Dunkin Donuts gives me all these warm gushy feelings of being a little kid and mom & dad coming home with one of those shoebox-shaped donut containers filled with mostly jelly donuts (but a few chocolate and apple-flavored ones too) that we'd all split open and just eat the jelly part from. It also reminds of the onset of my regular-coffee-drinking days, sipping one while I waited for the bus to take me to high school. It gives me further warm fuzzy memories of a yummy whole wheat bagel with light cream cheese to ease many a Sunday-morning hangover when I didn't wanna blow too much dough on brunch/a real meal.
But typically, that's what it's always been—a place to get cheap breakfast or dessert comfort food. But—whoa, watch out!—here come the egg white flatbread sandwiches! I was not looking to be impressed, since, after all, this is Dunkin Donuts. And admittedly, the shape of the egg white omelette inside the bread does not come close to the perfectly-spilling out the sides shape so picturesquely displayed in storefronts. It's like a too-perfect little triangle. But for about $3.50 I cannot complain! 290 calories and 9 grams of fat for an egg-white omelette with veggies (peppers, onions & mushrooms) and reduced-fat cheddar on multi-grain bread. Yum! It's not intensely loaded with flavor, but I'm a fan of the semi-bland, and it does the trick. I'd definitely order it again! It left me satiated and happy (and you can get one with a medium coffee for 4 buckaroos, if you haven't seen the signs in every single Dunkin Donuts around). Rock & roll, D&D.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Murray mood
OK, so this place isn't technically for breakfast-goers on a budget, but the bagels at Murray's Bagels, 500 Avenue of the Americas, are so damn hearty that I had one for dinner last night and had so much energy I ran 4 miles on the treadmill without feeling like I was going to die (as I sometimes do toward the final stretch), did my usual mile-long walk home, and following that, cleaned my apartment without collapsing.
Let's be honest here—$4.75 for a bagel with veggie tofu cream cheese isn't exactly a steal. I usually get this in my neighborhood at Gotta Getta Bagel for a cool $3.50, which seems about reasonable to me, if not still a few cents too much. But geez Louise, I don't think I've had a more flavorful and satisfying bagel in a long time. I chose a multi-grain bagel, but I love that there is a whole wheat variation on the everything, as well as organic wheat and organic sesame options. Yum-o-rama, I'll bet. And I enjoyed the quantity of tofu cream cheese they sent me off with. It's no measly smear—it's a real sandwich.
They've got other stuff, like hummus, organic spinach dill tofu (!), organic cranberry herb tofu, and organic "no-egg" salad. Again, prices aren't a steal for breakfast, but if you're looking for a light & healthy lunch or dinner, you've got a new budget-friendly spot to satiate your vegan needs. They cater too. Oh, and there's a pet store up the block with puppies in the window, which just seals the deal.
Let's be honest here—$4.75 for a bagel with veggie tofu cream cheese isn't exactly a steal. I usually get this in my neighborhood at Gotta Getta Bagel for a cool $3.50, which seems about reasonable to me, if not still a few cents too much. But geez Louise, I don't think I've had a more flavorful and satisfying bagel in a long time. I chose a multi-grain bagel, but I love that there is a whole wheat variation on the everything, as well as organic wheat and organic sesame options. Yum-o-rama, I'll bet. And I enjoyed the quantity of tofu cream cheese they sent me off with. It's no measly smear—it's a real sandwich.
They've got other stuff, like hummus, organic spinach dill tofu (!), organic cranberry herb tofu, and organic "no-egg" salad. Again, prices aren't a steal for breakfast, but if you're looking for a light & healthy lunch or dinner, you've got a new budget-friendly spot to satiate your vegan needs. They cater too. Oh, and there's a pet store up the block with puppies in the window, which just seals the deal.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
mighty Maoz
Is there anyone who doesn't love Maoz? If so, I don't want to meet him/her because he/she would be a liar, since this place is awesome on every level. Well, except for the service at nighttime—I've witnessed the counter people (at least at the 38 Union Square East location; haven't been to the one at 59 E. 8th St. yet) being a little rude and too engaged in conversation amongst their coworkers to realize there's a line forming out the door. But aside from that, the staff during lunchtime generally does a great job at servicing the enormous line in a fast & friendly manner.
