almost licking the inside of the cup! Hmmm, sounds familiar!

After dinner, we walked around and ended up at Marshall’s, which was great because, after what happened this weekend, I needed a new laptop bag.

I ended up with a “grown-up” bag, a tote. It’s nice, there are times when I’m wearing a dress I don’t want to use a backpack and now I have one. Another bag? Don’t tell PSM! I am glad I had someone to help me, I’m terrible at this sort of thing.

Overall, a very nice date. What does the next one have in store for us?

{April 23, 2017} Ended on a positive

Today we flew back to Oahu since I have to fly back to Chicago for work.

Here’s the crazy thing… I’m flying home next week! I’m only going to be gone for a week, what? Like a ‘normal’ traveling consultant! And I get to be there for two weeks, I won’t know how to handle myself!

This morning we woke up, uneventful, thankfully. We got motivated eventually and went to Kihei Cafe, a local, cash only breakfast place that PSM liked to go to when he’s on Maui for more than a day.

Beautiful view, had company in the snail on the wall, chickens and other birds walking all over the place. We had the veggie scramble which looked like a mountain of eggs, a very colorful mountain and French toast. Tasty.

Then we went back, packed, hung out and then headed to the airport. Car return, check bags, security, board flight.

Land, get bag… eventually, check in bag for next flight, get car, find food. We ended up in Chinatown, looking for one place and ended up at another. The first place didn’t have any space, so we went to Grondin, a Latin/ French restaurant. I don’t even know what mine was called, but it was tasty. PSM was happy, they made him a spicy bloody Mary, even brought extra chili powder.

Back to the airport, say goodbye, now I’m on my flight heading back to Chicago.

After everything, ended on a good note, or at least a tasty one!

{April 19, 2017} A new vegan restaurant

Tonight I tried a new vegan restaurant and I liked it.

Nothing fancy, nicer than a hole in the wall, but about that size. Thank goodness I have friends who are happy to try vegan places with me! I feel bad that sometimes people have to accomdate me and my food needs when we go out, but it’s great that they want to try!

I asked WIS last night if she was ok just eating vegan when we go out and she said yes, especially since she ate meat over the weekend, lunch, etc. Well, I do appreciate it, even better when they suggest it! She sends me ideas and DLP does to! She asks me to go to Kitchen 17 for vegan deep dish! Do I love that? You bet your sweet bippy!

Loving Heart had a limited menu, so that makes it easy, which I like, especially the first time. Wow, overuse of especially? They gave soups, salads, burgers, wraps and bowls, appetizers and something sweet. Now, that sounds like a lot, but it’s only about 2-3 things in each category and some of the items are the same base and then build from there.

We got a ”share”, their nachos which didn’t have any cheese, but two different hummus, one cashew based, the other containing cashew, wow!

We both had bowls, you pick the bowl, then your base and protein. WIS had the Ever Young Bowl, a bestseller, it says so on the menu! It had green ginger pesto and she had Korean wheat somen noodles with her protein being garbanzo and black beans. I had the Curry Bowl, another bestseller, with the Korean wheat somen noodles and Korean bbq, it was a vegetable protein, looked like meat and tasted great!

It was a nice and cozy place, limited seating and the funniest thing…in the bathroom a sign saying if you’re caught using any drugs, they would call the police and you would be banned from the restaurant, they don’t mess around!

I would definitely recommend The Loving Heart, whole heartedly!

http://www.lovingheartvegan.com

{April 15, 2017} No rest on a Saturday, well, a little

It started early for a Saturday and went on from there.

Soccer game for MGS, so cute, all those little people! GES is the assistant coach for MGS’ team, ACS is EJS’ coach. The entire family is soccer proud.

Then it was the first lacrosse practice for MGS, ACS stayed and the rest of us went on the drink run. After practice, two friends of EJS and MGS came over, their mom is one of the lacrosse coaches, score.

Back at the house, lunch and then a sneezing fit began and knocked me out! I conked out for about two hours! Ahhhh…

When I finally got up, ACS had taken the girls out for dinner and GES and I had some sister time. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant, good conversation, time to catch up and one -on- one.

