You know, I have a feeling we’d all get along very well with each other’s 16 year old selves. Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos? Check. Blur, Ben Folds and No Doubt? Check, check and check. John Mayer? I own his first concert DVD. Don’t judge me.
I had a tough time sleeping the night before, so yesterday morning I slept until the last possible minute and then just brought my breakfast ingredients to work with me and assembled it there before it opened. Yogurt bowls are so portable and convenient! Just make sure you have a napkin with you… I made quite a mess of myself.
- Chobani Strawberry bBanana Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup Quaker Oatmeal Squares, cinnamon
- 1/4 cup Galaxy Granola, Vanilla Almond flavor (now sold in my OpenSky shop!)
- 1 banana
- Artisana Macadamia nut butter
- Artisana Cacao Bliss nut butter
Work was good… I’d had two days off in a row, and it felt like I hadn’t seen my friends in a really long time! I also only worked from 10:30- 3:30, so it was a nice, short shift.
While there, I snacked on a Clif Crunch granola bar (Honey Oat flavor) and a skim cappuccino that Jen made for me.
Clif sent me this bar a few months ago when they first released it, and I have to say: I was shocked. Is this not the exact same bar as Nature Valley’s classic two-bar snack?
It has a more “natural” looking package, but basically tasted exactly the same. From what I can tell, Clif didn’t buy out Nature Valley, so this just seems like one big rip off. I love Clif products (I’ve been eating Luna products since I was in middle school) but this was really disappointing. Not cool, Clif, not cool.
When I got home it was almost 4, so I just made another little snack to hold me over until dinner. This wasn’t just a snack, though… it’s my new obsession.
Mashed avocado, chickpeas + miso on Multi-Grain Molasses Bread. Make this now! It’s so simple, but the flavors and textures go together perfectly: rich, creamy, briny, firm… Seriously, I want to eat this all day every day, with a little pause for chocolate.
After I ate and still in my work clothes, I did a few strengthening exercises in the bedroom: lunges, squats, bicep curls, lateral raises and crunches. Nothing too serious, but I had a few minutes to kill and those muscle groups can always use a little love.
Even though we’ve been dating for almost three and a half years, I was really excited for the evening because Ari and I had a date night planned! We wanted to do something simple, like dinner and a movie. He was in the mood for Indian, so I scoured menupages.com and found Chola, a restaurant I’ve passed dozens of time in Midtown East.
I picked Chola because not only did every entrée come with rice, dal and a dessert, but they had specific menu categories for “vegetarians” and “vegans.” I usually have no trouble finding something to eat at an Indian restaurant, but I liked that special care was taken to highlight these options. Plus, the price was right! Each entrée (including rice and dessert) was around $14, and we were almost guaranteed to have leftovers.
I ordered my usual Baingan Bhartha (eggplant slow-roasted in garlic and spices) and Ari ordered Chicken Tikka Masala. After our server took our order, he returned to ask if we wanted rice. It wasn’t included? No.
Now, I happen to work in a restaurant where we don’t include sides with most of the main dishes, but because of that, the prices are lower. At Chola, the menu online listed included items and it wasn’t too expensive. The prices listed on the menu were much higher, and when we got our bill, we (I) were shocked to find that the rice cost $7.
Garlic Chili naan, sautéed vegetables, rice, Baingan Bhartha
The food was good and the ambiance was cozy and romantic (dim lighting, ornamented walls) but both the unanticipated costs and unincluded (but necessary items, like rice) left a really sour taste in my mouth. Still, we had a really nice meal together full of conversation and laughter, and weren’t interrupted by television or computers.
After dinner we walked down the street to the movie theater to pick up tickets for Black Swan. While Ari got seats, I went across the street to Bloomingdale’s to pick up a treat at their takeaway cafe, Burke in the Box. I got a brownie, which was good but left me with a queasy stomach. (I just couldn’t be pleased last night!)
Lately, when it comes to films, books and plays, I don’t want to know anything about it beforehand. So I won’t read reviews or summaries, and if I hear someone talking about it, I’ll try to tune out so it won’t be spoiled. So I had no idea what Black Swan was about, except that it involved ballet. We’re still mulling it over and I don’t want to ruin it for any of you, but I will say that it made me think a lot about the pressures we put on ourselves in our own insular worlds, whether it’s about a monumental crisis or just feels like that in our minds.
Did you see Black Swan? What did you think?
I agree not wanting to know anything about movies – I hate seeing trailers for movies they always give far too much of the plot line away. Can’t believe rice wasn’t included with your indian meal – thats a bit cheeky!
Clif Crunch granola bar ? I had not heard of these! I used to love those Nature’s Valley bars, so if its the same with more natural ingredients…I’m for it. If its just a rip off- I’m against it! Glad work went well. And what a bummer about dinner. I haven’t seen black swan, but I totally want to
A similar thing happened to me this weekend when I looked on menupages.com for a breakfast spot on the UWS and then discovered at the actual restaurant that the prices were much higher anddd the meal I planned on ordering wasn’t even offered. Booo menupages.com!
I am dying to see Black Swan. And I have zero patience for movies, so that’s saying a lot.
<3 <3
i have yet to find an indian restaurant in my area to try out! i feel like i’m totally missing out though. i love spices!
xo.
