A New Series of Posts Starts with 18 Seaboard

Colin and I have decided to give ourselves something to look forward to at the beginning of each week.  We have decided to try a new restaurant in the triangle every Monday or Tuesday night.  Colin needs something to balance out not looking forward to starting the work week, I want the date night with the opportunity to spend time alone together without distractions.  

We are using the lists of "five faves" in the entertainment section of the local news station, WRAL, to find highly rated restaurants in various categories. Categories on our list to try first include; "best restaurant," "best vegetarian," and "best barbecue."

The first restaurant selected was 18 Seaboard, located in a historic-looking area of Raleigh, very close to Peace College.  This restaurant was listed as one of the top 5 "best restaurants" and boasts locally sourced food.

Not having been to this area of Raleigh very often, we struggled to find parking when we first arrived.  Once we drove around to the back of the restaurant however, we found a much larger parking area with plenty of open spots.  My first impression of the restaurant was that it set a romantic mood.  The lighting was low, the tables were not crowded together, and the contrast between the dark wood tables and light colored tableware was relaxing.  Once I paid closer attention, I decided my favorite decorative area was the single brick wall.

The menu offered lots of variety for a "sustainable" restaurant, and I ended up going with a Mahi-Mahi wood grilled fish after consulting my app on sustainable fish to be sure it was not high in mercury or in danger of overfishing.  Colin opted for the wood grilled BBQ brisket.  My fish was from Florida and only the Swordfish was locally sourced. Since Swordfish is high in mercury (a big no-no for women of childbearing age) and I really wanted fish, I went with the Florida Mahi-Mahi. Our choices for sides included mashed potatoes with goat cheese, pistachio-lavender grits, bacon braised collards, and fennel with bok choy.

Brisket, grits and collards above

Mahi-Mahi, mashed potatoes and fennel/bok choy below

The standout (in a not-so-good way) was the very salty fish! I know restaurants use a lot of butter and salt to flavor their foods, but someone definitely overdid it with the salt shaker.  The vegetables (both the fennel/bok choy and collards) were also doused in butter.  I love food that tastes good and is healthy and it just seemed like the chefs were not able to provide delicious flavor with healthy ingredients.  It's such a shame that so few restaurants can provide both local, sustainable ingredients AND good flavor.  There are lots of other healthy seasonings that could have been used instead of the butter and salt (things like lemon and vegetable oils for marinating, and seasonings likes fresh rosemary and thyme). The pistachio-lavender grits, and BBQ brisket were merely ok.  The best food on both of our plates was the goat cheese mashed potatoes.

For a restaurant that sources local ingredients and offers a seasonal menu, prices compared to similar restaurants ($16-28 per entree).  The service was fantastic, the ambiance - very romantic, the presentation was beautiful, but the taste left much to be desired.  Colin and I left the restaurant feeling full, but not feeling satisfied. 

Do you have any restaurant suggestions in the triangle that are sustainable and tasty?

A fair amount of exercise in NYC

I realize I've already been back from NYC for two weeks, but I wanted to share information about my efforts to feel good through eating well and exercising.  As I've posted previously, it's challenging to stay on track with healthy habits while away from home.  If you read my post that detailed my accommodations in NYC, you know that I picked a studio apartment rental and had a tiny kitchen with a microwave, single cooktop burner, and refrigerator.

I started the week off well with a trip to Whole Foods - where I picked up hummus, carrots, yogurt, and granola for breakfast and snacks.  I knew the training would provide lunch, but wasn't sure about breakfast.  Because I planned to meet up with friends for dinners, I didn't get any food for dinner.

Turns out the training offered a dietitian's nightmare of a breakfast and the same lunch every day.  The options for breakfast included muffins (only 1-2 bran choices), croissants, or white bread bagels.  I tried to vary my choices each day, and finally just decided to eat my yogurt and granola for breakfast towards the end of the week.  Because the food was sitting out each day when I arrived, and was still available during the morning break, I did eat more than I wanted.

Lunch was a little bit better.  There were the same sandwiches offered each day and I varied my selection between the vegetarian sandwich (bean based), tuna, and turkey.  The sides were pretty awful, but I didn't indulge.  Instead, I opted for fruit with my sandwich and fruit for an afternoon snack.

At home, I prefer to have a bigger meal at lunch and a smaller meal in the evening.  Having only sandwiches at lunch during the training meant I was hungry for dinner and ended up eating my larger meals then.

