Dunkin Starbucks

It was five in the evening, and I sat down in the airport terminal, close to tears…

I needed to take my mind off of my troubles so I bought, as many a stressed Seattleite has done, a cup of coffee…

I bought a cup of coffee from a place multiple New Yorkers have raved about…Dunkin Donuts

I took a discerning sip, hoping to glean some kind of notes of almonds or blackberries…or something…I cooled the scalding hot coffee down for a second before swishing it around on my palate – ready to listento what it said…

And then I heard a one word description…

“jalapenos”

I’d been suckered…fooled…tricked and swindled…I knew what the result was going to be before I tried the coffee, but I was hoping for a personal miracle…I was hoping I’d be different…

Over time, I’ve been the butt of a number of these culinary swindles — I went to a sake bar on the LES that seated three people at a table large enough for two gnome children, threw our food at us rudely, and then complained to me about their meager tip before asking me to “never come back here okay”…

I went, on the raving recommendation of a friend of a friend who went years ago – loved the place and recommended it heavily…had I checked out the reviews it received – I would have been wary prior to eating there…

But I have also had more pedestrian experiences where the total bill didn’t reflect the actual value of the meal I ate… Where for months I regretted spending that amount of money on the food because it honestly wasn’t worth the dollars spent…

Pedestrian experiences where I wondered why I’d bought that five dollar super-tanker mocha with three syrups from starbucks -when all I really wanted was a shot of coffee that didn’t taste like someone brewed stale toast and burned it…

Times where the food was so underwhelming, so unimaginative and boring that I thought I might vomit it back up while I was in the bathroom and it would have at least been a story to tell…

If I could get this lesson across to budding restauranteurs I would…

Your food is likely not imaginative enough, likely not cool enough to keep people coming back. It’s why the industry is so fickle. Restaurants that make it long term are the restaurants that are not only profitable, but that also surprise the customer and leave the customer feeling like there was a substantial amount of value created…

I think I can count the number of times the experience while eating out – from food to conversation – has been worth the money I spent. These were times when the conversation was excellent and the food and waitstaff were superb as well as the ambience worth the money I spent. The only times I’ve ever felt like it was worth it was when I felt like my life had been enriched by the experience that I’d just had.

And while I don’t think its’ possible to have a life-altering experience every time you go to your local taco stand – the food and service should always make you feel like the money you are spending is worth it…

I Should Write A Dorm Food Cookbook

I live in a small box. A 9’x12’ concrete box. Many of you know it by another, more common name – a dorm room. I oftentimes don’t eat when I should. I oftentimes don’t eat what I should. Hell, right now I’m chowing down on some really good milk chocolate with hazelnuts. And yes, right now I’m hungry. I’ve got a fully stocked bookcase of food. I’ve got clean pots, pans, plates, spoons, forks, and everything. I’ve even got a little bit of time (as evidenced by the fact that I’m writing this) to spend. The problem is – I don’t have a kitchen in my room. Sure, it’s only 30 feet away – but it means lugging all of my stuff to the kitchen, cooking, plating my food, and then eating. Then cleaning all of my stuff, and lugging it all back. And yes, I’m going to do it very soon, because I need to wash dishes anyways, but the whole moral of this post is I don’t WANT to be doing it. I’d rather cook once a week and then have food for the rest of the week to just reheat. I’d like things like soups and lasagnas. Casseroles, etc…So I’m making a deal with myself. Every week I’m going to try two or three new recipes. I’m going to make them appropriate for dorm life. And I’m going to figure out how to make them using either a hot plate and a microwave and at most one pot and one microwaveable bowl. I’m then going to compile it. Oh, and I want it to be healthy. So stay tuned for that – because it should be entertaining at the least…

Veggie/Fish Optional Recipes

Veggie Sandwiches

Avocado, Spinach, Pepperoncini, Sprouts , Olives, Raw Mushrooms, Red Onions, Tomato, Marinated Tofu , Havarti / Provolone

Salads/Stirs/Scrambles

1 – Brussel Sprouts, Garlic, Pea Pods, Spinach, Basil, Veggie Burger or Tofu

2 – Brussel Sprouts, Cous Cous, Parsely, Tomatoes, Basil, Tofu(Lemon juice, Oregano, Salt/Pepper, Garlic)

3 – Zucchini, Red Bell Pepper, Yam, Tofu, White Fish

4 – Eggs, Tofu, Black Beans, Corn, Cilantro, Carrots

5 – Parsely, Corn, Cucumber, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Olive Oil, Vinegar, Cous Cous, Beans, Cilantro

6 – Kiwi, Mango, Avocado, Red Onion, Orange Bell Pepper, Red Bell Pepper, Pineapple, Lime Juice

7 – Spinach, Romaine, Rocket(Arugula), Avocado, Marinated Tofu, Cranberries, Walnuts, Vinegar, Olive Oil

8 – Sliced grapes, Strawberries, Honeydew melon, tangerines, Pears, Apples, Bananas, Plain/Banana Yogurt

9 – Pasta, Pesto, Grape Tomatoes, Basil, Mozzarella, Tofu, Broccolini Florets

that’s about all I could think of today…

Sushi Recipes

New York Roll

- Mango

- Avocado

- Smoked Salmon

- Rice

Butterfly Roll

- Tempura Shrimp

- Avocado

- Cucumber

- Scallions

- Rice