So yea, fried broccoli? Hi, yum. Best broccoli I've ever had. And I mean, yea, it's deep-fried, but whatevs. This is broccoli even the most stubborn of vegetable-haters will willingly eat mounds of. I'm so serious. Fried broccoli is better than no broccoli!
Best part is that they've now added babagannoj to their menu! If you haven't caught on via my previous posts, I love all things about Middle Eastern vegetarian cuisine, and baba is no exception. I like that the style they offer is more home-made and chunky; not super-smooth.
Anyway, back to the fried broccoli. If you haven't heard about this place, I'm sorry. But don't even bother reading this post—just go there! If you insist on staying put, however, here's the scoop. Basically, you order a "base"—like a pita with falafel & hummus, or hummus & avocado, or a salad, etc.—then there's a SALAD BAR where you add in whatever the hell you want! For no additional charge! Really! And on top of this exciting news, if you start eating you meal while you're waiting for a friend to get his/hers, you can refill your pita/salad for free with whatever you want. I don't know if that's official?! But it's never stopped me/my friends. Anyway. So yea, up for grabs at the salad bar is an array of vegan delights: sauteed carrots, said broccoli, pickles, chickpeas & onions, olives, tabbouleh, tomatoes, red cabbage, pickled eggplant, sauteed onions, and all types of sauces like cilantro, tomato salsa, hot sauce, and your traditional yogurt, tahini, and garlic sauces. Everything on the menu is under $10, and a pita with falafel and some add-ins will be between $6-7ish. Oh, and you can get whole wheat pitas. AND apparently they have breakfast, which I'm curious to know about—anyone gone there for breakfast?
They deliver, and the best part is that on a beautiful day you can grab your food and enjoy the sun at the park across the street, since there are only about 3 seats in the place. Yay Maoz!
So yea, fried broccoli? Hi, yum. Best broccoli I've ever had. And I mean, yea, it's deep-fried, but whatevs. This is broccoli even the most stubborn of vegetable-haters will willingly eat mounds of. I'm so serious. Fried broccoli is better than no broccoli!
Best part is that they've now added babagannoj to their menu! If you haven't caught on via my previous posts, I love all things about Middle Eastern vegetarian cuisine, and baba is no exception. I like that the style they offer is more home-made and chunky; not super-smooth.
Anyway, back to the fried broccoli. If you haven't heard about this place, I'm sorry. But don't even bother reading this post—just go there! If you insist on staying put, however, here's the scoop. Basically, you order a "base"—like a pita with falafel & hummus, or hummus & avocado, or a salad, etc.—then there's a SALAD BAR where you add in whatever the hell you want! For no additional charge! Really! And on top of this exciting news, if you start eating you meal while you're waiting for a friend to get his/hers, you can refill your pita/salad for free with whatever you want. I don't know if that's official?! But it's never stopped me/my friends. Anyway. So yea, up for grabs at the salad bar is an array of vegan delights: sauteed carrots, said broccoli, pickles, chickpeas & onions, olives, tabbouleh, tomatoes, red cabbage, pickled eggplant, sauteed onions, and all types of sauces like cilantro, tomato salsa, hot sauce, and your traditional yogurt, tahini, and garlic sauces. Everything on the menu is under $10, and a pita with falafel and some add-ins will be between $6-7ish. Oh, and you can get whole wheat pitas. AND apparently they have breakfast, which I'm curious to know about—anyone gone there for breakfast?
They deliver, and the best part is that on a beautiful day you can grab your food and enjoy the sun at the park across the street, since there are only about 3 seats in the place. Yay Maoz!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Go Dojo!
You may already be familiar with this wonderland of cheap vegetarian eats, but I couldn't go any longer without giving it a mention here. Dojo, 14 W.4th Street (right on the corner of Mercer) is one of those places you can invite your friends to meet you at for a fun, casual dinner without feeling like you're a real cheapskate.
While I've read reviews about this place from people who don't feel the service is up to par, I've never had any complaints. And even if I did, do I really have a right to complain when I'm eating a soy burger dinner (including brown rice & a salad—I crave their carrot-tahini dressing) for $3.75?? I really don't think I do. Food is always served quickly, and I've never not been satisfied with what I've ordered.
I'm a big fan of the tofu salad ($4.25) and the hummus wrap, which comes with spinach (yay spinach!), tomato, avocado, and sprouts for $3.25. I love that the default items here, unless you ask otherwise, are whole wheat pitas and brown rice.
