new year’s day hangover cure attempt – tk burger

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and THIS is the hangover cure attempt.  thank you TK Burger for making such an important effort in the resolution of this said hangover.  your aggressively cooked and properly seasoned turkey burger with cheese was just what the doctor ordered.  HOWEVER, my ulcer-rific stomach had another agenda.  straight rejection.  it left me so sad….depressed even, on this simply beautiful day 1 of 2013.  i couldn’t even eat the fries…..and that’s saying a lot.  i could be 30,000 miles away from the next sip of water and still eat an entire plate of these salty delicious treats…..but not this time.  it will go down as a sad sad day in history:  the day megan could not finish her overwhelmingly delicious plate of fries.  sad. sad. day.  turns out i still needed some water and a nap.

new year’s eve day breakfast

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where there’s bacon there’s breakfast.  here was a pretty valiant effort to prepare for the battle i was about to put my stomach through on our new years eve festivities.  though a meal of eggs, potatoes, and bacon would seem to be hearty, the thing that really got me was that glass over there on the right…….mimosas:1  megan:0.  seriously.

i also wasn’t able to make a viable dent in my meal because i had been on a vacation bender for the past two days……what i really needed was some water and a nap.  cheers to 2013!

sunshine company ~ ocean beach, ca

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part of me wishes i would have thought of this idea a long time ago, implemented it in a dive bar saturated locale, and raked in the dough……but, i didn’t.  why WOULDN’T you put a taco shop INSIDE a bar?!?  freaking genius.  and one of the reasons i actually look forward to going to the Sunshine Company in severely salty ocean beach every once in a blue moon.  and how can you say “no” to three beautifully rolled tacos with guac and cheese for 2 bucks?  really.  really.

a well rounded dinner

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sooo, when you don’t know what to eat for dinner…..make everything:  spanakopita, bruschetta, shrimp steam buns, hearts of palm salad, coconut milk chocolate ice cream, circus animal cookies, wine……….

stacky’s – summerland, ca

IMG_20121125_150527this is how we combatted the painful traffic that always seems to plague santa barbara, especially on the way home….for some reason.  our grumbly stomachs led us to Stacky’s Seaside in summerland.  and oh you don’t disappoint.  we got the FAMOUS fish and chips (above, obviously) and the french dip.  the hearty meal helped us forge on before the holiday rush bombarded LA.  cheers to stacky.

 

thanksgiving – monterey, ca

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a belated thanksgiving post.  what can i say, it was an unbelievably satisfying dinner.  it was somehow perfectly timed (which never happens).  everyone had a hand in preparing the meal (also unusual).  and it was happy compilation of what everyone always wants at thanksgiving:  TURKEY (but not just one, TWO!  one bbq’d, and one oven roasted – both equally delicious), stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and oh the gravy.

we spent our thanksgiving in monterey for the first time, which was also very satisfying.  a lovely change.  and the weather decided to grace us with her beautiful presence, sun and a cool breeze.  i was endlessly thankful.

eastside west – san francisco

IMG_20121118_104833this was another hangover sopper-upper.  and i, unfortunately, had a lot of leftovers.  the hangover had a hold on me.  we were trying to recover from a wedding and san francisco city adventures from the day before.  also, putting off the impending 8 hour drive home.  but, we had heard great things about Eastside West and it was conveniently located mere blocks from our hotel.  this place was pub/sports bar style, not just indicated by the giant screen on one side of the establishment, but by the small herd of fantasy footballers sucking back the REALLY good bloody marys (that conveniently included a single jumbo shrimp).  i had a few bites of their standard eggs benedict.  if i had been in another state of mind, or body really, this would have been a home run of a benedict.  the accompaniment of greasy crispy home fries really helped me out more than the eggy side of the meal.  all in all, it was a satisfying meal and drastically helped to improve the day.  seeing as they have a dish called “revenge of the hangover,” they’re not messing around.  a solid sunday morning choice.

 

les puces des batignolles – paris, france

les puces des batignolles: 110 rue legendre, 75017, paris, france

this was a well deserved 20 euro brunch.  we had just hiked through the nearby flea market, trinkets flanking the sidewalk.  so. much. stuff.  i worked up a hefty appetite even after eating a VERY delicious chocolate croissant earlier.  the air was crisp and les puces des batignolles wasn’t a far walk.  we were seated almost immediately and nearly had to climb over packed tables to get to ours.  and then the eating commenced.  i think i may have consumed the BEST eggs benedict i have ever had in my life.  the hollandaise was creamy light and citrusy with that little kick of cayenne.  the yolks were a deep deep yellow and perfectly viscous.  i had mine with smoked salmon beneath, a salty fresh surprise.  and man those potatoes!  my compadre had ratatouille with two poached eggs and goat cheese.  talk about blowing your socks off.  i sat in euphoria for quite a while in that little cozy establishment.