In honor of the fact that my hubby and I both have Fridays off, and because Tucker has now started pre-school three days a week, both our kids are in school between the hours of 8am and 2:30pm, we have decided to officially instate "Freedom Fridays". Sound the trumpets! What are "Freedom Fridays"? Glad you asked. They are: a weekly grand culinary celebration sans booster seats, one meal per week dedicated to the celebration and enjoyment of kid-free food-fests.
It is doubly-exciting to be embarking on this adventure because these days, almost every single meal we ingest is cooked in our kitchen and eaten at home (or toted to school or work in a lunchbox). As many of you know, I used to be the queen of the restaurant. Not that I frequented anyplace inordinately expensive (Sharky's, Daphne's and Poquito Mas were about my speed), it's just that I considered dining out a treat, something to share with another human and therefore a bit of an event. However, times being what they are, I adjusted my ways. And I was spectacularly pleased to find that I actually started to look forward to our home-cooked meals in as a family. It's really fun to peruse recipes, shop the farmer's market and Trader Joe's for new things to try, plan the weekly menus.
Besides, let's face it: we are also willing to admit that it's easier to eat at home these days, for a variety of reasons. Tucker is not exactly fun to have at restaurants. He's a pretty well-behaved two-year-old, but he's done eating in about thirty seconds and then either he wants to run around, or we have to hand him one of our cellphones to play on so he'll stay put while we all finish eating. I strongly object to this on principle, but all my principles go right out the window when my stomach is growling... and before I know it Tucker's playing Scooter Heroes. Right on cue, Addie, our "old soul" six-year-old (who always sat perfectly still at mealtime when he was two and usually participated in all the adult discussions; in fact, I distinctly remember him weighing in on the whole weapons-of-mass-destruction debate), wants to know why he can't play with a phone too. We say, "Because, Addie, it's rude to sit with people in a restaurant and have your head buried in cellphone games", but our admonition loses its punch when his brother is sitting right next to him toggling away at Bejeweled. Then their food comes, $6.99 for two chicken fingers and fries. Which they each take two bites of and they're done.
We're better off eating (or, in Tucker's case, NOT eating) at home.
But at the end of a long week, Stan and I wholeheartedly feel we've earned one coveted meal cooked by someone other than us. For years I've made lists of places I've read about, reviews in the LA Times or Westways, little out-of-the-way cafes and bakeries, fun new twists on old classics, even gourmet food trucks. But up until now they've all stayed tucked away on a list in my computer, waiting for their moment. Well, ladies and gentlemen, their time has come. Freedom Fridays began in earnest last week, when we chose our first restaurant. The only rule is that we must choose a place we've never been to. Last week began modestly, with a trip up the street to King's Road Cafe. Stan was very pleased with his steak quesadilla... and truth be told, I was also very pleased with his steak quesadilla because my salad was just OK. But we were off and running...
This week, we hopped in the car after dropping off both kids and headed to Eagle Rock to go to Auntie Em's Kitchen. This place really is an odd little hole-in-the-wall if there ever was one. Limited seating, jams, jellies and aprons for sale in their tiny marketplace area, and motorcycle rock playing over the loudspeakers.
But oh, what good food.
We went because we had read that their pancakes were out of this world... but unfortunately, they only serve them on weekends. Now, it seems to me that if your speciality is pancakes and pancakes cost about a penny to make, you should probably serve them all the time... but we didn't argue. We went ahead and ordered their open-faced breakfast sandwiches. Stan got the applewood smoked bacon sandwich and I got the cajun turkey sausage one. His was better. They cook a fluffy mound of scrambled eggs and pile it on top of the bacon, which all goes on top of a gruyere-smothered thick slice of french bread. Yu-um. The cajun sandwich was good too, but the sausage had a thick casing on it that was pretty hard to chew through.
No matter. We feasted to our heart's content, unabashedly people-watching as we noshed. There is an outdoor seating area, and perched at one of the frilly flowered tables was a young guy with a bright red ZZ Top beard that extended to his belly button. I noticed that he ordered the french toast, which almost had been my choice. I decided on the savory sandwich last-minute, and was glad I did because I eyed ZZ's plate, and they make their french toast with the same crusty french bread the sandwich came on, and I'm adamant that french toast should be made with soft challah or thick cut white bread. I returned to my sandwich with renewed vigor.
Our bellies full and happy, we paid the bill, then got a homemade peanut butter cookie on the way out, which was kind of perfect. Big and crispy and crumbly. We are definitely going back for the weekend pancakes, but that won't be on a Freedom Friday, so you might just have to see us in person to hear about them.
What will next week bring? Stay tuned! Long live Freedom Fridays!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Errand Girl
It's been quite a while since my last post! I'm not sure exactly what happened; there was plenty to write about... but not enough time to create grand philosophical essays each time. And let's face it; not everything that happens in my life is essay-worthy. Some events don't even warrant a Facebook status update. But I started this blog to chronicle daily life- the good, the bad, and the ugly. So from now on, I vow to write less, more often. If that makes sense.
