Do you see the problem here?
I don’t know WHAT I was thinking when I was packing this food up…clearly there was no shot in hell that this amount of food would tide me over for my entire 12 hour shift.
Salad? Check.
Apples? Double check.
Pretz/carob/raisins? Check.
Drank? Check.
And yet, all those goodies weren’t even close to enough food…by my 2 pm lunch break I was left with nothing but my ensalada. Where the bars at, yo?!?!
Indeed, supplementation was very necessary (see below).
I bought this big a$$ tub of nuts/carob chips/seeds/dried fruits/yummies because I knew it would make up for the lack of bars in my packed eats. Oh and did I mention the totally inappropriate amounts of caffeine. My heart rate was probably in the low 200 range. Where better to be than the cardiac ICU, right? YUM-MAY!
My feelings about this MIX1 dark-berry high-fiber antioxidant drink can be summarized in a word sound effect: hmmmm.
Pros: Hellllooooo, did you SEE those nutritional stats? Amazing.
Cons: I couldn’t figure out if it was a watery drink or a creamy drink. So weird. It was almost like a watered down version of a yogurt. Ok, that sounds nast. It was a very subtle flavor, and not as sweet as the other flavors I tried (and loved).
So, the big question, is it worth the $$$? I’m thinking no. The other flavors were just so dang good that even though this one wasn’t bad per se, it just couldn’t hang with it’s sister MIX1 dranks. Looks like the vanilla blueberry flavor set the bar too high!
After my lunch break I was actually pretty busy, so I didn’t really want have time to eat my bonus buy until 6 pm. Awwww, nuts. I like when days are busy though, so before I knew it, it was time to meet up with my girlfriends for dinner.
This month was Heather’s turn, which means East Village navigation. Thank goodness for my brand new Blackberry’s google maps app. I only made a few extra turns, as opposed to the usual 30 minute detour scenic route.
Eventually, I made it to Antibes bistro. The above photo is compliments of my new phone I’m in love with it in case you hadn’t deduced), however, it doesn’t have a flash 🙁 so all pics after this were too dark to make out. Picture a mini-bucket of focaccia bread and a bottle of wine (2006 Baron E. de Rotschild malbec). Now picture the bread in my hand. Now repeat that image a few times.
As usual, we could have chatted forever and ever and ever…food was definitely not the highlight of the dinner.
(Heather’s cell phone does have a flash)
For dinner I got the Roquefort & Poached Pear Salad (minus the roquefort) which was said to have arugula, poached pear, toasted walnuts, dried currants, and a shallot mustard vinaigrette. I spotted this on the menu and thought it sounded delicious, but it fell a bit short. Why you ask?
1) No walnuts were anywhere to be found
2) The “poached” pear was kinda soggy and haphazardly placed on the plate
3) This salad was actually an appetizer and when I asked the waitress if I could have it as an entree (read: please make sure it is big enough to fill me up), she said the size couldn’t be altered (??)
4) Presentation? Boo. Size? Boo.
5) They were all out of the butternut ravioli (the ONE veg option)
At least the waitress was kind enough to offer me a side of sautéed green beans. Still, anyone who reads my blog on a semi-regular basis knows that these portions are not gonna fly with my voracious appetite.
Get with the times Antibes…not everyone wants to eat meat. Alternatives would be nice, I mean, how hard is it to offer brown rice and a seasonal vegetable?
I definitely had a big snack plate (slash second dinner) when I got home. Served up on the side of Tazo green tea was Soya Kaas mozzarella cheese, dates, and apple slices.
OoOo…this tea was dang good! Unfortunately, it kept me up later than I wanted, hence the second sweet treat.
If you want to give your taste buds a wild ride, add carob chips to Oikos caramel Greek yogurt.
Back to the grind tomorrow. Night!
A couple of my co-workers have tried the Mix1s, i have yet to, are they all made with whey? They look very interesting, obviously a great nutritional profile… How do you like those new TJ’s Chick’n Strips? I tried them a couple of weeks ago and they were better than the gardein version but not my favorite protein source, thats for sure. I think i might try and push myself back to larabars for my snacks… I loved them and i heard they are coming out with new flavors… Do you have any new AWESOME bars that i HAVE to buy? Best Bora Bora flav? 🙂
That’s ridiculous that they didn’t have any good vegetarian options. I eat meat, but I don’t always feel like eating it (especially if I don’t know where it’s sourced), so often look to the the meatless options on a menu.