• Monday I ate a dish called "Ropa Vieja" at The Coffee Shop in Union Square.  The restaurant offered Latin and Brazilian dishes and boasted a diner atmosphere.  Ropa Vieja means old clothes in Spanish and the dish included shredded steak, rice, beans, and plantains.  It was definitely a filling meal!
• Tuesday I took it easy with some vegetables, hummus, and yogurt for dinner.
• Wednesday I enjoyed my vegetarian meal, called Garden Delight, at Zen Palate in Hell's Kitchen. I suspect I have a minor-moderate allergy to soy and several types of nuts, so I try to limit my portions of these foods.  Thankfully, there aren't any foods that make me go into anaphylactic shock, but soy and nuts cause my breathing passages to not be as clear as I'd like.  My dish included lots of different vegetables and had a small amount of soy pate with it.  I split a delicious seaweed salad with my friend as an appetizer, so I ended up bringing some of my food back "home" with me.
• Wednesday's leftovers turned into Thursday's dinner (along with more hummus and veggies).
• Friday I met up with former coworkers near my old office and enjoyed some lamb sliders and a cocktail at Rattle & Hum Bar & Restaurant during happy hour.  My former colleague was celebrating a promotion, another was recently married and I hadn't seen anyone in awhile, so we had a ball.  But the evening did not end there. Colin flew in to the city Friday evening, so I met up with him at our friend's apartment in Long Island City, where we enjoyed pizza at Bella Via Restaurant.  I'm sure my fat and sodium intake were through the roof on Friday.

To balance out all this eating, I made a strong effort to be physically active.  Each day I walked the 1.5 miles to and from the training and I walked around lower Manhattan for at least 20 minutes 3 days of the week.  

Walking from Union Square to downtown for the training

Walking "home" through Washington Square Park

For dinner on Wednesday, I walked 2 miles each way to dinner. 

My "neighborhood" for a week.

I also managed to get some planned exercise into my schedule.  On Sunday I went to New York Health & Raquet Club where they gave me a 3 day trial pass.  So I worked out Sunday and Monday, and took a pilates class and swam on Wednesday before dinner.  The weather was also fantastic, so I managed to get a 5 mile run in on the bike path (West Side Highway) on Tuesday.  

A beautiful sunset on a 50 degree day in NYC

Makes for a great place to run.

I had great plans to exercise on Friday, but ultimately didn't do anything too physical on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. On Superbowl Sunday, knowing we'd be eating poorly, Colin and I enjoyed a 4 mile run with our friends in Bay Ridge.  It was quite a sight to see our group of 5, with the 2 soccer ladies leading the 3 "fighting" men.  The run seemed effortless despite our decent pace and made me feel less bad about my indulgence in of pigs in a blanket, Doritos, pizza, and cupcakes while watching the game. 

After 10 days in NYC, it was definitely time to get back to a healthy routine in Raleigh.  I'm a sucker for free food, which is unfortunately almost always unhealthy and I frequently look for the best value in a restaurant (which is not usually a salad).  The exercise kept me feeling better than I would have without it, but meals prepared by restaurants and catering companies always have so much added fat and sodium.  I didn't weigh myself before I left or when I came back, but I doubt I balanced my calories burned with so many that were eaten (even with 2 days of small dinners).

Do you ever try to exercise in anticipation of eating a large and/or unhealthy meal?

Snow

Yes, it was so cold it snowed last night. 

But this is what it looked like by 9am!

I love North Carolina weather.

A week's residence in NYC

I spent several days and many hours researching hotels for my trip to NYC.  Even though I was going to be in hotel most of the week for work, I had to be mindful of spending the state's resources.  I wanted to be sure I was getting a decent hotel at a good price.  Some of the decisions I had to make included staying in a chain hotel vs a "boutique" hotel, staying near the training vs a more central location for visiting friends, and going with a refundable vs non-refundable rate.  Many of the better deals in NYC require that you pay up front and I wasn't about to do that until my flight was booked and my registration was processed.

Knowing I wanted to be on a subway line that was an easy trip to the training, I ended up monitoring the price of the Hilton in Chelsea because I had 4 subway options to choose from. Unfortunately, the prices kept fluctuating from $106-140/nt and I was simultaneously bidding on Priceline hotels daily, hoping to get less than $100/nt deal.  My over analyzing was making the booking process a challenge.

