Life at the Beach

It's been a busy couple of months. At the end of September I went to the Hamptons to run the Hamptons Half Marathon. It was a great run, especially compared to last year when it rained for the entire run. The weather this time was beautiful -- sunny and cool. ME and MP did not come out to run this year, so I ended up camping, which was something I hadn't done this summer and it was fun. I had my pre-race meal at Cherrystone's. The chowder and the fish and chips were just as good as I remembered. Then I went to Montauk and walked along the beach. On my way back to the campsite, I stopped for a lobster roll with large chunks of lobster meat. I was cold sitting outside the roadside shack, but full!
On my way back to NJ, I stopped by my great-aunt's house and she and my great uncle took me to their church bazaar for lunch. I had some good, homemade Korean food -- seafood pancakes and bibimbap! It was also great catching up with them. I'd show you pictures, but I had a camera snafu.

Comfort Food, Thy Name is Risotto

Risotto's got everything I love in it: rice, cheese, a creamy texture. It has fast become my favorite comfort food, especially when it's right. And I got it right this weekend. I don't know what I did, if it was the constant stirring, the heating up of the broth before mixing it in with the arborio rice, or if it was my decision to substitute some Allegash white beer for the wine (which I didn't have in the house), but it was a yummy, creamy masterpiece.....for me. I even had leftovers for lunch today and I needed it. It's been one of those days where I question everything I've done that got me to this point in my life, every decision I've made, doors that I chose not to walk through and where I would be had I had the guts, and whether I have the capacity to make good decisions at all. Cooking school or not? Buy or Rent? Stay or Go? Tastes great or less filling? I DON'T KNOW!!!! This is why the leftover risotto was good for me today. For about 23 minutes, I put aside all my nagging, angsty questions, went to the NYTimes online, read some interesting articles about old race horses and the revival of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and forgot about my problems, for a bit.

Food is Good....

Especially after a long run, which I did today -- I'm hoping it was 14 miles (my total was 2:40) but I'm thinking it was just over 13 miles. I enjoyed the run because I did a different route. I included a Haines Point loop instead of just lapping The Mall 3 times. I hadn't noticed this suburban part of DC right along the water -- I wonder where it is? Anyway, right after the run, I had to go help a friend move and pretty much just cleaned up, changed and drank water. When I got to the new apt I was beginning to feel light-headed. Luckily, as a thanks-for-helping-me-move treat, AM bought bagles for everyone! Needless to say, I made a pig of myself. Next time, I'll just pig out before I leave the house! Next week I'm shooting for a 3 hour run. I've got to build-up for Dublin!

Burrito Cart Heaven

I'm still going through a street food-phase. DC doesn't have the plethora of choices found in other cities, but one day, I was downtown around lunch-time and I saw the line for Pedro and Vinny's burrito cart which is actually run by John. I had first seen this cart on my morning walks to the Metro -- he was setting up -- it could be as early as 6 am and the cart would be there. In case you're wondering, it's never there on my walk home. I stood on line for a good 25 mins and it was worth it. I was told that the burrito is really a vehicle for the hot sauce. I think it's a tasty, spicy work of art. So when you're a few people out, you tell him what type of tortilla you want and if you want cheese. As you get even closer you can see the bottles and bottles of hot sauces or just sauces that can go on your burrito. The cart offers black beans, pinto beans, or the black and tan (a combo of black beans and pinto beans). I get the black and tan. Then you can get home-made salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Then comes your sauce choice: fruity vs. non fruity and the spicy scale with 1 being bland and 10 the spiciest you can get. I tend to go non-fruity and 7. Here is the result!



If I worked downtown, I'd be there at least once a week. It's probably a good thing I don't work downtown. I really would have to run every day.