Working on the weekends isn’t too bad when the days are mellow and the weather is mediocre (I swear I heard the phrase “June gloom” six hundred and fifty three times yesterday). Having interesting patients helps too…
My shift flew by and as 7 pm approached I texted dinner plans to Kyle.
me: Veggie Grill take-away tonight?
kyle: yes. what do you want?
me: Baja Fiesta salad, add chik’n, dressing on the side
Done and done.
I got this same order last time so I knew it would hit the spot.
This time I had my camera to take photos of my Baja Fiesta salad at home (as opposed to my cell phone for sub-par pics).
Chopped romaine, papaya, avocado, roasted corn salsa, quinoa, cucumber, cilantro, tortilla strips and a ginger-papaya vinaigrette (plus the chillin’ chickin’ I added on).
I love their ginger papaya vinaigrette, but I also squeezed some lime juice in for an acidic punch. It complements the avocado. :)
I also dumped some extra quinoa on top because I like carbs.
Obviously none of these tweaks were necessary, and getting the salad how it’s intended in the restaurant is perfectly delicious. I’m just unable to leave anything be once it enters the kitchen. Cookbook recipes included. Anyone else have this problem?
Kyle got the All Hail Kale salad, which is one I’ve been eyeing for some time now. I’m glad he got it so I could scope out how it looks.
It has marinated kale and red cabbage, roasted corn salsa, agave-roasted walnuts with a ginger-papaya vinaigrette (you can add blackened chickin’ or tempeh for extra). Kyle got it with blackened chickin’ and a side of sweetheart fries (aka sweet potato fries).
He said it was really good. In fact, he was talking about it all night…so I’m not sure what he was expecting, but clearly it was way better than he was anticipating. I don’t think I need to say how the fries were. They were obviously outstanding.
The Veggie Grill is definitely becoming a staple take-away in our lives. It’s such an easy option – fast and fresh – plus I adore that they are bringing veg-friendly fast food to the masses. I will support that. They recently opened a new restaurant in The Grove, too. Expand and dominate a la Starbucks! Now if only they would open up their next location on the I-5.
After dinner I had a lot lot lot of dessert. I lost track of the number of rice cakes I had, but I know that the peanut butter jar was left feeling significantly ravaged.
I never leave a recipe or a take-out meal alone! I love changing things up. I wish Ventura County had a Veggie Grill. I’ve been dying to try it out.
I find it funny how patients always want to talk about the weather! Lol. Your salad looks like the bomb!
Veggie Grill needs to come ALLLL the way up I-5. It looks amazing!
I always feel compelled to tweak. It’s the mad scientist in me : )
why won’t they put cool places like the veggie grill on long island! it would make me feel so much happier about being a suburbanite in ny haha
I was going to say the exact same thing, although mine would be even further up I-5! Those salads look great!!!
I love the addition of papaya! That looks delicious.
of all the salads at veggie grill, i stick to the all hail kale. it is DA BOMB!!!
I had the all hail kale salad last night, with a side of sweetheart fries! And strangely, also enjoyed some rice cakes later in the evening…
I love that salad, but find the dressing just a tad too sweet.
Whoa! Parallel lives much? Try the dressing with a squeeze of lime. It balances the sweet.
I remember hearing about veggie grill on your blog first!
ooo I need to go there next time I eat out!
Its always a treat when I find a good restaurant salad like that! I don’t have the money or knowledge to go buy and prepare fancy dancy ingredients… but I usually enjoy them when I eat them when they’re prepared by somebody else. Case and point: I bought my first block of tofu the other day, because I absolutely adore tofu when I’m out at restaurants. I opened the package… and was overwhelmed by the FUNKY smell. Is tofu supposed to smell like that?!
i guess if i never tried to make my own tofu it may seem a little funky smelling to me. im used to it by now, but definiteyl rinse it thoroughly, and press all the liquid out. maybe for your first home-made ‘fu try making it with bold flavors to mask some of the “funky” smell, haha. like BBQ? or peanut/soy sauce?
oh my goodness, i am defintely the same way with any food that enters my kitchen (ESPECIALLY with recipes): i ALWAYS change things around, add random ingredients, etc. that’s the way to go though – customizing things to my taste makes me a happy camper!
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