Addie started first grade yesterday; Tucker began his pre-school experience at Briarwood a week ago. Yesterday for the very first time, I looked around my house at 10:00 am and realized there was no one in it. I wasn't exactly sure what to do with myself. I took off all my clothes and ran around in a circle a few times. When the excitement of that had subsided, I put my clothes back on and ran some errands.
Sounds less-than-thrilling, but any mom can attest that running errands by yourself can be an uplifting, even slightly orgasmic experience. Oh, the illicit thrill of walking into Target without having to visit the toy aisle for twenty minutes. The elation of spending quality time thumping cantaloupes and not just grabbing the first one that falls off the display in a mad dash for the check-out line before your two-year-old turns into Houdini and twists himself out of the cart seat belt.
Yesterday I began my revelry with a trip to Actor's Equity to get a flu shot. I then drove to the pediatrician to get some medical forms filled out for school, then tooled on over to the thrift store to sell my used clothes. While they looked over my stuff (they almost always pick only one or two things out of twenty, causing me to ponder just how ugly and unstylish my wardrobe must be), I actually got to peruse the racks of second-hand clothes and try a few dresses on, something I haven't done since 2003. I found a cute little sundress and traded it on the spot. I ended my ecstacy with jaunts to the bank, dry cleaner and grocery store. All the while, I blasted my favorite music in the car, and never once did I hear a request from the backseat for "Kung Fu Fighting".
I haven't had such a beautiful day in ages.
The irony is that the entire time I drove around, I was thinking of my boys. Addie, so confident on his first day. He wore the most handsome blue shirt, and looked so grown up. Even though he has a few good friends in his new class, he entered his new classroom in Serious Mode, and sat by himself on the carpet, away from his friends. I think he was intent on making a good first impression. Tucker still seems like a baby to me, so it's quite amazing to drop him off at school with his little lunchbox. It's a brave new world for both of them, and my heart was full of pride watching them navigating it. Everything I picked up at Vons was for them... mayo for their sandwiches and ketchup for their hot dogs, fruit and cereal for breakfast, celery and cream cheese (Addie's favorite after-school snack), ice cream (Tucker has inherited his mom's sweet tooth). It sounds silly, but as I stocked our kitchen with these foods, I found myself experiencing a "mom high", my heart as full as my cupboards. I never felt this much pleasure shopping for myself. But now, I feel a rush as I put away a brand new EZ squeeze bottle of Heinz. Taking care of these three men makes me truly happy.
Running errands for them... by myself... is sheer heaven.
Addie started first grade yesterday; Tucker began his pre-school experience at Briarwood a week ago. Yesterday for the very first time, I looked around my house at 10:00 am and realized there was no one in it. I wasn't exactly sure what to do with myself. I took off all my clothes and ran around in a circle a few times. When the excitement of that had subsided, I put my clothes back on and ran some errands.
Sounds less-than-thrilling, but any mom can attest that running errands by yourself can be an uplifting, even slightly orgasmic experience. Oh, the illicit thrill of walking into Target without having to visit the toy aisle for twenty minutes. The elation of spending quality time thumping cantaloupes and not just grabbing the first one that falls off the display in a mad dash for the check-out line before your two-year-old turns into Houdini and twists himself out of the cart seat belt.
Yesterday I began my revelry with a trip to Actor's Equity to get a flu shot. I then drove to the pediatrician to get some medical forms filled out for school, then tooled on over to the thrift store to sell my used clothes. While they looked over my stuff (they almost always pick only one or two things out of twenty, causing me to ponder just how ugly and unstylish my wardrobe must be), I actually got to peruse the racks of second-hand clothes and try a few dresses on, something I haven't done since 2003. I found a cute little sundress and traded it on the spot. I ended my ecstacy with jaunts to the bank, dry cleaner and grocery store. All the while, I blasted my favorite music in the car, and never once did I hear a request from the backseat for "Kung Fu Fighting".
I haven't had such a beautiful day in ages.
The irony is that the entire time I drove around, I was thinking of my boys. Addie, so confident on his first day. He wore the most handsome blue shirt, and looked so grown up. Even though he has a few good friends in his new class, he entered his new classroom in Serious Mode, and sat by himself on the carpet, away from his friends. I think he was intent on making a good first impression. Tucker still seems like a baby to me, so it's quite amazing to drop him off at school with his little lunchbox. It's a brave new world for both of them, and my heart was full of pride watching them navigating it. Everything I picked up at Vons was for them... mayo for their sandwiches and ketchup for their hot dogs, fruit and cereal for breakfast, celery and cream cheese (Addie's favorite after-school snack), ice cream (Tucker has inherited his mom's sweet tooth). It sounds silly, but as I stocked our kitchen with these foods, I found myself experiencing a "mom high", my heart as full as my cupboards. I never felt this much pleasure shopping for myself. But now, I feel a rush as I put away a brand new EZ squeeze bottle of Heinz. Taking care of these three men makes me truly happy.
Running errands for them... by myself... is sheer heaven.
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