I really need to find some carob chips to try. They look delicious!
I can’t believe the restaurant didn’t have any vegetarian options. 🙁
I need to hunt down some carob chips also. And that caramel flavor of Oikos. I can’t believe the restaurant not having veg options, boo!
I have one of those mix1 drinks in my fridge waiting to be tried….now I am getting excited 😉
Again, I don’t know HOW you stop yourself at just 2 medjools, lol! Especially after that lackluster dinner…that would have done me in 😉
Courtney
I hate when you order something that you’re so excited about and then, meh. That’s it? Too small, or sad looking, or not what I envisioned – makes me feel duped!
as if a plate of sauteed green beans qualifies as dinner…. though i do love me some green beans. even if the food wasn’t great, the fact that you got girlfriend time is! i didn’t expect it to be as hard as it is now they we’re all working girls.
Urghhh I hate when restaurants don’t offer veg options. I understand not catering to the vegan crowd since a) there aren’t that many and b) vegan food at non-vegan restaurants usually sucks, but offering more than one pasta or some kind of veggie-based sandwich should be the norm!!
I personally prefer restaurants that have more veg options (I eat meat, but not much). However, it’s a business and they are free to run it however they want. That being said, by not catering to a wider audience they are losing themselves clients.
damn girl i was wondering where them bars were at! i would have headed to a different kind of bar if i ran out of food that early haha.
poo to the food and yay to the company! glad i can check that place off my lists of places to never eat..
BOOOOOOOOOO.
Nothing makes me more annoyed than restaurants that don’t even have a decent veg*n option or two — disgraceful! Especially if the salads offered can fit in the palm of my hand. As a fellow lady with a big appetite, I sympathize.
Unfortunately, I underestimate my appetite on a weekly basis. You think I’d learn my lesson – but I guess I’m a really bad student (maybe why I’m a teacher…). I hate lunch packing mistakes like that. I also hate restaurant disappointments like that salad. I hate paying for food when I just have to go home and eat again…boo. Hope today is FULL of more/better food. 🙂
That last snack has me dribbling everywhere.
I made the rookie lunch error yesterday too! I packed a salad with a black bean burger, satsumas and a yoghurt and somehow thought it would satisfy me all day. No! I need carbs. More carbs than that provided. Dang it, bread and I are practically joined at the hip…shoulda known better!
the chik’n strips are just meh. im really over faux meats, but i had them to use up, so i just went with it. i dont think i would buy them again, though.
the mix1 drinks are SO good. but yes they have whey. they are casein, lactose, and soy free though if thats any consolation?
ive been a bit bar-ed out lately (must be all the airports/flights/packed eats), but i definitely think that each and every pranabar and boomi bar that i try is amazing (i know you have a hard time finding them though). bora bora bars are JUST starting to be stocked in WFs, and those are great. i agree though, i may just go back to larabars bc they are such solid snacks (i just wish they were bigger – i feel like its a lot of kcals for such a little thing!)
yeah, it was a really disappointing menu. i just had to be cool with it though since my friend picked the place, but yeah, ill never be heading back…
Is it odd that when I read the title of your drank, “Dark Berry”, I thought of my sister? LOL. I think Kile and his constant razz-matazz inquiry when he sees her finally created a proper nickname for my sister.
Ok, back on track, yes the salad is lacking. Lo siento that you got a measely amount. Doesn’t it make you miss the humungo salads from Cheesecake? Ah, those days. And if it’s gonna be a rinky dink amount, at least present it well, right? You did not win on this one sista. =/
p.s. I still talk about how much fun last Friday was. I miss you even more now that I’ve had a little taste…
p.p.s. Totally went to bed with a bit of hunger in my belly. Yesterday was day 3 of my P90X, but today is a day off cuz of kickball. It’s on!
major thumbs down in my restaurant reviewing opinion
i know!!! especially when you pay $$$ for it. i always tell myself that its the dining experience though so i dont feel too annoyed, and at least i get to hang out with my friends. thats the only thing that makes it ok
basically, the girlfriend time is the only consolation when dining without the best options. its a shame that it IS so hard to find time to meet up now that we are all grown up. bummer!