Then… next door for a foot massage. An hour massage, about 20 minutes on the back and shoulders and the rest…sweet footsies! $35 for an hour?! Let’s just say…Ahhhh… Wait, I have to stand up again? Nooo.. this feels too good!

What a day! What’s tomorrow going to bring?

{April 14, 2017} Movie, dinner, dancing, oh my!

Today was quite the day!

Good Friday so the girls had a school-free day, beginning of Spring break. What did that mean? A date with auntie!

I got up, we got dressed and went out for breakfast, then back to the house and I got some work done and then it was on! We headed to the movie theater to see Boss Baby, we really liked it.

Then a little shopping, we got sunglasses and matching necklaces and then lunch at PF Chang’s, we don’t mess around. It was such a great afternoon!

Then it was off to ACS’ office to drop the girls off then I headed to K&DN’s house for dinner. And after dinner, DTN and I went contra dancing. I know, what?

Contra dancing was interesting, it’s like square dancing, folk, lots of spinning, swinging, do-si- dos, switching partners.

I loved the outfits and the different footwear. And there were no age limits or one group, there were high school, college kids all the way to much older! On the dance floor, no ages pairing off, you dance with everyone!

Everyone was very nice and patient, guiding me, apparently this is one of the better groups to be a newbie with. DTN made sure I had good partners to dance with and I was asked to dance each dance, very inviting. I would definitely do it again!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance

A pretty good Friday, wouldn’t you say?

What does tomorrow hold?

{April 11, 2017} A zissen Pesach

A sweet Pesach or Passover to all!

I am a day late in my wishes, but it’s been a whirlwind!

I arrived yesterday, Monday, morning and hit the ground running. This was tough, the first year I wasn’t here cooking all weekend with GES, but she’s such a rock star it all got done of course!

I set about making the veggie pancakes, veggie matzo ball soup, matzo brittle and macaroons, the last two are my Passover tradition and responsibility, which I love, of course.

People began to arrive at 530, the kids played outside because it was hot, 85/90 degrees hot! Both yesterday and today, can you believe it! None of us could remember it being that hot for Passover! I even remember it snowing one year in New York City for Passover! Go figure!

Everyone arrived and we did the Sammy Spider’s seder. This is an abridged version of the seder, but it does cover all the main points, the pharoh, the four questions and the plagues. This is great to have when there are a bunch of wee tots. The kids were great, read from the haggadah, the Passover prayer book, thet read the four questions and the story of the exodus grim Egypt.

We have plague finger puppets and masks, they love that and dad gave his alternate version of the plagues, arthritis, back pain, ha ha!

Lastly, the kids hunt for the afikhomen, their favorite part, I think. There’s the challenge, the hunt and the reward, Papa D gives cash!

Tonight we even had a double birthday celebration for S&A G. Where did the time go?

It was a special time, both nights and we’re all looking forward to all the kids getting older and more involved.

A zissen Pesach to you and your families. And as we say, next year in Israel.

{April 4, 2017} A great evening

I went to dinner with some friends from work and yum!!

We tried to go to The Girl and The Goat, but they were a little wonky when we tried to up the reservation from two to three or four we moved it to The Little Goat, works for me!

We got our table right away and settled in to catch up and order, we were hungry! DS ordered a fabulous looking grilled chicken sandwich accented with plantains, DLP had shrimp with grits, you go with that southern dish! PB had the fried chicken platter and I had avocado toast, y u m! After dinner there was a French silk pie, sounds like a good way to end the meal.

Ooh, PB? I’m J..oh no! c’mon…PB&J! Muwahaha!

A vegan and gluten free menu is available, even vegan desserts, sounds good too me! http://littlegoatchicago.com/

{April 2, 2017} A fabulous weekend skiing

My last week on the slopes was terrific!

I got in late Friday night, picked up my rental car, it was a nice little hybrid, still not 100% used to all of them so I’m not always sure when they’re on!

It started to rain as I started driving, then snow, then hail, sleet, snow, in that order. Two hours later, I was in Frisco, hoping to pick up a few essentials for the weekend. Not much open at midnight, including walmart, what?

I got to the Doubletree, the points were too good not to use. My room looked out over the mountain and I could see one of the lifts. I was actually staying behind Beaver Run Resort, where I stayed a few years ago for New Year’s Eve, fun.