During one of my searches a new hotel popped up on Booking.com for a studio apartment hotel rental for $119/nt + tax.  The location was ideally located 1.5 miles from the training and 2 blocks from Union Square and many subway lines.  I was intrigued by the photos previous guests had taken and I loved the idea of having a small kitchen area for breakfast, snacks, and a place to store and heat up leftovers.  The site indicated there was one 1 room left, so I somewhat hastily booked it (I'm pretty sure that is a ploy because booking.com said the hotel was booked through Saturday but the front desk told me they had room if I wanted to stay another night).

While a hasty reservation is not usually my style, the search was becoming exhausting and I was running out of time.  Thankfully, the hotel turned out to be a great place to stay.  I won't say it was the best place I've ever stayed, but I think it was a good value and had a lot of great things about it. When I arrived at the hotel, I wasn't thrilled about carrying my luggage up 2 flights of stairs to the 3rd floor, but thankfully my parents were in town and helped me "move in."  I had also been warned about this and it was very clear on the website when I reserved the room.

The stairs leading up to my 3rd floor walk-up

Because the hotel isn't a chain or a typical accommodation, I had to work with the staff to get a receipt that reflected my total cost and would be reimbursable by the state.  Thankfully, they were able to do what was necessary to show my costs were paid and once I walked into my room, I was pleasantly surprised at the decor, cleanliness, and size of my "apartment."

My spacious studio apartment 

The kitchen and it's basic necessities

 The small fridge, and "closet" area

The bed

The simple Ikea furniture gave the room a modern look, while the radiators, hardwood floors, and trim reminded me that I was in an old building in NYC.  The apartment provided me with lots of coffee and tea and a coffee pot and hot water kettle to easily prepare these beverages.  I would have liked a few more decaffeinated tea options, but I didn't care so much about it to ask.  The microwave served its purpose in heating up leftovers one night, and the small refrigerator allowed me to keep the few items I wanted from spoiling.

One of the things I take great notice of is the water pressure in the shower.  I would have preferred a better showering experience, with more water pressure and instant hot water, but I was only slightly inconvenienced.  Where I had the biggest challenge was with sleeping.  The sheets were fresh and clean, but were very strongly scented.  I kept trying to "air out" the bed, but it took a few days for the fragrance to dissipate. The pillow was also a bit too soft for my liking and I wished the company took the idea from hotels to offer "soft" and "firm" pillows.  And worse of all, the building next door was under construction, so I was woken up at 7:15am every morning.  In NC I would have been fine getting up that early, but I quickly fell into the "late to bed, late to rise" NYC lifestyle.  Knowing I would be on a major road (5th ave) in NYC, I used earplugs and a mask at night.  The mask was helpful because NYC has a constant glow - especially if your room faces the street.  I don't know if the earplugs were necessary, but they would always fall out sometime during the night, so they didn't help at 7:15am.

One of the best things about the hotel was that I was "in the middle of it all."  I walked the 1.5 miles to and from the training pretty much every day, and walked to dinner in the evenings (even getting up to 46th and 9th was only 2 miles).  My commute was fun because I got to see the change in people and atmosphere from the NYC crowd in Washington Square Park, to the posh shops in Soho, and finally making my way into the more "business" area of Tribeca.  It was also cool to spend my training days in the building right next to where Colin went to law school.

I don't know if the "hotel" will go up in price once there is no longer any construction next door.  But if it remains in the low $100s/night, it is a great deal.  I will certainly look for it the next time I'm in the city and the only thing I will change will be to ask if they can use a hypoallergenic detergent for my sheets.  If you love lavender scented sheets, soft pillows, and don't mind low water pressure, a 3rd floor walkup, and only 1 stovetop burner, this place is definitely like living in a studio apartment for a little more than the cost of NYC rent (wait, you can get a studio apartment in Union Square for less than $3900/month, right?).  Some of you might need to correct me on here if I'm wrong.

Where is the best place you've ever stayed in NYC?

North Carolina Launches Helpful Healthy Shopping Videos

There is so much more I need to post about my trip to NYC, but I had to share this first...

One of the cool projects I worked on at NC State University was launched online this week and I wanted to share it with you because it is awesome!

There is a really wonderful website in North Carolina called My Eat Smart Move More (http://www.myeatsmartmovemore.com/) that provides lots of tools and tips to help people eat better. It supports some of the curricula used statewide (the most popular is "Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less)." But it is a great resource for anyone trying to eat and live better.