i agree whole-heartedly. its their establishment, they can serve what they want, but they should be aware that in this day and age – in manhattan no less – they should have a few more options just to ensure that anyone dining there will be able to eat! i wont be recommending this place, so its their loss for sure.
isn’t it sad? this is manhattan, not middle-of-nowhere-ville. i dont think its unreasonable to ask for a more substantial meal that doesn’t come with meat or dairy…it’s very frustrating to pay $$$ when i know im going to require another meal when i get home. at least i had fun girlfriend time, which is what i basically write my dinners off as…because like i said, the highlight of the meal is definitely not the food.
haha…its hard because (at least for me) some days i am so busy and dont eat as much as i packed but then other days im starving and the usual amount i have packed just doesnt cut it…lets blame it on our appetites, as opposed to our inability to learn 😉
well done with the P90X!!
I love when conversations are so good that it doesn’t even matter your dinner couldn’t compare…. but I wouldn’t waste my time on mediocre food again;)!
I honestly don’t like the mix1’s. They are just way too creamy and the flavors just aren’t good enough to get past how thick they are. 🙁
i NEED to try this caramel oikos it sounds heavenly!!!
“watered down yogurt’ hmmm that did sound nasty haha although the drink flavor sounds yummy! maybe I have to tyr it for myself…
that stinks that there weren’t more options at that restaurant for vegetarians or just those who don’t want meat! maybe they will learn from you that they need to put a few more on their menu!
Random question, but since u eat mostly vegan does greek yogurt ever irritate your tummy?
i love your love affair pretzels, raisins and carobs. outrageously delicious combo!!
Bummer about the food shortage and less-than-stellar drank…maybe the other flavors will be better?
This post is making me crave carob chips like WHOA.
Glad you found something to keep your hunger at bay while you were at worky! Ughhh I hate when restaurants don’t offer real vegetarian options. Glad you came home and found something to fill your belly. The new oikos flavors ROCK!
AMEN to restaurant salads being sub-par. I’m not even a vegetarian, but I don’t always want meat either…it’s SO difficult to find a filling, satisfying, and tasty meal in your typical restaurants. And don’t even get me started about side salads.
Glad you fixed things up with some snacksss! 😉
I found the Oikos chocolate, but I havent ran into the caramel one yet… 🙁
I did NOT like those Mix1 drinks and I have no clue as to why, but they just didnt jive with my taste buds!
well, i just ate 7 million dates…and im blaming it on you…and i was doing so well!
you should try the orange one…its really really good (and i dont even like orange!)
some of the other flavors are good, which ones have you tried?
lemme tell you. the caramel oikos is heavenly. rich rich rich and tastes JUST like a caramel apple. so dang good.
what are the chances the restaurateurs read this and change the menu? oh wait…hello foodbuzz!!
the caramel one is amazing. i didnt really like the chocolate one too much. which mix1 flavors did you try? some of them are tasty…but yeah, this flavor, not so much.
i liked many of the others, so i’m optimistic that the others will be equally as yummy. have you ever tried any?
most of the time greek yogurt is ok on my stomach…since i have been dealing with my odd ass GI system for SO long, i generally know it very well and can tell when i’ll be able to handle it. if im having a borderline iffy day, i wont push it and i try to eat much cleaner. so in short, yes, my stomach can tolerate greek yogurt. but the long winded version deserves the qualifiers…i have a temperamental system, but i know it well, and have learned how to navigate through it 🙂
I’m totally addicted to Fage but I DEF want to try Oikos now! Great bloggg 🙂
I have been CRAVING carob chips. After reading this I almost went on amazon and ordered some carob.. because i don’t have a car to go to a grocery store that actually sells carob chips in bulk.. BUT, the shipping was like twice as much as the actual carob. darn.
Lady you know how to pack work food too! what were you thinking? 😉
hahahaha…ok, that is definitely something i would do. hopefully you can find some soon and you dont have to resort to 200% fees.
as for the lunch packing..i have no clue where my head was at?!? i definitely dropped the ball.
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