You'll notice that although Dojo offers a variety of dishes, they lean toward Japanese/Asian fare (anyone ever been to their Japanese brunch? I haven't, and I'm curious how it is...), but even "higher-end" selections, like Shrimp or Scallop Yakisoba, are a measly $6.95. You could easily eat here for breakfast, lunch AND dinner in one day and only spend $20 total, including tax & tip. The priciest stuff is on the drink menu! I really don't understand how they can make a profit (in Greenwich Village!) when they only charge 75 cents for a side of avocado, but I'll take it.
While I've read reviews about this place from people who don't feel the service is up to par, I've never had any complaints. And even if I did, do I really have a right to complain when I'm eating a soy burger dinner (including brown rice & a salad—I crave their carrot-tahini dressing) for $3.75?? I really don't think I do. Food is always served quickly, and I've never not been satisfied with what I've ordered.
I'm a big fan of the tofu salad ($4.25) and the hummus wrap, which comes with spinach (yay spinach!), tomato, avocado, and sprouts for $3.25. I love that the default items here, unless you ask otherwise, are whole wheat pitas and brown rice.
You'll notice that although Dojo offers a variety of dishes, they lean toward Japanese/Asian fare (anyone ever been to their Japanese brunch? I haven't, and I'm curious how it is...), but even "higher-end" selections, like Shrimp or Scallop Yakisoba, are a measly $6.95. You could easily eat here for breakfast, lunch AND dinner in one day and only spend $20 total, including tax & tip. The priciest stuff is on the drink menu! I really don't understand how they can make a profit (in Greenwich Village!) when they only charge 75 cents for a side of avocado, but I'll take it.
Monday, July 21, 2008
DIY Lunch
Being the Thrifty Tammy that I am, I try to bring my own lunch to work at least three days a week. I usually pack the same meal & snacks for like, a month, then rotate 'em out after I get sick of them. What I've been doing lately, though, I've found I haven't gotten sick of yet, and maybe you'll be inspired to get creative with what you can get inexpensively at the supermarket and use for lunch!
I always make sure to have a package of organic greens on hand. I know, I know—it's even cheaper to just go ahead and buy a head of lettuce rather than the prepackaged stuff, but I honestly find the packaged stuff tastier and the texture better. Maybe it's just a personal thing, but you can do whatever works for you. A 5 oz. package is usually enough for 3 hearty salads; I either get baby lettuces or the Romaine mix. Instead of dressing, I add two spoonfuls (I guess they're tablespoon-sized?) of Sabra hummus, some baby carrots or chopped-up whole carrots (whatever I've found to be cheaper at the supermarket that week—it's usually the whole carrots, unless there's a crazy sale going on), and about a third a regular-sized can of beans (black, dark kidney, or chickpeas, if I'm feeling spunky). Remember that the darker the bean, the better for you and more antioxidant-rich it is!
So this is my salad. Unfortunately, this is usually not enough to fill me up. I consider myself to be fit, at an average healthy weight for my height and age, but I really have the appetite of someone twice my size. I can eat all day, and I do. So I also pack along a Tofurkey (one package of 3 servings, or 15 slices, for $3) sandwich on a mini whole-wheat bagel (a package of 12 for $4; I freeze half of them untli I need them so they don't get stale, especially in the summer), add a few greens for crunch and a wedge of light Laughing Cow cheese (only 35 calories! one pack of 8 wedges for $3) or a bit of hummus, if I don't have cheese around.
Surprisingly, eating this meal every other day hasn't gotten old, and who doesn't love a sandwich-salad combo during the summer? As snacks, I bring a mini (4 oz.) container of Dannon Light n Fit (only 40 calories! $5-6 for 12), which is perfect for the it's-not-even 10am and I'm already hnungry for lunch snack, along with a handful of almonds (which, I'll be honest, are often supplied to me in bulk by my parents whenever I visit them!), a small baggie filled with a serving of Veggie Booty puffs ($2 for a 4-serving bag), and two fruits of my choice (lately, an orange and some blueberries have been my top picks; whatever's in season will be cheapest—you can find out what's in season when here). And there you have my 9 to 6 survival plan. I'd be curious to find out you do and if you have any tips for stretching your dollar when it comes to packing lunch!
