Food Diary: January 30th-February 3rd
Monday, January 30
I start my day at home (I start most days at home), and enjoy some scrambled eggs via an Alton Brown recipe I found online. I am not a cook (as you could probably infer), so I turn to the internet for great tips like “Whisk the eggs.” I served these eggs on two slices of relatively fresh buttered french bread. Pro-tip: For an added layer of depth, serve with fresh cut chives. Or if unavailable search your pantry for the dried equivalent, (eggs work well with a myriad of spices e.g. thyme, basil, cayenne, and oregano). Two espressos where also consumed.
After a mandatory dog walk, my sister and I stop by Power House Living Foods on Commercial street . I have a beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts and a bottle of water. I’ll call this my “pre-lunch.”
For the Lunchtime Main Event, I head to Mrs.Richies. I eat here a lot. Partly due to nostalgic reasons (I worked as a dishwasher here in my teens). I like the food and the people who work here, and it’s close to some of my favourite spots in Nanaimo. I have a bowl of the war wonton soup with some fried wontons filled with a cream cheese stuffing on the side (You’re probably noticing my unabashed affection for all varieties of stuffed dough balls). I chase this down with some club soda.
At work, I have a handful of Skittles. I received a candy dispenser as a white-elephant gift a couple years ago. This has not been good for me.
After school, a few friends and myself decided to venture out for the evening. We decide on White Sails Brewing. It opened fairly recently in this building that’s been remodelled. I’ve been a few times. They have these big pretzels with two dipping sauces. I flirt with the mustard, and make love to the IPA cheese sauce. No main courses are served, considering the primary function of the location is brewing. Instead an expertly curated list of salty snacks are offered to patrons looking for something to accompany their frosty brews.
I call it quits early and head home. Once I settled in, I pour myself a glass of Lagavulin. I don’t usually end my day with a 16 year old single malt Scotch, but I received it as a gift from my cousin who is a sommelier, so why the fuck not. It’s intense. There’s a lot happening, both in the drink and in my brain.
Tuesday, January 31 I get lucky and wake up to some donuts from Colombia Bakery my mom picked up for breakfast. This happens many Saturday mornings, because … tradition? I have a problem? You pick. I eat a glazed doughnut with chocolate shavings and half a maple long john. Two espressos. And then maybe half a pink doughnut with sprinkles.
We go to Wendy's for lunch. It may be a chain, but I saw Oscar-winner Ralph Fiennes here once (Or a dude that looks exactly like him), so. I have a grilled-chicken salad with buffalo sauce and blue cheese, and fries. Club soda.
Back at home, I have the final half-doughnut, chocolate with sprinkles. They are gone now. You don’t have to worry about the doughnuts anymore.
I head to the office for a safety meeting, It’s as compelling as it probably sounds. I eat Skittles by the fistful and drink a lot of club soda. That candy machine! It may actually be the death of me! Like, for real!
When I get home, I realize that Skittles are not a meal, and I order a pizza with pepperoni and banana peppers. I think to myself, Can’t wait to write this down. I wonder Bourdain ate tonight? Probably not this.
Wednesday, February 1 We make some chocolate chip waffles from scratch (surprisingly easy), and I have two espressos.
My family loves to make guacamole, so they make some guac while I pretend to help, but in actuality I’m mentally preparing for the Raptors game later in the afternoon . We make some nachos to dip. We also have some giant grapes we got at the store, and I have two Stanley Park craft beers.
We head to a neighbours place. They’re quite the home chefs (I refer to them as Pepin and Child). They just so happen to be testing some recipes out, so we sample some grilled vegetables. They’re good. Next up where to pizza’s one being a very traditional neapolitan, the second a more adventurous pie topped with feta, anchovies, and kalamata olives. Oh man. I like this pizza very much, it’s an assault on the palette in the most pleasant way imaginable.
When we get home, we open a bottle of wine. It’s not great. I have half a glass.
Thursday, February 2 Two espressos. Walk the dog before class.
Nothing to exciting for breakfast. Two eggs over medium, bacon, toast, and fruit.
I go to the library to get some things done. I eat some almonds and have some water.
Dinner is at home tonight. My sister makes some lemon spaghetti (a Giada De Laurentiis recipe) with chicken. Water to drink.
Friday, February 3 This is almost over. Promise.
I get up a little late and skip the espressos. After school, a friend and I go to Jalapeños. I get the Choriqueso to start, and a burrito as my main (I was really hungry). Jalapeños is a great choice for a student. Cheap, delicious, quick, and within walking distance.
For lunch, I eat in the campus cafeteria. The cafeteria is kind of the best. I have an espresso (making up for lost time) and a mélange of food items — some Mediterranean lamb thing, asparagus salad, spinach and feta salad, a banana, a white-chocolate-macadamia-nut cookie, and club soda. I like club soda, okay?
My journey ends back at home for dinner. I have a tandoori salad (a repurposed chicken breast, combined with everything green in the fridge), which is much spicier than I had anticipated. I drink club soda. I decide to never do this “writing down everything I eat” thing again. Bye!
