CLIF Chocolate Brownie Bar: It’s Tasty!

In my ongoing struggles to lose weight, I’ve started, yet again, going to the gym before work. Since “waking up early to work out” for me means tearing myself out of bed at the last possible second, I always have to change at the gym and therefore end up needing a quick, portable breakfast option. Of late, I’ve been sampling different varieties of protein bars trying to find one that’s got the right amount of calories and a decent flavor.
I’ve eaten plenty of CLIF bars in the past, and they’ve all been pretty good. Nothing amazing that I’d eat over an omelet, but they’re fine. Then the other day I bit into the Chocolate Brownie flavor. Now I was skeptical even buying a chocolate flavored protein bars. Anyone who’s ever experimented with bars knows the chalky, artificial chocolate taste often found by an adventurous sampler. I gave it a shot anyway.
I bit into my bar while reading my email and wasn’t really paying much attention. All of a sudden, I was torn away from my computer because I noticed this delicious, brownie-batter-esque flavor in my mouth. I couldn’t believe how good it tasted. There was still a bit of the bizarre protein-bar texture, but the taste was some of the most natural, creamy chocolate flavor I’ve ever sampled in a “fitness” bar.
Label-wise it has 240 calories, 5 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 44 total carbs, 5 grams dietar fiber, 22 grams sugar and 10 grams protein. A bit high on the sugar, but otherwise pretty good. Perfect for a post-workout breakfast!

Barrel Thief

Last Sunday I ventured to Short Pump to try Barrel Thief, the new wine store/cafe off Lauderdale Drive. Upon entering, I immediately liked the laid back atmosphere. The wines are simply organized: red Old World, white Old World, red New World, white New World and French. The week's featured wines are displayed at the front of the store near the large case where you can taste any that you're interested in.

We sat down at the wall of tables to sample some of the cuisine along with some Spanish wines. The wine associate/waitress was super friendly and happy to provide samples, even though we were just looking to purchase glasses. I started my meal with a glass of 2006 Onix from Priorat which was tasted fruity and full-bodied with a hint of chocolate in the finish. It was so good I wanted to buy a bottle, but apparently it's the most popular by-the-glass choice right now and they were all out of bottles! Later I tried a glass of 2005 Pazo Senorans Albarinio from Rias Biaxas which was also delightful. It was a heavier white with a tangy fruity flavor. My companion enjoyed a glass of 2006 Naia from Rueda which tasted similar to a pinot grigio but with a citrus-y, grapefruity finish. It was delicious and I could just imagine sipping it outside on a hot summer day. The bottle price was only $13 so I took one home with me.

In the way of food, we started out with a cheese trio that included a sheep's milk cheese, a smoked Gorgonzola and a creamy variety topped with quince paste. Each had a unique, tasty flavor and the choices complemented one another well. For my second course I had a panini with grilled vegetables, olive tapenade, goat cheese and prosciutto. It was a bit salty but still delicious. My companion's sandwich was the celebrity of the meal, though, with a delicious combination of turkey, apples and walnut cream cheese. It was creamy, sweet, savory and addictive.

After the generous tastes, we also took a bottle of NV = 1 + 1 = 3 Cava from Penedes. It was a fruity, crisp sparkler that we also thought was a bargain for only $16. If you've got a wine you're looking for, I've heard the store is very accommodating and will seek it out if they can get it.

All in all, I can't wait for my next opportunity to return to Barrel Thief!

Note: For more on Rueda check out the link below for a story from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/dining/05wine.html?ex=1362373200&en=63801d8c96888b63&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Sweet, Crunchy, Chewy, Rich...mmmmmmmmm

I'm addicted to trying new foods. Now, I know many people suffer from this affliction, but I think it effects me more than most. I can hardly wander through the aisle of Ellwood Thompson's without taking home something crazy like mushroom pate (which was pretty good actually) or a vegan bran muffin (not as good) to sample. Even a stop in for lunch rarely costs me less than $25 because of the random items I pick up on my wanders toward the back corner of the store. I eat meat and don't always eat organic, but over the years I've tried kefir, stuffing-flavored Tofurkey, Quorn Chick'n Gruyere (which is quite tasty), veggie corn dogs, and a host of other random foods where the packaging piqued my interest.

So, recently I've been perusing plenty of food websites and newsletters like The Nibble and I see so many products I want to order. Generally, I try to avoid ordering food off the Internet. I mean, a simple visit to the grocery store is already expensive enough with a problem like mine, so why order even more random foods? Well, I recently gave in and ordered Cacao Nibbles in all four flavors. I can't even remember where I read about these dark chocolate treats, but a visit to the web site hooked me.

Made with quince, dried fruit and cacao nibs (raw, unprocessed chocolate bits), the sweets bill themselves as being for "those of us who care about healthy eating but delight in eating chocolate every day." Now, I don't know how "healthy" you could call these bits, 5 pieces still has about 150 calories and an average of 4 grams saturated fat, but I decided to order because most varieties have 2 grams of fiber per serving and if you actually stick to one serving 150 calories still isn't that bad. Plus, the ingredient list is short, sweet and doesn't include anything I can't pronounce. So, I'll take this over the 100-calorie sweets that still incorporate hydrogenated oils.

Flavor choices are "Date Coconut," "Blueberry Lavender Plum," "Apricot Cranberry," and "Mango Apple." If you don't have a store that sells them in your area, the best deal is to get a sampler pack with one of each for $32, shipping included.

The package arrived Friday. Thus far, I've only bit into the Apricot Cranberry variety, but they are delicious! The chocolate (63 percent cacao) is rich and flavorful; the quince adds satisfying crunch (much more substantial than a Krackle or Nestle-ish crunch which I can't stand) and the fruit adds tang and a bit of chewy-ness. The bites aren't that big, but three satisfied my sweet tooth. I'll definitely be placing an order for Cacao Nibbles again soon!