I always make sure to have a package of organic greens on hand. I know, I know—it's even cheaper to just go ahead and buy a head of lettuce rather than the prepackaged stuff, but I honestly find the packaged stuff tastier and the texture better. Maybe it's just a personal thing, but you can do whatever works for you. A 5 oz. package is usually enough for 3 hearty salads; I either get baby lettuces or the Romaine mix. Instead of dressing, I add two spoonfuls (I guess they're tablespoon-sized?) of Sabra hummus, some baby carrots or chopped-up whole carrots (whatever I've found to be cheaper at the supermarket that week—it's usually the whole carrots, unless there's a crazy sale going on), and about a third a regular-sized can of beans (black, dark kidney, or chickpeas, if I'm feeling spunky). Remember that the darker the bean, the better for you and more antioxidant-rich it is!
So this is my salad. Unfortunately, this is usually not enough to fill me up. I consider myself to be fit, at an average healthy weight for my height and age, but I really have the appetite of someone twice my size. I can eat all day, and I do. So I also pack along a Tofurkey (one package of 3 servings, or 15 slices, for $3) sandwich on a mini whole-wheat bagel (a package of 12 for $4; I freeze half of them untli I need them so they don't get stale, especially in the summer), add a few greens for crunch and a wedge of light Laughing Cow cheese (only 35 calories! one pack of 8 wedges for $3) or a bit of hummus, if I don't have cheese around.
Surprisingly, eating this meal every other day hasn't gotten old, and who doesn't love a sandwich-salad combo during the summer? As snacks, I bring a mini (4 oz.) container of Dannon Light n Fit (only 40 calories! $5-6 for 12), which is perfect for the it's-not-even 10am and I'm already hnungry for lunch snack, along with a handful of almonds (which, I'll be honest, are often supplied to me in bulk by my parents whenever I visit them!), a small baggie filled with a serving of Veggie Booty puffs ($2 for a 4-serving bag), and two fruits of my choice (lately, an orange and some blueberries have been my top picks; whatever's in season will be cheapest—you can find out what's in season when here). And there you have my 9 to 6 survival plan. I'd be curious to find out you do and if you have any tips for stretching your dollar when it comes to packing lunch!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Mama knows best?
OK, so I can't honestly endorse this place—because I've never eaten there. But I'd like to trust the relatively long lines every time I pass by are evidence enough that there is some tasty stuff going on here. (A line, might I add, even today, when it was 95 degrees out, and the last thing I'd think most people would want on a steamy, sticky day is a steamy, sticky treat.) I'm talking about Mama's Empanadas, 91-20 59th Ave, which opened up just a few years ago right across from the Queens Center Mall. (And apparently there are two other locations—one in Jackson Heights, one in Sunnyside.)
As you might expect, the menu consists of primarily...empanadas. First off, A+ for having wheat tortillas available! Another A+ for having vegetarian options: spinach & cheese, vegetables, and cheese empanadas for either $1.30 or $1.60, depending on whether you order yours in a corn or wheat shell. I also noticed a sign today advertising that yuca fries were now available ($2.75), which is super-exciting for me, because I adore yuca in all variations.
There's also a small dessert selection; the sweet plantain & cheese and guava & cheese empanadas caught my eye. I will definitely be back to try out both the sweet and savory options here. Today, unfortunately, the sweltering temperatures had scared off most of my hunger for anything that wasn't ice cold and/or drinkable. If anyone's been to one of the Mama's Empanadas in Queens, would love to know what you thought!
As you might expect, the menu consists of primarily...empanadas. First off, A+ for having wheat tortillas available! Another A+ for having vegetarian options: spinach & cheese, vegetables, and cheese empanadas for either $1.30 or $1.60, depending on whether you order yours in a corn or wheat shell. I also noticed a sign today advertising that yuca fries were now available ($2.75), which is super-exciting for me, because I adore yuca in all variations.
There's also a small dessert selection; the sweet plantain & cheese and guava & cheese empanadas caught my eye. I will definitely be back to try out both the sweet and savory options here. Today, unfortunately, the sweltering temperatures had scared off most of my hunger for anything that wasn't ice cold and/or drinkable. If anyone's been to one of the Mama's Empanadas in Queens, would love to know what you thought!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