Haha, love that photo of Ari
You remember what happened to me when I saw “Requiem For a Dream” – when I found out that “Black Swan” is directed by the same freak, I vowed to NEVER see it.
oh yum, your obsession looks like something we would love for sure!!
ani + tori = old love
black swan = loved too. surprisingly! or maybe not so surprisingly, since i also liked “the wrestler”
Ahhh, I want to see Black Swan SO, SO badly!!!!
Um, that Clif bar is a total rip-off of those Nature’s Valley bars!! Crazy!
Did you say anything to then about the menu differences? That would really tick me off!
I think I would get a long with your 16 y.o. self too.
None of my friends got Tori, but I was in lovee!
oooh, I am really excited for black swan. I heard it described as “trippy” and I usually like that kind of thing. All my girlfriends and my sister are dead set against seeing it! I will have to see it with my man friend, I guess!
Also, Ari seems like such a fun dude. Whenever you post a pic of him he always is joking around or smiling. Lucky girl!
loved it. The acting was wonderful, natalie was phenomenal. The end scene took my breath away!
I rarely comment but had to because you featured my favorite indian restaurant in the city
I love chola…I’ve never gone there for dinner but their lunch buffets are ridiculously good. For about $7 you get three entree choices, rice and naan. I think the prices you saw on menupages may have been for lunch because I know for a fact that it’s one of the cheapest deals you can get in the city. Plus there’s so much food you’ll inevitably get another meal out of it. Also, some of their dishes are far superior to any other indian restaurant I’ve been to including their paneer and their chickpeas. I def. think you should give it another shot!
I miss those Nature Valley oat bars. Not that they’ve gone anywhere, just that I havent had one in forever!!
oooohhhh Black Swan! totally want to see it.
i totally love those Nature Valley granola bars, and I also totally love menus that are broken up with vegan/vegetarian sections. I think I love your mash on toast the best though
I haven’t seen Black Swan yet, but I want to!
I think it’s so great that you and Ari have dates, even after three years! Most of the time that stuff tends to fade, but I think that keeps things fun and exciting!
I haven’t seen Black Swan yet but I totally want to. I still can’t believe rice wasn’t included in your meal. I’ve never been to an Indian restaurant where rice wasn’t included. In regards to the prices being different on the online menu, I have found in New York some sneaky restaurants post their takeout menus online but don’t label the menus takeout so the reader thinks the prices really are that cheap. Its so sneaky!
I’m impressed Ari would go see Black Swan with you. Pea Daddy wouldn’t dream of it.
I LOVE Chola. I went there last year and we absolutely stuffed ourselves- it’s some of the best Indian food I’ve had!!
I think I’m going to go see Black Swan on Sunday when it’s released in a theater near me. Can’t wait!
I am loving this snack idea. It sounds fantastic.
I’m definitely hoping to see Black Swan. The previews were intense and I just adore Natalie Portman. I’ll be so interested to see her in this kind of role.
black swan looks so creeepyyyy but i still want to see haha
mmm chola sounds interesting! i’ve never had indian food before but the menu looks tasty. i hate when restaurants are misleading about their menu though it’s so annoying!
gah i would have totally gotten 40 carrots froyo to bring in for a movie snack. i’ve never had but i hear its amaaaaaaaazing!
Totally agree on the Clif Crunch bars–just like the Nature Valley kind.
I really want to see the Black Swan, as Natalie Portman is one of my favorite actresses.
Aww that sucks about the restaurant prices! Super lame. I hate it when places do that stuff.
Hopefully it was a nice evening with the man though:)
I think hub and I are going to do a movie date and see Black Swan this weekend. I’m also really excited to see The Fighter. I might look up a movie’s rating on rottentomatoes before I see it, but usually won’t read anything about it. if I happen to hear a review on npr beforehand, I won’t get too upset. but I like to have as few preconceived notions going in as possible.
oh i NEED to find those granola bars!!!!
love date nights!!
Yummm the fudge brownie is singing to my stomach right now
Love your blog, I’m your newest follower! 
$7 for rice? That’s crazy!
Love all the bands you listed – No Doubt was my first real concert!
I don’t know about the US, but Nature Valley bars in Brazil are now single… I mean, there’s only one bar inside the package.
Which I personally think is sad.. Oh, well.
But now Clif’s copying bars? That’s so weird.
Loved the mashed avocado+chickpea hold-me-over, btw!
Haha.
Wish you a wonderful week, girl!
I’m dying to see Black Swan! I have not been able to avoid hearing about it, with all the media talk about their weight loss, etc etc. I still love Natalie Portman though and it looks like a really well made movie.
I had a coupon for those cliff bars and got the white chocolate macadamia ones. They are EXACTLY like the Nature’s Valley ones which i don’t buy because they’re sickeningly sweet, ugh. Oh well, I just use granola bars as a throw in my bag just in case I’m out thing, so sweet or not, it will keep me from going hungry lol.
You are Ari are so cute! Though I have not had relationship experience in a while, I hear from even couples who have been married 20+ years how important it is to make time for those “date nights” to make sure that you have that reminder of how much you still mean to each other.
Hope you’re enjoying the holidays and wintery weather! We keep getting teased with 2 days of cold, then back up to 70′s here :\