I got up, went down to the ski shop and rented skis that they fitted to my boots that I had with me, breakfast, ski clothes, it feels like a helmet day and then hit the slopes.

I picked up the skis, walked across the parking lot, put my skis on and woosh, right down to the first lift! This is the way to live!

I skied a few hours, took a break for some hearty tomato soup, minus the recommended grilled cheese, then headed back on the slopes for a few more hours.

I thought I’d go back to the room for a bit, not sure if I’d go back on the slopes, but a rest was in order. The best part of staying on the mountain, or very close, is that you have choices of where to rest, you don’t have to stay on the mountain the entire day.

I took my skis to the ski valet, yes, I said ski valet! The hotel doesn’t want skis, poles or boards in the building, so they have a valet, works for me!

I got some work done, rested and eventually, I got motivated. I went to the bar/ restaurant, they have apres-hours and on the balcony, you can make smores! That was fun!

I got a few recommendations for dinner, nothing panned out until I found Piante Pizzeria! I told you about that last night, yum!

Day two I was up at 730am, breakfast and then on the slopes by 9am, I got to make some of the first tracks down the mountain.

I skied until about 12pm, headed into the hotel, showered, finished packing and finished my pizza, still good! Then got in the road, stopped at Whole Foods for something to have for my flight, then off to the airport.

I’m glad I left when I did, it took about three plus hours. Bag drop, gas, rental car return, get to the gate, plenty of time.

The flight was uneventful and I’m back in Chicago for a new week.

{April 2, 2017} I’m saved! Vegan pizza!

I’m in Breckenridge and let’s just say, as hippy dippy as it is trendy and it’s Colorado, the vegan pickins are slim. To none…

I used my fabulous Happy Cow app and found Piante Pizzeria, the only vegan option in town. Plenty of veg – friendly, this was vegan! Off I went.

It’s got a nice atmosphere, cozy and intimate, there are only about six, maybe eight tables, and four spots at the bar, which is where I sat, facing the open brick oven.

I am always skeptical, even when it says vegan, so I always ask on the first few things, then I’m good. It didn’t even register that it was 100% vegan when I walked in and when I asked my favorite question “can you feed a vegan?” Enthusiastic yes was the response!

Now, I don’t know how many people in the place were actual vegans or with a vegan or just up for a new experience. Who cares! Everyone was enjoying themselves.

They had three appetizers, the rest of the menu was salad and pizza, I really liked that. They use cashew cheese and have daiya cheese for anyone with a cashew allergy, but we know how feel about daiya cheese. I was happy. They even have vegan New York cheesecake, but I was full!

I didn’t really read the entire menu, I found what I was looking for…a white pie! Really? Sold! It’s my favorite pizza and something I cannot get anymore. Sigh.

I looked at it, realized it had mushrooms and nixed those. What I didn’t realize until it was about to go into the oven…arugela.

What? A white pie us just that, white on white on white. Olive oil, garlic, ricotta cheese and mozzarella, that’s it. White.

I didn’t let them make me another, it would be fine. I could see spinach or basil, just not sure about the salad. I was ready for a new adventure.

It came out and did not disappoint. The cheese was creamy and melted, the garlic was tasty and the crust nice and crisp. Did I wait like I should have to not burn the roof of my mouth? Of course not! This is going to annoy me for days! Ouch!

I ate half and although I knew I could eat the rest, I decided to not pig out and took it with me. Any guesses what’s for lunch tomorrow?

I got to chat with the guy making the pizzas, said he’s only eaten these vegan pizzas and lost ten pounds? What? If that worked, I’d move in! He was fun to chat with, almost like not eating alone!

The wait staff is terrific and friendly and on the way out I had the opportunity to talk with the owner’s wife, a really lovely, genuine person.

I liked their version of repurposing items. The giant sauce cans were pizza stands and they have a small library, which they bring your check in to the table, very clever!

If you have the opportunity to be in Breckenridge and you’re looking for vegan, pizza or something different, check them out. They’ve been open since January 27th and I expect they’ll be doing some great things in the future! I look forward to my next trip to Breck!

https://piantepizzeria.com

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