Cheap Manis and Pedis, Yay!

It was my birthday over the weekend and after a night of fun at Sine, my friends and I wanted to relax, be pampered and let someone else make us pretty. We decided to go for manicures and pedicures at Fusion Nail Spa in Carytown. I'd seen the sign for this spot plenty of times, but being a bit wary of walk-in nail salons, hadn't tried it yet.
We headed in on Saturday afternoon and were pleased to see that none of us had to wait. The three of us sat in cozy massaging chairs right in a row so we could chat as our feet soaked. Now, the chairs at Fusion Nail Spa are no ordinary massage chairs. Every other massaging chair I've sat in during a pedicure vibrates like the "massagers" at an amusement park, leaving me feeling numb and weird after about 15 minutes. This chair had a variety of massage settings and actually felt like it was doing something as it moved up and down my back.
The manicure and pedicure themselves were pretty standard, but everything was clean and the staff was super friendly. Plus, the mani-pedi combo was only $40!!! So far, this is the cheapest I've found around town, especially for a pedicure where you get a leg massage and foot scrub. At the price, I think I'll be having much prettier nails on a much more consistent basis from now on.

27: A hit

Okay, so yes I've hit two restaurants owned by Antonio Capece of La Grotta in three days. But both were so delicious it was worth it! I'd read a few negative reviews of 27 but wanted to check it out for myself. I found it hard to believe that anything Capece's involved with wouldn't be delicious. For my entree I ordered homemade fettuccine with a spicy tomato sauce and shrimp ($15). As I eagerly anticipated the arrival of my meal, I enjoyed fresh-baked bread with a tasty sundried tomato dip. The bread was the crusty, chewy sort that I absolutely adore. My meal was equally pleasing. It came with plenty of fresh shrimp that were cooked perfectly. They practically melted in my mouth. The fettuccine was also delicious, if slightly overcooked (it was a little tender for my taste, but tasted great). The only criticism I can must is that the dish lacked the advertised "spice." But the sauce tasted so fresh and tomato-y I didn't even miss it. For dessert I sampled the vanilla creme brulee (they were out of the delicious-sounding Italian cheesecake, a disappointment) and it was light, crunchy, custardy and amazing. It came in an oval-shaped dish that allowed for the perfect amount of crunch and custard. Overall, the meal was tasty and 27 will certainly be added into my meal rotation.

Amici: Always a Delicious Standard

On Saturday night we tried to hit Edo's but at 8:30 there was an hour-and-a-half wait, so we decided to head to Amici in Carytown. I only make it to Amici a few times a year, but every time my meal is delicious. The homemade bread sticks, the intimate atmosphere and the homemade pasta have never disappointed. On this visit I had a special made of roasted beets with chopped walnuts, crumbled creamy cheese and greens. The combination was divine. My second course consisted of homemade fettuccine with fresh pesto and pine nuts. The server warned me that the pesto was freshly made and mixed with the pasta, sometimes making for a dish that isn't quite piping hot. This was some of the best pest I've ever experienced. The dish was by far warm enough and the pesto was literally grease-free. I've ordered pesto in the past and it's come out greasy and heavy. This was light and delicious. Combined with the fresh flavor of the pasta, this dish was divine. My friend ordered the stuffed eggplant, which was also amazing. It tasted similar to freshly made eggplant Parmesan but without the breading that sometimes makes the dish too heavy. All in all, a great meal once again!

Moshi Moshi

Friday night it was time to try Moshi Moshi. I'd been surveying the modernistic sign and almost techno-looking exterior on various drives through Carytown. A friend was in town and we were craving sushi. We decided to stop by.
The interior is upscale and totally redone. Downstairs has a very dark, wood feel and holds a bar, tables and chairs and a cozy fireplace that calls for one to drop in for one of the unique beer selections and good conversation. Upstairs has a lighter dining room feel. The menu features an eclectic mix of sushi with modern twists, entrees, fancy Japanese appetizers and soups. While many of the entrees (priced at about $22 and up) looked intriguing, I was in the mood for sushi and not spending a ton of money. So, I went for ginger soup, a spicy tuna roll and a special roll made with shrimp tempura and eel sauce. The tempura avocado sounded interesting but I decided to save it for a future visit.
If you don't like cilantro mayonnaise or mango, I don't suggest going to Moshi Moshi for sushi. Practically every roll has one, the other, or a combination of the two. While this didn't bother me, one of my companions didn't like either and had to order her rolls with many alterations. The staff was very accommodating, however, and was happy to alter their rolls to meet her preferences.
I've heard Moshi Moshi is owned by the same people as Sumo San. I know many people love Sumo, but on the one occasion I tried it I wasn't too impressed and felt similarly about Moshi Moshi's sushi. My spicy tuna suffered from too much rice and too little tuna. The shrimp roll lacked the satisfying crunch that only well-prepared tempura batter can provide. My ginger soup was flavorful but contained shrimp with the tail on. This may be traditional, but a restaurant that has no problem putting upscale twists on traditional cuisine could at least cut the tails off my shrimp so I don't have the dilemma of how to delicately de-tail shrimp in soup. Also, the ginger flavor wasn't too strong for that to be the name of the soup. There were bits of shredded ginger in the bottom of my bowl, but they were light on that sweet bite ginger usually possesses.
As stated, the drink menu had a nice beer selection and a long list of sake ranging in price from the teens to the thirties. We tried the only organic one on the menu and it had a smooth fruity flavor with a pleasant aftertaste.
Overall, I would not go back for sushi, but would still like to try the entrees. The bar definitely merits a return as well.