If you go to the website, you'll see a grocery store shopping cart and a link to "Aisle by Aisle" (http://www.myeatsmartmovemore.com/AisleByAisle.html).

The link brings you to a page with 12 videos (or aisles) from the grocery store. I wrote four of the video scripts and did quite a bit of work on the pocket sized guide (also available on that page). But, there was a whole team of us that worked together for almost a year to create this.

I am really excited because I think the videos can be really helpful for people who want to buy better food for themselves and their families. I hope those of you looking for something like this find them helpful.

Here is the press release from the NC Department of Health:
New Videos Help Grocery Shoppers Buy Healthier Foods

RALEIGH – A healthy diet starts in the grocery store, but knowing what to choose when you get there can be challenging. The N.C. Division of Public Health in collaboration with N.C. Cooperative Extension has created Aisle by Aisle: Choosing Foods Wisely – a series of 12 free online videos to help North Carolinians navigate their grocery store aisles.

The video series helps grocery shoppers with simple tips on making better choices when buying food for themselves and their families.

“Most people know they should eat a healthy diet to prevent disease and promote good health, but there is still a gap between what we know and what we do,” said Dr. Ruth Petersen, chief of the Chronic Disease and Injury Section in the Division of Public Health. “The videos provide great take-along messages with specific information about how to make smart choices for yourself and your family.”

Each video is approximately two minutes long and covers tips on how to shop, read nutrition labels and understand ingredient lists. Video hosts provide a range of choices to help consumers feel confident when buying and eating healthier food items.

“These videos were designed to specifically improve grocery shopper confidence in making better choices in food purchases,” said Dr. Carolyn Dunn, a nutrition specialist with N.C. Cooperative Extension. “They also help shoppers reach the goal of cooking and eating more meals at home – an important strategy for managing weight and controlling sodium, fat and sugar.”

The video series can be found on www.MyEatSmartMoveMore.com. Each video is accompanied by a tip sheet that provides specific tips for each aisle in the grocery store, from frozen foods to bread and snacks. The tip sheets are free to download and are sized to fit into a purse, pocket or coupon book for ready reference.

Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina is a statewide movement that promotes increased opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity wherever people live, learn, earn, play and pray. The N.C. Division of Public Health works to prevent diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer, some of the leading causes of premature death and disability among North Carolinians. For more information on healthful eating and active lifestyles, visit www.MyEatSmartMoveMore.com.

NC Cooperative Extension helps individuals, families, and communities put research-based knowledge to work to improve their lives. Contact NC Cooperative Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences online at www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/F&N.html.

Did you check out any of the videos?
What do you think about them?
Are they useful to you?

Back in NYC part 1

When I was offered an opportunity to go back to NYC for a work training, I was ecstatic.  Yes, NYC is cold in February and I'd have to spend most of the work week using my brain.  But, I looked forward to having dinner with friends, enjoying the weekends before and after the training, and just walking around the city.

I had one of the most amazing travel experiences getting to the city on a Saturday morning.  I literally left my house in North Carolina at 7:10am, arrived at the airport at 7:25am, walked up to the kiosk to get my ticket, walked through the process of security in a matter of minutes, got a coffee, used the bathroom and when I got to the gate, was able to board right away.  The 10-15 minutes I waited for us to take off gave me time to stow away my bags and gather the essentials for the trip, which included a pen, the sudoku puzzle in the airline magazine, and headphones.  After the smooth takeoff, we had a very smooth 50 minute flight along the eastern coast.  Sitting on the left side of the plane allowed me to see the Chesapeake Bay, Philadelphia, the Jersey Turnpike and the Manhattan Skyline.  We literally flew in a straight path along the coast, over brooklyn and queens to LaGuardia airport.  It was fun to identify Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn; the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, and Queensboro Bridges; McCarren Park, and all the major buildings in Manhattan as we descended.  Outside of the airport, a cab was readily available and since it was still before 10am, I reached the upper west side by 10:15am.  I was amazed at the 3 hour door-to-door service!

My friend and former teammate, Jenny, served as my hostess on Saturday and we enjoyed preparing a delicious brunch that included banana-nut muffins, a ham and cheese quiche, and a salad.  We also walked from her upper east side apartment to the Flatiron District to do some shopping and have dessert and hot chocolate at The City Bakery.  I've never had such rich hot chocolate in my life - and I choose hot chocolate that was half milk!!

After enjoying the beautiful day, we climbed the 5 flights of stairs to her 6th floor walk-up and prepared ourselves for an evening out with some of our teammates.  Galway Hooker was our destination for dinner and drinks.  It was a nice outing and felt great to catch up on the lives of my friends.  When the pub got too loud and was no longer conducive to talking in a normal voice, we decided it was time to go.

Earlier there were 7 girls, but one girl left and Steve joined us

I'm sure he enjoyed this scenario

One thing about NYC apartments is that people are good at doing more with less.  I wish I had taken some photos of my friend's apartment to show you how creative she, and many others, are in NYC.  I slept comfortably on the futon and enjoyed the warmth that radiated from the furnaces. It is going to be difficult to get back to my house in North Carolina, which we keep at 58 degrees at night!

Sunday was another enjoyable day where my parents came to visit me in the city. They took Megabus from Providence to NYC, and used the bus' free wifi to e-mail me the details of their trip as they traveled (yea - my parents are pretty hip!).

We decided to check out the World Trade Center area and were pleasantly surprised that we didn't need advance tickets to get into the Memorial (they were not busy, so we got standby tickets).  I was amazed at how much has been done - even though there is still a lot to do.  I think the Memorial fountains were tastefully done and walking around brought out mixed feelings.  There is always a deep sadness and some anger about what happened on September 11, 2001, but the Memorial offered me an opportunity to value the lives that were lost on the planes, in the buildings, and among the first responders.  I look forward to the day all those blocks of lower Manhattan are rebuilt and people can walk freely up to the Memorial lost in their own thoughts.

The Freedom Tower still under construction 

The Museum still under construction

One of the completed Memorial fountains

Overall, it was a wonderful start to my 10 days in the city.  I didn't have an opportunity to feel like I was in the city alone - not that you can ever really feel alone in this huge city!  Having friends around and my family visit allowed me to quickly reconnect to a place that was once my home.

What helps you reconnect to the places you've lived when you come back?

Four rainy days with Darwin

When Colin went to New Orleans for a conference last week, I was left by myself with Darwin for 4 full days.  It would not have been so bad if it wasn't for the bad weather.  I'll admit, it could have been worse (like getting the snow all our family and friends received up north).  But still, having a dog tracking wet, muddy paws in the house (a house that still has carpeting) is a challenge.

I kept trying to get him to sit still to wipe his paws each time he came in, but he loves to run full blast from outside - slamming the door open and bringing those wet paws with him.  I did a lot of vaccumming, and spot treating the carpet and exhibited a great deal of patience each time a paw print showed itself on the floor.  My type A personality was definitely put to the test!

I've also been trying to walk him in the mornings and after work to tire him out.  We have gotten into a routine of taking a 15-20 minute walk in the morning (the "take care of business" walk), and then a 3 mile (about 45 min-1 hour) walk in the evenings.

Darwin loves to carry the biggest stick he can find on our daily walks

Even with those walks, Darwin has what Colin and I refer to as "crazy time" in the evenings (usually closer to 10-11pm) no matter how much exercise we do during the day.  Our common joke when Darwin is passed out on the couch is that he is "resting up for crazy time."

The "resting up for crazy time" hour.

If you've followed the blog before or read some of my posts on Facebook, you know that Darwin has experienced some stomach issues on and off since September.  We think he's eating acorns in the back yard.  He loves to chew on elements of nature (sticks, acorns, pine cones), and he loves drinking water from puddles and the bird bath.  With the sticks and pine cones, he leaves a chewed up mess, but with the acorns we only find the outer shell. With all the rain, I also tried keeping him away from pooled water.  Although his stomach was upset 1 or 2 days while Colin was away, I am so grateful there were no messy crate cleanups.  A cleanup is definitely a 2 person operation. Colin's responsibility is to clean the crate and I give Darwin a bath.  For the past 9 months, I have frequently felt like we are caring for a young child!

On that note, I'll also share with you that Darwin just celebrated his 1st birthday on January 5th!  We hope this second year brings him out of the high-energy puppy phase.  I'm ready for the crazy time that includes chewing, barking, and sprinting to be reduced to a minimum (or at least earlier than bedtime).

One element of crazy time includes chewing. 

While Colin was away, the chew toy was the towel I used to wipe his paws.  I've been trying to get it on video, because it's actually pretty funny to see him grab the towel and jerk his head side to side with it in a very rapid motion.  I will admit we aren't the hardest disciplinarians.  While crazy time can be really annoying, it is often very amusing.

It's so hard to discipline this face too often!